Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (!)...

[AUSpur]

Couldn't agree more mate. They all seem to say "I want to play CL football", yet unless they move to Barca or Bayern Munich, they're not really going to stand much chance of winning it. Top post AUS

Not to mention that since CL is based on last season's team/results, the team you're joining may actually be worse than the one that qualified, whereas an "up-and-coming" team that barely missed qualifying may have a much brighter future.

Then again, it may just be code for "I want to play for a team with lots of money."

 

[ButchCassidy]

Then again, it may just be code for "I want to play for a team with lots of money."

Spot on, how many players are turning down Monaco for lack of CL?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Couldn't agree more mate. They all seem to say "I want to play CL football", yet unless they move to Barca or Bayern Munich, they're not really going to stand much chance of winning it. Top post AUS

ManU and Arsenal haven't missed it for what 15/16 years ? They're a pretty safe bet. As are Chelsea.

 

[ButchCassidy]

ManU and Arsenal haven't missed it for what 15/16 years ? They're a pretty safe bet. As are Chelsea.

Arsenal look like anything but a safe bet for the last year or two, don't think I'd give them much better than 50/50 odds with us and Liverpool strengthening.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

ManU and Arsenal haven't missed it for what 15/16 years ? They're a pretty safe bet. As are Chelsea.

I was talking about a chance of winning it, not qualifying for it.

 

[sammy j]

Would rather we got this guy then villa

 

[tonyc]

Would rather we got this guy then villa

Rather we got both and no LD (not convinced by him)

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Couldn't agree more mate. They all seem to say "I want to play CL football", yet unless they move to Barca or Bayern Munich, they're not really going to stand much chance of winning it. Top post AUS

But I think that's why they want to play CL football. All players whant to be the best in the world and play for the best teams. Even if you sign for Arsenal, BVB or Napoli etc you will be hoping that ether your team will win the CL or you will grow and through good performances on the Europian stage attract interest from the Barca's and BM's etc. it makes sense, and unless you are 28 or over you will have a shot at reaching one of them.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

But I think that's why they want to play CL football. All players whant to be the best in the world and play for the best teams. Even if you sign for Arsenal, BVB or Napoli etc you will be hoping that ether your team will win the CL or you will grow and through good performances on the Europian stage attract interest from the Barca's and BM's etc. it makes sense, and unless you are 28 or over you will have a shot at reaching one of them.

Ah but you won't have a chance of joining them mate (the Barca's and the Bayern Munich's etc) because the Monaco's, Man city's, Chelsea's, PSG's etc etc, ALL not only pay stupidly high prices to get players in, they also pay stupidly high wages that no 'normal' club will agree to pay...

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Ah but you won't have a chance of joining them mate (the Barca's and the Bayern Munich's etc) because the Monaco's, Man city's, Chelsea's, PSG's etc etc, ALL not only pay stupidly high prices to get players in, they also pay stupidly high wages that no 'normal' club will agree to pay...

Some do you are spot on, and the players that join them are stuck there but not every club who play CL are run by Russian oligarchs or Saudi oil barons. The essential point is that it makes complete sense why players are so adimant about CL qualification to sign for a club.

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Some do you are spot on, and the players that join them are stuck there but not every club who play CL are run by Russian oligarchs or Saudi oil barons. The essential point is that it makes complete sense why players are so adimant about CL qualification to sign for a club.

To an extent, yes. Then you get people like Holtby, Vertonghen & Lloris, people who were already at clubs playing pretty regular CL football, yet still opted to move to lowly little Tottenham Hotspur FC. Was that because of massive wages? doubt it. Was it because we can offer regular CL football? History suggests that's unlikely. Is it because they like the project & the way the club is going, whilst also getting to play in what is considered by many to be the best (most entertaining) league in the world? Most probably yes. However, I also like to think it's because of the people they are. Vertonghen admitted that had offers from us & the Woolwich Pikeys, yet chose us because "it felt right"..

It may just be because I'm an old romantic when it comes to our club, but I think that we are a very decent & respected club, a club that is often described by new players as "a real family feel" sort of club. So it only makes sense that genuine family orientated people (players) do opt for our club, rather than that soul-less shithole down the road. Long may it continue too!! COYS

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I was talking about a chance of winning it, not qualifying for it.

I don't think players care so much about winning it, they just like the idea of being part of it, it's the blue ribbon event of the european footballing world isn't it. It's the big stage.

 

[dagraham]

I don't think players care so much about winning it, they just like the idea of being part of it, it's the blue ribbon event of the european footballing world isn't it. It's the big stage.

Indeed it is. Most of us fans are the same too. When we were in it we all knew we weren't good enough to win but the buzz of being in the premier club competition was massive. The thought of having the Milans and Real Madrid playing at WHL, being involved in the draw, even that music before the game.

It's sad that getting 4th place is the be all and end all these days but that's the reality of modern football.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Indeed it is. Most of us fans are the same too. When we were in it we all knew we weren't good enough to win but the buzz of being in the premier club competition was massive. The thought of having the Milans and Real Madrid playing at WHL, being involved in the draw, even that music before the game.

It's sad that getting 4th place is the be all and end all these days but that's the reality of modern football.

I don't even think it's sad really, coming 4th over a 38 game spread is actually much more of an achievement than winning a domestic cup and should be worth more. And is.

 

[dagraham]

I don't even think it's sad really, coming 4th over a 38 game spread is actually much more of an achievement than winning a domestic cup and should be worth more. And is.

I agree, it is more of a barometer of a teams success and more of an achievement. I just feel that there is too much of a yawning chasm between 4th and 5th, when in reality it's just a point or two.

I enjoy the CL but often it bores me until the knock out stages and I preferred it when it was just the Champions playing in the CL. Back then there seemed more scope for a club to join the top table if it made some moves in the transfer market, had good management etc. Now it just seems more of a cartel and a closed shop.

Anyway, I'll stop the off topic rambling now.

 

[MightyModric]

Spurs target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang drops AC Milan bombshell

SPURS look set to have been dealt a setback in their long-running pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The St Etienne hit man has been continually linked with a move to Premier League in recent months, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle also clamouring for his signature.

Andre Villas-Boas appeared to have been given real encouragement last week, whenAubameyang dropped a clear hint that the Premier League was his preferred choice of destination.

However, Aubameyang who rose through the ranks at AC Milan, is eager to have a second shot at the San Siro.

"A few years ago they told me that after playing with Milan, if I were to leave, then I’d want to come back to the Rossoneri," Aubameyang told French magazine Scarface.

"I now feel ready to confirm it really is like that. I would like a return to Milan, but I don’t know if that would be an easy thing to achieve.”

Aubameyang was in free-scoring mode last season notching up 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season.

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...ress-sport-news+(Daily+Express+::+Sport+Feed)

 

[Bus-Conductor]

What price has been banded about for Aubameyang this summer ?

 

[dirtyh]

What price has been banded about for Aubameyang this summer ?

between £8m and £10m i think mate.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

between £8m and £10m i think mate.

He signed permanently with St Etienne in December 2011. I reckon he's got at least 2.5 years left on his contract. That's a pretty reasonable price for a player his age/type/skilset.

I really think we should have brought him last summer instead of Dempsey. He's fast, strong, quite tenacious, gets himself into scoring positions (just about every week he had at least one 1v1) and he creates. I'm not saying he's the next Thiery Henry ( he definitely isn't, but for 8-10 mil, at 23, he'd represent a much better risk/investment than an ageing Dempsey ever would.

 

[dirtyh]

He signed permanently with St Etienne in December 2011. I reckon he's got at least 2.5 years left on his contract. That's a pretty reasonable price for a player his age/type/skilset.

I really think we should have brought him last summer instead of Dempsey. He's fast, strong, quite tenacious, gets himself into scoring positions (just about every week he had at least one 1v1) and he creates. I'm not saying he's the next Thiery Henry ( he definitely isn't, but for 8-10 mil, at 23, he'd represent a much better risk/investment than an ageing Dempsey ever would.

Yup, agree with all of that. Didn't we piss him off last year though when we made a ham-fisted attempt at signing him? If he is on the radar, it'll need some Avb magic