Im Done!!

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Amongst the dog shit on display yesterday I did breathe little sigh of relief at Adebeyor coming on and actually being involved.

 

[StartingPrice]

It suggests our scouting network is crap.
At United under Fergie they didn't sign a player until they've watched him numerous times and done a study on their background, lifestyle etc. They ensure a player is going to settle well into the whole environment, not just on the pitch.
It seems to me that we just had a list of player names and, with eyes closed, used a drawing pin to pick them.
No study done to figure out if they fit the way AVB wants to play.
The Lamela & Soldado signings are looking worse than Bentley & Rebrov!

Like United never signed any duffster players

Really? I can see a clear purpose in all of the players we signed. AVB has always stated his desire to have two competitors for each position, who are always flexible: Capoue competes with Sandro and can play centre-half; Chiriches competes at centre-half and, I believe, can play right-back; Paulinho competes with Dembélé; Chadli competes on either wing and can play centre-forward; Ericksen competes with Holtby and can play left-forward; Lamela competes on the wings and can play behind the striker. Soldado is a striker /of. Doesn't look like a pin-in-a-paper effect to me.
Do you know there was no study done?
Calling Lamela like Bentley is incredibly previous, TBH. Rebrov/Soldado bears more scrutiny - Soldado has had plenty of starts, but the team behind him is still gelling, the early games he played without either Holtby being available or Ericksen bought, and, ATM you can see him week after week pointing to where he wants the ball, playing off the shoulder and never being offside, but the midfielders are stopping looking around and playing the ball wide instead - that is where his strength really lies, and yet the team who plays these balls for Defoe all the time only to find him offside just won't play the same balls for Soldado. Rebrov, on the other hand, was just pants in the EPL no matter how settled the team was, what formation was played, or what manager he played under. So, no, I don't agree.

Seriously, call this making excuses if you want, but aside form the seven player we signed in the Summer, Holtby is young and had half a year, Kaboul have never played under AVB [sic.] before this season, Sandro has only had one half a season and is still coming back from injury, Townsend and Rose are young, have been out on loan, and, in Rose's case has been injured*, Dembélé, Vertonghen and Lloris have only had one season in a new club and a new country, and Adebayor appeared for the first time after shenanigans - that is 16 players. Virtually a new squad. Yesterday was humiliating, no-one is saying otherwise, but we do need to have some perspective.

*If there is one thing really harming us it is the absence of a proper left-back - that is an oversight, I agree. But, there again, we don't know exactly what went on with RM and Coentrao, other than that RM seem to have shafted us a bit (but none of us know that, for sure).

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Like United never signed any duffster players

Really? I can see a clear purpose in all of the players we signed. AVB has always stated his desire to have two competitors for each position, who are always flexible: Capoue competes with Sandro and can play centre-half; Chiriches competes at centre-half and, I believe, can play right-back; Paulinho competes with Dembélé; Chadli competes on either wing and can play centre-forward; Ericksen competes with Holtby and can play left-forward; Lamela competes on the wings and can play behind the striker. Soldado is a striker /of. Doesn't look like a pin-in-a-paper effect to me.
Do you know there was no study done?
Calling Lamela like Bentley is incredibly previous, TBH. Rebrov/Soldado bears more scrutiny - Soldado has had plenty of starts, but the team behind him is still gelling, the early games he played without either Holtby being available or Ericksen bought, and, ATM you can see him week after week pointing to where he wants the ball, playing off the shoulder and never being offside, but the midfielders are stopping looking around and playing the ball wide instead - that is where his strength really lies, and yet the team who plays these balls for Defoe all the time only to find him offside just won't play the same balls for Soldado. Rebrov, on the other hand, was just pants in the EPL no matter how settled the team was, what formation was played, or what manager he played under. So, no, I don't agree.

Seriously, call this making excuses if you want, but aside form the seven player we signed in the Summer, Holtby is young and had half a year, Kaboul have never played under AVB [sic.] before this season, Sandro has only had one half a season and is still coming back from injury, Townsend and Rose are young, have been out on loan, and, in Rose's case has been injured*, Dembélé, Vertonghen and Lloris have only had one season in a new club and a new country, and Adebayor appeared for the first time after shenanigans - that is 16 players. Virtually a new squad. Yesterday was humiliating, no-one is saying otherwise, but we do need to have some perspective.

*If there is one thing really harming us it is the absence of a proper left-back - that is an oversight, I agree. But, there again, we don't know exactly what went on with RM and Coentrao, other than that RM seem to have shafted us a bit (but none of us know that, for sure).

I think he meant we didn't research whether the players would settle

 

[tototoner]

I switched over at HT yesterday to watch the rugby instead

It is not often I do that, if ever

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Like United never signed any duffster players

Not for £30 million each...... and not to cover the gaping hole left by a player sale.
Veron is classed as a flop, but that's because he didn't follow the instructions given to him and would always go out of position.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Like United never signed any duffster players

Really? I can see a clear purpose in all of the players we signed. AVB has always stated his desire to have two competitors for each position, who are always flexible: Capoue competes with Sandro and can play centre-half; Chiriches competes at centre-half and, I believe, can play right-back; Paulinho competes with Dembélé; Chadli competes on either wing and can play centre-forward; Ericksen competes with Holtby and can play left-forward; Lamela competes on the wings and can play behind the striker. Soldado is a striker /of. Doesn't look like a pin-in-a-paper effect to me.
Do you know there was no study done?
Calling Lamela like Bentley is incredibly previous, TBH. Rebrov/Soldado bears more scrutiny - Soldado has had plenty of starts, but the team behind him is still gelling, the early games he played without either Holtby being available or Ericksen bought, and, ATM you can see him week after week pointing to where he wants the ball, playing off the shoulder and never being offside, but the midfielders are stopping looking around and playing the ball wide instead - that is where his strength really lies, and yet the team who plays these balls for Defoe all the time only to find him offside just won't play the same balls for Soldado. Rebrov, on the other hand, was just pants in the EPL no matter how settled the team was, what formation was played, or what manager he played under. So, no, I don't agree.

Seriously, call this making excuses if you want, but aside form the seven player we signed in the Summer, Holtby is young and had half a year, Kaboul have never played under AVB [sic.] before this season, Sandro has only had one half a season and is still coming back from injury, Townsend and Rose are young, have been out on loan, and, in Rose's case has been injured*, Dembélé, Vertonghen and Lloris have only had one season in a new club and a new country, and Adebayor appeared for the first time after shenanigans - that is 16 players. Virtually a new squad. Yesterday was humiliating, no-one is saying otherwise, but we do need to have some perspective.

*If there is one thing really harming us it is the absence of a proper left-back - that is an oversight, I agree. But, there again, we don't know exactly what went on with RM and Coentrao, other than that RM seem to have shafted us a bit (but none of us know that, for sure).

There is no point playing through balls to a striker who is slower than the centre backs he plays against.

 

[StartingPrice]

I suggest you read Harry's book...... He was really angry with Gullit, and had to remind him that he had been sacked by Chelsea, so should not be celebrating like he was still part of the team. Even Jamie had to ask him to calm down.

Yeah, I have heard that.
Felt genuinely sorry for ol' RatKnip that night - those people totally lacked tact and, IMHO, all BS about wanting an English team to do well, were actively in a very partisan way making a choice of wanting one team to prosper to the detriment of the other, and that truly sickened me.

 

[Nocando]

I'm still cool with it all. Come to terms with the fact I am unlikely to witness us win anything of signifcance,and if that happens then it's a bonus. I think being a Spurs fan it's important to not expect too much - It those high expectations followed by a big bump to earth, which causes people to freak out and invariably that always tend to end up at the managers (sometimes chairmans) feet.

I just enjoy the good moments (e.g. the CL run) and when the bad moments come I think back to how often they used to be and it puts things into perspective.

It's quite funny, in a sad way, seeing everyone lose it after just a couple of bad results. I remember a time when I was just happy for the team to be in the top half of the league.

I couldn't imagine what I'd do if I didn't have football...I certainly wouldn't go fucking shopping if I could avoid it, that's for sure (I'd rather put cocktail sticks in my eyes).

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Not for £30 million each...... and not to cover the gaping hole left by a player sale.
Veron is classed as a flop, but that's because he didn't follow the instructions given to him and would always go out of position.

Adjust for inflation. And btw, Anderson cost £28m. Anderson, Hargreaves, Bebe, Diouf, Obertan, Tosic,Possebon, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Dong, Ricardo, Veron, Forlan.

All of the above players flopped for Man Utd, 4 of which cost £22m+

 

[Syn_13]

Christ @riggi , I thought you were actually posting about being done with the team yourself!

I'll never be done with the teams I love, it's in my veins now. I've known a couple of twats who have switched allegiances before. A mate of mine went from being a Newcastle fan to a United fan, purely for glory hunting reasons. Another friend changed from Newcastle to Fulham. Must say a lot about Newcastle!

 

[Kendall]

Results don't effect my love for the club.

I must say, football and the permier league specifically, isn't particularly enjoyable anymore for me. I find myself watching less and less premier league games every season. I rarely watch Match Of The Day anymore either.

If Tottenham ceased to exist from today, I wouldn't follow anything that happens in the prem.

Interesting.

I fucking love the game. I actually prefer having a day when we're not playing as I can just sit and enjoy whats on offer without nerves/anger. Like the mersyside derby at the weekend, how can a game like that not make you love football, even without spurs playing?

 

[Kendall]

Adjust for inflation. And btw, Anderson cost £28m. Anderson, Hargreaves, Bebe, Diouf, Obertan, Tosic,Possebon, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Dong, Ricardo, Veron, Forlan.

All of the above players flopped for Man Utd, 4 of which cost £22m+

Hargreaves was very good when he came in, but then he had jumper's knee and was never fit afterwards. I thought he was going to be a proper player for them but you can't legislate for injuries like that. Agree with the others, some awful signings there. Forlan though, what happened?

 

[Gedson100]

Amongst the dog shit on display yesterday I did breathe little sigh of relief at Adebeyor coming on and actually being involved.

That's what concerns me though.

I think Ade is part of the answer.
Until the past week apparently Andre didn't?
I'm seriously concerned about his man-management skills, which we already know from his time at Chelsea are dubious.

If I was in charge, i'd take the whole squad to Alton Towers tomorrow followed by a piss-up in a brewery.
These guys need to bond, too often they look like they've just met or cliquey.

Regards the original topic, i'm more into Spurs now than i've ever been, but I know less about the whole game in general. One result does not finish the season. Persistently carrying yesterday's men like Dawson, Defoe, Lennon and sadly Kaboul isn't helping. Transition is an annoyingly slow process.

 

[riggi]

Ye just want to clarify, I'm not done....yet.

 

[StartingPrice]

I think he meant we didn't research whether the players would settle

And I answered that - I asked if he had proof that we didn't do this.

 

[Kendall]

I won't be writing Lamela, Eriksen, Paulinho or Chadli off any time soon. I think they have all the attributes to succeed.

 

[WalkerboyUK]

Adjust for inflation. And btw, Anderson cost £28m. Anderson, Hargreaves, Bebe, Diouf, Obertan, Tosic,Possebon, Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson, Bellion, Dong, Ricardo, Veron, Forlan.

All of the above players flopped for Man Utd, 4 of which cost £22m+

Having just read Fergie's book:

Hargreaves - never really wanted him, but decided to take risk. Felt the player was a bit above his station, which was biggest concern, considering the injury problems.
Anderson - actually considered a good signing considering the age of the player at purchase (fee was £20 million and he was 19). 174 appearances so far.
Forlan - wanted to play every game, but there were better strikers already in the team (Ruud & Ole).
Obertan - only issue was his decision making where it mattered. Again, better players in the starting XI.
Bebe - openly admits this was a bad one. Only player he ever signed that he'd never watched. Only made an offer because it was reported that Real Madrid were going to sign him (Mourinho mind games!).

Fergie was always looking to the future with his signings, not the present. We on the other hand spent £100 million and expect the players to get us straight into CL.

Mind you, towards the end of the book, Fergie states that Nick Powell is a certain England star of the future......

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

My passion for the game has certainly waned.

La liga is fixed so only one of 2 teams can win it.
Italian football is too corrupt to care about.
German football was great whilst Dortmund were on top, but that is now just going to revert back to the bundesliga staple of Bayern just buying everybody else in the league's best players so there is no competition.
France and Ligue 1 had a chance of being interesting, but the two worst supported clubs in the league (PSG, and Monaco) having the most money has just turned that league into a pissing contest between two billionaires.

The EPL stands head and shoulders above the rest of the leagues in the world as we actually have a couple of teams with enough financial clout to hold off the advances of our very own PSG and Monaco (city and chelsea), but due to spurs It's difficult to watch other EPL games with enthusiasm as they are all potential opponents, so I kind of want everyone else to do badly in every game.

Plus there are just so many teams with absolute wankers as supporters. I'm looking at you Chelsea, Newcastle, West Ham, Liverpool, Man Utd, and Man City.

I hate Chelsea fans because they're all inbred racist web toed dickheads.
I hate Newcastle fans because somehow they still think they are one of the biggest clubs in the world even though they havent won a trophy in literally almost 70 years (the championship does not count).
I hate west ham fans because you seriously will not find a less intelligent bunch of supporters in world football. There are african teams in areas with no schools that have a more informed fan base.
Liverpool fans act like their club is gods chosen angel to rescue football from all the nasty mens teams. Couple that with the way they defend their players through everything, yet if an opposition player does the slightest transgression then he is satan come again who should be deported immediately.
I hate Man Utd fans for their general aloofness to every other team in England. They simply do not care about any other side, as everyone is just a footnote in Man Utd's history.

And I hate Man City fans due to their hypocrisy. They hate Man Utd fans with incredible fervor, but since the Sheikh came in they are exactly like them, a genuine mirror image of each other where arrogance is oxygen and they love to compare the smells of each others farts to see which one is most like roses.

 

[Kendall]

Having just read Fergie's book:

Hargreaves - never really wanted him, but decided to take risk. Felt the player was a bit above his station, which was biggest concern, considering the injury problems.
Anderson - actually considered a good signing considering the age of the player at purchase (fee was £20 million and he was 19). 174 appearances so far.
Forlan - wanted to play every game, but there were better strikers already in the team (Ruud & Ole).
Obertan - only issue was his decision making where it mattered. Again, better players in the starting XI.
Bebe - openly admits this was a bad one. Only player he ever signed that he'd never watched. Only made an offer because it was reported that Real Madrid were going to sign him (Mourinho mind games!).

Fergie was always looking to the future with his signings, not the present. We on the other hand spent £100 million and expect the players to get us straight into CL.

Mind you, towards the end of the book, Fergie states that Nick Powell is a certain England star of the future......

I suppose it's easier to look to the future when your team is already winning the league every other year.

 

[StartingPrice]

Not for £30 million each...... and not to cover the gaping hole left by a player sale.
Veron is classed as a flop, but that's because he didn't follow the instructions given to him and would always go out of position.

Spacker has answered this better than I would have.
The core of United's team for much of Beetroot Head's tenure was made of the group of young players who all came through together and some early crucial signing, like Roy Keane.