For Tottenham to have sold Luka Modric three weeks ago would have made as much sense as eating a urine-flavoured lollipop (unless you’re into that kind of thing). Now however, it looks like Tottenham may have to bite the bullet after all.
Just as Joe Strummer wondered if he should stay or go back in 1982, Daniel Levy and Harry Redknapp are now facing the very same dilemma in 2011. Not about themselves though, there is however a little Croatian who is unmistakably unhappy. Clearly it is far from an ideal situation having a player in the squad who clearly does NOT want to be there. Yet, the fact of the matter is that the very same player quite recently signed a six-year contract with the north London club.
Nevertheless, I have my doubts that Spurs fans will see the Croatian in the starting eleven against Everton when the Premier League kicks off in mid August. Sadly.
Therefore I reckon Levy’s job in the coming weeks is for Spurs to get as much out of this deal as physically possible. In retrospect, that would have been significantly easier if Modric hadn’t come out with his statement in the media. Something he probably wouldn’t have done however, if the talks with Levy had gone better. When the midfield genius continues to present himself to potential buyers (or at this stage mainly Chelsea and a disgustingly wealthy Russian) with statements saying how badly he wants to leave the club, this sill eventually leading to a lower selling prize – a situation Spurs should and could have been without.
Hence, the negotiations between Levy with his entourage and the Chelsea representatives could prove to be a tough task for the Tottenham chairman. As far as I am concerned, he should try to milk this Russian owned cow for as much as possible. Seeing Modric leave for Chelsea would no doubt be a great source of hurt, like a vasectomy without anaesthetics, for the Spurs fans. Losing their best player to a team who, in the eyes of many Tottenham fans, have no history, a significant amount of oil money and also happen to be one of the clubs Tottenham might have to struggle with to reach Champions League again, would be far from a pleasant situation. It is sort of like a kid brother who suddenly has pumped himself with steroids and now leaner and meaner, has the possibility to beat the older one.
If Levy and Spurs could get a decent deal out of this hopeless position in which they have managed to blindly walk into, a deal in which could benefit Tottenham as well as Modric and ‘the blue Russians’, it is possible that it wouldn’t hurt just as much. I am thinking a decent amount of money along with Didier Drogba, would be rather useful for Spurs.
Money, which could be cleverly reinvested, and Drogba who indisputably would provide the north London club with some long-awaited presence going forward. In my opinion Drogba would be an ideal signing for Tottenham, regardless of where Modric eventually ends up. His physical authority, finishing and experience would be an outstanding attribute for Tottenham. He can play alone as a striker, with Van der Vaart behind him, or with Defoe playing off him. Both of those alternatives have an aura of genuine attack threat against any team in the Premiership.
The Tottenham midfield would then possibly need some strengthening, all though Huddlestone and Sandro have both proved to be great central midfielders. This however, will most likely be the subject of an article in the rather close future.
Would I prefer the whole saga never to have happened and Modric to be happy and continuing performing on an absolute world-class level for Tottenham? Yes, definitely. But one should also remember that this is not Football Manager where a player is just a name you can leave to rot in the reserves if you so please. Football involves actual human beings and it is far from ideal to have an unhappy player in the squad. Hence, Levy should try to be a bankrobber with Chelsea as he does in fact have a rather strong hand to play, a player with five years remaining of his contract and an opponent who’s got money and a willingness to spend.
Looks like that lollipop is getting closer. I wonder if they sell those at Tesco?
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What makes you think such a deal is closer? Do you make this stuff up for breakfast?
Levy has painted himself into a corner with his pronouncements. Unless a bid of around £50m (cash or player/cash) is received then he would lose face. That is not his style and Modric is therefore, unlikely to leave Tottenham this window.
“But one should also remember that this is not Football Manager where a player is just a name you can leave to rot in the reserves if you so please. Football involves actual human beings and it is far from ideal to have an unhappy player in the squad. ”
Really?
Does the names Santa Cruz, Shay Given or Jo mean anything to you? Michael Owen, maybe? If you can afford to (as the Manx or Chelski can), you can pay a player to rot in the reserves with almost no disruption. Of course, this isn’t necessarily viable at Spurs where budget restrictions might not allow this strategy.
Modric will not leave in this window unless
1 Modric throws a Berbotov stropp. Apparently according to Spurs coaching staff and players, this is not happening
2 Levy receives a bid around £45m. Anything less than £40m destroys Levy’s credibility, and the clubs.
The basis of your piece seems so wide of the mark, neither of these preconditions seems likely to happen, and AVB has now doubted the “non-deal” will go through. Also where do you get the idea that we are negotiating. The only creep who has seriously suggested this is that pro- Chelski presenter Sam Matterhornface, and he’s tried to talk this situation up from the start.
Only a total cretin or the deluded couyld take Levy’s NOT FOR SALE stance and describe it as ” the negotiations between Levy with his entourage and the Chelsea representatives”.. They appear to have a strange thought process in the parallel universe where Ottesen appears to reside.
I’ve seen some delusional articles but the lack of comprehension of facts in this article makes it a contender for the biggest load of drivel so far.
Don’t want to pick holes but mick jones sang should i stay or should i go.
Dear Didrik Ottesen:
Give it a rest.
Find a different subject, preferably one that hasn’t been done to death already.
Move on.
Get a life.
The party’s over. It’s time to call it a day.
It is boring.
It is more than boring it’s bl**dy irritating.
You are really getting on my tits.
Shut the f**k up.
Do you get my drift?
F-CK ALL THIS CREDIBILITY LOSING TALK.F-CK ALL THIS BIG CLUB SMALL CLUB TALK. IF MODRIC LEAVES SPURS THEY WILL SURVIVE.THEY HAVE VDV,SANDRO(WATCH),BALE, KYLE WALKER(WATCH) THEY NEED TWO QUALITY FORWARDS WITH OR WITHOUT MODRIC.MODRICS A GREAT PLAYER A DEEP LYING PLAYMAKER THERES NOT TO MANY TOP ONES AROUND, (LIKE A SKILLFULL TARGETMAN ). BUT IF SPURS BROUGHT IN SOMEONE LIKE LAS DIARRA WITH HIS ENGINE AND MADE THE MOST OF NIKO PLAYING CENTRAL,ALONG WITH GOOD TEAM SPIRIT AND THE EXPERIENCE GAINED FROM LAST YEARS CL RUN WATCH .TO BE HONEST EVERY TRANSFER WINDOW THE RED TOP PAPERS NEED A BANDWAGON FOR PEOPLE IN THE GAME WHO DONT REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH ABOUT FOOTBALL TO JUMP ON.THIS TIME ITS MODRIC.ALL THESE EX PLAYER TALK LIKE THEY’VE WATCHED THE PLAYER EVERY WEEK WHEN THEY REALLY ONLY WATCH THEIR OWN TEAM. MR WILKINS KASEY KELLER???
YOU CAN BUY ALL THE PLAYERS YOU WANT…..BUT IF YOU DON’T KEEP YOUR CREDIBILITY, THEY WON’T STAY AND YOU CAN’T BUILD A LASTING TEAM……DICKHEAD!!!!!!
Thanks for (constructive) replies. When this was written, some days ago, it looked quite possible that Modric would/could go (maybe it even does?), when Spurs received an improved offer for Modric. As he, according to Sky Sports, had just handed in a transfer request. Maybe it wasn’t negotiations with Chelsea per se, but Chelsea increasing the offer, was for me, a sign that they were very interested in signing him. I merely presented an opinion as to what Spurs could get out of the hypothetical deal, as this article is in fact, an opinion piece.
I do however, sincerely apologize for stating that Joe Strummer sang ‘should I stay or should I go’. I hereby retract that.
so is that an admission that this tireless, boring, obsessive, agenda has seen its final walk on this here plank me ” whitehart-ees ?! ”
Have to admit, I’ve seen more meat on a nandos plate than i have on these (bones) for stories.. granted, it is/was just as you say: a presentation of an opinion, but you’ve surely got to identify the sadness(sarcasm), idleness and overall detrimental affects that these types of repetitively unsubstantiated misprints (headline grabbers)have on’ our’ club. Maybe mix it up a little, i dunno, what u want me to do already, expect something factual or somrting *italian gangster accent
COYS
HEY TONY!DICK BREATH! R U KASEY KELLER IN DISGUISE? IF U GOT A PLAYER IN YOUR TEAM WHO DOESNT WANT TO BE THERE FOR THE WHOLE SEASON HE’LL BE MOANING TO HIS TEAM MATES PUTTING THEM OFF.BY THE END OF THAT SEASON THERE WILL BE COUPLE MORE WHO’LL WANNA LEAVE ALA ARSENAL WITH FAB,GLICHY,NASRI.IF ONCE YOU REALIZE THIS GUY IS DEF NOT FOR THE CAUSE.CUT HIM OUT LIKE A CANCER!TAKE THE HIGHEST BID PREFERBLY NOT TO LONDON RIVALS BUT HEY WHATEVER PLAY IT LIKE YOU DONT CARE FUCK THESE WASHED UP EX PLAYERS OPINION!REPLACE RATBOY WITH THE SAME ENERGY IF NOT THE SAME CREATIVITY.A DECENT MANAGER WHOS NOT THINKIN OF JUMPING SHIP AND WHO KNOWS AND SCOUTS PLAYERS ON AND OFF THE RADAR SHOULD HAVE A BUNCH OF ALTERNATIVE PLAYERS IN MIND. TONY I GOT YOUR MUM IN MIND!
She’s dead, you sick bastard
Chelsea are interested in Modric but are not prepared to break the bank for him. Levy would only negotiate at offers over £40m I reckon and Chelski won’t pay that so the outcome will be Modric at Spurs next season. Happy about that or not, you can’t sell your best players at a cut price. I also don’t understand why a transfer request reduces the fee??? That doesn’t get him out of his contract therefore the fee is still to be negotiated and Levy still holds all the cards with 5 years of a 6 year contract remaining.