Home > Football > Why are Spurs hanging on to Berbatov? Sell Manchester United's new Cantona before it's too late!
by Russell Wall on 28 August 2008
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Dear Tottenham fans,
How’s it going? The slow summer is over and I’m sure you and the entire lot at White Hart Lane were more than prepared to get this season under way.
First off, before I get into the meat and potatoes of this note, I wanted to congratulate you on your recent summer haul. Giovani Dos Santos, Luka Modric and David Bentley; you should really give Senor Ramos a pat on the back for a job well done!
I can promise you Martin Jol could have never made that kind of summer spending spree possible if he was still at the club. Juande did what he was supposed to do and that was to bring in talent that could lead you back into the elusive top four.
Sure, you lost Robbie Keane over the summer; however, I can promise you that won’t be a big deal if you stay the course and give the new recruits a chance to settle into their new roles at the club. You’ve got too much talent not to make it at least into the top six, so don’t give the Middlesbrough and Sunderland losses a second thought. It’s just two matches!
But seriously, this note to you today isn’t about rays of sunshine and happiness. Nope. Today I write to you with far more important advice on my mind about a certain tall Bulgarian on your team that goes by the name of Dimitar Berbatov.
Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, then you know this guy’s been in the news almost as much as the story about Beijing’s move to have 10,000 condoms in the Olympic Village for the 2008 Games. The tug-of-war battle between Manchester United and Spurs is nothing short of a bad television drama. Well actually, a really bad television drama.
You’ve had it all this summer with Berby - comments in the paper, temper tantrums, sulking on the sidelines, and the crème de la crème of signing a Manchester United shirt in public! (I’m not evening going to ask how you felt about this one).
The big guy has burned more personal bridges in the past month than Jose Mourinho could in an entire lifetime. I keep hearing these rumblings that some of you want him to stay around the club even after his recent antics. If that's true then let me be the first to say this: HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?
Seriously, have you gone totally off the reservation? If those 25 minutes from Berbatov against Boro taught you anything it should have been that your striker is gone. Sure, he might still be a Tottenham player right now, but I can promise you that his heart and mind aren’t with the club. For those of you who are still holding out hope that he stays, I want you to take a moment and put all that hope and wishful thinking into praying Manchester United finalise this deal.
He’s worthless to Tottenham in his current sulking form and, based on how he’s looked in training and pre-season matches, he won’t be giving the club anything more than an average day’s work when he’s on the pitch. Don’t expect the spectacular, don’t expect him to bag 20 goals, and whatever you do, don’t expect him to get in the right frame of mind any time soon. In the end he will do nothing but bring the club down.
If anything, I’d be more frustrated at your current brass and their transfer tactics. Trying to move the transfer price from £28m to £32m all because a story was leaked about his impending move? I think we all know that was a bit much. Based on some of the names being linked recently with Tottenham, you could have used all that money a bit sooner.
It looks as though the deal to bring in Roman Pavlyuchenko has been done but, with Robbie Keane already having left, you still need more up front. That Andrei Arshavin fellow is a more than decent player and, from the looks of things, he’d come at a discounted rate right now! Plus, he'd be the ideal choice to link up with his fellow Russian. Or you could try to throw the money at Klaas-Jan Huntelaar or David Villa to see if either club would bite.
Do whatever you want with the new funds, but please make sure you get rid of the sulking mess as soon as possible! Do you really want a player with that much talent and a transfer valuation that high hurting your chances of cashing in on him next summer? I didn’t think so.
So go ahead Tottenham supporters, forget about Berbatov. Make sure to tell the brass that he’s free to go take his attitude somewhere else. You’ll be better off without him on the bench. Plus, there’s a really good chance you’ll get someone better back in return before the transfer deadline. So heed my advice, Tottenham. I can promise that you’ll be really glad you did in the long-run.
Signed,
Every Manchester United fan
PS. We’ll make sure to send you a thank-you note when he turns into the next Eric Cantona!
Comments (6)
by Perc Savit on August 28, 2008
beautiful writing! you should be a writer or smt.? All I say to Levy is: 1. allow Berba to follow his dream 2. Stop this game and stop treating the player like your SLAVE! Isn't this a classic example of modern SLAVERY? YES IT IS!!! 3. You as a chairman are totally ... up. Why? Because you are able to through 25 mln. out of the window. And if I was a Tottenham's shareholder I would ask for your retirement immediately!
by EverReddy Tedd on August 28, 2008
Russell / every ManU fan, you suggest that whoever Spurs get in to replace Berbatov may well end up proving to be better. It seems hard to imagine a significant improvement on Berba's goals and assists over last season and the season before. That's not to say that it's impossible; but you can count on the fingers of one hand strikers who've put in more effective performances for their clubs (Ronaldo is the obvious example. But arguably even Torres was not significantly more effective than Berbatov). What is clear is how all ManU fans, all Spurs fans, and possibly all football fans realise quite what a great match Berbatov could be for the Reds - assuming Fergy can do as we all expect and stop him from sulking. It's a mouth-watering prospect. What surprises me therefore is how much stock Fergy has put in playing the negotiation game. He must know that every minute Berbatov is not with his squad is a minute of cohesion lost. And whilst the lion's share of his strike force is sidelined, every game without DB is a game with half as many goals as the Reds could be getting. What about Daniel Levy and his games? Clearly there's the same negotiation game for him as for Fergy. But he's got another problem to worry about: the idea that any time Spurs find a good player, they're going to be waving goodbye to them a season later when ManU come knocking - despite having signed up to a long contract. From Levy's perspective, a contract should be bilateral: "We'll put you on an improved salary if you agree to stay with us for a few years" - the idea being that the player honours that agreement. Instead, it seems that as long as the player sulks, he can break out of his contract whenever he wants, forcing the owning club to accept whatever offer the poaching club deems right. I would suggest that Levy sees that the only way he can build Spurs into a long term "big club" is by playing hardball on this issue to send the message out to players that they can't just walk away when a bigger club comes knocking. And this is why I wouldn't be quite so surprised if he does indeed let Berba rot in the reserves. Not out of spite, but out of practical necessity; and firmly in the expectation that at some point Berbatov may get over himself and realise that the best way to get himself transferred is to show himself to be an invaluable player, and a consummate professional. For the sake of the game, I'd love to see Berbatov go to United. But for the sake of the game, I'd like to see this happen in a way that lends some respect to the sanctity of mutually agreed contracts.
by spurs fan on August 28, 2008
Perhaps United should have let Ronaldo go to Madrid or Villa let Barry go to Liverpool or Maybe United should have let Hienze go to Liverpool last year? Spurs dont want to sell to a competitor, its pretty simple. I keep hearing about Spurs holding on to him and not letting him go. Well his asking price is 30 Million and i am sure if united offered that, they would get him. Are you seriously telling me that Tevez is a better striker?
by Dimitar Berbatov on August 29, 2008
I really want to move to Man Utd, I have heard so much about them from their thousands of fans here in London. I asked them for directions so I could prepare to go there when I hopefully sign for them, although most of them said they didn't know the way as they have never been there. I asked about their great history, but many of them could only go back as far as the early 90's. I would like to sign for them cause they are my sort of people, overly arrogant, think they are better than everyone and share my loyalty and commitment, Like them I am not patient for success and glory so would rather join them and have it given to me. I also like Mr Ferguson, he promised me on my phone just the other day that i'd play for Man Utd, although he has not paid the fee yet??? It must be a administration error as the biggest club in the world could easily afford me. I really hope this goes through soon, or i'll scream and scream and scream, stamp my feet and not talk to anyone for weeks!
by KING LEDLEY on August 29, 2008
RUSELL theres being nice and then theres just licking ass
by Andry Ashavin on September 01, 2008
looks like fergie missed out berbe is going to blue side of manchester, Thing is i don't understand why Ranos got rid of Keane Defoe now possibly Berbatov the attack line is looking weak down at spurs. Modric against Chelsea did'nt have clue where he should play on pitch seems to me spurs need to stregthen up
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