midds

Honestly don't think that's the end of it tbh. If Levy wants to keep a player who doesn't want to play for Spurs then that's his business but it's not a situation that can go on for long. It's cutting off his nose to spite his face OR a clever negotiating move to get as much as possible when they relent and let him move on. Dangerous games to be playing though. How long has he got left on his contract? 5 years Signed 6 year contract last year £70k pw not £40k as SSN keep saying Thought it was only 2 or 3 years. In that case Levy can afford to call the shots safe in the knowledge Modric isn't walking away for nothing any time soon. Still don't think it's the wisest move in the world in keeping a player when the don't want to play for you though. The reaction of the fans will be interesting if he goes on strike, AWOL or his performances drop though. Might change Levy's mind a bit. It'll be interesting to see how it develops.

Honestly don't think that's the end of it tbh. If Levy wants to keep a player who doesn't want to play for Spurs then that's his business but it's not a situation that can go on for long. It's cutting off his nose to spite his face OR a clever negotiating move to get as much as possible when they relent and let him move on. Dangerous games to be playing though. How long has he got left on his contract?

Chicken sandwiches made with out of date chicken. Rock n roll.

I bet £50k a week doesn't half soften the blow a bit.

Because he didn't write a letter asking for a transfer? He's been passed round like a red headed stepchild despite an impressive pedigree, I hope for his sake he's either sold or given a chance this summer as last year seemed a false dawn. Has he asked for a transfer? He's not got a future at this club so it's best he moves on. He's obviously got talent but the only person who the transfer has worked out well for is Xisco's bank manager.

And yet he's never once asked for a transfer away...that's another thing that doesn't ring true.

This truly is car crash viewing tbh.

Here Spurs don't have massive loans from their owners, they don't spend money they haven't got, they do make profits on player trading, they never incur massive trading losses, they don't pay out ridiculous wages compared to their income. and they do alright. but that chart says they have a net spend of 91mill over those 5 years ? Aye surely the brackets should be around the Arsenal figure? It's showing spend so profit is a negative outlay? Or something.

Highly doubt he's even physically capable of playing 90 minutes of football. Can't even understand why people are suggesting it.

Fuck's gan on?

How do you arrive at that conclusion? He does nothing to earn his money. He does nothing to suggest he's prepared to sacrifice his massive wage to actually further his career. The fact he's on about £50k a week isn't his fault but he appears to be milking the cub for every penny he can whilst foregoing his career. What about asking for a transfer? Making money appears to be far more important than playing football for him. From what I understand, being settled and being happy is the most important thing to him now. At 22, he came here because of the ludicrous wage being thrown at him by Wise/Jiminez but ended up being painted as the "signing that broke the camel's back" - which was not his own doing. He's then been "managed" by Kinnear, Hughton, Shearer, Hughton again - who either doesn't rate him or doesn't like him as he sent him packing to Spain for a year while we were in the Championship*, then kept him out of the team during the first half of last season before arranging a loan back to Deportivo (this was supposedly delayed until the end of the transfer window "just in case Caroll was sold and we couldn't find a replacement" ) From what I understand, he genuinely likes the city and the fans (the weather, not so much) - he's hardly had a run of games to 'prove himself' - even in the cup matches (Accrington, Stevenage, etc.) he didn't even get a place on the bench. When he did get a few games for Deportivo, the match reports I read seemed to be getting more and more positive, they then found themselves in deep relegation trouble and the manager drops to one senior striker in a 4-5-1 formation and Xisco had to make do with 15-20mins off the bench for the last few games, almost scoring with his first touch in the Nou Camp (so it looks as though he was making the right run, he just hadn't got the composure to take the chance or hadn't found his 'game-feet' yet). When we're still paying the likes of Lovenkrands a wage and we don't have anyone knocking down our door to take Xisco off our hands (discounted or not), why don't we integrate him back into the club, make him feel like he's part of the squad and see how it pans out for the first half of the season. We cannot expect to get rid of Best and rely on Lovenkrands/Ameobi for consistent back up. *FWIW, I think a season in the Championship could have done wonders for his Newcastle career, in the same way Colo and Enrique were able to adjust. Not much in there to disagree with tbh. You obviously know a bit more detail about him and his performances than I've heard/bothered to read about. The fact he's been made into a bit of a pariah by successive managers means I barely even consider him to be one of our players any more. I've said on here before that to get caps for the Word and European Champions at U21 level he must have had something at one point. His wage isn't his fault but I'm still unsure as to why he wants to be settled in a place where he's blatantly not wanted. Never seen how hard he trains and perhaps his performances in training sessions are the very reason he's not been given a run in the team? Also a bit baffled as to the lack of interest in him from Spanish sides. If his performances for Depor were decent/good as you say then surely one of them would have had a little nibble knowing fine well he's got no future here? Something just doesn't ring true about the whole Xisco situation. Then again, considering the state of the club when he signed and the subsequent turmoil it's hardly surprising. Best for all concerned if he moved on - we get him off the wage bill and he can continue his career with a clean start.

Indeed. Neil Taylor will be his replacement at about £2million. I dont buy this nonsense that we-want- Taylor-but-not-as-first-choice fairy tale for a second. He'll be coming as Jose's replacement and the majority of the money will disappear into the all consuming black hole where the Carroll money went. Buy low, sell high. Quite how low we'll buy when we sell low too remains to be seen...

We may as well get some players involved in the deal because I don't believe we'll spend even half the cash we get for him on his replacement.

Thought it was common knowledge. That's the figure that's been bandied about or the last few years. My point wouldn't change if it was only £30k a week tbh.

How do you arrive at that conclusion? He does nothing to earn his money. He does nothing to suggest he's prepared to sacrifice his massive wage to actually further his career. The fact he's on about £50k a week isn't his fault but he appears to be milking the cub for every penny he can whilst foregoing his career. What about asking for a transfer? Making money appears to be far more important than playing football for him.

Need to bite the bullet and get him out of the club. Clearly got no future here and is taking the piss. Move him on to whoever is daft enough to take him.

One in, one out. If Bridge comes in then I'd be 99% certain Enrique is on the way out.

Bellamy also broke his leg whilst at Norwich and for £6m he was a bit of a gamble at the time. 6 goals at Coventry the season before we bought him.

We shouldn't be going anywhere near Bridge. He's the exact signing we shouldn't be making.

After having trawled through the last few pages I'm going to suggest a few people put Wearside on their 'ignore' list. He's clearly getting under the skin of a few of you, whether he means to or not. Just a thought...

Can't see the logic of us bringing Bridge up here or him wanting to come up here tbh.

So he did. My mistake.

20 bites.

The number 9 should go to the primary striker at the club. At the moment, even though he's not kicked a ball for us, I'd give it to Ba.

Joey Pie-ton.