Very unfair to label Ipswich as big spenders considering they earned the money through selling Connor Wickham and tried to replace a talented player by building a good squad. As for Leicester i expect they will come good and at least get the playoffs and i don't think anyone will fancy playing them with their quality.

Congratulations to Southampton though who have continued their consecutive home wins to 16.

17 not 16

http://www.southampton-mad.co.uk/footydb/loadseq.asp

Sorry 17 (SEVENTEEN), an even BIGGER CONGRATULATIONS to the Saints then.

Right this minute, your statement is accurate Koppie.

But, Leicester are only 2 points behind us and 5 off the playoffs. And are about to hire a new manager who will
inherit a solid squad. And as Sir Ken says, Ipswich invested the money they made off the Wickham sale.
So, it is unfair to have a go at them. A team by the way,
that's only 1 point behind us and 4 off the playoffs.

Long season still ahead. And a January window.
Bit early to be lobbing darts at rivals who more than
likely will be up there come May.

So, again, you're right as of now.

SKB, I think most people forget Southampton were
up at the top of the top division just like us once upon
a time. It's not far-fetched seeing them up in the Prem. Good Manager. Good squad. And backing. Congrats indeed to them.

It all just makes for a belter of a division and season.

Hopefully, we'll still be up there come May too.

The reason behind this thread is to defend the lack of spending by bates

This is what koppie does

Shamefull really

Thing is, spending big doesn't always fail.

Despite what some think.

Anyone heard of a team in Manchester called Manchester City? Apparently, some very wealthy
and extremely savvy people took over that club and not
only invested in the club, but, reinvented it's entire perception. They excel in PR, property development,
forward thinking and the NOW. Yes, they have thrown several King's ransom's at the squad. But, they also invested in a great Manager. On top of that, they restructured ever aspect of the club. Anyone remember they were in the second tier not long back? To watch them these days, you'd think they'd been up with the best since day one. Remarkable case study in what
can be done by smart people with money, for a club supported to the hilt by a solid fan base, who are
committed to excellence on and off the pitch.

Masterful job all round I'd say.

original koppite makes a very good point, it matters not where the money came from, they spent it all the same. So does lufc_batty_david when he says original koppite is right at this time and that Leicester City are only two points behind us!

But, I would add that, hopefully tomorrow Leicester will be five points behind us!

We need to improve to gain promotion and we need some new blood, only two possibly three.

But this league is wide open and we have as good a chance as any to go up.

MOT!

I would have thought the point was several people on these pages criticised the management of LUFC for their recruiting methods and pointed to The Foxes and the Tractorboys as the way to go. Proper supporters had faith in the management and to press are looking justified.

SPENDING MONEY LIKE IT WAS GOING OUT OF FASHION DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK.

MOT with proper fans who support !

It always works if you've the right manager, history proves that

And hope your not suggesting someone who hasn't been to Elland road for twenty years supports the club whilst in that time going to Huddersfield

And I told you it was about defending bates this article, you can read koppie like a book

Original Koppite

Think it was an easy comparison to make as Leicester were the biggest spenders and Ipswich secured players that we were looking at signing. Examples- 1) Bowyer would have definitely took him over Brown but he wouldn't move up north according to Bates. 2) Keith Andrews another one that would have strengthened our team and gave us another option ended up at Ipswich. 3) Stockdale who the club obviously got that decision correct as Lonergan as been awesome and a loan move was never wise.

Wakey..Blackburn were the first to spend money they didn't have and were it not for Wetsham being luckier than Sunderland were in 73 they'd have won nothing also it hasn't done Real a lot of good in recent years. Chelsea and Manshitty are different in that they have bought everything that moved but Rednose, who spends much less is still winning the trophies.

Finally, why would I defend Bates??? Oh that's right he owns my club and without him no-one knows where we'd be whereas with him we're in with a shout for promo back to the big league so why wouldn't I support him????.

Koppie

Barca wage bill is higher than real Madrid and look what real Madrid have won over the last twenty years

And blackburn did have money, walker invested his millions what he has self earnt from nothing

You need to look at yourself and think why you get on people nerves including people close to you

Sir Kenneth Bates

Are you saying that the reported reason for Lee Bowyer going to Ipswich is a lie?

Koppie

Barca wage bill is higher than real Madrid and look what real Madrid have won over the last twenty years

And blackburn did have money, walker invested his millions what he has self earnt from nothing

You need to look at yourself and think why you get on people nerves including people close to you

I'm just glad this board isn't repetitive!

Eric

No not saying it's a lie but when quoting anything that has been said by Bates you have to question it's validity.

Oh.

We can cast envious eyes or disparage the so called, ' big spenders' while the cows come home, but financial law dictates you speculate to accummulate. Eric is spot on, inasmuch as a couple of quality signings would make the difference to our consistency. Sadly, recent history tells us that Bates is more likely to cash in on any interest in our players than invest in the quality required and we, as long suffering supporters will bemoan the fact that we got close (again), but not quite close enough.

Sorry, I meant accumulate.

Eddie (The Last Waltz) Gray

Let's hope he has a change of heart eh?

There's a difference this season, it's worth money to win promotion. Cynical, I know ....

740 miles to Ell and Back

A point not missed by some. Cynical is as cynical does!

Anyone who says Ipswich haven't over spent needs to look at the fact the owner puts in £5m a year on average to keep them at the level they are presently at. Why people look at the spending on players as a rule to say your running a club well is shocking.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Cas, I may well be wrong here, but, isn't our current
'healthy financial standing' down to player sales?
In part at least. That's not that business savvy either.