Reading a number of posts over the summer – I am struck by the number of clearly loyal supporters who seem to regard our promotion as a welcome – but short term- diversion – from Championship football.
That we should not invest substantially to establish ourselves as a long term and rightful member of the Premier League – enjoy it while we can but not expect it to last long term and be prepared to return to our more established Championship level – but of course –keep the faith- whatever that means.
In fact we have the financial and logistic base coupled with responsible ownership which should be the platform for planning and investing to be part of the Premiership League long term- not part of the bottom 6 lottery positions but target mid table short term and then the six places below the top four longer term.
It is the same with football clubs as business – those firms who invest only enough to survive – struggle- those with planned and targeted plans and investment to grow-prosper.
We are debt free – own our modern ground with 32,000 capacity with planning in place to develop this to 40,000 and have an excellent catchment area for attracting support – which these days is also substantially corporate which properly planned -without affecting loyal traditional support- is massively important- but demands Premiership level.
In addition we are already creating a strong profile in the Far East /Asia which will become increasingly important in terms of sponsorship and marketing as those countries global influence increases. We are part of a league at its zenith in terms of income with contacts worth £3bn in place for next 3 years –Leicester can be planning against turnover in the area of 100 million + next season.
Against this background – investment to match competitor benchmarks has to be established.
So in my opinion – our investment needs to targeting global players of Premiership quality – which also means in price and wages- and we are substantially below required levels in midfield and cover at full back –especially relating to cover at right back-
So £7 million for a striker capable of competing in the Premiership should not worry us at all – whether Ulloa is capable of this time will tell. I do remember an interview with Steve Bruce last season however who- following advice from Ferguson -made his first priority to be able to compete in midfield and signed Livermore and Huddleston from Spurs and this season has added Snodgrass.
Drinkwater –capable himself of Premiership football -will need support other than provided by King –too easily bypassed at top level and James whose first touch lets him down. This need to be priority and the World Cup showed us the quality that is available if you research players abroad- We have to compete in midfield.
On the World Cup briefly – those long term posters amongst you will know how long I have been an advocate of German Football – their ownership and fan structure – young player development- League skill levels – so I was delighted to see them win and hope that England FA take lessons –starting at our Academy levels – which with one or two exceptions- are a shambles.
So my message is – Leicester City should become a Premiership club in its philosophy ,aspirations and business planning- we are in our rightful place – and must not be inhibited in our investment either by ambition or management limitations
Investing for success?
posted on 29/7/14
I fully agree in the areas we need to strengthen - we are worryingly light of cover and prem quality at right back, arguably left back and a solid centre mid.
But, I don't agree that the way to strengthen in these areas is "at all cost".
I like the way Pearson is building the team but we can't let our policy of good value leave us hamstring in strengthening here.
The main criteria of players should be hunger, desire and quality. If we can find anyone who fits that criteria we need to pay for them.
What we need to avoid at all costs is doing a "Harry Redknapp" and throwing money at any prem player wanting one last pay day.
So I agree in the main, but let's take the Hull approach rather than the QPR school of transfers.
We need to find our Huddlestone.
posted on 29/7/14
I don't don't think anyone things NP throwing money around or we would of got some already who wanted more money/wages.
Can we shut up about "panicbuy" its 12 bloody years ago! The world has move on not obviously for some myopic fans. we need to be spending more than that £5m regularly each season if are not going just to be visitors. It really hacks me right off to hear people being ffrom unsure to writing of new signings. The same who nailed Vardy but while saying at the same time NP's the second coming of MoN which hes not he's going to better!
posted on 29/7/14
Very good article JG – have 5 of the gold pointy things
posted on 30/7/14
I don't think you have to worry too much JG because in sure the club are on board with your sentiments and breaking our record kind of indicates that.
We are going places and it's time for is to stop being so negative and recognise just how good this team is. They won't fear anyone this season and I have no doubt at all that we will have a very good season!
Good article 👍
posted on 30/7/14
first good post john gee .on the lcfc website it is allready saying the only way to see a home match is a gold membership required.which i agree might be true but to move the club on the extension on the west stand must be put forward as soon as commercially possible.just look at arsenal now .they could not compete with the top 3 with all their owners finance but the gap has closed a lot now also if our argentine striker is a gamble then swansea did "nt do too bad with michu
posted on 30/7/14
Isn't it the east stand they are going to extend? The west stand would take them in to the river...
I'm a stalwart of the Pleat era onwards and to be discussing the fact that you can't even get tickets for a game is incredible. Even in the the brilliant O'Neil days we'd get 18k against the lower prem teams.
I think it's great personally. I can only get to c50% of home games and that means buying a season ticket this year. Membership and ticket cost make it better value.
Crazy as I dot chose games on who we're playing, just when I can get, but am I bitter? Not really, I'm just pleased to see our "brand" growing and fortunate enough to be in a position to be able to afford to waste cash on games I can't get to.
Judging on te demand, I'm pretty sure my ticket won't go to waste.
Up the City.
posted on 31/7/14
Mersey refers to “investment” and links it to QPR -
Their spending was panic buying midway through the season when relegation loomed and Redknapp given a blank cheque- nothing to do with planning or targets or investment
My benchmark would be more the investments at Swansea City for instance –who had managers like Martinez and Rodgers who could identify talented players and were prepared to buy them – but at age level where they could also improve-and of course with their coaching skills –develop them further. This resulted not only with players like Bony and Michu but a core of players –all comfortable on the ball – like Rangel,Flores ,Gomis Sigordson etc.
This served not only to make them a talented addition to the Premiership but the players appreciated in value . –Planned investment
Now Swansea is a club playing in a Council owned Ground- no wealthy owners or backers –only recently acquired a training facility and are isolated in terms of support and major companies who can provide corporate income.
Compare this with our club and see where we should be targeting our long term future –we have everything to become a major player at Premiership level – I would honestly place is in the 5th to 8th place level.
Manchester City is often slated for profligate spending. It was massive spending with huge allocated funding –but with specified aims. To take a jo-jo club like Manchester City – and turn it into Premiership Champions- European Champions – Global Brand – and match Man U –Barcelona- Real Madrid in stature.
When you consider the worth of these companies –and Man U for instance just signing a £750M contract with Adidas - I would consider that it is perfectly correct of the Emirates based owners to justify even their spending as long term investment – with long term returns
I mention these two successful extremes only to illustrate that somewhere between the two is where Leicester City must operate- and Nev is correct …….. overall the whole character of our club will change and main income streams move away from the traditional support base into corporate and premium priced facility – but not necessarily losing capacity for the everyday fan.
posted on 31/7/14
I'm equally unimpressed with QPR's investment strategy this year JG.
However, I fully agree that we need to follower Swansea model of investment in quality assets that will build our club short to medium term.
That is exactly the model I believe we are following. My only nervousness is that Pearson will let his desire ONLY to being in assets rather than quality get in the way of us strengthening in key areas we need to. The Ulloa signing suggests this is not the case.
I'm hoping that doesn't prove to be the case but the longer the summer goes on without a right back or centre mid, I worry a little.
posted on 1/8/14
This is a good read and I'm fully agreeing with you JG, it's nice to be on the same page and I fully believe that 5th-8th is possible and I believe that is where the club is aiming.
I believe you're correct that we should model ourselves on Swansea and buying players to develop is obviously more financially viable than chucking money at has beens, as QPR do.
You're also right that Martinez and Rodgers can identify talent, so I was just wondering what your thoughts are on NP now as the man to take us forward and be our Martinez if you like?
Unfortunately, we can probably expect something similar to Southampton happening in a couple of seasons because I genuinely think this group of players have the potential to develop into very good PL players.
Mersey - I remember 13000 being a big gate in the Pleat era and I stood in Pen 2 on my own until West Ham came and took half of it in 1992 so yeah to think of how we've changed as a club since then is phenomenal.
I've literally just had a smell back (not a flash back) where I could remember the smell of bovril at the back of the Kop and walking around the pitch and down the players tunnel after the match and smelling the grass. That was a weird feeling.
posted on 1/8/14
Although I've not always agreed with you JG I've always enjoyed your articles - this one particularly is excellent.
I wholeheartedly agree that we should aim high and our owners certainly seem to mean business. Some of the posts on here worry me though-8th is the best we can possibly hope for as Man Utd, Spurs, Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City will be out of reach for the foreseeable future-look how much Spurs spent to finish 6th!
I'm pleased with the transfer business so far but we absolutely need an experienced Midfielder. I wonder if there's some loans in the pipeline?