I don't think we've got a chance of getting Baines, especially now Moyes has gone to Utd. We'd have had to pay over the odds to get him in any case, and I don't think we'd recoup enough from the sale of BAE to cover it sufficiently. We'd have to compete with other wage offers as well which is always an issue for us. As other people have said, and as is so often the problem for us, its a case of us probably not getting the same quality in if we sell. That said, Rose is said to be the real deal by the Sunderland fans. I think the sale (or not) of Benny depends on what offers come in, and of course the relationship between him and AVB, and how AVB views Rose. I'd be happy to sell him on IF we can get a reasonable price and IF AVB trusts Rose to step up. If not then I think it's too much of a risk to be selling a starting player with no guaranteed replacement.
I think we nearly all expect Benny to leave this summer. Always underrated by rival fans but a great full back and cult hero for Spurs fans. It's a shame that he'll likely be off but on the back of a poor season after recovering from injury and AVB not rating him, I'm happy for him to leave with a mutual affection between him and the club still intact.
I agree with most of this in principal Hudd, but I think that we could cover most of Baines' fee by selling Assou-Ekotto and Naughton. Promoting Smith and Rose into our squad as cover would increase our options and we could keep them happy by playing a back four of Smith, Dawson, Caulker and Rose in the cups, assuming Kaboul's comeback goes well. The Sun's story about him going to Fenerbahce today is clearly gibberish though, as he's in Cameroon.
I just saw this rumour on the BBC website. Wouldn't be adverse to George McFly playing for Spurs either.
This little tweet last night got people going: "François Gallardo (FIFA agent) "I have information and I assure you that Gareth Bale is already player of Real Madrid" #RMFC #THFC" A quick Google of the 'agent' confirms that the person is full of it having made similar stories about John Terry and Drogba a few years ago.
Apparently les Ferdinand has said that if an astronomical bid of around £80m comes in for bale, he thinks we'll sell him as "every player has a price". - not what you want to hear from one of the staff members is it really? Nice one Les.
Not great is it! Keeping Bale is the most important thing we can do now. If we sell him now, it undermines Levy's position completely. Yeah - £80m (if we sell for that) is a huge sum of money, but the players we're looking at will have every right to question our ambition. From a logical stance, we're in the Europa League next season, not close to challenging for titles and (the Bale money aside) we can't compete financially. Why would the top players want to come to us? If we keep Bale and strengthen up front, it shows ambition for the future - we have to keep him.
I should add - front post updated with full list of released players. Bye bye Bentley and Gallas in particular.
If what he's said is true, shouldn't he be disciplined for that? Why add fuel to the fire? Not impressed by that at all.
We should definitely be looking to promote Rose and Smith, agreed. Naughton can move on IMO, I've said in the past that we should keep him as cover but we might get a decent sum for him from a mid-table team.
I'm not sure why the media are recycling their stories about us, but that Sherwood "one million percent" interview is from a few weeks ago. There's been several that've hung around and been pushed out again and again, as I guess there's nothing new happening right now. Damiao's agent saying that he'd have to consider us but that he'd prefer a CL club is another, the Gomes leaving one. It's silly season, so I don't know why the journos aren't being more inventive. It's not like they don't just make **** up most of the time, anyway.
He was just telling the truth, it's not like anyone thinks that Spurs would reject 80 million do they? The only two players on the planet who I could see an 80 million bid being rejected for would be Ronaldo and Messi. That price for anyone else is a no brainer sell.
Ronaldo had the exact same price. But he had a Spanish girlfriend and wanted to move to Madrid. These sultry, dark Welsh girls do have a Spanish look. please log in to view this image
My time at Spurs has come to an end. I want to say thank you to the club's staff, players and fans for all the support for the last 5 years. It's been a challenging yet great experience. I've some good memories and met some amazing people. It's been an honour and privilege. Now I'm in a new season in my career. I'm hungrier than ever to succeed and excited about what lies ahead. One door closes. Another door opens. The words of John Bostock on leaving Spurs.
I thought you'd been given the boot for a minute, SC! It's pretty sad that Bostock's most memorable moment in his Spurs career is that statement, isn't it? Nice sentiments and I hope that he can sort out whatever seems to have been holding him back.
Hahahahahaha so did I PNP! Phew! Apparently shaq coulthirst and Lawrence vigouroux have been given professional contracts.
The full list of players to be let go has now been announced. Tom Gardiner, Mason Bush, William Troost-Ekong, Billy Grainger, Sam Smith and Victor Zapata-Caicedo have all left the club.
Never universally popular with Spurs fans, but I would like to thank Willy G for his time with us. Top pro from what I could see, provided some sound words of advice on and off the pitch and was a total professional. And some memorable moments, like the 2-3 win at the Emirates when he played for the last 30 mins virtually on 1 leg: heroic!! Pity he is going and not being slotted into a coaching role. Think he has a lot to offer with his experience.
