Soccer Thread

[bencrix]

All this talk about Rashford...

With Mourinho and Zlatan apparently on their way, seems like the poor kid will need a new club soon!

[TimmyB]

All this talk about Rashford...

With Mourinho and Zlatan apparently on their way, seems like the poor kid will need a new club soon!

Disagree.  Zlatan is a great person for Rash to learn from and to up his game with.  I normally would not be so excited for a guy of his age to come in, but he is in great shape and would instantly make us an offensive threat, something we haven't been for a while, now.

[Adam White]

All this talk about Rashford...

With Mourinho and Zlatan apparently on their way, seems like the poor kid will need a new club soon!

Disagree.  Zlatan is a great person for Rash to learn from and to up his game with.  I normally would not be so excited for a guy of his age to come in, but he is in great shape and would instantly make us an offensive threat, something we haven't been for a while, now.

We don't even know if Zlatan will be able to adapt to the Premier League. He's kind of old, too. We'll see. It will be interesting to see what happens over the summer, as the transfer window will be seriously impacted by the Euros.

[bencrix]

Adam White: Yeah. This is all fun speculation, I know.

TimmyB: Hopefully you are right, but see Lukaku under Mou at Chelsea. Mou doesn't have a good track record developing youth. Meanwhile, Zlatan doesn't have a good track record working with mere mortals.

[Adam White]

Adam White: Yeah. This is all fun speculation, I know.

TimmyB: Hopefully you are right, but see Lukaku under Mou at Chelsea. Mou doesn't have a good track record developing youth. Meanwhile, Zlatan doesn't have a good track record working with mere mortals.

I'm still waiting for the news that United have appointed someone else to manage the team. That would be hilarious.

[TimmyB]

Adam White: Yeah. This is all fun speculation, I know.

TimmyB: Hopefully you are right, but see Lukaku under Mou at Chelsea. Mou doesn't have a good track record developing youth. Meanwhile, Zlatan doesn't have a good track record working with mere mortals.

I'm still waiting for the news that United have appointed someone else to manage the team. That would be hilarious.

Yep. 

MUFC: "We'd like to introduce our new manager, Jose Mourinho!"

JM:  "Ummmm... no thanks."

[Adam White]

Adam White: Yeah. This is all fun speculation, I know.

TimmyB: Hopefully you are right, but see Lukaku under Mou at Chelsea. Mou doesn't have a good track record developing youth. Meanwhile, Zlatan doesn't have a good track record working with mere mortals.

I'm still waiting for the news that United have appointed someone else to manage the team. That would be hilarious.

Yep. 

MUFC: "We'd like to introduce our new manager, Jose Mourinho!"

JM:  "Ummmm... no thanks."

I'm just glad they didn't nab Poch.

[bencrix]

I'm just glad they didn't nab Poch.

Yes! Poch's lunch w/ Sir Alex had Spurs supporters nervous.

I do, however, think that next season will be MUCH more challenging for Poch & Spurs than the previous two. I don't think the cavalier "we don't need a substitute striker; we don't need a defensive mid, I'll convert a spare defender" strategy will work twice (& w/ Champions League in the mix).

[TimmyB]

At least you didn't convert a DM to a CB!!!

As for Poch, if he performs the next two or three years like he has the past couple, Spurs won't be able to keep him.

[Adam White]

At least you didn't convert a DM to a CB!!!

As for Poch, if he performs the next two or three years like he has the past couple, Spurs won't be able to keep him.

If he keeps performing as he has, Spurs won't lose him because they'll have won the league (at the very least). He seems to do better year on year.

[TimmyB]

At least you didn't convert a DM to a CB!!!

As for Poch, if he performs the next two or three years like he has the past couple, Spurs won't be able to keep him.

If he keeps performing as he has, Spurs won't lose him because they'll have won the league (at the very least). He seems to do better year on year.

I believe you and I are in agreement over his talents.  What I am saying is, Spurs are never going to be able to compete with the big-money clubs.  If he won the PL, and made a great showing in the CL, it won't be long before Chelsea, City, BM, RM, or even MU come calling.  Their owner is a good businessman.  He'll be made an offer he can't refuse.

[Adam White]

At least you didn't convert a DM to a CB!!!

As for Poch, if he performs the next two or three years like he has the past couple, Spurs won't be able to keep him.

If he keeps performing as he has, Spurs won't lose him because they'll have won the league (at the very least). He seems to do better year on year.

I believe you and I are in agreement over his talents.  What I am saying is, Spurs are never going to be able to compete with the big-money clubs.  If he won the PL, and made a great showing in the CL, it won't be long before Chelsea, City, BM, RM, or even MU come calling.  Their owner is a good businessman.  He'll be made an offer he can't refuse.

Perhaps. But Spurs aren't that poor - Deloitte ranked them as the 12th richest club back in January. And they were the fourth-highest earning PL club this season (I think). I think Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy have enough money to keep Pochettino. But yeah, he might fall for the 'romance' of managing one of elite clubs (like Madrid).

[bencrix]

What I am saying is, Spurs are never going to be able to compete with the big-money clubs.

Ultimately, time will tell if you are right or not.

What is clear is that Spurs are on the cusp (as Adam White pointed out) and are making a go for it.

New stadium. New training facilities. A good youth setup. London. UCL football. A growing international appeal. New TV money. A weak movement to reign in financial excess (e.g. "financial fair play," "home-grown" quotas, etc.). These factors may combine to raise Spurs to the (financial) level of Liverpool soon.

Certainly the likes of Man U / Barca / RM are a long way off.

[TimmyB]

What I am saying is, Spurs are never going to be able to compete with the big-money clubs.

Ultimately, time will tell if you are right or not.

What is clear is that Spurs are on the cusp (as Adam White pointed out) and are making a go for it.

New stadium. New training facilities. A good youth setup. London. UCL football. A growing international appeal. New TV money. A weak movement to reign in financial excess (e.g. "financial fair play," "home-grown" quotas, etc.). These factors may combine to raise Spurs to the (financial) level of Liverpool soon.

Certainly the likes of Man U / Barca / RM are a long way off.

I'm glad you qualified that.  No one wants to hate Spurs THAT much!   

[TimmyB]

Looks like Sturridge has another problem.  Rashford might get his chance, after all.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/marcus-rashfords-path-euro-2016-11389015