Spurs have also shown us that you do not have to let players leave to the ‘super clubs’ if you really don’t want to. Cheslea were in pursuit of Luka Modric for the majority of the summer transfer window, however both Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy remained adamant that the Croatian would not be leaving White Hart Lane at any price.
McLeish’s suggestion that money or financial backing entails ‘superiority’ is also contradicted somewhat by the lack of success at Anfield in recent years. Liverpool have always had the funding to bring in new talent, though those players brought in were often not of a high enough quality, and the management in place was also deemed to be substandard for a club of Liverpool’s stature. While the club was generally considered a ‘top-four side’ for a number of years, Liverpool have failed to qualify for the Champions League since 2009 and have finished seventh and sixth in their last two Premier League campaigns.
Kenny Dalglish has spent heavily since taking over in January, and for the first time in three seasons this Liverpool side look as though they could be a force to be reckoned with. However, while Dalglish has brought in players of quality, both Benitez and in particular, Roy Hodgson, brought in names that simply weren’t good enough to compete with the top four.
McLeish makes a valid point in that those ‘smaller clubs’ who lack any real financial support or backing will generally struggle to compete with the big-spenders of Chelsea, United, City and Liverpool. However, Harry Redknapp has shown that a top-four challenge can be mounted with the right kind of players, and that quality players do not have to cost the thirty or forty million pounds that these clubs are willing to fork out.
Redknapp, and particularly Levy, have shown that key players do not have to be sold. Keeping a player against their will is always a risk, however if they are of as great importance to the club as Modric is to Spurs, it is perhaps a risk worth taking.
It seems McLeish could probably learn a thing or two from Levy and Redknapp, and his assumption that money entails ‘superiority’ is not always the case. Good management and the right players is also fundamental to a clubs success and while heavy funding will certainly make things easier, it does not guarantee success nor the ‘untouchable’ status that McLeish has placed on these clubs. Tony Fernandes completed his takeover of Queens Park Rangers back in August and despite a reported net worth of £250m, McLeish will surely fancy his chances when the two sides meet this season.
Written by Thomas Kenny for FootballFancast.com. Agree or disagree? Do Premier League clubs have ‘no chance’ up against the “super clubs”? Let me know your thoughts either below or @sixthofficial on Twitter!
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Barry Bannan is Scottish not English and Ciran Clark has choosen Ireland ahead of England, Anyway thats besides the point, what you do forget is that Modric had 4 years remaining on his contract, Young had 1 season and Downing had 2 seasons left, Villa could of lost 10m in value if they let Downing stay for a season without signing a new contract that was on offer, and Ashley Young would of left for free. There is the difference, Also when Spurs broke into the top 4 Man City weren’t good enough and the players needed time to settle down like Chelsea did when they spent hundards of millions.
If you look at it like that then McLeish makes a lot of valid points.
Mcleish is spot on we are fast approaching a situation where the EPL league positions will be decided by the bank statements of the owners. To the majority of fans who do not support a wealthy club the EPL is losing its intrest as most will never qualify for the champs league let alone win the title. We have become the SPL.
Particularly with the introduction of UEFA’s fair play laws, restriciting the kind of investment O’Neill was able to make, i think McLeish has a good point. The gap is growing increasingly wider and will remain to do that as the top clubs with huge revenue streams are able to monopolize the league. Read my views on it on my blog! http://alex-keble.blogspot.com/