All this talk of bids from other clubs for Luka is unsettling to say the least. It feels like there will be widespread panic from the fans if we do receive an offer we can't/won't refuse.
Its got me to thinking, how much do we actually rely on Modric. Personally I rate him very very highly, hes a little magician on the ball. But and I'm playing devils advocate here because I genuinely dont know the answer, How much do we rely on him? He doesnt score many goals, Hes a decent tackler but wouldnt be known as a typical defensive midfielder. In the attacking sense he doesnt have as many assists as some other CM's in the league whether it be down to our strikers or whatever.
What is it about him that is so unreplaceable? I would love to hear your views on why we are all so in awe of him and see him as a must-keep. I remember people saying the team didnt play as well when Thudd was injured as the ball didnt move so freely and often we couldnt find the out ball, so that suggests he does need a decent partner in midfield and doesnt pull ALL the strings. If the unthinkable happens and we do lose him (hypothetically now Squid before you start mate!!!) what are we actually losing?? What more importantly would we need to replace him?
It wouldnt be the typical attacking midfielder, it wouldnt be the typical defensive midfield player, its not the typical powerhouse box to box midfielder either so what is he??
Please dont take this as a criticism of the lad in any way its not, I'm just trying to get a debate going on him and maybe some appreciation of his play etc. Hes hard to put into any category though isnt he?
Any stats on how we do with and without him in the team would be great too if anyones good at that sort of thing.
How much do we rely on Luka?
posted on 16/6/11
It's possible Spurs losing Modric for silly money could push them to greater heights. Such situations have occurred severally with the past with the selling club going on to greater things. As a Goon, I felt like rioting when we sold Anelka and Overmars in big money moves to Spain and replacing them with the struggling Henry and Pires but we know how that turned out.
Barca reached an otherworldly level of greatness last season after losing the mercurial talents and often disruptive influence of the likes of Ronaldinho, Etoo, Henry, Deco, Ibrahimovic and even Toure (some Barca fans thought Guardiola had gone insane for dropping him for Busquets) and promoting the likes of the afore-mentioned Busquets, Pedro and Iniesta (who was in the shadow of the foreign imports).
Man Utd have successfully rebuilt severally after the departure of key players like Stam, Beckham, Van Nistelrooy, Keane, Ronaldo and several others.
Losing Modric isn't the end of the world if you're well paid for it and spend wisely.
posted on 16/6/11
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 16/6/11
It musn't be a like for like switch. It's a matter of adopting a system that works for the current players. In the Barca example I gave above, none of the player switches was like for like: Busquets for Toure, Pedro for Henry, Iniesta for Deco etc. The result is a more compact, higher octane game less focused on the individuality of Rijkaard's Barca.
posted on 16/6/11
comment by Al Reezy (U7615) posted 1 hour, 14 minutes ago
As i've said they are different players and bring different things to the team. We need strikers and the cash generated from the Modric sale can only help this. Bale and VDV are the must keep players for me. I honestly don't think I have seen a better player at the lane than VDV.
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We can sell the deadwood and get £30m-£40m. O'Hara, Keane, Bentely, GDS, Hutton, Kranjcar, Palacios. They all played little or no part in the season. Sandro has replaced Wilson, Rose & Pienaar offer something in place of Krancjar, Hutton can be replaced by Walker. Add to the list the likes of Bassong and one of the stikers, and whatever transfer kitty was available any way, and we could have a pot of £60-£70m to go out a get a couple strikers, and a few squad players like Parker.
We have no need to sell our prize assets to raise money.
Losing Modric weaknes our team significantly. Lets get rid of the fringe players who offer nothing before we decide on whether we need to sell our stars to raise cash!
No need to "cash-in"
posted on 16/6/11
Fair point but we don't want to leave our squad depleted. Will have a lot of games with the 'thursday night chanel 5' comp and believe some of the mentioned players would be good for that with a mixture of youth.
posted on 16/6/11
I think letting Modric go would be a mistake more than just because we'd miss his skill and his influence but because, again, it would reinforce our status as a club unable to hang onto their best players when Champs League clubs come stalking.
Having said that, it usually comes down to the player (and his agent) and I said in January that by not going all out for Suarez when we could probably have got him, it would cost us.
Liverpool slapped us down with that signing and showed more ambition (yes, I know they had got the Torres money but, even so, we could have pushed harder for Suarez).
I reckon he'd have helped us turn some of those draws into single goal wins and we'd have got the points we needed for top four - AND it would have shown the likes of Modric our ambition.
IF Modders starts angling for a move then we're still in a decent position to bargain. £20m plus Daniel Sturridge? Or stick out for £35m and line up someone like Eden Hazard, or go back in stronger for Marko Marin for £25million?
posted on 16/6/11
Whoever replaces Modric, has to be like for like, or cause a better system of play for the team.
I don't see reams of candidates, as an individual or as a group, who are affordable +/- open to coming to Spurs +/- who are going to achieve the above. Otherwise I wouldn't be so bothered about his departure.
Feel free to give us a "candidate" list if you contend otherwise ...
posted on 16/6/11
Apparently we're back in for Adam. Now he is a completley different player. Could be useful to have, scores goals, provides for others and drives forward. Lacks defensively tho. Would put him in the same bracket as modric tho before all hell breaks lose on here
posted on 13/2/12
Its a shame to see so many posters not post anymore
posted on 13/2/12
modric is a playmaker, replace him with a playmaker. the only problem is finding an adequate replacement.