NAMING RIGHTS THREAD: Liverpool really won't win the Premiership 2010-2011

we're not even in the runnin for fifth tbh

oh doh the Hart save, I did a fey ooh of appreciation at it iirc

Man City keeper Joe Hart on Sky Sports: "We've got some big you-know-whats in this side" <<<I don't, actually

I'll regret saying this, but there's a perfect alignment of the planets for Spurs to be absolutely murdered in their next match

cudicini made two good saves, so no comfort there, even

Harry's pretty much admitted he doesn't want to take part in the Europa League next season. Not sure he'd mind coming sixth.

much like his attitude towards the cup when we were in it, that's unacceptable

Would be less so if he'd even bothered using his squad this season

Yes, i suppose it spares us the indignity of watching half the youth team line up against Shakhtar Donetsk or Benfica next year.

I've got a lot of respect for what he has done but we've lacked belief, motivation and a plan B in so many games we really should have won this season. I can't fathom what Niko has done to upset him.

Yeah given our goalscoring problems, and his goalscoring record, completely ignoring Kranjcar all season is some Rafa-esque mentalism.

I don't even think we've particularly lacked motivation or belief, but yeah lack of a plan B has been a big problem, especially given we haven't had a gamechanger to bring off the bench, except the aforementioned Niko. Given the number of chances we've created all season we need a complete striking transfusion really, but I suspect Levy's "sell before you buy" rule may hold that up (you'd expect SOMEONE to buy each of them eventually though).

when kranjcar saw bentley and keane leave on loan, he had to think he was gonna see some game time

Crouch is great with his feet for a big man.

"The biggest problems in this run where we have fallen out of the top four are that we lost Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart has suddenly become a bit jaded due to the World Cup and not having a pre-season," said Redknapp.

And that VdV is jaded because of the World Cup and not Harry yanking him off in pretty much every match.

lol was gonna say re: Bale. didn't realise Arry yanked his guys off on the regular.

Don't forget that they only had 2 points when he went there.

I think you'll find that he only got injured in the last game by which time you were already 6th, you fucking numbnut.

― James Mitchell, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 08:24 (34 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

OK but he's had on-off injuries of various shapes and sizes since January which have demonstrably worn him down, it's a legit albeit poorly worded point

not buying the vdV excuse tho

Sky Sports had some graphic last week showing that Spurs win percentage was higher this season without Bale than it was with him. Think the without sample size was quite small though, maybe 7 or 8 games.

I've heard talk that Van Der Vaart has always been a half-season kind of guy. Don't watch La Liga enough to know but apparently a lot of the Real fans had that opinion of him.

unveiling my special spurs' season-end 2011 memorial dn

^^^ should make a good 30 minute DVD

Harry just doesn't get that Spurs a big club.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/13361020.stm

lol

i'm taking an england career break too

i'm also quitting my job at the playboy mansion

That's 5 appearances since 2007 according to Wikipedia.

Foster said: "Performing at the highest level game in, game out... really takes it out of your body.

From a fucking goalie. Everyone else is running 12km while he's doing arm-windmills and arsing around waiting for a cross to flap at.

48 "highest level" games in 6 seasons. That's if you count Birmingham as highest level, otherwise it's 12.

"Tottenham are ready to move for Birmingham's England international Ben Foster to replace under-fire goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes.

Full story: Daily Mirror "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/9482367.stm

Surely 'arry would never sign a lad who turned 'is back on 'is country.

does all this palaver of spurs being kinda bad now mean 'arry won't be 'nighted and made 'nglish 'anager now.

i pondered this last night but being kinda bad and/or kinda bent has never been an impediment to getting the England manager job

they 'uilds yer up and they 'nocks yer dahn

on C-Wing, certainly

Spurs can still hold onto sixth, this is all premature

'arry is now in pre-season for his big summer tournament with HMRC iirc.

I've heard talk that Van Der Vaart has always been a half-season kind of guy. Don't watch La Liga enough to know but apparently a lot of the Real fans had that opinion of him.

― Number None, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 11:32 (1 hour ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I tried searching for posts where i'm sure i spent ages going "lol good luck getting 7 great games from this guy and never seeing him again" but instead all i got were posts about him off dawsons creek

Speaking of HMRC, Peter Storrie goes on trial on Monday.

googled for "james van der vaart" and found this http://tottenhamconfessions.tumblr.com/

Magnificent:

From the corner of my eye I saw him making his way over. He took the seat next to me, “So who do I have the delight of buying this drink for?,” he asked holding his hand out.

“Georgia,” I said as he took my hand and kissed it.

“Georgia…I’m Gareth.”

I was taken aback by his piercing blue green eyes. His entire face was perfectly sculpted. His nose, his lips, his jaw. I couldn’t contain myself inside. But on the outside, I appeared a cool, calm, and collected.

“Such an odd name,” I commented while taking another sip of my drink.

“I can say the same, but it’s beautiful,” he looked over at me, “like you.”

“Excuse me sir,” he called over the bartender, “I’d like to get what she has. And can we get another for the lady? Add two shots.”

“Gareth-,” I began.

“Just relax, you come here to relax anyway right?”

I let him convince me. Secretly I hoped for a hook up. Maybe something simple like a kiss. But he was gorgeous, and men like this don’t always come around in England. So I had to take my chances, nothing could go wrong.

“Yea…make that three shots.”

Oh my: http://thegarethbaleanon.tumblr.com/tagged/White_Wine_Bale

Guessing Foster doesn't want to be psychologically destroyed Rob Green-style. So either sensible or bottler, depending which way you look at it.

pretty damning indictment of him as a player/person, imo. "i might fail so best not to try"

like...for a sportsperson you'd expect more

Hey on the plus side Ben Foster won't play for England.

I get the sense most English players just fucking hate playing for England at this stage in the game and only do it for commercial/profile reasons.

I think you'll find that he only got injured in the last game by which time you were already 6th, you fucking numbnut.

as mencap's said, bale's been crocked twice already this season (both by p neville iirc) before now.

also VDV hasn't been '90 mins fit' all season, next season we'll see if that's a WC hangover or whether he's just arshavin but with better end product i guess.

I get the sense most English players just fucking hate playing for England at this stage in the game and only do it for commercial/profile reasons.

― Matt DC

after their 3rd game, when the 'international player' clause in their contract kicks in, it's a liability

You wouldn't play for England in any sort of ideal world, you only end up hated. Managers even more so. Beckham's the only guy who ever seemed to get any joy from it, at least since Gascoigne, yet he took more shit than anyone.

I wonder if anyone hates Beckham any more? There's nothing not to love about him these days, even his missus keeps quiet I think.

always have <3 for beckham, underrated on the pitch, never all that offensive off it, except for his witch of a mrs obv

"He's got my full support. I love Carlo," Terry told The Sun.