It came to me in a blinding flash (when her indoors clashed me with a Le Creuset wok) that we might have been better off using the cash and effort put into extending the ground to sort out the playing side first.

This constant scrabbling around for bargains because we're so completely strapped for cash is a chronic butt-pain as far as I'm concerned. I can't help thinking that concentrating on building a really top class squad before doing anything on the accommodation side might not have been a more sensible option.

I know that throwing money at the player problem is no guarantee, but surely we could take out a bit of insurance by going only for known top class people.

I mean, the latest spin on the Domi saga is ludicrous - we've actually sent somebody to look at PSG rejects as possible makeweights in the deal - so much for not letting them mess us around. They're crazy. Rather than send somebody to Paris, PSG should have been told in no uncertain terms that any inspection of their castoffs would be completely at their expense.

Then, having sorted out the squad, even if it took two or three years, we could look again into extending the ground or whatever, and who knows, the climate might have changed enough by then, that we could go out to those wide open spaces that stand out like a sore thumb on those satellite shots, and put up a completely finished stadium that would be the envy of the world, although the current climate in the footy world makes me wonder if massive stadia might fast become a thing of the past.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Answers

Le Creuset ? What a poser.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

You know what your problem is PB? You think too much!

;-{))

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Just to refresh your memory PB, (was that a nasty Wok knock? - Take care of yourself - if you can see red and white stripes before your eyes try closing your curtains) I think that the strategy you outline was the actual plan. The playing side was sorted out, we were 2nd in the league, playing to capacity crowds with thousands queuing on the waiting list, and 2 decisions were taken - extend the stadium and appoint TSM. The rest, as they say, is history.

>>>>>surely we could take out a bit of insurance by going only for known top class people.

You mean known internationals, people like Marcellino, Maric, Thomasson, Andersson, Pistone - that sort of thing? Well - it might work. Myself I'd favour picking up some up-and-coming stars like Serrant, Gudjonnsen, Hamilton, Brady and supplementing them with experienced older heads and free transfers like Rush and Perez. Whaddya reckon?

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

In an ideal world your right, Pit Bill. However, as Jonno has suggested the problem is that you cannot fine tune these things.
A major stadium expansion take several years to plan and execute. I'm sure if Fred 'n Doug had realised when they committed to the project that the playing side would go to sh*t, that they would have said "hang on a mo, we better get the team sorted first".

As your thread title indicates - 20:20 hindsight makes every much clearer and so much easier.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

I think that Freddie had the foresight we were all craving for .. Howay we all wanted a stadium that was big enough to fit us all in , and we all know that the extra revenue will make us probably in the top three sides in England once again . Lets face it , we are in a hell of a lot better position we were in 6 years ago , because now we'e all a bit pessimistic even though we're seventh in the league and had all those great premiership finishes and Fa Cup runs . I know weve got nowt to show for it excepet the best ground in the country , the best fans and a hell of a good chance of winning the title and a Cup each time the season begins , weve been one of the best performing teams in the last 6 years ( someone care to tell me on average finishes in the league and best cup runs ? ) . Call them W*nkers if you will, bu theyve made a lot of good decisions ( for the club and the city ) v a lot of poor ones too , but the Stadium is the biggest testament to their succeses . If youd told me all this the year we got promoted id have been well happy . Im proud of my club and everything it stands for .

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

There's a hideous circularity to this argument. If we get knocked out of the Cup and don't get into Europe, we will struggle to fill the ground and our financial problems will be all the more acute. On the other hand, I have to say that when we were sorted on the pitch and playing to capacity crowds, we should have done more about our youth policy. Look at Leeds - loads of youth team players, likewise Liverpool, likewise Ipswich, likewise West Ham, likewise Man United. Even Villa and Spurs have a fair smattering of youth team players.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

To be Dougal, considering we essentially gave up on player development a few seasons ago, Harper, Hughes, Ameobi, and Steve Caldwell have all come in and done well for us this season.
We also have Gary Caldwell not that far behind his older brother, and hopefully Michael Chopra coming along in a couple of seasons.

That's not too bad in the circumstances, even though I don't think there is too much additional in-house talent else lurking in the stiffs beyond the names already mentioned.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Despite no cup run and no European place next year, If I was in a position to buy a season ticket,I'd be far more inclined to cough up the dough in the knowledge one Bobby Robson was in charge of the ship.

Like all these migrants who move to Third world cities - at least with Bobby there is hope and possibility.

He will turn it around and fill the ground next year given even less than half a chance

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

You're quite right, Pete - assuming he doesn't lose heart.
It must be difficult for him right now.

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

A lot of people want entertaining, though...most of us on here would go if the ldas were all pit ponies playing in a cabbage patch but thee have been some dire matches at SJP this season..

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

...transitional period, Dougal, transitional..

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

Yes, I agree Clarky. Its a transitional period into another transition!

-- Anonymous, January 16, 2001

>>>>>most of us on here would go if the lads were all pit ponies playing in a cabbage patch

And the strongest critics among us might not be able to tell the difference! :-)

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Agree that it's a transitional period and can see that we are making progress. Unfortunately, the stadium and the crowds are almost begging for some great football.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

Canny pans them Le Creuset, cut the makings wi Wustoff Trident knives and season wi Maldon Sea salt.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001

And they make canny gouges in the woodwork if the wielder misses.

Not sure about the knives and the sea salt though - they could be the sauce of something extremely painful.

-- Anonymous, January 17, 2001