Vertonghen's contract?

[Barry Mead]

I imagine it will tie in with him being announced as our new captain

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Wasn't he already on Barca's radar??

But yeah, of course, no club anywhere is safe from RM/Barca if they are adamant.

But poch will give us our best chance in the circumstance imo.

Hasn't Barcas transfer ban kicked in now?

 

[spurs9]

Well that's real commitment isn't it. Jan would like to play CL football with Spurs, but if we do not qualify, he may have to consider his options next summer. This man for our captain, NO THANKS. Give it to somebody who deserves it, Step forward Hugo...

Hugo will probably do the same if we don't qualify.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

They are reporting Vertonghen being close to a new deal on Sky web site (not sure if old story but sowing as today):

http://www1.skysports.com/transfer-centre/

 

[dagraham]

Don't want to be cynical, but all this contract will mean is that we'll receive a bigger fee when he's sold next summer.

 

[Shea]

Don't want to be cynical, but all this contract will mean is that we'll receive a bigger fee when he's sold next summer.

Still better he sign it than not I suppose

Even if we made it to CL - if the big boys come calling these players will try and force their way out (big difference between playing for a team in the CL and playing for a team who can WIN the CL......ask Luka and Gareth)

 

[tom4s]

The silence is deafening...

 

[jurgen]

He's waiting on the Archway CPO appeal

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

Was he injured on Saturday?

 

[NayimsSocks]

I expect both Lloris and Jan to leave us next summer.

I agree with this and am more concerned over Hugo a go going. A world class goalie is hard to find and even harder without CL. Cannot feel angry if he does go though as he has given us a fair crack of the whip.

 

[Misfit]

Three seasons a piece for Lloris and Verts without CL, yeah. Inevitable they'll leave if we don't get CL. Even then, if the RMs and Bayerns start sniffing that will only give us a stay of execution.

 

[Bobbins]

To be honest to have had three seasons and then a big fee from the likes of Lloris I'll be happy - we were insanely lucky to get him in the first place, just feel lucky to have seen him at my club.

Jan's a bit different - he could be at the same level talent-wise if he could be arsed, but last season was a joke and we've not seen him this season to know that he'll be any different. But there are good CB's out there and he's not irreplaceable. I want to love him - in his first season he was immense and it was a joy seeing him and Bale in the same team. But now, for £20m+ I wouldn't really be bothered.

He'll definitely be off next summer without CL (which we have almost no chance of getting). Hugo I think we might get one more season out of - age isn't such a pressure with keepers, and he seems to have a lot more ingrained honour and loyalty than most players.

 

[Shadydan]

We could do a lot worse than Vorn and Chiriches as their potential replacements to be fair.

 

[Bobbins]

We could do a lot worse than Vorn and Chiriches as their potential replacements to be fair.

Not sure Vorm is a particularly long-term option, but if Hugo had walked this summer I'd have been happy with him as a replacement for now.

Vlad I fear is playing himself out of a spot in the team every time he loses the ball while trying to do 15 Cryuff turn Rabona's inside the six yard box. I hate seeing him do it, because defensively he can be SO good - his timing and ability to not over-commit to a tackle and still come out with the ball is fantastic. He's pretty weak in the air but otherwise he's got the lot - he just has to stop taking so many risks. He ain't no Benny.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Well, he's in Belgrade at least

 

[Shadydan]

Not sure Vorm is a particularly long-term option, but if Hugo had walked this summer I'd have been happy with him as a replacement for now.

Vlad I fear is playing himself out of a spot in the team every time he loses the ball while trying to do 15 Cryuff turn Rabona's inside the six yard box. I hate seeing him do it, because defensively he can be SO good - his timing and ability to not over-commit to a tackle and still come out with the ball is fantastic. He's pretty weak in the air but otherwise he's got the lot - he just has to stop taking so many risks. He ain't no Benny.

I think he has a lot of untapped potential personally, he's still a bit as far as defending goes in this league but he should be encouraged to play out from the back as much as possible. I think what lets him down is his decision making i.e when he should pass out and when he should put his foot through it, needs to be stronger as well I agree but I think if we coach this lad properly then he's going to be very good IMO.

 

[HappySpur]

Three seasons a piece for Lloris and Verts without CL, yeah. Inevitable they'll leave if we don't get CL. Even then, if the RMs and Bayerns start sniffing that will only give us a stay of execution.

We have to be realistic with ourselves. In many ways, our ability to recruit talents such as Jan and Hugo is predicated on giving them a bigger forum to flaunt their abilities and prove themselves at a level that will get noticed by the handful of extremely rich clubs above us. Nothing wrong with that. As long as you are moving towards stabilizing yourself as a fixture of the CL. They help us move up the ladder and we help them get richer. Eventually, if we do it right, we get to a point where we aren't feeding many clubs because rather than being a platform clubs, we become a final destination.

We have not been moving forward lately, but hopefully we are back on the right path and the next Jan or Hugo will have a harder time leaving us.

 

[Bobbins]

We have to be realistic with ourselves. In many ways, our ability to recruit talents such as Jan and Hugo is predicated on giving them a bigger forum to flaunt their abilities and prove themselves at a level that will get noticed by the handful of extremely rich clubs above us. Nothing wrong with that. As long as you are moving towards stabilizing yourself as a fixture of the CL. They help us move up the ladder and we help them get richer. Eventually, if we do it right, we get to a point where we aren't feeding many clubs because rather than being a platform clubs, we become a final destination.

We have not been moving forward lately, but hopefully we are back on the right path and the next Jan or Hugo will have a harder time leaving us.

I think our biggest risk is if at some point these players stop believing the 'ambition/project' speech we always seem to give them. We're always hearing in interviews after signings or new contracts about players being excited to be at the club and for the future etc, but now it's fairly clear we're some distance from a top 4 place, will that still be as effective?

Sure, there's still the wages, the exposure, the draw of the PL etc - I don't think we'll struggle to recruit. But I do wonder if the players of the level of Vertonghen and Lloris might not start to see through the promises.

Having said that they may well look at the likes of Modric, Berbatov, Bale etc and think 'If I go to Spurs and prove how good I am I'm pretty much certain to get a move to a big club'. Which is fair enough.

 

[sickboy_se]

I think our biggest risk is if at some point these players stop believing the 'ambition/project' speech we always seem to give them. We're always hearing in interviews after signings or new contracts about players being excited to be at the club and for the future etc, but now it's fairly clear we're some distance from a top 4 place, will that still be as effective?

I seriously doubt the players themselves actually give many of the statements quoted on the website. At the most, they'll do a read-through and give a laid back thumbs up but I doubt that's always the case either. It's the PR people doing all that stuff.

Anyone who actually knows, correct me if I'm wrong. Please! I'm tired of being a cynical f****r and want to have my faith restored.

 

[Barry Mead]

A few of the lads on FTL (including Ben) last night saying they heard Verts and Poch had a bit of a falling out