It isn't nonsense. They are going for broke here Stoke and if they don't go up they will have to spend the next 2 years slashing their wage bill. Forest seemed to be doing the same, think they have just shelled out 13m on a Portuguese player.
Its a risky strategy, but it does give you 1 decent shot at promotion every 3 years.
Villa thought they could roll the dice twice and are now paying the price.