We still don't have any proof that he did. Until I see Modric, in person, saying "Yes, I want to leave" then, as far as I'm concerned, it's all hearsay.
Sami. I think one of the problems last season was that Harry kept reshaping things to accomodate VDV. I'm not so sure that that is the right thing to do. The player, if he's good enough, should be able to adapt to the system. Not the other way round. I like VDV, but I don't think he's that influential that you can build a team around him.
You're right in what you've said here, Pienaar was a investment rather than a necessary purchase, Harry & Levy saw a player for a cheap price whom (should he play on form) would be able to put a shift in for us. A luxury if anything who could add a bit of depth and if he had a good year they might be able to sell on. Unfortunately it hasnt quite worked out that way. Huddlestone was a regular first team player alongside Modric before he underwent ankle surgery, it was the space opened up that allow Sandro in, he has some obvious weaknesses, pace being his biggest and he can be wound up, he was lucky to escape some reds last season. He has to play a deep role but can spray passes anywhere on the pitch he likes. He's an outlet in that sense but he can't carry the ball like Modric can. It was his mobility which separated him from the good playmakers to one of the great. People need to remember that Modric was pretty much hot property when we initially signed him, we ended up paying 16.5 million which is our transfer record fee and even after coming to us he had to develop his physicality to cope with the demands of the league. We did take a bit of a gamble on him and we need to maintain that stance in future transfers as I feel with the right scouting it more than often pays off. Out of the players I mentioned I think Honda would be an good signing, he's shown he has ability to play up front during the last WC and can also drop back into our midfield while putting in the work required. In terms of marketing we'd make some money back because of his nationality attracting a broader base of fans and I feel he could fit in where required to the system. We know from past experience as I am sure Arsenal found out however that Russian clubs are hard negotiators, we struggled with Zenit when we went in for Arshavin before you got him and I am sure CSKA will put up a similar fight. Badelj is similar to Modric in style but appears a step slower in pace so I question his ability to adapt to the pace here. As for the other two they are certainly long shots but they have the required quality and potential resale value Levy would seek a good investment will plugging the gap. I agree with NowsufferinginSpain over the VDV issue, our strikers had to change roles often going one up front which disrupted their form. We certainly need to lose a few as we're flooded with players but Harry needs to think long and hard about formations and tactics, it'd be wise to make some contingency plans in case some big names leave also.
What would be the point in taking the money and reinvesting, Lidls? If we spend it unwisely, then we're taking a massive step backwards. If we spend it well, then one of the dubious clubs that the FA/PL/UEFA refuse to take on will just tap up any players that prove to be successful and we're back to square one, again. We need the authorities to do their ****ing job and we need to sort out our stadium plans, so that we can afford to pay top end wages.
I suggested playing van der Vaart in a deeper role if Modric were to go and I suggested that Marin should be brought in to play the role that the Dutchman currently plays. I think that it would kill two birds with one stone, especially if the money allowed us to bring is someone that can play the lone striker role effectively. If we could get a decent fee (£30m?) plus Sturridge, then we could use the money to bring in Adebayor (controversially) and Marin. A bit more pruning of the squad and we'd be fairly sorted.
Marin would be a good buy but he only recently ruled out moving when our name was mentioned. I fear VDV in the middle of the pitch would be found out defensively and even alongside Sandro a little too much pressure will be on him.
Marin made a statement that wasn't too dissimilar to the one that Modric made a while ago. I think he'd leave Bremen if the deal was right for both the club and himself. £10m plus Pienaar perhaps, if the rumours that the South African haven't settled are true? Van der Vaart would probably be ok alongside Sandro against most opponents, but we might have to alter things when facing the top teams. We could always experiment in the pre-season games with various partnerships in the middle, Bale at left-back, Marin on the left, two up front, etc. to see what works and what doesn't. I'd be more worried about the Dutchman's occasional petulant fouls than any lack of defensive ability, to be honest. If we have a proper frontman and the midfield consisted of Bale, van der Vaart, Sandro, Lennon and Marin, then I'd expect us to spend a lot of games on the front foot, too.
If a bid of 35 million is made and Modric wants to leave then I am sure we will see an "open letter" along the lines of "I and harry tried to convince Modric we could match his ambition but ultimately the players head had been turned, he decided that he no longer wanted to play for this club. Me and Harry are trying to build a team to bring success and to have an unhappy influence in the squad would be detrimental to this so we had no choice but to allow Modric his wish to leave on the basis we received an offer we found acceptable and now we will look to the future and bringing in players of the highest quality to help this club achieve its ambitions."
Exactly, what I was saying when others mention he can't go back on his word. All it'd take is for the situation to change and the statement made to fit previous circumstances suddenly doesn't hold it's strength.
Gary Mabbutt: Great bloke, great servant to the club, zero experience of running a football club. We do NOT need to rebuild as we have done time and again, we need to improve. The issue is, if we sell Modric, even for 50 million, we will not get a similar or better player for the money, as we cannot offer them Champions League football this season. Modric signed a six year deal when he thought nobody was interested in him.That contract stands. So no.
The sale of one player leads to the sale of other players, Lidls. If Modric goes, then we may see a reaction from Bale, van der Vaart and the like. Unfortunately, I feel that Modric will leave and we'll be screwed again, as the authorities are absolutely toothless and the richer clubs are allowed to do whatever they like.
If Modric leaves, it is because he doesn't feel we match his ambitions and there is imo zero chance of bale or vdv leaving this season solely because Modric leaves, however next year there would be a high possibility of bale or vdv seeking moves elsewhere and this is again down to imo how the club is run and not matching the players ambition. We could force Modric to stay, but doesn't mean we can match his ambitions, to prove we can match his and bales ambitions we have to sign players to take helps us push on and the standard of players we require, imo requre a change in how this club is run.
No, if Modric leaves it's because we can't match Chelsea's wage offer. Anyone looking to leave Liverpool? No? Why? Money.
Your link actually disputes your claims, Lidls. Redknapp says the same thing about every single player he's asked about, so how can that be construed as tapping up? In what way does that compare with Ferguson's consistent media manipulation or Chelsea's meetings in hotels?
Yet the same teams keep getting caught and nothing is done, Lidls. Chelsea have been found out so many times now that it's just a joke. Man Utd have made almost as many cock ups, too. Constant finger-wagging and saying "don't do it again" clearly isn't working.
Just how much more blatant does underhand behaviour have to get, Luke before the authorities do something. This was nothing less than a devious campaign orchestrated by the Chavs to unsettle Modric and force through a transfer on their terms.
The player's agent has actually been fairly reasonable, on the surface, Lidls. I don't think that he's made any untoward public statements, to be honest. I think that anyone with any sense can see what Chelsea have done. They enquired about Modric and were told that he wasn't for sale at any price. They then made a bid that was never going to be accepted and it leaked to the press. Modric then came out and said that he wanted to join them. In my opinion, it's pretty clear that they made contact with him between the initial enquiry and the derisory bid, otherwise what was the point in it?
Yes, the agent was probably complicit. However, it is abundantly clear who was the driving force behind the whole campaign. As PNP says, they made the enquiry, then went public and tried with the compliance of the Fail to force Spurs to sell. You don't need a pipe and deerstalker to work out what's been going on. Neither did Levy, hence the wording of his statement.
