Pre-Spurs match drunken rambles

****off.

 

@Billy Cattermole just had a look there mate at the results that were coming in under O'Neill when he took charge, points-wise 30 in under 4 months from December to March, taking you from 17th to 8th in the process. I don't reckon any other manager, maybe not even Reid can boast that sort of return over any four month period.

It was counter attacking football, but you were playing to your strengths, killing teams off with good wide play. When it works well, it's good to watch and it was working well for you guys then all of a sudden it just stopped. Probably took your feet off the gas because you'd reached a safe amount of points or something, that'd be my guess, that's a killer for a lot of teams isn't it.

 

Aye you're right. That said, I'm a Sunderland fan - I'm used with disappointment, lol.
If we'd had Short or the Drumaville lads back in Reid's day, **** knows where we might have been now.
Poor old Bob Murray just didn't have the dosh to move us on.
Shame really but that's the way things work out. Nee good crying about it.
Once you've made your choice of club you stick with it don't you, through thick & thin.
Or in our case, thin & thinner.

 

You never know mate, if you had big money you might never have went for Phillips.

I think that 99-2000 season was great for you guys (I preferred the season before for some reason that seems to have slipped my mind), you were right up there for long parts of the season, pushing for Europe, goals going in everywhere. It's inevitable though, with the money coming in that if you get the right chemistry going on running the club off the pitch, that each team in the PL can definitely, at the very least, have a good season or two to remember... before the 'big clubs' harvest your best players again and reset the clock.

Martin O'Neill picked up a trophy that season, coincidentally

 

Yes & that's where the rot set in mate.
We'd go one up & then sit back & invite the oppo onto us. It cost us a lot of points.
Quite often you'd be sitting there thinking, ****s sake, just go for the jugular, we've got these bastards on the rack.
It's as if they were happy with 1-0's.

 

Happened to us against Swansea mate, well on top, controlling the game. They fetched Ki on and LVG stood there, not reacting. Next thing you know we're losing 2-1 again, then he starts making changes. I could see it all happening in slow motion.

 

Aye, chemistry. Quinn & Phillips just clicked, a match made in heaven that was.
Johnstone & Summerbee on the wings firing in the crosses. The football was sublime.
I remember, round about Christmas we were sitting 2nd & needed to beat West Ham I think to go top.
It didn't happen. The second season we finished 7th wasn't as good. Reidy panicked & spent a fortune on Flo & Stewart.
The season after that we just say stopped up. The writing was on the wall then.

 

Surreal isn't it?

 

That there's a poor buy isn't it, Flo.

You get partnerships mate, that work amazingly and you never want those days to end. I was genuinely scared by Liverpool's attack of Suarez and Sturridge, they could have won the league with better players behind them, particularly defensively. Suarez was far too good though and they missed the bus... shame.

How do you build a team over 5-6 years to seriously challenge the top clubs for trophies, Spurs have probably come closest and they just get nowhere near. Top players get their head's turned whilst they're still playing for the 'smaller' clubs, then their head is all over the place.

Football agents have ruined the game mate, constantly whispering and festering away behind the scenes. There has to be a change to the way they are allowed to go about their business. They don't own the players, the clubs do.

 

When we got Flo I was over the moon. He scored on his debut against you guys. 1-1 draw if irc.
That all turned to **** like. Rangers must be still pissing themselves laughing.
Agents. You know what really ****s me off with them ****s?
It's the players who employ them. Why the **** should the club have to foot the bill?
I mean, if I employed some **** to tile my bathroom I wouldn't expect my gaffer to pay him would I?
****ing crazy man.

 

It's rotten mate, they have no shame. They're absolutely raking it in as well.

Same with Boxing man, Eddie Hearn... he's full of ****, treats his stable like ****ing pigs just so he can collect the money from Sky.

If I was Froch I'd have battered the living daylights out of Eddie Hearn for not getting me a huge fight to finish my career off in Vegas.

 

I'll never forget that. 7th or 8th game. We were heading for top until the hammers scored around 82 minutes to draw. Bastards!!!

 

As a new poster and unaware of the reason I'd suggest you stick to the football.

When people like 'Neville' come on here lying through their teeth to long standing members they deserve what's thrown at them.

 

Only initially but after some poor player recruitment and other "mysterious/questionable club influences the club lost its way and MON's influence was sucked down - Di Canio identified the problems -he was sucked away - Poyet likewise IMO - but DA now leading and we need him more than he needs us = he's not going tobe messed about , has football mgmt knowledge & good contacts - the past is over - KTF

 

Agree and accepted - I did see the thread - i was just adding my view sorry for any problem - I still have pretty high hope this season = we do have a manager who knows how to handle players - maybe why O Shea was not included at first - DA dealing with background day to day player issues ? - just KTF and ETU

 

Travel sorted, just need tickets & a few pints.

In the Vic for noon on Sunda

 

I applied for some tickets through my works sponsorship but sadly was unsuccessful this time..

 

Thanks mate but it wasn't a request, more a mental reminder to get some sorted.

I went on the club website and there's enough to risk waiting 'til the day ........ might even be a pay gate.

 

I knew that marra...But I did try..

 

Just walked in, after a long day in a car, trains and finally a walk in the rain from the station ........ no taxis at this time of night in the country

But it was all worth it for the welcome I got, in the Vic, from Gordon Armstrong & RAW.

Absolutely great blokes