If You Know Ya History

Article by Jason Nunn

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So I’m writing this just a few days after 2 of our ex-players lifted the European Cup.

There’s quite a divide on opinions on those 2 players since they left our club. Disgruntled fans showering them with hate because of the way they left. Oh they sulked, they went on strike etc. Let’s not forget that Real Madrid, yes Real Madrid came calling for these guys, arguably the biggest team in the world wanted them, offering a salary package most of us can only dream about. Football nowadays is, in the words of the wise old oracle Jessie J “it’s all about the money money money”. Both Modric and Bale have good agents, Tottenham have a hard-nosed business man in charge, so it was always a battle of wills and a battle to drive up the price as high as possible. These players agents advise the best course of action that they think will get their player the move, with Levy stalling to get a good deal for spurs ,the agent think it will all fall through and then advise their man to sulk or go on strike etc. If Real had come straight in and said 'OK Mr Levy £86 million plus a few add ons', Levy would’ve bitten there hand off regardless if Bale wanted to leave or not.

In the modern game there are very few players that stay at their original club for the whole of their playing career. King was probably the last we will ever see. There are very few players of that ilk now, not when there are teams willing to double their salary. I'd soon leave a job that I had been at for 14 years if someone offered me double the salary and god like status.

We all forget that very few Spurs legends ended their playing days at spurs and in some cases they went to direct rivals. Pat Jennings - he actually left for Arsenal before coming back. Mickey Hazard went to Chelsea, Jimmy Greaves went to West Ham, Paul Stewart went to Liverpool, Teddy Sheringham went to Man United, Alan Mullery went back to Fulham, Hoddle was signed by Wenger at Monaco, Gazza went to Lazio, Waddle to Marseille. Ossie and Ricky went elsewhere, Mark Falco went to Chelsea, Cliff Jones went to Fulham, The likes of VDV, Crooks, Archibald etc all left for other clubs. Clive Allen even played for Chelsea and West Ham. It’s not a modern thing, it’s just football. It happens more in the modern game, yes, but it’s always happened. Yes some of the players I’ve mentioned moved in the final years of their career but others were still close to or in their prime. Yes I know I’ve not mentioned a certain defender that left for Arsenal, but he is the exception because of how he left, some things are unforgivable.

There is also the issue of Levy “selling” our best players. I signed the 'Levy out' petition when it first came out, but that signature wasn’t based on his dealings in the transfer market, it was based on his decision making when it came to hiring and firing managers. There is no doubt in my mind that Levy does have Spurs’ best financial interests at heart, regardless of whether we think he is right or wrong. This selling players issue isn’t an ENIC or Levy issue, look at the list of players mentioned above; they weren’t all sold by Levy. Like it or not players get sold, players move on, players want more money or a bigger club or a bigger challenge. We are supporters and therefore love our club, most of these players grew up supporting other clubs, and they are not spurs fans, they are spurs employees and when offered a better paid job by a better employer they will leave, contract or no contract. The same applies when a player doesn’t want to leave but a big offer comes in, the club will soon sell them. We all want loyalty from players but sadly in modern football loyalty doesn’t exist, just like it doesn’t exist in the real world of the employment market.

COYS!!

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