Grays_1890
Tommy Harmer
Base income generation is key though. It genuinely (beyond Man U type mismanagement) puts a floor underneath you. Few clubs, especially the ones who have aspirations to take our place, have that. You then rely on good decision making and/or lucking out with a manager. That can work but is susceptible to falling apart as the decision making slips, a manager gets poached, or just the natural end of a cycle.
The middling clubs Bournemouth Brentford Brighton etc can be well run BUT end up being stripped of their best players so end up in that feeder club cycle.
The league is hotting up but its only Liverpool and Arsenal that look nailed on to be Top 5 finishers in recent seasons.
THats why Saudi Sportswashing Machine and VIlla keep crying about PSR, because they don't generate money off the pitch and want to be able to load cash in like the old days of doping.