We’ve proven over the last few years that signing youngsters with potential, and some slightly more experienced “proven” players who have played at a decent level is a good model for moderate success and stability. It’s helped us become regular CL participants recently, which has been a huge boost financially. But that’s all it ever will be. We need to continue this approach (as it definitely has its benefits), but need to realise that, at best, we’ll only ever be at this level unless we branch out and sign 1 or 2 top players to add a new dynamic to the current group, in turn, attracting more in the future. We’ve plateaued, and proper success is unfortunately going to require a slightly different approach to the great foundations we already have in place.
Agreed. Our policy has worked well. And Poch is the manager we’ve needed for ages. But when game changers of the calibre of Bale become available to you, you just have to go for it.
One thing that the people writing off a Bale return have forgotten: last summer James Rodriguez joined Bayern on a two-year loan from Los Ladrones, so it's not unfeasible to get that sort of deal - and, let's be honest, short of somehow Levying a deal where they end up paying 2/3 of his wages for the remainder of his contract that's the most feasible way he'd be coming back.
Watching GB last night - even 20 minutes as sub - was enlightening to highlight what we lack. His first goal aside, it was that run he made - the pace and power, totally direct and committed - just wow!! Brought back some great memories.....
The ability to reduce Saltypool fans to little more than bawling infants throwing a months-long temper tantrum? Oh wait, we've got several players who can do that, as last season amply demonstrated...
So is the Spanish version of newsnow going to be picking up a summer of 'Bale to Spurs' articles from the Haringey Independent ...
It is the hope that gets you, but at the same time, I don't understand this 'ruling us out' mentality. Levy put the clause in the contract for a reason, and the man himself said he may come back, both back in 2014 when he left. Surely they knew of the wage gap at the time. I'm sure neither were expecting us to triple or quadruple the wages that we pay players in a matter of a few years. It's not beyond the realms of possibility for him to return, especially now that he's talking about the possibility of moving on from Real Madrid. Think of the shirt sale money, the ticket sales, and the growth of the fan base if Bale came back. Also, the odds of us challenging for the title if he returned to our squad, all in the new stadium. I'm pretty certain that Levy is. I doubt very much that Levy would allow Bale to join a PL rival without throwing the Spurs hat into the ring. Another thing while I'm here. It's one thing to not believe, and another to not want him back at all. I don't get it. Are those opposed to the idea saying that they'd rather have say Zaha over Bale?
I said it will happen partly as banter with some here, and partly because IMHO Bale is a well-grounded guy far from merc-dom. In a Madrid built on the cult of CR7, he has now asked the question in a manner akin to what Pochettino did the minute the PL season ended. The longer they delay answering, the more Levy will smell blood on the transfer fee (and as they ironically may learn - painfully so if Bale says he will only consider Spurs as a destination) .
https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/fo...-and-toby-alderweireld-for-150m-a3849331.html Proof positive that Stan Collymore lives on a different planet. First, that we would even sell him one, let alone all 3 players. And second, that their combined transfer fees would be £150 mio.
Ffs £150m would just about get Eriksen and that's if they caught Levy on a good day. The spacker should stick to beating up women, it's the only thing he's good at.
I'm thinking that one of them must have given as good as she got cos he seems to be suffering from brain damage.
Colleymore had a bad day yesterday with Villa and Liverpool both losing...and true to his days on talksport he turns on Spurs when he's sad...all stems from the "you're mad and you know you are" chants in the mid 1990s at WHL...he claims that he saw the humour in it but in times of sadness for his former clubs he can't contain his bitterness... £150m for Toby, Eriksen and Dele? FFS ... what a knob
£150m ?!? Gotta love that scouser 'Top Four' arrogance. The denial is real. They finished below us in the league, AGAIN, we took four points from them too, yet still, members of their tribe maintain the 'divine right' to be seen, and behave, as superior, as if they have weight to throw around demanding we consider freeing ourselves of our best players. Three of them. Just so that we may be privileged enough to play our humble part in strengthening them to their former glory as part of the 'holy quadruplex' of past time. Weakening ourselves back to our 'rightful place' in the process. As if we and Southampton are similar in ambition or outlook. As if our wage cap will not rise as the age of our players does. As if the new stadium isn't opening next season, and bringing record income with it. As if Levy is a prick. Some of them really don't get it, do they?
I ****ing loved it.......funniest thing I've seen in years and I really hate Real Madrid and fancied us buying Sessegnon. Oh well....you can't have everything, so the Mousers going into Pot 3 and the look on Klopp's and Terry's stupid faces will have to do... please log in to view this image please log in to view this image I wonder if Holte Legends is still going out there?
