The TT Football Club

[crosscourt]

The manager of England has to say now what he wants and expects from the players. Unless he does that there is seemingly no chance that they will adapt. They can do it.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by crosscourt

The manager of England has to say now what he wants and expects from the players. Unless he does that there is seemingly no chance that they will adapt. They can do it.

I agree, it needs to be agreed upon from all levels. A blueprint is what is needed i'd of thought, the new football centre seems to be closer than it's been for awhile, aswell as smaller pitches for kids being discussed. The stepping stones are there I think.

Germany did it in 2000 and look where they are now. There is an awful lot of work needed to be done, and even if we get it right we probably won't start seeing results for another 10 years at least. It's something we have to commit to though.

Originally Posted by Ross K

Fena - Yes, at last Spurs seem to be getting somewhat more active, and this Sahin for Modric + 30M could be great for us. Sigurdsson I like a lot and see him as a good VdV replacement. The Vertonghen saga is trying my patience to breaking point. We dedperatey need him IMO. And I expect AVB to bring in a few more ppl in the next couple of weeks, including (hopefully) the likes of Mutinho, Hulk, D'Oliveira, etc!

I think there should be alot of optimism for Spurs fans. This summer is very important for them, get the right manager in and bring in Vetonghen, Sahin, Sigurdsson (excellent young replacement for van der Vaart, as you say) and then use the £30 Million on a top striker and you have the spine in place. I think most top teams have a very strong spine, the Cech, Terry, Lampard, Drogba spine through the middle at Chelsea was the foundation for the success over the last 10 years for instance.

When you think the likes of Bale, Walker, Lennon etc.. are also there, all still young. They're doing ok.

[crosscourt]

Well, I think we spotted in the Germany v Greece game that Germany are vulnerable at the back, and that their defenders could be isolated. So it proved. What was so impressive was how easy Italy made it look.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by crosscourt

Well, I think we spotted in the Germany v Greece game that Germany are vulnerable at the back, and that their defenders could be isolated. So it proved. What was so impressive was how easy Italy made it look.

It was the moment I saw the German lineup that I knew it would be Italy. I'd of backed them more if they had Schurrle and Reus in instead of Kroos and Podolski.

The defence was a big problem, I was willing to give them a second chance after the Greece game, but they got torn apart again tonight. Lahm for the 2nd goal was awful, the other 3 are all relatively young and still learning, but he shouldn't be making errors like those in the big games.

[Ross K]

Fantastic display by the ever-classy Italians... Low seemed to screw it up re his first half selections/strategy/whatever... I just posted about it in the Euro thread.

Of course, as Italy could only beat us on pens, this is all going to be used as proof that actually Hodgson's England aren't so awful after all.

BTW gooners, let's fervently hope Podolski can replicate this kind of eye-catching form for Arsenal next season.

[crosscourt]

Italy seem to be another well balanced side, with the huge advantage of being able to play two strikers. They have done very well to reinvent themselves after the debacle of South Africa.

A few months ago I would have said that Germany were the form team and favourites going into the tournament. The Spanish players looked drained and the inability of either of their sides to get to the final of the Champions League seemd to support that. But the Germans, for all their energy, failed to create clear chances -- the guy they wanted to score just didn't get through on goal enough. Spain, for all their lack of a centre forward, and Italy, seem to manage that more easily in the games that really count.

[PED]

Originally Posted by PED

Should be some tasty semis this week, I think Germany takes Italy, Italy look good against lesser opposition but the Germans have too much game. Should be nice ith a more aggressive Italian team than in the past.

Fail post by yours truly! What was I thinking. At least I got it right about how much more interesting an aggressive Italy is.

In hindsight England should feel good that they held these guys scoreless for 120 minutes.

I'm pulling for Italy on sunday.

Nice to see Mario step up. Now makes me wonder if City really need RvP

[Feña14]

So Real Madrid are having second thoughts on Modric, whilst Abramovich appears to be keeping his promise to the player and will come back in for him.

I think the fee he does go for will be very interesting. Last year we bid £25 Million, £35 Million and £40 Million. Levy says he wants £50 Million. Who gets him and at what price?

[Dave M]

Is Modric that good?
I see Bale signed a new deal, a genuine new one do you all think or a "here's some extra cash and we can charge more for you kind of deal?"
Hammers are it seems in for Gallas, i'm very excited about that.

[PED]

Originally Posted by Dave M

Is Modric that good?

No (10 characters)

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Dave M

Is Modric that good?
I see Bale signed a new deal, a genuine new one do you all think or a "here's some extra cash and we can charge more for you kind of deal?"
Hammers are it seems in for Gallas, i'm very excited about that.

It's tough to say, he's one of those neat and tidy players that do the simple things well and make them look easy. They don't really grab the attention like Messi or Ronaldo or goal scorers do. Players like him take time to be appreciated, Xavi wasn't rated like he is now back when he was young, even though he was still doing the unique things back then.

I think if Modric gets a move to one of the really big clubs and keeps doing what he does, he will get more praise.

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Feña14

It's tough to say, he's one of those neat and tidy players that do the simple things well and make them look easy. They don't really grab the attention like Messi or Ronaldo or goal scorers do. Players like him take time to be appreciated, Xavi wasn't rated like he is now back when he was young, even though he was still doing the unique things back then.

I think if Modric gets a move to one of the really big clubs and keeps doing what he does, he will get more praise.

Yeah i know what you mean about the ones who just go about their business. I am sure we can all agree he is very much int he mold of for example John Moncur.

[Feña14]

Originally Posted by Dave M

Yeah i know what you mean about the ones who just go about their business. I am sure we can all agree he is very much int he mold of for example John Moncur.

I'd say they're pretty much twins!

I think if Modric played for Barcelona he wouldn't look too out of place alongside Xavi and Iniesta with the passing, that's probably as big a compliment as you can give him.

[Feña14]

They're saying Real Madrid will only come up with £20 Million for Modric, Chelsea are going to offer £36 Million. Levy refuses to sell to another English club, hmm. Hopefully we don't have this drawn out all summer again.

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Feña14

I'd say they're pretty much twins!

I think if Modric played for Barcelona he wouldn't look too out of place alongside Xavi and Iniesta with the passing, that's probably as big a compliment as you can give him.

I try not to watch Spurs too much on tv these days so i'll take the Moncs ref, I didn't realise he was that good. Now I think if he was up to Ian Bishops class then he'd displace Iniesta!
It is hard to judge some players, Hammers had a full back on loan last year George Mcartney, he seemed solid all year but nothing amazing (apart from one goal I think away at Cardiff that even he seemed suprised by) yet he won all the players awards given out amongst themselves. Just shows that sometimes the other players appreciate different things than are obvious.

[Ross K]

OMG, Redknapp is already trying to cause AVB and Levy some problems. And what BLX the man spouts as well!

Perhaps he thinks we've forgotten he was all set to ditch Tottenham in a heartbeat for England, as well as blowing an all but wrapped up, gilt-edged chance for CL qualification with an unprecedented run of managerial ineptitude?!

As someone has answered below the article, it is indeed all so self-serving.

Anyhow, out with the old, in with the new, for better or worse, AVB is about to be grabbing the headlines as he'll be officially announced in the next few days.

As for Redknapp, expect to see him managing a middle-tier PL side pretty shortly I imagine, and doubtless not too far up North. Okay, a bit on the theoretical side or whatever, but I wouldn't be altogether shocked if the Allardyce-hating Hammers went back to HR in the event of Big Sam's dire style of football yielding a poor start to their season.



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/...e=breakingnews

[Dave M]

Originally Posted by Ross K

.

As for Redknapp, expect to see him managing a middle-tier PL side pretty shortly I imagine, and doubtless not too far up North. Okay, a bit on the theoretical side or whatever, but I wouldn't be altogether shocked if the Allardyce-hating Hammers went back to HR in the event of Big Sam's dire style of football yielding a poor start to their season.
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Too many bridges were burnt there for him to return, something went on with him and the legend that is Billy Bonds that caused him to not goto the club he served so well for almost 15 years, hten when he actually left the rumours have never been clear4ed of all the tranfer dealings of sales that he was entitled to a piece of.(How can that be correct that a manager of a club has a clause entitling him to a % of any players he agrees to sell?)
Afraid the stuff in the press is just the start, it'll go on for as long as he has mates to ask the right questions (or untill he gets a new job).
Rather have Zola back...............

[Ross K]

I put in my usual disclaimer that it could very well just be so called "in the know' nonsense, but a few things I've picked up on recently are saying to be prepared for a complete jaw-dropper of an announcement or 2 at Spurs within the next 48 hrs or so - and apparently this has nothing to do with AVB or present known transfers.

That take over/investment thing I mentioned a few days ago maybe?... I just wonder if it isn't actually AVB at all and Levy has someone else in mind?... Is there some prestigious signing or 2 that no-one had envisaged?

Right. Putting together this puzzle, I reckon Stav's Kebab House on the Seven Sisters Rd is investing £4000 and providing free chips for a season; the surprise new manager will actually be Glenn Roeder (Dave, you were right all along); and the legend that is Carlton Palmer is being brought back out of retirement to grace us at WHL with his Pirlo-like skills.

[Ross K]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...of-move-946932

That ^ kind of helps typify why for me it's between France and Holland as to who are the most divided, quarrelsome, egocentric and generally disunited team for these Euros.

And to think it was only a few years ago in S. Africa when England were right up there with the world's elite!

[crosscourt]

As you know I was in France the week before last and it was difficult not to be struck by the sheer petulance of a number of French players. That said, when you take them out of the French team, they can change. Evra seems to have been quite a stable player at at United. It was a shock that he was one of the ring leaders of France's problems in South Africa. All the same, if I was a Premiership manager I would think very hard before buying any of the current crop. From what I have seen that applies to M'Vila in particular.