Can I just say that I will chin the next person to say this? If we do slump, the InterToto will no doubt be used as an excuse but: Alan Shearer didn't play in it (or in fact until 3 games into the season), Rob Lee played the last 2.5 games and had a lot of last season off, Gary Speed played in it and got very little holiday because of internationals but has had a break through injury, likewise Hughesie, O'Brien only came back a few weeks ago, Dabs played but had all of last season off and could be replaced by Distin, Elliott played but can be replaced by Bernard, Barton played but is getting time off and can be replaced by Griffin or Hughes, Solano played but Dyer is coming back and can replace him, Lolo played for PSG so he may tire, I suppose, Bellamy played but can be replaced by Dyer ot Cort, Cort didn't play Given can be replaced by Steve Harper, Acuna hardly played... So, in fact, if we do slump, the InterToto will be a really crap excuse.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Answers

If you do slump you could always use your favourite excuse,injuries. Or how you did not get enough off the refs.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

LOL. No, refs are YOUR excuse for your slumps (evidence - any issue of Match of the Day from January onwards last season and Reid's moaning). If you had ComparativelyGood Kev and Quinn missing for 6 months, where do you think you'd have finished last season?

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Injuries can't be an excuse this season as we are doing well without Dyer and Cort. Although we'd do better with them, the fact that we are still a good side without them proves we can still play.

The Intertoto simply isn't an excuse. They were (apart from perhaps the Troyes games) a warm up exercise. The fact that Bassedas, Quinn and Ameobi played a part in most of them, with Robert, Shearer and Lee all missing most of the games, we shouldn't be affected by it in the slightest. It's like us being beaten by Sunderland at the SoS next year and blaming the Worthington Cup because they got knocked out earlier than us.

For Hoddle to say something like that shows how crap a manager he is. He's won nothing at any level, scraped into the World Cup finals and scraped into the next round with Argentina where we finally played well, but how much of this was down the Hoddle is unknown. Adrenalin must play a huge part when they're that far on.

At Chelsea and Swindon he did nowt really, at Southampton he stabbed them in the back after they rescued him from the dole queue and at Spurs he has a squad which will most likely retire at the end of the season.

I hope we stuff the cockneys tomorrow, Ferdinand should hand in a transfer request and come and coach our young strikers.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

I liked that dave. Good rant.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

That should have read ...

I liked that Paul. Good rant.

Beer talk.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Is is beer talk to some extent, although there is a lot of truth in it, (And I hate Spurs)

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Paul, I detest them, too: that's possibly (probably) why I'm so stressed out about tomorrow.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Hate is a bad word Dougal, for my part I intensively dislike Spurs for the simple reason that the so called barrell chested iron man of Spurs Dave `fuc£in` McKay callously at White Hart Lane near enough ended the career of my hero, Len White RIP , sod it , I hate em too!!!!

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Hate is a strong word, but as a club, I hate them. They have some players that I, er, admire, but I hate the club. Some of the fans are arrogant pricks as well which doesn't help their image in my eyes.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Getting into the Intertoto cup was the best thing that happened in the close season. Competative football has to be better than some meaningless friendly against star teams like Birmingham and Reading. I can't believe half a dozen extra games can effect a Premiership squad and to the contrary it sharpens them up. Had we overcome Troyes that would have meant even more games (and more lucrative income).

Hoddle would have loved the chance

3-1 to our tired lads tomorrow which we would have achieved with or without the inter toto.

Get the application in now Bobby for next years competition just in case we need it....Hate to see a Peter Reid type blunder and forget to put wor names down for it.

I for one will accept qualification for Europe by whatever means we can get it. Not high enough up the Fair play league yet. too many yellows.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Complete agreement Bob, said it all along , nice to take the boys to the US previous season, but being nice wins feck all , the trick is to tour end of season, only if they have done well. The Toto was a unqualified success, Hoddle`s karma is way oot.

-- Anonymous, October 20, 2001

Actually, I said I detested them. Small but important difference ;))

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001

Dougal,do you think that we would not be justified in using refs as an excuse over the period that you indicated? It did cost us ultimately.That cannot be denied.But Peter Reid took it in good grace.Can you see Wenger,Fergie etc doing that.And how would anyone else react to the Tranmere farce of a couple of years ago?

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001

I'll avoid the word 'hate' but add me to the list of those who find Spurs completely loathesome.

-- Anonymous, October 21, 2001