Funny how you didn't mention our 2 rivals who we generate more revenue than eh?
Funny how that lot see they need to improve in midfield, find a player they think will improve them and who wants to join (which is also important), then pay the money to make it happen, even if it's £100M or more as a fee and whatever the wages are.
We don't do that when we easily could which is what pisses off people who want to see us compete for trophies and then there's people like you who seem content to play spreadsheet football.
You make a fair point, but I'd argue that we have pushed the boat out for players, we've just done it badly more often than not. I'd admit though that we always seem to fall short when it comes to getting the final pieces in.
The problem in here, is that those final pieces differ depending on who you speak to, and very few of them will align with what our club deem to be the final pieces. WHEN we get them is also subjective. Some want them all right now. Some, of which I happen to be one, are willing to wait until those right pieces are available. Again though, that's based on who we see as the right fit. Again subjective.
Our recent history shows that we're willing and able to spend vast sums of money on playing staff, we're top 4 for nett spend over the past 5 years. Our trouble has been lurching from manager to manager, bringing in the players they wanted, then looking to move those same players on when the next manager gets his feet under the table.
We seem to be building with a plan now. What the end date for that plan is no one knows, it's all speculation based on emotion.
Many will choose to believe what they WANT to believe, which is fair enough as long as your belief has some logic behind it. I've posted many times on here that I can see both sides of the argument, I just don't get emotional about either.
This isn't me digging out those who do get emotional about it though, I'm not so old that I can't remember when I was like that. Age brings wisdom though, so they say.