Where is our apology?

I'm playing catch-up what with being 'off-line' for the vast majority of yesterday due to travel commitments. Sounds like I missed out on a fair bit. I'm hearing rumours that Chirpy attempted to foam pie Harry Redknapp in the face but Joe Jordan intervened. That pesky attention seeking chicken.


Terry

Elsewhere, Sky Sports published an article covering an interview with John Terry. Then issued an apology and altered the article in a couple of places. I've had a look at their website. If I've got the wrong end of the stick, then beat me with it. I've seen the video footage of John Terry being interviewed (which is what the written article was based on). Terry (around a minute or so into it) uses the word 'disrespectful' whilst referring to the Spurs and Luka Modric situation. It's muddled, I'd admit that. But my gut reaction is that he's simply citing the fact that talking about Modric is probably not the best thing to be doing in any grand old way because it will start to touch upon the art of tapping up. So he throws in the word disrespectful to appease us and protect himself. Which is fine. It's understandable.

Sky, oh so giddy Sky, run the written text version (along with video) to the tune of 'Terry - Modric 'disrespectful'. Pretty much sums up their tabloid bloodline. They've taken nothing and made something out of it. The tone of the entire interview did not have an agenda to it from Terry's perspective (can't believe I'm painting him as an innocent party in all this). The only apparent agenda(s) was to try and get Terry to talk up Luka (in a Chelsea shirt) and to thus gain the most sensationalist headline out of it. Terry does call Modric 'world class'. But that's ignored (surely better to have run with that if Sky are so desperate for the player to join the West London club?)

Don't know how long it took, but the title was later altered to 'Terry - Modric is world class' (there we go, second time lucky). So what we have here is simply a case of Sky running an out of context headline for what Terry said. He cited 'disrespectful' - Sky run with it. They change it. Then they apologise. But then what they do next is laughable - they remove the disrespectful comment from the written text article altogether. Too much to get their heads around I guess. Perhaps struggling to work out the ambiguity of the quote.

Far far easier to ignore it altogether than perhaps appreciate that Terry didn't want to be too forward in his appraisal of Luka's talent. I actually still don't get quite grasp the point of the original headline as it's hardly the type of headline that follows on from previous pro-Chelsea ones. The 'world class' amendment is more in tune with their Luka to Chelsea push.

I'm still patiently waiting for Sky to issue an apology relating to the Modric transfer request that apparently was never (according to Spurs) handed in.

One critisism of John Terry re: Luka?

"He's very agile, very quick and a great finisher like we've seen over many years."

You what?

Souleymane Coulibaly

Looks a talent. 16 years of age. Superb vision and touch. An eye for goal. Suggestions from some that he's on a promise for first team football (hence why he signed for us). Back on planet earth, it's obvious the kid has the moves but he's just that. A kid. We've been here before. Many many times. We never actually sign teenagers good enough to be blooded into the rough and tumble of the Premier League without disappearing in the youth sides and loaned out to Championship clubs first. I'm hoping he is different (much like I thought Bostock would be different). I'm also hoping we take our time to work on his raw ability and develop him with the onus on Souleymane being a valid project for first team football in the next year or two. It's about time we signed someone of this ilk and followed it through to fruition and witness an impact at an early age rather than a full début at 25 then a transfer to Ipswich.

Scored on his 'Spurs' début. Read more here.

Pirates

The second game in SA and the second pre-season game I've not watched. As previously preached, all I care about is the team getting fit, getting back into a rhythm and avoiding injury. Would be nice to read about us performing with spark, style and swagger. We either always look disjointed or amazing. Never in-between. We all now that 'amazing' usually equates to world class underachieving when the season proper starts.

Don't think Modric should have been handed the captains armband. Are we trying to get him 'on side'? There's no reason to be doing this just to send out a message to anyone watching, because as chairman has stated a couple of times - it's a closed matter. Luka is hardly captain material. Even in a pre-season friendly wearing the armband should be an honour rather than part of a reconditioning process.

Nice free-kick from Rafa. More of this in the Prem please.

Zdravko Mamić: Modric - he can be poisonous

Never ends.

This is a part translation by ZG Spur (Glory Glory.co.uk) from this interview with Zdravko Mamić (executive manager of Dinamo Zagreb) talking about Luka Modric and the transfer saga. The translated slice of the interview is more pro-move propaganda. I'm sure you could push the whole linked page through an online translator to get a more comedic version of it.

I will translate (the best of my ability) the the importmant part:

"If I was Levy, I would have waited for Luka with an improved contract, doubled his wages, and wouldn't be arrogant and all high and mighty so the kid would be all fired up" - (he used a phrase 'f**ked up', but you lose much of the intent in the translation).

"You know how Luka is, an honest guy, normal, but if you provoke him, he can be poisonous. I can't understand that he is not the highest paid spurs player, and they don't want to let him go. You can't ask ask for a high transfer fee" - (he said "licitirati" which would mean looking for the highest bid), "...and at the same time deprive him of the CL, on not giving him an improved contract. There were just to many wrong steps taken".

How will this story end?

"He will go to Chelsea, City or Man Utd, because all of this 3 clubs want him very much. And instead of 3 000 000 euros, he will be making 5 000 000".

Won't make a blind bit of difference Zdravko 'mate'. Love how any other club with a star player 'must keep star player' according to the press and anyone that might wish to throw in their two cents, but Spurs are 'in the wrong' and 'the bad guys' for wanting to retain the services of someone under a long term contract.

I still think Luka + agent have given into the fact he has to remain at Spurs. Otherwise, why not just stay home, not go to SA and hand in a transfer request (and leak it to the press)? Why? Oh yeah. I know why.

6 year contract.

Suck it up.

Chelsea + Luka + agent = not that serious about making a transfer happen. Could try harder.

The player signed a long term contract, it's on him if agreed to the wages. Give him an improved contract? For what? For allowing himself to be 'turned' by the 'machine'?

Suck it up.

Don't know who Zdravko Mamić is?

Seven deadly sins of football <- scroll to bottom of article

It's difficult to know where to start with the Dinamo Zagreb executive vice-president Zdravko Mamic. His numerous admissions of match-fixing? The Nazi salute with which he celebrated his side's victory over Lithuanian side Ekranes? His (quickly overlooked) 15-year ban for assaulting a member of the Croatian FA? The time he nearly knocked over a traffic policeman as the cops tried to tow away his car? His attack on Zagreb's director of city planning using a pair of crutches? The death threats he has issued to journalists? Or the time one member of the press was forced to hide in the bushes after fleeing from an attack? Or perhaps all of the above?

Delightful.

Luka Modric 'needs the extra cash'

spursffs

Another day, another Luka Modric exclusive.

Look away now unless you're from Fulham Road, West London. Sneaky secret camera capturing the wantaway star telling all about that transfer request and reasons why he wants out of N17. Pretty much conclusive and damning evidence the red top agenda machine has lusted for to confirm their relentless headline hogging of this summer transfer saga.

Sky Sports yellow ticker to implode in 3...2...1...

For more vids, click here.

Leaked letter from Spurs to Chelsea

Ron Gourlay
Stamford Bridge,
Fulham Road, London
SW16 1HS

Mr. Gourlay,

Further to your correspondence and renewed pursuit of Luka Modric, I am writing to you to tell this player is not for sale at ANY price.

Whilst I commend the work you have done in getting to the player with the use of an unnamed Iranian agent, I can only apologise for the club’s stance in this instance.

On 1st September 2011, Luka Modric will be a Tottenham Hotspur player. I hope this is clear and the club does not welcome any other offers.

Further to this, the club would like to make an enquiry about Fernando Torres. As a result of his clear dip in form and lack of goals, the club think it would be appropriate to offer £14million plus £2.6million in add-ons for International and Premier League honours.

We hope you are satisfied with this offer and look forward to hearing your positive response in the near future.

May I close this note with a piece of advice; Nigel Reo-Coker is currently a free agent and would be a very good addition to your current squad.

I look forward to sharing a beverage with you and Roman on Tuesday 20th December.

Kind Regards,

Daniel Levy
Chairman,
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club Plc.

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club
Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham,
London, N17 0AP

Telephone: 0844 499 5000

Sky Sports understand that they understand something about understanding

"Modric is currently with Spurs on their pre-season tour of South Africa, but we at Sky Sports News are desperate for him to make the move to West London"

Read the breaking news here. It's yesterday's news today. Tomorrow, Sky confirm Luka is human and lives on planet earth with other humans.

£30M Chelsea bid expected. Like adding £3M onto the last bid is going to make a blind bit of a difference to anything. The ankle injury is also part of the deception. Right? Waiting for Sky to confirm. Exciting times.

Dig in, Levy. We shall not be moved.

Flashback III

“I don’t think he’ll hand in a transfer request. He will honour his contract”

Luka Modric’s agent, July 7th 2011.

For all the recent blog articles and rants, tweets, discussions and debate, I ask myself post-epiphany, what is the point in dissecting what you read from player, agent or club when the reality is nobody ever truly speaks from the heart, leaving the one constant (us) in all this chaos confused, angry and exhausted.

Half-truths, disinformation, conspiracy and lies.

Don't bother searching for loyalty and honour. They've long since been diseased by leprosy, left numb and disfigured, lost in some dark forgotten corner.

Enjoy the rest of your evening. Don't take life too seriously.

Flashback II

"Tottenham Hotspur gave me my chance in the Premier League and I want to go on to achieve great success here with them. Yes, there have been enquiries from other big clubs, but I have no interest in going anywhere. Last season's Top 4 finish was an indication of where we are as a Club and I feel I can continue to improve and go on to achieve everything I want to at Spurs."

Luka Modric, after signing a six year contract in May 2010.

They're just words. They mean nothing, regardless of whether you say them out loud or write them down. Or say something and mean something else, and end up writing that down instead.

Flashback

"We can become one of the best teams if we all stay together for a long time."

Luka Modric, April 2011.

The pressures from back home in Croatia, agent(s) and the reality of a short lived career can make even the most endearing person turn their head away from the thing you love most in life.

Football fans; we live in a marriage. The majority of footballers just have affairs and flings.

Luka Potty and the Threatly Hollows

(Part I)

It's a war of words between Luka Modric and Daniel Levy and it can still take on another twist and turn if action is taken as the next form of attack. But we've been promised no such undertaking from agent and player with regards to a transfer request. The words at play appear to be slow brooding monsters which wont truly pack a punch until they are backed up with substance. The trouble is, such substance would constitute an action that would possibly push this saga to the point of no return with any chance of a reconcile left bloody and lifeless on the dirty floor.

At this point it's hard to guess which of the two will be holding the shovel, digging the shallow grave. I'm going to side-step the necessity to drown myself (and you) in another philosophical dissection and instead just respond to what Modric has said in his most recent comments, post-meeting with Levy. I'll include a caveat. It's just a theory. Again, probably just part of the denial process we're all working our way through.

The caveat is this:

The words from Luka hurt because they are words directed straight at the chairman and at the club and appear to be pretty much final in terms of where his preference for football resides. Now regardless of whether these are actual words straight from the horses mouth or are in fact via the mouth of whom mounts said horse is neither here or there because the agent is protecting his clients best interests. Or at the very least advising client of what his best interests should be.

Note how quiet the agent is. Not too many quotables from him. All the sulking and disparaging remarks are from Luka. The victim. The one chained to a drain pipe in the basement. I'll get to the details below, but I'm wondering if victim Luka has been advised that the only way out is to engineer a sh*tstorm via relentless insubordination. Scrap relentless. It's more akin to a crying child that refuses to go to bed, ignoring his father and the belt he holds firm in his hands.

If there was no gentleman's agreement then perhaps a half-truth distorted to create the illusion of a broken promise? The fact is, how desperate is the player to leave Tottenham? If he's that desperate and hard done by, hand in a transfer request and go on strike. If this is a matter of honour (not to go back on your word) and handing in a transfer request is not a possibility and is in fact a point to be made (against Levy's apparent dismissiveness of the aforementioned broken agreement) then how about extending that honour to include the six year contract signed at the time?

I don't believe there's any prolonged tapping up at play. Chelsea have told the player they want him. They've done their bit. Light the match, watch the fire spread.

So unless this is a slowly orchestrated attempt to gradually force the club to sell up, I hardly see any point in all the crying from the Croatian. Because it won't be enough. He (along with agent) know there is no way out of this. They have quite possibly even accepted it. No legal clause, no leg to stand on. Massively long contract. Other clubs have stood their ground. Why should we be condemned for doing the same thing? He's our player. He should have thought about the challenges ahead for Spurs in terms of fighting to cement a top four place for more than just a cameo.

So all they can do is make biting remarks and point fingers about how unfair things are. As cited, if you mean it, then push us a little more to see the type of reaction you'll get.

If Luka had the same length of time left on his contract as Berbatov, then Levy would never have said what he said about this being a closed subject/not for sell/not about the money. Luka loses because of the signature he signed. This is not about loyalty because we know its something only supporters embrace. Luka left his boyhood club to join us, but that was thanks to an accepted transfer bid and agreement between two clubs and the player. He wants to play CL football now and his personal opinion on THFC has changed from this time last season when he was committed. In a blink of an eye things can change.

Until such a day (another move) he should deal with the reality that unless someone breaks a transfer record, we wont entertain it. And even then we probably wont - if you wish to take the chairman's words at face value.

The club > a player

Unhappy footballer aside, this is a statement. If Luka wants to be the sacrificial lamb, that's up to him.

Play out of your skin or be skinned. Over to you Luka.

Lengthy caveat or what? Okay, so I failed to side step drowning in another philosophical dissection. This is my therapy so thanks for listening. I've used The Guardian's article as reference to the translated interview from Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti. My thoughts included below each quote.

(Part II)

> Modric, who said Levy had given a "twisted account" of their meeting at the ground last Wednesday...

Anything can be 'twisted' if you don't happen to agree with it. It's called perception. If you're told something you don't like but it's an unequivocal truth you simply have to take it on the chin. So stop suggesting you've been knocked down to the canvas with a punch below the belt.

> "I reminded the chairman of our gentleman's agreement when we were in Dubrovnik last summer and I agreed a contract extension with Tottenham"Spurs are saying, supposedly, there was no agreement.

You wonder how this played out at the time. Was it part of the formal discussion? Did they sign the contract whilst dining at a restaurant? Few drinks? Perhaps Luka leaned forward, politely asked if the club could listen to any offers with Daniel nodding a yes and a sure. Is that it? Is that the get-out-clause? Is that Levy down on his knees with gun pushed hard to back of head? Levy, the shrewd negotiator agreeing to something doodled on a napkin? Give over. This sounds like nothing more than a seed planted to be refereed back to if required. Which is what agent and player have done.

Considering how content all seemed post-signing of contract, I doubt this was anything other than a whimsical whisper lost over some choice food and wine.

> "At that time, I had an open chat with Levy – that if a bigger club came in with a concrete offer, we would consider it and agree the best solution for all concerned. Now Levy doesn't want to talk to me and said there is no possibility that I can leave Spurs. He threatened me – he said if I didn't accept the club's stance, they would make me sit on the bench or in the stands."

Does a club that advertises season tickets to fans with zero loyalty points constitute a big club? Or is it simply a club with big money? Sorry, low blow. Could not resist.

This is about Champions League and having it every season. Shame on us for attempting to break the already degrading monopoly. Fact is, had we qualified for it again we'd not be talking about Modric to Chelsea. Fact is, had Luka scored a couple of comfortable chances we'd not be talking about Modric to Chelsea. We are owed a lot by both Luka and the rest of the players. Just a couple of home wins in it, that was the difference.

Retaining Modric will mean nothing, not a thing, if we don't consolidate and sign 2/3 top drawer players. The onus is on the chairman here.

As for the rest of this quote. Anyone wish to explain to Luka what 'best solution for all concerned' means? It doesn't mean agreeing a transfer because the player wants one. Chelsea want you Luka? Get on the phone, have a word, tell them to start at £40M.

The threat part is tricky. Levy might well have explained that any player bringing the club and his contract into disrepute would be dealt with in the same manner. Do you see a problem with that? I don't. He can spend the whole season on the bench just to prove a point. A costly one. But he wont spend it there because he'll suck it up and perform for himself and the club.

> "I must say that I am genuinely disappointed about what Levy said to me. He didn't care about what I was telling him. It all only convinced me further that I was right to consider moving on to another club. I hope that eventually he will understand the situation and that we will reach an agreement and go our separate ways in an appropriate manner."

Hi.
Hello.
I want to leave Spurs.
Right.
Can I leave?
You're in a long term contract, you signed it very recently. Nobody has meet our valuation of you in terms of a transfer bid. And we also wish to retain your services, as per your contract.
I want to leave.
Close the door shut on your way out.

> Levy has a reputation for being a tough negotiator and there is no indication that he will back down. Modric's agent has suggested that his client will not lodge a transfer request to try to force the issue, which points to an impasse unless Chelsea make a substantial bid and Spurs accept there is nothing to be gained from keeping a player against his will.

That last bit is being touted as the probable conclusion. Can you see Levy going back on his words? Apologising that the situation has got to the point where player can no longer be retained? Honestly? Its about making a statement. The chairman's statement states that, no? If other clubs can hold onto a player under a long contract then we have to be seen to do the same. Otherwise, there's no point. Just get rid of Bale now so we're not put through the same saga next season.

Levy has made a stand. He simply can't be seen sitting down.

> "There is no doubt that Chelsea want me – they sent a concrete offer to Tottenham"

Concrete? More like Playdough. If Chelsea want the player, where is the renewed bid? Or is the plan to wait until the last day, with Luka protesting naked outside The Lodge refusing to train, before they table another £22M bid believing we'll do anything to get rid of him, even on the cheap?

Not going to happen. Words are cheap right? It's about actions and ones with substance. We've done our bit. We don't need to do anything else.

> "I know that the new Chelsea boss [André Villas-Boas] said he wants me in his team. Of course I am flattered by this interest in me – it's a club that all players dream of joining, fighting for every competition available."

Sorry what? Where? Did I miss this? Stinks of agent propaganda. No offence to Chelsea but 5-10 years ago players had never even heard of them. If you're going to leave, grow a set of balls, and let the missus know there is more than just London. Because that's the crux of it, isn't it? Head turned by CL (fair enough) only destination is Chelsea. Because anyone else would wish to perhaps aim slightly higher if they wished to jump from a small club like Spurs.

In conclusion:

Yes footballers have short careers and there's no wage cap so why not jump ship and go elsewhere and be given CL football without the concerns of having to chase it and then triple or even quadruple your earnings? All with the added bonus of elevating your stature in terms of exposure to continued top class football and silverware.

Clubs will continue to lose out to players. We'll continue to lose out, forever an easy access stepping stone. We have no choice but to make a stand. It's up to anyone wishing to employ Modric to call our bluff.

Modric will not sit on the bench. He'll play. All just empty threats to force us to give in and get rid. Hand in a transfer request. Make a genuine concrete bid for the player. Otherwise, just f*** off and shut up.

Exclusive footage of Daniel Levy and Luka Modric in 'angry' meeting

Another day, more love lost with regards to that once innocent fairy-like dinking Barca-like conductor of our midfield, Luka Modric. How quickly ones perception of someone can change. Very little can be lost in translation this time round.

I'm referring to his interview with the Croatian press (translated by ESPN and others) which makes it sound like he's already going to bed wearing a Chelsea shirt. Suddenly, Harry Redknapp's 'confused' comments from the other day appear to be quite relevant. Seems the gaffer doesn't hold too much faith in the player remaining with us post-season kick-off. Hence his continued disassociation with Levy's fair more sterner stance on the matter.

Seems to all hinge on this 'agreement' chairman and player made when the contract was signed. Player seems to think we should be negotiating no matter the derisory valuation on offer. My money is still on the chairman to be victorious. Although victorious might actually translate into a couple of things.

For now, this saga is not going to stop running any time soon.

News of the Weary

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.

Falling out of love with Luka Modric

Another month, more sickness. Shaking and shivering, my back is in absolute agony. Apparently my working day sit-down posture is the reason the viral infection has gone to town on my back muscles. I'm laying down in bed typing this on my i-phone, so hardly ideal. And best to apologise up front for what might (probably) turn out to be a less than perfect article in terms of crafted English. But don't feel sorry for me. I don't want any sympathy (it's actually tiresome how often I've been sick this summer). Keep that sympathy and bundle it up into a ball of hug, then embrace Luka Modric and pat him on his back, perhaps a kiss on each cheek. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen that type of hug on The Sopranos. Not the friendly hug. The other one. The 'goodbye hug because you're going to get whacked' hug. Not that Luka is about to walk into an empty basement with Daniel Levy pointing a gun to the back of his head.

There's no need for such fatalistic dramatics. A sit-down was enough to sort things out yesterday.

First thing I'm going to reference is Sky Sports and other members of the media (such as Shaun Custis). Daniel Levy could have pulled up in his Range Rover (it's a Rover, right?) holding the decapitated head of Modric and clearly stated, "He's never leaving Spurs. We've buried the rest of his body under the centre circle", but our esteemed friends with their relentless agenda would have updated their 'Modric time-line coverage' to tell the world that Luka was so desperate to get away, he decapitated himself and is blindly attempting to run to Stamford Bridge where he'll still be able to play, just not head the ball.

No matter what we do or say, they want to engineer a move way for the Croatian. Probably because it gives them something to write about, and in addition, how dare Levy buck the trend and not roll over.

Newspapers will always add negative spin because that's their agenda. They need to say something that will keep people reading/watching. It's just another form of entertainment.

What do we actually know about yesterday?

Before Luka arrived he's interviewed at an airport saying that he could not rule out a move to Chelsea. Two ways you can take this. He means it. Or he's told to say it so that when he arrives back in England and travels to WHL to meet Levy he can perhaps allow his agent to remain in the room after he leaves to negotiate an improved deal.

Wishful thinking considering he's already in a hefty contract and we have the upper hand.

If he means it, then it's still wishful thinking. He arrives at the Lane, he has his conversation, he leaves. Agent apparently does remain behind a little longer.

We then see SSN video footage of a rather smug Levy tell the reporter that Modric understands he won't be sold.

"We had a very good conversation and, as I've said previously, Luka Modric will not be sold"

Good conversation? One-sided good conversation? Good one-sided in favour of chairman?

"That's the end of it. As I said a few weeks ago, there's no further discussion on it"

So the conversation was simply a face-to-face sit-down reiterating what Levy has told the world via his club statement straight to Luka. You wont' be sold, end of.

"He's been on holiday but we've now had the conversation and he understands our position"

Modric 'understands', which means he accepts it.

"I'm just telling you what the position is - he won't be sold. I'm sure once he's back with his team-mates everything will be fine"

This to me might be an indication that although Modric understands and possibly even accepts the clubs standing, he's not happy with it. Levy ignored the question that attempted to gauge the player's opinion. He dismissed it. Which means he's dismissing any attempt by the player himself to force the club to give into any potential bid.

"It would make no difference. This is not about money. We're not selling our best players"

This is what it's about. 

We have to make a stand and we have to lead from the front in terms of throwing the punches rather than backing up into a corner and being bullied. A derisory bid is hardly going to turn our head. The perpetual bullsh*t from the 'journalists', simply laughable. If we take everything at face value, then Luka understands and will now concentrate on training and playing. He can help himself massively by telling us that he's committed to Tottenham for the season ahead. Get the majority back on his side. End the speculation once and for all. Because the longer it goes on, the more pressure/suggestion that he might pull a Berba and strike. Because that's one way to create disharmony within the club and force the club to sell. Although the big difference here is contract length and the fact that part of me believes Luka to be more honourable that Dimi.

I've just seen that Nikky Vuksan (Modric's agent) has said the player is unlikely to ask for a transfer. He'll honour his contract. Even though you still get the overwhelming feeling he's doing that because he has no choice in the matter. Agent also saying that 'fighting the club' is not something he and the player wish to do. I never believe anything an agent states, but I wouldn't be far wrong to suggest that Levy has asked both Modric and Vuksan to go get their shinebox.

This is where the love is lost for me.

The fact that I thought Luka was different. When in fact he's much more like Carrick. Model professional, committed, but when it was time to move on, he looked to do just that. Once more the stepping stone that is Spurs. Once more players not possessing the patience or loyalty that we would wish for them to have. Pressures of modern career football, pressure of what people want him to do back in Croatia, pressures of agent advice and the harsh reality that moving to a club cemented in CL is less work and far closer to silverware than playing in a side that wants to cement itself in CL.

Levy is pulling a master-stroke because we don't lose from this scenario. Okay, so let's say he goes on strike (highly unlikely post-agent statement) and makes his position untenable to the point where we simply can't hold onto him because it would detrimental to us and his valuation. He still won't be sold for anything less than £40M. If no bid is made, he stays. He will then have no choice to play and play well. A year is a long time in football. Suitors can move on, target wise, if form dips.

But Levy has said what he's said and this is no ploy to gain that £40M 'alleged' asking price. Transfer requests and sulking - on this occasion - will probably be dealt with by handing the player a cushion and a firm pointing to the bench. His international career will suffer. He knows it. More fool him for sigining a long term contract.

If he commits, plays and plays out of his skin - it's win, win again. Valuation remains high and we do well on the pitch. And a year is a long time in football. This time next summer we could be preparing ourselves for a season in the CL. He might be more than content to stay. If he's not, then we've got what we wanted out of him and we can reinvest our money.

If all of this has simply been about a renewed contract and nothing else (Rooneyesque style) then once more we can all shake our heads in unison that players believe themselves to be bigger than the clubs they play for. Or at least more important. Clubs are just vehicles for their progression.

Much like Rooney had to prove himself after his apparent lack of loyalty, Luka has to do the same. He's completely tainted the love I had for him. But I'm glad because it's reminded me that it's a rare occasion these days to find a player that epitomises the essence of the club. It's mostly fantasy unless you're a club that does not know of the struggles to reach and remain in the upper tier of your domestic league. Players will always come and go and we'll always get over it and move onto the next one because we are in love with Tottenham and occasional have one-night stands with the players (not literally, unless you're female and you frequent Faces nightclub).

In this instance, the club is bigger, far bigger than the player. And Luka will have to deal with that decisive fact and put this summer of discontent behind him and prove he's the player worthy not of a £40M price tag but one worthy to be wearing the Lilywhite shirt. The only thing that deserves worship.