Re: The Football Thread - 09/10 (III)

by Zat Wed 05 May 2010, 22:35

Ash, nothing surer than Spurs lasting precisely one round against some team from the back blocks of Liechtenstein...

by Guest Wed 05 May 2010, 22:42

Incidentally Zat, why Spurs?

by JKLever Wed 05 May 2010, 22:44

Spurs were the best of 2 pretty ordinary sides really, both will come up a bit short in the chumps league.

by Zat Wed 05 May 2010, 22:45

vilkrang wrote:Incidentally Zat, why Spurs?

My mother was born, and spent the first 15 or so years of her life within an easy walk of White Hart Lane.

I'm not as rabid about following Spurs as I am about other sports teams. But I do enjoy it when they do well. They managed to win the FA Cup when I was in England in the early 80s.

Of course, the times when they find banana skins are much more common.

by skully Wed 05 May 2010, 23:10

Well done Spurs and congrats to the diehard Zoggy. Cool

by Guest Wed 05 May 2010, 23:12

Zat wrote:
vilkrang wrote:Incidentally Zat, why Spurs?
My mother was born, and spent the first 15 or so years of her life within an easy walk of White Hart Lane.

I'm not as rabid about following Spurs as I am about other sports teams. But I do enjoy it when they do well. They managed to win the FA Cup when I was in England in the early 80s.

Of course, the times when they find banana skins are much more common.

Well congrats anyway, hopefully you can get to the group stage!

by LeFromage Wed 05 May 2010, 23:15

JKLever wrote:Spurs were the best of 2 pretty ordinary sides really, both will come up a bit short in the chumps league.

Well, City could've bought a completely new side in preparation for that.

Spurs could use a better striker than the options they've currently got, but they've got a big talent coming in, in the shape of young Brazilian holding midfielder Sandro, which should shore up one obvious weakness - their lack of central midfield options.

If they can offload deadwood like Jenas and O'Hara, that should fund a transfer or two.

I'd back them to do all right. They're a better side at the moment than Liverpool have been in the past couple of seasons (basically a two man team), and they've dug in pretty well, late into the CL knockout stages, in spite of being crushingly negative and one dimensional.

by Merlin Thu 06 May 2010, 00:09

Zat wrote:
vilkrang wrote:Incidentally Zat, why Spurs?
My mother was born, and spent the first 15 or so years of her life within an easy walk of White Hart Lane.

I'm not as rabid about following Spurs as I am about other sports teams. But I do enjoy it when they do well. They managed to win the FA Cup when I was in England in the early 80s.

Of course, the times when they find banana skins are much more common.

Two excellent HOME GROWN managers in Harry Redknapp and Roy Hodgson.

Both Spurs and Fulham were struggling in the PM a mere 18 months ago when these two fellas set about sorting out their respective sides with a fraction of the dosh made available to the Jock, the Spaniard, the Welshman/Italian and the other Italian to buy,buy,buy....

Funny innit!

by Ash Thu 06 May 2010, 00:16

of course, spuds will be facing administration in 18 months if twitchy's record is anything to go by...

by Merlin Thu 06 May 2010, 00:20

Ash wrote:of course, spuds will be facing administration in 18 months if twitchy's record is anything to go by...

I know Ash, I know ... as a Gooner I ought to be peeing all over the twitch and his hotspurts ... and I do, 'onest Guv!!

But 'arry does have "something" that seems to get the best out of his mob ... (despite still being on bail pending bung charges!!) Very Happy

by Ash Thu 06 May 2010, 00:25

heh...he's a good manager. but what people tend to forget is he does spend a fair bit to build his teams (hence the following administration). i reckon only citeh outdid spurs in the spending stakes over the past 18 months in the EPL.

by Zat Thu 06 May 2010, 00:27

How much have Spurs spent to get into the ECL?

by LeFromage Thu 06 May 2010, 01:00

Zat wrote:How much have Spurs spent to get into the ECL?

Don't know. But I played as them in a game of Football Manager 2010 and, without signing anyone, went bust inside of 12 months due to the unsustainable wage bill and ongoing, structured transfer commitments.

Is it true to life? Probably not. But it does sound a lot like Portsmouth. I reckon Spurs' wage bill will be on a par with Arsenal's, yet their income is a fraction of the Gooners, as their stadium is half the size and they're not (or haven't been) in the CL.

Factor in how active they've been in the transfer market, while Arse (and even United) have mostly steered clear, and you've got to figure they're walking a financial tightrope.

by Zat Thu 06 May 2010, 01:07

Ah well, it's been fun while it lasted!

I'm sure they'll be able to win League Two a couple of times when they go broke.

by LeFromage Thu 06 May 2010, 02:10

Turns out Spurs are owned by Joe Lewis, estimated to have a personal fortune of $3 billion.

Although he hasn't put any of his own money into the club (apart from to buy shares), preferring to try and run it as a business, I guess it's the safety net of having Daddy Deep Pockets overseeing everything that has allowed them to stretch themselves beyond their means in pursuit of (relative) glory.

by Zat Thu 06 May 2010, 11:43

$3 billion, eh? Noice.

by Basil Thu 06 May 2010, 13:01

Meanwhile, Pompey's debts now amount to £138 million.

by beamer Thu 06 May 2010, 19:21

Dello wrote:
Zat wrote:How much have Spurs spent to get into the ECL?

Don't know. But I played as them in a game of Football Manager 2010 and, without signing anyone, went bust inside of 12 months due to the unsustainable wage bill and ongoing, structured transfer commitments.

Is it true to life? Probably not. But it does sound a lot like Portsmouth. I reckon Spurs' wage bill will be on a par with Arsenal's, yet their income is a fraction of the Gooners, as their stadium is half the size and they're not (or haven't been) in the CL.

Factor in how active they've been in the transfer market, while Arse (and even United) have mostly steered clear, and you've got to figure they're walking a financial tightrope.

They've sold a few for silly money, as well - Berbaflop being the obvious example, and the likes of Keane who they sold at a premium and bought back cheap.

by WideWally Sat 08 May 2010, 17:04

Congrats to Eowyn & other Leeds United supporters on their win & automatic promotion. It was a bit nerve-racking with the send-off & then Bristol Rovers taking the lead but they replied with two quick goals & then hung on to win.
cheers

by Guest Sat 08 May 2010, 17:21

Forest in "being in a good position in a play off match and then going on to fark it up somewhat" shocker.

Still, if our home form is anything to go by we still have a decent chance in the return leg. Until you factor in that it is Nottingham Forest, chokers extrordinaire.

by Basil Sat 08 May 2010, 18:07

38k went to Elland Road for today's game - so, well done them on promotion.

by LeFromage Sat 08 May 2010, 18:28

vilkrang wrote:Forest in "being in a good position in a play off match and then going on to fark it up somewhat" shocker.

Still, if our home form is anything to go by we still have a decent chance in the return leg. Until you factor in that it is Nottingham Forest, chokers extrordinaire.

They have to win. I don't think I could handle the concept of Blackpool in the Premier League.

Or Ian Holloway and his whole country-bumpkin shtick.

by Guest Sat 08 May 2010, 18:39

Leicester/Cardiff wil beat Blackpool. Then next season Forest will beat Blackpool 7-0 on aggregate over the two league games.

Playoffs are a different beast though, Forest become South Africa.

by eowyn Sat 08 May 2010, 19:11

WideWally wrote:Congrats to Eowyn & other Leeds United supporters on their win & automatic promotion. It was a bit nerve-racking with the send-off & then Bristol Rovers taking the lead but they replied with two quick goals & then hung on to win.

Had to keep an eye on it via t'internet as I was at work, was heart stopping but finally we're are going up, marching on together... bounce

by PeterCS Sat 08 May 2010, 19:26

When are Castleford, Dewsbury and Pudsey getting into the League?

Not to mention Hebden Bridge.

Damn. I have.

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