Yohan Cabaye (now sporting coordinator at Paris Saint-Germain)

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Evidence does seem to suggest they that do try and better themselves so if it were within their grasp I am sure they would try for a CL push.

 

What do you mean "within their grasp" though? They've done well so far, nobody could deny that. But would they put themselves into massive debt to go from 10th to 4th? I just think sometimes how brilliant other clubs are is massively exaggerated on here. But meh.

 

Interesting to see if Man Utd or Chelsea manage to get Luke Shaw as well.

 

Interesting to see Spurs sign all of their replacements BEFORE the Bale sale was completed.

 

The Luke Shaw thing becomes irrelevant if the club are on an upward projectory.

 

Ask Saints fans what they think of their club right now and I'm sure the general mood would be positive in terms of application from the manager and playing staff and general progress. They are playing good football whilst investing money and generally improving in league position. Same with Everton.

 

Why can't we?

 

Obviously Southampton fans will be very pleased, maybe less so now Cortese has walked. And they're on an upward trajectory for sure, but my question is how far they will push it. Remains to be seen I guess.

 

I don't think that's the question though. For me, the question is 'are they pushing to improve every season with a view to breaking into the top 4?'.

 

I could get on board with that. At least they're trying.

 

We finished 5th yet they play better football, seem to have a very good young manager and appear to have a committed Board. If we can do it, why can't they?

 

 

Fair points, I'm just saying that they are doing well up to a point. And I am jealous of the football they try to play for sure. Why can't we do it? I guess because we have an owner who's not capable of spotting and appointing a manager like Pochettino.

 

But I would add the caveat, Southampton's progress might well turn out to have an upper-mid-table ceiling just like a lot of other clubs' has.

 

(Also the most important member of their board has just walked, and the owners want out)

[BrettNUFC]

Evidence does seem to suggest they that do try and better themselves so if it were within their grasp I am sure they would try for a CL push.

 

What do you mean "within their grasp" though? They've done well so far, nobody could deny that. But would they put themselves into massive debt to go from 10th to 4th? I just think sometimes how brilliant other clubs are is massively exaggerated on here. But meh.

 

Interesting to see if Man Utd or Chelsea manage to get Luke Shaw as well.

 

Aye, the likes of established sides like Everton and Spurs are bankrupting themselves trying to break into the top 4.

 

Spurs took massive gambles. They were throwing huge sums of money around without really being in a position to afford that. Paid off in the end though.

 

Everton have got there on good management rather than spending power. Something Ashley just overlooks.

 

You say that, but they very obviously could afford it. What happens if the Bale sale falls through? So what, they're still sitting on £000'm's of assets to sell off if they really have to OR worst case is that they keep him, they add a load of players and they achieve a top 4 space to fund the whole splurge.

 

Call me naive but I don't think Daniel Levy would risk the future of the club for the sake of a few extra players in the summer.

 

Truth is, they and everyone else knew the Bale deal was happening and they proactively addressed it and planned for it. We all knew the Cabaye deal was happening and we'll have a last minute panic and then sit on the money.

 

Tell's you everything you need to know about the commitment of the respective owners and why they are the game. One wants to compete and achieve and one wants to run an indirect Sports Direct marketing department, at a profit.

 

I meant prior to Bale, well before him the big money was being spent. I mean around 2008 they started going massive money when they were floating between the top 6 and mid table and they gambled with big money. Some signings worked wonders, others were a complete waste of money but they progressed and Redknapp took them to a new level.

[Spudil]

Aye, the likes of established sides like Everton and Spurs are bankrupting themselves trying to break into the top 4.

 

Spurs are a selling club anyway aren't they?

 

I know what you mean though, there are examples of clubs around us doing well. but we finished 5th not so long ago. It's not like Everton are now an immovable part of the elite. They don't own their best player either.

 

They do.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

Aye, the likes of established sides like Everton and Spurs are bankrupting themselves trying to break into the top 4.

 

Spurs are a selling club anyway aren't they?

 

I know what you mean though, there are examples of clubs around us doing well. but we finished 5th not so long ago. It's not like Everton are now an immovable part of the elite. They don't own their best player either.

 

They do.

 

OK, one of their best players, their best attacker, whatevs.

[BrettNUFC]

Spurs after an average season at best, Sold Berbatov for 30 odd million but then ended up spending over 100 million in a summer. Where did that money suddenly come from? Surely that was major gamble by Levy? That wasn't even with perfect signings either, couple of them were huge flops for huge sums of money likes of Bentley. To be fair to Levy though, that one summer changed the direction of the club and has pretty much got them nailed in the top 6 now and pushing for top 4 spot...until AVB had a poor start that is.

[Minhosa]

Spurs after an average season at best, Sold Berbatov for 30 odd million but then ended up spending over 100 million in a summer. Where did that money suddenly come from? Surely that was major gamble by Levy? That wasn't even with perfect signings either, couple of them were huge flops for huge sums of money likes of Bentley. To be fair to Levy though, that one summer changed the direction of the club and has pretty much got them nailed in the top 6 now and pushing for top 4 spot...until AVB had a poor start that is.

 

risk/reward I guess.

 

They're clearly after the big money and have developed a strategy around that. Obviously it doesn't always work (Redknapp, AVB, Capoue etc) but at least they have a sell. Their fans probably broadly get their 'modus operandi'.

 

I just begrudge that Ashley's isn't football or competition related. It's a crying shame for a football club from a football area.

[Wilson]

Blerghhhh

[Minhosa]

Evidence does seem to suggest they that do try and better themselves so if it were within their grasp I am sure they would try for a CL push.

 

What do you mean "within their grasp" though? They've done well so far, nobody could deny that. But would they put themselves into massive debt to go from 10th to 4th? I just think sometimes how brilliant other clubs are is massively exaggerated on here. But meh.

 

Interesting to see if Man Utd or Chelsea manage to get Luke Shaw as well.

 

Interesting to see Spurs sign all of their replacements BEFORE the Bale sale was completed.

 

The Luke Shaw thing becomes irrelevant if the club are on an upward projectory.

 

Ask Saints fans what they think of their club right now and I'm sure the general mood would be positive in terms of application from the manager and playing staff and general progress. They are playing good football whilst investing money and generally improving in league position. Same with Everton.

 

Why can't we?

 

Obviously Southampton fans will be very pleased, maybe less so now Cortese has walked. And they're on an upward trajectory for sure, but my question is how far they will push it. Remains to be seen I guess.

 

I don't think that's the question though. For me, the question is 'are they pushing to improve every season with a view to breaking into the top 4?'.

 

I could get on board with that. At least they're trying.

 

We finished 5th yet they play better football, seem to have a very good young manager and appear to have a committed Board. If we can do it, why can't they?

 

 

Fair points, I'm just saying that they are doing well up to a point. And I am jealous of the football they try to play for sure. Why can't we do it? I guess because we have an owner who's not capable of spotting and appointing a manager like Pochettino.

 

But I would add the caveat, Southampton's progress might well turn out to have an upper-mid-table ceiling just like a lot of other clubs' has.

 

(Also the most important member of their board has just walked, and the owners want out)

 

The owner situation would obviously be a massive worry, as it would for most clubs who've done well lately, I guess.

 

As for their ceiling, it's hard to tell and very much depends on themselves in the same way it does Everton and others.

 

I fucking hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

[Dokko]

If you would stop saying things like "that'll earn you respect on here I'm sure" then people probably wouldn't be so hostile

 

Oh sorry, I'm the one saying unacceptable things. The spit roasting thing is all good aye?

 

You got a lass? Does she like a roasting? These are questions that need answering before we deem it unacceptable or not as right now it's just funny.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

I fucking hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

 

Some people would argue that the reason is less money. I'm not saying we're spending enough, I don't really know how much is acceptable.

 

I agree with you in principle, I would love to just say "fuck it, we're NUFC, we're the best club in the world" because that's what every fan wants to believe.

[AyeDubbleYoo]

If you would stop saying things like "that'll earn you respect on here I'm sure" then people probably wouldn't be so hostile

 

Oh sorry, I'm the one saying unacceptable things. The spit roasting thing is all good aye?

 

You got a lass? Does she like a roasting? These are questions that need answering before we deem it unacceptable or not as right now it's just funny.

 

This question will remain unanswered!

[Guest Haris Vuckic]

Aye she does.

[Minhosa]

I fucking hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

 

Some people would argue that the reason is less money. I'm not saying we're spending enough, I don't really know how much is acceptable.

 

I agree with you in principle, I would love to just say "fuck it, we're NUFC, we're the best club in the world" because that's what every fan wants to believe.

 

It's not even that though Ian. It's like the Man City game back at the start of the season. That was an absolute given that we'd get humped and, a large part of that imho, is this ethos around the club that we're not as good as other people.

 

Well how can these other 'smaller' teams give them a game?

 

It's negative, it's defeatist and I don't think we should have to listen to it.

 

It's not about being the best team in the world or winning every game, it's about putting your best 11 players on the pitch and instilling in them the believe that we can give better teams a game.

[BrettNUFC]

Spurs after an average season at best, Sold Berbatov for 30 odd million but then ended up spending over 100 million in a summer. Where did that money suddenly come from? Surely that was major gamble by Levy? That wasn't even with perfect signings either, couple of them were huge flops for huge sums of money likes of Bentley. To be fair to Levy though, that one summer changed the direction of the club and has pretty much got them nailed in the top 6 now and pushing for top 4 spot...until AVB had a poor start that is.

 

risk/reward I guess.

 

They're clearly after the big money and have developed a strategy around that. Obviously it doesn't always work (Redknapp, AVB, Capoue etc) but at least they have a sell. Their fans probably broadly get their 'modus operandi'.

 

I just begrudge that Ashley's isn't football or competition related. It's a crying shame for a football club from a football area.

 

That's basically it, Spurs were floating around basically like us at the moment, up and down then it seems Levy just thought fuck it, let's back Redknapp to the fullest and just go for it. They ended up in the champions league and now some were even saying with the signings they made could challenge the title this year, wasn't to be but at least they have got themselves in a position now to even think that.

 

I read somewhere that Kinnear put a bit in the program saying 1/2 signings a year is what we should expect but i can't possibly see how that could ever work for a football in the Premier League. I don't even think that's enough to sit pretty in the mid table without something going tragically wrong sooner or later. Even with the saviour signings last Jan, we still nearly committed suicide, not out of the realms of possibility that next time we do actually go down. If we don’t invest this summer, we may as well just stop dreaming.

[Minhosa]

Spurs after an average season at best, Sold Berbatov for 30 odd million but then ended up spending over 100 million in a summer. Where did that money suddenly come from? Surely that was major gamble by Levy? That wasn't even with perfect signings either, couple of them were huge flops for huge sums of money likes of Bentley. To be fair to Levy though, that one summer changed the direction of the club and has pretty much got them nailed in the top 6 now and pushing for top 4 spot...until AVB had a poor start that is.

 

risk/reward I guess.

 

They're clearly after the big money and have developed a strategy around that. Obviously it doesn't always work (Redknapp, AVB, Capoue etc) but at least they have a sell. Their fans probably broadly get their 'modus operandi'.

 

I just begrudge that Ashley's isn't football or competition related. It's a crying shame for a football club from a football area.

 

That's basically it, Spurs were floating around basically like us at the moment, up and down then it seems Levy just thought fuck it, let's back Redknapp to the fullest and just go for it. They ended up in the champions league and now some were even saying with the signings they made could challenge the title this year, wasn't to be but at least they have got themselves in a position now to even think that.

 

I read somewhere that Kinnear put a bit in the program saying 1/2 signings a year is what we should expect but i can't possibly see how that could ever work for a football in the Premier League. I don't even think that's enough to sit pretty in the mid table without something going tragically wrong sooner or later. Even with the saviour signings last Jan, we still nearly committed suicide, not out of the realms of possibility that next time we do actually go down. If we don’t invest this summer, we may as well just stop dreaming.

 

[Andymc1]

I f***ing hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

 

Some people would argue that the reason is less money. I'm not saying we're spending enough, I don't really know how much is acceptable.

 

I agree with you in principle, I would love to just say "f*** it, we're NUFC, we're the best club in the world" because that's what every fan wants to believe.

 

It's not even that though Ian. It's like the Man City game back at the start of the season. That was an absolute given that we'd get humped and, a large part of that imho, is this ethos around the club that we're not as good as other people.

 

Well how can these other 'smaller' teams give them a game?

 

It's negative, it's defeatist and I don't think we should have to listen to it.

 

It's not about being the best team in the world or winning every game, it's about putting your best 11 players on the pitch and instilling in them the believe that we can give better teams a game.

 

It's sad because the next generation of fans will buy into the notion that we're a second rate club. I'd celebrate if Mike Ashley had a heart attack and died tomorrow, even it meant our club 'doing a Portsmouth' it would without doubt be built back up again. I don't go into SJP because of one evil horrible bastard and I miss it. I want to go back on a matchday and enjoy it again but until that bloke dies/fucks off I'll have to continue to watch it in the pub. He's destroyed the heart of the club.

[TRon]

I fucking hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

 

Some people would argue that the reason is less money. I'm not saying we're spending enough, I don't really know how much is acceptable.

 

I agree with you in principle, I would love to just say "fuck it, we're NUFC, we're the best club in the world" because that's what every fan wants to believe.

 

It's not even that though Ian. It's like the Man City game back at the start of the season. That was an absolute given that we'd get humped and, a large part of that imho, is this ethos around the club that we're not as good as other people.

 

Well how can these other 'smaller' teams give them a game?

 

It's negative, it's defeatist and I don't think we should have to listen to it.

 

It's not about being the best team in the world or winning every game, it's about putting your best 11 players on the pitch and instilling in them the believe that we can give better teams a game.

 

That just comes down to the manager IMO. For all the fuck ups Ashley has overseen, the major ones have been his refusal to hire suitably qualified people in the managerial and DoF roles. Other than that I don't have too much complaints about our transfer business, we have done it as well as anyone, if a little too cautious.

[Happy Face]

I fucking hate this dumbing down of our club though. This notion that we can't compete with other, bigger clubs?

 

Why not? Because we choose not to, that's why. That's what's unacceptable imho.

 

Some people would argue that the reason is less money. I'm not saying we're spending enough, I don't really know how much is acceptable.

 

 

We've shown that selling your biggest assets isn't necessarily avoidable or a bad thing if it can lead to buying better players to improve the team.  It's a problem faced as much by Spurs (Bale), Arsenal (Henry, Van Persie, Fabregas), Man U (Ronaldo) and Man City (Tevez).

 

You don't even necessarily have to replace the player you are losing, as long as you improve some positions in the first team.  We've been able to do that in the past where we had weak links like Danny Simpson or Leon Best.  Their replacements were funded off the back of other players being sold.

 

The problem comes when the weak links are less obvious in terms of what you can afford to spend on a replacement.  Mike Williamson, Steven Taylor and Shola Ameobi are the only championship quality players we have still getting games, we're also going to be losing Coloccini sooner rather than later.  If the sale of Cabaye improves us at CB and up front and his replacement is reasonably adequate, then it could work out well.

 

The opportunities for cut-price players to make that sort of impact on our team is reducing, which can only be a good sign, but long term it leaves us with nowhere to go.

[Guest]

Spurs after an average season at best, Sold Berbatov for 30 odd million but then ended up spending over 100 million in a summer. Where did that money suddenly come from? Surely that was major gamble by Levy? That wasn't even with perfect signings either, couple of them were huge flops for huge sums of money likes of Bentley. To be fair to Levy though, that one summer changed the direction of the club and has pretty much got them nailed in the top 6 now and pushing for top 4 spot...until AVB had a poor start that is.

 

You've just highlighted the reasons there why Ashley doesn't like to spend, haven't you?  Spurs, for all their spending and good dealings over the last 7-8 years, have played in the Champions League once and are far from being a nailed on top 6 side at the moment.

[jimmymag]

You're not "doing your bit". You, and others like you, are perpetuating this shite!

 

Sigh.

 

Go on then, tell me...

 

I couldn't put it any better than what .com have said about Cabaye's transfer:

 

"Good business" then we'll doubtless be told, but another one those invisible threads connecting fans to their club has been severed when the proceeds are just trousered.

 

Sadly, it becomes ever more justifiable for fans to also decide that it's "good business" for them not to buy tickets - not just for meaningless cup ties, but for what are meaningless league games. Presumably the players would be fined for finishing in a European spot.

 

Rather than there being a riot (as the Cabaye song says), there comes a point when people say "why bother" to financially or emotionally back a club whose deliberate policy is not to achieve anything of worth on the field. Selling your best player - again - is a neat way of highlighting that policy.

 

 

 

[Guest DebuchyAndTheBeast]

Yeah agree Spurs have been managed decently on and off the field and they are now paying the dividends. They had been qualifying for the Europa League/ UEFA Cup for 3 or 4 seasons running and it was just a matter of time with some good investment that they could be challenging for the CL places. Funnily enough the season  they qualified for the CL they didn't have Europa League matches 

[alexf]

Man City ?

[Happy Face]

I was going to include Chelsea (Wayne Bridge) as well.

 

[Big Geordie]

We've been been here before - some of us older supporters (such as me, Merlin and Wally McFool, etc) Better players have been sold off - all because it was good business and the club lacked ambition. Supermac, Waddle, Beardsley, Gascoigne, Ferdinand, Given and now Cabaye have all been peddled, whilst the club keeps on going nowhere as is as far from realizing it's undoubted potential as ever. Ashley will be loving it - Cayabe goes, de Jong comes in (on loan) and for some, all is now well with the world! Is this what many new fans are about - all balance sheet supporters? Makes me sick.

 

Aye, I might be long in the tooth and some will call me for banging on the same drum all the time. I'd rather that than be a soppy set of cunts though.

[Andymc1]

We've been been here before - some of us older supporters (such as me, Merlin and Wally McFool, etc) Better players have been sold off - all because it was good business and the club lacked ambition. Supermac, Waddle, Beardsley, Gascoigne, Ferdinand, Given and now Cabaye have all been peddled, whilst the club keeps on going nowhere as is as far from realizing it's undoubted potential as ever. Ashley will be loving it - Cayabe goes, de Jong comes in (on loan) and for some, all is now well with the world! Is this what many new fans are about - all balance sheet supporters? Makes me sick.

 

Aye, I might be long in the tooth and some will call me for banging on the same drum all the time. I'd rather that than be a soppy set of c***s though.

 

The next generation of fans will accept mediocrity as the norm. Sad state of affairs.