The Mag
·9 November 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Mag
·9 November 2024
It is Nottingham Forest up against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Ahead of the Premier League fixtures, this was a case of third in the table against eleventh.
Although reality was that only four points separated nine clubs, from Nottingham Forest down to Newcastle United.
No matter though, you can’t argue with the league placings, you eventually end up where you deserve.
However, I do want to ‘argue’ with one piece of narrative.
That is, plucky little Nottingham Forest up against Newcastle United.
A financial chasm as Forest are up against Saudi Arabia PIF moneybags NUFC.
These past three seasons have seen Newcastle United spending on transfers as follows (all stats via Transfermarkt):
2022/23 – £153m
2023/24 – £122m
2024/25 – £56m
Three seasons total – £331m
These past three seasons have seen Nottingham Forest spending on transfers as follows (all stats via Transfermarkt):
2022/23 – £164m
2023/24 – £106m
2024/25 – £89m
Three seasons total – £359m
This is the financial reality.
I am not saying that Nottingham Forest aren’t doing well to be third in the table coming into this weekend’s games. Quite the opposite in fact.
However, to portray Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United as paupers against financial superpower, in terms of spending on players in recent years, is simply laughable.