Why Arry Missed Barry
Tuesday, 02 June 09, 03:59 PM · Comments (124)
Hey Levy -
So if you got a trumpet, get on your feet,
brother, and blow it
If you've got a field, that don't yield,
well get up and hoe it
Why did Gareth Barry join Manchester City?
Was it just their filthy lucre and thier lavish blueprints of a brave new world? Tevez is allegedly 72.3 % done according to City sources. So I guess the threat of someone pretty naffing good to pass to only aided thier cause.
I think he was terrified of becoming another Bentley.
Whilst Arry helps the police with their enquires on a routine and minor matter. (Who writes his stuff, the same people that wrote Minder?) Tottenham fans shuffle their feet mumbling pity I s'pose and was he that good then? to each other. You know, in a sort of down at heel hands in pockets kindda stylee.
The bottom line is we'll see how good he used to be. That is for sure. Aston Villa for reasons various, yet none anyone can readily put their finger on went from Des Res to Dodgy gaff with hint of subsidence.
Barry's departure will hurt them about as much as losing Carrick did to us.
Barry won't set the world on fire at Eastlands, but he may just achieve for them that which we'd think was very cheap had he come and done it for us.
City will remunerate him well, but I can't help thinking that there is a hesitancy in the minds of a good number of players about us at the moment.
Bent is our top scorer and is treated like a moron by Arry in the press and by us on the Net. Crazy Paving is I think, generally respected by the fans and yet Arry rarely starts him. And his situation was only worsened after Smoothbum netted FOUR in one night.
The Bentley fiasco is another Public Relations disaster. Oh yeah, that's why I just called it a fiasco. Sorry, sometimes I feel I haven'y quite got a grip of this writing lark.
Spurs, barge pole? Pattern, emerging? Let's hope not.
BIOYC!
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"Just remember one thing my son - no-one is bigger than the club. The club will be here long after you go. Us supporters ain't mugs (well, not too many!). To end - if you don't want us and our club ain't big enough for you, then f*ck right off." Dannyboy
"We're very lucky in the band in that we have two visionaries, David and Nigel, they're like poets, like Shelley and Byron. They're two distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water." Derek Smalls
"Can you hear me! Tommy Trinder, Johnny Haynes, Dodi Fayed, Wolfy Smith.......your boys took a hell of a beating!" Sydney Wale
"Each season, there is a team that goes into freefall and gets sucked into the relegation scrap. losing becomes a habit, like winning and if we ain't careful, that team could be us." Dannyboy
"Clearly my words have gone to the highest level. Expect him gone in May" Jolsgonemental
"As a Spurs supporter of no half-measure, I will continue to support Jol, Hughton, the squad and the entire club, to the best of my ability and at all times" Yid 15
"I hear Glenn Hoddle has found God. That must have been one hell of a pass." Jasper Carrott
"White Hart Lane was always a place where I felt I belonged." David Ginola
"I would run through brick walls for Spurs." Graham Roberts
"Even now, when I go over to my mother'S house and dig out the old tracksuit tops I wore, it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I like to think i am part of a special family. I am no longer connected with the club on a daily basis, but i'm delighted with every win and sad about every defeat." Steve Perryman
"Any player coming to Spurs, whether he's a big signing or just a ground staff boy, must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing." Bill Nicholson
"Bill did so much for his beloved Spurs that we must never let his legacy fade. He must be our inspiration as we strive to ensure that a new era dawns here at White Hart Lane." Daniel Levy
" 'Oh dear, it's f*cked', is what I've always taken it to mean. I do have O-level Latin. Now they've stuck up a literal translation, in large letters: 'To dare is to do.' The words just stand there, on their own, not making much sense." Hunter Davies
"When Gazza came to the Spurs training ground for the first time got the ball, went round 8 players as if they were not there and then smashed the ball into the net. Just to see him play like that made the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Everybody stood there and applauded him." Terry Venables
"We will not be pushed around by a bunch of north London yobbos." Rupert Lowe, Southampton chairman, shortly before his manager Glenn Hoddle left for Spurs.
""I earned the right to be in the team and fought every game to be in it." Graham Roberts
"The worst thing Spurs ever did was get rid of Keith Burkinshaw. They never replaced him." Graham Roberts
"When you've finished playing football, young man, which is going to be very soon, I feel, you'll make a very good security guard." David Pleat to a 17yr old Neil Ruddock
"If someone wants to give you a bum steer on who we're after, then so be it. If you want to know, ask me, because I have a list of players we want and Robbie Keane isn't on it." Glenn Hoddle, then Spurs manager, shortly before paying 17 mill for ... Robbie Keane.
"The biggest regret of my whole football career was leaving White Hart Lane in 1970.....my interest in football weakened after that. I was heartbroken" Jimmy Greaves.
"I know more about smalz herring than I do about football." Sir Alan Sugar
"The trouble with Christian Gross is that no-one had heard of him. The communication wasn't brilliant and as captain I decided to explain to him how things worked and what the players liked and were used to. I do not believe he listened to a word I said." Gary Mabbutt
"Always had a bit of time, make a little bit of space, look up, bang. And you know he could put it on a postage stamp from 40 yards. Mmmmmmmmm...." Ron Manager aka Paul Whitehouse, Spurs fan on Glenn Hoddle
"I'm a miserable sod." Sir Alan Sugar
"The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom." Danny Blanchflower
"Man in the raincoat's blue & white army." Spurs fans unable to use George Graham's name, 1999.
"We like a tackle at Tottenham. we're not pansies, you know. " David Pleat
"I was sitting just a few feet away from David Pleat at the World Cup. He's a nice fellow, but the man is mad: certifiably, eye-spiningly mad." Danny Kelly
"The only thing wrong with White Hart Lane is that the seats face the pitch" Les Dawson
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"Just remember one thing my son - no-one is bigger than the club. The club will be here long after you go. Us supporters ain't mugs (well, not too many!). To end - if you don't want us and our club ain't big enough for you, then f*ck right off." Dannyboy
"We're very lucky in the band in that we have two visionaries, David and Nigel, they're like poets, like Shelley and Byron. They're two distinct types of visionaries, it's like fire and ice, basically. I feel my role in the band is to be somewhere in the middle of that, kind of like lukewarm water." Derek Smalls
"Can you hear me! Tommy Trinder, Johnny Haynes, Dodi Fayed, Wolfy Smith.......your boys took a hell of a beating!" Sydney Wale
"Each season, there is a team that goes into freefall and gets sucked into the relegation scrap. losing becomes a habit, like winning and if we ain't careful, that team could be us." Dannyboy
"Clearly my words have gone to the highest level. Expect him gone in May" Jolsgonemental
"As a Spurs supporter of no half-measure, I will continue to support Jol, Hughton, the squad and the entire club, to the best of my ability and at all times" Yid 15
"I hear Glenn Hoddle has found God. That must have been one hell of a pass." Jasper Carrott
"White Hart Lane was always a place where I felt I belonged." David Ginola
"I would run through brick walls for Spurs." Graham Roberts
"Even now, when I go over to my mother'S house and dig out the old tracksuit tops I wore, it makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I like to think i am part of a special family. I am no longer connected with the club on a daily basis, but i'm delighted with every win and sad about every defeat." Steve Perryman
"Any player coming to Spurs, whether he's a big signing or just a ground staff boy, must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing." Bill Nicholson
"Bill did so much for his beloved Spurs that we must never let his legacy fade. He must be our inspiration as we strive to ensure that a new era dawns here at White Hart Lane." Daniel Levy
" 'Oh dear, it's f*cked', is what I've always taken it to mean. I do have O-level Latin. Now they've stuck up a literal translation, in large letters: 'To dare is to do.' The words just stand there, on their own, not making much sense." Hunter Davies
"When Gazza came to the Spurs training ground for the first time got the ball, went round 8 players as if they were not there and then smashed the ball into the net. Just to see him play like that made the hair stand up on the back of your neck. Everybody stood there and applauded him." Terry Venables
"We will not be pushed around by a bunch of north London yobbos." Rupert Lowe, Southampton chairman, shortly before his manager Glenn Hoddle left for Spurs.
""I earned the right to be in the team and fought every game to be in it." Graham Roberts
"The worst thing Spurs ever did was get rid of Keith Burkinshaw. They never replaced him." Graham Roberts
"When you've finished playing football, young man, which is going to be very soon, I feel, you'll make a very good security guard." David Pleat to a 17yr old Neil Ruddock
"If someone wants to give you a bum steer on who we're after, then so be it. If you want to know, ask me, because I have a list of players we want and Robbie Keane isn't on it." Glenn Hoddle, then Spurs manager, shortly before paying 7 mill for ... Robbie Keane.
"The biggest regret of my whole football career was leaving White Hart Lane in 1970.....my interest in football weakened after that. I was heartbroken" Jimmy Greaves.
"I know more about smalz herring than I do about football." Sir Alan Sugar
"The trouble with Christian Gross is that no-one had heard of him. The communication wasn't brilliant and as captain I decided to explain to him how things worked and what the players liked and were used to. I do not believe he listened to a word I said." Gary Mabbutt
"Always had a bit of time, make a little bit of space, look up, bang. And you know he could put it on a postage stamp from 40 yards. Mmmmmmmmm...." Ron Manager aka Paul Whitehouse, Spurs fan on Glenn Hoddle
"I'm a miserable sod." Sir Alan Sugar
"The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It's nothing of the kind. The game is about glory. It's about doing things in style, with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom." Danny Blanchflower
"Man in the raincoat's blue & white army." Spurs fans unable to use George Graham's name, 1999.
"We like a tackle at Tottenham. we're not pansies, you know. " David Pleat
"I was sitting just a few feet away from David Pleat at the World Cup. He's a nice fellow, but the man is mad: certifiably, eye-spiningly mad." Danny Kelly
"The only thing wrong with White Hart Lane is that the seats face the pitch" Les Dawson
124 Comments · Add yours
Probably because there was never any bid and Spurs fans once again swallow media nonsense without question.
I thought the transfer merry go round didn't start till the 1st July??
Reply to name:
How did yours taste or are you still fasting, oh wise one?
R Shaving - wasn't it 4 goals. Wasn't he Spurs bound this time last year.
Who for Spurs then?
Maybe Barry felt his chnacs may not be 'certain' for Spurs - Modric, Palacious and Lennon are def.
How difficult is this - Defence (central ONLY); Left wing, and target man.
ps - Bale was excellent for Wales again the other day - can't be that hard!!
Have to agree, the number of players who seemed to set the world alight, sign for spurs and then look like they couldnt hit a barn door. In recent times, Bentley, Bent, Postiga, Rebrov. And lets not forget poor old Robbo, who joined us as England's emerging number 1, and left on the verge of a nervous breakdown
Shame about Barry, I would have liked to have seen him alongside Wilson but in my heart of hearts I knew he would never come.
HH , sorry to be a pedant but didn't Arshavin get 4 in one night?
Any news on Thudds proposed Bolton move?
Barry would have been nice, but it seems doubtful that we were in for him with any vigor (if at all).
Bigger picture, blinkered and biased I may be, but Spurs will always be a destination team and Harry is a boss that players like to play for. Harry will do fine for us with transfers.
You know, once he raises bail.
It was four goals by the Russian we should have bought (1 less league goal than our man got all season).
The complete disaster in the transfer market over the last couple of season's is about to come back and take a massive bite out of our arse.
We can no longer compete.
New owners please.
Reply to avisie:
..and why do we think of Thudd leaving - we will probably get 6m and buy worse for 12m - keep him an play him. Bolton!!! Say no frig*n more - great for long balls.
For want of something better to do, and having had too much caffeine today, I re-read some of your posts from last summers transfer wheelings and dealings. What a difference a year makes. From a positive vibe and some of the biggest names in the world being linked with us at every turn, to your description to the start of this years top trumps as 'barge and pole'.
A fancy foreign serial cup winning manager at the helm brought a sense of optimism I've not seen in many a while, and one that sent ripples around the world. Here was a club that would stop at nothing including raiding the manager of the day (wafer cup a speciality) and was scouring the world to assault all challengers.
Playing for Arry just hasn't the same level of pull I'm afraid. Not in European circles, not in the League, not even amongst a worrying amount of our own 'fans'. Yet many of his old players wax nothing but lyrical about this man.
If nurturing and turning unknowns into polished players is his speciality, then lets hope he can be as creative this time round. Barry to WHL might just not have been creative enough, and with a budget to stick to - that would have been allegedly almost half gone.
Personally I'd rather have an influx of relative unknowns like Wilson arrive, than top level mega money signings. Lets learn some lessons this summer, lets stay under the radar. Let's be the dark horses for once and surprise a few people next season.
Three is now four.
Complimentary crates of brown ale have been dispatched to those keen eyed crazy kids who spotted this week's human error.
Reply to Trembly:
Grim but well observed as ever, Sir.
Reply to thestoad:
Fully agree!
He needs to stay and anyway, he is worth more than 6m.
I like the look of that Bastos but then where do we fit Modders in?
Answer: Drop Keane
'Lets learn some lessons this summer, lets stay under the radar. Let's be the dark horses for once and surprise a few people next season.'
Let's stop buying back the junk that wasn't up to it in the first place and buy quality rather than quantity.
Money.
Expect more of this to come as City get first dibs on the best, most available players on the market.
Pompey and Sunderland will also enjoy throwing the cash around this summer in desperate attempts to make themselves mid-table teams next summer.
Best we can hope for is to hang-on to what we've got (which aint that bad really), and try to pick-up some bargains (e.g. Tuncay).
I think it might be the thought of having to look a Joe Jordan's ugly mug everyday that might be a bit off putting for potential players
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I think M'ON's V*lla showed us all how the 'under the radar' approach could work. They got off to a cracking start based on having a settled team that could communicate and learning to play with each other through the intertoto.
Pre-season last year was a farce. Pictures of PSB, Steed and Chimbo doing chair lifts on the beach looked like fun, but what was the point of team building exercises with people that wouldn't be in the team? Add to that trouncing every team in sight was always a recipe for disaster.
We aren't quite Arrys team yet, but I'm fairly confident (bar any legal surprises) that we'll have a proper and ready squad for next season.
Grim? Lets hope our lack of headline grabbing signings means that our competition under estimate us at their peril.
Enic aren't the best but they've learnt an awful lot in recent years and I'm pretty sure that the plan is to sell the club for silly money once all the pieces are put together like the new training ground and naming rights for WHL established.
Once discussions like that get somewhere and the A-rabs look at the potential Spurs has with it's worldwide fanbase, then it will be a snip at a couple of hundred million.
Look for something along the lines of Pompey without the season panic by Gydawank.
I'll give it 2 or 3 seasons at the most, until then if Levy can somehow blag one season in the Champions league, they'll be looking to sell sharpish...but they'll make do with a Europa place.
All speculation of course........
Reply to Trembly:
Grim? Lets hope our lack of headline grabbing signings means that our competition under estimate us at their peril.
Make for a very welcome change, that's for sure.
Reply to Cuba Montana:
But good speculation.
Its all going on now
LINK
Reply to HarryHotspur:
And, as I pointed out at the time, the moaning 'UK taxes are 50% so I now earn less than in Russia' twonk, managed to score 4 goals with "more space than an episode of Star Trek" (look it up, it's somewhere on here).
Frankly, what would Spurs do with him? Am really not in the least bothered that the shiny derriere went off to L'Arse. Thanks for your taxes mate. Some MPs spent it on moats, duck islands, gold embossed well covers and employing relations.
It's going to be tough to beat the greedy-sod wage attraction at the City of Manchester's Council-owned ground but f*ck 'em. I trust that 'arry will deal well and the footballers who come to us actually want to play for us, a la Wilson P.
Harry,
I think you're right to point out Bentley's failure as Barry's deterrent. But more than just this, I'm convinced Barry was not only wooed by astronimical wages, but also prospects of complete and utter grandeur. They likely promised him an integral role in the centre of the soon-to-be best team in the world, next to Ireland - Ha! And Villa are left with 12 mil pounds in consideration? It's hard to fault the obnoxious spenders from UAB on this one. It just seems Barry and Villa, and dare I say Tottenham, could have done a bit better...
nice pick of song sir, however Easy Money (same album) would be more apt and is the real driver in this transfer.
If a player is confident enough and has a true winners mentality, he wont give a shiny shite about the bentley scenario
i hereby declair barry a money grabbing bottler.
On this evidence he would not have been the player we thought he was.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
not getting Arshavin was a big mistake which you will see next season Sandy, a hundred x better version of PSB. There is one reason Barry signed for Man City and we all know what that is
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
You're everywhere tonight. There was a noise in the kitchen earlier, I ignored it - but I now think it may have been you.
City have lumps to throw at these poor innocents and it really changes the dynamics. You're very right.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I was after you last tenner under the ceramic hen.
Ricospur, politely disagree. I know you'll think I'm some mad bint (not the first) but Pav is actually much better at working with his back to goal, holding the ball up and on-target/goal scoring in tight spaces. Just watch. As for PSB, there are many out there far better and for far less than Arsh would've cost us.
Look, if Citeh's millions do any good for any team else, it's this: it's concentrates a club's mind on who *precisely* is necessary for the club, who is affordable and what is their *potential*.
I expect the following from 'arry (if he isn't residing at Her Majesty's Pleasure on corruption charges), - to get the signings as astute and utterly spot-on as Palacios. He can. He will.
In the words of George Michael, "gotta have faith (e') faith (e') faith" etc.
Wages, and city's ability to spend much more than Spurs on top drawer players.
No competition really.
Reply to calebray:
Thank Christ you didn't suggest that weird one about all that the business in the barn
One of the many blights hoisted upon us over the last few seasons has been the inability to buy anyone without overpaying wildly for their services. We also seemed unable to unearth any gems from the nether regions of World football.
Arry is said to be the wheeler dealer extreme so I look forward to one or two people we haven't heard arriving and let Citeh spend till they bleed.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
George Michael also said : "Club Tropicana drinks are free' But I've always been charged for mine.
Reply to onedavemackay:
Quite. I have the bloke down as a perpetuate of false promises.
Reply to onedavemackay:
i have a pair of george micheal wellies
they keep getting sucked off in bogs
sorry
goodnight
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Yes. What did he promise you for letting him sit on you ?
Reply to onedavemackay:
But you're not an airplane pilot. Therein lies the difference I suspect.
Reply to calebray:
No need to be sorry.
We're a broad church.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
sandy, i like pav too just hope we give him a chance next season if Harry gets rid it will be really dissapointing, as for PSB didnt rate him the first time round much prefer defoe and Pav from what we have currently.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
So, what... the blokes down on the line don't have a good time? I'm disappointed.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
Could have been but I didn't have the Latin
C'mon people. Losing Barry, who we may not have even been in for, in early June (that's before the window opens, isn't it?) isn't going to rile me up much. Let Harry make some moves before we kill him.
Plenty of time to kill him, if he needs killing.
Reply to onedavemackay:
Gawd bless OMD and all those who attempt to pursue both of us in the Small Claims Court
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
Ring of Steel 'round Arry!
Ooops, wrong site.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Reply to onedavemackay:
Apudne te vel me?
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
Hey, I meant to ask, when is the new Seattle shirt out???
Look at those beauties
LINK
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
They new or is it just a continuance?
I'd have loved to see Barry at WHL but I never thought it possible so the level of disappointment is low. It's probably unfair to snipe at the bloke about his motivations, Citeh have the platform to build and have some very good players with more to come I don't doubt; that has to be appealing.
I agree that we are probabaly looked at with some suspicion, but not I think for Harry who has done a brilliant job of rescuing us from both relegation and a dependence on anti-depressives. But I think we still suffer from what Comolli/Ramos did or rather didn't do and that's have a plan with a concrete objective and methodology on how to get there. Any player would worry about a side that has so many RBs and RMs and keeps signing more!
Harry's pulled us out of the fire, but I think the general perception is that we have yet to stop being a team fighting relegation and become one with a solid expectation of consistancy and strength in depth capable of mounting a serious challenge to be top 6 all year, every year and gradually top 3 or 4.
Harry's big task starts now. As a footballing side what are we, what do we want to be and how do we get there. So far we are what we have been capable of, given certain players who's strengths have been relied on; but is that what we want to be? Will we start each season designing our template around who we managed to end up with after citeh and the bin dippers have had their pick, or do we design and then build on that design.
If it's the latter then I'm sure Harry has in mind who he wants and I'd expect us to get at least two out of three. Further evidence might be who he lets go. This next season we need to demonstrate that we have a plan and a strategy and are consistent in trying to achieve it, then we might start to pick up the Barry's of the world.
I think we need to "have" a dream for anyone to believe in it.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
Illiud Latine dici non potest: cuius rei demonstrationem mirabilem sane detexi hanc marginis exiguitas non caperet.
Die dulci fruere.
we where linked with barry a spurs fan a few seasons ago n most spurs fans thought he was shit.... harry will sort it out
Reply to spurathought:
Ave 'Arry!
(and that's enough Latin for one night....!)
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
Same shirt. Just a few more options: training kit and what not.
I love how they don't sell a keeper's kit, yet "KELLER" is one of the more popular names that folks are slapping on their shirt.
COYSS!
By the By, if you are up Saturday night and can find a stream, tune in to the US-Honduras WC qualifier. Spare a thought for our own Sargeant Wilson who, per his Wikipedia page, has re-joined the Honduras National Team. No word on yet on the Honduran line up, but stay tuned.
That's what you call a profit margin
LINK
Good morning. We know we cant compete with Citeh in the transfer market (unless its on the basis of guaranteeing first team football) so why beat ourselves up about it? Anyway for (approx) £12 million plus £100k per week for an admittedly very good if unspectacular 28/29 year old Harry might realistically feel he could sign two players. People have criticised Harry's signings in Jan but they did exactly what we needed - dragged us up the league to safety. Chimbo is interesting, but rumour has it Sunderland hadnt paid the full fee anyway, so money may not have changed hands. Cudicini did provide cover for Gomes and may have motivated him to step up. I dont think you can argue with WP, Defoe and Keane - especially when you consider that it was actually an achievement to get anyone decent to sign for a relegation threatened team. The transfer market will be challenging for Harry as more clubs than ever (even Portsmouth and Sunderland) seem to have cash but I'm sure he'll pick up some interesting players. Its reassuring to know that at least he recognises the positions that need strengthening (even if we might not fancy some of the players he is supposed to be looking at) and that he appears keen to get of dead wood too. Only three months to go - got my Barca tickets and I am not sure whether I want them to put on a wonder show or Spurs to win a gritty negative 1 - 0 - nah,I'd take the 1 - 0 for the gloating potential!
I think I couldn't care less.
Monkey boy out for another two months. I think we have another sick note on our hands.
by the way any news on the spurs 09-10 kit?
Mark my words. Oman City have made a mistake
I'm glad we didn't buy Barry, not because he isn't a really good player, and I rate him highly, but because;
1. He won't play every week - look at the competition - so will get frustrated sitting on the bench which will lead to naff performances
2. He has played at Villa since 1742 so is accustomed to that set up - it will be a major challenge for him to adapt and its unlilkely he will if not being played regular
3. If he'd come to us, he would have had all of that upheaval on top of pressure from his spurs supporting family.
Best we didn't go there in ym opinion - bastard will probably score against us now!
Reply to SeattleSpursGuy:
I thought this was your new shirt
LINK
sorry mate couldn't resist the "Hijack City" joke!
Reply to Ginge1:
Does the 3pc Creeper set come in adult sizes?
I agree with Trembly in the main.
I think we've got a good squad now fairly settled and hopefully we won't have a load of new signings to try and fit in this year. We could do with one or two quality additions.
City on the other hand need at least two centre backs and two strikers, midfield was their only area of strength last year. As we've shown over the years, loads of new players no matter how good take time to settle and I'm confident we'll finish higher than them next year.
If you all remember we only had "2 points from 8 games" our form since Arry arrived would put us right up there with the Villas & Everton's. Villa lost Laursen (who has had to retire) and since that happened they dropped like a stone (& have now lost Barry neither of who will be replaced easily).
My biggest concern is only having Sgt Wilson as a combative, tackling midfielder - if he were to get injured we'd be back to square one. Hopefully another midfield destroyer would help along with an out and out left winger (although I did like the look of young Andros Townsend for the kids team against Woolwich kids)
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
youre right of course, we did a great bit of business paying the same money for robbie keane as they did for Andrei 'Only 4 at Anfield' Arshavin.
the jokes on them! Oh how they must be crying into their prawn sandwiches having to settle for Arshavin and top 4 for the foreseeable future, whilst we sign players that actually want to play for us. like robbie keane.
get a grip.
Reply to Sam:
Leaked info from a highly ranked source @ a massage parlour in Hendon indicate it's essentially identical to the last one but with broader epaulets and a concealed hood in the neck line.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
possibly, i'll ask! I missed that first time round, too amazed by the $240 for a vest!!!!!!!!
Reply to jolsgonemental:
good to see you've become much more positive in my absence!
Reply to Ginge1:
whats your point?
I wasnt being particular positive or negative, I was just pointing out she was speaking complete utter shite.
I don't believe we paid the same for Keane as Woolwich did for Arsehaving. We were owed money (over a period) as opposed to Zenit wanting money upfront (plus wages & god knows how much in pay offs to the russians)
I wasn't privy to the exact finances of either deal, however without needing to be Columbo I'm pretty sure you didn't either as such its all "he say, she say"
Reply to Ginge1:
My understanding is we made a net profit of 38p on the Keane debacle.
so we are in the black, result!
Didn't we sell Keane for 20m and didn't Arshavin cost 15m?
Doesn't that mean we could have replaced Keane with Arshavin and made 5m, or at the very least, just replaced Keane with Arshavin?
Reply to Ginge1:
same thing. we wrote off debts as opposed to paying up front. still comes to the same thing when the years figures are added up. lucky you dont work in banking eh.
pendantics aside. whilst we were buying (writing off a debt) on Robbie keane, the nonce were buying arshavin.
Therein lies the difference between a successful club and an unsuccessful one. suggesting we got the better deal is im sure you agree, a bit spastic.
we are just waiting on an arab. thats all.
Reply to Gazzasfaketits:
we have a winner.
yep. Keane for Arshavin.
its a no brainer. or so you would have thought.
Reply to Gazzasfaketits:
Arshavin wanted to go to Woolwich, they've won decent stuff in his lifetime and are always in the CL.
Zenit messed us about and we gave up they wanted £24M (I believe). Woolwich went back and played hard ball and only got him at the last minute (when I say last minute I mean 24 hours after the end of the transfer window as is the way of the cheating Woolwich scum!)
Oh it's like a better written version of Eastenders. I haven't been on for a bit, but nothing's really changed... Jolsgonemental is still angry at the world, Danny_Blanchflower's speaking in a language no other bugger understands and we're wondering if we've dodged a bullet missing out on another good signing, marvelous!
How does anyone feel about Babel for 8mil(Independant...thought process), he'd be a good thing I reckon. Would like Glen Johnson, but he'll go to Liverpool or Citeh. I'd also like Wesley Shhhhneider. We are improving aren't we???
COYS
Reply to jolsgonemental:
The real issue is that money wasn't Arshavin's god. He just didn't want to play for us.
When is Tony Adams joining the coaching staff, anyway?
Reply to Poshspur:
We've more chance of signing Wesley Snipes.
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Bring on the Arabs.
With our habit of buying back average players and our non-competitive wage structure, we may as well pack up and go home now.
Reply to Ginge1:
24m it was then.
Keane plus 4m.
still a bargain. still wasnt paid.
The point is. Buying and replacing average players will maintain the status quo, but will not progress anyone.
You are better off breaking the bank on one world class player than looking for 2-3 average players.
Thats my opinion anyway. But i think the success of the top 4 sort of proves me correct.
I would have had Arshavin over Keane, but its not a level playing field, you're either in the CL and have a bit of leverage or you pay over the top in fees and wages. Lets be honest is anyone going to go on strike if they're not allowed to go to Spurs? if they are they're shit / spastic (Bentley?)
As for paying up front over paying in stages being the same, did you go to school?
£20m upfront means £24m going out of your bank there and then
£20m over 4 years means £5m going out of your bank there and then
not exactly the same are they.
Do people not understand that we ain't going to get the very best players unless they have issues (Woodgate being injury prone when we bought him) or we pay them a shit load in wages (Bridge / Barry etc). The only other way is if we get in the CL and even then players might be concerned we'd be a one season wonder.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
He just wanted out of Russia.
We just didn't want to pay.
You hit the nail straight on. We MUST stopp all this negativ press we are creating. we MUST stopp making fools of our own players and someone should pay for a "how to improve your social skills and media handling" course for arry. Who want's to come to our club where there seems to be a law thats says that if you have a bad match or mistake then you are made a fool of in the papers the day aftrer by your own manager? Certaintly no english players who knows about this. The bentley and bent epiosodes is a shame to the club, bentley is a world class midfielder, give him one more season to fit inn, and yes I "like" defoe and pav better than bent, but he is our most scoring striker! And for the love of (erh.. not god but someone)don't sell dos santos, one of the brightest talents in prem. I dread this transfer window..
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Perhaps he could wear his leather hat(Bad video) to really set off our new yellow slash kit! It really is a yellow slash kit isn't it. Nothing like as funny as the hilarious retro number The Daily Mail are claming Manure will be sporting next season. Ha!
Reply to Ginge1:
'£20m upfront means £24m going out of your bank there and then'
you was sacked from a banking job wasnt you?
anyway. i repeat. pay over the top in fees and wages for one then dont buy keane and chimbonda. = same.
I dont care what anyone says, if we had put 20m + on the table in the summer we would have got Arshavin, I am sure.
Reply to Poshspur:
Spelling correction. Claiming rather than claming, although it is hot.
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Do you not think a world class player like Arshavin coming into a team who dominate most teams might settle in and look a bit better than him coming into our team who struggle against most teams. Just getting him the ball in decent positions, not needing him to track back etc.
I also go back to my other point if your Arshavin and Zenit say Spurs have come in for you, you might say ok, I want £150k pw
Arsenal are in for him, he might suddenly start saying right let me go or i'm going on strike, he goes to Arse for a knock down fee and for £80k pw
It's not a level playing field.
I do agree that I'd rather we bought one or two quality players rather than four or five average - but really was Arshavin going to come to us in Jan when we're at the bottom of the table? Zenit had decided to stop asking for a kings ransom but we're out of the race at this stage.
Again we have to go for borderline greats with potential (Berba, Modric) who the Sky 4 don't want or we do a City and thow £M's at player's and risk buying people who only want the money (Robinho - have you seen him away from home, might as well not be there!)
Reply to jolsgonemental:
That was before we knew he could cut it in the Prem by scoring four at Anfield. I can remember everyone thinking he might be good but riskier than going with the proven Keane. It looks a poor call now, but hindsight's a wonderful thing.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I think young Wesley is slightly indisposed at the moment...
LINK
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Exactly.
Don't buy 4 ok right backs, buy 2 top one's.
Don't buy 15 mediocre midfielders, buy 4 top one's.
Don't buy 5 mediocre strikers, buy 2 top one's.
It's not rocket science; sign better players, finish higher up the league.
The amount we've wasted over recent seasons is a disgrace. OK, Levy has supplied funds for various managers, but what a complete mess and a joke these last 2 seasons have been.
Anything less than buying the right players for the right positions this summer and I'll want Levy
and the rest of the incompetents out.
Change the subject slightly; the new Real Madrid president, Florentino Pérez wants a new era of galticos at the club and is widley accepted that many of the players there are not up to standard. So, cant we look at their dutch contigent (Huntelaar, Sneijder, Robben, Van der vart)?
I know, it will be hard to tempt them to WHL especically on their wages but hey, if you don't ask, you don't get. I'll happily wait outside WHL with a can of grolsch and a bag of the finest weed...
Reply to jolsgonemental:
yeah, should have checked it before I pressed send!
you get the point
Again the Keane + Chimbo doesn't work if Arshavin wanted silly wages because all the other players then want wages based on the top wages at the club.
This then sends the wage bill through the roof, we might have players (woody? King?) with clauses saying they must be within 10% of the top earner.
I do agree that we need to sign quality over quantity. Arry wasn't here when we were in for Arshavin - in Jan when we're at the bottom he's not coming. As such I liked the Defoe signing and at the time when he went down injured the Keane signing (although I'd have prefered a loan until Defoe was fit again)
As such most of his dealings have been decent (apart from Chimbo which I still don't understand). He's spent a lot more than I would have on Wilson and that's turned out to be a great signing. I think we've got to see how he fares in this transfer window, the first one with us that he's not fire-fighting trying to keep us up. I think we should balme the AA debacle on Mr Commoli and see where we go now.
Reply to RunPigRun:
Harry would love the project....
Also he knows how to turn someone now...ouch.
Reply to QuietAtTheLibrary:
I would be very tempted by any of those, target man, pacy left winger with injury problems (perfect for us!)
Reply to QuietAtTheLibrary:
get the bag, make it a big un, i'm on me way!
Reply to QuietAtTheLibrary:
They're not ready yet...
Shhhmoke and a pancake?
Reply to Poshspur:
No. Arshavin was always my call.
How can anyone think Robbie 'never made it at a top club' Keane would be better than a player who tore up an international tournament?
Anyways its all done now. accept that it means we are treading water until our arab billionaire comes in.
Best to smoke "da' weed first before hitting the beer. Don't want any sick down my top...
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Signing anyone off the back of a tournament is always risky. That said I wasn't keen on Keane!
Anyway as you say it's done and we can just focus on hating him and his scum friends.
I'm not as gloomy as you and think that with four decent signings, say Babel, Distin, and a couple of Real's Dutch players we'll be fine.... By that I mean Fifth. We're not improving are we... God you bring me down.
Reply to Poshspur:
Babel is a fine player that needs a good run of games which Spurs could give him. He does suffer from lack of confidence but 'Arry can sort that out.
Would love to see one of those dutch players at the club. As said before, our team only needs tinkering and I'd rather have quality over quantity.
Morning all!
The thought of Cisse being our star buy this summer perhaps elongates alot of the aforementioned theories that we have become a Butlins - you went there in the summer only because your mum and dad couldn't afford a fortnight in the Algarve.
It's a rather pesimistic point to drag up again but in an ever increasing material game, a team with wage caps and a history of buying over ripe players to shore up the defences for a season needs a change of destination - I for one was sick of butlins by the age of 10.
Im remaining positive though, that this years trip to Butlins will negate to hire the services of the usual ageing performers, clowns and wanna be over priced white coats.
Of course, we might've got Arse-haven if only someone'd explained to him our tax system LINK and how 'Arry's creative accountant might be able to help him out there....
Reply to QuietAtTheLibrary:
Absolutely, a full season of Harry with his choices should help too...
Reply to Danny_Blanchflower:
like it !!!
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Thats one helluva profit. It can be done and we've been party to at least one in recent times even thought it proved a rather unsavoury affair (Bcnut to Manure).
However whats Steve Bruce's scouts doing that ours haven't? Wilson and Valencia? Absolute gems. Not as good a margin as Senor Alves though but getting there.
JGM and Ginge going at eachother over 'wipes-butt-with-sand-paper' nice. Thing is you're both right, but at different times. The shaved one wanted to play for Ramos. He said as much and they apparently had a phone conversation - although how they managed to understand eachother is anyones guess. Perhaps they were on the same wavelength. "let us go to London and abuse a club who are crazy enough to pay us what we want, muha ha ha ha!".
Reply to QuietAtTheLibrary:
As Wendy Ramos would have said "that's one dizzying offer".
What about Tevez?
gazzasfaketits
your comments and general doom and gloom tells me your 15 years old and not started puberty yet
tottenham cant buy themselves into the top 4 they need to buy and develop players, frustrating for everyone but it has to be the way, there is no point spending 50 mill when everyone else can spen 100 mill, better to buy and develop
What i hope will be diffrerent this off season is:
(a) We are not distracted by big name departures which are dragged out from May to September which only leaves the fans and the team confused, uncertain and depressed. I only see Lennon as being a possible big departure. He has a new contract so we need to be unequivocal with any suiters
(b) We will do our main dealing early doors. Last season we gained Modric early on but then signed Corluka and Pav after they became illegible for Europe, the missed pre season - not ideal.
(c) We get the players that we actually need and not buy players simply because they are good prospects and available. Jol's reign was ruined by Commolli spending £30m on Bent, Kaboul and Boateng when we wanted/needed none of these players and, surprise surprise, will have none of them next season now that we have a manager in who is allowed to buy and sell as he sees fit;
(d) We keep it low key and just tinker with the team rather than wholesale changes (again). Drawn out deals for Bentley, Pav, Arshavin are so tiresome. There is some benefit to dragging matters out (such as getting the best price) but the majority of new players need to be in pre-pre-season so they can bond and settle in, rather than rocking up end of August and being off the pace.
Finally, If we could get anyone this summer I would wish for Huntelaar. Unhappy at Real, proven goal scorer, would not be overly expensive plus he has the potential to be a real big player in the future. We have a lot of very decent players at WHL but no real super stars (Torres, Gerrard, Rooney et al). We need some if we are to challenge top4 in the future. Only Lennon has thos qualities and he's hot & cold. COYS!
well said people need to understand what the finance side is all about
Lets be realistic. Man city wages are crazy and Spurs will struggle to compete on financial muscle. We will even struggle vs City on see where we are going with this grand vision. Thankfully they did not pursue Palacios. Ultimately, they will join Spurs becuase they like the manager or they really want to play for Spurs. Otherwise Champs League Teams and Man City will win the race. Maybe time for budget and salary cuts to level the field a bit. We need to be more intelligent in this transfer space. How can Wigan go out and get the likes of Palacios, Valencia and Figuerua
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I have a grip. Quite firm as it happens.
I don't much care for Keane either tbh. Happy to see him go.
Arshavin's goals were easy ones if you watch them. Doesn't mean that that performance would be repeated for us over and over, you can't extrapolate how well Arsh would've played for us from that particular game.
Reply to Ginge1:
Oh, that cuts me to the quick.
But my quick needed cutting.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Yes, and mailed in a plain brown wrapper.
Reply to zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz:
naturally i am not suggesting we should have bought arshavin because he scores four a game without fail, based on that performance. and of course you know this.
i suggest you watch some more football and less frankie howard if you doubt Arshavin would have added much to our 'struggle for top half' squad.
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I am going to burst your hope bubble - now don't have a breakdown - unfortunately there won't be any arab billionaire taking us over in the foreseeable future and as it stands Man City & Portsmouth will probably put us behind them and the current top 4 when it comes to picking & choosing players.
We need to face facts - Levy won't be able to sell us for enough to achieve his exit figure judging from what other clubs are being traded for. We have a upper mid table squad with 2nd or 3rd rate infrastructure. Levy & ENIC paid too much for the club in the first instance and with their unrealistic expectation of anticipated future gains, any potential purchaser will run a mile.
They are sitting there like punters who paid too much for a house and are having to tread water until the market picks up again in a hope that some more mugs appear.
The reality is we are only on a par with the cartoon army and whilst their ground is finished they are available at under 100 million (down from 400 million 5 months ago). Most businesses are valued at x times net profits + net asset value (at the moment x is between 6 and 10 depending on the business)
I believe Man City sold for 80 - 100 Million and they don't need a new ground. How Levy values spurs @ £350-400 million is beyond me and the reason we won't get new owners.
The investment required to get us up the standard of the top 4 teams with their current owners and stadia is mind boggling and well out of levy's and most possible new owners ranges.(unless they get the club at a reasonable cost to start with)
Whats all the fuss about?? Wilson is a fantastic centre mid and has an all-round better game than barry, i dont see there would be enough creativity between the both of them in centre midfield. We need a pacey left winger, left back, and top quality striker.
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I have been watching a fair bit of Dad's Army this week and let me tell you this.
We will be a top four side next season.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
What's you thinking behind that thought H?
Possibly getting in there via good teamwork, un-exhausting schedule, settled side and competent manager???????
Barry would have been a very good signing however thats not going to happen now. Mabe if Villa are keen on selling the odd player we can take Ashley Young which would free up Modric to play in the middle. But I dont think that will happen.
What Harry does need to do is bring in players better than our own and talk of Cisse and Jones are not better players than we already have, So who is out there we can buy that will better the squad I believe Gudjohson would be a good striker to bring in and at a good price and yeah Young would be nice too that would better the team all day long
I have a feeling Huddlestone will replace Barry at Villa.
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Arse shavin? Arse haven?
I know for sure spurs never put in a bid for barry!! otherwise he would have gone to spurs!! bent and pav are staying at spurs harry is only looking for a fourth striker!! bentley is now more than likely going to stay as harrys not sure of fitness of lennon!1 we want joe cole but will have to contact chelsea,s new manager first!!!
Reply to JONO:
It's this class of drivel that gets deleted.
"I know for sure spurs never put in a bid for barry!!"
My guess is you don't know what bus takes you to the shops.
"We want Joe Cole"
No, we want this LINK come back whe you grow a brain.