Good quality post, sirIf necessary, yes.
I do think it's in Levy's nature to constantly binge on capital expenditure (golf courses, hotels, go carts, etc) in a way that doesn't present nearly the favorable and certain ROI that the stadium did.
The stadium was a bigger challenge than it got credit for (look at United and Chelsea) and was a great success, and will be Levy's positive legacy at the club for decades beyond his lifetime. (If you need that "nuance" to pay attention, there it is. Levy delivered us a home we can be proud of for the whole 21st century and has my thanks and admiration for it.) That halo does not extend to an ever-growing real estate and fixed asset portfolio though, so I do think in that sense there is "extra money" around.
But regardless, I reject the characterization that investing some of the multibillion pound inflation in the club's value (that is flowing directly into ENIC's pocket in mark-to-market terms) back into the team to maintain parity with the business practices of EVERY OTHER CLUB is making an unreasonable or infeasible demand on the ownership.
We shouldn't be a distant last place on that chart. Period. "Self sustaining" is a propagandistic euphemism for a singular and unique hoarding of asset inflation by our owners relative to every one of our competitors. We are being made to fight with one arm tied behind our backs in order to further enrich Levy and Lewis' heirs.
And I'm sorry this triggers you so, but it's just reality, I have never seen a word of disagreement with the preceding paragraph from anyone who hasn't sunk DECADES of internet blather (or perhaps talk show blather in someone like Simon Jordan's case) into defending Daniel Levy against his critics. The people for whom pro-Levy posting has settled into the core of their identity are the only defenders out there. The hard, objective data is just too clear and too damning.
"Self Sustaining " = The FC Funded by the fans as the owners use the clubs name to expand in to non footballing ventures and prepare to make billions in a future sale.




