Spurs to raise ticket prices next year

April 24, 2002 | Leave a Comment

“More insanity from our good friends, Tottenham Hotspur. My comments (IN ALL CAPS):

Spurs defend 33 per cent ticket price rise (AND ARE RED CARDED FOR A CLUMSY TACKLE)

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy has defended the club’s decision to hike up ticket prices by as much as a third for next season. (THAT’S THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE TRIED DEFENDING SOMETHING ALL YEAR)

“”Our future success must be built upon solid foundations (SUCH AS THE HARD EARNED CASH OF OUR DELUSION SUPPORTERS),”" said Levy, who this month announced new sponsorship and kit deals totalling ?20 million.

The ticket price rise means the most expensive seat at White Hart Lane will cost ?1,200, nearly ?400 more than the present campaign and the equivalent of around ?67 a game. (THAT’S ABOUT ?66.95 MORE THAN THEY ARE WORTH)

Increases range from four per cent, or double the rate of UK inflation, to 20 per cent (OR ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF GAMES SPURS WILL WIN NEXT SEASON) in other areas of the ground.

“”We want to continue to serve the needs of the club (CHAIRMAN) for many years to come,”" Levy told the Evening Standard. “”Although the cost of most season tickets has increased, these still represent good value compared to match-day prices.”" (FOLKS, CPAP FOOTBALL IS CRAP FOOTBALL. IF THEY REALLY WANT TO SCREW THEIR FANS, THEY’LL GIVE THEM TWO TICKETS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE)

The controversial move comes as the collapse of ITV Digital has signalled troubled times for football finances (AND HOW EXACTLY DOES THE ITV DIGITAL COLLAPSE HURT SPURS?) – and Tottenham’s north London rivals Arsenal are one of a number of major clubs to warn they will cut costs in the summer. (AND WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH SPURS JACKING UP TICKET PRICES?)

Levy’s company Enic bought a majority stakes in Spurs last year in a deal which saw electronics tycoon Alan Sugar leave the club. (LUCKY SUGAR)

Increased investment was promised but Glenn Hoddle has largely limited his spending, with the most expensive outlay being the ?8 million signing of Dean Richards. (MOSTLY BECAUSE NO DECENT PLAY WOULD BE CAUGHT DEAD PLAYING FOR SPURS)

Hoddle, though, promised a major overhaul in the summer following deals with kit manufacturer Kappa and new sponsor Thomson Holidays. (YEAH, THEY MAY FINISH AS HIGH AS SIXTH NEXT SEASON!)

The White Hart Lane outfit missed their chance to qualify for Europe this season when they lost the Worthington Cup to Blackburn Rovers. (AND OH YEAH, PLAYED MEDIOCRE FOOTBALL IN THE LEAGUE FOR 38 GAMES)

Levy should be embarrassed. Spurs ownership sign ?20 million in sponsorship deals and THEN raise ticket prices to boot. I actually feel sorry for the Spurs fans. Poor bastards. What exactly are they going to get for this increased ticket price? A bettor stadium experience next year? A significantly improved product on the pitch? Not bloody likely. They only people who will benefit from this are the people who run Spurs. “

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Editorial 

New additions to the site

April 24, 2002 | Leave a Comment

“A major shout out to our webmaster for recent additions to the site. More links, more local pubs and the new Spursenfreude section. Hey, have you checked out the club shop recently? Some great reads in there. But we don’t have a review yet of Tony Adams’ “”Addcited”". If you’ve read it, drop us a brief review and we’ll get it in there. We’ve got a new service we hope to include soon as well. We’re working setting up a service so that members can order Arsenal Match Day Programmes.

Hey, have you voted yet for the Arsenal America Player of the Year and Arsenal America Unsung Hero of the Year? If not, click on the message board link on the left and follow it to the Arsenal message board at BigSoccer.com. Vote early, vote late, but make sure and vote. We are going to present this award to these players so it’s important that the awards reflect the widest possible cross-section of members.

Don’t forget, today’s match against West Ham will be at 3pm ET. Membe Ian Lozada plans to run a live text play-by-play so if you can’t get to a TV set, come on over to the Arsenal board at BigSoccer.com.

“

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under ArsenalAmerica News 

Arsenal America on BBC Radio Wales!

April 24, 2002 | Leave a Comment

“Here at our secret underground headquarters we here at Arsenal America are constantly looking for new ways to further our plans for world domination. The whole sharks with lasers thing hasn’t worked out too well, nor has our plan to hold the planet ransom for…one million dollars!

So, we’ve decided to use the media to further our nefarious plans. Next Friday, May 3, Arsenal America president Rick Liebling will appear on a live radio interview with BBC Radio Walea. Yes, Rick will be taking to the airwaves to spread the Gooner gospel. They want to know how Gooners in the U.S. will be watching the FA Cup final. Rick will be looking to name check as many members as possible, so if you’ve got some special plans, or have to overcome some serious hardship to watch Arsenal take on Chelsea in Cardiff, send us an e-mail and we’ll try to squeeze it in. Oh, did we mention that the interview will be live at 3:30am eastern time! All for the love of the Arsenal!

If Rick can do the interview, the least you can do is listen:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/programmes/radiowales/

Come on you Gunners!”

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under ArsenalAmerica News 

“Gunners leave it late again, but get it done”

April 24, 2002 | Leave a Comment

“Arsenal’s Super Swede strikes again

Story by Kali Korbis

Freddie Ljungberg again came up big for Arsenal, as the Gunners narrowly escaped a potentially devastating result to overcome West Ham 2-0 on Wednesday.

Ljungberg scored in the 77th minute, and assisted on Kanu’s 80th-minute goal, to lead the Gunners to victory over a tactically-refined West Ham side that managed to stifle Arsenal’s attack until the waning moments of the match.

However, it was the visitors that should have gone ahead in the first half, as Frederic Kanoute escaped a Tony Adams tackle, rounded a prostrate David Seaman, and slipped the ball in toward the net.

Ashley Cole slid in at the last moment in what appeared to be a goal-saving clearance; however, replays showed that Kanoute’s shot had crossed the line and should have counted as a goal. The linesman, whose view was most likely impeded by Cole’s position on the goal line, did not get a clear view and failed to indicate a goal.

The first half continued scoreless, and grew increasingly tense, as Arsenal dominated possession but were frustrated by a patient West Ham defence.

Though the Gunners came out of the halftime break with a renewed sense of urgency, their high-pressure attack forced West Ham goalkeeper into several world-class saves but failed to yield any goals. As play progressed scorelessly, the atmosphere at Highbury grew increasingly pressure-laden while Arsenal searched for a way to score.

Finally, Ljungberg stepped forward again to emerge as the Gunners’ saviour. Dennis Bergkamp, moving in from the right flank, made one of his signature cutting passes into the box, and Ljungberg’s one-touch effort was quick enough to beat James for the goal.

Less than three minutes later, Arsenal had doubled their lead, as Ljungberg looped a high ball in from the left and found Kanu at the back post. The lanky Nigerian’s shot smacked the ground, deceiving James, and forcefully found itself in the back of the net.

With only ten minutes remaining in the match, the Hammers were doomed, despite bringing on top scorer Jermain Defoe for Kanoute, and Arsenal survived the early scare for a vital Premiership win.

The Gunners, who now need only two more victories to clinch the title, will face Bolton on Monday in a match that could very well decide the fate of the trophy this season.

Teams:

Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Adams, Keown, Cole, Ljungberg (Dixon 90), Parlour, Vieira, Edu (Kanu 64), Bergkamp (Grimandi 80), Henry.

Subs not used: Jeffers, Wright.

West Ham: James, Schemmel (Labant 17), Pearce, Dailly, Repka, Winterburn, Carrick, Lomas, Sinclair, Cole, Kanoute (Defoe 74).

Subs not used: Hislop, Potts, Garcia.

Referee: S. Dunn (Bristol).

106″

Posted by Mr Zog | Filed Under Match Report