What's wrong with this picture?
Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 9:14AM I'd expect a better mock up if the OS is awarded to Spurs, then the designers can go to town much like they did with the now dead in the water Northumberland Development Project (it's dead in the water). At the moment however, we are teased with a rather strange single piece illustration. Not sure what irks me more. The buildings central in the background or the tall red monstrosity looking down at the stadium (never red damn you!). Don't even get me started on the break dancers. I can see it now. Headhunters v the Spurs Yoof. Body popping in Burberry.
Couple of other things in there that hardly appeal to the common football fan, but yes, it's a mock up and if you look closely to some of the design photos of the NDP they actually included a skating rink.
RIP Football, eh?
Levy on TalkSport...listen here.
Once more, I'm placing my hope that Levy is masking his true intentions. Would hardly make sense to tell us there will be a referendum then once more brutally state that there is no option available other than a move to East London. Unless his mind is getting cloudy with the PR soundbites (unlikely).
To further cement the contradictions, note the usage of the word 'current' in his comments on the NDP being dead in the water. Reading too much into it, am I? Then again, if my hope that this is a grand game of poker rings true, what if we are awarded the OS? I guess, either way - Levy will get what he wants. Just no pleasing all of us I'm afraid.
Also - couple of things I saw this morning that made me giggle.
“I don’t think running tracks work, particularly behind the goal. The customers are so far back it doesn’t work" - David Sullivan
Make your minds up.
And from early 2010 just for larfs:
"The bigger dream is for West Ham fans to have a football stadium. He (Coe) can have an athletics track elsewhere. We would offer tickets at £5 a go for some matches. We can bring Premier League football back to the people" - David Sullivan
Prem League football....in the Championship! It's revolutionary! This is the best from the same article from early 2010:
"Karren is a good businesswoman but she doesn't understand football"
Astute.
Yes, yes, Levy has contradicted himself aplenty with the promises and shattered dreams but I'm beginning to wonder whether his greatest weapon is West Ham's inability to fight their corner. Or if you believe in the conspiracy theory, it's possibly the greatest threat to remaining in N17. Mainly because even with all the bad hype about Spurs and the legacy, many involved in the process of seleciton see the Spurs bid as being more viable (hate that word).
But as mentioned already, either way Levy will win.
Anyone for badminton?
Reader Comments (160)
does(before the attack).
If we are awarded the OP site then fans against the move should not go to the next home game. Then we will see who is against it and who is not.
I dont think we will get it anyway.
Finally......a new stadium with an area to break-dance pre-match (bottom right of picture).
That has swung it for me.....Say YES to Stratford!
TMWNN,
I know youre a gooner because of the way you talk about Tottenham, and the fact you are a moron.
So please run along back to the emirates, I know you're scared but we promise not to win the champions league before you, ok?
yidal, the problem with that is while many seats might be empty, if those seats were offered for sale they would be sold
Chaps, just because you sit at opposite sides of the spectrum doesn't mean the other is a gooner.
We're all Spurs, but we're all very different/unique with opinion.
Point is, just because you think you might be right, doesn't make the other bloke wrong.
Love and peace.
Spooky, thats not the case, I can smell a gooner a mile off. He's whats I think is known as a troll. He's pretty good but its not hard to see he's on a wind up.
sfreundwasaleg
No Im talking about the season ticket holders.
Also at Fulham away pretty much the whole away fans were anti stratford with lots of you can stick stratford up your arse and North London is ours.
Made me think what would happen to our away support if we move to stratford. Those pro people arnt they type to go to away matches like the hardcore followers.
@chrisyid - stop being a moron.
@ ChrisYid,
No you can't smell a gooner a mile off. TMWNN may be overseas, but a Spurs fan he is. He may be winding you up, but he's no gooner. He just has a different viewpoint, I suppose. Some could argue your comments are antagonistic and inflammatory, and therefore troll-like themselves.
@Spooky,
I do wish you would lay off the anti-Stratford angle. This and your twitter account is getting tedious. Though of course I can unfollow you and I'm sure it won't bother you in the slightest. You preach history in one hand (Bill Nic's ashes etc.) and dismiss it with another (the ill-conceived and inaccurate "never red" bollocks). We were red before Arsenal ever were, so could never be never, could we?!
I understand as you do that we do have a right to a difference of opinion. And this is your blog after all. Just thought I'd join in the argument with another to disarm yours. I myself am open to the move as I am not privileged enough to get tickets on a regular basis, and am on the waiting list.
Though of course Premier League rules suggest neither Spurs nor West Ham should be able to move to the OS, as it directly affects Leyton Orient, whose club is closest to the site.
The fact is Spurs' bid is more solid, many "neutrals" favouring West Ham's bid are Chelsea, Arsenal fans etc. and the neutrals up and down the country are misinformed by Karren Brady's rhetoric - which even filters through to writers of the 10 O'clock Show who mocked our bid with no thought to the financial aspect a couple of weeks ago.
In conclusion whatever happens there will be losers. And the real possibility also exist of there being no winners.
* exists
The problem is that the status quo is unacceptable we need a bigger stadium. If we believe Levy, the new stadium isn't going to happen in WHL area, it will be interesting to hear what Levy will have to say if we fail to win the stratford bid.
Yidal, the thing is those very same hardcore fans will still be going to Spurs away matches even if our home games are at the OP...
And Spooky, that stadium does look superb but surely there's no way any Spurs fan will love that stadium over and above NDP... first thoughts, there's no High Road :-(
there is also no naming rights currently on the artists mock up of the OS stadium
Repeating myself but when we win the Premier League will we request the celebrations along the High Road, or will we embrace our new friends in Newham Town hall - selling our souls to reduce the length of the waiting list is an interesting concept. I wonder how many of the newly enfranchised 35,000 will keep the faith when mediocrity returns as it surely will some day.
Yidal, Im part of the away support and you dont know what your'e talking about mate. I was at the Fulham game and everyone was singing it because its true, Ideally no-one wants to go to stratford, but believe me everyone would get over it. You know what real Tottenham fans want? To beat the scum, and the OS would give us a real chance of putting them in our shadow again.
Reagrding TMWNN, the fact he lives overseas says it all really. He obviously doesnt out any time into Spurs so why try and bad mouth the best owners we've had for around 30 years? Disagree with them yes. Question them yes. But dont spout a load of bollocks that there an evil empire trying to steal our money and ruin our club, its just stupid and I cant see why a Tottenham fan would do that, in the manner he does.
Its not that I dont agree with alot of what the anti-stratford guys are saying, cos I agree with so much of it, but we cant let our hearts rule our head in this case.
Anyway, hopefully west ham will get the stadium and levy will find £400 million in his back burner.
"The problem is that the status quo is unacceptable we need a bigger stadium" sfreundwasaleg
- - - - -- - - - - -
Funny that! I heard that when we open our new stadium in Stratford, Status Quo would be the first band to play in the AEG Mega Bowl.
looking forward to it already. maybe they could start off with "all that counts is love"
Chrisyid - I dont know what Im talking about and yet you say its true, everyone was singing those songs??!! Its pointless getting into an argument with you. We have our views but you dont need to be a moron by dismissing TMWWNN as a goon.
I hope your right and that the hardcore fans would carry on supporting spurs away but what happens when FC hotspur of Tottenham play? Who knows but your a making an asumption over an intergral part of Tottenham without really knowing what will happen - because nobody does.
Don't worry guys, 2012 end of the world. No stratford, No NDP, No football anymore ...
yidal, who the fuck are fc hotspur of tottenham?
That cunt Brady said on Talksport that its 10.7 miles quickest route to the OS from WHL
Just did google maps
7.1 miles
Fuck off Karren.....
Listen to both her and Levy's interviews on Talksport and Levy wins hands down...she sounds like a whiney little bitch
"what does it mean to west ham if tottenham win the bid!
"well I think its more important what is means what our words and promises made in the name of the queen mean"...blah blah etc etc
Such bullshit
I hope we win it just to piss her off.......and sky.....
Watch us then suddenly realize the NDP is viable
And then say we dont want the OS
Another thfc cast off for west ham
Chrisyid - think AFC Dons or Utd FC
don't know how long this video has been up for, I think it's pretty recent, our beloved leader on skysports:
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_6737674,00.html
Consider this....
Arsenal are already seeing the benefitof their new stadium. They posted £40m profit (or thereabouts) this year, and have been able to pay off large amounts of the debt ahead of shedule.
Soon they will be in a position where they have minimal debt, with the stadium almost entirely paid off, and will benefit from being able to pocket/invest the huge stadium revenue that they now generate. Financially they will be the best placed club in the land and should Wenger choose to invest millions on the best players then he will be able to.
Many anti-stratford fans are fearful of the grief that we will get having called them nomads/wanderers/pikeys etc for years and years, if we then ouselves move. But either way we will get grief because without a new stadium Arsenal will leave us behind. If you think we have lived in their shadow for the last 15-20 years, then staying at WHL will see that shadow get bigger and darker as thier financial position will project them to the summit of domestic and possible european football, while ours will see us stagnate like once great clubs like Everton, surviving on scraps, in their "traditional" ground, which will get more and more aged.
I am open minded to the OS. I am not anti stratford, I am pro NDP, but that support is qualified by the need to achieve a new stadium and protect our financial position/stability. Many anti-stratford fans are using only their heart to reach their decision, which is their prerogative, but they must be aware of the consequences of failing to get a new stadium or over stretching ourselves to achieve it.
Even now, top 5, Champions League football, i hear many disgruntled "die-hard" fans, rarely satisifed by what we are achieving, criticising individual players, missed opportunities, the quality of some of our squad, our failure to get a big money striker etc etc Well right now we haven't had it so good for about 20 years, and yet we are still way off the top. To make that next step, to satisfy our demanding fans PROGRESS has to be made, and for that reason we have to consider every option open to us, with both head and heart.
I sincerly hope levy is playing a game and is willing to invest the money for a new stadium in N17, but doing the maths I dont see how its possible. Like people have said no one knows what will happen, I just hope im wrong of i think would happen
The fulham game put things into perspective for me. I actually had a great time with real spurs fans singing their hearts out at 0-4 down.
I think in a strange way we all quite enjoyed it (the ones that were there that is). I really took the time to look around me so that I can remember what it was like before we were super franchised and sold off.
Football is about the Glory Glory and that includes the fans and until now thats never been at risk.
http://harry-hotspur.com/2011/02/im-backing-stratford/
Why is it this blog attracts the pro and anti group and his blog attracts just the pros?
It's now 50 years since we last won the league, I know people question were our bus parade would go, but I'd rather be in a position to debate which route the bus goes, rather than never be in a position to see a league trophy being held by our team. don't get me wrong I've supported spurs for over 20 years, and will do so for as long as I'm alive, with or without success.
yidal, but it doesnt have to be lost. All levy has banged on about is creating a stadium with the best atmosphere in europe. He understands that the Park Lane / Shelf side is key to the atmosphere at WHL, and would make sure twere taken care of at the new stadium, wherever it may be.
Also, you talk about glory glory, well thats what moving will achieve. Maybe we could talk about some glory we all saw with our own eyes for a change.
In past articles Spooky, you have written about the importance of momentum.
I have read both the pros and cons regarding a move from WHL.
In my view, no supporter really wants this move, but I believe most supporters understand the real world.
The real world today dictates that you either move forward or move backwards.
If our club is to move forward we need to improve our list - getting that top class striker - so that we will eventually make the transition from top four to top dog. The same with the CL. I believe all of us want to challenge the Barcas, Real Madrids, Bayern Munichs and Inter/AC Milans.
Here are some stats concerning ground capacities of these clubs:
1. Barcelona - 90,000
2. Real Madrid - 80,000
3. Bayern Munich - 69,000
4. Inter/A.C Milan - 80,000
These are big clubs that have big supporter bases and so have big stadiums.
Are we a big club? If we have big club aspirations we will need a bigger stadium...its that simple.
More success on the field means more fans want to see games. More fans need a bigger stadium.
Its called momentum.
I think it's lovely that they've thought about Woody and Ledley and have given them an area to hang out right next to the gymnastics mat.
Also good to see Crouchy will have a spot to showcase his robot dancing skillz as well.
In all seriousness, who needs the Corner Pin anymore when you've got a purpose built boxing ring?
...W...T...F...??
I know that little 'multi-sport' square will probably look nothing like that or even be open on matchday, but come on! If that's not making athletics look like a complete after thought I don't what does.
Stranger, a lot of my remarks are said in self-deprecating jest. That's how this blog came to exist, a parody of the fickleness of Spurs fans. I apologise, but the ambiguity is meant. That's not to say I'm not pro-N17. And if you haven't noticed, the ones that are vocal tend to be the ones who have the biggest thing to lose. People who are pro-Stratford, they win - either way. If the NDP is suddenly viable again, they win - you win. If we move - you win. So you don't have to say much.
I've also made it abundantly clear time and time again that my main issue is the manner of how we've moved away from NDP over to East London and the lack of transparency, although a big part of me believes this is probably Levy working his magic in terms of the political game at hand with Haringey. But as a business man, if he is gifted with the OS site - he will take it. He's another person who has nothing to lose.
I wont win if we move. I don't know how I'll feel, I can only guess based on what my heart is currently telling me. Of course I'm going to blog and tweet about it. Don't mean to bore you mate (what's your twitter handle?) but I'd like to think I'm not blindly supporting a non-move as we N17'ers are being accused of, when many pro-Stratford folk are just echoing whatever Levy tells them.
The OS was an option when the NDP was first presented to us. How many fans asked 'hey, what about Stratford?' - how many would have chosen it if both were viable and cost the same? In fact, if someone said it would take 10 years to redevelop N17 but only 5 to develop Stratford - for the sake of 5 years, I get this feeling that pro-Stratford folk would still prefer to move.
My point is, this is a deeply emotive subject, both for and against. And I'm not sure I've been unpleasant towards pro-Stratford fans. I hope I haven't.
Making jokes about never red and break dancing, are exactly that. You don't honestly think people are going to be break dancing outside the ground do you?
Do you?
:)
Come on guys, lets be honest, its a fucking no-brainer moving to the OS if its availible isnt it?
The athletics legacy Levy is putting forward is the redeveloped crystal palace, and in some ways it makes more sense then the West Ham bid, as crystal palace will be available all year round solely for athletics as opposed to the west ham bid, were there will be 20 days a year for athletics
Fox - I was hoping Levy would move the listed buildings brick by brick to Stratford. In fact, could we move the High Rd to Stratford? Or perhaps do that thing Disney do and replicate N17.
That's it!! A N17 theme park!!
SAY YES TO STRATFORD!
I fucking hate that dog brady, somebody shoot her please
I will dance the funky chicken naked on that very site if it means not moving MY club (I was born and raised in North London) to fucking East London.
'ONLY' 5 Miles. I'm sorry but in London that might as well be 30 miles, such is the size of the city and the incredible variety of different idiosynracies each borough posesses. That's one point that really grates me and nobody can really understand unless they actually live in London. Oh and it's not 5 miles anyway. It's more like 7. It is not physically possible to walk/drive ina straight line from WHL to Stratford.
On Talkshite today they were talking about Bolton and SUnderland moving and loving their new grounds. But I bet if there was an East Bolton and a West Bolton FC both playing in the PL and one moved onto the other's doorstep, they would see it differently.
a bit more information (or guff depending on what side of the fence you sit) from levy
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23921486-daniel-levy-i-guarantee-spurs-will-deliver-the-best-solution-for-london-olympic-stadium.do
When are they deciding? I cant take much more of this bollocks anymore.
I think I read somewhere that it might be the end of this week, and judging by the amount of appearances by levy in the press at the moment I don't think it is far away.
Absolutely suberb debate guys.
Dont know if its me, but reading in between the lines it seems the N17 lot are the season ticket holders, and the pro-stratford ones are the 'season ticket waiting list'???
I live in Nottingham now after moving (via work) from Harrow 5 years ago, being based in that midlands area its in driving distance of Brum & the Manc stadiums for example, so now i go to the majority of away games, never failed to get in to a game turning up without a ticket either. Justabout every stadium i can get in and out of the area with my car in 30 mins and on my way back home, 2 hours back in Nottingham, done and dusted. So in principle i actually 'follow' my beloved Spurs to wherever they may be.
Being on the season ticket holder waiting list...to get to WHL:- nightmare blagging a ticket, shocking transport links & road access to get in and (the standstill) out of the area...parking without getting a ticket or even towed...in such a den of an area. Dont get me wrong the experience of taking a seat inside White Hart Lane Stadium still makes my hairs stand on end every time i go...but you can get that anywhere, for example our away support is mint!
Is it all too much of a thing to ask for in the year 2011, that i (and i am guessing at least another possible 30,000 supporters) could actually get a ticket pretty much when they wanted and experience 1st class facilities in a world class stadium? If its moving forward as a club then we have to move...i dont see why WE (and yes thats WE as ultimately as fans footing the bill in the long run) should pay for a disgrace of a local council & a greedy TFL to regenerate the shithole of an area.
So if you hold a ticket holder and you are 'N17', just remember you're possibly holding the club back in many ways...its easy to say No to Stratford if you're comfortably sat there on matchday at WHL.
I love it Spooky... "Levyland" does have a nice ring to it!
I love it Spooky... how about calling it "Levyland"?
Well written Spooky.
I have read most articles on the Stratford debate, and my overwhelming feeling is a sense of disappointment with football as it is today. Yes, I love watching the games on Sky Sports and gossiping with mates about the next multi-million pound purchase, but football is a business and there is not a lot we can do about that.
I haven't made up my mind yet on what I will do if the OS goes our way - probably won't go to home games, may well still go to away games kidding myself that I am watching the "Old Tottenham" as opposed to the franchise that would have been created. Maybe even support the new club that springs up in Tottenham. But nothing will repalce the passion that I feel for the club at the moment - moving to Stratford will make me feel like the Club have cheated on me.
I've just seen that Boris wants to make the OPLC into a mayoral development corporation, in april 2012, essentially gaining power in regards to planning. The London mayor currently has a 50% stake in the OPLC.
I assume planning permission would have to be granted for spurs (in brady terms) to "demolish £500m of public money." I don't know whether this makes any difference to the chances of spurs winning the "bid".
'I have read most articles on the Stratford debate, and my overwhelming feeling is a sense of disappointment with football as it is today.'
Thats exactly how I feel, im not enjoying this situation at all.
If it weren't for Ken Livingstone there wouldnt be any fucking olympics and there would be a problem - cunt.
Sorry, don't know why that was posted twice and with different text??? Although I am in 2 minds over the whole thing...
Would you do karen brady for a tenner?
Chris, she wouldn't pay you that much
Chrisyid.
It will never be the same. It will be different. Not saying that fans wont enjoy it but It wont be Tottenham. They can make the stadium thinking about the atmosphere but the more vocal ones wont go. It could well turn into the emirates.
I think that the Pro Stratford spurs fans who dont live in London are actually being quite disrespectful and selfish really. They dont care about anything other than themselves. They dont care about the local fans in Tottenham and surrounding areas. They dont care about the local fans of the O's and Spammers and moving into their manner.
Im not even from London, my dad was born in Tottenham and I dont have a season ticket anymore but Im against the move. The NDP was viable and now its not - total bullshit for a chairman looking for a bargain.