- Aug 22, 2005
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I loved Rafa, loved his insane moments of talent, his hatred of the scum, even him huffing and puffing around like an enthusiastic fat Labrador after 60 minutes.
But reading those quotes makes me glad he's gone. We've seen that we have an excellent team spirit, perhaps in part down to the fact that everyone feels like they have a chance and they're all valued. I don't get the feeling that would be the case if we currently had a sulky VDV here mouthing off to the press as he's done in the past (who would have LOVED some ammunition to use against AVB) and generally stinking up the place with a bad attitude because AVB didn't think he was a special snowflake.
That would have tarnished all the brilliant things he did for us. As it is, I think we all won - VDV got to go back to Hamburg where he's adored, we're thriving too.
I don't think for a second that Rafa would have stunk up the place.
In fact, VDV said himself that AVB changed his mind but by then it was too late as he'd been wooed by Hamburg who had pursued him all summer.
VDV adored Hamburg and his wife worked in Germany, which was taking a toll on his marriage. VDV loved Spurs though and thought he was wanted and our star player. As such Hamburg's wooing hadn't quite turned his head, despite having been publicly ongoing for weeks, if not months. When interviewed early in the summer, VDV had not denied the Hamburg rumours, and only said something along the lines of 'for now I think I will be with Spurs next season'. He never flat out denied he might go there.
Then when AVB comes in he makes clear that VDV isn't a guaranteed starter, and that Sigg will be competing for his favoured position. A little rash on AVB's part maybe, but I think he felt he needed to establish his authority over the club's senior players, which is understandable.
Once VDV realised that he wasn't indispensible to Spurs he felt less loved and the Hamburg offer seemed that much more attractive as he was still a god over there. I imagine then words were had with Levy, and VDV realised that the former would love to be able to make a profit on a player rapidly approaching his thirties. This reinforced the perceived lack of love from the Spurs heirarchy, and accelerated his decision to choose Hamburg over Spurs.
I can't begrudge VDV for thinking that way, although perhaps he was being a bit precious. I'm also a little disappointed in AVB for not having more faith in VDV, as he really was amazing for Spurs. Ultimately though I think that if Levy had just told Hamburg where to go, VDV would have stayed and established himself in AVB's side, especially given that Dempsey and so far Siggurdson have been pale shadows of the masterful playmaker and goalscorer that VDV was and is.