Tottenham is our closest thing to a grudge match, West Ham is like that but not to the same degree.
There is as much emotion playing Fulham as there is in playing Bolton.
Luka Modric / Signs for Real Madrid
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
Tottenham is our closest thing to a grudge match, West Ham is like that but not to the same degree.
There is as much emotion playing Fulham as there is in playing Bolton.
This is all true, but it's only the downside of the equation.
There is an upside, which I have set out previously. IMO Levy has concluded that, if push comes to shove, the upside far outweighs the downside: short-term pain for long-term gain. And he'd be right to take that view.
If this is as simple as you have laid out, why did they sell Berba?
I fail to see any differences with Modric. Berba didn't play a couple of games and Levy got rid, slagging him off, for the following fortnight.
Classy bald bloke!!
No its obviously not.
The other downsides are :
Player not trying his hardest, could lead to bad form and you certainly wont see his best - which is what people value at over £22 million
Player kept in the stands as punishment for wanting to leave, meaning you dont have the money to buy a replacement and you'll have to make do with a 2 of the likes of Sandro and Huddlestone trying to get you into the champions league.
Don't forget Jenas.
You say: "The whole "keeping him on a bench" scenario is a pure fantasy. You can't afford to stick your best player on the bench,it'll have all kinds of negative consequences."
But he would only be "kept on the bench" (to use that euphemism) if he refused to play or was seen to deliberately playing badly. And if that was the case he would no longer be "our best player", so keeping him out of the team, far from being "fantasy", would actually be the most realistic thing to do.
In any case, by this stage the window would have closed anyway and such actions by Modric would thus be pointless from his point of view and would only damage his reputation and (if he actually refused to play) deny him being paid any wages.
You say: "At some point you have to do the damage limitation and cut your losses.
This misses the real question: what if the damage from allowing (again) our best player to leave (whenever they want) outweighs the damage from holding his heels to fire and crushing this instance of supposed "player power"? In my view, the greater, far more long-lasting damage is done by letting him go now.
You say: "I realize Spurs don't want to be seen by players as a "stepping stone", but this is the reality. Unless the club is a permanent fixture in the CL season after season, wins or at least competes for trophies on a fairly regular basis ..."
The reality is that a club won't achieve the things you mention by (a) selling their best players and (b) signalling again to the current players and other clubs that it's continued "open season hunting" at THFC.
If Spurs want to stop being seen as a stepping stone, then they have to both (a) stop being used as stepping stone (crushing Modric, if needed, would go a long way towards stopping that particular rot); and (b) achieve the things you mention.
Then clearly you've failed to notice a 6 year contract, of which only 1 year has elapsed.
There's also the saying: "Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
"Crushing" Modric is not going to achieve anything. If anything it will make players like Bale and VDV think twice before a signing a long term contract. You can only keep good players by being continuously successful.
If the player is set on going, theres no point in fighting it
Theres 2 ways you can go about it in my opinion
1. try to convince the player to stay by bringing in other quality players to impress him
2. Accept that he is going, be nice to the player and explain that he can go, but only if a club meets the asking price, as you need the money to purchase a replacement of the same calibre. Then, if the other clubs dont meet the asking price, well, they dont think as highly of you as we do
The wrong way - "you'll play for the reserves before you get sold"
The player WILL leave and you'll end up getting less money
Theres 2 ways you can go about it in my opinion
1. try to convince the player to stay by bringing in other quality players to impress him
2. Accept that he is going, be nice to the player and explain that he can go, but only if a club meets the asking price, as you need the money to purchase a replacement of the same calibre. Then, if the other clubs dont meet the asking price, well, they dont think as highly of you as we do
The wrong way - "you'll play for the reserves before you get sold"
The player WILL leave and you'll end up getting less money
The contract length is more likely to have a bearing on the sale price, not on whether it is prudent to keep an unhappy player, potentially causing dressing room issues.
Like I said, this a repeat of the Berba situation and I reckon what frustrates Levy all the more is that he cannot compete with the big boys when it comes to player retention and acquisition.
He can either come out of this with a pot of cash and some dignity or end up looking like a total cock.
I beg to differ: popping the balloon of player-power - if it comes to that - would do Spurs a whole lot of good in lots of different ways.
Apart from anything else, it would increase the respect in which the club is held and instil greater internal discipline. The club is far bigger than Modric. It's not about whether this player or that player will sign a contract, it's about making sure that those who do sign a contract do so with a serious intent to work collectively for the longer-term project, without wanting to (or imagining that they can) jump ship at the first sign of choppy water.
There will be no shortage of good players ready to join Spurs in the future, regardless of Modric being forced to stay. In fact, if he's sold now it will only increase the chances of an exodus by Bale etc.
Long term - who are players that potentially sign for Spurs going to believe - Levy or what Modric has said about the gentleman's agreement between them?
Levy the businessman or Modric who everyone raves about how good he is in terms of character?
Levy is right to try and curtail player power but, if he did make that agreement with Modric then should at least say that the right price must be met before we even consider it. Saying that he is simply not for sale and that he'll sit on the bench if he doesn't accept is not the smart play.
Levy needs to not show that he has the balls to stand up to player power but, needs to show they can make the right moves in the market before it's too late. If they want Modric to stay then right now he should be showing they are in the midst of buying a top striker as well as a good central defender. Spurs need to be making active forays into the market now to show intent if they are going to convince that they are going to be challenging.
Their plan to progress seems haphazard. Players that are surplus should have been sold by now even if it is at a slightly cut rate and the funds being used to bring quality in. Not make it seem like they are going to go deep into another transfer window to make any attempts and then end up with nothing or desperation moves.
Levy the businessman or Modric who everyone raves about how good he is in terms of character?
Levy is right to try and curtail player power but, if he did make that agreement with Modric then should at least say that the right price must be met before we even consider it. Saying that he is simply not for sale and that he'll sit on the bench if he doesn't accept is not the smart play.
Levy needs to not show that he has the balls to stand up to player power but, needs to show they can make the right moves in the market before it's too late. If they want Modric to stay then right now he should be showing they are in the midst of buying a top striker as well as a good central defender. Spurs need to be making active forays into the market now to show intent if they are going to convince that they are going to be challenging.
Their plan to progress seems haphazard. Players that are surplus should have been sold by now even if it is at a slightly cut rate and the funds being used to bring quality in. Not make it seem like they are going to go deep into another transfer window to make any attempts and then end up with nothing or desperation moves.
The question is when will he leave? If it's postponed until next summer and pencilled in for then, then there is a chance that those pencil marks get erased if Spurs finish in the top 4.
And so what if we get less money later than we could get now? As I've said, there is a big upside ... and that's worth a fair wedge.
Besides, it'd be a laugh to see Chelsea waste their summer and end up with a last-minute panic buy to try and bolster a CM duo of a crocked Essien and an ageing Lampard.
Spurs hold all the cards. Levy is a master at getting the maximum out of buying clubs and he's at it again here. The longer the saga rumbles on, the more Modric's price goes up. This'll run and run until near September 1. Spurs will eventually bank on Chelsea's desperation and fetch around £50m. Modric is a good player, but it'll be hilarious if he goes for more than Fabregas.
A couple of bad games from Modric and it will all kick off.
He's going to be sold...only City can afford to have players rotting in the reserves.
Au contraire: Levy will lose all dignity if he caves in now.
There is a 3rd alternative to the two you put forward. He can come out this with respect, with Modric playing for Spurs next season and with a long-term halt to players and clubs believing they can force his hand whenever they want.
The same thing happened with Berbatov. He sulked and did nothing in the first two games of the 08/09 season, but Spurs still flogged him for more than £30m.
Fact is, if they hold out for as long as possible, they'll be able to take Chelsea to the cleaners.
If they can get City involved in bidding, they'll laughing all the way to the bank.
So selling Modric is the only solution?
Cash in 27-28 mill and just move on like nothing has happened. Turn the page and then just buy a new MF or a better top forward. Couldn't be easier....to be continuously successful.
If I'm not mistaken (hmm...have to trust the papers)it was Bale who said if they sell Modric his gone. And then the domino bricks falls. Doesn't sound like a good option to me. Loose their two best players in a heart beat and then convince remaining players, supporters, sponsors, media and new prospects that is business as usual. Boom chacalack!!
When someone come's up with a realistic and better option then I will be convinced and accepts my shortcomings. Until then I'm stubborn and a reactionary old man.
Modric will not be at Spurs come September.
The only positive conclusion is that Spurs sell him and reinvest the money very wisely and if not get someone almost as good, then improve the team in other areas to make up for it.
Thats what they did when they sold Berbatov and Keane, thats how they got into the champions league. It didnt happen with Berbatov sulking every week, it wont happen with Modric sulking in the stands. It'll only happen when Spurs move on
Thats what they did when they sold Berbatov and Keane, thats how they got into the champions league. It didnt happen with Berbatov sulking every week, it wont happen with Modric sulking in the stands. It'll only happen when Spurs move on
Total nonsense.
When SAF sold Ronaldo there was no loss of face or dignity.
Ronnie said he wanted to go, an exceptional offer was made and SAF knew there was nothing he could do to prevent it.
If Modric didn't want to go, Chelsea wouldn't be making an offer.
The same goes for Bale, your fear is that if Modric goes, Bale will follow...... again, only if he wants away.
Just sell him and buy Marin for half the price. Don't know what Spurs' problem is.
And would serve as a hindrance to young upcoming players from joining Tottenham, in case they meet the same fate as modric if they a bigger club comes calling for them
modric will be gone this year, bale will be gone next summer.
This is what we did with Ronaldo. There is only so long you can keep a player who wants to move. It is all well and saying that you are gonna risk devaluation of a 30m+ asset but in reality that does not happen.
As I said if they are confident that an unhappy Modric will stay give his 100% professionally on the pitch, then they should keep him for another season at least and try to get into CL. If not and the alternative is to bench him or play in reserves, then that is not gonna achieve anything. If anything it will stop someone like Bale from signing another contract extension in future.
Fergie did not publicly pledge, in the summer concerned, that Ronaldo would not be sold. The comparison with Levy's stance doesn't hold water.
In any case, the alternative outcome I put forward is only "total nonsense" (as you put it) IF you believe that Modric will be sold this summer OR you believe that keeping him won't have a reducing effect on future attempts by Spurs players to cut up rough and on other clubs' attempts to poach Spurs players if told they are not for sale. I believe neither of these things.
Update on Modric's future at 10pm (SSN).
Chelsea make a bid.
*Refuses to be interested*
Will no doubt be a rehashing of that Modric story that he has (or hasn't) got an agreement with Levy
SSN are pathetic, if they had a really important update on the story they wouldn't wait until 10pm.
I believe Modric will be sold, just like Berba, with Levy making a complete arse of himself.
None of that will be good for Spurs.
They have to sell him for numerous reasons.
Should they not, it will also be very off-putting for prospective Spurs targets, knowing that they may be held at a UEFA cup club even if CL clubs coming knocking for them.
A bit of an embarrassing situation for Spurs really. Modric has demonstrated he is willing to kick-off to get his move. Levy will look an idiot if he lets him go but he will simply be stupid not too...
This situation can only end badly for Spurs, either way.
Should they not, it will also be very off-putting for prospective Spurs targets, knowing that they may be held at a UEFA cup club even if CL clubs coming knocking for them.
A bit of an embarrassing situation for Spurs really. Modric has demonstrated he is willing to kick-off to get his move. Levy will look an idiot if he lets him go but he will simply be stupid not too...
This situation can only end badly for Spurs, either way.
Luka Update after the ads:
I'm predicting it is just Chelsea have made a bid believed to be around £29m.
Tomorrow Tottenham will have a statement rejecting it.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I'm predicting it is just Chelsea have made a bid believed to be around £29m.
Tomorrow Tottenham will have a statement rejecting it.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
SSN Update: We understand Chelsea have upped the offer to £27 million.
Bah £2m out.
Chelsea are edging it up slowly in the knowledge the longer this saga continues and it stews in the press, the more difficult it is for Tottenham to keep him and the lower the price Chelsea will pay.
Chelsea are edging it up slowly in the knowledge the longer this saga continues and it stews in the press, the more difficult it is for Tottenham to keep him and the lower the price Chelsea will pay.