Luka necessary for eclipsing the blue moon
Sunday, August 28, 2011 at 7:01AM I'm comfortably numb at the minute. After the Spurs v Man City game concludes the season will have started proper. Two games against Hearts and a dicking at Old Trafford hasn't warranted much in the way of botheredness thus far, from me. Probably because the transfer window continues to consume all of us whilst we crawl towards its closure.
This evening (Saturday when I wrote this piece), Palacios and Crouch have signed for Stoke (Wilson photographed with Stoke fan, confirming that along with Peter they are new arrivals to the club - sort of pre-official announcement ITK). That's going out, coming in - Scott Parker is meant to be done and dusted in that the player really wants to join and West Ham have agreed to sell, so its all down to the nitty gritty of contract agreements. Bellamy also re-linked. Hopefully we've heard the last of Joe Cole.
Deadline transfer day closure can not come quick enough even if it was a teenage boy losing his virginity to a MILF.
Other players who have been perpetually linked with escapes from their White Hart hell (Hutton, Bentley, dos Santos et al) will probably hopefully move before September waves hello. We'll be tighter for it, squad wise and fiscally. Not a clue about Diarra. Not a clue about Leandro. Although the latter is no stranger to a Tottenham link considering he plays for a club we have a relationship with (appreciative nod for Sandro). Internacional unlikely to let him go now, not for cheap, mainly because he recently signed a new contract (insurance) and the fact he's on form. Perhaps we have first refusal for a later point in the calendar?
If Crouch does go, you would think perhaps someone has to be lined up to retain our cover up top. Wouldn't be a shocker if we didn't replace him. Step up Harry Kane?
So comfortably numb I am. Ignoring Hearts altogether, as mentioned post-United defeat, it would have been better had the Everton game been played. Forces outside of football influencing matters beyond our control and placing it all into perspective, its something we all expected to happen. But it has obviously affected us. Didn't think we looked sharp or at the top of our fitness at Old Trafford. Even though we did showboat with confidence in Edinburgh.
It's almost got a feeling about it that our season actually begins at the Lane against City.
On Sunday afternoon, I'll be hugely disappointed if we don't see a repeat of the effort we stuck into City last season at the Lane - minus a Hart supershow. Things have changed a touch since that game. For one, City have so much depth its embarrassing. If a player like Adebayor is surplus to requirements it means they hardly lack options. It irks me that Adam Johnson has to make appearances off the bench. Its irks me even more that they can have Tevez coming off that same bench.
Harry might underplay it all (I'll ignore his 'we can win the title' comment and just hold back with his 'we can't compete with City' one) but he knows the soundbites are just for the benefit of the media and tv. Spurs might not have that depth in riches but we're hardly left begging in the streets.
We've been a team, a unit, for a good solid two years. City are still finding their groove. We do, however need to rediscover ours.
Amazingly, Luka Modric...the much maligned and to be fair deservedly so much maligned deep-lying playmaker needs to dig deep and prove his worth to the shirt. Do not underestimate his value to the side. It might appear we are fragmented or 'in crisis' from the outside looking in - but every player seems to echo unity on the training pitch and dressing room. No one has a problem with Luka. No one but the fans in the stands. So best to simply support the team and ignore individual mishaps that have tormented us off the pitch.
It's what you do on it Luka that will define you.
At the time of writing, yet more rumours of an imminent £40M Chelsea bid off the back of Levy's supposed 'forget about it' call to Chelsea HQ. Levy runs game, look at the OS/NDP saga. But his words in the case of Luka Modric contain no ambiguity. Unless we're meant to read between the invisible lines and side with his strategy to engineer and invite a £40M bid by making it seem like nothing but a massive offer would turn our heads to the direction Luka has been facing all summer long.
If that is the case, then the ethos of not selling our top players collapses. Hence why I continue to side with the argument that the chairman wants to retain the player. £50M or equalivant of? Then my head might turn for the first time.
If he's sold in this window, placing aside the plaudits for what a great chairman we have for earning us £40M we probably wont spend...we may as well broker a deal for Bale now for next summer.
Back to the game...
We've got to put on a show. Again, to be philosophical about it all, if we are out-played or beaten because they simply have more match-winners or they deserve it...so be it. I'll accept most outcomes (of the fair variety) as long as we turn up. But then I know, if we turn up we've got a good chance to turn them over.
I dislike City, the embarrassment that is the Poznan, their mannerisms (Cook) and the whole ethos of the club as it stands presently. It's hardly unlikely for such a project to fail. A false eleven that will find the back of the net with the shouts for offside ignored. Nothing would give me more pleasure (currently) to beat them. Would also shut up certain mainstream media outlets who have already decided who will compete and finish in the top four and elevate us back into positivity.
There is no doubting we are the ones not expected to be slotting the three points into our back pocket at the final whistle.
Early season marker needs to be placed down. With all the obsessive transfer speculation causing bi-polar off the pitch, we need to be crowing as one for what's being played on it.
Love the shirt.
Related articles:
It's not actually a bad thing being a Spurs fan (my guest blog on Cartilage Free Captain)
Modern Football. It's not that great...discuss
Spurs v Man City preview (via thfc1882.com)
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Reader Comments (59)
It has a first game of the season feel about it, and I am hoping to see Modders turn up and also put in a strong shift.
I think the cheers may be less than 100% for him...
Would love a massive performance like the end of the season before last as a morale booster/statement of intent. Dont want to be playing catchup with Pool and The Arse so early in the season, especially with in-form Wolves and Pool coming up.
Modric is hugely important but also praying that Hudd is fit and somewhere near his best. He hasnt looked fully match fit yet - he looks either affected by his injury or at least worried by it. If only we had Sandro or Diarra/Parker available.
Bale and Lennon owe us some heoics.
Looking on the bright side, we made them look really ordinary on the first day last year and even at their place we played the better football.
Dick the yids - Blue Army
Modders or not this season,it is s**t or bust for top four,if not, there will be(next season) an auction of our top stars and a rebuild of youth and players who want to stay long term with the club. We need a bigger stadium(or top four) to progress.LTS
3 from 12. wins from games at the end odd last season. that's what screwed us...not theabu dhabi billions.
Don't disagree. We fell apart. Across the whole season, too many draws. But whilst everyone else (almost) has strengthened and realigned their objectives...we also need to show our intent.
With Parker and Bellamy rumoured to be on their way maybe the powers that be should replace the Glory Glory theme tune with the one from Dad's army.
However, they are the right sort of "characters" that Harry referred to (rather than Barton) and may just engender some of the Dad's Army spirit of ingenuity and never giving up. They could just make the mix that puts us back to top 4.
Today though looks like a mountain too high with all the injuries we have but let's hope some spirit emerges and we can salvage a point. COYS!!
Bellamy and Parker. Step back a moment and say those names again... Bellamy and Parker.
Worn and weary players you'd expect the likes of Fulham or QPR to be considering. Yet Spurs followers seem HAPPY to welcome such men as potential Champions League qualifiers. It's so laughable as to be sad.
And is Modric supposed to be impressed with this "strengthening" of the team? Is this the quality that Levy and Redknapp are telling Modric he should stay to play with?
If Modric plays against Man City, it's because Chelsea have given their blessing. After all, City are rivals for the Premier League title. So Chelsea want the best side Tottenham can put out against them. If he plays, remember Modric is playing with Chelsea's needs in mind, not the going-noplace team of Parker and Bellamy.
Relying on a fit Huddlestone is a fools errand. Completely overrated as is Lennon.
I'll be very surprised if we get anything out of this. 3-1 to city.
There is absolutely no redeeming feature about City. Even their once great fans have lost the plot. The Poznan is shit because it was stolen. It's the equivalent of Barca fans waving inflatable bananas. It's just embarassing. Just like Oasis ripping off the Beatles and thinking they're musical geniuses, when in fact they're just a shit Chas 'n' Dave.
Why does it irk you that Adam Johnson is on the bench?
It seems that the latest bandwagon that everyone online is jumping on is that Adam Johnson is being damaged by being at city.
The things is before that he was languishing at Middlesbrough, playing for Gordon Strachan - and wasn't even a consideration for the England team. City are the team that have made hi, got him into the England Team - and if that's damaging then may they long continue to damage him...
im not happy with spurs signings! all ok, but yet again a side step in the transfer market. wilson out-parker in, crouch out-bellamy in would also be side steps if not maybe a slight improvement at best!
next transfer window i will save my energy reading about links with rossi and hulk ect ect. we sign relegated players or mid table players at best. our intent is break top 4 on a shoe string! liverpool will finish way above us this season, as will man city, man u, chealski and arsenal im afraid.
harry hasnt got the guts to spend on top players and levy doesnt trust him with the money either. but go on everyone get excited about these mediocre signings and make the most of it.
Watching the game against the rags last week without Modric you are a shadow of yourself you can see your team are built around him. You couldn't even beat the Utd kids who tore your team apart and if he doesn't play today again then you are going to get torn apart again. Though he will play though according to reports. I think you have to ask yourself why is he ready to play against City but wasn't against Utd?
That screams suspicious from dodgy 'Arry and if he plays today I would be thinking this has nothing to do with Modric at all and is down to something more sinister. I mean if Modric really doesn't have his head in the game then he wouldn't be playing until the window shuts right? Even worse why you not selling a player who you cannot play? Seems really suspicious....
Spurs muaythai. Break the top 4 on a shoestring, whatever do you mean?
Look at the transfer fees of the Tottenham current first XI on paper Friedel (0) Walker (4m) ,King (0),Gallas (0),BAE (3.5m) Lennon (1m), Sandro (6m), Modric (16m), Bale (8m) VDV (8m) Adebayor(loan). That's 46.5m!"
@ TMWNN.
At last! Someone with a bit of common sense regarding Huddlestone.
Totally over rated. One good pass/shot every pancake day, doesn't make him a good player!
Not sure why we're buying Parker? An older version of Jamie O'hara.
I don't like negative shit. We have to believe our chairman that we are holding on to Modric. We need a leader. WE FUCKING NEED A LEADER. Therefore Parker is good business, even at £8m. We need a striker (please God not Bellamy) I agree that Hudd will take a month to get fit 1 point today and a good account of ourselves would suffice until the new recruits are in harness. Sandro, hurry up your recuperaton.
Up the Spurs.
East End Spur and Twmnn - dont forget when Hud played alongside Mod in the three crucial games for CL qualification against the Arse, Chelsea and City. He didnt look too bad then!
He has had a bad injury and needs time to recover fitness/form but hasnt turned into a bad player.
As to all the Chelsea fans, City fans, idiot doom mongers etc - please f off elsewhere so that Spurs fans can look forward to a big game!
I love this comments page. It's like a collection of deluded angry depressives. DaveK, Parker is an upgrade in palacios. Best footballer in England last season according to a poll of football writers. Will he walk into the team? No, I doubt he'd get in a first xi. But modern football is about the squad and for £4m it's good business. Bellamy, media/agent talk fir now. Hardly necessary to diss the club just because we are linked with him.
There's a general belief we haven't strengthened. Yet weve brought in a 1 in 2 striker and a reliable keeper to solve our 2 main problems last season. Of course much depends on modric. The saga has completely ruined our preparations for the season. As have a crazy number of midfield injuries. 3 months ago none of us could have imagined starting away to man u with a central midfield if kranc and Livermore. Its been a bizarre set of circumstances. Hudd injured (nowhere near fit at the moment), sandro out, modric on strike, palacios and jenas injured. Doesn't take a genius to see it'll be tough today under those circumstances. Even if modric and hudd start today (and I'm not holding my breath on either), they will be nowhere near match fit. CB is also a disaster. Without king or gallas, we look like conceding every time the other team attacks. Ok, we know king is ravine, but how the fuck can gallas get injured without kicking a ball? Or is he on strike too? Maybe he walked out in sympathy with comrade luka.
I have never seen a worse pre-season preparation than this. Even the dismal summer of the berba/keane defections we at least started the season with a few fit midfielders
Three games does not a player make. He's like Lennon - close but no cigar. When Modric is sold our best central pairing will be Parker and Sandro.
i fuc**** love spurs! taken stick from every tomdick and harry for years on the basis that i always have and will stick my neck out or on the chopping board in its defence, but like the man said above: If we expect modric to find additions like this encouraging then we in harrys desired , anticipated imminent departure, what do we do with these guys- bellamy cole parker? worst up, am so looking forward to todays game, why ? cos we were torn apart mymancs resees and if we field the same calibre of player today? then we may as well all just wait for the Manc raping of arsenal a little later instead... Defoe is and always has been ( a shower of mediocrity) sme im afraid for dawson (ala daniel son), COYffSSSSS
I still don't get it? People are mystified as to why we haven't brought Diarra, Rossi and the like -WE CANNOT AFFORD THEIR WAGES, there's nothing else to
It, it's as simple as that. For the money that we pay we could do a lot worse than Bellamy and Parker.
Win today and this gets our season back on track and makes a statement to the rest of the league.
And it looks like those chavs are getting desperate, if Chelsea do submit a £40m bid for Luka reject it. He could be the difference between CL qualification and Europa which is worth £20m in itself, come on Chelsea get serious.
@kri583
As a City fan, a long suffering city fan, firstly, I liked the blog, well written, not overdramatic and well thought. Ok I disagree with your anti-city jibes, thats to be expected, we won the lottery, you didn't, you hate us? couldn't care a stuff cause we have suffered long enough.
I think 'Arry and Levy are a perfect for each other. While Arry is a good manager, you need Levy there to prevent him from sending Spurs into the lower divisions due to financial causes.. He can bankrupt a club without a strong Chairman, he's proved that time and time again.
Just aim to be above arsenal this year, thats more than acheivable with your squad, and it will bring you delight that even we city fans have not known for a very long time....
Just remember this when you slag city though, the team that lined up against united in the CS game was still worth less in transfer fees than uniteds run on squad. The media doesn't report the truth about spurs, and has no interest in doing the same for city..
Man City are a disgrace to football and deserve to go bankrupt
Fuck them and their deluded fans like butcherblue
Sounds like we need a new movement - just as we had the BAE appreciation society, perhaps we should have one for our current squad. Why is there so much negativity around at the moment?
So far our season hasn't started - the only points we have lost we would never have expected to get anyway. We should look to win/draw today, but even if we lose, it will be against a club that is just taking the piss.
Personally, I think the biggest shame to this buying of titles is that it means top quality players are just sitting on the bench for half the season. Imagine if the talent City have just gone out and bought were spread around the league - some of the games yesterday were terrible to watch.
Cheers Butcherblue, but buying the title, now that IS crass.
man shitty is everything that is wrong with this game. i can't wait to smash these wankers. most bitter supporters EVER.
I see Michel Platinni has done an interview in the Telegraph.He's the only person I know that is trying to make football a fair game. I like him.
i feel the most frustrating thing about the whole city scenario is the fact that all these clubs that do it the right way, we were all just about managing to catch up with chelsea after they blew everyone else out the water. then, as soon as their clear difference in spending had calmed and they weren't guaranteed to win every year, city come along and make it impossible again.
what fucks me off, is these idiots refuse to acknowledge this now. they genuinely believe they are winning on a level playing field, which that point alone makes any victory of theirs a hollow one, as they are kidding themselves.
Gas them
Showing your class as ever Maine. Nice one mate. Nice one.
Butcher - much like everything in football, we work off stereotypes. Don't fret too much. I still hate Arsenal more and Chelsea.
good grief, some of the spuds on here (mr vexed is your leader) seem to have not spotted the fact that thfc are one of the biggest spenders in the prem. selective blindness to rival m. arse whinger
as for comments from the maine line, we can't control that, obv some trafford wanker trying to stir up a bit of bad blood.
Tub - massive difference between building up to something, selling as much as you spend and spending within your own means. Bit different to suddenly having untold millions and being able to pay footballers tax for them.
Just a bit.
If you can't see that isn't a game changer, then no point debating any further.
@ The Maine Line
Steady on mate. A young chap recently went all large sat at his PC and is currently serving 4years in prison! He like most felt quite safe sat at home aimlessly tapping the keyboard..The thing is old chap...you never know who you may be upsetting on these feeds - and more importantly what type of profession they're in!! Who knows I might be a police officer,I may even be Jewish, I may even take your remakes as offensive!! Where would this all end?? I know......After tracing your IP address....someone knocking at your door with a warrant for your arrest! Racial Abuse is a Crime Report it!
Is Gomes injured at the moment or would I be right to suspect he leaves by Wednesday???
Just hoping City spend too much time attacking so that they forget about defending......
What's the odds on 8 games 2 pts for Mr Redknapp? Has to be worth a punt. Spurs is certainly Manchester's bitch, both red and blue halves.
Walkerboy - no such luck, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's thought of everything!! Hope he chokes on a camels testicle some time soon!! And before you start David, I'm in an internet cafe!!
Ha ha, what a fantastic match. After 2 games, what'll it be - 0 goals for 8 goals against? At this rate, we'll have done brilliantly well to finish above Blackburn. Fucking shambles of a club.
Scary thing is we haven't even played that badly. Just a massive difference in finishing. Dzeko 27mio? Crouch 10mio. That's about right. As annoying as Redknapp is with his saying we'd be a better squad with 40mio to spend and no Modric. I think he may be right. Give me Cahill, Parker, Damiao and I think we would be better.
Spooks, when you point out that money can make a difference I don't think anyone can disagree, but what I think you are missing is our own performance today.
Modric may as well not have played, Bale just stood around for most of the game, jogging around and not trying until we were 4-1 down. Krank and VDV were far too slow. There just wasn't any effort out there.
Yes, as predicted, the CB's were crap again but for all the talk of City's money the main difference today was that they wanted to win and we had noone prepared to try to stop them.
Livermore looked good when he came on but another injury to Lennon and VDV speaks volumes about our training and conditioning staff.
Levy has left us totally unprepared to start a season with his lastminutedeals.com approach. He failed us badly when we got to the top4 and he has continued in that vein this window.
Finally, it pains me to say it, but as a long time Harry supporter I have to agree that he has to go along with the alleged "coaching" team. Any team that goes out and lets Bale and Lennon stand around on the touchline when the CM is being overrun is just not prepared properly.
It's time for a clear-out, starting with Levy and the team management, closely followed by our "superstars" and let the kids start to play. After all, with performances like this we can only be mid-table at best so why waste time and money on a bunch on non-caring underperformers just to get there.
It's not knee-jerk. The rot has been there for years and it all starts with Levy.
1. We looked like Bournemouth! Not the team, the town... wet, tired, and disaffected!
2. VdV's legs have gone! Fcuking disgrace walking off the pitch like that!!
3. Rat boy is Chelsea bound.. put your house on it!
4. Manchester City or should I say Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's money look amazing....reminds me of Escape to Victory - the Germans didn't stand a chance!
We were utterly dicked again today..... The moment we concede a goal we fall apart. What happened to lasts year's team who would fight back?!??!
Lennon was awful once again and Bale did nothing at all.
May as well have just started with 9 men for all they contributed.
As for VdV just wandering off......... He could have stayed on, as there's no game for another 13 days.
No doubt about it, the Modric saga has affected our team from front to back.
Next 3 league games:
Wolves (A)
Liverpool (H)
Wigan (A)
If we're not careful it's going to be 0 points from 5 games.
The only saving grace would be that it's Arsenal at home after that.
Allardyce has said that Parker will be our player within 24 hours......
Tim, pls,pls, pls, you vare starting to sound like our manager. Wake up all, for f**** sake and see what has happened. Its too bloody late for anything now!!
I cant beleive anybody will come on this Blog and say we were good but, but, but Crocuh was unlucky, we played well but lost 5-1. We are miles away in everyway possible, from owner, Chairman, manager, backroom staff, doctors, players the bloody lot. Yes we were there or thereabouts 2 years ago, but lets face it, we are now a mid table side. The others have moved into anothe world and we cant and wont compete - we refuse!!
we are all being conned, including Modric!!
Why are we surprised at today, im not, i knew the outcome of today. When you own manager defaltes the enitire team by stating that we are up against a side better than the best team in the world, well there you have it!!!
Absolutly disgusting how we have managed the summer and pre season from A to Zzzzz.
1. Prepare the team for a thrashing - thanks Harry great pre game preparation!!
2. Pre season, 8 players injured - what on earth is going on!!
3. Jo Jordan, Kevon Bond supporting Harry on tactics - oh pls pls lets get real!!
4. At home first game of the season, we start with one forward who has not played in the preseason or first game - yes, thats great planning
5. Crouch in the team - great, yes what progress!!
6. Sign a 40 year old goalkeer - yes progress
7. Sign 2 on loan - yes progress
8. Parker on the way
9. Lets again wait for the last minutes of the transfer period to do anything - wake up Harry - Liverpool, Chelsea, Man U, mnan City are all done and dusted!!!
Pls, pls hand on heart and tell me, can anybody really blame Modric for wanting to leave when he sees who we have bought!!
Levy is on another planet im afraid - consumed Modric and the Stadium - he loves it all!!
Harry and Levy are made for eachother. As for us - we are mugs and are being taken for a ride!!
Oh, Lord. Trying to find something, anything, positive to take from that...BAE is an awesome human being and for all his supposed mercenary outlook seems to care and try harder than just about anyone else. Kaboul...only other player on the pitch who seemed to have head and heart in the game.
Fitness, mental and physical, just doesn't seem to be there. Tried to post similar observation after ManU match but site was being stroppy. While the Ramos regime extreme restricted diet went too far, surely pre-season conditioning is something we control, unaffected by transfers and other teams' money. It's very disturbing how unfit we look. Also, last season didn't we hold the record from most points won after going down a goal? Where did that fight back attitude go?
What's going on with Bale and Lenon? If Huddlestone is injured/not fit, why is he playing? He can't contribute fully and is doing further damage.
Yes, tough fixtures to start the season. But it is not merely the 6 points dropped, it is the way in which they were dropped. This is getting very scary.
Bellamy & Adebayor couldn't fire City into the CL, so what makes Harry/Levy think they can do the job for us?
I was astounded at Crouch starting today, but Pav's done sod all in the previous games, so we should haven't been surprised. That said, at least Defoe was getting shots away against United.
We need a new CB to partner Kaboul - yes I said it, Dawson should be on the bench.... Parker will add bite to the midfield, but so would anyone with half a heart!
Walkerboy, I'm a big fan of Daws, but he has been grim for the last two. However, I'm wondering if he is the canary in the coal mine, being affected by some unseen miasma floating in the air, cause the last time he was this dire was during the 2 from 8 run...
Like I said earlier, scary.
The level of fitness is a disgrace. 23 pulled hamstrings. What the fuck kind of training schedule is harry and his coaches practicing. This is amature.
Oops
The level of fitness is a disgrace. 3 pulled hamstrings. What the fuck kind of training schedule is harry and his coaches practicing. This is amature.
John Cross from The Mirror has just Tweeted that Luca Modric asked not to be played prior to this game.
Here we go, the Redknapp self preservation has kicked in! What a disgrace, what a disgrace!! What a shame for this, our club!! Lets blame everything and everybody else, but not my team preparation, team selection, tactics or transfer dealings - hey Harry, its OK, we are all mugs as well so we beleive you mate!!
£40 million and let the bastard go for Gods sake..