As transfer deadline approaches with speed, and no further transfers at the moment, it really does come into light where we stand in the PL pyramid.

We really are over-achieving with the finances available. Whilst we consistently manage a mid table finish, our expenditure is really towards the bottom 3.

Rather than go out and spend the money to secure a player, it's a waiting game to see what happens the back end of the window (there have been exceptions, but they are not the norm).

We don't seem to be able to compete with clubs like West Ham, Fulham or even Bournemouth at this stage. Dare I say but I wonder if we compete with a club like Nottingham Forest. If they want a player, the owner will spend the money required (though we wait to see what with FPP on their mass player recruitment).

The scar of administration just over a decade ago appears to still run deep, with a very much risk adverse strategy on finances.

Unless we get a billionaire benefactor willing to invest their money (let's face it Blitzer and Harris aren't going to), then we aren't going to progress more than mid-table.

I realise that Brighton (of all teams) have managed to break the mid table barrier without major investment, but I wonder how long their buy low sell high strategy will work. The big clubs will start going to source in South America instead of buying from lower PL clubs.

I could almost see the window closing without any new recruitment, or certainly not players what we need.

Who said they need to be expensive, olise and eze wasn't were they. Forget everything else and let's just look at ward in our first 3 games. Do you honestly belive he's good enough ?

They're a great example of an investor who actually invests, they're in debt to bloom, so no debt, he bought them in league 1 without a stadium and is probably the most successful owner during his tenure. He could sell tomorrow, which he won't and make profit.

I'm sure if Parish had the money then he would do the same but he doesn't, our biggest shareholders are 2 Americans who I don't think have ever been to a game, wanted to buy Chelsea, then man u and probably Liverpool next. We was told their investment would give allow us to build a new stand, which was supposed to be completed about 4 years ago.

Like the money spent on Franca? I’m not asking to put all our savings on red or black at the roulette table, or that the ship doesn’t need keeping afloat, I’m suggesting that our transfer priorities and business is neither beneficial for the team or club both financially and competitively. Not buying the products you need is a false economy. If your plumber says you should buy the more expensive pump and not the cheapy it is stupid and tight fisted to just ignore the problem. A faulty part of a system puts pressure on all of it. We need a RB, a winger and a striker. We don’t need to go and these from Barcelona or Man City to upgrade on Ward and Schlupp. We don’t need to blow the whole budget. These are gaping holes that will cost points and risk losing money.