5 clubs who splurged in the market and still failed to win a title
Football is awash with money now. Once upon a time it was the working man’s game but no more.How can it be when we are in an age when the best players earn ¼ million pounds per week, when those players cost anything from £80 million upwards of a club’s transfer budget and when broadcasting companies are paying something in the region of £11 million per match for the exclusive rights to show certain games.Whether the paying punter likes the way football is heading or not, the situation doesn’t change. Think of the club chairman or elected presidents who have the responsibility of shelling out club funds in order to help secure success. And who often get nothing in return for their vast outlay.Let’s take a look at five who spent heavily and probably wished they hadn’t.
#1 Tottenham 2013/14
Once Gareth Bale’s sale to Real Madrid for a reported €100 million was confirmed, the expectation was that Tottenham would be challenging for all main honours available given the transfer “war chest” that was available to them.
No one reckoned on manager Andre Villas-Boas squandering Daniel Levy’s hard-earned money.
Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela and possibly Vlad Chiriches can be absolved of blame for the disastrous season that transpired. Paying £17 million for Paulinho was daylight robbery and £26 million for Roberto Soldado could arguably have been used better elsewhere.
Nacer Chadli and Etienne Capoue were two more that hardly covered themselves in glory during the first half of the 2013/14 season and the Portuguese can have no complaints over his eventual dismissal.
Seven players that couldn’t elevate the Lilywhites to the heights is astounding incompetence from a manager who, to that point, was very well regarded in football circles.
Now firmly ensconced at Zenit St. Petersburg, it’ll surely be some while yet before AVB can return to these shores with anything like the credibility he enjoyed before his largesse.