Rival watch

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
Actually this isn't entirely true ...

In a nutshell, spot-on.

In summary, Spurs getting their act together in the PL and Citeh winning
the lottery, in the same time frame, has irreparably damaged the Sky 4.
That the Goons delayed judgement to at least possibly 2017 as the last
casualty has been more down to luck (Lasagna-gate in 2006, Chelsky CL
2012) than Wengers' managerial / talent spotting brilliance.
 
Actually this isn't entirely true, considering Atletico and Dortmund are regulars in the quarter final stages these days - although the reason for this is, with the title race being a closed shop in their respective leagues, both of these clubs can go into the competition with a very important safety net: they know that, barring a catastrophic season such as the one Dortmund had a few years back, they are more than good enough to qualify for next season's competition via their domestic results, which allows them to balance domestic and CL football.

It's not a coincidence that you saw Premier League teams make the latter stages of the Champions League at the time where the Premier League's top four places were a closed shop, because the odds of those same four teams missing out on CL qualification the following season was minimal - but as soon as City were given the funds to compete the situation changed, as suddenly there were four places available for five teams, and that meant that teams who had spent years coasting their way into the Champions League suddenly those teams were now having to balance domestic and European football far more effectively, and things were already falling apart for some of those teams before Spurs had nudged themselves into the conversation.

Liverpool are the most obvious example of this, as their current pattern looks like this...
Season One: Qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top four
Season Two: Finish outside the European places due to an inability to balance domestic and European football
Season Three: Without the additional European fixtures, focus on the league to qualify for the Champions League by finishing in the top four
Season Four: See Season Two
Season Five: See Season Three

Arsenal certainly look like they're falling into this rut too: the stage was set for them to potentially win the title last season as Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Man Utd all conspired to have poor seasons for various reasons, be it failing to balance domestic and European football, failing to see how unmotivated the players will be if you publicly tell the world that the manager'll be off at the end of the season no matter what or failing to have any reason to listen to the instructions from the gobshite in the dugout who bullied the club's medical staff out of the door, and yet they never came close to mounting a credible challenge - and with Chelsea and Liverpool recovering (as neither were burdened with European football) while Spurs and City remained consistent on last season, suddenly they find themselves staring into the abyss that is a glut of Thursday night matches in the far-flung wastes of European football.

Hmmmm.... going to have to disagree slightly here.

Just because top 4 was a bit of a closed shop before i'm not sure if that meant that teams could coast to 4th spot. The English teams were strong and got to finals and i don't think coasting per se went on because they could coast to top 4 but more than coasting was allowed to happen as the other teams lower down were weaker so you could get away with more rotation and playing whoever you wanted. The Liverpool and Chelsea side who won it showed that having rests helped them as both sides gave up on the league and both sides couldn't coast to top 4.

I just think the recent phenomena with English sides going out early is just that all the teams lower down have more money and can compete for players that they couldn't get before. The PL Money is phenomenal compared to other leagues and the rewards even greater for both players and teams.

Also there are teams at the top who players prefer playing for instead of the PL like PSG who can offer loads of money. Bayern have become a super club alongside Real and Barca (in the 2000s they didn't have star star players).
 
I don't see Spurs any longer being at a disadvantage against the teams referred to.
Consistently being near the top of the league and qualifying for the CL opens all the right doors - access to TV revenues and prize money, increased fan base around the world, attracting better players etc. The new stadium and being located in London will only help this. Spurs are also well managed on and off the pitch. Income will continue to rise and with that will come the ability to compete financially in the transfer market and in paying wages.
Some clubs are so well established (Real Madrid, Utd being the best examples) that they will always have some financial advantage, but lack of success on the field in the major competitions in Utd's case, will have a detrimental effect over time.
Football is a business where having a brand is vitally important to success as it is in other leisure/entertainment industries. The difference is that success on the pitch can help establish a brand in a way that isn't possible in other businesses. Spurs have been performing at the top of the most financially lucrative and attractive league in the world. It will result in Spurs financial stock rising too.
It's not a closed shop.
 
I don't see Spurs any longer being at a disadvantage against the teams referred to.
Consistently being near the top of the league and qualifying for the CL opens all the right doors - access to TV revenues and prize money, increased fan base around the world, attracting better players etc. The new stadium and being located in London will only help this. Spurs are also well managed on and off the pitch. Income will continue to rise and with that will come the ability to compete financially in the transfer market and in paying wages.
Some clubs are so well established (Real Madrid, Utd being the best examples) that they will always have some financial advantage, but lack of success on the field in the major competitions in Utd's case, will have a detrimental effect over time.
Football is a business where having a brand is vitally important to success as it is in other leisure/entertainment industries. The difference is that success on the pitch can help establish a brand in a way that isn't possible in other businesses. Spurs have been performing at the top of the most financially lucrative and attractive league in the world. It will result in Spurs financial stock rising too.
It's not a closed shop.

I think that's being a little simplistic but we shall see....?

In a world where Liverpool are paying Loveren £100k and Milner £140k, City pay Sterling £185k and Arsenal are considering throwing Ozil £250k, we can't compete on wages. It might be a decade before the stadium and other building projects are paid for.and that may put us in a delicate position until they are.

Tottenham Hotspur will be a partner in the biggest story in the NFL for decades. The stadium we're building will put The Emirates to shame. It is all coming but the next few years may be tricky. Not there yet......
 
1-0.

Combination of awful defending from a former United player and former Arsenal player.

Why am I doing this to myself?
 
Conte waving for a card for a nothing foul. Twat.
So nothing like every single person on your matchday threads when an opposition player breathes near a Spurs player then? <laugh>
Agree though, it was a nothing foul and I hate imaginary card waving. Pisses me off
 
  • Like
Reactions: Diego
It shows what Fergie and United 'got away with' that Fabio and his clone played in title winning teams. Totally **** doesn't get close to covering it.
 
So nothing like every single person on your matchday threads when an opposition player breathes near a Spurs player then? <laugh>

Erm...

Not sure how to put this, but we aren't doing it from the technical area. Is that difference too subtle?