Agreed. We have to on average across the squad keep selling players for more than we bought them. There are going to be exceptions when they're crucial because you need experience or a guaranteed performer. Cabaye, benteke and another forward for example.

If we sign a successful winger for half or less of Bolasie's transfer then it's a strategy that's working healthily. We do not have a competitive revenue outside of tv money. We're about 15th in revenue and until you have the squad filled with quality, you have to duck and dive make sure as much as you can that all deals benefit us long-term and keep us stable in the league.

COYP

It is not about swapping, it is about strength of Squad.

What happens if Zaha and or Townsend are injured?

It cannot be argued that selling Bolasie makes us stronger. It can only be a profit making decision.
Are we really saying that with new investment and massive SKY money we still need to sell to buy?

I am not buying that.

Yeah if everyone followed that logic nobody would buy anyone from paranoia and nobody would sell anyone and start retraining the player.

COYP

I don't think the Benteke deal slowed because of FFP. Net Transfer spend was only +£10mil and we've released and sold quite a few players reducing the wage bill. Chamakh £40k, Adebayor £67k, Gayle (£30k ?), McCarthy (£20k at least?). Then there's the annual increase allowed. Wasn't it £12mil or £16mil last season? That's between £230k and £300k per season. How much is it this season? Or has it stopped? I doubt it.

I think it might have slowed, or we might not have increased our bid because when you know you have £30mil coming in you can buy Benteke and a winger and/or whatever else. We didn't just put all our eggs in one basket type of strategy. I think in basic terms we look to improve quality but increase quantity of that quality whilst also netting a profit for further squad improvements if a deal appears and/or any infrastructure spend not on rebuilding main stand/WH end that the US money is for.

Edited by Rudi Hedman (10 Aug 2016 12.20pm)

COYP

Not sure I buy the 'Selling your best player for profit is not what ambitious clubs do' line. If the price is right then any club will sell - eg Bale to Real, Ronaldo to Real etc etc.

If, as you say, we dont 'need' to sell Bolasie or that you dont believe his sale allows us to buy Benteke then the only only other reason for selling him is that Yala wants to go.

And when a player wants to go, then there's Not alot the club can do about it. Apart from making as much money out of the deal as possible.

When the time comes, I want die just like my Dad - at peace and asleep.
Not screaming and terrified.
Like his passengers.

So when Liverpool sold Suarez they showed a lack of ambition? Juve sell Pogba, Spurs sell Bale, Manure sell Ronaldo, Beckham. I could go on but i wont - why because its silly as is this argument.

I think the club has a player angling for a shot at a bigger club. There's been plenty of noise this past year. This is a player who is inconsistent - to say the least. We've bought a player with less tricks but a better track record of delivering a cross and scoring actual goals. Hopefully we will get a tricky attacking midfielder as well and we'll have a plan B this season.