Posted July 8, 201113 yr Okay, it is always difficult for any Chelsea fan to be dispassionate where Spurs are concerned - all the more so if you have a long memory stretching back to the Sixties - but it is true to say that recent developments surrounding our interest in Luka Modric really does necessitate such an approach being made, if for no other reason than there is a growing need to cut through the current hogwash before it leads to complete dissatisfaction on all sides. Whilst it could be argued that the recent meeting between chairman Daniel Levy and his want-away player was about as dispassionate as it gets, the outcome of it turned out to be no more than formal and brutal confirmation of a non-negotiable hostage situation. On a lighter note, had the couple been Morris dancers, you could imagine the scene set outside a village pub, the twosome engaged in a ritualistic coming together, punctuated by merry skips to a rustic beat and the mutual ringing of bells on sticks, the twain then vowing, through their dance steps, never to meet again unless it was to discus the next contract extension. In reality, of course, we soon found out that three can play such a game and in this particular instance, somewhat bizarrely, they were all in a cockerel camp, culminating in Levy conducting a ‘good cop-bad cop’ narrative in tandem with manager Harry Redknapp and without a word of response from the Bridge. To be honest, I’ve got no grouse with this, although I’ll go so far as to declare a preference for the simplicity of Chelsea’s stance on the matter - player wanted, then identified, then offer made, it’s not accepted, so no further approach and end of. Nor do I have much of a problem with Levy stating his side of the case in a similarly straightforward fashion, which is only what you would expect from someone acting in the best interests of his club. No, what I find so extraordinary is ’Arry’s incessant and counterbalancing return to the well of public pronouncement on all things Modric, bearing in mind that it’s such a touchy subject and most people in his position would be desperate to see it lay dormant sharpish. Let me explain what I mean by reference to the latest musings from the man himself… “There is no point me saying he’s walked in here today and everything is great, he’s happy and he’s going to stay.†Well, there would have been every point had those events actually occurred, but, as they didn’t and [probably] the exact opposite happened, why on earth be the voluntary bearer of such bad news? “The kid is a bit confused at the moment and it’s not been easy for him. I’d be telling you lies if I said he’s happy and he doesn’t want to go and play for whoever wants him.†We’re all a bit confused at the moment, ‘Arry, but perish the thought we would ever want you to tell lies and many thanks for confirming once again that Luka wants out. Incidentally, the club that wants in is Chelsea. “I think there are three or four of the top five that want him.†Oh, fair enough, but are we to assume you’ve forgotten their names as well, or it’s just that no other ‘farcical’ bids have been received yet? Either way, I suppose it is to your credit that you can be such a relentless bringer of bad news, but more of that later. “It’s a difficult situation for him and I understand where he’s coming from. If someone is going to double or treble your wages, it’s difficult.†Ah, suddenly there’s instant Redknapp memory recall and ‘The Club With No Name’ is invoked through that traditional doubling and trebling of wages condemnation - now let’s see, we know who does that, don’t we everybody? And in the midst of all this recollection, whatever happened to Luka Modric’s stated desire [to want to move to a bigger club with more ambition], or is that equally ‘difficult’ to handle down at the Lane? “But he signed a contract here, we love him here, and we want him here.†So there’s the nub of the matter - Luka’s signed up until 2016 on a contract reputed to be worth £40,000-a week [so tough luck young man] and holding him to that contract [on the cheap, obviously] can hardly be couched in terms of love or need without a degree of desperation on the part of the retaining club seeping gently into the scenario. Also, acting for one moment as the Red Devil’s advocate, to argue that Rooney staying at United is an ‘all fours’ example of the same set of circumstances would be to studiously ignore Luka’s stated [and as yet unfulfilled] ambition and Spurs current [plus likely future] lack of Champions League status. Even Modric’s agent, after suggesting that a transfer request will not be made, acknowledged the fact that ’The only way we can resolve this [transfer situation] is to sit down and talk.†And this is where we came in folks, cast in the role of interested bystanders, caught up in the machinations of a bitter rival football club whose spokesmen have gone far beyond mere standard rejection of a transfer bid and now regularly appear, when the fancy takes them, as aggrieved parties revelling in the media spotlight. Surely, for the love of Luka, the time has come for all concerned to sit down and talk things through sensibly, whether that culminates in an immediate confirmation of intention to stay put [at the same, or an increased salary] or an actual admittance from the Spurs hierarchy that there will be a sale at the right price. Quite frankly, anything else smacks of shameless self-indulgent posturing on the part of those needing to save face and the whole pantomime would have been carried out at the expense of our time and a talented player’s long term career ambitions. Edited July 8, 201113 yr by Dorset
July 8, 201113 yr Exactly, good post! If a player wants to leave whats the point in forcing them to stay.
July 8, 201113 yr On a lighter note, had the couple been Morris dancers, you could imagine the scene set outside a village pub, the twosome engaged in a ritualistic coming together, punctuated by merry skips to a rustic beat and the mutual ringing of bells on sticks, the twain then vowing, through their dance steps, never to meet again unless it was to discuss the next contract extension. What a delightful picture this conjures up - the prancing and the dancing and the high cockalorum! And the waving of hankies! You have excelled yourself, Dorset.
July 12, 201113 yr Author And so it goes on - It’s official, Graham Roberts believes Tottenham should demand £70million from Chelsea for the services of Luka Modric. Apparently he’s been talking to a certain Hawksbee and Jacobs on the matter and that’s how this eureka-like pricing moment found its way into the public domain. At first, on being told of the venue, I imagined an upper class Spurious spout outlet, just one of your average bespoke tailors, housed somewhere in Mayfair, however I soon came to my senses and realised that gentleman’s tailors have probably long since gone the way of all flesh and fine stitching, alongside gentleman’s relish and, perhaps far more importantly, gentleman’s agreements. But no, it appears that Messrs H & J are in fact talkS**T hosts and, true to the name on this particular tin, Graham was given the opportunity to promote his own special brand, the ex-Lilywhites defender going on to claim, with peculiar contradiction, that his former club will set a dangerous precedent if they alter their stance and let the playmaker move across London. Anyway, here’s the full rendition of stunning logic laid before you in all it’s glory, glory… “I don’t think £35million is enough [for Modric]. How much would it cost to get a replacement for him? He’s Tottenham’s best player, so why should they sell their best player for £35million to Chelsea. If they want him they should pay £60-70million. Every player can say ‘well if you don’t let me go I’m going to sulk’ but, if you let one player get away, you’re going to let lots of players get away with it. Somebody has got to make a stand and I think Daniel Levy is doing the right thing. If Daniel Levy lets Luka Modric do what he wants this year, then it’ll be someone else next year who wants to leave. Tottenham will then just be a selling club again and we don’t want to be a selling club, we want to be a top four club.†…hallelujah, I’m sure we’re all so glad he’s got that off his chest. Got to admit, though, on reflection his train of thought, compared to that of the Greek full-back’s water displacement theory, leaves you thinking more piddle than puddle and here‘s why…. Firstly, the premise that even £35 million isn’t enough lucre for Luka is hardly evidenced by the size of his current salary, especially when compared to that of your typical top, top, triffic player ’Arry keeps banging on about. Nor is £60-70 million comparable with anything in present market conditions, unless you come from Planet Stupid or you‘re Liverpiddlian wanting top dollar for a top striker, or both. After all, how many players are there in the Premiership taking home £40,000-a week? Plenty, I’d say, and not one of them will ever find his way onto the market at an asking price of £50 million plus. In short, if you have a player on a contract worth that amount each week how on earth do you justify such an extortionately-high transfer valuation? The answer is:- you can’t, unless you want to make yourself look silly or simply pigheaded to the point of sheer lunacy, as Daniel Levy appears wont to do. So too with the supporting argument [if you let one player get away with sulking, you’re going to let lots of players get away with it] which may look as though it’s validated by the ever-growing number of glum faces peering out from the Spurs bench (none of whom seem set for parole or early release) but that’s hardly conducive to what good old Arsene Wenger calls spirit…and, of course, if anybody knows, they know, that he knows. Finally, we come to the Roberts proposal of a typically feisty Cussed Last Stand, which has about as much going for it in terms of end result as a vigorous door-to-door campaign on behalf of the Why Not Shoot Yourself in the Foot Party. Little wonder, then, that we all had to wait until later in the day to get something [anything] to lighten the mood - a straight-from-the-horse’s-mouth-ish update, dutifully supplied (yes you’ve guessed it) by the ever-willing Harry Redknapp. Never a neigh and [nowadays] always a whinny, ’Arry trotted in front of a camera yet again - and again and again, I hear you cry, somewhat plaintively. Dear me, nowadays you can set your watch by this guy! Let me see…outside Spurs training ground, car approaching, window winds down, Sky microphone thrust into face…it must be teatime!! Not that we were any the wiser, after an umpteenth telling of how triffic Luka is and how, contrary to rumours, he wasn’t training on his own…he just, quite understandably, didn’t fancy joining the nice little squad picnic his boss had laid on for everyone in Epping Forest. Dear God, please help us and save us from much more of this - because at the moment there is precious little sign of any of our prayers, never mind the Modders mantras, being answered anytime soon. Edited July 12, 201113 yr by Dorset
July 12, 201113 yr Most admit "when arry met nick" saga is somewhat toe-curlingly unpleasant to witness,arry and is cockerney vernacular is triffic,the sounds from cfc are deafening,lets roll up to cobham and get Mr Boas views or JTs "he is deffinately the sort of player we need,come on Roman dig deep,save us purlease. This sorry saga is going to leave us looking stupid if we keep increasing the offer,just waiting for citeh to offer £50 million for him,and cheer uncle fester up.
