Trawling as one does, I could not help be chilled to the bone by Paul Merson’s column from the Daily Star.
Bare in mind this was published before the Chelsea game.
“Tottenham look tired to me, which is a worry so early in the season but they have bought badly as well.
Pochettino says they need more quality but look what he bought in the window. Moussa Sissoko was a panic buy and he’s not been very good. Neither has Vincent Janssen.
I think Pochettino can see they are a way off and knows he needs a few more players. He was laying down a marker.
If he doesn’t get them I think he’ll be gone. He’s an ambitious manager.
Bigger clubs wanted him in the summer and he’ll not be short of offers if he walks.
It’s no surprise to me Spurs went out of the Champions League but it shows you how big this game is that he rested players for it.
Spurs have to be in the Champions League. Daniel Levy will have told him they need to finish top four to help pay for the new stadium.
And if they don’t finish in the top four, next season players will leave. They want to be playing in the Champions League.”
Yes, yes, yes, he’s a dreadful old ****, but what in all of that can you actually mount a coherent argument against?
The thing with the truth is – complaining about where it came from – doesn’t diminish its value.
Can’t argue with most of that but we’ve got a better football team that hasn’t been soundly beaten (With the exception of Newcastle United) as we have always been prone to five or six times a season for a good two years. This is a proper football team that can give anyone a game and invariably wins, plus I just love watching them play. I do appreciate your negativity but can’t feel part of it which is a sea change for me. Sissoko however, now there’s another thing I seriously cannot fathom.
Captain Hotspur, maintenance log, stardate 29.11.16.
Whilst stranded in the Delta quadrant, the starship Boyager has been making steady progress in it’s quest to return home to the Alpha blog.
Due to an anomalous region of space as yet unknown to science, we have been left unable to form a Ronwarp bubble.
Several attempts have been made to initiate the Ronwarp drive, but chief engineer Scottie McNutty says the Amstrad dilithium crystal servers Cannae tak’ much mair ay thes!
Additional systems have been affected including 7 of Real Fan 9’s optical implant, rendering her susceptible to database errors, and unable operate in federation issue high heels, resulting in her inability to carry out her duties.
So far our efforts to overcome our predicament have proved in vain, first officer ChikoTaff has taken a timeout to examine the laws of fluid dynamics on the holodeck, by simulating a game of bowls, in the hope that a solution may be found.
Scotty McNutty here in Boyager ENICC-74656 engineering. Have you checked your bio-emetic gel packs?
Hello all, personally I don’t think Poch will quit.
However, if we fail to make CL at the end of the season, one or two others may – my money would be on Lloris and Lamela.
I understand budget restraints due to the stadium, but a lack of common sense is much harder to take. The signing of Sissoko was appalling, and I’m yet to be convinced by Jansen, despite his visible efforts on the pitch. I actually like N’Koundo as he offers pace and is direct. Not saying he’ll be a world beater, but things perk up whenever he comes on.
I have said before that we should have signed Isco and Dembele. I know it’s not that easy, but the fact is that we still need a mobile, pacy CF and a creative spark in CM. As yet we have neither.
January is almost impossible to attract quality players but we need to try and find at least a CF to score some goals. We could all name names, but I’d plump for the U21 French guy Haller up top.
We definitely need to ship out Caroll and Bentaleb. If we do, then that’s circa £15M available (one would hope anyway) to put towards someone.
I also like the Fulham left-back/wing-back Sessgnon and would be more than happy to sign him and let Davies go as he is too slow for our system.
I would also consider playing five at the back when Alds returns, which might allow us to at least play the full backs as wingers and have two up top when the game demands it.
I’m just babbling on now…sorry!
One things for certain, we are a very hard watch at the moment, so Poch needs to get the energy back (which was visible for 45 mins against Chelsea, but then dropped again).
Fly Home Harry 12:55 Southwell, worth a punt at 5/2.
Won it easily !
Just a note,Halibut Tim is in the hospital in Oz exoriencing some pain,the told me to pass on his best to you lot,give him a bit of encouragement guys!!!!!
Tim, keep up the fight!, you can do this. You are in my thoughts.
Get well soon Tim. Always enjoy your ‘late night/early morning deliberations to the tragic lot. Keep fighting son.
Hope your’e out soon Hal and feeling better. Need your common sense and wisdom back on the blog asap.
Thinking of you dude, hope it’s a short stay.
Wishing you well, Hal. Hope the pain subsides quickly.
Key Player for each PL Club
Guess who Tottenhams is !
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/860854999?-19389:793:0
Someone’s having a giraffe…….
Well they’ve correctly called Hull’s best player…
…and Swansea’s…
And Swansea & Watfords.
That Pochettino’s a good judge.
You mean for keeping Tommy while letting that trio go ?
Its about building the stadium but having a team that suffices until its built. The revenues will pay for better players.
Glimpses of success, here and there try to push the envelope of our emotions…and set the paradigm higher only to find it doesnt have the weight to support itself. Its a type of growing pains. We jyst wont grow that fast.
A more astute manager maybe could gear it up better,but Poch has a hard time adapting to the reality.
Our football is totally inconsistent at times haphazard,at times fluid. Our defence is generally excellent attack less so.
All is not lost,both the stadium and the team need work,we will see which one gets to the finished article first.Yes it coukd be the stadium.
Ron, you’re quoting the hype, the increased revenues will not pay for better players, that was ENIC’s press release in 2001 when they proposed a rebuild of the East Stand, it never happened !
We’ll be paying for the Stadium until at least 2025 so increased revenues will disappear like a snowball in hell, make the most of our current success, this is as good as it gets !
Dont be so depressed Raz,there is light,and hope,coming from the corner of the stadium
That’s just the Sun glinting off a Stainless Steel BBQ that failed quality control.
Aintsburys is still in business
Selling food and barbeques
Aisles full of chicken wingers
in N17 its the only news
apart from the seats in the new stadium
that forget the field but offer a better view
Overlooking Sainsburys and all the queues
Nobody in the stadium,its silent who knew
Its Harrys posts that did it,turned the screw
Doesn’t matter if he walks, is fired, or stays, as long as money, and by that i mean serious money, isn’t poured into the team, we will get nowhere fast. Pardon, are going nowhere fast, Pep Guardiola wouldn’t do much better with the options we give our managers, and for the record, i don’t much like Poch, he bores me
Perhaps Phil Mitchell knew that the 3rd rate subs to his proposed aquisitions wouldn’t cut the mustard and was not prepared to compromise his own integrity.
Its Paul, and you’re spot on
Don’t tell Shazza !
Wow, I’m shocked at some of the outlooks here. People getting on pochs back(disgraceful) not lost to the scum in the league since he arrived, yes the CL was bad but just look at the scums record when playing at Wembley, failed to qualify from group stages(the only time in 17 years I believe)
Get of his back these kids are still young, no Kane and no Toby massive loses to a team
Shocking isn’t it. Utterly. Utterly shocking. Disgraceful too, utterly shocking and disgraceful.
Would you kindly refrain from using words such as ‘scum’. I understand emotions run high, but I find language like that utterly shocking and disgraceful. Thanks in advance.
I’m shocked too.
“these kids are still young”…
These are 18 of the players who have played recently – only 4 of them are under 24.
I could have included N’Koudou who is 21 but he never plays anyway… Winks doesn’t play much either.
9 of them, that’s 50%, are 25 or older. Another 4 will be 25 soon enough.
It’s a myth.
Lloris – 29
Walker – 26
Rose – 26
Trippier – 26
Toby – 27
Wimmer – 24
Jan – 29
Dier – 22
Wanyama – 25
Dembele – 29
Winks – 20
Alli – 20
Son – 24
Eriksen – 24
Lamela – 24
Sissoko – 27
Kane – 23
Janssen – 22
It’s a complete myth.
99% of the youngsters that were included in the youngest team ever weren’t ever god enough to play for THFC.
Lie, sham, jam tomorrow…
I’m shocked. Nothing in my life has ever shocked me like this. Not even that time I paid a dwarf to shove an electric fire up my anus, and let me tell you, that was an eye opener.
I tip Whinger to quit
Let me guess….Prague?
I would have thought a Dyson or a De’Longhi.
A De’Longhi Dwarf? How quare.
I think dwarf might be another word that could be added to the banned list.trying to think of others,gooner might soon be one.
One might soon be gooner.
Shocker Khan,Shocker Khan
😛
I feel for you
Offcom have instructed BT to completely seperate from Openreach, hope nobody on the blog has a wad of BT Shares, they are bound to nosedive today.
Always a crazy idea, having the infrastructure supplier tied to one of the main Broadband suppliers, it was never going to be a level playing field for the rest.
FINALLY!! Offcom have bowed to pressure and grown some balls. I know this comment will probably get deleted but I fucking detest BT. The worst company with the worst customer service anywhere. I have had so many issues with them over the years it’s unreal…and guess what…they are the ONLY company that supply my area. Utter disgrace.
In advance of it eventually happening, can anybody draw a picture of what Sissoko coming good actually looks like?
Up to age 27, his sole forte has been an occasional charge from halfway that peters out into nothing. Last season spurs were generally confronted with deep-lying, massed, expertly-organised defenses. Even Dembele, who often looks like the ball is attached to his foot, could not manoeuvre a way through these tight backlines. Can anybody see this lumbering ox Sissoko, even less composed in possession than Fazio, bursting through these deep-lying, entrenched defenses? Or, if that isn’t what he was brought in to do, then what exactly waa he brought in to do? How ia the very best of Sissoko going to help us against this sort of opposition? Or, again, what does Sissoko coming good actually look like?
NB. In 2013, at age 24, Toulouse demanded 1.5 million for Sissoko
Sissoko coming good looks like Yaya Toure….or at least a poor man’s (bald man’s) imitation of Yaya.
I’ve never seen their games likened to one another’s before, let alone their abilities or career stats. That’s not just based on size, is it?
Moussa Dembele 1.0
There is a glimmer of hope it could happen.
Can’t see it Baz, sadly. Dembele had obvious qualities when we took him from Fulham. Even purple nose at Man U wanted him. He was also a good bit younger than Sissoko is now.
Unfortunately, I think we’ve been lumbered with a gigantically-priced piece of dung.
My old man’s a dustman.
Now one day while in a hurry
Poch didn’t put him in
He hadn’t gone but a few yards
When Sissoko chased after him
‘What game do you think you’re playing’
He cried right from the heart
‘You missed me…am I too late’
‘No… you stink worse than a fucking fart’
Mersons Buddy
Cut out this Pochettino, he’s such an amazing manager. What has he accomplished? He has never won a single trophy in his managerial career.
Rather than simply say ‘I don’t like him,’ I’m going to support it with a few facts.
1) The above mentioned fact that he has never won anything. It seems rather ridiculous that a man who has never won anything is playing weakened teams in cup competitions.
2) The bottling boys. Pick a game. Last year at Newcastle. Last year at Chelsea. This year at Chelsea. Last year v Leicester at home. Last year v Palace and Arsenal in the cups (both at home). This team does not win big games under Pochettino. Nobody can debate this. He obviously cannot get them up for the meaningful games.
3) The myth of last season. Leicester won the league. A team of nobodies. Danny Drinkwater and Wes Morgan. Nobodies. Spurs had a decent season, finishing 3rd (although if you asked the fans you’d think that we’d won the World Cup). It was a pretty mediocre season in which all of the big teams virtually took a year off, and Spurs still could only muster third. Impressive? Not really.
4) The signings. Janssen, Sissoko, NKoudou. Yeah right – what a load of garbage.
5) The tactics. We’ve played about 2 and a half good halves of football this year. City at home, Stoke away, and the first half v Chelsea. I urge people to stop believing that Pochettino is the messiah. He seems like a nice guy but this club is not progressing forwards. I will have a rational discussion with anybody on the topic.
VS
No time for any long discussions, and I cannot argue with a few of your points. However, I submit that you, like many others, have a very short memory.
1. Conceded, obviously. Pochettino has improved lesser squads, but has not yet won silverware. However, what does this have to do with choosing squads for cup competitions ?
2. Obviously can’t argue with Newcastle last season. Horrendous. However, not all of the matches you mention were bottles. Some were a mixed job, some were a weakened squad. Your last statement takes a bit from the credibility. Pochettino cannot get them up for the big matches ? Man City, Man United, Arsenal are not big matches ?
3. This is where memories grow short. Spurs were GOOD last season when they were on. VERY good. They were smooth, streamlined, well disciplined in defensive play, and fun to watch in the attacking play. There were no complaints once Spurs found their groove. Last season was no myth – Spurs were as good as advertised.
4. People said the same about Lamela before he finally bedded in. Much of this fan base historically has very little patience for new signings. Furthermore, much of this fan base is too narrow in their criteria in judging positional play. Some will bed in well with time, some will not.
5. I submit that this season has far less to do with tactics than it has to do with healthy and available personnel. The core is the same as last season, and again, memories are short. I further submit that Pochettino HAS shown some different looks this season – I wince when hearing the term “Plan B”, as it is just a buzzword from some goofy, bent Soton fan onto which many people latched.
Cheers, Raz. I just see things differently. Such is the way of the World.
Not my words, not my opinions, i am disappointed we haven’t kicked on, i believe our Wage Structure and Transfer Limit will stiffle any chance of real progression, we will continue to be a nearly team with Thursday/Sunday football but i doubt Lloris, Kane, Alderweireld and Poch will stick around indefinitely, they are too good to be underachievers.
Ahhhhh, I understand. My apologies.
Nice knockabout lads
This club is most definitely progressing. I cannot think of one time in the last 50 years when we were challenging for honours as regularly as we are now.
Have you got an specific examples of us ‘Challenging For Honours’?
The Oslo Cup in Norway, jeez nearly every player scored, 6-1, we was rampant, Inter were outclassed, granted it all went downhill from there.
Yes, more or less every game we play, although I’ll accept lots of people will disagree with Poch’s selections in CL and LC games. The point I’m making is that in the 50 years I’ve supported Spurs I can’t remember a time when we go into games with so much hope than we do now. We are so much better on a regular basis than we have ever been in my life time. That’s surely progress.
Sadly, it’s not progress at all, Dr Bob. That’s ‘hope’.
We’ve won nothing.
The net spend has been kept trim and the club has been skimming off enough to keep Uncle Joe’s duffle bag full.
I am with this fella 100%. Misery and all of its present company are not for me.
Disappointed in the crash out from CL ? Of course. I had higher expectations.
AND I STILL DO.
This squad put on some beautiful displays last season, and have shown signs of the same here and there. There is no reason they shouldn’t find some better form with better health and hard work.
*the same here and there this season.
“Data base error”she cried as her knickers hit the floor
We’re back! Yay!
The kindest thing ever said on the Internet.
I wuv you, must be a pretty close second.
Are you for real?
“We’re going to be counting ourselves very lucky when this rough diamond comes up shining.”
Jesus wept. Mate leave this blog and join the fucking Moonies.
The Moonies are apostates compared to me.
The day I give 2 fucks about what that cunt Merson thinks,is the day I’ll top myself.
The Voice of Reason right there folks!
You’re a fucking idiot.
You’re the sort of twat that would stand outside a divorce court saying ‘what happened to your wedding vows, then, eh?”
You’re a fucking idiot.
He stands around outside divorce courts? I mean, I’ve heard of “catch em on the rebound”, but that’s taking it a bit far mate.
Tell us what you really think Harry
It doesn’t involved mentally or physically handicapped children. That’s all you need to know.
Fact is, we’ve been poor since the final third of last season. There aren’t any signs that this poor run is going to end anytime soon.
We look bereft of ideas on how to win a game. I’ve banged on about this for two seasons now.
We dominate games yet get nothing from them. Against Chelsea we dominated possession, had more shots, more corners. We lost. In nearly every game we dominate possession 62% average per game. It’s no good if we don’t turn that into wins.
I know, i’m fakin sick of seeing us lose, it’s getting boring!
We’re not winning…. that’s what’s worrying….
Maybe when we get our injured players back, and play a settled team things will change.
These injured players haven’t been injured all season…. tell me how getting Toby back will influence our performance in the final third … you know, getting wide and crosses in…defence splitting passes… you know, the things he brings to that part of the game…. our midfield is the problem, the complete lack of creativity, slow build up none of which will change when these injured players come back.
Teams have worked out how to play us, even West Ham has us sussed….
The manager needs to find a different tactic….. Injured players shouldn’t make a difference if the squad was strong enough to accommodate their absence…..
“Alderweireld. Good ball to Alderweireld on the left.. Cuts in and that’s a lovely cross to Alderweireld. And that’s the hat-trick!”
Midfield aren’t as confident in our defence, so they worry more about losin the ball, so don’t play as freely. Add bad form of a couple to the injuries & I think that’s about where we are. Everyone fit now, so time will tell…
So you’re saying Eriksen, Alli and Son have been worried about the lads behind them so haven’t been able to express themselves freely and create, yes…?
I’ve just been on the phone to someone who has cleared all of this up…
Sissoko was bought to placate some of the fans who just love to moan, last season after Townsend left there really was nobody left on the pitch worthy of a weekly slagging off. Rose and Walker looked the real deal, Jan looked like he cared, for god’s sake even Lamela looked like the real deal and Eriksen was looking creative. Wanyama slotted in immediately and Janssen would be fine playing as a back-up to Kane all season who would stay injury free. Levy panicked that all of the hatred would be focused on him so put together the genius plan of signing somebody so expensive and shit that we’d forget all about the stadium shenanigans and not vent our anger at him. In the next stage of his plan he’s going to make Merson our new manager.
I’m reminded of a guy on Twitter who thinks that when Toby’s back all our final 3rd issues melt away…
We started scoring again with the return of HK, add Lamela to the mix, CE, Dembele & Alli regain their form and we’re cooking. Tobes returning should restore some confidence across the midfield, which in turn will improve service up front, so indirectly he will make a difference imo.
So what are the stadium shenanigans?
Now that a whole US president-elect, Donald Trump, has made the phenomenon of fake news prominent, it doesn’t surprise me that someone under even less scrutiny than Paul Merson will try to disseminate fake news about THFC. The alarming thing, as happened in US, is that some Spurs fans will buy into it, and if they’re sufficient in number, they can give such news enough prominence that it gets a long life, with devastating consequences for us.
HH, you had a blog sometime ago about Levy finding his ‘soul mate’ in Poch. Now, I’d like to think that it wasn’t just a glib blog; that some tangible considerations would have led you to conclude as much. I haven’t seen any evidences (of what bonds Poch & Daniel to be unravelling) to contradict the conclusion you reached in that blog, and I’m surprised that you have, based on the utterings of a sot.
I am firmly of the belief that it is contributors to this blog that get a Spurs manager sacked, purely by writing their thoughts on here. I think we’re that powerful.
Like CNN is real news
Spurs tried to sign Sissoko from Toulouse in 2009 for £15.5m but we’re told he would cost €30m.
When Mitchell took his black box home, they obviously sent Gladys down to the vault to get the file marked ‘Transfer Targets’ and she picked the wrong year.
We’re going to be counting ourselves very lucky when this rough diamond comes up shining.
Been in the plonk yourself tonight yourself I see fan dabby dozy.
*hic
I think he must have skipped the wine and polished off a bottle or two of Absinthe. 😜
Pash it back please , there’s only so much tea and jammy dodgers one can take 😜
What gives you cause for optimism? Half a dozen games in the shop window last season, the Euros or is it something else, gut feeling, intuition perhaps? The evidence is stacked against him coming good. It’s going to be interesting to see if he has the previously unseen cojones to bounce back from Poch’s most recent assessment.
I had mahoosive misgivings about this signing, and still do, but I can only hope he comes good, cough, splutter, need more alcohol..
The reason for hope with him for me is 1. I still trust Poch and 2. He’s done nothing yet am is get get close to his twilight years and needs to do something now. This I what sets him spry from Adebayorr for me who had already had his time at some big clubs and had no other ambition it seemed but to collect his big fat pay chequers and see his time out. Sissoko needs to act quick though and I hope he has that will to proved himself and win something with us or he’s fucked .
Graham Carr was scouting for Spurs then, and when he went to Newcastle he continued to monitor him and his situation. Hence them picking him up for £1.8m. The price of a Championship player. Which funnily enough suits him well.
So the fact he never put in a performance at N’castle means nothing ? He’s the same player, arguably in his prime at 27.
To say he had no pre season etc is nonsense. He has played in the PL unlike many of our signings of the past he doesn’t need the same bedding in time…..
He’s a crap player …. That’s the up shot
Poch isn’t going anywhere.
He knows we are as good as it gets for him at the minute. He is learning his craft too.
If he was making substitutions at the right time with a clear plan b it might be different. He’s a top 6 manager trying to push on. We are a top six club trying to do the same.
We match perfectly at the minute, I don’t see how his ambition outstrips ours at the moment.
If he was openly targeting players that we all know he can’t have then that would be another matter. Bore off merson, stop trying to justify yourself.
I know Sports Personality of the Year is absolutely meaningless but Vardy nominated…? Really?
Mo Farah should get it
Absolutely true, but unlikely to beat Andy Murray. Unfortunately.
*since Mo hasn’t actually been caught cheating, so far at least. Unlike his coach.
I heard a radio piece on this saying Mo was in his house when the dope police called but “didn’t hear the doorbell because he was asleep upstairs.” So went the tale. I think it was on TalkShite though (albeit one of the more respectable evening programmes). It did sound a bit suspect if I’m honest but who knows.
Its ridiculous. Blood doping fraud. Getting rewarded. Joke.
I spose they gotta see the Leicester charade through to the end….
He’s scored 17 goals in the entire calendar year, to date. Kane has scored 23… 🐸☕️
Just his goal record alone warrants investigation. He’d got 3 premier league goals until last season, suddenly he gets 24 in 33 games or something and is steaming about like a Duracell bunny..and this season he’s got 2 league goals and ain’t scores in 15 matches. There’s plenty to learn about Leicesters “fairytale” season and Hardy’s a big part of it.
Vardy…. Not hardy. As in laural and vardy.
Ha. It’s a joke. 18 months ago he was involved in an unsavoury racist slur. Next year, the knighthood.
I spose he’ll fit in with the royals….their all Nazi’s too.
In his defence, it’s not as if he’s being presented with as many opportunities this season. Chances need to be created.
IMO, way too early to be casting definitive judgment on Sissoko. The guy has barely even played for us, what 3 matches total? Didn’t have a proper pre-season, clearly isn’t fully fit or adapted to our system yet. No idea why Poch put him on the right side of the “3” of a 4231, doesn’t seem like his best position to me, I’d like to see him beside Wanyama or Dier as one of the “2” . I recall Poch bizarrely did the same with Dembele when he finally started playing him…put him on the right side of the “3”.
That was AVB and Sherwood who tried Dembele out further forward.
Think Poch returned him to DM after trying him at no.10 for a bit
IMO, way too early to be casting definitive judgment on Sissoko. The guy has barely even played for us, what 3 matches total? Didn’t have a proper pre-season, clearly isn’t fully fit or adapted to our system yet.
Oh fuck off you imbecile. Really, just go, fuck off.
I have a feeling he might be slightly less shit not trying to play right wing
Sissoko is £30M sack of potatoes. He was a sack of potatoes at Newcastle, who rubbed their hands at the end of last season when we bought him. I like to know who was responsible at the club for paying the £30M for him. Listening to Poch now, I have the distinct feeling it wasn’t him. Whoever is was needs sacking.
Potato Sacking?
Just think of the chips you could make with £30million worth of sacks of potatoes.
HH, on one hand you claim that Shitsoko was a last minute panic buy from Levy (a 27 year old at 30M if he stays for 5 years) and on the other you tell us that Levy is a tight bastard who won’t spend money to improve our chances.
Our 3 biggest transfers signings (subject to appearances etc.) are Shitsoko, Lamela and Soldado – 2 of those were not last minute and two of those were always likely to diminish in value due to their age.
Either Levy insisted the manager took them, which would only have been for footballing and not financial reasons (see above) OR they were players the manager(s) wanted to sign.
We are ALL frustrated that our team is not winning trophies, and we all look to apportion blame in areas we believe will provide more control ( a new manager, a new chairman, a new centre forward).
The fact is there is one area that even those at the heart of any football club cannot control, when you buy a player / hire a manager, no matter his ‘previous’, you have no idea if he will be a success at your club or not.
Do yourself a favour, get to know Daniel Levy a bit and then see if you still believe he doesn’t want us to win things every bit as much as you or I.
I think it was more the fact the sissoko deal looked like levy was spending but because of the out goings to Newcastle he really wasn’t. Its a charade deal.
I agree. It’s a £13m deal, in effect. We signed a Newcastle player for that very reason.
Grow a fucking brain/alternatively do me the courtesy of READING my blogs, opposed to presenting ‘imagined’ snapshots.
You tedious cunt.
Oh I do read your blogs HH, so thoroughly that I can even tell when you go back and edit / remove lines that you originally posted!
Beg2Differ, I’m fascinated to know what you’re referring to here.
Elaborate.
We signed Lamela on the 30th August after it had become evident Bale was fucking off. So how is that not last minute? Cos we completed the deal a couple of days before deadline day? I happen to like him but to pretend he wasn’t a last minute signing is disingenuous at best.
I do however believe he was being lined up well ahead of Bales departure.
I’ve no doubt he was identified in case Bale decided to piss off, and once it became clear that that would be so, we started bidding/negotiating. But bidding/negotiating still didn’t start until mid August and as I say, he was signed with only days remaining in the window. Which is the main point here.
We identify plenty of players we have interest in, after all, and quite often it comes to nothing. What’s being disputed is when Lamela signed. And it was, in the context of the entire window, quite late and after the season had started.
YOU chose to be associated with us by leaving a comment.
Beyond that daftness… what’s wrong with people calling it how they see it? Why is the truth ‘disgraceful’?
Ha! Knew ya wouldn’t let that one go hh.
You tell him H
muthasjodcjhqidcgp diovhjq[eoifhveffka!
Bless you
H, I think Ron has hacked your account
Well said
You’re right.. I shouldn’t be here.. when we start performing as good as we did in the first half against Chelsea on a consistent basis.. which will happen when our squads fully back.. I’ll be back to watch you sh*thouses change your tune.. no doubt you’ll be moping about some other pessimistic shit.. just like the levy hate calmed down after we started performing last season.. you all need to get a f*cking grip.. both goals were poor defending on Saturday.. simple as.. mistakes by dier and wimmer.. who aren’t first choices.. I love dier as a DM.. and wimmer can fill in for verts.. but toby is a necessity.. and that’s why we’re having issues.. i can see why people are slating Sissoko.. he should never have been a Tottenham player.. a very strange buy.. but our other signings will come good.. ride the f*cking wave.. it’s a bitter defeat against that shower.. but there’s a long way to go and we’ve got what it takes.. we just need our spine back
Evening all. One third through the season and we are seven points off the top, four points behind fourth. There is a gap and it is growing. I have carped on about our lack of big match temperament, no plan b, no leadersip on the pitch etc. Im afraid this is going to trend onwards and i cannot see it improving. Not under Pocho. Sure, we willll improve here and there, but not a concrete, stable and comprehensive long term trend. Sorry chaps. This is as good as it is going to get: fits and starts, short periods of dominance match wise and season wise, but no long lasting, sustainable efforts. This philosophy thing has become a mill stone atound the neck. I am and will always be a supporter, but realistically…..
Merson is a nob, but on the subject of Sissoko maybe H could glean via ‘Gladys’ the finer details of Levy’s agreement with Ashley? My betting is there are some severe ‘escalator’ clauses in that contract, including minimum number of games played, etc, before any serious dosh leaves ENIC’s coffers! This transfer is absolutely not going to end well. Sissoko evidently has a ‘big time Charlie’ attitude to him, like Adebayor and Poch, to his credit, has called him out on it. It was a terrible signing from the outset and the only questions in my mind now are, how long is it before he trains with Under 18’s and how much are we on the hook for if he never plays another game for us?!
1) Poch sanctioned the deal
2) He shouldn’t call out any player in the media. Keep it indoors
3) In reality, Sissoko has barely played. He seems like a bad apple but he deserves a bit more time to settle in than 5 starts and 5 sub appearances, even if it was a stupid deal that made no sense and shouldn’t have been done. He came in on Poch’s watch.
1) Yes, there is no doubt that Poch sanctioned the deal. 2) I was also quite surprised that Poch called the player out in public. I cannot believe it was unintentional, therefore I am surmising that Sissoko’s attitude in training must really have sucked for Poch to take such an extreme step, in an attempt to try and motivate him. In my opinion I think that the public dressing down will fail or even backfire with this guy and in the not too distant future Sissoko will be consigned to training with the juniors. 3) I hear you, but from everything that we have seen and now heard it was a huge transfer blunder, which I was dead against from the outset.
Yep, I think it was a big blooper and we probably now know how it ends – long period training with the U21s etc. Maybe it is a tactic from Poch to motivate him as you say, but knowing Poch you never really get that second chance (see Bentaleb, Townsend, Capoue.)
Oh please, where does you’re ‘NO DOUBT’ come from?
Mind you, the rest of your post was so bloody dull…
Re: 2) Ordinarily I would agree. However I think there are exceptions. This wasn’t Redknapp throwing Bent under the bus in public. That wasn’t acceptable IMO. As Sissoko went to the press to make comments (funny, he has form for doing that), don’t you think under the circumstances Poch had a right to do the same? Particularly as some of Sissoko’s comments/views expressed, directly contradicted his manager’s views. I personally think Poch had every right to put him in his place, and by making it clear where the land lies publicly, both in terms of establishing who’s boss, and who needs to just STFU/keep their opinions to themselves and knuckle down – additionally left fewer grey areas for the media to latch onto and speculate about.
It disgusts me to be associated with some of the people writing comments here.. fickle b*stards.. poch is a class manager.. we’ve got a class squad.. we’re missing Toby massively.. Lamela changes the way we play the high press.. Kane isn’t 100%.. we haven’t hit top form this season.. and you guys slating poch and the team should be ashamed.. it’s nothing short of disgraceful
I’m not a fickle fucker, I’m a fickle fuckers son.
That’s the point – it’s a social media bubble of negativity on here. It’s the only place on the internet you can troll people by being positive and happy!
That’s why it’s my nirvana
I think Merson needs to stop ingesting Bolivian marching power through his anus. poch is on a whopper salary where he is and unless PSG come calling I can’t see where he’d go. This is the first time his management is being called into question since he took over and we will see what he’s made of. He’s a young manager himself and needs to be given a bit of wriggle room learn from his mistakes. Having said that our squad is not strong enough to carry under performing key players and the book stops with him
What is wrong with Lamela and when is he due back?
I like MoPo, seems like a decent guy, but I said weeks ago that Poch has peaked. I honestly believe that Redknap would get as much if not more out of this squad than Poch can, and at least we’d be better to watch.
With this latest exposure, along with the savile stuff, the media would have us all think their springing into action investigating abuse and dealing with. These “scandals” are deliberately managed to keep the investigation and opinion where they want it to be. If anyone would like to know what’s really going on type in : UK column child abuse cover up police whistleblower speaks-in YouTube. Its a haringay detective constable telling of his expeareance in trying to investigate/prosecute abusers. Important info.
Listening to this now. Very worrying indeed.
Very much so. Its so deeply entrenched and has to end.
When you get to the end and he says there are people at the NSPCC and other charities ‘filtering’ which cases are investigated… Absolutely shocking.
Merson and the truth, well that would be a first as far as Tottenham go!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EpcYAvvYLFI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4mJP3AE6-Rs
No Sissoko, no Son on THFC 2017 calendar
http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/no-sissoko-or-son-on-tottenham-hotspur-s-2017-calendar/story-29940985-detail/story.html
Can anyone confirm what way the payment for Sissoko goes .I saw a report saying we only pay for every year he is with us .So if someone was drunk enough to buy him they take over the contract .On Poch i’m sorry but i don’t see better out there available who will come to us and work under the rules with the new stadium .We loose one league game and doom everywhere .With Toby back that moves Dier up to midfield ,Rose back and Lamela to come back i just don’t see the doom people are talking about .The league is won from Christmas on .
I thought he’d get the England job if southgate bombs.
He`d find the transfer kitty even worse there.
Its about the saaaaame.
I’m not a Poch disciple. The jury’s out for me. But I’m very intrigued as to where he’d go after us and how he’d get on. Very intrigued. Because he doesn’t like superstars so that rules out a ‘top’ European club. He likes runners which generally means younger players who are fitter and can be convinced to play a limited system that is flawed and which opposing managers with a good grasp of tactics can counter effectively. I’m not sure what Poch’s ceiling is. He hasn’t won anything. Where’s this ‘proof’ that he’s a top manager come from other than the fact old Fergie said he was the best manager in the league and Mourinho & Pep like him. Who gives a sh*t? What’s he won?
the only players that can walk into a top champs league team are Hugo and Kane. Sissoka will come good just needs love
I think Toby is one of the best CB’s in the world.
F*ck you, Paul Merson. Get back into bed with your sister, you lover of dogs’ arses.
Is his sister a dog? Like, a real dog, woofing and paws and stuff? How peculiar.
Merson also said today we were absolutely fantastic for 44 minutes on saturday. Then we lost.
Whether he quits or not, he`s still a handsome fella with a fantastic head of hair.
Merson? I can’t agree with that, but each to his own.
Injuries and loss of form.
Judge at the end of the season.
Danny, you wouldn’t be a realist by any chance, would you?
Born and raised. I’ll draw my own conclusions before I take Merson’s opinion.
It’s too early in the season to judge.
has everyone gone mad……?? weve only lost once in thirteen games ! even with injuries to key players etc……the first half against chelsea was great we were all over them etc….
so get real…..who got us to a whisker of the title last year…?,………..pochettino
we need our full strength team back which will happen and we are still in the title pack……
Bill, you wouldn’t be an optimist by any chance, would you?
We’ve not won in 10…. the same Poch who took us from 2nd to 3rd…..yeah that !!
Er, we beat West Ham the other week. We’ve won one in our last ten.
After the dismal display against Monaco I didn’t bother to watch us against Chelsea. Call me what you like, I support Tottenham no less, but I’ve got more interesting things to do than watch us put in Monaco-Esque performances.
simply we were great in the first half at chelsea…..supporting spurs means when we are up against the negative press like merson
Good for you, I salute you.
Adam, you wouldn’t be a pessimist by any chance, would you?
Its more Merson drivel.
Any inkling in truth within his poisonous biased and frankly warped words is akin to an old washed up drunk pointing with his wavering wreck of a urine drenched fingerless gloved hand and yelling at the top of his quivering voice that there’s a horrible danger on the next street corner before necking his next slug or cheap vodka and you walking happily on your way to then be hit by a bus on said street corner.
It has no foundation in the truth or thoughtful investigated journalistic reason. Its pure hot air aimed at winding up Spurs fans like the Drive Time dumbed down radio presenter on Talks***e.
THERE’S A HORRIBLE DANGER ON THE NEXT CORNER! !!!!!
Keep on slugging away at that paper bag sunshine.
here here!
Poch is the problem!! Out style of play, build up etc is so slow, no pace , no width, he and levy new our weaknesses before the season began and didn’t do their homework!! In ant case Levy waits for the sales , finding a bargain. It worked with Toby, but the other buys SHOCKING. At the moment id rather watch the team I most hate , the arsenal, at least you see adventurous play and style , CANT BELIEVE IM SAYING THIS, but ive lost it watching the rubbish we serve up week after week!!! Its you the Supporters not admitting it, kidding yourselves the squad is okay and we will get better, WE WONT, the players we have and style of play dictated by our manager is shocking, plus Levy wont spend with the new stadium going up.
I’m upset with it all, Get harry back!!!
I was agreeing with you there….. Then you said “Bring Harry back” oh dearly me…..huge sigh…..
Almost big Stu … almost
Sorry jimmy, I realise I blew it there, I’m so in despair, I’m in my 60s , been to spurs since I was 5, and find the club, the football so disappointing to what ive seen over the years, even the poor Spurs sides always played entertaining football. Poch is so overated its criminal. Alli is an average player at best. last year we had a go on ly because Man u, Chelsea, Liverpool , and Man C were a disaster—all have improved apart from us- Surely Levy new this would happen unless we bought a couple of top players but we did nothing and under Levy that’s exactly what we will achieve —NOTHING— I’m going to have a lay down!!!
Just so you know – Man United are still a disaster and are 4 points behind us. Leicester flying in the CL but two points off the relegation zone.
to paraphrase… I prefer watching Arsenal, bring Harry back.
I thought Poch’s shit tactics got us third place last season?
Nailed it….. those shit tactics got us third from nailed on second and at more than one point first ……Great manager !!!
eh? last season, our best in 29 years was a failure? Did you miss us beat Man City twice and hammer Man United 3-0?
You forgot to mention giving away a two goal lead to Chelsea. You forgot mention the drubbing at relegated Newcastle when only a draw was needed…..
I’m not saying we didn’t have a succesful season. It could have and should have benn more successful…..
Yeah, normally we win every season at Chelsea!
It wasn’t the greatest end to the season but the middle bit was bloody amazing – people forget just how shit we’ve been. Suddenly 5th spot is awful, the manager needs sacking and all the players are shit.
Paul Merson…….saying nothing we didn’t all pretty much know already…. wonder which stupor he was in when he thought this up …..
SECOND.
I cant see Poch leaving, but I can see him bringing in some players in January. Funds permitting. Aide Wanyama and Toby (ex Poch players) and Kane, I can’t see the fight in the team that we need. Moussa can be good, and so can Alli, but there is no consistency, its like we are learning a new formation all over again
There are NO FUNDS for transfers unless we sell a player. Zero.
W don’t need any new players, Poch just needs to get the ones we do have fit and playing better than they are – the second part of that is his job!
It reminds me of the ‘Dictionary’ episode of Blackadder:
“I know I said Monday, but I want Baldrick to read it, which, unfortunately will mean teaching him to read, which will take about ten years…”
or…
“I know I said I could improve the team, but I want Sissoko to improve, which, unfortunately will mean teaching him to play football, which will take about ten years…”
Sissoko is the odd one out – he’s too old to really learn how to behave and train. I think Janssen and NKD will come good under Poch’s tutelage just as Kane and Rose have. I also think Alli and Eriksen will regain some form.
Jesus – Poch is suddenly the manager to go for at the top. He had the best thing going after the Man City game a few weeks back. I guess Mourinho is too much of an easy target? Was Parlour telling Kane to sign for United last week? Is Parlour still on the piss beating up old men? Quoting the twat is an insult to your readers.
Looking at it in a sane way Spurs are 5th with 24 points after 13 games. Last season after 13 games Spurs were… you guessed it 5th with 24 points. We’ve struggled with injuries and suspensions to key players and some key performers from last season simply haven’t delivered – Janssen has been chucked in the deep end and struggled, it doesn’t mean that he should be written off again. We’ve got a run of games where hopefully we can start totting up some points against weaker teams.
“We’ve got a run of games where hopefully we can start totting up some points against weaker teams.”
Er… Did this incisive idea not occur to any one at the club at the beginning of the season?
Did anyone at the club realise that Alli and Eriksen would forget how to play football for three months?