Money almost seems a necessity now for a club with an ambition to break the top four. For the first time in what might actually be my lifetime people are telling me that they expect big things from Sunderland this season but realistically what do they mean by that? They mean top 8 at an absolute maximum which would be great for us but when people say they expect big things from a Premier League club it usually means a top half finish with little chance of actually winning anything. Maybe a domestic cup at the most.

For anything more than that, a whole hell of a lot of money just seems to be vital just to compete.

Chelsea are probably a fairly recent example of true success with a healthy bank account.

Newcastle, as you mentioned, on the other hand. They have had 11 or 12 changes in management in the last 10 years. On paper theres no reason why they shouldnt have had the same level of success as a club like Everton over the last few seasons but Everton have stuck with the same manager for 7 years or so now. I think you're right when you say theres a lot of different things to factor in, just having the money isnt everything.

personally think the spanish league is a more attractive watch, there's a bit of predictability there to, but the whole package appeals to me more, the crowds, the teams below the top two, valencia Seville, deportivo, athletico, very good to watch, and the way barcelona outclassed man. utd, they won it with a swagger!

Well,i'm a Liverpool fan...
*Prepares to be blasted away with negativity*

These boards have really gone to the dogs recently. :(

I was at a wedding in Belfast on Saturday and loads of the grooms family are thieving scousers. You would have loved it RT, they were everywhere.

calm down, calm down, barry, terry, terry , barry, spent a good weekend in liverpool once, it's got a feel good vibe, bit like glasgow, scousers have great sense of humour and don't take themselves to serious, lovable rogues!

Great scouse comedians; Ken Dodd, Stan Boardman, Jimmy Tarbuck...er, can't really think of any more.

And they call that a great sense of humour?

Continuously telling anyone who will listen that you have a great sense of humour doesn't make you funny.

i was more thinking of the everyday people, although an audience with ken dodd was very good.

Then you obviously think shell suit wearing, thieving, lying, lazy workshy, benefit scrounging, devious and violent switch blade carrying hoodies hilarious...

hey hey hey, hang on a mo, what about shameless, that's not set in liverpool!