News of the Weary
Saturday, July 9, 2011 at 1:44PM Anything happening out there? Any exclusives? No? What a shocker, hey? It's enough to leave you hacked off. There are just no Spurscentric headlines for us to embrace and stick our tongues down.
So what little news from the past few days?
I'm playing catch-up here, but let me see if I manage to round-up all of this weeks nail biting chitter chatter.
Mayor backs our RGF funding. Hopefully he's doing the same privately and working towards a truce with Levy. I'll scratch your back you kiss and lick mine. That's Boris licking Levy by the way. Don't picture it in your mind.
I warned you.
Woody finally released. Good luck to him. We obviously felt a pay-as-you-play deal would not have benefited player or club. Wondering how best it would work elsewhere. Was really impressed and surprised that he avoided injury when he first arrived at the Lane. The cherry on top of the cake was that winner against the blue scum in the cup final. Another fantastically gifted centre-half that we've been robbed of.
Luka back in training. Harry stopping off for a chat on his way out, still not convincing enough with the mic in his face. It's great, he's honest and truthful with the facts (no really he is) telling the SSN reporter (and the world) that Luka is confused. But you can still be honest without having to surrender complete transparency. Harry (unlike Levy) is still soundbiting the soundbites from a few weeks back about wanting to keep him, needing to keep him. Like there's still a possibility he could be sold. Am I asking for too much for the gaffer to echo the chairman, even if it means adding some spin? Be honest, just apply some diplomacy that works in OUR favour.
"He's back with his team mates, he trained well, we're all looking forward to the season".
If reporter asks a direct question about Luka's state of mind. Echo Levy.
"Yeah, he understands the clubs position. He's a professional, he's getting on with it".
Alas, no. Harry has to make sure Sky have enough fuel to add to the dying fire, to keep that last remaining flame alive by citing stuff like 'three of the top five would want to sign him' etc. We know that Harry, they know that...everyone knows it. Would be nice of he tried using 10 words instead of 200 every now and again.
Only good as the material Spurs give me, and at the moment it's the same thing every week. So if it seems like I'm having a dig at Harry all the time its because Harry is digging away at my sanity.
I think it's more than obvious Luka would prefer to be elsewhere. But that ship has sailed. It's done. It's over. There is no need for speculation and yet speculation is never quite taken out back and put out of it's misery.
In amongst it all, it was good to hear Harry state Luka has asked for more players to be signed (of his ilk, i.e. world class).
Very nice, but we're not going to be signing world class players because of Luka Modric. We're going to be signing them for THFC. Well, hopefully. That's the plan. I'm sure it is. Past few transfer windows have been practice runs. Promise.
Still, it's not just Harry and SSN that continue to 'believe'. Essien is injured so Modric is obviously the most likely replacement. That square peg fits into any circle.
What else have we got?
Robbie Keane might still have a chance to prove himself at Spurs according to Harry.
Okay, you know what, I want Redknapp gagged.
ITK's say the Anglo-Mexican (Antonio Michael Pedroza Whitham) has gone back to Mexico due to complications with his medical. I doubt this. Player said the deal was done, so I'll side with the player. Not that it will matter. Not a first team squad signing.
And that other lad rejected/released from Barca yoof (Ceballos) is once more being mentioned. Again, not a first team squad signing so I can't get excited about it.
That's it.
Almost. You might have (or might not have) seen the survey (sent via email) from Tottenham relating to corporate hospitality/premium seat packages. It's a follow-up to one sent out a long time back (pre-NDP implosion). There were some new mock-up images in the survey. If you were not randomly selected, click here and scroll down a little to view the pics.
COYS.
Follow me on Twitter because my ego needs to be validated.
Reader Comments (21)
First well there's a first. HR comes out with them from time to time, endless classics.... This is as good as it gets, fans that listen to phone ins are idiots, go and support another team if you don't like it, I.could go on but I won't, agree with you spooks should have said to SSN that's it saga over he is here training with us and looking forward to the new season.
Some one needs to have a word in is shell like.
Just what IS Arry's motive here???? Making sure he's blameless? Forcing Levy's hand over transfers? or even his own position at the club? Getting itchy feet over the England job? WHAT ARRY? WHAT?! Don't be shy, tell us what you really mean...because for all the words that spill from you, you don't say an awful lot...
Has all the skills of capturing the mood of the club and its ambitions as Gordon Brown did with the country....Is it too much to ask that you show a united front with a chairman who has supported you from day one? Hows about you pretend to love us? That'll do...we'll turn a blind eye as long as you stop the unnecessary digs or comments at odds with our position over the player..
Listen ere you idiots. Luka's a top, top player for sure but I ain't gonna lie that the lad's a bit confused and there are other clubs what want im. Its not like a i'm gonna get a cut of the roubles if he does get sold to the Russian (wink). I've been telling Danny boy that two, three, four, five top signings and we could really ave a go at the title but that bald nonce don't wanna listen. I'm not a wheelah deelah i'm a farkin football manager.
He got us out of trouble and into CL and he is beginning to feel snug. Thing is that the squad was good enough before he came and he had merely keep a ship steady.
Talking about the England job when he is not even offered it yet is sheer disrespect to the club and the chairman. Why he did that its anybodies guess. Probably he thought Levy should had appreciated his contributions more. But Levy is no mug. Harry is no Wenger, Moyes, Fergie or Mourinho. A freaking football manager; yes managing expectations, managing politics, managing the press. Who can forget VDV comments there was NEVER any tactical discussions in the dressing room.
Calling spurs fans idiots was unforgivable. Backtracking on your earlier boastful talk about the title and shouting emotionally "this is a good as it gets" smack of lack of integrity and self preservation.
Nothing convince me that Harry should be the man in the hot seat for the long term. Give me a manager that goes about his job quietly and professionally. Give us David Moyes, Mr Daniel Levy
Harry is a 2nd rate street
Harry's agenda is the agenda of Harry. Number one is all that matters. I suspect his courting of the media recently is linked to the reporting of a certain trial that's not so far away. Whatever lies behind his incessant ramblings, and whatever your view of Harry, his musings are generally divisive towards the club and it's aims. He either realises it and doesn't care, in which case he should have a strip taken off him by DL, or he is oblivious to the harm he is doing, in which case he should be ordered to keep his wretched, self serving mouth firmly shut. It really isn't that difficult, is it?
I'm not interested in any excuses for Harry Redknapp any more. What he said and what he should have said. He's playing games with his chairman and the Media and you do not make statements like he's just made without a treat for saying them on National TV. He knows he won't be Manager after his court case later this month and he's getting his pay-off before he's stood down.
agree with what u say about harry .. less is more !
Redknapps agenda has always been the same look out for number 1, his comments are his get out clause for a number of things using Luca to try and push for new signings also to hide behind if he fails, i can see it now "with all the speculation about Luca i didnt have a chance". Its always look at the wonderful job hes done, i admit he turned the team around but it was never a poor team he got one of the best squads in the league when he took over. It must be a hard job working for Levy but if it wasnt for Levy Harry would probably be having us heading the same way as pompey. I think its time Levy sat him down and got him reading from the same page rather than for his sun newspaper job, dont get me wrong i believe Harrys still the man for the job Levy just needs to pull the leash a bit tighter
He is and has always used the media to get at every chairman he's worked for. he's hardly subtle or clever about it, and I'm surprised his working relationship with DL has lasted this long. I'm wondering (if the tabloids can do it, why can't I?) If the England job is dependant on the impending court case. If he's cleared without a Monica Lewsinski on his suit, he gets it, if He's guilty will he have a job of any sort? or any combination of three you care to choose? Harry want's the purse strings and Daniel doesn't trust him, would you as his transfer dealings thus far have hardly been profitable either in playing or financial terms have they?
One can either see Harry as really Machievellian --trying to undermine the Chairman --or simpley as really naive when it comes to the media. He really does need to learn that the less you say to the media the better. If you cannot shut up then use the Jose Murhino tactic of treating the press with the contempt they deserve.
As an outcome of the NOW scandal the government will set up an inquiry into ethics and culture in the press. While clearly happenings in soccer are not of the same gravity as 7/7 or war dead widows or murdered children they certainly are impacted by ethics or lack thereof in the press and media in general. Given Spurs experience with Man U and Chelsea over transfers I hope Levy will make a submission on behalf of the club.
Right. I know I shouldn't but I do. And so do you, so....what the fuck is POTL on about when he says (keeps saying) Blue and Yellow?
He's covering himself with Rossi and another player (I forget which one, but another one of our targets). Team colours.
Ah! Everytime I put Blue and Yellow together I came up with Green. I just wondered if, instead of right backs, we were going to start stockpiling Goalkeepers....
I think there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than we will ever know. I think Levy is waiting for the outcome of the trial before signing anybody due to this. If the writing is on the wall, why slap Harry down when he could be out the door anyway. If Harrys brief is not to confident in getting him off, Harry and Levy will both know this and maybe Harry wants to go out with a bang, cue - daily updates on not too much just to keep your mates onside. Either that or the bloke is just mental.
Either that or the bloke is just mental. Like it steveyid.
Harry is a rule to himself. Media savvy, not naive. Son working for sky, the love in after the Milan game said it all, talking about dinner the nigh before etc etc.
All Harry does and says is about Arry. Bear that in mind and he makes total sense 100% of the time.
The media love him and that's all that matters really isn't it?
Diaz, I think your spot on really, if he showed us the love and uncompromising loyalty to his players and the club everyone would be better off. Deflecting any blame, just looses moral and respect from the players. The way Lennon was scapegoated in the champs league for pulling out before kick off highlights this,when surley if not 100% fit he should not of even been selected.
Maybe this is what Modders was thinking and the VDV comment about never talking tactics is quite shocking really. We were really flying high last season but when the wheels started coming off, no one stopped to tighten them.
Maybe if we sell a few fringe players in the coming week or so, we can have some different soundbites.
He's at it again. Invited the NOTW into his office for a cosy little filmed interview:
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/notw/nol_sport/nol_football/1348242/Andre-Villas-Boas-would-have-to-be-a-fool-to-flop-says-Harry-Redknapp.html
Just watched Herry's interview. Thanks TMWNN. There's no other Manager who could be in charge of our current squad, with the possibilities of adding a couple of players, would come out with the statement about the chances of 'all and sundry' around us and play our chances down the pan as Harry does. If David Moyes or Martin O'Neill were doing that interview on our behalf they would both be realistically saying, we can win something this saying and have a very good chance of qualification for the CL. Harry is making as much money as he can before he leaves and I am putting a bet on with Paddy Power at 14/1 to say he won't start the season with us.
Tempted to watch the interview but sure it wont do my state of mind any better.
I wonder how this summer is going to end up - did Harry ever state he would leave if we sell modric? Maybe he knows it is a matter of time till modric leaves and just can't be bothered to play levys negotiating games?
The england job must be a factor in all of this, as well as the court case, maybe in his own mind Harry just needs to do his time at spurs, it's obvious through previous statements he feels unloved by board and some fans. Although god knows what he will be like as England manager if things don't go to plan.
Harry in the NOTW.
That's like lashing yourself to Patrick the starfish
as the ships goes down.
Not even Sponge Bob would do that.
Sorry if this is a bit literary for your reeders Spooks.
POTL what is that all about?
Just got banned for 3 days from a fansite
for calling his credentials into question.
Actually his credentials want examining with a marling spike,
(just to keep the nautical imagery going)
Blue and Yellow my arse.
Thanks for the link. Reading between the lines (or just being paranoid?), it looks like:
Harry's making excuses for himself already for when he's England manager, so that whatever he does will get him plenty of credit.
Talking up Chelsea's prospects to put pressure on their new manager, with a view to managing them.
Plus the usual excuses about how great all the other teams are. "No chance" of overtaking some of them apparently. Also putting on pressure on Levy to buy players as always.
Funny that he mention's Arsenal's scouting system. He can't find any strikers better than the current lot - suppose that's someone elses fault then as well.