Adrian Durham - Talk Sport

[Bobbins]

If you happen to be one of the Sky Five, perhaps. As far as the FA Cup's concerned, Pompey got a Championship club as opposition and Wigan had the luck to run into run into a City on an off day. In the League Cup one win and one runner-up spot is as good as Chelsea and Liverpool and better than Arsenal.

Yes, it would be very nice to get another bit of silverware, but, like it or not, the CL is where it's at now.

Not for me, I'm done with the CL grind. It prevents me from enjoying large parts of the season now as I'm constantly reminded, in the media and on here, how we're not in it, not going to be in it, and should be regarded as some kind of failed football club because of it.

Fuck the CL. It's destroying football. If we get in it, great, I loved it when we were in it, but screw focusing every resource the club has on attaining something that results in zero trophies and is very nearly completely unattainable for us. It's not going to go down in the history books that we finished 4th now and again, but it will when we win a cup. The ideal result for me would be winning the Europa League and qualifying for it that way, oh but wait that competition's tainted as well with all the CL drop-outs coming into it over halfway through.

 

[SteveH]

He is just a football shock jock people!

Looks like he's good at what he does judging by your bloody reactions.

 

[SpurSince57]

They're only eminently winnable if you get a bit of luck with the draw and don't have your team crippled by injury during the business end of the season though. It would be interesting to see a list of the teams who knocked us out of the cups every year and compare it to a list detailing who those "smaller clubs" had to beat on their way to their finals.

We're a big enough club that the even bigger clubs don't really play the kids against us which is sometimes how the likes of Pompey and West Ham manage to get so far, but we're not a small enough club that there's no pressure on us to win. Don't get me wrong, we could have done better and we definitely should have made a few more finals, we're kind of stuck in the footballing doldrums though and we're going to have to improve the quality of our squad or get a bit of luck when it comes to the draw if we want to win anything over the next few seasons.

Et voila!

FA Cup

2004: City (R4)
2005: Newcastle (R6)
2006: Leicester (R3)
2007: Chelsea (R6)
2008: United (R4)
2009: United (R4)
2010: Pompey (SF)
2011: Fulham (R4)
2012: Chelsea (SF)
2013: Leeds (R4)
2014: Arsenal (R3)

League Cup

2004-05: Liverpool (R5)
2005-06: Grimsby (R2)
2006-07: Arsenal (SF)
2007-08: Won
2008-09: United (Final)
2009-10: United (R5)
2010-11: Arsenal (R3)
2011-12: Stoke (R3)
2012-13: Norwich (R4)
2013-14: West Ham (R5)

 

[Bobbins]

Et voila!

FA Cup

2004: City (R4)
2005: Newcastle (R6)
2006: Leicester (R3)
2007: Chelsea (R6)
2008: United (R4)
2009: United (R4)
2010: Pompey (SF)
2011: Fulham (R4)
2012: Chelsea (SF)
2013: Leeds (R4)
2014: Arsenal (R3)

League Cup

2004-05: Liverpool (R5)
2005-06: Grimsby (R2)
2006-07: Arsenal (SF)
2007-08: Won
2008-09: United (Final)
2009-10: United (R5)
2010-11: Arsenal (R3)
2011-12: Stoke (R3)
2012-13: Norwich (R4)
2013-14: West Ham (R5)

Thanks, I was going to post this list earlier, as it only reinforces out abject failures over the years, going out to teams like Leicester, Fulham, Leeds, Grimsby, Stoke, Norwich and West Ham.

 

[Metalhead]

Thanks, I was going to post this list earlier, as it only reinforces out abject failures over the years, going out to teams like Leicester, Fulham, Leeds, Grimsby, Stoke, Norwich and West Ham.

Grimsby. Dear oh dear.

 

[Metalhead]

He is just a football shock jock people!

Looks like he's good at what he does judging by your bloody reactions.

Spot on.

 

[SpurSince57]

Not for me, I'm done with the CL grind. It prevents me from enjoying large parts of the season now as I'm constantly reminded, in the media and on here, how we're not in it, not going to be in it, and should be regarded as some kind of failed football club because of it.

Fuck the CL. It's destroying football. If we get in it, great, I loved it when we were in it, but screw focusing every resource the club has on attaining something that results in zero trophies and is very nearly completely unattainable for us. It's not going to go down in the history books that we finished 4th now and again, but it will when we win a cup. The ideal result for me would be winning the Europa League and qualifying for it that way, oh but wait that competition's tainted as well with all the CL drop-outs coming into it over halfway through.

Aren't you missing the point? Despite a handful of clubs gatecrashing the party, the FA Cup—and, increasingly, the League Cup—have become the preserve of the elite. Until we join them, our chances of winning either trophy are much diminished.

 

[SpurSince57]

Thanks, I was going to post this list earlier, as it only reinforces out abject failures over the years, going out to teams like Leicester, Fulham, Leeds, Grimsby, Stoke, Norwich and West Ham.

Yes, we're the only big team that has suffered an embarrassing exit to lower-league opposition.

 

[Bobbins]

Aren't you missing the point? Despite a handful of clubs gatecrashing the party, the FA Cup—and, increasingly, the League Cup—have become the preserve of the elite. Until we join them, our chances of winning either trophy are much diminished.

Yes, we're the only big team that has suffered an embarrassing exit to lower-league opposition.

I'm getting huffy now - I don't see the need for this constant nagging at my point, like it's your own personal close-to-your-heart issue to somehow try and prove that we have to be a CL level club to have a chance of winning a domestic cup - it's a load of bollocks.

The cups have not become the preserve of the elite - as demonstrated by the lists of finalists and winners. And the fact remains that we should've put a hell of a lot more of an effort into winning one of them over the last ten years. The fact also remains that it's disgraceful for a club of our size, by any measure the 5th or 6th biggest club in the country, to have not made an FA Cup final for 23 years.

Your second point is as pointless as it is antagonistic.

Bye now

 

[SpurSince57]

I'm getting huffy now - I don't see the need for this constant nagging at my point, like it's your own personal close-to-your-heart issue to somehow try and prove that we have to be a CL level club to have a chance of winning a domestic cup - it's a load of bollocks.

The cups have not become the preserve of the elite - as demonstrated by the lists of finalists and winners. And the fact remains that we should've put a hell of a lot more of an effort into winning one of them over the last ten years. The fact also remains that it's disgraceful for a club of our size, by any measure the 5th or 6th biggest club in the country, to have not made an FA Cup final for 23 years.

Your second point is as pointless as it is antagonistic.

Bye now

Three FA Cup winners from outside the CL Cartel in the last 23 years suggest the contrary. Four League Cup winners from outside the cartel in the last 10 suggest that it's going that way.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Well no, I didn't miss it, I was talking about the FA Cup final where we've not made the final in 23 years. I acknowledged the single League Cup win in the last decade (basically, since we've been 'not shit') - one other final appearance in that time does not make up for doing nothing else.

And just because many of those clubs didn't win it, makes no difference. They were in the final and we were not. We'd have a better chance against any team than any of those I named, and some of them did win as well.

It's still a complete disgrace. We've been in or around the top 5 teams in the country for nigh-on a decade, and because of the club's complete obsession with Champion's League qualification at the expense of everything else, we've won 1 League Cup in that time. Disgusting waste of years of talent in my opinion.

I want to win things. Those lists proves those two cups were eminently winnable in recent years.

It's not like we've played our youth team in the cups. We've taken them as seriously as anyone and more than some. We've come close on several occasions, in the FA Cup lost a semi ridiculously unluckily to Portsmouth, then got turned over by Chelsea in another. We've won a League cup, and lost two finals since ENIC came along.

The simple reality is that the CL is more rewarding for the club and many of the fans. You don't just get one day out, you often get several massive games against European behemoths and earn a shit load more wonga (that can help you develop as a club) while you're at it.

I actually think it's justifiable and more meritorious that the biggest reward comes from achievement over 38 games, than a handful in a cup, often against inferior opposition.

 

[hybridsoldier]

He is a professional WUM and loves saying things just to provoke a reaction from people. Really dislike the guy.

However, he has a point about there being no winning mentality at Spurs and lack of even competing for a title let alone winning one over the last 50 years. Still look at the players who have flourished at Spurs and what we have won and we are one of the top 6 sides definitely

 

[eddiev14]

I don't think I've listened to a radio for about 7 years. Doesn't sound like TalkSport has changed!!

 

[Mustard]

It's not like we've played our youth team in the cups. We've taken them as seriously as anyone and more than some. We've come close on several occasions, in the FA Cup lost a semi ridiculously unluckily to Portsmouth, then got turned over by Chelsea in another. We've won a League cup, and lost two finals since ENIC came along.

The simple reality is that the CL is more rewarding for the club and many of the fans. You don't just get one day out, you often get several massive games against European behemoths and earn a shit load more wonga (that can help you develop as a club) while you're at it.

I actually think it's justifiable and more meritorious that the biggest reward comes from achievement over 38 games, than a handful in a cup, often against inferior opposition.

I'd take a cup over finishing 4th everytime. Fuck it. I'd take 10th if we won a pot.

We are never going to win the cl.....well unless we get petrol money and even then it's not remotely guaranteed. I've always had a soft spot for the UEFA cup but it's tainted now and really is an irrelevance apart from the fact we can see us play a few more games a season. But at what price? Sunday and Thursday football.

I still want us to compete in Europe but this Europa nonsense skews it so much I can hardly take it seriously.

 

[parklane1]

Not for me, I'm done with the CL grind. It prevents me from enjoying large parts of the season now as I'm constantly reminded, in the media and on here, how we're not in it, not going to be in it, and should be regarded as some kind of failed football club because of it.

Fuck the CL. It's destroying football. If we get in it, great, I loved it when we were in it, but screw focusing every resource the club has on attaining something that results in zero trophies and is very nearly completely unattainable for us. It's not going to go down in the history books that we finished 4th now and again, but it will when we win a cup. The ideal result for me would be winning the Europa League and qualifying for it that way, oh but wait that competition's tainted as well with all the CL drop-outs coming into it over halfway through.

Top post

 

[raf18]

Grimsby. Dear oh dear.

Jean-Paul Kamudimba Kalala!

 

[HobbitSpur]

He is a professional WUM and loves saying things just to provoke a reaction from people. Really dislike the guy.

However, he has a point about there being no winning mentality at Spurs and lack of even competing for a title let alone winning one over the last 50 years. Still look at the players who have flourished at Spurs and what we have won and we are one of the top 6 sides definitely

That is exactly why he on the Station, and it is testament to how good he is that we are discussing his "thoughts' on a completely different platform. I for one realise what he is all about, and actually enjoy the reaction that he generates from people that ring in too the show. He is a WUM yes, a lot of what he says is tongue in cheek, and he does not focus on any one single club, he acts as the antagonist in relation to the hot topics of the moment.

Chill out people, realise what he is all about and take him and the show for what it for what it really is.

 

[parklane1]

That is exactly why he on the Station, and it is testament to how good he is that we are discussing his "thoughts' on a completely different platform. I for one realise what he is all about, and actually enjoy the reaction that he generates from people that ring in too the show. He is a WUM yes, a lot of what he says is tongue in cheek, and he does not focus on any one single club, he acts as the antagonist in relation to the hot topics of the moment.

Chill out people, realise what he is all about and take him and the show for what it for what it really is.

O i do,thats why i call it Talkshite.

 

[spursfan77]

Et voila!

FA Cup

2004: City (R4)
2005: Newcastle (R6)
2006: Leicester (R3)
2007: Chelsea (R6)
2008: United (R4)
2009: United (R4)
2010: Pompey (SF)
2011: Fulham (R4)
2012: Chelsea (SF)
2013: Leeds (R4)
2014: Arsenal (R3)

League Cup

2004-05: Liverpool (R5)
2005-06: Grimsby (R2)
2006-07: Arsenal (SF)
2007-08: Won
2008-09: United (Final)
2009-10: United (R5)
2010-11: Arsenal (R3)
2011-12: Stoke (R3)
2012-13: Norwich (R4)
2013-14: West Ham (R5)

Cheers. Thats pretty rubbish isn't it?

 

[SpurSince57]

I'd take a cup over finishing 4th everytime. Fuck it. I'd take 10th if we won a pot.

We are never going to win the cl.....well unless we get petrol money and even then it's not remotely guaranteed. I've always had a soft spot for the UEFA cup but it's tainted now and really is an irrelevance apart from the fact we can see us play a few more games a season. But at what price? Sunday and Thursday football.

I still want us to compete in Europe but this Europa nonsense skews it so much I can hardly take it seriously.

So, let me get this straight. You want us to compete in Europe but the Europa League is 'nonsense' and we're never going to win the CL so why bother? (Presumably.)

Yes, winning a cup would be great, but as I've pointed out several times, the FA Cup in particular has become very much the preserve of the CL Cartel; it's absolutely no coincidence that the CL began the year after we last won it, since when only Everton, Pompey and Wigan have gatecrashed the party—and the last two were freaks. In 23 seasons, Arsenal and Chelsea have won it six times, United four times, Liverpool three times and City (post-Arabs) once; at least one of them has taken part in every final other than 2008; two of them have contested the final on seven occasions.

In the preceding 23 years, 13 different clubs won, including the Spammers, Ipswich, Coventry and Wimbledon.

So, it's easier than winning the CL, but not much easier. And just to depress you further, on four of the occasions we've won it in the past 60 years we've been champions, third (twice) and fourth; we were also third when we cocked it up against Coventry; we were mid-table when we beat City and Forest, but so were they (and we'd been third in 1990).