Facts

I read that Liverpool boss, Benitez, recently provided a level of insight that proves his unfathomable intelligence; Tottenham Hotspur may possibly drop some points.

Thank goodness this Earth has people like Rafa Benitez knocking around on it. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I hadn't tuned in to his pearls of infinite wisdom.

One thing did trouble me. You see, I was under the impression that the Anfield supremo only spoke facts? I may be wrong, therefore correct me if you wish, but weren't his words to the media based on speculation?

Interesting.

Well, let me add that I do believe that Mr. Benitez is right. I cannot see us winning every game from here on out, especially as we get to ink who the Premier League title could eventually go to.

If I was a betting man, which I am, I would say that "Tottenham from the North" will slip away, Everton started their run too late and Villa....well, 7-1 just about sums up their freefall when the season finally gets interesting. I do believe it will be between us and Liverpool.

I can't see there being much in it either. Maybe we'll end joint fourth on 71 points? What then? Goal difference?

I suppose we'll have to wait and see how this humdinger of a season pans out.

In the meantime, maybe Rafa should focus more on slamming all the former Anfield stars that hit out against him.

Just a thought; did Rafa Benitez throw the boot in on Spurs, because the latest ex-Anfield player to have his say (stand up Mr. Jamie Redknapp), has an affiliation with Tottenham Hotspur?

No, of course not; Rafa Benitez doesn't have a sarcastic bone is his body.


COYS!!!




_________________________________________________
Follow our rants on Twitter
Read our latest Evening Standard Blog
Have you got an iPod or mp3 player? If you love listening to audiobooks, click here....

Read More

Champion's League? You're Having a Laugh

I was involved in an interesting conversation with a few colleagues of mine this morning.

Included in the group of football wannabe pundits, were Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Villa and one recently baptised Manchester City fan. We were discussing the teams chasing the fourth, majestic Champion's League spot.

The majority of the office is confident that Spurs can finish in the top four, with Liverpool finishing the season in fifth and City in sixth.

What I did find interesting, wasn't the fact that the majority thought that we could make the Champion's League, but that Tottenham Hotspur could be on the verge of a one-time affair with the lucrative competition.

Let's face up to the facts. Sooner or later, Manchester City are going to get it right. With the money they've got, they can and will buy the league.

If we make the Champion's League and that's a mighty big "if", I believe that it will transform us as a club. We will be able to sign a calibre of player that wouldn't have been available to us previously. Therefore, if we are to cement our place in the Champion's League, year in, year out, we need to invest. Maybe investment isn't the only key ingredient? Hope that we can evolve faster than the chasing pack is also vital.

Everton's Champion's League exhibition didn't bode well for them. Instead of making a real go of it, they went out in the qualifying rounds; qualifying rounds that have somewhat become harder in recent seasons.

Whether or not they decided they had the squad to compete, or simply didn't have the funds to invest, is anyone's guess. What is fact is that the route they took proved that the team they had back then wasn't good enough to compete for the top four position year on year.

Manchester City isn’t the only club we should be worried about. We've also got Liverpool to think of too. They are a sleeping giant, one that, once fully awake, will cause damage.

As things stand, Liverpool need some heavy investment and that could take a while, especially with the internal problems that keep erupting in the boardroom. As well as a new team, as Torres keeps alluding to, they need a new stadium. If reports of them bringing in Jose Mourinho are to be trusted, they will need to fork out some serious dough. The man doesn't come cheap. He's reported to be on £9 million net at Inter Milan. If you take into account the 50% tax scheme that's about to come into play, we're talking £18 million a year! If you get him on a 5 year deal, that's £90 million (plus additional bonuses).

There's no doubting he'd want a few world-class players to, which could mean a further outlay. How much would a few world-class players cost? City spent over £200 million on a group of players that I personally wouldn't call all world-class. Then we come to the stadium issue. That's another £400+ million. All in all, Liverpool could need an investment of near on £1 billion. Football doesn't come cheap, does it?

Aston Villa is also a slumbering giant, one that with the right playing squad could be in the position we're currently in. For them to push on any further, they to would need drastic investment, which, their owner, Mr. Lerner has said won't be forthcoming any time soon.

Therefore, if we are going to make the Champion's League and stay there, we need to reassess some issues in relation to the playing staff. Let's hope the board is game.

Of course, we have to get there first. Who else will become a Wigan Athletic fan tonight? I know I will.





_________________________________________________
Follow our rants on Twitter
Read our latest Evening Standard Blog
Have you got an iPod or mp3 player? If you love listening to audiobooks, click here....

Read More

Nearly the perfect weekend for Spurs

Things could not have gone much better for Tottenham this weekend. A routine home win, a heavy defeat for a fourth place rival and damaging results for Arsenal and West Ham thrown in for good measure - Saturday's Match of the Day made entertaining viewing.

This comes on the back of a good midweek, when dropped points by Manchester City and Aston Villa complimented Spurs' rousing FA Cup comeback against Fulham. Keeping an eye on other teams' fortunes is an inevitable pastime at this stage of the season and the four-way battle for fourth will keep Spurs fans interested in other results until the end of the campaign.

Sunderland could not complete the set of favourable results against Liverpool, but in truth Spurs fans should concentrate more on their own team, and there is much to be pleased about. Five straight league wins leaves us in pole position for fourth place, despite the run of games against the top three on the horizon.

A good FA Cup run should produce a first final appearance since 1991, as watching Portsmouth's walking wounded in action at White Hart Lane induced a bout of chicken-counting. We must surely prevail in the semi-final against them.

As much as we would like things to remain in our own hands, the results of others will be important. Aston Villa's capitulation at Chelsea, on the back of a run of two wins from seven league games, suggests they are suffering another late-season collapse.

Manchester City and Liverpool are the biggest threats and some tricky forthcoming games for our main rivals means the matches against Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United might not be as damaging as we once feared. The looming Football World CupAintree Grand National is less than two weeks away and many pundits expect 2009 winner Mon Mome to pull off a famous double.

Talking about City; I expect them to slip up at home tonight against the mighty Wigan Athletic. Mancini has lost the dressing room, or should I say, never had it in the first place.

I've said it before and I'll say it again; with the money they've spent in the last 18 months or so, they shouldn't be challenging for fourth, but should have been aiming to win the Premier League.

Then again, I suppose they are the "Tottenham of the North"....


_________________________________________________
Follow our rants on Twitter
Read our latest Evening Standard Blog
Have you got an iPod or mp3 player? If you love listening to audiobooks, click here....

Read More