There may be changes coming

[Glenn R]

Yet again, it seems to me that our defence, or rather lack of is a major cause for concern.

Having brought in Paulinho and Soldado, the best 2 pre season deals for years, it would seem that Bale has had a change of heart and decided that he wants to leave. And for a probable 60 - 80 million over the next 6 years, can anyone really blame him ?

I actually believe that it was Levy's intention to keep him, as is demonstrated by the above mentioned buys. But, once a player states that he wants to leave, then plan B has to be put into action.

Plan B for me is get the maximum possible for Bale, lets say 90 mill. Now spend that on a CB, LB, creative midfielder and another striker.

Apparently Levy is meeting Real tomorrow in Miami, and I dont think he is about to let them have our prime asset easily.

I would insist that if they want our best player, then we want something good in return, and I would insist on Morata and Contrao, plus say 60 million, or whatever. Then I think we will have a good chance of building a better all round squad for the future.

We are already addressing the issues of substandard players with the sale of Caulker and Dempsey. Lets now go the whole hog, and get rid of Hudd, BAE, Ade, and move on.

I agree; good points.

[taimedowne]

Doesnt this so called Special relationship with Real seem to be a spectacularly one sided affair. It seems to based on the principal of, you bend over and I'll try not to hurt you

[Glenn R]

Doesnt this so called Special relationship with Real seem to be a spectacularly one sided affair. It seems to based on the principal of, you bend over and I'll try not to hurt you

They have certainly shafted Spurs over Bale.

[Metalanimal]

The deal with Real is simple we have good players they get first dibs even if they are not for sale.  In addition they pay us over f**k knows how long as Modric still hasnt been paid for.

Its all one way traffic IMO!

[RSS61]

The deal with Real is simple we have good players they get first dibs even if they are not for sale.  In addition they pay us over f**k knows how long as Modric still hasnt been paid for.

Its all one way traffic IMO!

Presumably Levy will bear all this in mind during any negotiations.

The person who I feel sorry for most in all of this is AVB. He obviously has a solid long term plan in place, hence the recent purchases, almost as good as Ossie & Ricky were, and now he needs to know just who he will have ready to face Palace on August 19th.

[RiffHard]

The deal with Real is simple we have good players they get first dibs even if they are not for sale.  In addition they pay us over f**k knows how long as Modric still hasnt been paid for.

Its all one way traffic IMO!

Presumably Levy will bear all this in mind during any negotiations.

The person who I feel sorry for most in all of this is AVB. He obviously has a solid long term plan in place, hence the recent purchases, almost as good as Ossie & Ricky were, and now he needs to know just who he will have ready to face Palace on August 19th.

We're playing Palace on August 18. Anyway, the fact is we'll have two league matches before the transfer window closes and I personally would like to see our squad completed before our first game. As many around here, I used to think I'd walk away from Spurs and club football should we sell Bale. Now I'm starting to feel we should sell him, get two to four new lads in and move on. The lad himself hasn't come out and said he'd stay with us, so there's no guarantee he'd be as good as he  was if he was forced to stay. After all, Bale is only one player and it would be rather stupid to rely on one player. What if he gets a long-term injury? So, if Real want and can afford him, good luck.

[Paul Finch]

           Riff,
                  The operative sentence being if they can afford him, as I understand it, they are reputed to be, up to their necks in debt, and to add insult to injury they want to pay us in instalments, and bearing in mind they still owe us money from the Modric debacle, how the f**k can they afford him, and more importantly why is UEFA not stepping in and telling them that they cannot buy players when they are so much in debt? I am sure if it were any other Club they would step in!!!
 
 

[Glenn R]

           Riff,
                  The operative sentence being if they can afford him, as I understand it, they are reputed to be, up to their necks in debt, and to add insult to injury they want to pay us in instalments, and bearing in mind they still owe us money from the Modric debacle, how the f**k can they afford him, and more importantly why is UEFA not stepping in and telling them that they cannot buy players when they are so much in debt? I am sure if it were any other Club they would step in!!!
 
 

Real Madrid are in debt to the tune of £300 million. They can't buy any player outright but only through instalments. Unless they dance to Spurs tune (not the other way around) he won't be going anywhere.

[RiffHard]

           Riff,
                  The operative sentence being if they can afford him, as I understand it, they are reputed to be, up to their necks in debt, and to add insult to injury they want to pay us in instalments, and bearing in mind they still owe us money from the Modric debacle, how the f**k can they afford him, and more importantly why is UEFA not stepping in and telling them that they cannot buy players when they are so much in debt? I am sure if it were any other Club they would step in!!!
 
 

Real Madrid are in debt to the tune of £300 million. They can't buy any player outright but only through instalments. Unless they dance to Spurs tune (not the other way around) he won't be going anywhere.

That's what Spurs should do - make clear that Real can only have Bale if they're able to pay the whole sum right away.

[Glenn R]

           Riff,
                  The operative sentence being if they can afford him, as I understand it, they are reputed to be, up to their necks in debt, and to add insult to injury they want to pay us in instalments, and bearing in mind they still owe us money from the Modric debacle, how the f**k can they afford him, and more importantly why is UEFA not stepping in and telling them that they cannot buy players when they are so much in debt? I am sure if it were any other Club they would step in!!!
 
 

Real Madrid are in debt to the tune of £300 million. They can't buy any player outright but only through instalments. Unless they dance to Spurs tune (not the other way around) he won't be going anywhere.

That's what Spurs should do - make clear that Real can only have Bale if they're able to pay the whole sum right away.

If they did that then they wouldn't get Bale, but I agree with you.

[spursjoolz]

Bale will go as we will find out in the next few days.  As RM have no buying power other than HP (no pun intended) Levi will use his business acumen to get the best deal possible and that may well include more than one player + cash.

RM have been playing second fiddle to Barca for a few years now and in their quest to catch up,  they want to be seen to buy the best (the biggest names) and that means the likes of Bale even if it means getting deeper into debt.

[RSS61]

Bale will go as we will find out in the next few days.  As RM have no buying power other than HP (no pun intended) Levi will use his business acumen to get the best deal possible and that may well include more than one player + cash.

RM have been playing second fiddle to Barca for a few years now and in their quest to catch up,  they want to be seen to buy the best (the biggest names) and that means the likes of Bale even if it means getting deeper into debt.

You are right, he will go, because he wants to.

[Paul Finch]

      My point is, and no-one has picked up on it, how come UEFA haven't told RM that they cannot keep making ridiculous bids for players when they so obviously cannot afford to, bearing in mind that they(RM) still owe us money from last years transfer of Modric.   
      Surely this goes against the Financial Fair Play rule that UEFA are introducing or does it not apply to RM?
 
 

[RSS61]

      My point is, and no-one has picked up on it, how come UEFA haven't told RM that they cannot keep making ridiculous bids for players when they so obviously cannot afford to, bearing in mind that they(RM) still owe us money from last years transfer of Modric.   
      Surely this goes against the Financial Fair Play rule that UEFA are introducing or does it not apply to RM?
 
 

There is an old saying. Those who own the gold make the rules.

[spursjoolz]

We don't really know what is going on in the Bale saga. Whilst I am convinced that he will leave, I hope that I am wrong and that he will be persuaded to stay.

We have signed 3 good players so far + Capoue who is very likely to join us next week. In addition to Sandro's and possibly Kaboul's returns, we are no longer a one man team.

IF Bale stays (or is convinced that Spurs is the best place for him) and that's a big if,  this would be the cherry on the cake for me unless we sign 2 world class players to replace him.