Rupert_Fuffeinsmuir III

The UEFA Cup is not and never has been an attraction to players, we couldn't compete for the likes of Parker and Emre when we had the prospect of being in the CL (our good luck as it turns out). West Ham are starting to piss me off big time, throwing fictional sums of money in the direction of the world and his wife. So far they have only signed the aforementioned and injury prone Parker, and they are welcome to him.

Well, we need investment one way or the other, and that can only come about through a change of ownership. By and large I like Bill, we know where we stand with him, even if that means he has succeeded in conditioning us all to accept a poor transfer budget for David season after season. If he does sell after a ground move and makes a profit, then good luck to him. But we MUST compete and sooner or later thats means cash has to be found. Given the yo-yo league finishings we have had, yet again Moyes will have to duck and dive to get players. It will be tough enough to cement a place in the Top 6 let alone try to move up a level. Ultimately I wouldn't like some shady foreigner buying us out but its a jungle out there and if we stand still we move backwards.

Despite some opinions to the contrary, I think it's a good thing the club have kept silent. Whether or kitty is meagre or decent enough to enable Moyes to sign a few players, disclosing details of possible bids or discussions for players only ever serves to make things more difficult. Either way, we don't have long to wait, pre-season training will start first week of July so we'll see the colour of our money in the next 6 weeks or so. I won't say I haven't been concerned by the mood music, but I'm reserving judgement. 2 or 3 decent additions in a few weeks and we'll all be calling Moyes a genius for keeping his plans under wraps. He did say after all that it would take longer this year. To me that is feasible given the amount of money floating about this summer. Players have more options than ever and it suits agents to procrastinate and drag things out.

For £4.5M it would be a great bit of business. Would be a bit concerned through if Notlob are that keen to get rid. He didn't seem to match the previous standard of performance he set for himself in the season just gone and and year or two ago it looked as if his next move would be to one of the 'top 4' clubs, and he was pushing on the door of an England call-up. Still take him, a goalscoring option from the midfield and a move may be all he needs to rejuvenate his career. Would expect Big Sam to be competing for him too though whether or not they have Barton and I don't think he would go as cheaply as £4.5 M.