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So much happens when
you go away on holiday doesn't it ?? Well, at work it does as you
return to a desk that is part of some Guinness book of Records attempt
for paper piling. I had hoped that still being in England I would
find out relatively quickly when Spurs had made the big money signing
David Buchler promised. Every day I scanned the back pages for
news, but to no avail. Even now I have been back for a couple of
weeks, there is no further progress towards bringing in the one big star
that would really boost the club.
I suppose that the
effort to buy Shevchenko was genuine, especially now Rebrov has come out
and said he knew it was the case, but we have been here before.
Big names like Juninho have been linked with the club and had talks, but
what is the reality that they would actually arrive ?? We have
little to attract them to White Hart Lane and even less it seems to keep
some of them here.
There has been little
said about the S.Cumball saga - and believe me some of the Norse Epics
weren't as long as he strung this out. That is because there would
have been a case for libel against us had we really said what we felt
about the move. There is so much more to be said that I think I
will leave it to others to voice their dismay and disgust, but there is
an inherent worry in such a move that must strike at the hearts of not
only Spurs fans, but of any club outside the top five or
six.
For players who have
played well enough to get a reputation of being pretty good, there is
nothing now to stop them doing what they want. The clubs have no
control and the footballing authorities have dithered about what to do
next, leaving the players to gain more power than is good for the game.
I would not say that things were any better when the tables were
reversed and the clubs were all-powerful and kept players like serfs,
but there needs to be a compromise. If not, all those
"ambitious" big names will want to move to the top clubs
without the hindrance of a transfer fee, leaving behind them a mass of
clubs who cannot break into the big time as they have nothing to offer
players apart from big wages. This then has a knock-on effect on
running costs, ticket prices go up and the fan is the one who suffers.
That, S.Cumball, is
why the "real fans" don't understand. That is why they
feel that you haven't made the right choice for "footballing"
reasons. Arsenal are a club that will HAVE to buy big in the next
few years. Their aging side will need replacement and should they
fail to win anything next season, Vieira will be on his bicyclette (if
not before then if Real Madrid have their way). That will leave
them slipping down the table of sides players want to join and S.Cumball
will be left holding the defence on his own (well we can hope
can't we). If he was to take the long view, Liverpool, with their
young side, look destined for a long run of success. But then they
say love is blind and it looks like money has that effect on you too.
For all the comments
he has made, he has shown himself to be a man of no honour as far as
this club is concerned. Let us never speak of him again.
With those who have
joined, Spurs are building a mix of players to take the club
forward. Without the star name, it is difficult to see any further
forward than a season of progress and better football than last term,
but Glenn has a five year plan and if the board back him in that, it
might come to fruition. The worry concerning the close season just
past, is that there has not been the investment the fans wanted to
see. Those old troublesome positions of left back, creative
midfield and another striker have not been addressed. The money
that ENIC were hoped to put into the club has not yet been forthcoming
and while it is early days for the new owners, there are a few worrying
things that have occurred.
The season ticket
price increase, swiftly followed by the removal of the 10% discount in
the Spurs shops smacks of money-making and unless there is some
re-invested in the team, then the fans may well get a bit anxious.
Many seem more willing to give ENIC time as they are Spurs fans, but let
us not forget their primary activity is investment and that is not just
for the sake of it. They are here to make money, hopefully by
making the team more successful, but with the catering contract let out
and expecting to bring in £4 million, then you just know that the media
rights will be going soon and it won't be for peanuts. Like the
music hall comedian Max Miller, Hoddle said he had two lists. One
for the players he wanted and a back-up list in case he couldn't get
them. We are all hoping that the players who come from here on in
are from the A List.
Keep the faith.
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY OF THE CUPS AT WHITE HART LANE
AND THE SPURS GO MARCHING ON.
BRUCE
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