There maybe trouble ahead Spurs.
More than a week on and still nobody has explained to me where we’re going to get the next set of multi-billionaires to replace those that currently own the big six. And Manchester United fans appear to be on a suicide mission.
I’m almost certainly not the only person to be hearing of the plans for Thursday night. Brilliant guys. Keep it up. Make life as difficult for your team as you can ahead of the Europa League final. How has Solskjaer got the cheek to be complaining about fixture scheduling when it was United’s own ‘fan’ base that rioted last Sunday and caused the game v Liverpool to be re-arranged?
And this past weekend came the news that the Manchester-based The Hut Group has pulled out of a £200m training kit sponsorship deal. That’s right - Manchester-based. An employer of people living in and around Manchester. Brilliant. You couldn’t make it up. Gone. A chance to put the name of the company front and centre world wide. Gone. The chance of expansion. Gone. The chance of new jobs. United’s ‘fans’ have been celebrating this news. It’s staggering. What next? Oh, I know. I can hear it now. ‘Let’s see how quickly we can stop the flow of money through the club. The Glazers will get the message then’. Be careful what you wish for....
Spurs aren’t without problems. I watched the defeat at Leeds wondering where they go next. Of course Ryan Mason was correct about the nonsense of disallowing Kane’s goal - and the result might have been different had it stood, but my thoughts went beyond the game. What’s next for Spurs?
Kane goes. That’s for certain now. And he’ll go with the blessing of Spurs fans. They know he’s finished his shift. And what a shift. That creates £90m to spend. Or does it? I couldn’t help but be reminded of what Arsene Wenger told me recently during an interview on BeINSPORTS. I know some of you are regulars - but forgive me - this is for those who haven’t read this blog before.
We were discussing the last decade of his time at Arsenal - the post Highbury years. I couldn’t believe it when he said ‘because of the stadium debt I knew every season that we couldn’t complete for the title (and here’s the bit that nearly had me fall out of my chair) and at the end of that season I’d have to sell my best player to keep the club afloat’. Wow. Staggering. Looking back - how well did he do to keep it all going - deliver CL football - and three FA Cups in his last four seasons?
Spurs have got a similar decade ahead of them. They might have a new coach lined up - but I’ve heard nothing. As nice a guy as Ryan Mason is, they can’t possibly give it to him. Top four has gone now - and not just this season. I’m with Glenn Hoddle, who doesn’t see them as a top six team anymore.
I’ve also been thinking about where else there might be vacancies? West Brom? Palace? Maybe Leeds? Newcastle? Arsenal? Brighton if Potter moves onto a bigger club? It’s going to be interesting.
If Sam goes I’d replace him with Valerien Ismael. What a job he’s done at Barnsley - although you’d struggle to get him out if they come up. And they might.
Paul Warne obviously knows what he’s doing - despite the fact that Rotherham didn’t survive. In the end a small squad and too many games did for them. Wycombe failed gloriously. I think Gareth Ainsworth is a star. It’s worth noting that if the EFL find Derby guilty of financial irregularities Wycombe could yet stay up.
Mark Robins has to get a mention. He’s done an incredible job at Coventry. I’d hate to see him leave, but he too deserves a bigger one.
Lower down there’s Karl Robinson. I can’t believe that he’s still waiting for his big chance. After a terrific first season at Oxford, they were toiling this time round, but he quietly crept into play-off contention and then nicked a place on the last day. I’m delighted for him.
There’s a clutch of good guys in League One - Grant McCann, Darren Ferguson, Neil Critchley, Lee Johnson, Michael Appleton, Danny Cowley, Nigel Adkins and Paul Cook. In League Two what about the jobs done at Cheltenham, Cambridge, Bolton, Morecambe, Newport and Forest Green?
There’s a lot of talent out there. Some have had a go and it hasn’t quite worked out - but that shouldn’t stop them getting a second chance. Others are still waiting. Oh - I should’ve given Lee Bowyer a mention when talking about the Championship. He had a huge impact at Birmingham.
Good luck to all the guys involved in the play-offs and better luck to everyone’s favourite 2nd team on Merseyside - Tranmere - when it all resumes again. They came up short this time and I feel for everybody at the club. It’s been a frustrating couple of seasons at Prenton Park.