New issue out before the Man U game and as well as doing all the cartoony and graphicy stuff have had a chance to write an article - so here is a taste of what is to come in the next issue! Chalk & Cheese Huw Jenkins and all concerned with Swansea City were probably looking forward to a stress free summer for a change, all the signs of contentment were there; an improvement on our first season in the Premier League, a first major trophy and a seemingly contented squad and management. Then our very own Evening Post decided to start poking the hornet’s nest that is Michael Laudrup’s ‘barking mad’ agent, Bayram Tutumlu. Cue a few weeks of unsubstantiated rumours, hearsay and supposition that our local rag considers investigative journalism. Here we take a look at the odd couple of Premier League football. Rarely has their been a more unlikely friendship and business relationship than the one between Laudrup and Tutumlu. On the one hand you have the quietly spoken Dane who has come out of the Post inspired ‘storm in a teacup’ with his reputation and character intact, on the other you have the loose cannon that is ‘El Turco’ Tutumlu – someone who is now less welcome in Swansea than a Cardiff hat-trick! Where Laudrup is cool and unflappable, Tutumlu is hot headed and in a constant state of agitation. Laudrup oozes class - just what it is that Tutumlu oozes is up for question but it has been suggested that he speaks from an orifice that is about three feet below his mouth. Laudrup, to his credit, kept his distance from the pathetic attempts at sensationalism that emanated from the offices of a ‘newspaper’ that should have been applauding the exploits of a team that has continued to improve year on year. Throughout the whole non-issue they could not get a single quote from the football legend and instead had to try and justify their tripe with lines such as ‘privately he (Laudrup) is growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress in the transfer market’. Unbelievably, much of it was printed before the transfer window had officially opened! Tutumlu on the other hand couldn’t wait to get involved, even to the extent of installing himself as an unofficial SCFC scout, much to the understandable annoyance of Jenkins. A furious row between Jenkins and Tutumlu over transfer policy had, if the Evening Post were to be believed, put large question marks over Laudrup’s future at Swansea. But while Laudrup responded by claiming his role would be unaffected and that his intention to stay at Swansea remained, stories broke over Paris Saint-Germain’s interest in him replacing the Real Madrid-bound Carlo Ancelotti. Asked whether he was talking to PSG, Tutumlu’s reported response was: ‘No comment.’ Laudrup recently revealed he turned down several opportunities to quit the Swans earlier this summer including offers from ‘big clubs’. But regardless of interest – and after a period of genuine doubt over his Liberty future following the Evening Post inspired fall-out between his agent and the club, Laudrup stressed he wanted to stick to a promise of staying at Swansea for the coming campaign, stating that he wanted to stand by his word, given to players, that he was committed to leading the club into their first Europa League campaign. All Tutumlu has revealed is what a massive pain in the arse he is! And that is the real difference between the two; Laudrup is a man of integrity who stands by his word and delivers on the promises he makes. Tutumlu is an agent! Only time will tell how long the Great Dane stays with the Swans; he has never intimated that he was here for a long stay and has always said that he has ambitions beyond Swansea City FC. If this is his last season with us, which I suspect it may be, he will leave with best wishes and genuine thanks from all associated with Swansea City for what he has achieved during his time here. Tutumlu will just leave!
I'm sorry, but you'd have to be stunningly gullible to believe that Tutumlu's actions this summer weren't orchestrated entirely on behalf of and with the full knowledge of Laudrup himself. His integrity consists entirely of using his friend and agent to say in public what he himself with his carefully managed "nice guy" persona can't. He can tout Ashley Williams around Europe via Bayram and claim complete innocence when the club put a stop to it. For whatever reason (personally I believe it's because otherwise he'd be seen as a prolific walker, and the kind of club he wants to manage don't hire those) Laudrup chose to stay put. Don't kid yourselves for a second though that it's because he's a man of honour. Men of honour don't get others to do their dirty work for them. It's because it's in his best interests for the moment to stay put. This summers events opened a big wide window into Laudrup's personality for those who care to look through it.
Lone makes excellent points here. Laudrup has his agent for a specific reason, and that is to say the things he wants him to say! but also maintain his own credibility in the process, if it goes the correct way,then no harm done,if it goes a bit wonky "that's a problem between my agent and the club,nothing to do with me" Laudrup is a clever bloke, he has this guy as his agent for a reason and the fact their relationship has lasted 20yrs tells you that its tight and that it works very well! People will believe what they want to believe, some just want to think that the press had nothing better to do other than make up bullshit about the team,others will believe every word that tutamlu spoke as being the truth. The facts of this matter are in the middle. His agent did the job that was asked of him, the end result was less dithering and more definite negotiations resulting in deals being done and finished.Think what you want to think , did his agent provoke the club into finalising deals instead of haggling over 500k and playing hardball resulting in other clubs preparing counter bids ? Who knows,...
Precisely. What's more likely? A. Laudrup has a trusted friend who he's used over a long association to act as a shield and mouthpiece between himself and whatever club he's involved in to keep his reputation clean of any potential scandal or disruption. B. Tutumlu just decided for the hell of it to try and flog one of our key players without even bothering to consult his friend of 20 years or the club he manages. I don't doubt for a second that the Evening Post took great joy in stirring things up this summer. No news sells like bad news and it was in their interests to keep painting a picture of unrest. I also don't doubt for a second as to who their source for all this information was.
If, as you suggest, he has always had his trusted friend as a go between, he seems quite happy and adjusted that his long standing "shield" had been banished. His stoical acceptance of this doesn't paint the picture of a man with his crutch removed. Of course they will have built up a relationship, but mountain and molehills spring to mind....a bit like the **** EP articles. It seems those that helped drive the rumours will never let go. Chill Winston Conspiracies everywhere!!!
the lone ranger is closer to the truth cartoon, laudrup forced the boards hand in the end and won the argument of back me or im off....Hence the caliber of players we have now brought in compared to what jinx and the board wanted to pay....
Will agree to disagree Dai and Lone - at the end of the day the articles for the fanzine are there to provoke debate such as this so happy days - can see the validity in both of your arguments but guess I am just a 'glass half full' type. But great to have the input, keep it coming and you may see yourself quoted in future fanzines!
What does he need him for now his work has been done? Laudrup's off next summer anyway. As per usual Dai displays his total cluelessness to the world. Whilst it's certainly true that there was a dispute between Laudrup and Jenkins (don't need insider info to know that), he couldn't be more wrong about the reasons why. The truth of the matter is the Dane was unhappy that Huw was on holiday whilst many of the players he wanted were in talks with other clubs. He wanted his team put together ASAP due to the early Europa league start. Hence all the guff about "promises being made". Hence Tutumlu trying to do the clubs transfer business himself (at Laudrup's request). They were trying to shock Jenkins into action. The board have not budged one inch on the funds available to Laudrup. He knew what he had to spend and was happy with it. He himself stated that the players he was targeting, with one exception (Negredo), were within his budget. There was not and never has been any kind of dispute about money, which is why everything immediately quietened down once Huw started back to work and signing players. The idea that the board of Swansea City would throw away a decade's worth of careful management and take any risks with the clubs financial stability to appease one individual is so laughable no wonder Dai's convinced that it's the truth. What a treat.
Lone - don't you think that if everything was as you say Tutumulu did a p*ss poor job before he came tothe Swans . Laudrup was never mentioned by any of the big clubs before the Swans helped him into the limelight. He had the reputation of walking away from issues - couldn't stay with a club or really be that successful - his image was of a somewhat petulant manager who had been a brilliant footballer. If he had been anything more than that he wouldn't have been available and he certainly wouldn't have joined little ole Swans heading to second season syndrome.
It was clear from what I was told, that Laudrup was not impressed with our transfer operations, and he clearly gave his agent the nod to stick a rocket up jinx's arse, can't say I blame him, but there is no doubt that Tutsy is a first class spiv, but fair play the entertainment value was top draw, and Laudrup got the transfer operations going full swing, as it needed to be, considering the season we have ahead............
I know for a fact that laudrup forced jinx and the board to think about what they(jinx) wanted and what he wanted in the transfer window. I got that info from a very prominent coach...so im not a liar, we would never in a million year got the players we have now if jinx had got his way and laudrup would not be here....And thats a fact...
If that's the case Dai, I think we can all agree that the board made the right decision in the end in listening to Laudrup and bringing in the calibre of player that Laudrup wanted. Just out of interest Dai, was Aspas a target of the board or Laudrup? I only ask this because it looked like we weren't prepared to pay the money for him, yet doubled the money to bring in Bony.
the board HAD to make that decision if they wanted to keep laudrup and his ideals for another season, so well done laudrup i say for sticking to his guns and the board for realising he was right...
What a treat.[/QUOTE] Sorry that our humble fundraising efforts are beneath you Lone, but am sure we will get by without you. During the 12 years we have been doing this it has really amazed me how much support we have had, but has also thrown up some rather disappointing negativity; particularly remember a charity gig some years ago, we were raising money for an AIDS charity and got quite a bit of abuse from one Neanderthal who took exception to us helping the, and I quote him, 'disgusting queers!' More recently (a week last Friday in fact) my bro (part of the ATFV team) was performing at the Rock and Fountain for our month of music fundraising effort. He was continuously heckled by a moron who threatened to 'take him out' because he didn't like his saxophone playing. Bro ignored him and carried on, but when he finished the guy followed him outside and continued berating him. Now my brother is a big bloke, but took all the insults in his stride, but the moron just wouldn't let up until bro finally cracked and threatened to 'put him through the pub wall'. The guy went into reverse gear so quickly that the Italian army would have been proud. Now I know I bang on about the fanzine, but that is just because I want to raise as much as possible for the causes we support - it's marketing and ATFV is the vehicle for all the subsequent fundraisers - so when I get a sneering comment such as 'what a treat' I react. If you disagree with me Lone, that's fair enough, we all have our own opinions and I respect that - but please don't look down your nose at us, I feel that is being a little unfair! To everyone who would like to support what we do, there is a link on another thread - to those who don't, just leave us alone to do it! I have been heckled, berated, and threatened with physical violence for just turning up at a pub/club to try and raise a few quid for causes I believe in - it won't stop me doing it; have been playing the pub/club scene for 30+ years, have seen the best, and worst, of people and managed to extricate myself from some very 'hairy' situations - some by diplomacy, some by force, but it always disappoints me that some people just can't handle alcohol and seem to want to cause trouble after they have had one pint too many! Rant over!
