Go on then, let's flirt with a very reliable source
Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 10:04PM Bale
It's too humid to think. Got just about enough energy to smile at the news Gareth Bale has signed a new contract. He will progress this season I'm sure of it, with far greater discipline tactically than he experienced last time out. Nothing wrong with switching flanks, cutting in, playing like an inside forward but has to remain effective from the wings with his crossing. With more men in the box, we'll score more goals. Football is simple. He just needs to be controlled and developed for the good of the team, because if he plays well in a team playing great he'll get better. Football really is simple.
Sorry, really obvious statements shared there that we're lost in the hyperbole of season 2012.
A win win for the club. We keep our most potent of weapons and if the CL dream fails to materialise at the end of next season then Barca/Madrid can pay up to buy out the worth of his contract. But let's not think too far ahead. Especially with thoughts of such a negative type. Bale signing a new contract will shatter some of the tabloid hacks who haven't stopped crying their eyes out and spewing spite towards us for the disgraceful sacking of Redknapp. Carry on lads. You'll have plenty to sick your teeth into in the coming months.
ITK INNIT
It's all actually very quiet at the moment aside from all the predictions and rumours of when x y and z will happen. The new manager and new players have been perpetually predicted to happen every week for weeks now. So law of averages, any day now. It's like a competition with the ITK's and club insiders. Twenty blokes all standing feet away from a dart board all wearing masks all throwing for the bullseye.
Can I play too?
I saw this posted over at the epic ITK collection thread (clicky click) at The Fighting Cock (the actual source is 'Ryan' via FTL). I feel cheap and dirty doing this. Probably should have added a question mark to the article heading.
"Some ITK news for you from a VERY reliable source:
Vertonghen WILL be a Spurs player come July 1st
Sig WILL be a Spurs player come July 1st
Loic Remy WILL be a spurs player come July 10th (delays in agreeing terms)
Modric WILL be sold to Real Madrid (?30m + Sahin) by July 9th
AVB WILL be Spurs manager on July 1st
we WILL be signing with our MAJOR sponsor/investor for naming rights on July 15th
Stadium work WILL be commencing July 27th after the signing of the final contracts.
2 x more MAJOR signings WILL be made before July 18th"
Covers practically everything being discussed currently.
My thoughts?
Vert will end up signing. Predicting something that everyone knows is 99% done is hardly ITK. The player, Ajax, everyone involved (apart from Spurs) have more or less confirmed it's happening but there are snags to do with money owed. Well, money the player believes to be owed, his current club disagreeing. I'll favour it happening because in principle, it's done. The technicality is pretty much bullied into the corner (99% v 1%) and Spurs, as quiet and professional as they are on this saga, won't allow the deal to die if we are truly serious about making him one of us.
Sig is a done deal. Again, it's been shared publicly. Okay, so you might argue it's been shared by foreign websites equally as dubious as some of our English based red tops, but it all fits in quite well with one or two official feeds confirming the deal. Quite happy with this one. Young, attacking midfielder. Cracking shot, forward rather than deep and gives us options. Rotation when required is imperative this time out. We need the quality to sustain it.
Remy. Don't know. He's been linked all summer, it's probably worth a punt. Steady that hand when throwing that dart. I personally think (as per the usual template of surprise) that any further signings will come from left-field and surprise us. No, no, when I say left-field I don't mean left-footed by the way. No cryptics here. Just a gut feeling. Then again, once the manager is appointed, our targets might become far more apparent and with any luck happen far quicker than how the summer has crawled along so far. More likely Adebayor than Remy (I'm using the logic of 'he played for us last season' as my reasoning there).
Modric? Of course he's going to Madrid. Where else is he going to go? No chance Levy will let him sign for another English club. Madrid only possible club that can afford him. Levy won his battle with Chelsea and with the Croatian being at his prime to be sold on for a massive profit, the club will take that quite easily. It's a massive shame we're losing him. Honestly think retaining him + new manager and new players would galvanise us. But new beginning, the player wants his wage packet and CL football now, so selling him abroad makes it easier to swallow.
Sahin as part of the deal? Think this is probably based on the fact that Luka would push Sahin further down the pecking order and what with our 'relationship' with Madrid, 1+1 calculators are working over time. Think we need someone far more prominent and high profile as our 'new playmaker'. Very much dependent on the style of football we play next season. Do like us being Madrid's feeder side though. Better than selling our best players to Utd.
AVB on the first of July? Again, very well documented. Plenty of whispers about contractual obligations and such. The silence is deafening. Worst kept secret in football. I'll welcome him, I'm buzzing about it. As long as he scraps the side line squatting, I'll welcome him with open arms. Just make sure you're not squatting because I'm not bending down to hug you. He likes his three up top, two inside forwards with a lone striker. Holding midfielder (or two), Sandro could play a massive part this up and coming season. Some media training, a few post-match smiles and the pressure won't be half as as bad as long as the Lane sing a song or two in his name. We've got the quality, we'll consolidate it with new blood. We just need to learn to be shrewd, heartless and cut throat, killing teams off.
Sponsor/investor and stadium, would welcome it. Haven't got much to say on this other than its fairly imperative the club outline times-cales for the NDP. We know it's going to happen but it's not quite happening but it can't not happen. So here we are waiting.
Two more major signings? No sh** Sherlock. You think Levy isn't going to give AVB a war chest? I'm sure in the coming weeks we'll be linked with every other top star at Porto.
That was fun. I might do this again.
Reader Comments (67)
re AVB - not just squatting but he must get rid of that ridiculous half-coat. makes him look like a belgian businessman.
Agreed!
Keep the beard though. No clean shaved face thank you very much.
What worries me is all the press and even some Spurs fans think AVB will be good for Spurs - he is INEPT at best and cannot hold the dressing room, a must in a modern club. He took a team like Chelski and dumped them in 6th and lower - HE DONT KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING AND NEVER WILL ... please Spurs supporters, stop hoping for second best, we need a manager t take us UP not Down and if any of you think that AVB/MOYES/Martines etc. will do that then you are DELUDED. As for Jan, yes he will join, Sherwood will stay like parks on the training field which is what he is good at he will NOT become a sporting director, he was kept on so on the 1st July Spurs would have somebody to train them ... Remy won't join unless we get Blanc and as for the rest, the new manager will want his selections not Levy's. back to AVB, just to show what he knows - he said Bale would leave this summer - and this is a guy people want as a manager - oh Please!!!!
Another good read nothing touches 'the book of Daniel part 2 ' though for shear comedy value i hope its all true i actually think its looking quite rosy for the yids and cant wait for the next 2 weeks to see what happens .COYS
Seconded re keeping the beard, because without it, think he'd look like Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf
I love this relationship with Madrid some fans go on about just because we bought VDV off them. Amazes me. Dont we buy players from other clubs too?
Or the alternative....
"Welcome to Spurs JM. With your penalty taking, you'll fit in well"
Remy WON'T sign if Blanc is manager - he's seriously miffed about missing out on EUROs. Sturridge WILL sign if AVB is manager. Can't see Sahin coming - Levy will want cash and IF Sigurdsson signs, we don't have a space for him although, in a perfect world, Moutinho would be Modders' replacement - no penalty taking duties, mind!
I think Remy missed euros thru injury rather than not getting selected...could be wrong!?
Remy was not included in the final squad for France because he was injured. He was however part of Blancs early plans. Not that I think we will get him, think we will get AVB.
Insightful article as always Spooky, fantastic news that GB has signed a new contract, will Modric follow suit? hopefully he does. I agree with your comment, "Bale signing a new contract will shatter some of the tabloid hacks who haven't stopped crying their eyes out and spewing spite towards us for the disgraceful sacking of Redknapp". Yes, how you right are, personally I have found the diatribe of the Spurs haters very annoying recently, comments such as. 'We are punching above our weight, delusions of granduer, head in the clouds syndrome', etc really pee me off. In response to our detractors I would like to draw attention to one of Tottenhams previous residents, a gentleman named Luke Howard, this was the man who who gave us the Latin names for the varying cloud types, cumulus, stratus, cirrus etc. There is a blue plaque on a house in Bruce Grove in recognition of his contribution to meteorology, the point I'm making is this, if we as Spurs supporters are perceived as having our heads in the clouds then am I correct in saying that it appears to be an important component, an indelible part of the London N17 psyche? Personally speaking, Tottenham as an area, a football club is steeped in historical tradition, you are what you are in this world and I firmly believe as we all do, that we are great. So with that in mind Spooky I'll doff my hat to all things Tottenham and follow the example of Mr Howard endeavours remembering at all times to always keep my head up. Here is the link to his Wikipedia page, worth having a look mate. COYS TTID.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luke_Howard.
I hope we sign some forwards, right now we only have Defoe and he must say. Slightly alarming.....who will we get? We need 3.
Typo; "How right you are". I type much too fast for my own good at times that one slipped me when I proof read. Sorry about that.
I'm just amazed we have Luke Howard's great-great grandson involved in a football debate!
Got to say that the reason we as Spurs supporters try to see the positives in the most disturbing circumstances is that it just keeps on turning out bad for us. Mendes put the ball in the back of the net and we lost, bad lasagne and we missed out on champions league, Harry for England and the slump, Chelski dump us out of champions league by winning it and we are not even going to get into selling every player who does well for us or we will be whingeing all night long! However all this having been said Daniel Levy is the closest thing we have ever had to dignity, integrity and and a sense of self respect in almost 30 years. Redknapp was a cheap date at best and too ol god to move a it us any further forward in the bigger picture. Levy is gambling but i'm happy to give it a go. Get behind him and whoever the manager is. We are due some good fortune , self respect and pride!
Agree with all of this, but I have to say that we would be lucky to get sahin + less cash in exchange, despite his bad year he was amazing at dortmund. He would easily be a big enough name
The more it drags on the more i look forwards to AVB joining the clan.... The players we have at preset kind of suit the system he prefers and as fot that moron peter4spurs... Peter every manager has a club he does not fit "that damn united!!" or even Roy of the Liver birds. doesnt make you a bad manager . Chelsea burn through bosses and lets be honest any one of there last 6 managers (except Avram) would be better than Harry 1 x FA cup Redknap. Didnt he try and sell Bale?
Optomism is the order of the day
Those worming tablets must have taken effect by now, therefore AVB won`t need to scrape his arse along the touchline any more.
Seriously, when he was with the chavs, I felt a grudging envy for the enthusiasm shown in his antics. Meanwhile what did we get from Redkrapp? The odd twitch in anticipation of his post match excuses was all that indicated that he was still breathing.
@aspurusual - of course we have our head in the clouds and of course it`s in our psyche - laugh at our detractors, they live mainly for a club who `achieve` qualification for the CL. They have no life, unlike us who realise that football is merely an escape from reality and a place to dream. Look, it`s late June and nothing could be further from my mind right now than footba...............oh.
Sahin is a top class player who earned his Spurs in the tough physical environment of the Bundesliga and should therefore thrive in the Premiership. Take the cash plus the player and move on from Modric. Far from being indispensable he is dragging us down in every transfer window. Amazing to see how much better he played for Croatia than Spurs. He has been a constant distraction for the last year. Get rid of the little grumbler and move on. There are other areas we need to improve on and our squad is already quite strong. With a modern manager who knows how to rotate all the talent we have at our disposal and some shrewd ins and outs in the transfer market we can look forward to a bright future at Spurs. We are a great club with superb fans and i believe we can once again have the team we deserve. Keep the faith. Levy is a yiddo. Harry was the Arthur Daley of football management. We deserve better and we must trust in Levy to deliver better.
AVB was the hottest prospect in "up and coming" managers a year ago. At chelsea he was tasked with changing how Chelsea played and given an imploding Torres and (in fairness, brilliant) Mata to do it. He dropped the big men at the club and the players turned on him. Had he not stuck to his brief (first thing Martinez did: Torres out, Drogba & Lamps back, defensive style) and principles he would have done fine at Chelsea, but that is not what he was hired for. Spurs have the perfect line up for AVB style, and the players are not bigger than the manager, so no issue surely. Do not believe the anti-spurs media: they love Harry and are out for blood. Not just the clumsy obvious stuff from the sun, but sports writers from major newspapers. Read Football 365's mediawatch page.
@Andrew- No relation at all lol, I'm just a humble person that grew up and went to school in Tottenham, simply fascinated by the local history of the area.
ed
@moe- You're quite right my friend, laugh at all of ''em. Respect to you sir, I detect a kindred spirit lurking behind my monitor. It's late June as you say and my close-seasonitis is really kicking in hence my decision to seek solace in one of my history books. COYS!!
@steve72 - bang on mate. Good as Luka is, given the choice I`d sooner hold on to Bale, as he and Lennon are the key to our style of play. Yes we need a playmaker, but it`s quite an easy job with those outlets and with 30 odd mil in the bank we could buy a couple of decent strikers.
AVB was fcuked over by Abramovich - he was hired to get the chavs playing the Spurs way and when the egos didn`t like it Abramovich shat on him.
If he is our new man let him keep the raincoat, let him continue `owling` but for fcuks sake get him to clear his throat before he speaks!
Thank God for JC. The media were certainly having a good old laugh at us while Redknapp was around. Always ready with a sound bite he was a journalist's dream. I have been amazed by the English media in their silly overestimation of the England team's abilities. .If football is a religion then Fleet Street's version of it is indeed no more than opium for the masses. The English media's portrayal of Harry Redknapp as Robin Hood was a disgrace to an impoverished nation raped by people and banks too rich to care. Well done the FA and Daniel Levy for not taking the easy option and being eaten by the insidious English press.
Getting sick of these Manure fans (admittedly, most of them seem to post on African Facebook pages) saying that Modders should and will sign for them. I posted this in reponse:
"He will NEVER be sold to Man United...you simply cannot afford him. Either that, or, for the second season in a row, Fergie is trying to low-ball his way into a deal. Last year it was Wesley Sneijder, this year Luka Modric. Whose turn will it be to be insulted in 2013? My guess is the Gooners, when Fergie decides he "must have" Jack Wilshere "as a long-term replacement for Paul Scholes" (who will probably play on until 2020, anyway!)
The point is, Spurs fans know and understand that our Club is not as big as Man United - but we are not small-fry either. A little known statistic, that we share with you, is that, apart from United, Tottenham is the only team to have won trophies in each of the past SIX decades: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s. So, we also have our own history, of which we are justifiably proud. Man United may have been the first English team to win the European Cup - but Tottenham was the first BRITISH team to win a European Trophy. And we were the first British team to win TWO different European trophies...and for all Arsenal's consistency in gaining Champions League starting spots for the past 15 years, we still have more European trophies in our cabinet than they do...so, treat us with a little respect, if you please.
On the subject of finances, our Club may be only turnover a fraction of what you do - but the difference is, our monies are much better controlled than yours and, accordingly, we DO NOT NEED TO SELL any of our star players. If we CHOOSE to do so, we are entitled - indeed, morally bound - to ensure selling for the best possible price, which (as you will no doubt remember, in the cases of Messrs Carrick and Berbatov) includes a PREMIUM when selling to a top-4 rival. Not a DISCOUNT, as Fergie, in his dotage, seems to believe he is entitled to. You see, whilst your club is owned by a horde of American low-life vultures, who, despite record turnovers, have committed you to what will be decades of unnecessary debt, our owners, whilst not exactly pouring money INTO the Club, have the good sense not to take it OUT, either, preferring to wait for their big payoff when the Club is sold to whoever comes along next. You've never been out of the Champions League. We've never been IN it, save for a solitary season, two years ago. Yet, despite missing out on the annual riches that being at the top table brings, we are still the 11th richest club in the world - thanks to the shrewdness of our Chairman and Board and the undying loyalty of our fans. Luka Modric WILL leave the Club this summer - but for the price WE decide upon, not Fergie and certainly not the odious Glazers. In the meantime, you should focus on developing your own players, since you are struggling to afford to buy anyone.
Come On You Spurs!
Can't see Levy ever doing business with Utd again. Not in the sense of us selling them our best player(s).
Bale, when he leaves, he'll also go abroad. He probably knows that. In fact Levy has probably discussed that very fact with him. He's still only 22. What he's heard from chairman (on prospective new manager) is enough to keep him at the club which means he wants to achieve something with Spurs. Belief. Modric can go for the simple fact that he doesn't want to wear the shirt any more. Bale does. What more can you ask for?
We as Spurs fans understand that our club is not as big as Manure but do they understand that they are not as big as Man City any more. Come on guys you really have to laugh. Rumour has it if they don't get some dough soon old red nose will be pulling his boots on never mind scholesy and think of all the old dears that randy dog Giggs can hit on when their hubbys are answering fergie,s call to arms lol.
A very exciting time to be a Spurs fan, can't wait to see how things unfold pre-season.
One thing that intrigues me, however, is that on the NewsNow feed in the left column, where the list of players are, Redknapp has been replaced by AVB under Daniel Levy, and Gylfi Sigurdsson is between Gareth Bale and Jake Livermore. Has anyone else noticed this? Interesting...
Like I said. Worst kept secret in football.
I`ve got that warm, fuzzy feeling. Bale started it by signing on.
@steve72 - agree with your politics, but football is simply a micro image of that butt fcuking world you describe - Modric is greedy for more money........as is the Sig, etc. It`s us that pays for it - that money consists of our meagre wages.
@spooky - spot on, Bale has bought into the `project`
@sheikh 352 - totally proud of you - well said with arse covered from every angle
@aspurusual - yes let`s not forget we are all kindred spirits, the posts on here suggest we are all converging and we must, it`s only fair on the new boss that we`re all behind him.
Naming rights? How about Kismet Crescent or Ergo Arena?
I know, it`s Spurs, so it`s more likely to be something like Andrex Avenue knowing us.
Just heard that Seedorf has been offered a new 6 year contract as replacement for Scholesy. All part of the new youth development policy at Old Trafford. Alan Hansen is unsure what direction Fergie is taking as you will never win anything with kids.
@sheik352- Very articulate post, I'm sure that the Mancs had little to say after that. Pure unadulterated truth is always the winner in any argument.
@moe- Of course we are all kindred spirits and I admire most of the guys that post here, never a dull moment. I agree with you completely, convergence is key, it's very important that we get behind the new manager when he takes up his position.It feels as though we're about to enter a new transitional phase, one that really galvanises our club. Onwards and upwards for sure.
@steve72. Is it true Fergie has offered Harry a job as Youth Development Officer, with a remit not to look at anyone over 40?
@moe, Thanks for the compliment.
@spooky. Could you try and keep "The Book of Daniel" going, at least once a month? I was almost crying from laughing so hard.
Open question. Do you think Everton will still try to buy Pienaar if he goes down for assault?
@sheikh352 - apparently Chelski are in for Pienaar now. They say he ticks all their boxes.
You know guys i really think that in the last few years of being a Spurs fan i have seen a very positive change in the mindset of the average Spurs fan. Respect to sheikh and moe, you guys are on the ball.I have travelled from Northern Ireland on too many occasions to remember to watch performances which have ranged from the ridiculous to sublime. It is my honest belief that Levy is on the right track. My family obsession with Spurs goes back to the days of the late,great Danny Blanchflower and i will never forget my late grandad's description's of his prowess. Much like the land in which i live being a Spurs fan has seen its dark days yet i have always seen the beauty in the landscape and the loyalty. Often it seems that we are defined by our characterisation as victims of ill fortune and the bigger vultures. Everyone of resilience deserves a second chance and i hope that as a Spurs fan this is not an impossible dream. It has been good to see how many of us are determined to get behind the new regime and move forward. Our history is proud and let our future be even brighter. WE ARE TOTTENHAM FROM THE LANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More than looking forward to AVB giving a fresh feel to the place. Its a whole new era and a positive change. As for those knocking him, check out the film 'That Damned United'. His Chelsea stay was almost a carbon copy of Cloughie's at Leeds but with better results. The future's bright, its lilywhite
@steve72 - we`re not alone in our love for our club simply because it is our club. The thing is we`re that `nearly club` and that`s what is so sickening about the chelski trolls that visit from time to time. They were precisely where we are now until Roman`s billions arrived. They have forgotten very quickly where they were.
As much as we may pretend that they and city have done it the cheats way, there`s not many of us who wouldn`t be delighted if a serious money man turned up tomorrow.
Chelski and city have something in common - they were both clubs that everyone took the piss out of until their money arrived.
Might make it look inevitable that the next billionaire may come knocking at the Lane.
Either that or we plod on in the honourable way, striving to succeed whilst remaining solvent.
If I were a Manure fan now I would be seriously worried. They`re no longer the biggest thing in Manchester, let alone elsewhere. They are no longer an attractive investment and remain seriously in debt.
But whatever the future holds, please don`t let us ever follow l`arse model. I could never allow myself to be taken for a mug enough by a board content to qualify for CL to maintain the financial model, with no higher aspirations on the field.
@aspurusual. Thanks for the compliment.
@steve72. Your grandfather was right. Respect for being able to follow the team during the hellish times that NI went through. I suppose watching, first, Danny Blanchflower and then Pat Jennings, would have given him reason to smile. I missed Danny (except when he hosted Junior Criss Cross Quiz) but Pat was my idol, when I came to the Lane, along with Jimmy Greaves, Dave Mackay and Alan Gilzean. My dad came to the UK, as a stateless and homeless Palestinian. Not for charity - but for a job as a radio announcer with the BBC Arabic Service. Even though he must have learned about the jewish connection at Tottenham, he never stopped me from falling in love with the team. Indeed, he would bring me down here and, when he was busy, he would still get me tickets whenever he could. I loved those days...and I look forward to the new era, too. The news that Gareth Bale understands what it means to be at Spurs - and believes he CAN achieve his ambitions with us, or die trying, means he will go down as a Club legend, long after the door has hit Luka Modric's arse on his way out. I believe we are the right "project" for AVB (unless Levy is playing his best poker hand and delivers Blanc or Deschamps, next week)...The point is, I will get behind whoever is "the man". I cannot wait for the Olympics to be over, so that the new season can begin.
@moe. Joking, right?
sheikh - no seriously they need someone a bit handy to defend the WAGS from JT in the players bar. Apparently.
Lest any United fans talk about getting Modric again, you can copy this article about the mancs' financial position...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/may/17/manchester-united-debt-glazers
Van Marwijk to WHL?
Its good too see theat the majority of comments on here,are positive for a change.Hopping around the sites like one does.It is noticeable,how gooner fans,spend most of there time just bleating on about Tottenham,normal'ily in derogative terms.So I am really chuffed to notice,that the majority of Tottenham fans,are quite content,discussing there own club.By the end of the following week.I believe the club will have things in place.As for Modric.Well thanks for the memories,And as good a player as you have been,there will all ways be some one better ouy there.We w have had many of them over the years ourselves.His ego is now a lot bigger than his talent..
gotta say , gooner scums have made a great great signing in oliver giroud , watched him week in week out , dnt know why he was not no.1 for france , he is combinations of all things needed in modern day striker , gutted we didnt get him , and also podolski he
is like a bomb can produce very very special from nothing , wilshere is also coming back and looks rvp gonna stay ,gotta feeling scums will b do better next season , when are we going to get our star players , and one thing more i m fed up of so many gooner scum fans here in france but i keep my head high as lonely proud spurs-addict..
Don't forget ol Levy has been building a bit of war chest since last summer. We got rid of Pav, Crouch,Kranjaer, Corluka, Palacios, Keane and o Hara. We really only spent money on Parker. Would be interested to see what the net wages/transfers has been since around June 2011.
Sheikh352 - nice posts !
@spurs-addicted from france
Agree about the scum's new man. Hope we don't go near Blanc/Deschamps and not sure about Remy.
Also agree that there are far too many Emirates red shirt and Samsung blue shirt wearers in France, but there are also lots of true Spurs fans too who don't need to wear a replica shirt in Carrefour supermarkets when they are shopping with their wives to say they support an English football club. Most that I know have been 100's of times to real live games and knew/loved the club before SKY re-invented 1st division football.
I think it's because a lot of people don't watch much Bundesliga, and then he got hurt shortly after his move to Madrid ... but Nuri Sahin is a PHENOMENAL player. He basically carried Dortmund to their first Bundesliga title in a decade in 2010-2011 and is an enormously skilled deep laying playmaker. I'm not sure there's another replacement for Modric in the world I'd rather have.
If Madrid is willing to part with Sahin +cash for Modric, Levy should bite their hand off immediately.
For that reason, they won't sell him or allow him to leave in swap.
Which is why this transfer window I haven't bothered with the site this ITK crap is spouted. Better things to do with my time.
Big Big rumor picking up speed at the moment is that Lewis has sold the club to a Kuwaiti buyer and thats one of the reasons for Bale signing his new deal......