Martin Lol

The coefficients for 2008/9 are looking better though .................... 1 Chelsea Eng 22.7125 25.1385 17.7610 28.4860 26.5685 120.666 2 AC Milan Ita 16.9285 31.6200 26.0675 27.9360 17.3410 119.893 3 Liverpool Eng 14.7125 30.1385 17.7610 29.4860 26.5685 118.666 4 FC Barcelona Esp 16.7230 17.1040 34.1620 20.2700 29.5785 117.837 5 Arsenal Eng 17.7125 19.1385 31.7610 18.4860 23.5685 110.666 6 Manchester United Eng 15.7125 17.1385 12.7610 27.4860 30.5685 103.666 7 Sevilla Esp 4.7230 16.1040 30.1620 31.2700 20.5785 102.837 8 Olympique Lyon Fra 18.4550 23.7710 24.5680 18.3000 14.2860 99.380 9 Internazionale Ita 15.9285 22.6200 24.0675 16.9360 17.3410 96.893 10 Real Madrid Esp 21.7230 18.1040 17.1620 20.2700 16.5785 93.837 11 Bayern München Ger 10.5555 19.4885 17.4440 20.1350 24.4550 92.078 12 PSV Eindhoven Ned 17.7875 24.9600 13.5025 17.7105 17.6500 91.610 13 Villarreal Esp 20.7230 22.1040 24.1620 6.2700 17.5785 90.837 14 Newcastle United Eng 24.7125 27.1385 4.7610 22.4860 5.5685 84.666 15 Valencia Esp 29.7230 14.1040 5.1620 23.2700 11.5785 83.837 32 Tottenham Hotspur Eng 3.7125 5.1385 4.7610 23.4860 18.5685 55.666 33 Zenit St. Petersburg Rus 1.9385 11.3000 20.3000 2.1860 19.3000 55.024 34 AC Parma Ita 9.9285 22.6200 5.0675 13.9360 3.3410 54.893 35 Lille OSC Fra 4.4550 16.7710 16.5680 14.3000 2.2860 54.380 http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/data/method3/trank2008.html A Uefa Cup run the same as this season should put Spurs around the 70k mark

Didn't Spurs report Jenas' fee to the stock exchange without mentioning add ons yet when Newcastle reported it at our end it said there were add ons for appearances and European football? True, but when I queried that with my sister in law she replied to the effect that how Newcastle report to the Stock Exchange is up to them, the fee is £7m and nothing extra will be paid. The details should have been identical but they weren't, I've no idea which was correct. I've no reason to doubt my s-i-l but I can't think of any good reason why Fat Fred would say there are add-ons if there weren't. i think i'll go with the stock exchange announcement over what your sister says, no offence. There were 2 different reports to the LSE. What Spurs reported to the LSE was that the consideration was £7m. What Newcastle reported to the LSE was that the consideration was £7m plus add-ons dependent on criteria being met. My s-i-l (who works at WHL) says there were no add-ons. It's not whether you go with the LSE announcement but which LSE announcement. So both LSE reports are correct but your sister in law is wrong Like I said before, I don't know, no reason to doubt my s-i-l, no reason why Fat Fred would say there were when they weren't. FWIW, Modric had his medical this afternoon.

Didn't Spurs report Jenas' fee to the stock exchange without mentioning add ons yet when Newcastle reported it at our end it said there were add ons for appearances and European football? True, but when I queried that with my sister in law she replied to the effect that how Newcastle report to the Stock Exchange is up to them, the fee is £7m and nothing extra will be paid. The details should have been identical but they weren't, I've no idea which was correct. I've no reason to doubt my s-i-l but I can't think of any good reason why Fat Fred would say there are add-ons if there weren't. i think i'll go with the stock exchange announcement over what your sister says, no offence. There were 2 different reports to the LSE. What Spurs reported to the LSE was that the consideration was £7m. What Newcastle reported to the LSE was that the consideration was £7m plus add-ons dependent on criteria being met. My s-i-l (who works at WHL) says there were no add-ons. It's not whether you go with the LSE announcement but which LSE announcement.

Someone else's problem now... Thank christ. Better than anyone else we've got across the midfield, just far too injury prone. Word. Could have been world class if he had stayed fit and progressed as he could have been expected.

Didn't Spurs report Jenas' fee to the stock exchange without mentioning add ons yet when Newcastle reported it at our end it said there were add ons for appearances and European football? True, but when I queried that with my sister in law she replied to the effect that how Newcastle report to the Stock Exchange is up to them, the fee is £7m and nothing extra will be paid. The details should have been identical but they weren't, I've no idea which was correct. I've no reason to doubt my s-i-l but I can't think of any good reason why Fat Fred would say there are add-ons if there weren't.

Assuming it was a straight fight between us and Spurs, can we take it from this that Ramos tried harder than our lot (Mort, Wise et al)? Modric has only confirmed what I was told and posted back on page 47 ................. immediate European competition and a coach/manager with a higher profile across Europe were his reasons for opting for Spurs. It wasn't a case of Ramos tried harder than Mort, Wise etc, Ramos didn't do any of the negotiating, Comolli did. It wasn't the pull of the London lights either, just very simply Spurs, in the Uefa Cup and with Ramos at the helm, were the better option for the boxes that Modric wanted ticked.

Sunday Sun have their own slant on things ..................... as any day's version of the Sun normally does. http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/sport/newcastle-utd/newcastle-utd-news/2008/04/27/disbelief-as-spurs-snatch-modric-79310-20825955/ Disbelief as Spurs snatch Modric Apr 27 2008 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun CROATIAN sources last night cast doubt over talk that Tottenham landed Luka Modric for less than Newcastle offered for him. The word from White Hart Lane is that they paid Dinamo Zagreb 21 million euros (£16.6 million) for Modric, well below United’s failed bid of around £20 million. But that – along with talk of Modric accepting a wage offer from Spurs worth less than £30,000-a-week – has prompted disbelief in his homeland. And sources close to the Dinamo hierarchy in Zagreb insisted that Modric WAS keen on a move to Newcastle, even after learning of Tottenham’s counter bid late on Friday night. Instead, the consensus in Croatia is that the full fee for Modric will eventually match Dinamo’s £25 million asking price . . . And that Newcastle’s reluctance to bid more than £20 million for the 22-year-old midfielder was what opened the way for Spurs to move in. “Luka really wanted to go to Newcastle, but they would not pay more,” a source in Zagreb told the Sunday Sun. “Dinamo asked for £25 million and also Modric wanted a little more money in wages – but not much more. “So it is strange that the transfer with Tottenham would be agreed for much less money.” Ironically, Newcastle and Spurs have strong links off the field, with Tottenham No 2 Gus Poyet formerly assistant to United director of football Dennis Wise, and Magpies owner Mike Ashley a close friend of former White Hart Lane vice-president Paul Kemsley. United had held a second round of talks with Zagreb vice-president – and Modric’s agent – Zdravko Mamic in London on Friday. But although Modric believed he was Toon-bound as late as Friday night, the Croatian starlet never set foot on Tyneside. Mamic and his brother were in Newcastle for talks on Tuesday, but Modric was NOT with them. Whilst I know his salary will be bigger than £30k, I don't believe for a minute that Spurs would be outbidding Newcastle on salary. Spurs have their salary structure, they stick to it. All I've heard is that Spurs have paid £15.8m (€20m), I think the journo doesn't know his €'s from his £'s! Anyway, it'll be reported to the Stock Exchange tomorrow so we'll all know for certain.

Without a doubt, the media are adept at creating a story if there isn't a valid one. The story going around WHL yesterday was that Mamic arranged for Modric to be flown over to England in Ashley's private jet only to be met by Comolli and the Spurs hierachy. Don't know how true that is, though it does sort of tie in with the talk that NUFC were going to talk to him in London. I do think Wise has got a bit to learn about the DoF role tbh. Had a look on the NOTW site but couldn't see anything about KK fuming. If he was upset by it all I doubt he would have been telling the NOTW journos.

I doubt whether Werder would be happy with just £10m, probably nearer double that imo.

Bah!... chimbonda.... are you going to bring your thrash here? There's been talk of KK wanting him. I'm not bothered where he goes tbh.

I think Chimbonda is more likely than Lennon to make the move to SJP tbh. If Lennon does move I think it could well be to join SGE at City. BTW, anyone heard anything from Dr Spectrum?

There will always be another club providing competition for the signature of a player.

They finance themselves, the money they spend they generate, they have a strict pay structure and they don't spend more then they generate. 3/4 New kits EVERY season generates a lot of money, add that to their sponsorship deals. That's about it in a nutshell. Although a publicly quoted company, it's share issue is mainly owned by ENIC, whose majority owner is Joe Lewis and lesserly by Daniel Levy. Lewis has no interest in football in general or Spurs in particular, Levy is the Spurs fan.

Immediate European competition and a perceived higher profile manager were the two major factors from what I've been told, being in London was of very little relevance. It's inevitable Spurs' and Newcastle's paths would cross like this, both clubs are of a similar stature, can afford players of that calibre, both seen as potentially good destinations. As has been said, you win some, you lose some. Spurs were wanting 4 high profile players (including Modric) and 3 are also on Newcastle's radar, perhaps all of them. Only time will tell who will get the best deals. Incidentally, the fee is €20m (just under £15.8m), it will be a 5 year contract with an option and he will become Spurs' 4th highest paid player and well within our salary structure. Spurs have also got agreement for Jose-Paul Mpoku from Standard Liege. Just a 16 year old Congolese born kid with a Belgian passport but had trials with Barca, Liverpool and Arsenal and declined a trial with Man Utd so hopefully will turn out to be decent.

Apart from convicted rapists when they do the Lottery..................

WHS, we have enough players who cause bother in Barton, Emre etc without adding another in Pennant and he's overrated IMO. If we do buy Pennant then stay off the roads, especially at night Even more of a worry if Anthony Gardner signs for you. It was his Merc that Pennant wrapped around a lamp post! AG and Pennant are big mates.

You heard correctly and more besides. Goes to a couple of schools each week, a bit of coaching, anti-bullying chat, don't carry knives, don't do drugs etc. Levy has told LK there will always be a job for him at WHL, whether he takes one on after he retires remains to be seen. Is he planning to retire any time soon. Chronically f***** knees right? He's making another visit with the club doc to Steadman sometime soon to assess exactly what he will and won't be able to do. I don't think LK is planning on retiring yet and Ramos (the last I heard) was happy if he could be available for the matches that matter. Looking a bit further forward, I think Spurs want him to have a role within the Academy doing fast track training/coaching to the kids with better than average potential, I know that is one option open. Arthritis to the knees, I think it's the right one is far worse than the other. After a match just swells up like a balloon.

............. but this is inspired. http://www.redcafe.net/f7/captions-photoshops-197245/

Says he wants to stay at Werder according to Skysports.com. I think it would be close to impossible to sign him as he is one of the most wanted players in football atm. All the more frustrating that Diego was all set to join Spurs as a 17 year old for a maximum of £6m iirc but fell foul of work permit regulations. Unfortunately, Pleat never thought of signing him and parking him in Belgium for a couple of years.

You heard correctly and more besides. Goes to a couple of schools each week, a bit of coaching, anti-bullying chat, don't carry knives, don't do drugs etc. Levy has told LK there will always be a job for him at WHL, whether he takes one on after he retires remains to be seen.

Can't say that I could share your optimism tbh. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=559997&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar has snubbed a move to Newcastle United, insisting he is not interested in playing for a "club at the bottom". Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was keen on bringing the Spanish defender, who is this season's player of the year in Scotland, to St James' Park and travelled to Glasgow to watch him play on two occasions. But Cuellar, 26, has three-and-a-half years left on his contract and says he would much rather stay at Ibrox and "win trophies" rather than "play for a club at the bottom". Yep, seen the "quotes", still think if we offered £5m or whatever, and offered him around £30k, he'd be down in a flash. In the second link there are quotes saying he wants to stay with Rangers for the rest of his career. Sign of lack of ambition like, but that's what he said. I wish i could lack ambition by wanting to playing in the Champions League every year and win trophies...... Players have to push themselves to improve to a higher level. Playing in a 2 team league isn't enough of a push imho. Hutton said he moved from Rangers to improve as a player, to test himself against the best. He isn't the first to have said that and he won't be the last.

I can say with a great deal of confidence that: a. Spurs won't sell Ledders. b. The injuries won't be going away. You're right about the comparison with Terry. Before having any injuries, which started when he was around 20, King was always ahead of Terry in England's younger age group squads. As Ramos said "When I was with Sevilla my reports showed that King was a very important player. it is only since I came to Tottenham I realised his true ability."

If there's a £30m offer on the table, it'll get rejected. If it was £35m it would get thought about, but Berbatov wouldn't agree to a move to Newcastle in any case. Man Utd, Real, Barcelona, Milan or Inter, that's about it. I wish I could disagree with you but I can't. Maybe if Berbs finally gets rejected by all the top teams next summer he'll start to lower his standards, but until then there's no way he'd come to this shambles. I've been told that Berbatov likes very much how Ramos shaping the team and is nowhere so strongly minded about going as he was earlier in the season. If Spurs can make Europe next season whether it be by league position, Carling Cup or Eufa Cup wins (all big asks I know), I would be pretty confident about him staying no matter who came in for him. He loves life in England and London in particular. My concern would be a big bid from Man Utd in the summer, especially if we haven't got European competition to offer. still as confident MJ? That was then, situations change. Only a few days ago I said: Berbatov is 99% certain to be gone along with a couple of other high profile names and more upheaval will only delay progression..................He's told Levy he wants out and while we can still keep him for another 3 years (1 more + a 2 year option) Levy has told him that we wouldn't stand in his way if the right offer came in. That's why there's the noises about £40m, we won't get that, but Levy is obviously trying to set the bar high. http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcforum/index.php?topic=50015.msg1284640#msg1284640 But, tbh, this is still his agent trying to engineer a move sooner rather than later for the benefit of his own pocket. There are effectively no contract talks that have broken down, the agent wanted to do a new contract with a clause saying Berbatov could go if a club bids more than £20m. Levy refused because he knows he can get more than that. In any event, Berbatov is still contacted to Spurs for another 3+ years so there is no desperation on Spurs' part to sell Berbatov or do a new contract, the desperation is from Berbatov's agent.

Can't say that I could share your optimism tbh. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=559997&in_page_id=1779&ito=newsnow Rangers defender Carlos Cuellar has snubbed a move to Newcastle United, insisting he is not interested in playing for a "club at the bottom". Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan was keen on bringing the Spanish defender, who is this season's player of the year in Scotland, to St James' Park and travelled to Glasgow to watch him play on two occasions. But Cuellar, 26, has three-and-a-half years left on his contract and says he would much rather stay at Ibrox and "win trophies" rather than "play for a club at the bottom". Yep, seen the "quotes", still think if we offered £5m or whatever, and offered him around £30k, he'd be down in a flash. In the second link there are quotes saying he wants to stay with Rangers for the rest of his career. Sign of lack of ambition like, but that's what he said.