Spurs have dispensed with the man once thought Europe’s hottest guru manager (don’t believe in guru managers). Villas Boas was a failure as manager but he was a mere symptom of their problems. Splurging circa £100m on vagrant misfits should be enough to disguise the fact that you don’t have a sustainable strategy. For a while. But primary responsibility lies with whoever authorised the budget in the first place.
Selling that chap with the funny hair to Madrid went some way towards offsetting the cost of this summer’s acquisitions, but Spurs wage bill for the new arrivals will dwarf the money paid to those who departed. This is the more serious problem.
They are left with players on long and expensive contracts who look like they auditioning for a West End show. Forget about Spurs recouping their ‘investment’, the chances of players attracting contract offers which match the cash the Cockerel coughs up each month is zero.
The Bale money is gone and those new contracts written in the summer will inhibit the club for years. What next: downsizing, or another visit to the roulette table, gambling with even bigger stakes next time?
Here’s what happens when you sell your star player: everyone and their grannie wants the money spent. “The [Insert club name] board need to show their ambition”. This comes from fans, the media, the manager, scouts, family members and every taxi driver in a 30 mile radius. And why wouldn’t they spend an apparent windfall, that’s what the money’s there for, after all.
It’s at this point clubs lose all self-awareness. Reinforced by the success which led to the development and profitable sale of a prime asset in the first place, the organisation’s view of its reach, not to mention competency, is obliterated. “We have spent money well in the past, look, here is the evidence, therefore we can spend this even larger amount of money well now”.
With this belief now orthodoxy, every pore in the organisation secretes an intoxicating scent attracting the club to market. Unfortunately, the rewards for spending big are heady and instant, though they seldom last as long as the hangover.
Directors are celebrated, ticket and merchandise sales get a short-term kick. The manager and coaches get to play with more expensive toys; quite literally, everyone is happy. This is narco-football, only accommodated by ever-bigger hits. For some, this narco-football offers proof that management share wider stakeholder aspirations. I contend otherwise.
The heresy to this orthodoxy reads differently:
Clubs should mistrust their successes, they are evidentially more random than most are prepared to accept.
Windfall transfer income is more likely to draw clubs away from the part of the market they are most competent in. It is an acknowledged fact that sellers and agents literally see them coming.
Don’t go searching for the instant hit, you’re more likely to miss. If necessary, take some short-term pain while using resources to enhance recruitment infrastructure.
Heresy in any area of life is seldom met with quiet contemplation. Narco-football heresy is more likely to be met with a rationalisation that the heretics don’t share orthodoxy’s core values – sustainable success of the football club – no matter how many references to “sustainable success of the football club” they make. It’s Salem-esque.
The orthodox-heretic analogy is evident where three or more are gathered in any club’s name. The first club who manage to unite everyone behind the heretic’s charter will clean up/reach nirvana/find salvation/achieve ultimate enlightenment/do lunch with Tom Cruise.
CQteN St Patrick’s Day Dinner is now FULLY BOOKED. Many thanks for everyone who responded so quickly. We are well on the way to raising the money to build a kitchen and shelter at the Kholoni Primary School in Malawi (for details check here).
Just a few posting days left to order your CQN Annual before Christmas, £5 from every sale goes to the Malawi appeal:
Sean Fallon: Celtic’s Iron Man:
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TnT
That truly is a tragedy. Just think what might have been!
You’re welcome to my Haiti ’74 squad any time.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes2 4m
Craig Whyte has won his Ticketus appeal. He is now ready to fund his legal claim over Rangers assets.
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes2 3m
Craig Whyte has won his Ticketus appeal. He is now ready to fund his legal claim over Rangers assets
Deary me
Seven supporters appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on Tuesday charged with behaving in a way likely to incite public disorder by singing the song in support of the proscribed terrorist organisation.
It’s Roll of Honour….now surely any defence would be….was there public disorder? Is the song still being sung? Has there been any disorder since with the song still being sung? No…”get oot ma court” …..surely….
Kikinthenakas
Maybe the bhoys being done for political banners at the SPL game ,should ask what the spl intend to do to Killie who have a stand advert for the SNP ,see the Killie D Utd highlights SPL official highlights 2mins4 sec in, top right hand corner .
Do the SPL receive any percentage of revenue from the highlights package for advertising .
HH
Good evening all.
Big confession time. Until about 5 minutes ago I couldn’t have told you a single line from ‘Roll Of Honour’. So, after reading of the handful of folk arrested for singing it I turned to Google in an effort to see what all the fuss is about.
Can anyone point me to what the issue is with this particular song? Let me make it quite clear that I am neither in favour nor against the song I simply want to be clear WHY it leads to arrest. My daughter is going to ‘Charlie and The Bhoys’ later this week. I don’t know whether they sing this song but if they did is there any reason why my daughter should be wary of singing along?
Jobo
Dontpatmadug
Woooft…….really!
Squeaky (er) bum time again:-)
Talking of Auchtermuchty, well not far away, did you know that the late Johnny Cash hailed from Falkland in Fife, yeah he did!
Here was me thinking Johnny Cash was change from a Durex machine too!
KINGLuBO
TnT
I have a similar story, but ended up with Big League (the players had spring legs) Cause a Barras salesman told my mum it was better than Subbuteo. :)
Good Evening Timland.
TET….There’s nothing better for me than a 3 o’clock ko
on a Saturday, really pissed off …….makes you wonder
if it’s worthwhile buying a ST.
twists n turns
On twitter. So ….
Mullet and Whaurs-The-Deeds Brown taking great delight about beating a team that finished three places above relegation. And who they shouldn’t even have played because they were both un-seeded. Clowns!
Chick and McIntyre getting orgasmic.
Subbutteo was good. I remember one World Cup me and my mate planned for days – he got his mammy to iron the pitch. The surface was perfect. Then we fell out about whether or not he had flicked or pushed. Great practice for disputes in later years on the golf course… :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBmFuySb_Qw
A paranoid person may be forgiven for thinking Ticketus have already got their money back .Now that really would have the paranoid among us getting the tinfoil hats on
That is if the CF tweet is true .
HH
Charlotte Fakeovers @CharlotteFakes2 4m
I see someone has tried to suspend my account already.
Nice try, Jack.
Burghbhoy
Super striker ha, forgot about that, never liked subbuteo, way too easy to stand oan the wee men. I did like a game, it was like 5 a sides, where the players were dotted about the plastic park and were in wee holes, they were attached by a spring and you could ping the baw aboot….
Kikinthenakas
Ally Lamont confirms on Radio Shortbread that the proxy votes have already been cast for huns AGM and the current board remain in place as is.
Sell! Sell! Sell!
:-)
Sounds like Jacko’s burger-van story has failed. Shame……..
winning captains
18:00 on 17 December, 2013
And tomorrow a copy will be posted to Coatbridge, ordered mine about 30 minutes ago.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Delaneys dunky
Probably the same guy:-)
mncelt-Thanks for your kind reply re Millenium Hotel New York.HH
Innocent until proven guilty boys. ( I know they shouldn’t be up there in the first place)
McIntyre sounds like he is about to start crying.
TnT
Aye, he was probably tall, dark and handsome, with gift of the gab. :))
BBCKheredine @BBCKheredine 5m
Big news for Rangers fans; the current board will stay in place having secured enough votes ahead of Thursday’s AGM
that noise you hear is ally’s arse collapsing
NatKnow
I’ll never forget the Christmas I anticipated joining the Scalextric clique.
I’m convinced I was the only person that ever got Scalextric Go Karts.
FFS CSC
‘Paul Murray set for board ‘
@charlotte
valentinesday
I really feel for all you bhoys who buy their season books, we always knew that TV dictates, but this jolly to Turkey is a slap in the face, especially for thew bhoys travelling from Ireland and england imo.
Just another nail in the coffin.
HH
Kinglubo
You’re not far wrong re Johnny Cash. His ancestors actually hailed from Strathmiglo..a couple of miles from Auchtermuchty.
Roll Of Honour
Gerry O’Glacain
Read the roll of honour for Ireland’s bravest men
We must be united in memory of the ten,
England you’re a monster, don’t think that you have won
We will never be defeated while Ireland has such sons.
In those dreary H-Block cages ten brave young Irishmen lay
Hungering for justice as their young lives ebbed away,
For their rights as Irish soldiers and to free their native land
They stood beside their leader – the gallant Bobby Sands.
Now they mourn Hughes in Bellaghy,
Ray McCreesh in Armagh’s hills
In those narrow streets of Derry they miss O’Hara still,
They so proudly gave their young lives to break Britannia’s hold
Their names will be remembered as history unfolds.
Through the war torn streets of Ulster the black flags did sadly sway
To salute ten Irish martyrs the bravest of the brave,
Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kieran Doherty
They gave their lives for freedom with Thomas McElwee.
Michael Devine from Derry you were the last to die
With your nine brave companions with the martyred dead you lie
Your souls cry out “Remember, our deaths were not in vain.
Fight on and make our homeland a nation once again !”
FF taking it well
_________________________________
Re: BBC Saying Current Board Have Won
It this is true, I hope the AGM turns VERY nasty. These b****** need to be in fear. It’s the only way we will get rid of them.
Big news for Rangers fans; the current board will stay in place having secured enough votes ahead of Thursday’s AGM http://t.co/jl3QV7J1Yd
obonfanti1888 19:04
Would be funny if it was his votes that swung it!
bournesouprecipe
19:05 on
17 December, 2013
NatKnow
I’ll never forget the Christmas I anticipated joining the Scalextric clique.
I’m convinced I was the only person that ever got Scalextric Go Karts.
FFS CSC
:-)))
I got Scalextric one year. It was oval. The cars went round and round and round and round – until the little electrical motors in the cars started to smell funny. Was pretty boring actually…but for some reason I was fascinated….
Jungle Jim
As posted before the only folk possibly offended by that are the anti Irish bigots of which there are plenty in this god forsaken country.
God help them and us all!
worst xmas presents.
around 72 I am guessing because I was allready at school, but my one year younger twin brothers born in May 67, still were not yet.
i was allready going to matches. they wurny.
i wanted fitba boots.
doon stairs, i spied boots, i rushed in to put them on turned roon to see the twins opening wee cardboard boxes with celtic strips, the version before the official umbros, sew on badge. i was raging.
all not lost, my mam, gives me a box ……………
a feckin scotland one.
i never got over it.
Paul67 et al
Looks like Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has been reading the blog today if his reaction to Big Malky Mackay’s claim that he needed another three players in January is anything to go by. Chief Exec, Simon Lin’s “…..not a single penny will be made available….” might not match Fergus’s immortal line, but it is not too far away.
Come on you blues, er well reds really.