Football Focus

[mockney piers]

Aye. Been living with this speculation for a while now.

Rumours abound, but there seem to be several sniffs of genuine interest who know that the closer we get to administration the lower the price, also keeping a watch on relegation possibility (anybody's guess frankly, but it at least looks as if Zola has a chance of holding on to key players with a sale of fringe players like Calum Davenport looking certain) as that too will affect the price.

Expect a flurry of activity sometime soon.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Indeed indeed. But it's harder and harder (and I know you have spoken several times about this on here already) to stay excited about a game when you can see so much of what's heppening behind the curtains. And I only quoted the West Ham example as I read about it on the way in to work today but there is hardly a club around that isn't in the papers for similar reasons at some point or other

Listening to 'Arry talking about how many games are being played each weak and how it means the cups (that traditionalists like him are supposed to be valuing against the indifference of all these bleedin' foreigners) get sacrificed because being relegated is too expensive. Now, getting relegated was never a good thing but unless my memory is failing, there was an assumption that teams could regroup and get back up (or if you were Palace, go up 4 seasons in a row and then down 4 seasons in a row). But money has warped the game so much (an embarssaingly clich?d line, I know I know) that you find yourself nodding along with Redknapp, before going "hang on a minute..."

[mockney piers]

I'm rather hoping that if a recession and financial troubles in general bring a new appreciation of the value of money and savingt o us all, then maybe the new spirit of prudence might filter through to the world of football.

Really not holding my rbeath on this one; mind you, with advertising revenues plummeting across the industry, don't expect sky/setanta et al to be immune to this, and ultimately with lower revenues from that, money will start dropping out of the game.

Could be those 60k a week salaries will be a thing of the past to all but the genuinely world class players.

[SimonM]

>>Still made me laugh though (sorry Simon, not flaming you, honest).<<

Oh I believe you - it made me smile too. I am surprised McCabe scored as low as 64% actually. Incidentally you may or may not be interested to know that last weekend McCabe freely admitted Sheffield Utd had so far spent ?1.32 million in legal fees in that affair, but was confident a good chunk of it would have to be repaid by....guess who? :)

[mockney piers]

I gathered that some recent audits have unearthed some irregularities in SU's finances and as a consequence McCabe has become a little less demanding and West Ham, obviously keen for a quick settlement to boost their sale prospects, might push for an out of court settlement sooner rather than later.

Figures abound in this but there's talk of 10-15 million satisfying both parties if it's finished quickly.

That may be wishful thinking on some WH bloggers' parts though.

[zephyr]

mockney piers Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Of course there was that Southampton game ;-)

Hopefully we will 'pound' Man U again on Sunday. That said, they way we are playing at the moment does not give me much hope - I think we are in for a good hiding!

[matthew123]

It's the kinda game you'd want played at the old Dell with a bog of a pitch. However, United have Chelsea the following weekend and a midweek League Cup semi final in between so I guess there maybe one or two weak links in the United team for their visit to the south coast. Southampton have a chance if they have the stomach. I'm predicting a shock exit for United, 2-1 to the Saints!!

[SimonM]

I reckon it will be a while before Torres gets to score quite such an easy goal as that - but even as a neutral it was nice to see him back.

[Annasfield]

Absolutely fantastic to have him back. He got a huge cheer when he came on too.

Shame Alonso had to go off injured. Really changed our game after half time.

Will be interesting to see how the draw pans out tomorrow.

[SimonM]

>>Will be interesting to see how the draw pans out tomorrow<<

Any idea what time the draw is? As my lot don't play their postponed 3rd round tie until the 13th it would nice to know that we're not facing the prospect of Liverpool or Arsenal yet again!

[Annasfield]

3.30 I think.

[ratty]

Somehow I doubt we are going to win the cup again this year!

[Ladygooner]

I have to say those Plymouth boys must eat a lot of pasties and clotted cream - the size of them! Very boring first half but good start to the second half with our boys scoring two. We always looked vulnerable at the back and they could easily have got a draw. However, Van Persie is looking good at the moment - however,hope we don't get a premiership team in the next draw!

[Annasfield]

I don't belive. Twice in a week!!!

FOURTH-ROUND DRAW

Liverpool v Everton

Southampton/Man Utd v Tottenham

Hull/Newcastle v Millwall/Crewe

Sunderland v Blyth/Blackburn

Hartlepool v West Ham

Leyton Orient/Sheff Utd v Charlton/Norwich

Cardiff v Arsenal

Portsmouth/Bristol City v Histon/Swansea

Chelsea/Southend v Ipswich

Cheltenham/Doncaster v Aston Villa

West Brom/Peterborough v QPR/Burnley

Torquay v Coventry

Kettering Town v Fulham

Watford v Leicester/Crystal Palace

Derby County v Nottingham Forest

Birmingham City/Wolves v Middlesbrough

[????]

The Monkeyhangers away.....I'm thinking of a trip to Hartlepool as I've not been there....not squared it with the missus yet...

[Jah Lush]

I went to the Spurs match against Wigan on Friday night and Pavluychenko had probably his best game for us especially after the completely useless and ineffectual Darren Bent went off injured. Thank God for small mercies. The sooner we get rid of him and get Jermaine Defore back the better and I don't care if we have to pay ?20 million for him. We want him back. The Spurs fans continued to chant his name during the game. "Jermaine Defoe, he's a yiddo, Jermaine Defoe, he's a yiddo."

It felt very strange going to a football match on a Friday night though. I'm usually down the pub with friends after shitty week in the office getting hammered (no pub intended).

Unfortunately it looks like we'll be away to Man Utd in the next round and that will be tough.

I'm off up to White Hart Lane again on Tuesday for the first leg of the semi-final of the League Cup against Burnley on Tuesday night in which I hold out a bit more hope for our boys in white but it will still be a tough call over two legs.

[matthew123]

Damn, Liverpool v Everton twice in a week and then Chelsea at Anfield the week after. It's going to be a gruelling 2 weeks for Liverpool facing the boys in Blue even if the triple header is played out at Anfield.

[mockney piers]

I'm sure you've seen it ratty, but it is quite funny.

[Keef]

The Spurs fans continued to chant his name during the game. "Jermaine Defoe, he's a yiddo, Jermaine Defoe, he's a yiddo."

*Ahem* "Just so long as we don't have Berba & Keane, in which case we wouldn't give a toss about him".

[ratty]

Defoe moving to Spurs today for ?15m plus w/o of money owed for Kaboul. (total of ?20m)

Those death threats I made paid off then! Kerrrrrchiiiiiiiiiing!

[mockney piers]

Jermain Defoe is your archetypal mercenary footballer, in it for the money and the perks. No concept of loyalty at all, ask Charlton.

Not a bad player, can bang in a goal or two (as long as his co striker isn't better than him, then he'll sulk) but not worth getting worked up over.

Or is he growing up a bit now (metaphorically speaking, obviously he'll never be taller than 4' 6'')?

[DaveR]

"The important thing to remember about professional football is that it's basically a child's game but with Range Rovers, Aston Martins and big-titted blonde girls getting pumped in the local Marriott." - The Daily Mash (thanks for the link MP)

Pure genius

[matthew123]

I used to think Harry Redknapp was one of the good guys but now I'm not too sure after his endless campaigns of unsettling players through the media. We had it with Crouch in the summer, things like, 'lovely player but can't afford him', tried the same with Robbie Keane, but now it looks like he has got his man Jermaine Defoe. I don't want to bracket him with Alex Ferguson, but surely Redknappy is worthy of an FA charge.

This in the season when Daniel Levy was complaining to the authorities after the way Liverpool and United conducted themselves over Keane and Barbatov - it seems Spurs have done exactly the same with Defoe.

[Sandperson]

Change the record Matthew, maybe if you had a manager with a personality he might make a few more headlines.

And Redknapp is a crook, always has been, always will be. Isn't it true that Pompey (under Redknapp) didn't pay the fee for Defoe?

[Annasfield]

Ha ha - Rafa is hilarious. Making headlines for all the right reasons at the mo.