Evenin’.
The Italian media has been sniffing and quite understandably so around The Boy Bale for some time now. But when it comes to these foreign mega-bid deals I’m always sceptical. They might scan well as a headline, but history is not littered with young lads who have barely mastered their native tongue making the extraordinary leap into unknown cultures. Well, apart from Great Train Robbers.
Tonight’s news comes then from the Italian daily, Gazzetta dello Sport who believe that Lyons’ left wing-man Michel Bastos has been subject to strong interest from our lot.
Bastos is a class act, Lille were weighed off to the tune of £18M for him. Like Bale, he’s versatile. He can cross with great ability and he’s a triffic shot on him.
Why would this happen? Well one obvious answer is that nothing lasts forever (just like they taught me that in the SAS). Another answer is ‘no it bloody well won’t as Baler’s staying forever and a day’.
Do let me know wot you fink. Crazy Italian bar stewards or Spurs preparing for the worst?
Every player has his price and by signing a contract extention Bale`s has increaced, smart move DL.If we get 65million let the lad become the best in Europe/World with Barcelona a chance he will never achieve here, we are improving but not fast enough to hold him back. Gareth will flourish over the next 5-6years but is likely to suffer further back problems at a young age and i believe playing in Spain would be more forgiving than the rigours of the premier league and 50+ matches a season. Sell VDV to Man U for 25m,SELL Keane 8m, Pav 9m, Duff-oh 9M, Bentley 10m, BUY Bastos 18m, Llorente 35m, Zigic 8m,Klose on a “Free”, Recall and integrate Walker and O`Hara, and sadly allow King and Woodgate to move on to free up squad places. The result of all this would allow us to revert to 4-4-2 and play our most successful type of football with a healthy bank balance +73 million, wage bill as this year approx and 2 squad places avail “just in case”. Harry could then build the team around Modders who without a doubt is the future of Tottenham Hotspur. If Harry takes on the poison chalace of the England job David Moyes or Martin O`Neill and possibly Owen Coyle to carry on the good work.
Sell Corluka for 8m that should get the sums right.
I think Razspur you have it rght about Bale and I think we (and especially the English, fueled by the sensationalism of the media) forget the transitory nature of player’s form. Owen was the best striker in the world for a short while, but how many years did he actually have at the top? Rooney is showing all the signs of being past it already. Injuries, form, transfers to different environments are all changes that may make or break top quality players, jusy look at the horror show at Citeh, look at Torres….
When players are flying they are up there with the Almighty, walking on water and winning the Premiership in just 6 days and resting on the 7th. Bale is a young lad who’s found some form, come into his strength and that’s let his talent shine. But in 3 years, will he be racing down the wing like he did against Milan? Just as likely his back will get worse or he’ll ping hamstrings and we’ll see him for 20 games a year for only 35 mintes at a time.
I think the ever increasing physical demands on top players will mean that managers will have to spend their available peak time with care. Already Harry has shown that the threat of Bale is as potent as the actual appearance of him and used that to great effect against AC. In truth Bale has done bugger all on the grass for at least a couple of months, injuries and all, but is still the headline maker.
VdV similarly won’t play 50+ games a year but for the 25-30 he does play if we choose the right games, he’ll make a difference. Meanwhile we have cover on all midfield position now and can rest Bale and VdV for games like Carling and, once we’re able to find the net, the Wet Spams and Wolves’.
Looks like this is part of the same speculation that is ‘planted’ on sites allover the place to attract hits. We want to buy every striker in Europe, and all the CL giants from Govan Grump to ‘teen party’ Berlusconi want Bale and Modders.
We all want Bale to stay – but he will go at some point without doubt, sadly. If we can keep him for another year Levy will have one well, given the form he has shown and the interest he has attracted. I suspect the deal has sweetened the Boy a wee bit, but has also given Levy a bit of a bargaining chip – there will of course be the ‘buy out clause’ and I suspect the new deal is as much about getting the maximum value when he is sold, as it is about giving the Boy a bigger pay packet. We are unfortunately not up there with the big boys yet (reality)and in business parlance are not ‘market leaders’!So until we are in that group and can pay top dollar wages the next best is to get the maximum cash when our stars go. It’s called ‘what’s best for the business’ – doesn’t seem right in a football context but it’s how te world works these days I’m afraid.
Spot on, agree with you 100%, it is all about income to the club, to be able to pay the wage demands. We need that bigger stadium to increase the matchday receipts, then more money available for players wages. Not rocket science!
If we were to sell Bale I think Redknapp would go for Ashley Young before anyone else. Only 1 year on his contract come the summer and premier league experience, a typical HR signing.