talk SPORT - Harry Redknapp discussing Luka Modric - Now 16:08

[ItsBoris]

Harry Redknapp has revealed that he considered signing Luis Suárez in January but opted against making a bid after being told by scouts that the Uruguayan was not up to the grade.

Redknapp's tantalising disclosure will set Tottenham Hotspur supporters wondering what might have been, as Suárez went on to sign for Liverpool and become a major factor in that club's reinvigoration, while Spurs' attempt to qualify for the Champions League fizzled out largely because of their inability to turn possession into goals.

Suárez will be seeking to show Spurs what they missed on Sunday, as Liverpool meet Redknapp's team at Anfield in a match that could determine which of the sides finishes fifth. Redknapp said he dispatched numerous scouts to watch Suárez at Ajax before Liverpool paid £22.8m for him but was informed that the player was not adept at leading the line and was too similar to Rafael van der Vaart, for whom Spurs were seeking a partner rather than a replacement. Ultimately Spurs made failed offers for others strikers, including Fernando Llorente and Villarreal's Giuseppe Rossi. "We kept looking at [Suárez] but people thought he couldn't play up as a striker," said Redknapp.

"They said he's like Rafa [van der Vaart] and you can't have him and Rafa or you'd have two players who want to drop deep, so that was the problem. We were looking for someone to play up front with Rafa. People said he couldn't do that, he drifts and comes deep. But he played up front on his own the other night [against Fulham on Monday] and he was fantastic."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/13/harry-redknapp-tottenham-luis-suarez

Yet everyone on this forum knew that he could, because we're not fucking stupid and we know that 50 goals in a season or something like that means he can play up front.

 

[Viva la Tottenham]

I can't wait for Suarez to have an average season next season so everyone will shut up about him, he's hardly came in and set the league alite. He's scored afew goals and cost a shit load the jury is very much still out.

 

[Mr Pink]

I can't wait for Suarez to have an average season next season so everyone will shut up about him, he's hardly came in and set the league alite. He's scored afew goals and cost a shit load the jury is very much still out.

I think he's had an excellent start to his Liverpool career and if I were a betting man I would be betting firmly on him getting better with a full pre season under his belt, understanding with team mates growing and Gerrard coming back into the side.

 

[RichSpur58]

Paul Smith, why does that name ring a bell ?

Makes jeans and aftershave

 

[StartingPrice]

Does anybody else think its conceivable that Hughes could well be on stand-by, I mean it appears that the Levy/Redknapp axis is weakening and I cant help but think Hughes is waiting for the Spurs job...

Purely speculative... I'm not saying I would be in complete support of such an appointment by the way just putting it out there.

Maybe.
I don't believe he is waiting for the United job, as he is, IMHO, the smartest of Red Nose's bastard children...so he will be aware ofhow much of a poisoned chalice that will be. And he was treated unfairly at Citeh, again IMHO.

 

[Mullers]

I have heard this all before, Modric will probably be sold on deadline day, that will give Redknapp the excuse he needs to take the England job. He will fall flat on his face if he is England manager, I am sure about that. The guy believes his own hype too much.

 

[VegasII]

Aaah, the Pleat-Meister:grin:

"And thee's our new central defender, Buffalo Kumalot, playing in the centre with Michael Dawson WHO I BROUGHT TO WHITE HART LANE":grin:

I was thinking more 'Bong-gooni Cum-a-hoe'

Or even 'Bong-gooni camel-toe'

 

[Kendall]

I can't wait for Suarez to have an average season next season so everyone will shut up about him, he's hardly came in and set the league alite. He's scored afew goals and cost a shit load the jury is very much still out.

Here's someone who simply went on wiki to look at the goals/apps stat but didn't watch Liverpool at all after Suarez came in.

He was fucking magic.

 

[Viva la Tottenham]

I think he's had an excellent start to his Liverpool career and if I were a betting man I would be betting firmly on him getting better with a full pre season under his belt, understanding with team mates growing and Gerrard coming back into the side.

He was pretty good, but the scousers had the whole honeymoon thing with Daglish coming in. Time will tell if he can step up and deliver consistently over a whole season.

Here's someone who simply went on wiki to look at the goals/apps stat but didn't watch Liverpool at all after Suarez came in.

He was fucking magic.

Watched plenty of the scousers and he was pretty good but fucking magic is a serious over statement, the mass jizz session is very much premature. Lets wait and see how King Kenny and Comolli get them set up performing in the new season.

 

[double0]

It is very uncomfortable at times listening to Harry Redknapp the man is self deluded...the comment about Modric how he made him a 40-50M player when he came according to Harry Modric couldnt get into the team, he safed us for relegation bla bla bla. The relationship between Levy and Redknapp sounds very strained. Harry has a habbit of self promotion everything around him is not his fault, his at pains to let every tom dick and harry know about it...he is a drone monologue.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Harry is going to be on sports week on five live within the next 45 minutes.

 

[Viva la Tottenham]

I'm starting to wish he wouldn't be in the media so much either

he's a fucking football manager not a fucking pop star

 

[Wsussexspur]

I'm starting to wish he wouldn't be in the media so much either

he's a fucking football manager not a fucking pop star

He is a complete media whore!

He is on the radio now.

 

[Gary-22]

fill us in whats he saying?

 

[vonn]

fill us in whats he saying?

Basically repeating what he said on Talksport.

* Upto Levy if Modric goes - not his decision. Doesn't think Levy will backtrack.

* Mentioned £40-50 million as the real valuation of Modric - no need for that Harry if we aren't selling.

* Luka, one of the best midfielders in the world.

* How transfers work these days. More club to agent to player rather than the old days manager to manager.

* Need to improve the team. Trying to find a couple of players. Show ambition to show Luka we mean business.

* Defoe to Arsenal - hadn't heard of that one. Likes Eto'o but we probably couldn't afford his wages. :grin:

Thats about it, nothing too interesting.

 

[Wsussexspur]

He implied Chelsea first came on for luka 3 weeks ago and he thought it was very strange that considering Chelsea don't have a manager that they are bidding for players. He implied modric been tapped up. But Said that's just how football works now a days as happens with every transfer. He said Levy said he won't be sold so he can't really go back on that. Also that harry and levy haven't spoken to luka as he is on honeymoon! To this rather sarcastically Gary Richardson & the times journalist in the studio said that the daily mail have done really well to get interview with luka considering he is on honeymoon. Said that he thinks levy has spoken to lukas agent. Last thing was that it's up to us now to go and show our ambition to Luka and bring in couple of top players.

 

[NEVILLEB]

I can't believe they still don't have a striker lined up

Supreme incompetence

If the best players want to leave it's because the two of them blew it when the opportunity was there to really push on.

 

[Pringle]

neville - how do you know we dont have a striker lined up?

 

[Mr Pink]

At least he's talkling about us showing some ambition in terms of new signings.

 

[michaelden]

We hear more of harry than spurs. He should quit management and just do chatshows