Claudius wrote:
I have to agree with Jones. The squad with Odegaard and Partey / ESR healthy is on a top 4 - 5 pace. Clearly if all we do is resign Odegaard, we should have enough to compete for top 4.
It’s the title challenge that needs 3-4 super quality players. Not top 4. And I want us to build with a view to that
IMO the caveat/issue to this is not regarding competing for top4, but in having the quality and depth to actually secure top4 as opposed to simply being challengers or contenders, both of whom compete for top4.
IMO if you want to secure top4, let alone push for a title challenge, then you need to be in the top4 clubs re capability & quality.
Alternatively you need at least one of those top4 to 'fail', along with at least 1 of the other big6.
If you want to break into the top4 from outside the big6 you also need to do so in a season you are not involved in UEFA comps.
That said COVID has made the big6 status irrelevant until match day gate attendance returns to normal levels, as until then the clubs with lower operating costs will be at an advantage as revenues improve (provided they do not go under in the first instance).
Essentially it will be the sugar daddy clubs v the rest. There are 2 sugar daddy clubs already in the top4 along with the richest non sugar daddy club, and currently 3 big6 clubs competing for the last spot including the defending champions, who are struggling this calendar year but their performance and capability over recent seasons is still way above ours thus far.
