The Daily Bale

Gareth Bale isn't going to play in a feisty British derby but then nobody ever though he would want to get injured and prevent a move. According to Punto Pelota Real Madrid have made two offers for him, £72.79 million (€87M) in one single payment or £84.76 million (€98.7M) split over four years. Punta Pelota is a sports news program that primarily covers Real Madrid and  produce a live football show online with Josep Pedrerol every night from Sunday to Thursday.

Chris Coleman has confirmed what we all knew anyway, that Bale is not injured. "We are not here to get in the way but if Gareth had a chance of playing he would be playing. The reason he is not playing is because mentally he is not ready and physically he is not ready to play.

"He has not been training at Tottenham and not enough sessions. This is not just for Gareth but any player, it is too risky. We have got a good medical team and after having talks with them the feeling was that it is too much of a risk.

"Whatever Tottenham Hotspur and Gareth Bale decide to do and whether he stays or goes is nothing to do with me, my job is when he comes with Wales and how he plays and is with us and that is all fantastic the other side is between Gareth and Tottenham."

And according to Wales teammates say the Star he has played his last game for Spurs. A Wales insider told the paper: "Gareth is confused and bitter. He can't understand why Spurs have not agreed what would be the largest transfer fee in history.

"How could any player not be affected when he knows one of the world's biggest clubs has made a huge bid - but that the deal isn't progressing? One thing's certain, he'll not play for Spurs again."

According to Marca who seem to get their information from Bale's agent or via Madrid from Bale's agent say he is meeting Levy tomorrow to further discuss his future.

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Ronaldo, Bale, Perez, Madrid, Man U - the ego and the designer label

Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. The saga continues taking twists and turns, being played out in the press. But the real story here is one of  two ego's Florentino Perez and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid president Perez is like a young adult, a slave to fashion, someone who must have the latest shiny new sparkling outfit, the latest designer label. Gareth Bale is that latest designer label Perez must have.

Andre Villas-Boas has dome to Bale what he did to Hulk, taken a decent player and sent his status rocketing skyward, so much so that Bale is now a commercial dream, one of the top marketing tools among footballers on the planet. He is the player everyone around the world is talking about, the player everyone wants to be associated with.

Perez yearns for another Galactico era, the days when he would go out and buy three or four superstars not just one. The days when he was the hero for bringing superstars to Madrid. He would love another stars XI, a Hollywood team. The showman in him loves it, to be associated with and sign the best, but the days of not having to pay tax or loans back in Spanish football have gone. Spanish football is having to tighten it's belt.

Perez now has to cut his cloth accordingly but he still wants the perceived kudos of the latest fashion item, the best designer labels whether he can afford them or not. A lack of money won't stop him window shopping just to be associated with a player everyone wants, hoping a little of the glamour will rub off on him.

Before being elected unopposed Perez said his number one signing this summer will be Ronaldo renewing his contract. The Madrid president reminds me of Michael Knighton, who tried to buy Man United for £20 million in 1989 when he had no money, but it gave him his moment in the limelight as his quote at the time showed: "It made everybody happy and, for 64 hours or so, I was a hero."

Perez has a constant yearning to be that hero but he's not the only one.

Cristiano Ronaldo has a massive ego and doesn't want anybody taking the limelight away from him, not Perez, not Bale. It is well known his ego wants him to be the best paid player in the world so the nonsense reports about a potential move back to Manchester United this summer are merely a negotiating tactic. A tool designed to get the wage increase he is after, pay me or I leave. Perez is not going to let a guy who scores 50 goals a season depart, there is no guarantee you can replace that. Why would Ronaldo take a step down from Real Madrid to Man United? The simple answer is he wouldn't unless he was coming to the end of his career.

If Gareth Bale arrived at Madrid he would have to share the limelight and whilst other Madrid players have followed the party line publicly he hasn't. Last week he was asked at a press conference about Bale joining: "I have my views but I am not going to share them publicly."

No wringing endorsement then, more of an I don't want him and it was also reported from their tour in the States that several players expressed their unhappiness at the cost of Bale during a club dinner with the directors all present.

On one hand Ronaldo wants to be top dog with a supporting cast he can look down and lavish praise on, Bale is a threat to that, he can't have the press all talking about someone else. He is Madrid's marketing tool, if Bale arrives he'll take over that mantle, his ego won't handle that.

On the other Perez wants a shiny new handbag and Bale is the latest designer label he can't afford. The trouble is when you obsess about something you try every way you can to get the money to buy it.

Only one ego will win, the question is which one. Spurs fans are hoping Ronaldo gets his way.

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The Daily Bale, Sigurdsson & a transfer system change

And what is the daily Gareth Bale story, well it's a daft one. The papers desperate to keep a saga going, with Real Madrid having no cash, have suggested Man United are in the race. They have never been in the race, they ran a mile when they were quoted £75 million and he is at least £25 million more than that now.

Levy would not want to sell to a rival so he certainly wouldn't reduce the price. The stories don't mention figures they would bid which have previously been suggested at £60 million except to say it is believed Levy wants £110 million. A bit of a difference there then. I simply can't see Man U paying £100 million for a player. can you?

The stories suggest they would offer Javier Hernandez as part of the deal but having bought Soldado Spurs would surely want a forward more in the Adebayor mold.

Players need to start learning when they are under contract they are under contract and should get on with it unless the club wish to sell them. All players who want to leave should have to hand in transfer requests and not try to force moves instead so the club have to negotiate a golden handshake or pay the remaining wages in their contracts.

Imagine three years left on a contract for a player on £10 million a year and that is £30 million the club has to fork out or negotiate a golden handshake. If a transfer request is handed in then it's a sale against the clubs wishes so they don't have to pay the remaining wages in the contract. Players rarely hand in transfer requests for that very reason, they, or at least their agents, want it every way.

I appreciate that agents negotiate both sides, they talk to clubs and negotiate potential transfers while simultaneously negotiating better contracts for their player with the club he is currently with. Having to put in a transfer request before being allowed to talk to another club would give some power back to clubs and make contracts worth something rather than the player holding all the power as they do now. If a player can just up and leave forcing a move at any time during his contract whilst still getting the full benefits of it, then the contract from the clubs point of view is pointless, all it does is ensure a transfer fee.

How can a business, for that is what clubs are, plan a strategy without knowing what resources it will have at it's disposal? It wouldn't happen in the business world and a football team is no different. You can plan a style, a system and buy players to fit a system, but if a player ups and goes just like that then you have to find a replacement who is available or change the system. If nobody is available of sufficient quality you are a weaker side through no fault of your own.

If a club sign a player and realise they have made a mistake, as we have in Adebayor, then fair enough, the club want to sell against the players will in theory so you pay up the agreed contract or negotiate a golden handshake.

A temporary way out is a loan move. Take the situation of Gylfi Sigurdsson, talented but it hasn't worked thus far at Spurs, We are playing him out of position, generally wide, the only reason that I can see is if we were planning a 4-3-3 and wanted someone cutting in to have shots. With Chadli now to do that he has been given a central chance. He has to either take it or you start to wonder how he'll get game time.

Gylfi earlier this summer requested a loan move which is a world away from trying to force a transfer. The loan system is a whole new subject, should you be allowed to loan a player to the league you are playing in for instance, would that stop the rich clubs buying all the kids and loaning them out to see which ones make it?

With the Gylfi situation, at least all parties were able to sit down and discuss the way forward without the wages noose looming it's ugly head.

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Parker, Defoe, Vertonghen, Cabaye, Dembele, Bernard, oh and Bale!

A quick round up of the afternoon Spurs news.

We have turned down a QPR bid for Scott Parker it would seem, there may be an improved offer on it's way. It would be a surprise if Parker went down a division with the World Cup coming up next summer. They also asked about Jermain Defoe Harry told the London Evening Standard, "I'd love to have Jermain. We made an enquiry but at the moment he's not available."

Jan Vertonghen feels it's touch and go whether he can make the season opener on August 18.

"I'm making a lot of progress. I'm starting to run. The next game is nine, 10 days from now, so I will be quite close. You never know what can happen and I always aim for the best and hope next week I'll be very close."

Spurs desire to land Newcastle ace Yohan Cabaye had been confirmed by PSG manager Laurent Blanc.

"He is a very good player, I have not changed my mind. I read that Tottenham are also interested. Newcastle, Tottenham or Paris, I hope he will be at a big club in September."

Mousa Dembele wants a better Tottenham performance on Saturday and shows a great attitude, we weren't good enough last time, let's improve.

“It’s a very important game for us because there will be a lot of players back and we would like to begin our season with a good feeling at White Hart Lane,” said Mousa.

“It’s going to be important for us, to show the fans as well that we are ready to do big things this season, so they have confidence in us.

“You never want to lose 5-2, but sometimes that can act as a bit of a shock, a wake-up call, and we see we still have work to do.

“It’s a blessing as well that the game was in pre-season and we can get together and say ‘okay, we need to do more, so let’s do it’.”

And finally Florentino Perez is making noises about not talking about Gareth Bale again and whilst not talking about him says  €100 million is to much for him, good, you won't want him then will you.

"We talk with lots of people and we will see what happens in all our negotiations with this player [Bale] and others," Perez has said.

"We do not usually talk about other players out of respect to the player, the club and the president with whom I have made a good friendship.

"If I do not talk about names, I do not talk about money, [but] €100m seems a lot to me, a lot for everything."

Finally one we can cross off the list Bernard, he has joined Shakhtar Donetsk. The Ukranian Champions were the only club to meet Athletico Mineiro's valuation of the 20 year-old.

Last night's article: What does Soldado offer?

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Gareth Bale

The Gareth Bale saga rumbles on with quotes from Iker Casillas, Ledley King and those famous newspaper 'sources.'

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If you missed it the article last night looked at what Roberto Soldado offers Spurs and suggests you won't see much of him on the left hand side of the pitch (opens in new window): What does Soldado offer?
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Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has told Spanish paper AS: "We still don't know if it's [Bale] official or not. There has been a lot of talk about it in the last few days, just like in every pre-season."

Not we'd like to sign Gareth Bale, we are trying to sign him but 'we don't know if it's official or not.' Interpretation of that could mean what you want using literal translation or a bit of licence. It could mean the only thing to agree on is a fee, it could mean we are trying to sign him but it hasn't happened yet, it could mean we are Real Madrid of course it will happen. It just depends what you want to read into it, the papers love that sort of thing. He went on:

"Last year it was Modric and now it's 'the Bale saga'. The president and Jose Angel Sanchez (Real's director general) always do everything to try and bring the best players to the club. The current squad is complete in every area but if a player like Bale comes along, he'll be welcomed."

That part is an acknowledgement that he is a quality player but backtracks on the initial part of the statement, 'do everything to try' suggests a deal is far from certain. Carlo Ancelotti may not be prepared to talk about Bale even though he has talked about Bale but plenty of other Real Madrid players will, anything that helps to keep the pressure up through the media. They want to gender an air of inevitability.

The Mirror suggest the cost of the move is not welcomed in the Real Madrid dressing room. Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos forced out Jose Mourinho they tell us and go on to give us an account of a dinner in a Los Angeles restaurant with players, staff and directors all present.

Bale became the topic of discussion it is claimed and one of the senior players is reported to have said that he was "surprised that Perez was willing to pay so much for one player" and that another asked, "What about us?"

A third player was adamant that Bale was not needed, and that the squad Carlo Ancelotti already has is strong enough without him.

That sounds like a few either worried about their places or surprise at the cost of the fee, clearly they don't understand the commercial side of football, or it could all be blown out of proportion or made up of course. Sounds like a paper attempting a new angle to suggest they have exclusive news on the saga when in fact it's all pretty meaningless. Others of course will claim it's dressing room unrest but that's only because papers throw in words like 'adamant' when in fact they have no idea of the tone actually used. You takes your pick and makes your choice.

Further reports suggest a £14 million different between the clubs, others £18 million and yet more that the two clubs are nowhere near each other in valuation, that's all before the payment structure question raises it's ugly head.

From a Spurs point of view legend Ledley King suggests the Bale transfer speculation won't affect the other players.

"At this time of the season, you are not sure what's going to happen," King said at the launch of the club's new interactive online game Tottenham Turfies.

"I'm sure every club is the same. As players you learn to deal with that.

"You just get your head down and concentrate on performing your best for the team and that's what the players will be doing."

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Gareth Bale and the ring of truth

It's 5 o'clock in the morning and the Bale situation rankles so I'll post my initial uncoordinated ramblings, which not having had enough tea yet may not flow but leap about a bit.

Let me start by thinking back to last summer and what I was posting on my Facebook Fan page, Tottenham Memorabilia.

I wrote that the minimum requirement was top 4, without which Bale would leave. For AVB to be considered a success he has to finish in the top 4, that is the target Levy has set, nothing else will do.

That basically summed it up.

After 3 games I wrote a very critical article and how even at that early stage things had to change. The tactic of taking off Defoe and Lennon to bring on defensive players to hold a lead, was a chalkboard theory that didn't work in practice. If continued it would cost us Champions League football and Gareth Bale.

We made subtle changes, missed by many but they were there and evolved as the season went on.

One part of that has been proven to be right and the second is now a possibility.

Andre Villas-Boas turned Gareth Bale into a superstar in half a season, he turned Hulk into the most sought after striker last summer, the man makes a habit of it, let's hope he does it with Chadli. Having been turned into a worldwide superstar and given him income opportunities beyond his expectations, it is disappointing that Bale now seems to think he shouldn't even give us a season of that superstar status.

It's safe to say Real Madrid are not on the Christmas card list for Spurs fans. Their campaign to get Luca Modric and try to make him force a move was not pleasant, now we have the same again.

Through their mouthpiece, Marca, they have fed stories for the British press to pick up on and spread over here. The word Bale sells papers so our media lap it up.

Madrid through Zidane say they have a good relationship with Spurs and will do everything in the correct manner. Well that is a blatant lie. To blackmail a player, as they appear to have done, is the lowest of the low. You come now or you never come at all is what is suggested they have told him, the aim obvious, get him to force a move, a tactic that appears to be working.

A minor injury where he didn't play against Colchester as a precaution on 19 July. It is now 29 July and he still hasn't played in two more games. You could say you didn't want to risk him on a terrible pitch but one thing sticks out like a sore thumb here and for me gives credibility to all these stories, apart from AVB no longer wanting to talk about Bale.

Where was Gareth Bale in Hong Kong?

You are in a massive market where you want to maximise your brand exposure, not only does your greatest marketing asset not play, but against South China he stayed in the dressing room. Would you at least not show him to the people, sign some autographs etc? There is a worldwide TV audience watching wanting to see him and he doesn't want to be seen in Spurs colours.

Think about it, have you seen one PR story or photo opportunity with Gareth Bale while Spurs were in Hong Kong, because I don't recall one. Google "Gareth Bale in Hong Kong" and nothing comes up, not in Google UK.

That does not make any commercial sense, that rings alarm bells. In a market we want to sell to, he wasn't selling us.

There seems to be one man getting away scott free in all this at the moment, Gareth Bale's agent Jonathan Barrett. He has constantly been popping up on Spanish radio and TV broadcasts saying Bale would listen to offers from Real Madrid, that he loves them etc. He has been feeding them and Gareth Bale hasn't stopped him.

His latest, for it can only have come from him, is to feed Marca the Gareth Bale Daniel Levy civilized chat over a cup of tea contents. Cue stories of Bale furious and wanting to leave now. What does Barrett want? Does he want Bale to move now or does he know he'll move next summer and is trying to get Spurs to pay his boy £200,000 a week and not £150,000?

His lack of marketing the club in Asia tells me he wants out, that the stories are true, his head has been turned, Real Madrid's tactics have worked.

At the start of last season I felt £50 million was his price tag which rose to £60 million half way through the season and now is a world record figure.

If Bale goes Champions League becomes a doubt, which costs us £40 million and sets our development back again. If Bale goes we lose worldwide exposure and the commercial benefits that brings, he is a sponsors dream. What figure do you place on that? Because they have to be factored into any transfer fee.

The fee for Bale is not about footballing ability alone, but the commercial opportunities he brings. David Beckham was a commercial godsend to every club he went to. Real Madrid's income soared when he was there and Cristiano Ronaldo has taken on that mantle, next in line is Gareth Bale.

If you start to look at his transfer in those terms, in what Real Madrid gain and what we lose, then his price goes through the roof, any negotiation should reflect that so the suggestion from one ITK'er that they have been quoted 150 million doesn't surprise me. I would ask is that EUR or pounds.

I think we are in a dogfight to keep him, I really do.

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Have Madrid paper Marca broken the law this time

The Madrid based paper Marca fresh from inventing a story about Gareth Bale agreeing a 6 year contract, when he probably doesn't even have permission to talk to Real Madrid, today move into slander territory.

They claim Gareth Bale had a meeting with Daniel Levy last Wednesday and they claim to quote Gareth Bale telling him "I'm not interested in Manchester United, I only want to play for Real Madrid."

It is of course their front page news.

They say that he demanded to be allowed his dream move to Real Madrid and that Levy had said he would listen to any reasonable offers, sounds like a Luka Modric story doesn't it. They go on to claim he has submitted a transfer request and that he has not been injured for the last two games.

Zinidine Zidane has told Real Madrid president Florentino Perez that "He's the number one. The player's class lets you aspire to winning the Champions League. Not only is he a strong and fast player. He's Also clever on the pitch".

Those words from Zidane to him have reignited his interest it seems and made him push further for a deal. It is about time Real Madrid were reported for their behaviour, which Daniel Levy wasn't best pleased with.

Quoting someone in print if they haven't said it, is slanderous. How is a Spanish paper supposed to know if a meeting took place and what was said in it, it's not as if Daniel Levy is going to tell them anything. So either this is complete fabrication and slander or Gareth Bale's agent has been speaking to both Real Madrid and them, in which case he should be in hot water with Spurs. That seems unlikely given the relationship between the two is said to be close.

Any meeting would be private as would the contents, nothing would be allowed to be released without the clubs permission and they most certainly wouldn't give that.

Well I doubt his mood has improved much now, in fact he is said to be seething.

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Bale injured, Rose to stay at Spurs

Andre Villas-Boas has spoken in Hong Kong ahead of tomorrows game against Sunderland in the Asia Trophy and confirmed that Sunderland target Danny Rose, will stay at Tottenham Hotspur next season.

“Danny has had an excellent season. He’s one of the players that we all want for our future,” Villas-Boas said.

“It was one of those occasions where it’s all worked out extremely well for him and he will definitely be part of our squad this season.

“Credit to him for making it work. This year he’ll want to be involved with Tottenham and hopefully he’ll have a big future ahead of him.”

Villas-Boas also announced that Gareth Bale is still recovering from the injury he picked up in training before the 0-0 draw against Colchester which both he ans Aaron Lennon sat out.

“On Gareth I want to repeat what I was telling you last season and what I was telling you from the beginning of pre-season so I cannot extend myself,” he said.

“He’s a player that we are willing to continue to have, he’s a Tottenham player, he’s one of the most fantastic players in the world at the moment and we are counting on him for the future.

“Unfortunately against Sunderland (tomorrow) he won’t be fit to play, he’s recovering from a knock he had in training so we expect him hopefully to have some involvement in the second game.”

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SPURS say "Gareth Bale will not leave Tottenham"

AS the Spanish sporting paper who love a good Gareth Bale story have again been up to their tricks.

They go front page suggesting Bale is to be offered £150,000 a week as Spurs are worried about his future. Well the contract has been available for quite a while and has all been verbally agreed, never mind let them speculate.

What they actually mean is that they would like Spurs to be worried about his future.

They use the fact that he hasn't commented he's staying, well he doesn't really need to, everyone knows he is. He knows he is, the club knows he is, his agent knows he is, his sponsors know he is, and yes even the fans know he is.

The Spanish sports newspaper go on to claim Real Madrid's president, Florentino Perez, who we have heard so much about, will useReal Madrid's visit to England to play a friendly against Bournemouth, to yet again try to speak to officials at Tottenham.

Unsurprisingly they say he is not expecting a nice response! On really.

All efforts so far from Real Madrid they say have been a waste of time (well they don't actually use those words), Daniel Levy doesn't even want to talk about a potential move. Good old Daniel, a bit of British resolve dear boy.

Will the paper finally get the message now they have phoned Spurs and asked for their views. The clubs response:

"Let it be clear that Gareth Bale will not leave Tottenham this summer."

I's call that clear ans unambiguous, wouldn't you.

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Chadli - have Spurs bid £4.32 million or £6.05 million?

It seems the various papers, this time abroad, still can't get their stories straight over Nacer Chadli and the Tottenham pursuit.

Dutch media this time and Voetbal International say we have offered £4.32 million (€5 million) but that FC Twente Enschede want £6.05 million (€7 million).

Belgian media in the shape of Sport Wereld say the move is a 'dream move' for Chadli and that the initial bid from Spurs was £6.05 million (€7 million) which was rejected. They claim the Eredivisie side want £8.22 million (€9.5 million).

They speculate that agreement is expected to be reached soon between the clubs and go on to say that Chadli was away with his club at a training camp in Germany but has now returned and could sit down with his agent, Daniel Evrard, before the weekend is over.

It was only Wednesday when Evrard said "It has been known for a while that Tottenham are interested in Nacer" and that his client "would welcome this move."

Sport Wereld went on to tell their readers that Spurs have offered a 5 year contract. His existing FC Twente contract runs out next year so it's sell now for the Dutch club or get no fee in a years time.

Chadli can play on either wing, which fits in with the versatility Andre Villas-Boas seems to require in players and he is the right age for our transfer policy, buy cheap young players who will rise in value.

As well as the flanks he can play through the middle or as an attacking midfielder, however his main position is on the left which will give AVB cover when he wants to move Gareth Bale around.

Chadli is no stranger to Spurs fans having scored against us at White Hart Lane in the Champions League group stages 3 year ago.

Clearly a move is being discussed, it's just the fee we are unclear about. With Swansea and Aston Villa said to be interested, hopefully this one will all be sorted soon and he can join us on the pre-season trip to Hong Kong.

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Gareth Bale - it's not so cut and dried this time

Gareth Bale's attempt to sweep all before him continues with news that he has been named in the 10-man shortlist for UEFA's 2012/13 Best Player in Europe award.

Last season on the domestic front, the Spurs wing man come striker won everything, the Professional Footballers' Association Footballer of the Year, Professional Footballers' Association Young Footballer of the Year, Football Writers Association Player of the Year, Barclays Player of the Year and of course our own Player of the Year award.

Incidentally it is the 9th time a Spurs player has won the FWA Player of the year, catching up with Man U whose players have also won it 9 times and now only behind Liverpool players on 11.

The UEFA shortlist is dominated by successful Bayern Munich players following their treble-winning season, with Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller and Bastian Schweinsteiger all included.

The final 10 is completed by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund) and 2011 winner Lionel Messi (Barcelona).

The initial shortlist of 10 gets reduced to just 3 later this month and then journalists will choose the winner.

We'll know the result when it is announced on August 29th at the Champions League draw.

It does seem a bit daft dishing out an award for the previous season, when a new season has already started.

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Can we start to believe?

Do the players believe?

After our superb win on Tuesday, BBC Fivelive commentator and presenter, Darren Fletcher, made the following statement:

"I truly believe that after tonight's amazing win against the European Champions, these Tottenham Hotspur players can begin to believe that they are good enough, not only in progressing further in the Champions League, but also believing in themselves so as to take this form into their Premier League fixtures. These players have come of age."

I do hope he's right. The word "hope" has to come into it, for as all die hard Spurs fans know and realise, our beloved club has a way of coming back and biting us in the unmentionables.

Fortunately, Luka Modric doesn't see it my way.

"They will look at us more seriously than before. Maybe they didn’t take us so seriously before. But after the games against Inter Milan and FC Twente I think they have to look at us differently. I said after Twente that we can play with anyone in Europe and we showed that against the champions. We need to be proud but also need to keep going like this and progress in our game and we should be fine. Our main target before was to go through in the group and we are close to that now."

Being Spurs through and through, I have always believed, much to the entertainment of my fellow Arsenal loving friends. When we signed Jurgen Klinsmann, I believed. Before 'Lasagna-Gate', I believed. When we beat City up at Eastlands last season, I still believed.

Thing is, Darren Fletcher has hit the nail on the head. It doesn't matter if we, as supporters, believe. It's the belief of the players that counts. I hope they can take a step back and say to themselves, "We have just beaten the Champions League holders. We can accomplish anything".

Talking about Tuesday's game, I think we shouldn't get too carried away. Gareth Bale played amazingly well, but instead of giving him all the credit, I think some has to go to Rafael Benitez. The Spanish waiter experienced what Bale had done to them in the previous game, therefore, one would have thought that Benitez, apparently being a statistic guru, would have prepared his side so as not to grant Gareth the time and space needed for him to flourish. Fortunately for us, that never happened. Forget there being a taxi for the apparent amazing Brazilian right-back, Hasan's Tottenham Minicab Service would have been sufficient for Maicon.

Next up; Bolton away at the Reebok on Saturday. Can we wear the Investec shirts for that one guv?

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"Gareth Bale is too good for Tottenham"

Mr. Wise

talkSPORT employs quite a few buffoons, but none can beat the amazing Adrian Durham. This is the guy that said England had a better team than Spain and Argentina put together, prior to the 2010 World Cup. He also gave us some other golden nuggets such as "England will still win the World Cup" (that was after the draw against Algeria, and "Liverpool will win the league under Roy Hodgson this season".

So you understand this guy's levels of wisdom. Well, here is another one of his ultimate treasures; "It's a shame Gareth Bale isn't English and it's a shame that he's playing for Spurs, for a player of his skill should be at a big club".

What more can one say about Durham?

Firstly, let's flog Wales for producing such a player, and secondly, let's make sure he leaves Spurs and joins a club "that wins things".

Adrian Durham, you are a prat.

Also, congratulations to Gareth on winning the Wales Player of the Year award. If only he were English, eh Durham?

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Real Madrid target Bale

Gareth Bale's electric start to the season hasn't gone unnoticed by some of Europe's biggest teams. Reports in Spain claim Real Madrid are looking to move for the Welshman when the January transfer window opens. Bale, has been used mainly as a winger by Harry Redknapp this season but it looks as though Jose Mourinho wants to sign the Welshman as a left-back.

Madrid narrowly missed out on Aleksandar Kolarov who opted to join Manchester City and have been left short in that department. Although I am sure Gareth Bale would be obviously flattered by the interest, Spurs would be highly unlikely to sell possibly our best player.

Bale has recently signed a new long term deal at White Hart Lane, committing himself to the club until 2014. His start to this season has seen him look like a world-class winger and he's got an eye for goal to. Remember that strike against Stoke?



His other man of the match performance came in the Champions League qualifier against Swiss side Young Boys. Bale had a hand in all four of Tottenham's goals as we went on to reach the group stages. The Spurs betting suggests that we have an decent chance of progressing in the tournament and Bale will no doubt be a vital part of any success.

It has been a dramatic change in fortunes for the players who signed for the club from Southampton as a 17-year-old. It took nearly two years and 24 games for Bale to finish on the winning Spurs side in a league match.

Of course, that was a statistic that couldn't really be blamed on him and he has now developed into the quality winger we see before us today. Bale has a delicious delivery from the left flank and is also deadly when it come to set pieces. He has enough pace to cause oppositions full-backs no end of problems. If Redknapp can keep Bale on track, we will have an excellent player and Spurs will be a consistent challenger for silverware.

However, all Spurs players will need to be at their very best as they head into a tough week. Although the Aston Villa betting suggests Tottenham will pick up three points next Saturday, we will have to do so after a midweek Champion's League game.

Should it make it easier for us just because we are facing the underdogs of our group? No, I don't think so. FC Twente drew 2-2 with Inter Milan and showed that they can compete. Bale and the rest of the lads will have to dig deep if we are to win both matches.

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The Big One - For West Ham

Even with the midweek debacle, the majority of our players have been well rested and let's face it, they deserve to give us something to cheer about. 

I can see us getting a win, purely because we are a lot better than West Ham at this point in the season. I know that football doesn't always work like that, but from seeing West Ham on one occasion live this season against Bolton (yes, I was asked to go, and thinking that I could possibly get lucky, went along), they were about as lucky as I was on the night. Terrible and dross are but two adjectives that spring to mind. I haven't watched a team so inept of confidence since the Ramos days.

Has Grant lost the dressing room? Maybe he has. I think a few West Ham fans will come on here and let us know the answer to that. 

With The Modfather back in action today and with Bale and Transit (VDV) on form, I can't see us getting anything but a win.

We may not be the most consistent side at the moment, but this is a London derby and surely that's got to count for something? Of course, we all know that this match means more to the Hammers than it does to us, but as things stand, anything they could get from the game would be a bonus.

As I said above, I can see our attacking play overwhelming them, especially in midfield. Unless Parker can pick up Transit, we may run riot. Our new Dutch maestro is beginning to show why many Real Madrid fans were left disgusted at losing him; and imagine, he's been carrying a niggling calf injury, but has still shown us why he truly can be placed in the "Worldclass" category.

Even if fellow Spurs lovechild Parker can chase him out of the game, who will mark Bale and Modric? I ate my words after the Arsenal match, but I can't see me having to eat humble pie after this game has run its course.

THBN Prediction: West Ham 0 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur

One to Watch: Gareth Bale

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Why The Sun is advertising Spurs players

In this last week, The Sun has touted Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, linking them both with Manchester United.

This is the same paper that reported Manchester United had no cash whatsoever not so long ago. So far, we've been told that Fergie is on the verge of splashing out a total of £45 million on the two players.

So then, how can Manchester United afford to sign two players that are clearly out of their price-range?

The only reason I can think of, is that Fergie, knowing he can in no way afford the above stated amount, thinks that if he can use his chums in the media to unsettle our players, he will successfully manage to get them at a considerably lower price. After all, Berbatov went on strike when Fergie's chums forced him out of White Hart Lane. Is it time we started to worry?

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Unsettling Tottenham Players

We published an article yesterday that was based on Sir Alex Ferguson being interested in signing Gareth Bale.

Now, I won't go into the semantics of why someone like Fergie would be interested in a player like Bale. I won't even go down the path of having to explain to you why Manchester United simply don’t have the funds to buy someone like Gareth Bale.

I want to talk about what so many Spurs fans fear; Bale's head being turned.

Personally, I can't see that happening. Footballers read the papers, sports sites and blogs. They also hire (and pay handsomely) a little devil of an individual called an agent. If anyone is going to turn the head of a professional footballer, you can bet their own agent has something to do with it. Most of the time, it's the players agent that lurks in the shadows of any leaked stories.

I don't know who Gareth Bale's agent is and frankly, I don't care. If however, Bale has been remotely unsettled by the news that one of the two northern skint clubs is after him, then I wish him the best of luck in thinking that the grass is greener.

To be honest, these lads are paid what we can only ever dream of earning. They are well looked after and pampered to the hilt. I can't, not for a second, see this silly nonsense getting to him to the point where he turns in a dull performance tomorrow.

Let's forget about it.

I suppose you could read a little more into it. Matt Law from the Daily Express told me this morning that the story is 100% genuine. Straight from the reindeers mouth. I trust Matt. Therefore, I see fear swelling in Fergie's eyes. Scared are we Alexander?

Is Ferguson worried about tomorrow’s game? You bet he is; hence, the circulating rumours, that are no more than a managers plot to mess with agent fodder.

If things go as I expect them to up in Manchester in the close season, the tide will run blue, awash from the red reaches of a nether year.

Let the talking be done tomorrow, but on the pitch of course.

If Manchester United are to actually play with 11 men tomorrow, instead of their usual 12 (thanks has to be paid to the refs society), then my prediction is that we'll win.

Manchester United 0-3 Tottenham Hotspur



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Gareth Bale to Manchester United

Oh, don't be stupid!

Now, I have met Matt Law (Daily Express journo who published the story linking Bale to United) on a few occasions and he seems like a fairly decent guy. He's also normally on the money. Not today sunshine.

Sir Alex Ferguson may want to sign Gareth Bale. I also wouldn't mind being in bed with Cheryl Cole and Beyonce Knowles. It isn't going to happen people; well, the part about Bale going to United definitely won't.

Let me introduce you to the Guardian's David Conn. He is the most respected Sports Finance journalist around. If Conn says something, you'd better listen up.

"Manchester United do not have any money left from the Ronaldo transfer. No matter what Alex Ferguson says to the press, they do not have the funds they once had".

David Conn made the above comment whilst on the Guardian's Football Weekly Podcast in January. He was discussing the bonds deal the Glazer's were trying to put through.

"But that was in January. Man U must have the money to spend on players now?"

I'm afraid not. They've recently balked at the £40 million transfer tag that's been put on David Villa's head. Let's make something clear; Villa is worth every penny, and then some.

I can see them making a few signings and I am not saying that the Red Devils haven't got a pot to pee in. They may even make one £20 million signing (just like they did when they brought in Valencia from Wigan). But to go out full guns on Gareth Bale? No chance!

Let's put this into some sort of perspective. Daniel Levy got over £31 million for Dimitar Berbatov. Levy is the sort of person you really don't want to be seeing around the negotiating table. Hardball; understatement. Do you really think our Chairman's going to let one of the best left-sided players in the Premier League (anyone who says otherwise is a tool), leave for anything less than what he thinks he's worth?

Don't be stupid.

If you're interested in some football financial journalism at its best, you wouldn't go far wrong with David Conn.

Matty Law is also an Aston Villa fan, which could, if you read between the lines, explain a few things.

PS. Anyone got Cheryl's and/or Beyonce's number?

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Ar2ena1

Tottenham Hotspur 2 - 1 Ar2ena1

Before getting into the grains of this article, I wanted to vent my frustrations on some BBC pundits who still, even though we won, insisted on saying the following;

"Oh just look at the wonderful football Arsène Wenger's side play".

Listen sunshine, you aren't given points based on your overall possession. You get points by either stopping the other team, or by putting the ball into the back of the net.

Arsenal did neither last night. They couldn't manage a shot on goal until the eightieth minute, which either translates into them thinking they're far better than Spurs and can simply walk the ball in, or, something is terribly wrong with them.

Shout out to Gomes. He was fantastic!

With the entire Arsenal loving aside, last night really was an occasion for nibbling ones nails clean off and sitting on the edge of your seat.

The atmosphere was magnificent last night. And what can be said of "that goal"? As Glenn Hoddle said, "That lad [Danny Rose] has bought himself 10 years with these fans".



To be honest with you, I'll be remembering that goal for a lot longer than 10 years, as will a lot of you.

"Bale, Bale, Bale".



How did our left winger elude the entire Arsenal backline and end up where he did to tuck away the goal? Let's not forget the ball in from Defoe.

Anyway, enough said.

Spurs 2 - 1 Ar2ena1


PS. Heurelho, you are a star.


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Baled out - how Gareth Bale saved Spurs' season

Gareth Bale: Quality

Perhaps the biggest success story of Harry Redknapp's Tottenham stewardship has been Gareth Bale. Once written off as an error-prone, one-footed dead ball specialist with a winless Premier League curse, Bale seemed set to leave the club as a talent unfulfilled. Now the Welsh wing wizard is a crucial member of the Spurs line-up.

It is no exaggeration to describe Bale as a genuine winger, even when he plays at left-back. He marauds up and down the left flank in the finest tradition of wingbacks, utilising pace, strength and skill to create chances for the forwards.

He has replaced Aaron Lennon as the team's natural wide outlet and this is the reason why Bale has kept Spurs in the hunt for fourth place. Ask any Tottenham fan about the team's prospects without Lennon and the general consensus would not be a positive one, but Bale has energised the team and fans with his scintillating wing play.

Bale has not only stepped into Lennon's shoes as Spurs' best winger, but he has also become the new Ryan Giggs. Perhaps not in terms of skill, experience and goalscoring, but certainly as the Welsh left-footer that England fans most want to be English. As pointless ruminations go, Bale being a World Cup certainty if he was English is one of the most often repeated at the moment. There would certainly be more people willing to make England their Football World Cup tips if they had a few more left footers at their disposal.

Redknapp has taken a lot of credit for transforming Bale from a "boy who needs to learn the game" to a confident player comfortable in two different positions. The manager does deserve some praise for this, but one wonders whether Bale would have been given the chance of it wasn't for the prolonged injury absence of Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

Assou-Ekotto was admittedly in good form when he got injured, but most White Hart Lane regulars recognised Bale's talent and the inevitability of its fruition. He is demanding inclusion at the moment, as no one expected the blow of losing Lennon for long periods to be coped with so well.

Meanwhile, in horse racing news, the winner of last year's Grand National Mon Mome is preparing to go for back-to-back victories in this year's event.

If he succeeds then he will no doubt rank alongside greatest horses in Grand National history.




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