I'll Hazard a guess it won't happen
Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 10:35PM I don't follow French football neither do I follow Belgium football and their prodigy's to a point where I could blog or tweet an opinion with cast iron certainty. I have to take the word(s) of others and rarely do unless I know without a shadow of doubt that word counts for something. Do you know much about Eden Hazard and his family? No? Read this: Understanding Eden Hazard.
I've seen the array of video clips of the player, a few live games and been kept apprised of his club form for some time now. But it's not quite the same as weekly intakes of the Premier League. So Belgian Spur and his word is good enough for me. And his connection to Hazard is pretty much one that can't be ignored. The latest news however might leave me with egg on face, as Man City are in the strongest position to sign him - not because of the wage packet they can offer (Spurs, Utd are just as competitive with the financial side of things) but because they are truly pushing the emphasis on game time and development. Eden wants to become the best footballer he can be and I guess Eastlands exuberant playground is a foundation that can't be ignored even if there is potential for the rather obvious stigma for joining the all too obvious choice. For all the hate we have for the project, they will continue to attract the very best players (much like Chelsea did in the Mourinho era) and will compete for silverware every season.
We have a deal in place with Lille (as do Utd). Arsenal don't. City are ahead of everyone. As expected.
The Hazard clan will do what's best for Eden. They want greatness which will only really come with guaranteed first team football to aid relentless progression, with the player playing in his strongest position and at the highest level (Champions League is key). Two clubs can offer that. One might be able to. Maybe it will come down to wages in the end, as much as the player (and myself) would have us believe it's not about the money. If money is simply a bonus if all clubs can offer Hazard football in its purest sense, then why not take the biggest bonus on offer?
He's claiming he prefers blue to red. Does the blue on our white shirts count?
Reader Comments (23)
He will go to man city, but it is by far the worst choice for him. City will love you for half a season then get board in January and chase the next big thing. He will end up being rotated like everyone else is at city. And if that happens it will screw up his future as no one will want to equal what ever ludicrous wages he ends up getting. Not to mention city do not need him at all! I would love to see him at spurs, we would have the best midfield in the league. But even so, man u would prob make most sense to him, as I am sure all he wants is to follow in Ronald's footsteps and end up at ether barca or rm .... We can still dream. COYS!
Maybe he is teasing everyone and he means the Tottenham away kit!
It won't happen, you only have to look at our recent transfer activity to realise we ain't gonna spend 30 mill on a single player, not with a new stadium to fund...
Pauly: More like 'you only have to look at our recent activity' to work out redknapp doesn't buy from abroad, he isn't over 30, past his best, injury prone or surplus to requirements or is he from a premier league based club.
Hazard is a little flirt as far as I'm concerned. Seems he's just whoring himself to get the best wages possible. Apparently his wage demands when he met the man city reps were "£280,000 a week, with the same bonuses as Yaya Toure gets (£10,000 a goal roughly). There's no way we can afford that, so unless he wants ACTUAL first team football and a good sense of modesty he can piss off to City and enjoy the bench for all I care.
The transfer we should be excited about is Jan Vertonghen. Seems like the deal is almost done. A centre-back is just what we need...along with something new in just about every department.
I agree with Spence, why can't some of the youngsters see their development at a club thats going places ie. Spurs as a far better road to financial success in the long run. Greedy little gits!!
I genuinely don't believe we need him, don't get me wrong he looks immense but if we our priorities £30 mil for Hazard would be better spent on Lloris, Jan V, Adebayor and potentially Hoilett on the cheap strengthening 3/4 key areas. With Caulker coming home that should solve cb issues allowing us to get rid of a few ageing players. Need to stand firm on Bale and Modric and switch Defoe in or a sub striker that can replace Ady when tired. If we get 3rd on Sunday the good times are ahead...
He's the new Lukaku - Things he's the dogs bollocks, wants a big money wage and big money transfer, and will sacrifice regular football for it. The downside to that for him is that he won't be match fit and won't get picked for national duty. He's used us since day one to try and get to trophy winning team come in for him - and it's worked.
You only need to see that Vertonghen has said he wants to come to us for regular football to know his head's in the right place!
I only want players to join if their mindset is right.
Also, I'm sure I read this morning that he claimed he will be wearing blue shorts next season, rather than a full kit - which still leaves us in the running.
City will struggle in the market this summer because they have to offload a lot of players in order to bring in higher wage earners/bigger names. Of course, as we've seen with Adebayor, no-one in the PL can afford to match the wages and very few foreign clubs can compete, especially with new tax laws in Spain. If they don't offload players then they will have a wage bill that far exceeds the income, which, if they didn't have a big Arab investor, would effectively render them bankrupt. Roll on the Financial Fair Play ruling......
I think it's harsh to label these sorts of kids as greedy. Given the choice would you join PSV for a stack of cash and some guaranteed silverware, or Lille? He's not grown up with our tribal affiliations to English teams, so what does he care. Nor do I see how he's guaranteed first team football every week with us if we keep our current players.
The Dutch lad is a different matter because word has it he's a big Spurs fan. Also, if you were a defender you might look at our squad and figure that in a season or two you could well be a permanent fixture in the team.
If we have £30m to spend I'd rather see it go on a world class striker. Of course, if we end up flogging Modric I may well change my tune.
Hazard is only greedy for success/progression/bettering himself. Joining someone like Utd or ourselves would be a far bigger challenge for him. But if City are going to guarantee him and promise him what he wants in terms of football then the rest have no chance. I guess with City they are in the position to tell him that he will be able to play with the very top players because they will always sign the very top players (because 99% of the rest of the players out there ARE about the money).
On top of the toothless financial fair play rules shouldn't teams also be required to have a maximum number of senior players on its books? I know there is a squad limit but that doesn't stop sides with endless cash from stockpiling the best players so no one else can sign them. The only way we or most sIdes can compete is to start signing players when they're about 12.
Bobbles - The "Dutch Lad" is also Belgian ;)
Having said that he values game time and development above wages, signing for Citeh would seem to achieve the exact opposite.
They already have: Adam and Michael Johnson, Nasri, Milner, Silva, Toure, Weiss, Pizarro in midfield and not forgetting their 12 strikers - where and when is he going to play?
Can't knock anyone for trying to earn as much from their career as possible but you have to question the intelligence, motives and aspirations of someone who does the exact opposite to what they had declared as their desire.
Seems like Hazard is attracting interested from everywhere. The chances of all them falling through is slim. Our competitiors will pay a lot more and that is what counts with players. That is even if you ignore the fact that we have pretty much frozen transfer spending since we got clear of the relegation zone a few years back. Only way I see Spurs spending a fortune on one player this summer is if we get a double fortune selling one beforehand.
Spurs would be better looking towards Ligue 1's surprise package Montpellier and the top scorer in the division Olivier Giroud. He would be the all-round striker we need.
Hazard is not the type of player we sign, and not the type of player we should sign. Clearly likes the attention more than anything else. No thanks. Our needs are not another creative midfielder (if Luka stays), but a top defender, someone who can play on both wings and provide cover for Bale and Lennon, and a top striker.
I think the following players fit the bill:
Vertonghen or Samba (I wonder how he is liking the racism in Russia?)
Clint Dempsey---Very, very useful. Plays out wide for the US sometimes, sometimes as a second striker. We've seen him more central for Fulham. Could easily slot into Rafa's role when he is taken off in the 70th minute if our formation is working but Rafa's legs are tired. He may not have the pace of Bale or Lennon, but he is crafty and a very hard worker. No concerns about him not staying out wide if he is told to do so.
Fernando Llorente---Tall and very good in the air, not to mention with the ball at his feet. Bilbao are said to be traditionally the most "English" team, but Bielsa has them playing a mixed style with an emphasis on keeping the ball moving.
Dempsey may not fit the bill 100%, and he may not see a future for himself at Spurs, but I think he is one of those proven Premier League performers that a team simply cannot pass up if he becomes available.
If we do have to replace Luka, please let's not have it be someone like Hazard. Let's get someone who is grateful to come here and wants to prove himself...another 14m pound purchase like Luka (without the whining later on) would be great. After all, we've got good scouts, haven't we?
If we lose Vertonghen to Arse for a few million here or there then i suggest Levy follows Arry out of the door!!!
We have the chance to complete this now but Levy is ouuuuing and aaaahing over a few million. That will allwo others to close in and before you know it, there goes another one.
Its great how we always annouce to the world our transfer plans...............
Hazard by name and nature. By the sound of it he would step on our heads just like Berba. Let`s hope City get him and maybe we can feed of their scraps. We could do a lot worse than Adam Johnson, a player who can unlock defences like Villa Blackburn etc with the ball at his feet rather than played into space in front of him.
Shame Torres has been spoilt by mega bucks at Chelski. What a waste he is there and how senaational he`d be for us. He has the `Tottenham Swagger` about him.
Hotspurs - Arsenal don't have that much money to spend, if any. It's why they missed out on Mata and why they haven't bid for Hazard.
They have just spent £11 million on Poldolski - nice and quite, no fuss - good player! Why oh why cant we do business like in this way - why are we so Arryish in everything we do!!
I think Arse will spend this summer!!
Lets all calm ourselves down...unless woy does wonders Sunday we are a uefa team and can't expect world players to turn up no more than Liverpool or everton can......we just need to do sensible business....hoilett...perhaps the palace kid....and yes agree if vertonghen has stated his desire then spend the cash.....caulker will be back....could do with a wide right (didn't we have a young juve lad on the verge in jan?)...remember thudd and daws...that and if we can add ade and get a backup striker whilst at last binning dos santos..Bentley...dare I say jenas from the wage bill would do me all day long.....keep perspective.......however if we get 3rd Sunday I want bids in for messi...ronaldo and kris commons first thing Monday!!
Well here we are, last day of the season looming, so much gone before us and so many permutations left to play out. Highs and lows for both teams but ultimately good banter throughout. Needless to say I wont be wishing you luck for Sunday, I think we’re going to need plenty of it ourselves to stumble across the finishing line. 3rd, 4th or 5th though I’ll leave you in peace to enjoy your summer (lets hope Roy does the business!) and no doubt stew on all the potential transfers of who is or isn't coming/leaving. Then it all starts again in August!! Have a good one. C’mon you Gunners …… ;)
Not much in it, no matter where either club finishes. Next season will be equally close.
What I mean is, both ourselves and you lot have positives and negatives, and both in full pelt might actually push Man Utd far more than we've both managed to do combined this season.