As one of the advocates for over 60k, here is my reasoning:
In the early 90's Man Utd got lucky with a perfect storm of a good manager and a young team of stars. They went on a run that has seen them since amass 11 league titles and numerous other trophies. During that period they have constantly upgraded their stadium, as the demand matched their success. If I remember correctly Old Trafords capacity was 40k odd at the beginning. They are now looking to go above 80k.
Now say we get just as lucky. We find a decent manager, and thanks to our financial backing, get in some stars. We go on a run of success that sees us win numerous stuff over a 10 year period, and we find ourselves equals to Man Utd. How restricting and short sighted is a 50k stadium going to seem? We'll just find ourselves in a similar position to the one currently facing City and Chelsea. The flip side of that is we don't. We never improve our lot and stay it this level forever, making a 60k seem excessive. I know which scenario I'd prefer us to be moving towards. When I talk about ambition, that is where I'm coming from.
I know currently 60k would be excessive. I also know building a 60k stadium will not bring success, only the team and manger will. I also agree that a 50k will make no difference in us achieving success. But if we don't aim to be the best we can be at everything we do, then what is the point?
Up until the 90's this football club was at the forefront of English football, from being the first purpose built stadium, to the first to fit under soil heating. We are the only English club to have hosted a World Cup semi final. That's how great Goodison used to be. That all stopped with building of the very short sighted Park End, and since then we've become also rans. We just make up the numbers theses days. Why not make this new stadium the start to propel ourselves back to forefront of English football? Aim big, make a statement, make people take us seriously again.
Building a 50k stadium just seems like the Park End all over again; an opportunity to do something great being passed by for the cheaper, better than what we had anyway, alternative.
