KaKa

Luka Modric's shock at Tottenham deal

Tom Dart

If Newcastle United were surprised that Luka Modric signed for Tottenham Hotspur on Friday night, so was the player himself. The Croatia attacking midfield player, who starred in the victory over England at Wembley last November, had been expected to move from Dynamo Zagreb to Tyneside, but Newcastle were outbid by Tottenham at the last moment.

Newcastle offered about £17.5 million but Tottenham are thought to be paying a basic fee of £15.8 million that will break the club transfer record by rising to about £20 million with add-ons. The 22-year-old will arrive after Euro 2008. Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Barcelona were also believed to be interested in the diminutive playmaker, who can feature anywhere in midfield. “There were a lot of other teams interested in signing the player, which meant we had to speed things up,” Juande Ramos, the Tottenham head coach, said. “He is a footballer with an enormous future.”

Modric, who was at White Hart Lane on Saturday to watch the 1-1 draw with Bolton Wanderers, said his decision to join Tottenham was not difficult. “On Friday, the president of Dynamo Zagreb called me to tell me he had agreed a deal with Tottenham that was perfect for me,” he said. “At first, I was very surprised, then a few seconds later, I was proud over the prospect of coming to England. It is right that many clubs in England were interested in taking me, but my favourite from the first meeting was Tottenham because I am a big fan of Ramos.”

Modric added that the pace of the English game appealed to him, as well as the chance to be close to former teammates. “I want a new challenge,” he said. “The time is right. I have followed English football closely because three players from Dynamo Zagreb, Niko Kranjcar, Vedran Corluka and Eduardo da Silva, came to England and are among my best friends.”

Slaven Bilic, the Croatia coach, believes Modric has made a good decision. “Tottenham is perfect for Luka, better than, for example, Chelsea,” he said. “Chelsea could have bought him, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho and then Luka could have ended up on the bench. At Tottenham, Ramos will have patience so he gets used to the Premier League style of play. Luka will become the star of the team.”

Meanwhile, Ramos conceded on Saturday that Dimitar Berbatov, Tottenham’s world-class striker, could leave in the summer. “If a team pays the asking price the chairman wants, then, possibly, yes,” he said. A fee of about £25 million might be enough.

Newcastle have turned their attention to Richard Dunne, the Manchester City captain, who has been stalling on the offer of a new contract.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article3828471.ece

Well done Tottenham! Fair play like.

It didn't quite work out for us but at least we are in for the right type of player and we are in very early. The window hasn't even opened yet. If this was August 31st and this had happened then I would be livid.

I'm certain we will get in some very good players and I'm personally looking forward to the challenge of competing with the likes of Tottenham next season.

Certainly no tthe end of the world and I can't help bu tbe optimistic regardless.

You've got to be patient. He'll be signing on Friday.

I have my doubts over this TBH. He seems to have been linked with loads of clubs Liverpool and Spurs included recently.

 

In fact didn't MJ claim that he was going to sign for spurs? He will be on the next flight here then.

This essentially guarantees that he will sign for us before the week is out.

KaKa is confident. That is our first major setback. He's probably not going to come now

Have faith brother. I've got a good feel for these things.

Just the fact that we are going after this type of player and we are willing to invest such an amount on them is very positive in of itself.

I'm really looking frward to the summer.

This is awesome and I really don't feel I have any reason not to believe it.

We finally have some heavy hitters who seem to know what they are doing in the transfer market now and I am confident we can get good players in.

£16 million for such a highly rated and young prospect is music to my ears. These are the players we have to go for and not pay these same kinds of amounts for the likes of Deco.

Great stuff. I feel confident about this for sure.

I don't trust American players unless they are goalkeepers.

They just don't quite seem to get it. I love McBride though, he really impressed me with what he was able to achieve outside of the states. Dempsey looks alrightish at times, but outside of that the outfield players really seem to struggle. Reyna was goodish back in the day too I guess.

I just don't think they grow up watching enough decent football. The MLS just won't inspire you or teach you anything.

Looking back I really can't believe we stayed in the premier league in the year of the Roeder.

How the hell we ended up with such bad players getting a first team game is baffling.

I've been waiting for weeks to change the title of this thread.

 

Ahh.

It was all a smokescreen for our double bid for Scholes and Hargreaves.

Pay no attention to Redknapp.

The nitwit is currently playing Papa Bouba Diop on the right wing for goodness sake.

Robot training.

Did Boussaffa play in the African Nations Cup?

I didn't catch any of Moroccos games unfortunately.

not according to `Arry....STFU!

 

Portsmouth boss Redknapp: Owen being played out-of-position

April 13, 2008

 

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp believes Michael Owen is being played out-of-position at Newcastle United.

 

He said: "If you are asking me if I could see Michael playing for England in that position then, no, I couldn't.

 

"For me he's an on-the-shoulder striker who wants to make runs and get in there and score goals."

 

 

"I didn't want the job...but if you're asking me how it SHOULD be done..."

Yup, I think he's regretting all his silly talk of not wanting the job.

The boy is quality and I am very excited by the steady progress he is showing under Keegan.

He's going to be a fantastic player for Newcastle.

I like the what Mort has to say about other signings.

All but rules out the likes of Henry.

Mort likes his signings young and sexy 

Pretty similar players, but I've seen Senderos have more outstanding games than Taylor. Senderos is also a much bigger threat at scoring goals from corners. I think Senderos is a better player tbh.

Don't let the fresh memory of last night' game fool you. Afterall it was no worse than Taylors unbelievably poor performance against Manchester United earlier this season.

We have to remember that yesterday's game was a huge game with tons of pressure and not just another game. Senderos also hasn't played much recently and got thrown in at the deepend somewhat. I am pretty certain Taylor would have been worse under the same circumstances. I think he would have crumbled even moreso than Senderos.

Did any of you see Senderos at the world cup where he was great as a first teamer for Switzerland? They didn't concede a goal from open play during their group stage games. Taylor wouldn't look as impressive at that level.

Everton are struggling to agree a fee for Pienaar.

 

When i've see him he's looked good, anyone else share their thoughts?

 

£2.4m or something n all. Would take him in a heartbeat. Has looked good everytime i've watched him for Everton and I'm sure 1878 has given a good report or two before n all. Quick, creative, two decent feet, can play all along the midfield - get him in.

1878 would be livid! Apprently he's been better than Arteta this season.

£2.4 million?! What the hell is going on at Everton?

That is just ridiculous. They've had him on loan and he has performed well for them and become a first team fixture, and he is still pretty young.

And they are refusing to pony up £2.4 million?

That is quite unfortunate for them. Terrible effort.

Apparently he was on Chelseas books for sometime as a youth and so Wise was probably familiar with him then.

Maybe one of the ones Wise might suggest to Keegan.

How about sticking high brow transfer rumours in here and low brow ones in the new transfer forum.

 

Who determines the situation of the brow is another question.

what is a high brow transfer rumour ?

That my friend is the answer we all seek ...

How about sticking high brow transfer rumours in here and low brow ones in the new transfer forum.

Who determines the situation of the brow is another question.

Are all the games on tonight?

 

Nor Arsenal Vs Liverpool and Chelsea Fenerbache tonight

 

 

Man Utd and Barca games tomorrow

Cheers!

Any games on terrestrial TV?

Sky is not functioning at the mo.

Terrible thing to boo.

I will say this though, Martins goal against Spurs was exactly why you probably want him on the pitch when a team is coming at you towards the end of the game.

On the break he can be scarily effective. Scored a very similar goal against Blackburn last season too.

it was just a really silly way for the fans to express their feelings though.

Actually, Keegan mentioned the holding midfielder position as an area of weakness along with left backin one of the articles today.

We could do with a good younger prospect at DM. I know Veloso has been mentioned, but I think maybe we could do with someone with a bit more grit to their game.

Tell you who I absolutely love and who is grossly underated, is Arsenal's Alexandre Song! Very good prospect and was dynamite at the African Nations Cup.

Arsenal have so many CMs that he may never get a decent run and it would be worth enquiring for him.

Very strong in the tackle but is composed and passes the ball  around like you would expect from the Arsenal boys.

To the spiderman tune "Here comes the spiderman"

Geremi, Geremi

Started out so terribly

Returned from Ghana with quality

Must be cuz Allardyce is history

Watch out!

Here comes the Geremi!

To the tune of "Oh happy day ... when Jesus washed my sins away", whch is a call and (response) tune.

Oh Habib Beye (Oh Habib Beye)

Oh Habib Beye (Oh Habib Beye)

He'll tackle and cross (tackle and cross)

He'll tackle and cross (tackle and cross)

Tackle and cross all day (Oh Habib Beye)

Oh Habib Beye ...