Martin Lol

Spurs bid £2m plus Robbo for Joe Hart, to be additional to main target Kameni. YPL on his way back to Holland very soon.

Huddlestone ahead of Carrick is a strange one. Maybe Carrick has already shown what he can do?? Personally, I think he's in the 31 to let him know Capello has him on the radar but probably will be one of the half dozen cut from the squad later.

Not forgetting that the player also gets a signing fee usually around 50% of what his transfer fee would have been.

Liverpool have asked about Lennon so it doesn't surprise me that they would be looking to move Pennant on. What is far more debateable is whether Lennon is actually any better than Pennant.

I don't really see the relevance of whether NUFC are going to spend or whether the relevant players are on big wages. If KK/DW et al think that Smith, Duff, Emre (the ones you mentioned) are a drain on the club's resources then they should be sold/released/paid up and shown the exit door. But what of the ones who don't get so much in wages but have little or no chance of making the squad, let alone making the team? They are still a drain on resources, just not as a bigger drain as others and I would say they should suffer the same fate. Of course this doesn't relate to the youngsters who are still developing but if a player isn't going to be a meaningful member of the squad, what is the point in keeping him?

It's interesting to see how others view how Spurs as run, though I would be the first to say that there are a number of clubs who are extremely well run, that virtue is not the exclusive realm of Spurs. As a Spurs fan I'm obviously happy that Levy doesn't take risks with the finances to gain success but as Levy gained a First Class degree in Economics at Cambridge, I really wouldn't expect that type of risktaking to be in his make up. Yes, he has views on how profits can be achieved and maintained, buying young players with potential to maximise potential profit in the future is one belief he holds dear, but his methods wouldn't necessarily work at other clubs up and down the country. Spurs' season ticket prices are amongst the most expensive in the country, even without a sniff of CL football, and the corporate packages are similarly expensive. The proposed new stadium is believed to hold initially a maximum of 50k, an increase in capacity of approximately 14k though it could easily be further extended to take 60k if the demand was consistently there. My belief is that the capacity for Joe Public will only be modestly increased while numbers of corporate boxes could be close to tripling. Only 14k extra through the turnstiles but gate revenue would more than double. That's a strategy that may well work well for Spurs but wouldn't necessarily work for other clubs. In short, some parts of Levy's philosophy is tailored simply for Spurs, other parts could be effective with any club in the land. How to generate income is very much for Spurs, how to control costs (and especially wages) could be taken on board by others.

nailed it in one I propose Martin Jol's access be restricted Wondered how long it would take before I got dragged into this! So Mr. ITK whats the latest on Darren Bent's situation. Is Newcastle really a possibility? We'll only have him for £6 million though ... maybe we'll throw in Steven Taylor as well if you ask nicely. He won't be going anywhere for £6m! As I've said before, Ramos likes his work ethic but his technical ability falls short. Whether he stays or goes will depend on who else comes in. 4 more significant signings incoming and a larger number outgoing is what I've been told, but there are so many names being bandied about, you'd think were signing a dozen or more.

Strong rumours about Spurs having bid for Bentley. If that is true, Lennon's days really would be numbered.

nailed it in one I propose Martin Jol's access be restricted Wondered how long it would take before I got dragged into this!

The Sun reckon you lot are after Anton Ferdinand. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1132786.ece It's a scary prospect! MJ wanted him last summer but I hope that Ramos doesn't have the same ambitions. Worse than Dawson imo.

I didn't write the articles in the Telegraph and the Mail, just referred to them. Maybe you should read them again, the apparent concerns about a member of staff being replaced was about a member of staff appointed by Allardyce and not Keegan as you stated. The article didn't say it was a SA appointment, just that one of KK's backroom technical staff had been removed without KK's say-so and, by implication, knowledge. The inference is clearly that the member of staff had been recruited by KK.

So says the Guardian........................ http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/may/06/manchesterunited.premierleague United play for the double on back of £58m losses last yearDavid Conn The Guardian, Tuesday May 6 2008 Article historyAbout this articleClose This article appeared in the Guardian on Tuesday May 06 2008 on p1 of the Sport news & features section. It was last updated at 03:04 on May 06 2008. Malcolm Glazer's takeover has led to Manchester United's financial fortunes taking a nosedive PJasienski/Getty With Manchester United powering to a probable second successive Premier League title and ready for a Champions League final, it appears that life at Old Trafford could hardly be rosier, but the club's accounts, now published in full, detail a significantly bleaker picture of the club's finances under the ownership of the Florida-based Glazer family. Before the family's 2005 takeover, United prided itself on being the only Premier League club regularly to make a significant profit, to have cash in the bank and, unlike all the others, no debts. After the leveraged takeover, the Glazer family loaded their borrowings on to the club and the position has changed. The accounts for the company that the Glazers use to own United show total borrowings, in the year to June 30 2007, were up to £666m, by far the highest of any English football club, ever. The total owed to all creditors, including the banks, was up to £764m and includes £56m that United owe to other clubs in transfer fee instalments on players Sir Alex Ferguson has signed. The total interest payable by the club on its borrowings was £81m, although only £42m was actually paid. The rest, which accrued on the millions owed to hedge funds, is allowed to roll up until the whole amount has to be repaid in 2016, or, alternatively, until the Glazers can refinance it. A total of £152m is currently owed to hedge funds, at 14.25% interest a year - £22m from 2007-08. Last year the Glazers tried to refinance but were unable to strike a deal with financial institutions, and a spokesman acknowledged that the credit crunch is making it more difficult now. David Gill, United's chief executive, announced the headline results back in January, stressing that United's phenomenal money-making power, with 76,000 crowding into Old Trafford and the Premier League's huge TV rights deals, had produced record income of £210m and operating profits of £75m. The full accounts show, however, that even though United made a further £11m profit from buying and selling players, the interest and other accounting provisions pushed United into recording an overall loss of £58m. The accounts also reveal that by far the highest proportion of income, £92.5m, is still generated on home match days, and although the club has announced more modest ticket price rises for next season than for the previous two, supporters groups continue to protest that they are paying the debts of a takeover they opposed. "It is outrageous that supporters are paying the huge interest on these borrowings, which are worrying for the club's future," said Sean Bones of the Manchester United Supporters Trust. "Our money is pouring out to pay the Glazers, while they have not put a penny into the club." The spokesman for the Glazer family pointed to the club's success on the field, and in generating income off it, as evidence of the family's competent management. "The family continue to run United as a business," he said. "Their model is to encourage success on the pitch by backing Sir Alex Ferguson, and to grow revenues off it. The interest payments are more than covered by the cash generated."

I didn't write the articles in the Telegraph and the Mail, just referred to them.

KK deserves to be treated better than the way he is right now, maybe he let of steam because he thought it was justifed. What way is he being treated? If it's true that Vetere has removed and replaced one of KK's appointments without telling him (as suggested in the Telegraph) I think KK would have reason to believe that things need to be sorted out in the mooted 'clear-the-air' talks. As I said in the other thread, the Telegraph hinted at unrest between the hierachy. The Mail take it a step further by talking about conspiracy and apparent chaos, God knows what the Sun will say. TBH, I can see some similarity with Spurs at the start of the season just before the rumours about Jol going/Ramos coming started up in earnest. Just rumblings about unrest, not everyone pulling together, then MJ didn't have the complete support of the full first team squad, and so on. The truth of the matter is KK is not the man appointed by Wise (or Vetere). I may be wrong, I hope I am, but it wouldn't surprise me to see it start to get messy resulting in KK's departure and Wise bringing in the man he wants. FWIW, I don't believe for a minute that Wise actually wants to be the manager of NUFC.

A fairly reliable ITK is saying Berbatov is discussing terms with AC Milan. If it's true, Gattuso going in the opposite direction would be good.

KK deserves to be treated better than the way he is right now, maybe he let of steam because he thought it was justifed.

Spurs making a big push for Cuellar. Now seen as the #1 pick to be alongside Woodgate when King is injured.

Anyone know if that's actually what he wrote? Not quite sure if that's quite the kind of thing I'd want to be advertising, true or not. Would fit in with what Jol said when Modric signed (signed for the manager and European footie). Thank you. Modric signing for Spurs had nothing to do with the bright lights of London (the fella who took him and his agent out to sort out his accommodation said he is the shyest player he has ever met), or salary or location. Ramos has built up a reputation based on his domestic and european success with Sevilla and now a cup with Spurs too which produced the other incentive to join, european competition next season. Bilic said 'Tottenham is a perfect club for Luka. Spurs are a better club for Luka than, for example, Chelsea.. Chelsea could have bought him, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho and then Luka could have ended up on the bench." Modric said Ramos had been a major factor in his decision. "It is a big thing that Ramos wanted me in Tottenham so much," Modric said. "Ramos's desire was my major motivation to play at White Hart Lane." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7369852.stm London's lights had nothing (or very little) to do in influencing Modric's decision.

Thought he was being fought over by Milan and Juve.

Not exactly certain that is a progressive move for Commons tbh.

Spurs bidding for Veloso. I think all this will do is produce the same result as our bid for Nani, Utd bid higher and the player goes to OT. Good to know Comolli/Ramos are agreed on the type of player needed to play alongside Modric though.

Radek Cerny Spurs >>>>>>> QPR

I've been told that Berbatov's 'groin strain' is severe enough to stop him playing at Reading today and again at WHL next week against Liverpool, but isn't severe enough to prevent his agent talking to Barca officialdom. Thanks and farewell I think, hoping that an exchange can be arranged.

Amazed by the reluctance to take Gattuso here on board if the opportunity came. Due to Newcastle's proximity to Scotland, I think you'd be favourites ahead of Spurs, but if Spurs did have the opportunity to sign him, I would be disgusted with the Board if they didn't make the effort. A player with those leadership qualities and experience aren't exactly two a penny.

Scored more goals than anyone except Man United this season. Not dull. A traditional, quality winger in Ashley Young? Not dull. The pace of Agbonlahor? Not dull. Combined with the power of Carew? Not dull. The passing of Barry? Not dull. Currently in with a very good chance of finishing 5th, two years after having looked odds on for relegation, and not even having started spending properly yet? Not dull. I admire your optimism, but you're just pretending other teams don't exist and not really providing any arguments to back up your theory. It was indeed a great result at WHL but by that measure, West Ham have beaten Man U the last three times they've played. All hail next year's champions from East London. Everton dull and workmanlike? And fifth in the league. It is a very competitive league and will get more so. If you read my post again, you'll see that I didn't say Villa, the team or the players, were dull. CentrePaddock said Villa were dull, I was conceding that he could possibly view Villa as such, but I refuted everything else he said. For the record, I don't think Villa are in any way shape of form dull, nor is MON an uninspiring manager. You said you I admire my optimism (for Spurs presumably), I hadn't realised I had. My predictions for 08/09 were: 5. Aston Villa 6. Everton 7. Tottenham Hotspur 8. Portsmouth 9. Newcastle United 10. Blackburn with the proviso that Pompey could easily go above Spurs and take 7th. If you'd like to explain where my optimism stems from, I'll be happy to be enlightened. BTW, my comments to CentrePaddock regarding the away score at Villa referred to Newcastle's match, not Spurs'. I don't think CP would have been too bothered how Spurs got on there tbh. The quotes were bollocksed up, i was quoting your post, but actually replying to centrepaddock, sorry! I was admiring centrepaddock's optimism as well, not yours, MJ! Cross purposes innit. No probs!