I missed the first half of that. Two Manchester United fans have told me we played well in the first half. And the pundits said we played well in the first half. At least I didn't get my expectations up unnecessarily then.
Well nobody ever took any points off Manchester United by just playing well in the first half and it's scant consolation for a second-half performance that had the words "mid table at best" tattoed all over it in large "I told you so" letters.
Let's get one thing straight. Manchester United are better than us. It doesn't take 22 years without a win at Old Trafford to figure that out. But based on our showing in the last 45 minutes, we still look too similar to the side that won only three of our final 12 games last term.
We appeared jaded and impotent going forward. Early on, we kept possession well and we knocked the ball around confidently but we were bereft of ideas and never looked a threat to a largely inexperienced Man United defence.
Our centre backs and midfielders are still too happy to pump the ball up to nobody in particular, giving possession away too cheaply in the process. Then, when we did push into the final third, the ball was hit inaccurately at goal rather than dropped into the box to test a wobbly David De Gea in the United net.
There have been stories of Defoe looking sharper, stronger and more determined but he still didn't look the intelligent team player we are craving and Rafa Van Der Vaart still looks unfit.
All in all, we're left wondering exactly what we did with our pre-season other than counter act headline after headline of inaccurate Luka Modric speculation.
We may be missing a number of first-team players but a strong line-up still refused to press United on the ball and gave them enough time to appear the finished article.
We're not foreseeing doom and disaster. We're just making our disappointment clear.
After the Everton game was cancelled, we certainly didn't expect to start the campaign with a win. But lesser teams than us have beaten the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the past 22 years and it's fair to think that with this current Spurs team we can at least give them a game that lasts longer than the first half.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Thursday, 18 August 2011
Hearts v Tottenham: Live
Welcome to Taxi For Maicon for text coverage of our first leg Europa League tie against Hearts at Tynecastle.
Starting XI: Gomes, Walker, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Livermore, Kranjcar, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Defoe.
We'll be providing a purely Spurs voice; totally biased and typically cynical. Keep checking back here for updates of the game.
7.45pm: Spurs kick off to a chorus of boos from the Tynecastle crowd. Some neat passing in the opening moments, interspersed with us giving the ball away far too easily before Van Der Vaart releases Bale down the left to no avail.
7.50pm: GOAL Hearts 0-1 Spurs (Van Der Vaart)
One-twos all round from Spurs, after threatning just moments before with a shot from the edge of the box, VDV exchanges passes with Defoe. He looks like he's lost posession on the edge of the box but it deflects back into his path through the middle and the Dutchman slides it easily under the keeper to open the scoring.
7.55pm: Ideal start for Spurs and Hearts haven't really hit back. VDV is dropping deep and looking to make things happen. Defoe looks quick and all our lads look reasonably assured in possession.
8.00pm: GOAL Hearts 0-2 Tottenham (Defoe)
Class goal. Absolutely class. Lennon changes pace quickly to come in off the LEFT touchline, plays yet another one-two with VDV before feeding Defoe's run into the box. Not exactly a close first touch from Jermain but he's onto it like a flash and tucks it away easily.
8.03pm: Hearts have nothing so far. Before the second goal John Sutton hit a wild effort at goal from a long way out. Surely it's a bit early for desperate measures. Maybe not.
8.09pm: Kyle Walker looking to prove himself at right-back this evening and, as Hearts start to press, he gets back well to challenge Templeton. Our defence is wobbling a bit the more the ball is pumped into our box and the home fans are regaining a voice as their team grows in confidence.
8.12pm: GOAL Hearts 0-3 Tottenham (Livermore)
Another man looking to impress is Jake Livermore; and he's done just that. Slick passing in midfield between VDV, Defoe and eventually Livermore who slams the ball near post and it goes in after a touch from the keeper.
8.15pm: Remember last year's Euro qualifier? We were on the wrong side of this scoreline by now. Our lads would do well to remember that and I'm sure Harry Redknapp will point that out at half time. But as yet, we're still on the attack and Jermain Defoe acrobatically directs Lennon's cross from the right onto the bar, only to be called offside.
8.21pm: Kranjcar finds Bale on the left. Hearts are well aware of his danger but that isn't stopping him. He flashes down the wing and wins a corner from which Kaboul drifts in at the far side of the box to control and volley over.
8.30: That's half-time and it's the end of a good half of football. A nice way to start the season if we can keep it up.
8.46pm: Hearts kick off the second half.
8.50pm: Pressure from Hearts as they force three corners. It's difficult to have any more confidence in our defence. Gomes gets a touch on the third corner, but Andrew Driver bundles into the box and gets a shot away only for his own player to eventually deflect it wide.
8.55pm: Our grasp on this game is getting slippery as a strong Kaboul challenge sees him booked. He got the ball but his studs were up, fair decision. The 35-yard free-kick comes to nothing.
9.02pm: On the sideline, Tom Huddlestone is getting a shirt on and his presence would be useful in the centre of midfield right now. Van Der Vaart gives the ball away and Templeton flies onto the ball and tears through the middle of our defence. But Walker makes another impressive interception in front of Gomes and Livermore. Huddlestone comes on for VDV, and makes an immediate impact running onto a Defoe pass but fires his shot wide.
9.05pm: GOAL Hearts 0-4 Spurs (Bale)
Huddlestone's made a huge difference and is controlling the midfield. Gareth Bale runs onto a chipped pass from the big man, his first touch takes him past the keeper as his pace leaves the Hearts back line looking for a flag, simple tap in after that.
9.11pm: Andros Townsend comes on for Gareth Bale.
9.18pm: Hearts are getting dirty. Not physical, dirty. Kranjcar, Assou-Ekotto and now Kaboul are going to be bruised tomorrow.
9.19pm: GOAL Hearts 0-5 Spurs (Lennon)
Counter attack. Townsend breaks clear, outside of the boot ping to Defoe on the left who swings it in for Lennon to tap in. The Hearts fans are leaving and the Spurs fans are singing for Super Pav, who comes on for Defoe.
9.26pm: We're still knocking it about and pressing Hearts into their final third. Kranjcar looks eager to make his mark on the game, although at 5-0 you can't help think it's a game he should already have made his mark on. He's been solid but not uber-creative. Probably not enough to push for a start at Old Trafford at the weekend anyway.
9.30pm: A goal for the home side probably isn't going to change the tie, but you'd prefer we kept a clean sheet. Ryan Stephenson comes forward onto a headed clearance and drives the ball hard and low. It fizzes a foot past the right of Gomes' goal.
9.35: Almost some champagne footy from our front line as Lennon, Townsend and Pav probe for the space to create a sixth. But that's it. Final whistle. Game over. You never want to say job done, but we're not just in the driving seat, we're sat on the bonnet.
That's it from Taxi For Maicon this evening. Thanks for reading and keep checking back for news and opinion pieces throughout the week.
Starting XI: Gomes, Walker, Kaboul, Dawson, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Livermore, Kranjcar, Bale, Van Der Vaart, Defoe.
We'll be providing a purely Spurs voice; totally biased and typically cynical. Keep checking back here for updates of the game.
7.45pm: Spurs kick off to a chorus of boos from the Tynecastle crowd. Some neat passing in the opening moments, interspersed with us giving the ball away far too easily before Van Der Vaart releases Bale down the left to no avail.
7.50pm: GOAL Hearts 0-1 Spurs (Van Der Vaart)
One-twos all round from Spurs, after threatning just moments before with a shot from the edge of the box, VDV exchanges passes with Defoe. He looks like he's lost posession on the edge of the box but it deflects back into his path through the middle and the Dutchman slides it easily under the keeper to open the scoring.
7.55pm: Ideal start for Spurs and Hearts haven't really hit back. VDV is dropping deep and looking to make things happen. Defoe looks quick and all our lads look reasonably assured in possession.
8.00pm: GOAL Hearts 0-2 Tottenham (Defoe)
Class goal. Absolutely class. Lennon changes pace quickly to come in off the LEFT touchline, plays yet another one-two with VDV before feeding Defoe's run into the box. Not exactly a close first touch from Jermain but he's onto it like a flash and tucks it away easily.
8.03pm: Hearts have nothing so far. Before the second goal John Sutton hit a wild effort at goal from a long way out. Surely it's a bit early for desperate measures. Maybe not.
8.09pm: Kyle Walker looking to prove himself at right-back this evening and, as Hearts start to press, he gets back well to challenge Templeton. Our defence is wobbling a bit the more the ball is pumped into our box and the home fans are regaining a voice as their team grows in confidence.
8.12pm: GOAL Hearts 0-3 Tottenham (Livermore)
Another man looking to impress is Jake Livermore; and he's done just that. Slick passing in midfield between VDV, Defoe and eventually Livermore who slams the ball near post and it goes in after a touch from the keeper.
8.15pm: Remember last year's Euro qualifier? We were on the wrong side of this scoreline by now. Our lads would do well to remember that and I'm sure Harry Redknapp will point that out at half time. But as yet, we're still on the attack and Jermain Defoe acrobatically directs Lennon's cross from the right onto the bar, only to be called offside.
8.21pm: Kranjcar finds Bale on the left. Hearts are well aware of his danger but that isn't stopping him. He flashes down the wing and wins a corner from which Kaboul drifts in at the far side of the box to control and volley over.
8.30: That's half-time and it's the end of a good half of football. A nice way to start the season if we can keep it up.
8.46pm: Hearts kick off the second half.
8.50pm: Pressure from Hearts as they force three corners. It's difficult to have any more confidence in our defence. Gomes gets a touch on the third corner, but Andrew Driver bundles into the box and gets a shot away only for his own player to eventually deflect it wide.
8.55pm: Our grasp on this game is getting slippery as a strong Kaboul challenge sees him booked. He got the ball but his studs were up, fair decision. The 35-yard free-kick comes to nothing.
9.02pm: On the sideline, Tom Huddlestone is getting a shirt on and his presence would be useful in the centre of midfield right now. Van Der Vaart gives the ball away and Templeton flies onto the ball and tears through the middle of our defence. But Walker makes another impressive interception in front of Gomes and Livermore. Huddlestone comes on for VDV, and makes an immediate impact running onto a Defoe pass but fires his shot wide.
9.05pm: GOAL Hearts 0-4 Spurs (Bale)
Huddlestone's made a huge difference and is controlling the midfield. Gareth Bale runs onto a chipped pass from the big man, his first touch takes him past the keeper as his pace leaves the Hearts back line looking for a flag, simple tap in after that.
9.11pm: Andros Townsend comes on for Gareth Bale.
9.18pm: Hearts are getting dirty. Not physical, dirty. Kranjcar, Assou-Ekotto and now Kaboul are going to be bruised tomorrow.
9.19pm: GOAL Hearts 0-5 Spurs (Lennon)
Counter attack. Townsend breaks clear, outside of the boot ping to Defoe on the left who swings it in for Lennon to tap in. The Hearts fans are leaving and the Spurs fans are singing for Super Pav, who comes on for Defoe.
9.26pm: We're still knocking it about and pressing Hearts into their final third. Kranjcar looks eager to make his mark on the game, although at 5-0 you can't help think it's a game he should already have made his mark on. He's been solid but not uber-creative. Probably not enough to push for a start at Old Trafford at the weekend anyway.
9.30pm: A goal for the home side probably isn't going to change the tie, but you'd prefer we kept a clean sheet. Ryan Stephenson comes forward onto a headed clearance and drives the ball hard and low. It fizzes a foot past the right of Gomes' goal.
9.35: Almost some champagne footy from our front line as Lennon, Townsend and Pav probe for the space to create a sixth. But that's it. Final whistle. Game over. You never want to say job done, but we're not just in the driving seat, we're sat on the bonnet.
That's it from Taxi For Maicon this evening. Thanks for reading and keep checking back for news and opinion pieces throughout the week.
What have we learnt, if anything?
In keeping with Tottenham's season so far Taxi For Maicon is kicking off somewhat late and, in keeping Tottenham's transfer policy, we've also had a quiet summer.
The reason? Luka Modric. Every time we opened the paper, searched for 'Spurs' on Google or spoke football in the pub, it was the same old story. Certain publications were so desperate to push the story on that they've all now admitted that the Croatian never actually handed in a written transfer request.
We arrive at our opening game tonight, in very much the same condition we finished the season, so just what can we take from our summer?
Sales and strikers were top of the agenda at the end of last season and, whilst we wasted no time in securing some competition for the No.1 jersey, movement has been slow.
In the back of our collective mind, a concern manifested that the Modric saga would mirror the Dimitar Berbatov calamity of 2008, selling him at the last minute for a bumper fee but leaving no time to use the monies to fill the remaining hole – three months on and that concern has developed into a very realistic fear, as he's been left out the squad to play Hearts with a "groin injury".
Moving on, you would like think that after a full and successful pre-season, our squad would be in tip-top shape and raring to go but, to add to Luka's groin problem, we're missing Sandro, William Gallas, Steven Pienaar, Jermaine Jenas, Luka Modric, Tom Huddlestone and Wilson Palacios.
In fact it doesn't feel like we're in any stronger position than we were when the final whistle blew in our last game against Birmingham in May and today our first game back is soiled with the embarassment of the squad not being able to find a hotel in Edinburgh.
It's at least worth remembering that in May the bookies slashed the odds of Harry Redknapp joining Chelsea, so at least we still have our manager – for the time being.
Seeing some of the friendlies was also a reminder of the sort of quality we do have in the squad. Gareth Bale was back to business as usual, tearing down the left flank, Rafa Van Der Vaart, was scoring free-kicks for fun, even Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch found their shooting boots.
As far as building on last season goes, we all expected a bit more organisation, ambition and progress before the season kicked off rather having to wing it and take our chances with last-minute transfers again.
That said, progress is ultimately judged on the pitch and it'll be a relief to finally get the season underway. Next stop, transfer deadline day.
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Niko's four-midable performance
MK Dons 3-5 Spurs
Niko Kranjcar reminded everyone just what he is capable of as he was involved in four goals during our 5-3 friendly win over MK Dons at Stadium: MK last night.
The midfielder created three and scored a stunner to show Harry Redknapp that his Spurs career may yet have some legs.
It didn't take long for the Croat to get into his stride, releasing Roman Pavlyuchenko with a perfect pass after just eight minutes. The Russian striker beat the offside trap and fired into the top corner to open the scoring.
Kranjcar was at it again 20 minutes later, again creating for Pavlyuchenko, who latched onto another accurate pass and hammered the ball past David Martin in the MK Dons net.
MK Dons regrouped and hit the ground running after the break. Luke Chadwick pulled one back with a curler from 25 yards and Jabo Ibehre stunned Spurs when he prodded home the equaliser in the 72nd minute.
But Kranjcar regained the limelight in style. First his shot was parried by Martin allowing Spurs youngster Harry Kane to put us back in front before Niko unleashed a dipping 35-yard volley that flew past sub keeper Ian McLoughlin to make it 4-2.
Ibehre pulled one back for the Dons before Kane's second of the night guaranteed us the win in the 89th minute but it was Kranjcar who will take all the plaudits and certainly give Redknapp something to think about as the new campaign approaches.
Spurs team (4-4-2):David Button (Archer, 86); Nathan Byrne, Vedran Corluka (Tom Carroll, 82), Milos Veljkovic, Danny Rose; David Bentley, Jake Livermore (Massimo Luongo, 46), Niko Kranjcar, Andros Townsend; Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe (Harry Kane, 76). Subs: Ryan Mason, Jonathan Obika.
Niko Kranjcar reminded everyone just what he is capable of as he was involved in four goals during our 5-3 friendly win over MK Dons at Stadium: MK last night.
The midfielder created three and scored a stunner to show Harry Redknapp that his Spurs career may yet have some legs.
It didn't take long for the Croat to get into his stride, releasing Roman Pavlyuchenko with a perfect pass after just eight minutes. The Russian striker beat the offside trap and fired into the top corner to open the scoring.
Kranjcar was at it again 20 minutes later, again creating for Pavlyuchenko, who latched onto another accurate pass and hammered the ball past David Martin in the MK Dons net.
MK Dons regrouped and hit the ground running after the break. Luke Chadwick pulled one back with a curler from 25 yards and Jabo Ibehre stunned Spurs when he prodded home the equaliser in the 72nd minute.
But Kranjcar regained the limelight in style. First his shot was parried by Martin allowing Spurs youngster Harry Kane to put us back in front before Niko unleashed a dipping 35-yard volley that flew past sub keeper Ian McLoughlin to make it 4-2.
Ibehre pulled one back for the Dons before Kane's second of the night guaranteed us the win in the 89th minute but it was Kranjcar who will take all the plaudits and certainly give Redknapp something to think about as the new campaign approaches.
Spurs team (4-4-2):David Button (Archer, 86); Nathan Byrne, Vedran Corluka (Tom Carroll, 82), Milos Veljkovic, Danny Rose; David Bentley, Jake Livermore (Massimo Luongo, 46), Niko Kranjcar, Andros Townsend; Roman Pavlyuchenko, Jermain Defoe (Harry Kane, 76). Subs: Ryan Mason, Jonathan Obika.
Saturday, 23 July 2011
Spurs 3-0 Orlando Pirates
It was a case of "Crisis? What crisis?" today as our lads saw off the Bucs to win the prestigious Vodacom Challenge - otherwise dubbed the Tottenham Hotspur Trophy.
Our route to the final was brief and simple, as a 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs and a 1-1 draw with the Orlando Pirates were enough to see us qualify for the showpiece final. Qualify? Who are we kidding? We recieved a bye to the final based purely on the fact we are the mighty Tottenham Hotspur - maybe we should have tried that in the Champions League.
The Kaizer Chiefs were less than chuffed that, despite managing what we hadn't - a victory - they were still knocked out of the competition. Rough justice, but that's the way it goes. Money talks, as do shirt sales, corporate identity and household names.
Most Premier League teams seem to win more silverware in pre-season than during the full season and everyone seems to have at least one title to their name come opening day. But, whilst it's easy to mock a competition organised purely to give our squad a full-ego massage, it did signal distinct progress in our pre-season preparations.
Rafa Van Der Vaart scored twice, including his second free-kick of the tournament, so we know where the goals are coming from in the event that we continue to make no signings whatsoever. Defoe scored a poacher's goal, of which he was incapable last season. And Gareth Bale can still do what he does best, as Defoe's goal came from a pinpoint Bale cross.
So far so good. Add to that a clean sheet for Hilarious Gomes (we're calling him this until we're proven wrong) and a smile, a real displaying of teeth from captain Luka Modric as he lifted the trophy.
See Luka, that's exactly what you can expect next season if you stick about, plenty of goals, plenty of silverware - plenty of smiles. Honest.
Our route to the final was brief and simple, as a 1-0 loss to Kaizer Chiefs and a 1-1 draw with the Orlando Pirates were enough to see us qualify for the showpiece final. Qualify? Who are we kidding? We recieved a bye to the final based purely on the fact we are the mighty Tottenham Hotspur - maybe we should have tried that in the Champions League.
The Kaizer Chiefs were less than chuffed that, despite managing what we hadn't - a victory - they were still knocked out of the competition. Rough justice, but that's the way it goes. Money talks, as do shirt sales, corporate identity and household names.
Most Premier League teams seem to win more silverware in pre-season than during the full season and everyone seems to have at least one title to their name come opening day. But, whilst it's easy to mock a competition organised purely to give our squad a full-ego massage, it did signal distinct progress in our pre-season preparations.
Rafa Van Der Vaart scored twice, including his second free-kick of the tournament, so we know where the goals are coming from in the event that we continue to make no signings whatsoever. Defoe scored a poacher's goal, of which he was incapable last season. And Gareth Bale can still do what he does best, as Defoe's goal came from a pinpoint Bale cross.
So far so good. Add to that a clean sheet for Hilarious Gomes (we're calling him this until we're proven wrong) and a smile, a real displaying of teeth from captain Luka Modric as he lifted the trophy.
See Luka, that's exactly what you can expect next season if you stick about, plenty of goals, plenty of silverware - plenty of smiles. Honest.
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Dawson rubbishes contract disagreement
Michael Dawson has shot down press reports claiming that his is in dispute with the club over wages.
Today's papers say the club captain was offered a contract extension but found the basic wage insulting.
But Michael has moved quickly to dispel the rumours circling around him. He said: "I have no idea where this story has come from - it certainly has not come from myself or any of my representatives.
"I think I have always demonstrated that I am a proud player and captain of this club and nothing has changed in that respect.
"I have an excellent relationship with everyone at this club from the chairman, to the players to the supporters and I wouldn't want false reporting such as this to impact on that.
"There has been absolutely no fallout with anyone whatsoever. I still have four years left on my current contract and no issues regarding it whatsoever. It is an honour to be captain of this football club and my sole focus is on getting ready for the new season with Spurs and, hopefully, England as well."
Today's papers say the club captain was offered a contract extension but found the basic wage insulting.
But Michael has moved quickly to dispel the rumours circling around him. He said: "I have no idea where this story has come from - it certainly has not come from myself or any of my representatives.
"I think I have always demonstrated that I am a proud player and captain of this club and nothing has changed in that respect.
"I have an excellent relationship with everyone at this club from the chairman, to the players to the supporters and I wouldn't want false reporting such as this to impact on that.
"There has been absolutely no fallout with anyone whatsoever. I still have four years left on my current contract and no issues regarding it whatsoever. It is an honour to be captain of this football club and my sole focus is on getting ready for the new season with Spurs and, hopefully, England as well."
Monday, 11 July 2011
The damage is done, so let Luka leave
I'll apologise for the Luka Modric fracas being the continued topic for discussion but Spurs' summer is on a knife-edge and the way we handle this is going to be a defining factor in the direction the club takes.
As usual, the story from each side is strikingly different and it seems that both sides have reneged on promises: Levy may have said he would discuss big offers for the Croatian, but Modric also said he was happy at Spurs and that he wouldn't chase a transfer.
Shielding your eyes from the summer sun and peering down the road to Ashburton Grove, it's painstakingly obvious what happens if you let these situations get on top of you.
The Fabregas-Barcelona debacle has rolled over and over for years, like a rusting old water wheel dredging dirt to the surface every time a transfer window comes around.
You can see the scene in Dubrovnik last summer, when our chairman was desperate for the Croatian to extend his contract…
Modric probably presented his dealbreaker, in which he would be allowed to speak to any big club that came in, Levy probably brushed it off, making a passing comment that "we'll discuss it at the time". Both sides go away happy, Levy knowing he's got his man, Modric feeling his demands have been met.
Until now, a season on, the chairman has forgotten his throwaway comment where as Modric is clinging to it. In fact, not so much clinging to it, as tugging at it and tearing the very fabric of his relationship with Tottenham Hotspur.
The difference with the situation at Arsenal is that, after all these years, they seem to have sorted it. Arsene Wenger has today announced that, while press speculation raged over Nasri and Fabregas seeking summer moves, both of them will now stay put. Simple as that, dealt with behind closed doors and announced with authority.
Tottenham and Modric, on the other hand, are getting into a very public spat. Daniel Levy's initial statement of intent to keep Modric was impressive. A staunch "no" was exactly what needed to go out into the public domain, but in private, he needed to take a more personal approach.
Holding Modric against his will is a recipe for disaster and will unsettle all the team's most important players. This doesn't mean we should let everyone leave whenever a bigger club comes in, but treating him like a decent human being and giving him some rope to play with is far better than a stone-wall "get out of my office".
Levy isn't exactly a man-manager and, if anything, he should probably have let Harry Redknapp do the talking. Tell Modric "give us one more season, see where we're at next summer or, if you're desperate, you can leave in January."
That way, if we get these "two or three big signings", Modric may have a change of heart. Now, however, the damage is done and we have a situation that needs arresting before it spirals out of our control.
Tell Chelsea that if they meet the £35-£40m valuation this month, then he can leave. If not, he's a Spurs player next season. end of. That way, the ball is in Chelsea's court and Modric can see how far his new favourite club are prepared to go to sign him.
But it needs doing right and it needs doing quickly because at the moment, you get the feeling that the knife-edge we're sat on at the moment is in danger of slicing us in two.
As usual, the story from each side is strikingly different and it seems that both sides have reneged on promises: Levy may have said he would discuss big offers for the Croatian, but Modric also said he was happy at Spurs and that he wouldn't chase a transfer.
Shielding your eyes from the summer sun and peering down the road to Ashburton Grove, it's painstakingly obvious what happens if you let these situations get on top of you.
The Fabregas-Barcelona debacle has rolled over and over for years, like a rusting old water wheel dredging dirt to the surface every time a transfer window comes around.
You can see the scene in Dubrovnik last summer, when our chairman was desperate for the Croatian to extend his contract…
Modric probably presented his dealbreaker, in which he would be allowed to speak to any big club that came in, Levy probably brushed it off, making a passing comment that "we'll discuss it at the time". Both sides go away happy, Levy knowing he's got his man, Modric feeling his demands have been met.
Until now, a season on, the chairman has forgotten his throwaway comment where as Modric is clinging to it. In fact, not so much clinging to it, as tugging at it and tearing the very fabric of his relationship with Tottenham Hotspur.
The difference with the situation at Arsenal is that, after all these years, they seem to have sorted it. Arsene Wenger has today announced that, while press speculation raged over Nasri and Fabregas seeking summer moves, both of them will now stay put. Simple as that, dealt with behind closed doors and announced with authority.
Tottenham and Modric, on the other hand, are getting into a very public spat. Daniel Levy's initial statement of intent to keep Modric was impressive. A staunch "no" was exactly what needed to go out into the public domain, but in private, he needed to take a more personal approach.
Holding Modric against his will is a recipe for disaster and will unsettle all the team's most important players. This doesn't mean we should let everyone leave whenever a bigger club comes in, but treating him like a decent human being and giving him some rope to play with is far better than a stone-wall "get out of my office".
Levy isn't exactly a man-manager and, if anything, he should probably have let Harry Redknapp do the talking. Tell Modric "give us one more season, see where we're at next summer or, if you're desperate, you can leave in January."
That way, if we get these "two or three big signings", Modric may have a change of heart. Now, however, the damage is done and we have a situation that needs arresting before it spirals out of our control.
Tell Chelsea that if they meet the £35-£40m valuation this month, then he can leave. If not, he's a Spurs player next season. end of. That way, the ball is in Chelsea's court and Modric can see how far his new favourite club are prepared to go to sign him.
But it needs doing right and it needs doing quickly because at the moment, you get the feeling that the knife-edge we're sat on at the moment is in danger of slicing us in two.
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