I know you've only done it so that you can more easily take the piss out of me - which, incidentally is fair enough in my book, since I've never been backward in dishing it out to you lads - but I've got to say that it does bring a tear to my eye. You'll probably be expecting a lot of HIAGisms from me during the coming season to fill up you sig space, and I can promise you that I will try my very best not to let you down.
Hey, guys! You've finally let me back onto your board! -------------------- You've gone soft HIAG, read that heading out loud, you sound like one of them benders that lurk around soho dressed as drag queens
LOL. Pleased to have you back HIAG. How's things? Good summer? How are you feeling about Avb, Rvp etc
Thanks for having me back! Summer's been 5hit for all of us, I suppose - has it even started yet? As for the Summer transfer window - leaving aside the whole AVB issue, which is going to be an interesting one for both our great clubs - I have got to admit to being pleasantly surprised. Bale renewing his contract was a massive boost to the club, and the signings we've made have been very sweet - Sigurdsson stolen from under the noses of the Mousers, Vertongen stolen from under the noses of the Gooners, young Fryers stolen off United - who wouldn't be pleased with all of that! Our lack of progress with signing a marque striker is worrying, although I remain hopeful that we will secure Adebayor's signature. But I can't help thinking that we'll need at least another one striker. What's probably the most exciting prospect is that we had a huge injection of investment into the club; something must have happened, because we've smashed our wage-cap to sign Bale. The only dark spot is the prospect that we're going to lose Modric. It not so much his loss, because I don't think we'll suffer that much. It's the fact that he wants to leave, that irks me. Pride in one's club, and all of that. AVB - I've made it clear on the Spurs board that I didn't want him at the club, and that I believe that Levy is taking a huge gamble, given the way he screwed things up at your club. Even if we are to believe the rumours that Terry/Lampo/Drogba took over and squeezed him out, the questions have got to be ask "how did that happen?" and "why was it allowed to happen?" Having said that, he is the manager of Spurs, and I will give him a chance to prove me wrong, and that he does have what it takes to negotiate a season at a top EPL club. In fairness, he hasn't put a foot wrong, yet. RvP - Oh, dear! What else is there to say?
Thank you, 100! I'm sure, that once we've got past all the hellos, and the season is underway, we'll be slugging it out in the ring of banter once again! With a new-found respect for one another, of course.
AVB did not stand a chance with JT Drogs around. These guys have seen off managers bigger than him. Our success has been due to keeping a core of players while changing managers. It should be the other way round: keep a manager and change players. We should have kept Ancelotti around for a season or two and then gone for AVB. AVB is a talented guy
He's got to have something about him, for your mad Russian owner to go for him, in the first place. The only question mark about him, for me, is whether he has what it takes to adapt to the way football is played in the EPL. Many talented managers have come over here, failed, and then gone back to success abroad. Fair play to AVB that he's sticking with the EPL. And if ever there was a team that has the potential to do big things it's us. He's not going to get a better chance to prove the Russian that he was wrong to back JT Drogba over him. It's going to be a fascinating saga, and one that I'm sure we're all going to be watching with interest, as the season unfolds.
I think AVB was perhaps the right manager at the wrong time for us. He will do well at Spurs but to match Harry's two top 4 positions in 3 years wont be easy. He may have to win a cup to truly win over the spuds.
Never had any banter with you but look forward to the coming slatings on both of our parts! Did you enjoy our little night in Munich?
HIAG--I get the impression everyone is very excited! Go to it, my old cocker and make us all roll about with your hilarious predictions!
It's too early, at the moment, to start to call anything. I think we have to wait until the start of the season to see how teams have settled. There's still too much business to be done in the transfer market, and a couple of sides may yet be disrupted by the loss of key players. We all know about the RvP saga, and his going will seriously hurt AFC, not just because they will be losing their "one-man team" but also because it will have a serious effect on dressing-room and training ground morale. If he goes, I really do see AFC dropping outside the top 4, floundering in the early stages of the CL, and setting out on a 'Pool-style descent into mediocrity. I've tried to put my natural bias aside when calling that one, lads. Then there are the rumours suggesting that donkey Carroll's career at 'Pool is over. Not that it ever really began, of course. But more worryingly for them are the rumours that Suarez is wanted by Juve. The loss of such an important Klan member would be a bitter pill for them swallow. If he went, I can easily see 'Pool dropping from an expected 7th spot to a mere few points off the drop-zone. 'Pool has been declining for some time, now, and I can only see things getting worse for them. Again, I've tried to put my bias to one side on this issue. How about Chelsea? It's a hard one to call. On the one hand, I cannot see you do any worse than you did last season, but on the other, I really cannot see RDM's luck holding out for a whole season. I really do believe that the Russian's hands were tied with his appointment, as he felt he had to let RDM has a go, as reward for parking the bus against Barca and the Germans, and winning you the CL trophy. Okay, so I know I digging you in the ribs a little bit, here. But the truth is, I really don't know how to call it. On balance, I'd say you'll finish top 4, but I genuinely do believe that we have a good chance to top you, again. Certainly, I see you as a more serious rival than the Gooners, this season. But, as I say, it's still all too early to call, and a couple of marque signings here and there for any of these clubs could make all of the difference.
