Agreed !00%

Great article!!

Disagree on James- think he may surprise you. Still only around 23 as well I think. The only question mark over him is his injury record not his talent. The midfield is an area I'm generally excited seeing this season.

I think the fans are happy spending money it's just the question mark over Ulloas ability that's the problem. We are also a little stung by a certain previous record buy.

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.

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!

Very good article JG – have 5 of the gold pointy things

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 👍

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?