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Rafa van der Vaart

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
I hope they can get him down for the WHL send off next month.
God i wanted us to get him in his Ajax days before he signed for Hamburg. One of my favourite all time players. Was so excited for him to be at Tottenham. Just wished it could have been earlier in his career.
 

Classof17

Active Member
Apr 19, 2017
113
214
Also interesting Rafa mentions Lennon as one of the instrumental players he remembers in that side.

I've always felt there was too much Lennon criticism. He played a massive part in terms of the good times in recent years.

Yeah he's not the same now, but he was good for sometime despite what many say.
Played and assisted in one of the recent European highs away to ac Milan. A resounding result.
 

wishkah

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
4,790
14,449
imagine the scene

spurs get a corner. while eriksen lines up to barely hit the first man VdV springs out from the crowd and whips in a dish of a ball. in a WTF moment Kaboul (who has been disguised as one of the posts for the preceding 58 mins) rises above a static defense to hammer the ball into the arsenal net.

Both are in the car park making their escape before security can even organise a pursuit the famous pitch invaders.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/feature...urs-nearly-fell-through-because-i-fell-asleep

Speaking exclusively in the April 2018 issue of FourFourTwo magazine, the 35-year-old explains: “It was very last minute. Jose Mourinho had been honest about my chances, telling me they had bought Mesut Ozil to play in my position.

“He said I could stay, but that I wasn’t in his starting XI. At that point I was still keen to stay at Real Madrid for another season, so I headed to a training camp with the Dutch national team.

“But at around 4pm on deadline day, my lawyer called me to say that Tottenham were interested in signing me. I asked him if I could think about it. He replied that I had to decide within two hours. I started to evaluate everything, then took a little nap...

“Suddenly I was jolted awake by the phone going off. It was about 5.40pm and my lawyer was on the phone again, telling me that I had to decide there and then.

“I thought for a split second, then said, 'Yeah, let’s do it'. I had no time to overthink it or discuss it with anybody – it was pure intuition. Very soon I realised how happy I was with the decision. From the first moment I arrived at Spurs Lodge, I felt at home.”

He speaks warmly of the man who brought him to White Hart Lane, explaining that Harry Redknapp’s old-school managerial style suited his game very well at the time.

“He was a magical guy – a father figure – but Harry could also be rock-hard,” reveals Van der Vaart. “During a team talk, he would pull out a little piece of paper on which he had written down the starting line-up and then say things to us like, 'Just give the ball to Luka [Modric], then Luka can try to find Rafa, and you will win the game'.

“Then, if we'd played a really good first half, he would openly praise you, saying things like, 'F**king hell, Rafa, what a player!' He gave you a boost – you would run faster for someone like him. Harry Redknapp’s style suited my own very well.”
 
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riggi

Well-Known Member
Jun 24, 2008
48,487
104,719
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/feature...urs-nearly-fell-through-because-i-fell-asleep

FourFourTwo article with him including his transfer to Tottenham


Speaking exclusively in the April 2018 issue of FourFourTwo magazine, the 35-year-old explains: “It was very last minute. Jose Mourinho had been honest about my chances, telling me they had bought Mesut Ozil to play in my position.

“He said I could stay, but that I wasn’t in his starting XI. At that point I was still keen to stay at Real Madrid for another season, so I headed to a training camp with the Dutch national team.

“But at around 4pm on deadline day, my lawyer called me to say that Tottenham were interested in signing me. I asked him if I could think about it. He replied that I had to decide within two hours. I started to evaluate everything, then took a little nap...

“Suddenly I was jolted awake by the phone going off. It was about 5.40pm and my lawyer was on the phone again, telling me that I had to decide there and then.

“I thought for a split second, then said, 'Yeah, let’s do it'. I had no time to overthink it or discuss it with anybody – it was pure intuition. Very soon I realised how happy I was with the decision. From the first moment I arrived at Spurs Lodge, I felt at home.”

He speaks warmly of the man who brought him to White Hart Lane, explaining that Harry Redknapp’s old-school managerial style suited his game very well at the time.

“He was a magical guy – a father figure – but Harry could also be rock-hard,” reveals Van der Vaart. “During a team talk, he would pull out a little piece of paper on which he had written down the starting line-up and then say things to us like, 'Just give the ball to Luka [Modric], then Luka can try to find Rafa, and you will win the game'.

“Then, if we'd played a really good first half, he would openly praise you, saying things like, 'F**king hell, Rafa, what a player!' He gave you a boost – you would run faster for someone like him. Harry Redknapp’s style suited my own very well.”

@Bus-Conductor will love this.
 

spurs mental

Well-Known Member
Mar 10, 2007
25,075
49,234
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/feature...urs-nearly-fell-through-because-i-fell-asleep

Speaking exclusively in the April 2018 issue of FourFourTwo magazine, the 35-year-old explains: “It was very last minute. Jose Mourinho had been honest about my chances, telling me they had bought Mesut Ozil to play in my position.

“He said I could stay, but that I wasn’t in his starting XI. At that point I was still keen to stay at Real Madrid for another season, so I headed to a training camp with the Dutch national team.

“But at around 4pm on deadline day, my lawyer called me to say that Tottenham were interested in signing me. I asked him if I could think about it. He replied that I had to decide within two hours. I started to evaluate everything, then took a little nap...

“Suddenly I was jolted awake by the phone going off. It was about 5.40pm and my lawyer was on the phone again, telling me that I had to decide there and then.

“I thought for a split second, then said, 'Yeah, let’s do it'. I had no time to overthink it or discuss it with anybody – it was pure intuition. Very soon I realised how happy I was with the decision. From the first moment I arrived at Spurs Lodge, I felt at home.”

He speaks warmly of the man who brought him to White Hart Lane, explaining that Harry Redknapp’s old-school managerial style suited his game very well at the time.

“He was a magical guy – a father figure – but Harry could also be rock-hard,” reveals Van der Vaart. “During a team talk, he would pull out a little piece of paper on which he had written down the starting line-up and then say things to us like, 'Just give the ball to Luka [Modric], then Luka can try to find Rafa, and you will win the game'.

“Then, if we'd played a really good first half, he would openly praise you, saying things like, 'F**king hell, Rafa, what a player!' He gave you a boost – you would run faster for someone like him. Harry Redknapp’s style suited my own very well.”

This quote it probably the most old school manager quote ever. :LOL:
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
Yes of course, we all know that...bloody hell this sofa is getting a bit uncomfortable, needs new springs.
 

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
Love Rafa. Wish he was still involved at the club somehow. How about giving Scotty a hand with the Yoof. One can dream.
 

rpate1

Active Member
Apr 4, 2005
164
115
Best player in my time, the guy that got us over the Gunners and Chelski mental block.
Made the whole team tick.
Lennon was overshadowed by Bale.
That said we are still progressing to be among the elite for the next decade.
COYS.
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
And fackin' run araaaand a bit...

That comes from an article in the Telegraph, after the Ramos exit.
“Admitting that he and his team mates are far happier under their new coach, Pavlyuchenko joked that, on match days, Redknapp is so excitable that it seems as though he has walked straight out of the local pub, and into the changing room.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room has changed completely," he said. “Everyone is more optimistic - we now smile and make jokes much more.

"We feel more at ease. It is because Redknapp is a very colourful person - to be honest, we joke that he looks as if he comes to the stadium straight from the pub."

Despite making jokes about Redknapp's matchday persona, Pavlyuchenko insists that his recent form is down to the manager giving him an identity within a team he never previously looked to have settled into.

Last week Redknapp said he told the Russian to "just f******g run around", orders which Pavlyuchenko believes got the very best out of him.

"Redknapp told me, 'Your position is in the box, you finish attacks, you don't start them'. Now I feel very much part of my new team.”

I miss Harry, he was the last of that era of managers who man managed teams but I don’t think he could take us further.
 

aussiespursguy

Well-Known Member
Mar 21, 2015
3,437
6,677
I thought he was still playing? somewhere in Denmark
He is. Has played 6 mins of first team this season. Mainly reserves, although that's only 5 games. But......in 5 reserve games he has 3 goals and 3 assists. :) I think his body has had it.
 
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