I think you say it yourself. If these clubs want to run themselves sustainably, either to increase their own valuation or to comply with regulation, then they will have to correct. This will be especially true if they've over extended themselves in the belief that TV money will always rise. If it doesn't, they will have to row themselves back in to closer to where we are operating. We are getting closer to Chelsea right now - the fact that they didn't want to go all in for Llorente and we did I thought was pretty telling. City ummed and ahhed over Evans and Mahrez. Arsenal have always been this way. It's only really United, who operate on a higher level because of their higher commercial revenues - e.g. predictable to them and them alone. For the macro levers for the other clubs - TV money - I'm getting the sense that clubs are trying to curb themselves to not let it get totally out of control.
In fact, I think it can already be argued that it's helping. You see City pull out of the Sanchez deal - I'm sure their owners can plough more money in to pay his wages but they clearly didn't want to. The more that all of this happens it is good for us, we have a shot of getting closer because we are so close footballing wise and our revenues are going to improve by quite a significant extent. The idea that these clubs won't just keep pouring more and more money in but will at best stagnate and at worst pull back, means we are pulling closer. The more deals they steer clear of, the more it presents an opportunity for us.
What this means for Toby, I'm not sure. The fact that Dan Kilpatrick is reporting this makes me think there is something going on now, but the 'even though Poch had a 2 hour chat with Toby, he would have appreciated more clarity earlier on' line reeks of agent talk to me. It's just a classic, utterly ridiculous line for an agent to use, alongside all of the 'Rooney is shocked and saddened' stuff that comes out every time just before he ends up getting a new contract. And I would say that this means it's a negotiation, Toby's agent is just trying to get him the best deal.
There was never any talk of saving Walker. Once it was decided he was gone, he was gone. I wouldn't be surprised if the reason Levy is bothering to negotiate this hard is because we feel Toby's level has dropped slightly this season. I thought it at the start - it was Jan looking like the leader of the pair rather than Toby this time around, and he suddenly looked ever so slightly more shaky. The fact that Sanchez has come in and performed so well in these recent games strengthens our hand, and perhaps it is wise to get Toby to prove himself here. And maybe Poch knows something about his condition - maybe he anticipate's Toby declining fairly quickly over the next couple of years and long term the best bet for us it to give Sanchez all the time to improve. And maybe he won't mind Toby declining at one of our rivals. But I think this is all just a bit of back and forth by Levy and the agent ultimately. Toby's agent seems good - I'm surprised Levy agreed to the release clause - so I'm sure we'll get there eventually if we are desperate to make it happen.
