I was mooching around the various Villa related sites this evening, exactly the same as I always do and came across a comment that Villa were in the bottom five when it came to Premier League club’s spending during Paul Lambert’s reign as our glorious manager.
I couldn’t resist questioning this, so looked into it for my own satisfaction.
The table below is what I’ve worked out, with the figures having come courtesy of http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
Now, I’m not 100% convinced the figures are entirely accurate, as they have Christian Benteke down as having cost £10 million, which I don’t think is correct.
But if you assume similar errors apply to all the other clubs and average out, I think it’s fair to say that the previous comment I mentioned was incorrect.
The table makes for some fascinating reading.
Take Spurs, for example. That’s a classic case of what you get if you seriously invest in the right way.
There are a few provisos though.
I’ve rounded up the odd numbers, merely to save me typing so much.
Some clubs have already spent in this window and others are yet to do so.
And I may have made mistakes.
But I doubt these figures are far off the mark, overall.
Food for thought and somewhat puts paid to the fact that Lambert has had no money to spend, in my opinion.
And we’re quite simply under-performing, if you use this as a benchmark.
All figures are NET spends.
CLUB 14/15 13/14 12/13 TOTAL AVERAGE
1 Man Utd 113.2 66.7 51.1 231 77
2 Chelsea 16.1 49.3 72 137.4 45.8
3 Man City 24 89.8 14 127.8 42.6
4 Liverpool 44.1 20.3 41.3 105.7 35.2
5 Arsenal 53.8 32.5 8.6 94.9 31.6
6 West Ham 25.75 25 18.25 69 23
7 Hull 22.5 24.4 4.1 51 17
8 QPR 19 -5.5 36 49.5 16.5
9 VILLA 5.75 16.5 23.7 45.95 15.3
10 Sunderland 11.9 7.4 18.35 37.65 12.5
11 Southampton -34.7 35.75 32.7 33.75 11.25
12 Stoke -0.1 2 21.1 23 7.66
13 Swansea 7.05 20.1 -6.45 20.6 6.8
14 Newcastle 25 -19.1 13.5 19.4 6.5
15 Palace 9.5 26 -17.1 18.33 6.11
16 Everton 36.5 -16.5 -1.8 18.2 6.06
17 WBA 13.1 2.29 0 15.3 5.1
18 Leicester 11 -0.25 3.45 14.2 4.73
19 Burnley 6.5 -3.6 -5.2 -2.3 -0.75
20 Spurs -1.25 -9.8 -1.3 -12.35 -4.1
Ah, the figures don’t format correctly at all 🙁
Sorry about that, but all that really matters is the position and the last figure.
I really can’t be arsed to find out how to format it properly, as it took me too long to type out as it is.
As I’ve always pointed out, transfer funds are there. We make nothing on selling players because we always spend.
Also Spurs are very lopsided because Levy’s very good at selling players high and buying low, bar Soldado.
Suprised nobody has mentioned this “open letter” to Tom Fox in tonights Mail.
Good read.
Do you have a Link for that?
we don’t need graphs to understand lerners short changed the villa fans, just look at the villa squad depths. i am not arsed to go into details about individual transfers. just compare villa now to clubs like wba or sunderland or even hull all have better squad depths.
look no further than the last 2 windows we are amongst the lowest spending clubs in premiership. but anybody answer me this . lambert took over a club 190 million in debt yet for all the cuts,we haven’t reduced this debt or we haven’t been told so. the cuts started as soon as mon walked out and got worse to the point lambert walking into the job
Nath, I’ve been going on about this for ages.
We’re quite simply being lied too about the club’s financial position, imo and I struggle to see why other sites haven’t picked up on it, myself.
i just re asked the question, because i was digging around and the figures just don’t add up. the debts 3 years ago was around 190 mill and look at villa now to the squad mon left iam sure this rabble of squad is no where near the cost of the one mon left behind
so whats going on i ask yours
The bit that shocked me Andrew, was that Lerner has actually increased the spend, year on year under Lambert.
Mind you, I could re-emphasise the EXTRA £30 mill a year that we get out of $ky in the new package.
Bear in mind that this is ‘net’ spend.
Since Millner and Young left, we’ve hardly managed to sell anyone for real money; either our players aren’t really wanted by EPL clubs, or they’ve been on such cushy wages that nobody else wanted to pay that much as well as a transfer fee.
Hence while we’ve not really bought anyone expensive [save perhaps Benteke], we’ve virtually had to give the outgoing ones away. Looks like the same will happen this summer if Vlaar and Delph leave at the end of their contracts.
REVISTA TEAM: GOOD MOVE FOR GIL
The Revista team have been talking about midfielder Carles Gil’s potential move to Aston Villa from Valencia… and by the sounds of it, Villa have a gem.
Gaizka Mendieta told Sky Sports: “He has a lot of potential. He is due to pass a medical tomorrow. For him it’s a good opportunity to play regularly. I dont think he will at Valencia. It could be great for both.”
Guillem Ballague backed him up: “Getting rid of Carles Gil is a risk for Valencia. He is a player who can play between the lines, lots of quality with his passing. My question mark would be physically can he deal with the Premier League?”
this was on sky sports site seems like he might be a good addition, i heard earlier on talkshit he might take some time as the expert said on there hes not a finished article by any means
Wont be long before hes of to a sky four club after hes used us as stepping stone for a few months if hes that good.
Still that’s a bit more upbeat and positive than what’s been happening of late – let’s hope he is the real deal
Good evening all, I too feel a despondent supporter, I have not been to VP as much the last 2 years as I did previous 15. From Steve Staunton to Benteke, witnessed them all spark a game for the Villains. I feel the players now in general in the football world do not have the drive or desire they used to have. For example we plucked good players from other teams to weaken them and strengthen ours, Mark Draper, Gareth Southgate, Steve Stone, Paul Merson, Dion Dublin, all solid players that improved our team and gave everything to the cause to get a result.
One game I remember in particular was a home game against Arsenal in December 1998, we were buried at half time 0-2, Santa fell off the Trinity road stand (thankfully made a full recovery) at the interval and then we came out all guns blazing, Dublin (2) and Joachim turning the game on its head for the victory. Probably the best game I have witnessed at Villa Park. These days sadly are not here right now, back then the players played their hearts out for the fans, the badge, the club.
The values of the club need to be restored into the hearts and minds of everyone connected with our great club.
we are all feeling a little dejected, jaded, disappointed and I see all the flak Lambert is getting and some of it duly deserved.
My question is this?
Who would realistically take the hot seat, who could we get that is an improvement on Lambert?
May 2012 the Villa fans at Carrow road roaring Lambert to be the manager, now this.
Lambert is in his third year and we are literally going backwards. He is breaking unwanted record after record. Realistically there aren’t to many options for a manager but a change is needed and now because this is dire.
DOF Graham Taylor
Manager Nigel Clough.
Also when lambert arrived we had one of the best youth set ups in Europe. Look at it now.
He prefers cheap foreign imports or average players from lower divisions as opposed to giving some of our young players a chance.
I will be very surprised if grealish gets a decent run under lambert and Robinson certainly can’t do worse than agbonlahor.
Hi Steve
It is tricky situation all round. I do not see anyone of higher calibre being drafted. Graham Taylor in my opinion would be a ambitious move for all, his 2nd stint at the club nearly relegated us. Clough? I read some sections of the Sheffield united fans wanting him out.
Alternatively a shake up in the coaching ranks perhaps, Rene Meulensteen is knocking around and just doing some consultancy work at the moment and Martin Laursen, Gareth Southgate (the guy talks a lot of sense) to name a few.
Also to throw back to Fergie’s first 4 years of his Utd reign he endured a lot of tough and tumultuous times, fans calling for his head chanting at games, had up and down league finishes, 11th, 2nd, 11th, 13th in the first 4 seasons and won a trophy in this time also.
I know the world we now live is this new age throw away society where the latest and greatest things are always the thing we want but is not necessarily the thing we need.
Do we WANT a new manager? probably
Do we NEED a new manager? arguably no.
I personally do not think we are too far off developing into a decent side, just need that positive play from positive thinking player(s).
I don’t think Taylor did a bad in his one season return. He too had to cut the wages play the kids Barry, j Lloyd Samuel, hitzerberger which were all playing weĺl. Cheap loans / buys leonardson Ronny Johnson. Main problem was he was lambasted for losing 3-0 to blues twice where his experienced players lost the plot in the atmosphere. I am positive we would have progressed if he and been given a second season.
lambert has spotted okora benteke Sanchez but also a large number of flops so I think it is actually more luck than judgement.
Some people say our defence is getting better I reserve judgement. If we are totally defence orientated (3 sitting midfielders) which we are you would expect our stats to improve.
In my opinion lambert has lost his bottle and is more concerned with not losing a game than trying to win. it is 3 points for a win bought in to make the game more attractive
He fails to use his squad constantly picking underperforming players e.g. gabby.
if lambert had any real balls he would walk away.
look at Ian Holloway he was struggling and did the honourable thing and palace survived.
lambert out.
our wage bill has went up under this clown how
App press conference today at the Villa ??utv
I’ve been scratching my head to get round to what’s going on at Villa, my mind reading into the sacking of two coaching staff over said bullying, yet even with a so called hard man appointed things didn’t change, then mysteriously he goes, now its being banded around that players are falling out, Benteke,Abonglahor, Weimman, are not happy with each other,Why, some say Abonglahor is the instigated person, that wouldn’t surprise me, but fans can see that players are not giving 100% ,its as if just go out and have a game, the Villa name ,colours, and the fans mean nothing, am I being paranoid or what, can anyone else see where I’m coming from.? Lambert is a weak man in authority and having control of a management team to me, hence a number two that can control players.
Press conference postponed..
Agent fee not agreed yet..
Like little kids getting excited about a new toy yet it hasn’t even been brought yet..
#joke.
I’ve heard villa wouldn’t pay for his lunch.
Hey hey hey, he wanted 2 extra mayonnaise sachets … What kind of club does he think we are?
Well its starting if any of you are on Facebook there is gonna be a protest at Liverpool game all fans to empty the holte end for the first 8 mins of the game go on Aston villa worldwide it’s on their about it fans have had enough where it works or helps is up to you thoughts please
Protest bollocks
Wait so I’m gonna go to Villa Park after paying my money already and then protest for 8 minutes. Fuck off.
Anyone in support of this idea needs their bloody head shaken
The idea is to stay away for the first 8 minutes, not piss off after 8 minutes…
Are you pissed bum bum. That’s exaclty what I said pal..
Exactly New regime, I made my mind up ages ago not to go down again until things change.
If you spend your money, then watch only real way to protest is to leave empty seats
Absolutely right on the money Turv
Aahahahahhahahaha – Protest for 8 minutes……Couldn’t make it up. Not only does our football make us look like a joke but now some fans do too!!!!
Most fans are 8 mins late finishing their pie n beer anyway
Clowns
The clowns are the one’s who just sit there every home game and do nothing.
Fair play to them – although similar to Newcastle earlier this season, I can’t see it going through.
So how does that work where are the fans going to stand inside and outside ground for first 8 mins. Are fans just going to stand underneath holte. I think it’s ridiculous and can’t see many fans going for it. We should just protest for lamberk out for 90 mins but get behind rest of team. Trouble is if we score in first 5 mins fans will be licking lamberks arse again
Yep exactly helenius clowns to say the least. We all love the Villa but not turning up for 8 minuites will achieve nothing at all, if the whole of the Holte was empty for the whole match that would be different
If fans want to protest its their choice. They pay their money they can do what they want. I know u can protest by not going. Maybe these fans are thinking this is the only way to get Lerners attention.
But it does seem a strange protest, as your saying give the money? don’t watch for 8 minutes then go back and cheer? I’m sure that’s going to make news for the wrong reasons, be like me 4 seats empty from me.
Bill i agree with you just stay away.
Maybe turn your backs for 8 minutes like the NYC Cops…
If the last few weeks are anything to go by. We won’t miss anything by coming in late.
Why not leave it til half time. We normally get a shot off after the break.
Funny Steve but sadly true at the same time
I specifically never wrote about this protest because I don’t think many will take part in it.
Why cough up the money to go and then miss a chunk of the game?
That said, if people think that’s the way to go about it, I’ve no problem with it.
More importantly, it shows that the fans are turning and if things carry on I can only see things escalating.
I’m not sure how though, now that under the new gestapo type rules you’re not even allowed to take in protest banners.
A disgraceful decision, that one, imo.