The bent and west ham situation, I find quite funny. West Ham are clearly going to be the next Leeds. They buy up players, and put them on crazy wages (if i remember rightly, parker was given a wage of about 70k a week) 80k a week for bent. Its not like their owner has Abramovich wealth. I prefer the way we are building and (much as I hate to say it) how spuds have progressed, by buying potential. We all praise our youth system, and rightly so, but there are several coming through (steiber springs to mind) who were aquired at the age of 16, or 17 on the basis of promise, and moulded by the youth setup into potentially quality premiership players. I prefer our way.
Spam are going for short term success, we are building a legacy.