Park Life

That's some budget you've got this summer. Correct policy as well. What's Spurs spending up to now? Modric - 15.8m initial GDS - 4.5m initial Gomes - awaiting work permit / personal terms I thought it was a lot more than that, but maybe I'm thinking about last seasons buys too. Well I know they're still paying off Bent.

Have you seen our opening fixtures? I think he'll be riding a media storm early on. That's not to say he'll go though. He rode a media storm for his first 9 or so games. I don't think media storms are an issue to worry about with Keegan at all (folklore aside), it's when he thinks he can't do better (because of lack of backing or whatever) that the problems occur. Whatever decision KK makes it will be in good faith.

I like him.

That's some budget you've got this summer. Correct policy as well. What's Spurs spending up to now? Modric - 15.8m initial GDS - 4.5m initial Gomes - awaiting work permit / personal terms I reckon you'll spend 40-50m which will be offset by Berbs and Keane. You'll need to get in at least one more striker however and still the niggling DM issue. Should have gone for Makoun 2 yrs ago imo.

You mean when you came fifth? Freud turning in his grave.

Internet access issues at new job.

Not quite finished on that part yet, methinks. I mean in the initial period when we began to stop the rot. Yet you still have no quality DM and no central defence. King and Woodgate is a top central defence. Dawson is an OK squad player. Correct on the DM. King is crocked we both know it.

Spurs never really had our earners though did they? Part of the problem with us is that agents and players perceive we'll pay "Rolls Royce" wages, and can happily point to a fair few on "Rolls Royce" wages (that there maybe other reasons adding to their wages in that context is irrelevent). Add to that the clubs geographic position (I know Portugal would look good to me ) and recent finishes and it must be difficult. Ashley certainly knows how to run a business, which is good, but a football club isn't always the same thing..... yet at the same time I guess he has to get our wage bill down. He's probably fucked both ways in many respects. It was never going to be easy. But....We'll now see the measure of the man.

That's some budget you've got this summer. Correct policy as well.

Aye, assuming they are putting in a wage structure (and it's still hard to say as there's nothing really definite either way), it's bound to be painful and effect recruitment and therefore Premiership achievement for a season at least (maybe quite a few more). The worrying thing is that although some of FFS dealing were silly, at the same time we'll always be paying more all things being equal, which is being made worse by the money other clubs are throwing around now. Newcastle with a wage structure is like a dead shark. Why you will still offer substantially more than team abroad. Not according to Distin.

Not quite finished on that part yet, methinks. I mean in the initial period when we began to stop the rot. Yet you still have no quality DM and no central defence.

Aye, assuming they are putting in a wage structure (and it's still hard to say as there's nothing really definite either way), it's bound to be painful and effect recruitment and therefore Premiership achievement for a season at least (maybe quite a few more). The worrying thing is that although some of FFS dealing were silly, at the same time we'll always be paying more all things being equal, which is being made worse by the money other clubs are throwing around now. Newcastle with a wage structure is like a dead shark.

It's just a shame he's never fit, he'd have been good value if he was. I don't think he's good value at 70k a week. You have to factor in that he was a Bosman though. Fair enough.

Ashley's lot negotiated a fair few of them too, as I've already pointed out. Maybe Big Sam was scarier in the boardroom.

It's just a shame he's never fit, he'd have been good value if he was. I don't think he's good value at 70k a week.

Hardly, people have been saying it for a while. The tone of the article is new though. They had one a couple of weeks ago but I had the feeling they were still holding back. This one is more personalised vis a vie Ashers.

Do you mean the natives are revolting? "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." Sir Winston Churchill

First signs of the turning of the tide. End of August will get tasty.

He mostly does what Nicos said.

and yet you cling to you "crap wum" moniker as if it were the only facet to your personality? Trust me that is opinion held by most, if not all, non NUFC. Just because you don't like it doesnt make it a wind up. No, its what your ill-informed media-lapping know-nowt mates think. Big difference. The media deals in simple stories as half its readership are below average intelligence and you dont want to alienate half the readership with complicated things like reality. You're a case in point. Propa smackdown.

Rafa has never and won’t ever be a makeweight, Torres is right, you’re talking bollocks. Maybe the fact that he’s only finished 4th once in his four years at the helm proves he doesn’t settle for it? Keegan had plenty of money to spend and he still couldn’t do it, and he wasn’t even faced with two clubs who could mega outspend him, one who could even outspend any club on the planet. Keegan definitely won’t last the year out. The spine players Rafa has brought in have been brilliant buys and I often read on this board that it will take time with your own club, why can’t you see it’s the same for Benitez? He hasn’t bought one high priced player who has failed, and he’s bought a few quality bargains in Skirtl and Agger who will hold the middle of defence for the next 10 years. In Reina, Dossena(hopefully) Skirtl, Agger, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt and Torres, supplemented with Carra and Gerrard Rafa is building a team of quality. That he can’t do it all at once is quite obvious, we don’t have the money, so he fills the squad out with 2nd or 3rd tier players so we at least have a full squad. Take the best two players from any team and they’ll more than likely fail, it’s a ridiculous comment. Shockingly clueless. With nothing to back up your comment, your words are meaningless. Yeah but when I write meaningless words I don't drag it out into two and a bit para's....Yes? True, but mine have real meaning. That you haven't tried to rip it apart shows a certain amount of agrreement in part. I think you actually respect Rafa despite your comments to the contrary. Peraps. A lot of reds over the last couple of seasons have fallen back on this spend/quality of player argument. You need to look beyond that. There are real barriers to Benny's ability to succeed and comparing spend is only one part of it. But it does come down to money in many respects Park Life. There aren't many fans, or more importantly owners, prepared to wait for a team to be built from scratch, our owners in particular would be happy for Champions League qualification, and a good run in it, every season. It's where the money is, Premiership glory is second to that for them. Owners mean nothing in football.

Rafa has never and won’t ever be a makeweight, Torres is right, you’re talking bollocks. Maybe the fact that he’s only finished 4th once in his four years at the helm proves he doesn’t settle for it? Keegan had plenty of money to spend and he still couldn’t do it, and he wasn’t even faced with two clubs who could mega outspend him, one who could even outspend any club on the planet. Keegan definitely won’t last the year out. The spine players Rafa has brought in have been brilliant buys and I often read on this board that it will take time with your own club, why can’t you see it’s the same for Benitez? He hasn’t bought one high priced player who has failed, and he’s bought a few quality bargains in Skirtl and Agger who will hold the middle of defence for the next 10 years. In Reina, Dossena(hopefully) Skirtl, Agger, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt and Torres, supplemented with Carra and Gerrard Rafa is building a team of quality. That he can’t do it all at once is quite obvious, we don’t have the money, so he fills the squad out with 2nd or 3rd tier players so we at least have a full squad. Take the best two players from any team and they’ll more than likely fail, it’s a ridiculous comment. Shockingly clueless. With nothing to back up your comment, your words are meaningless. Yeah but when I write meaningless words I don't drag it out into two and a bit para's....Yes? True, but mine have real meaning. That you haven't tried to rip it apart shows a certain amount of agrreement in part. I think you actually respect Rafa despite your comments to the contrary. Peraps. A lot of reds over the last couple of seasons have fallen back on this spend/quality of player argument. You need to look beyond that. There are real barriers to Benny's ability to succeed and comparing spend is only one part of it.

Cutting your cloth to fit to ensure the long term survival and growth of your club in an organic fashion. wtf are you on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_growth I mean he fits with Ashleys plans to make you self sufficient. You will only reap the rewards long term. he doesnt fit ashleys plan to buy youth or players going into their primes Fair enough, looks like Mike and Paul are implementing a mirror image of the Spurs system. Did Spurs invent it? Stop talking shit man. Name another team, with a DOF system, low wage structure and the player purchase policy you appear to following. Hopefully like us you can grow within this system. Half the fucking teams in Europe for a start.

Rafa has never and won’t ever be a makeweight, Torres is right, you’re talking bollocks. Maybe the fact that he’s only finished 4th once in his four years at the helm proves he doesn’t settle for it? Keegan had plenty of money to spend and he still couldn’t do it, and he wasn’t even faced with two clubs who could mega outspend him, one who could even outspend any club on the planet. Keegan definitely won’t last the year out. The spine players Rafa has brought in have been brilliant buys and I often read on this board that it will take time with your own club, why can’t you see it’s the same for Benitez? He hasn’t bought one high priced player who has failed, and he’s bought a few quality bargains in Skirtl and Agger who will hold the middle of defence for the next 10 years. In Reina, Dossena(hopefully) Skirtl, Agger, Mascherano, Babel, Kuyt and Torres, supplemented with Carra and Gerrard Rafa is building a team of quality. That he can’t do it all at once is quite obvious, we don’t have the money, so he fills the squad out with 2nd or 3rd tier players so we at least have a full squad. Take the best two players from any team and they’ll more than likely fail, it’s a ridiculous comment. Shockingly clueless. With nothing to back up your comment, your words are meaningless. Yeah but when I write meaningless words I don't drag it out into two and a bit para's....Yes?

Cutting your cloth to fit to ensure the long term survival and growth of your club in an organic fashion. wtf are you on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_growth I mean he fits with Ashleys plans to make you self sufficient. You will only reap the rewards long term. he doesnt fit ashleys plan to buy youth or players going into their primes Fair enough, looks like Mike and Paul are implementing a mirror image of the Spurs system. Did Spurs invent it? Stop talking shit man.