Rejoice! We've signed two players. Well, sort of...
Friday, August 26, 2011 at 9:45AM Good to see the likes of Harry Kane and Tom Carroll playing in Lilywhite. Not exactly a show-piece occasion (empty seats, lack of home support atmosphere, bit boring). Felt like a reserve team run-out punctured with misfiring first teamers, but pretty much irrelevant with the tie over in the first leg - other than blooding the young. Shame Harry didn't stick the pen away. Next time son. Guaranteed both players along with Fredericks, Livermore and Townsend will feature in the group stage. Far cry this from the Champions League glory nights of last season.
Chin up, it's what we need to work towards once more. Spirit of 2010.
I guess the big news tonight is that we've signed Yago Falque. That and Adebayors' two month medical was finally concluded this evening. Not only officially announced by the club before Harry Redknapp knew about it (yeah, whatever) but also Big Ade managed to blag a seat behind Levy in the directors box.
Season long loan, on both accounts.
I guess we need to wait and see if we actually part with money and buy someone before we start scratching our heads about whether the money isn't there (NDP, new training ground the priorities) or that Levy simply doesn't want to spend when the manager might not be here in the long term (unlikely IMO, we need to challenge this season).
Falque is apparently more of an attacking midfielder than a winger although the suggestion is he will play out right and be competition for Lennon. Read this article if you want some background on the player from a Juventus fan (obviously, take it any which way you wish). Hardly inspiring (have you read the linked article?), but regardless - welcome to the Lane Yago. Ceballos has a new friend. Hopefully we'll see more of the gifted than the fragile (from both kids).
The lunacy of the situation that some of you have already noted is that we're signing a kid on loan and still waiting to rid ourselves of David '£16M' Bentley. I guess perhaps the logic here works. Why risk another near £20M on someone when you can sign a player for nothing? It's rhetorical. Don't answer. But you sort of get the point. Spending big money in the past has left us burnt. But in comparison to say City, it's an epic canyon size difference. We shouldn't complain until we see how the squad sets up in the next week or so. Still shouldn't complain after that either (now I'm looking for us to sign a miracle).
Still, strange that there are no other more permanent (and affordable) seasoned options out there. One thing is for certain, there's only one David Bentley so we can't go making that mistake again. Our scouts must have seen something special with Falque, so you have to have faith in it. Well, you don't have to.
As for Big Bad Ade. He has something to prove. This will work for us. He's better than anything we currently have. I have more than faith in this signing. I have certainty. Football being football, we might discover that he alongside JD equals magic. Have to wait and see.
Moving on...
If you watched the game on TV, did you note Harry Redknapp in the pre-match interview? Observations:
Redknapp saying he had no idea Adebayor was at the Lane and stating he thought he was still having a medical. Is it just me or was Harry being facetious? Then he talks about the loan deal (great signing) and contradicts his earlier stance. He knew, obviously he knew. But I guess wanted to dig at Levy who has no doubt instructed him to ease off the dramatics when being interviewed. Good Luka soundbites though, saving the day.
Talking of Luka, SSN suggesting the meeting between Luka/advisors and Levy went well and the player is staying. Sky obviously providing refreshments and making notes. Even though the player was always staying and at no point during this tiresome draining process has the player been in a position of power to influence or engineer a successful move away. I can half imagine the conversation in Levy's office...
Luka: "So, you promise in January you will let me go to Chelsea? As long as I play 100% with heart for Spurs between now and then?"
Levy: "Yes"
Luka: "You promise?"
Levy: "I promise"
Luka: "How do I believe you are telling me the truth?"
Levy: "I am"
Luka: "I need more than that"
Levy: "Okay. Let's shake hands"
Luka: "Shake hands?"
Levy: "Sure, yes. Shake hands. We can call it a gentleman's agreement"
Luka: "Okay, okay. Gentleman's agreement. I shake your hand"
Levy: "Good lad"
Luka: "You promise now?"
Levy: "Did we shake hands?"
Luka: "Yes"
Levy: "Then it's as good as a contract"
Luka: "I'm very happy. I play for Spurs now"
Levy: "I know"
Modric in the starting line-up versus City? Scores a goal? Kisses the badge? Come on, it could happen.
Regarding the post-match interview:
Looks like Levy is in for a couple of players. So says Harry. None of which are Joe Cole. So says Harry, sort of indirectly by banging on about the 'kid' Cole with his usual affection.
Conclusions?
Levy does what he thinks is right with transfers, and rejects ones he believes are of risk and not value for money (Cole and probably Parker too). Harry is not in agreement with most of the decision making and is powerless. Levy has told Harry to keep his mouth as shut as possible. And when it's opened to be pro-Levy stance on Luka.
It's all very cagey and uncomfortable.
The sooner this window shuts, the sooner the conspiracies end and the sooner we can all just support the team (players and manager). Everyone is nervous, concerned, frustrated and impatient. We're all feeding off each other. Damn you social networking.
Here's hoping the next two signings 'in' unite us all. Anyone would think we're a club in crisis.
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Reader Comments (24)
Spurs need shot of Levy. He wouldnt spend christmas !!! lol
Ade will cause trouble at Spurs, Mark my words.
Thought the young'uns did well (Note: 'Young 'UNS'...NOT Young Guns as that fookin 'presenter'called them!) Great experience for them, weren't overawed in the slightest.
Pav though?Nice fella, shit player.
little bit rednapp said about the community and the recent trouble... something about the club's doing it's bit for the community, 'we belong in Tottenham' or something. That Carrol lad looked comfortable in central midfield, launching it like Hudd, dinking it like Modders and snapping at the heals of everything, also looked 12, oh well, guess time will tell
Carroll played well last night; like the look of him. Needs a curry or two though to put some fat on those bones.
Well done son...
As far as the young'uns last night, no one stood out as being particularly promising IMO. Pav had a chance to prove himself and failed dismally. It was the worst game I have ever seen at WHL, left 20 mins before the end and I'm glad I did. The best entertainment really were the Hearts fans. "here for the teles, we're only here for the teles" very good.
Don't trust Harry. He's too dishonest.
@Brian
You're a very naughty boy!! Levy is building - or trying to at least... Ade will cause trouble for sure..... but not for Tottenham!! Lets show the big lad some love!!
Adebayorrrrrrr
Adebayorrrrrrr
we used to dislike you
but not any moreeeeee!!!
sod the game - did anyone try the new bgels? they were the best thing i've EVER eaten at WHL! they actually had some filling in them.... wonder of there was a job lot of Tottenham High Road iceland smoked salmon going round? levy does know a bargain when he sees one....
I was disgusted with Redknapp last night. I don't forget that he tried his best to sell Modric and I feel quite sure he had an ulterior motive for going against his chairman. He's a dangerous person with money and Daniel Levy is absolutely correct in how he conducts transfers. Harry tells him who he wants and, after discussion, if agreed Levy does the deal. The only thing Levy has no control over is his mouth and that will be resolved when he goes on his merry way and we get Poyet or Moyes in. So, I'm afraid I won't be supporting him for the remainder of his short stay.
We will be in a "crisis" if J. Cole is Harry's quality / "triffic" signing.
In other new, our draw for the group stages:
Rubin
PAOK
Shamrock Rovers!
i guess we can't sing the elephants song anymore
The North London Derby should be waaaay entertaining, even if our rivals are becoming more and more rubbish. Can't wait to see Ade score against the Ars. If they think they hate him now, you just wait.
Furthermore as he is on loan, if he does turn out to be trouble we don't actually have to keep him.
Rejoice indeed!
We're in talks with....................Scott(y) Parker ..sorry, what?
So claims Diarra was using the press to get more money/wages off us. Harry saying we're still in for him, then Sky via West Ham claiming we're in for Parker.
Either its a smokescreen or we've told Diarra to do one and gone for the safer option in Parker (rather than Barton).
Guess we got 'cover' for Sandro then. Fuck knows what Harry is going to do one everyone is fit and available.
Here's hoping we give WH David Bentley.
I'll support our current manager when our current manager starts supporting the club.
"Anyone would think we're a club in crisis."
Maybe I missed intended irony in this statement, but given the evident rift between Levy and Harry i.e. Levy ignores what Harry wants (for good and ample reasons) and Harry mouthing off his disagreement and discontent to all and sundry, we are a club in crisis.
Disaffected players? We've got a disaffected manager who knows he is going to be off in a matter of months, certainly before next season. Why are we keeping him around to foment discontent within the playing staff? He has to go and go now.
We needed to challenge last season and were unable to, even with Harry still doing his level if limited best to make spurs look good to make himself look good. What possible grounds are there for thinking that this season, with Harry engaged in guerilla warfare against the chairman via his slobbering alcolytes in the media, will be an improvement. Harry's clearagenda now is proving himself right and Levy wrong. No prize for guessing what that means for our results.
Harry out now.
God damn it, it's like the Da Vinci Code! - Well done spook hang in there...
Cookie and Ziege, change the fucking record... it's getting boring!
Arry's not going... yet, deal with it.
DY, try getting your head or your arse. Harry's going...to jail or to England. Deal with it. Question is how much damage does he to Spurs before his exit.
Blindly loyal Harry fanboys are beyond boring.
"Head out of arse"
Just have an opinion on Harry and cannot understant what has gone so wrong that he keeps on trying to sell platers the chairman doesn't want. I remember the fans giving Levy a hard time because he let good players go. Now they want to have a go because he has agreed with them that we keep our best players, while 'all the while' Elephant Man whinges and bitches on the telly and bigs up all the teams around us, telling the world we are a mid-table team.
He should be gone soon, so, No Worries.
Ziege, 3 points:
1) Arry's not going to jail.
2) Arry "might" be going to England, i can deal with it... it appears that it's you and your other Arry Aters that can't.
3) No blind fanboy here my friend, the only blindness is the blind hatred from you and your fellow haters and it's hindering your ability to look at the job he does fairly and objectively.
No matter what the thread or the subject of discussion you can't help but abuse the current manager of our football club, that's what's getting boring.
Harry has done well in many respects, but now he seems determined to talk his way out of a job!
The rift between him and Levy appears to be widening, it wasn't long ago that they were finally singing off the same hymn sheet and less than three days later he's contradicting everything again.
DY, if you ever addressed the points raised by posters who complain about Harry, rather than just saying "no, he isn't", or taking refuge in "you're haters, you just hate Arry," I wouldn't call you a pathetic little fanboy. But you don't and you are.
Who's your first loyalty to, DY? Harry or the club? It seems to be "Arry" since in your eyes, he can do no wrong. Your privilege, but in future rather than abusing posters you disagree with, why don't you cut to the chase and just post "I love Arry more than Spurs."