Danny Rose

[diego_maradona]

He's got a point no doubt.

Can completely understand the frustration. We are so close to becoming a title winning team. Yet this has not come from some tycoons riches instead we are a team put together by a brilliant young manager who was fortunate to inherit some fantastic young footballers and made them even better. These things very rarely happen in football where a team come together and are young. United had it under fergie and it propelled them into becoming the money making machine they are today.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Compete for top 4 was supposed to be Pochettinos job, instead he nearly won the title twice. So now everyone can see we are maybe 2/3 players away from winning it. Instead fans and players can see rivals spending hundreds of millions while we spend nothing and sell the best right back in the league to our rivals (which in itself sends a hugely negative message to the dressing room).

I feel for Levy because he now has a conundrum. Does he take a gamble and risk going for it all knowing these opportunities very rarely come around. Or does he play it safe and stay within our means sticking to the long term vision. Slow and steady wins the race.

Still have a problem with rose talking about it in the press. Wish I could say his motivations were simply to give spurs a kick up the bum to get their act together and sign someone but more realistically he is agitating for a move

 

[Modric THFC]

I think that a key issue in analyzing Rose's comments are the real motivation for giving the interview. It appears that he wanted to give it, and one must question his motives. Is he agitating for a move? A big pay rise? Is it just a result of pent up frustration and concern about his injury? I think most important is what he has been saying to Poch and the club generally. They may have heard all of this, most of which is hardly news -- others pay more, we haven't spent anything, he wants medals, he misses Kyle W. and he wants to go back up North. And I doubt that any of this is news to the players either. As long as he doesn't say I'm going on strike until I get my dream move to [insert boyhood Northern club] I don't think there is much to be concerned about.

The lad has spent 6 months reading Spurs forums and watching Game of Thrones. He's now torn between his renewed love for the North and telling Poch to sign some fudging players.

 

[tommysvr]

Quotes from the second Sun article about signings


“I am not saying buy ten players, I’d love to see two or three — and not players you have to Google and say, ‘Who’s that?’ I mean well-known players.”

“Under Harry Redknapp we signed Rafa van der Vaart. It was like, ‘Wow, how did he do that?’

“I mean signings like that are what we need — that’s just my opinion.

“There are three weeks to go until the window shuts and you look at Emirates Marketing Project and think, ‘If the window shut now they would be happy with the business they have done’.

“Man United, more or less, are there — although I hear Mourinho may want one or two more players — but I am sure he’d be happy with his squad.

“As a Tottenham player I’d love to see more signings. It would lift me seeing a top player come through the door.

“I’ve seen a couple of players previously saying, ‘We don’t need a top signing or signings’. But I am sorry, I am not singing off the same hymn-sheet on that one.

“I think we do need one or two top signings to strengthen the squad. I’m just not buying the idea that we don’t need anyone.”

“I know it was only pre-season but I watched the game against Emirates Marketing Project and I was just in awe of City.

“They only had Kyle Walker, Danilo and the goalkeeper Ederson out of the players they’ve just bought.

“Speaking to some lads when they got back, they’re saying: ‘City are taking off £200million and then they are bringing on Aguero, Toure and Sane’. That just speaks volumes to me.

“Anyone who says we don’t need any signings, I’m not buying into that.

“As a starting 11 we have one of the best in the league, without a shadow of a doubt, but after that . . .

“We played Chelsea in the Cup semi — Costa, Hazard and Cahill didn’t play.

“After 60 minutes, Conte has brought on Fabregas, Hazard and Costa and they’ve changed the match.

“I thought to myself, ‘Could we ever afford to play against a top team and afford to have Harry Kane, Dele Alli and a top centre-back not playing?’

“No disrespect to anyone but I don’t think we could do that and Chelsea did that to us. They’re still in the game, they bring on Costa, Hazard and Fabregas and they won.

“I definitely feel we need to bolster the squad.

“Under Harry, there were two Premier League-class players for every position. We are finishing even higher under Mauricio but we don’t have that depth now.

“The standard of training when there’s that much quality is amazing. I have competition for my place but why shouldn’t everyone have competition for their places? Everton midfielder Ross Barkley starts and finishes move off against West Ham

“Top-class competition where, if you have two average games, you might lose your place. I have that and I don’t see why anyone else shouldn’t.

“I want world-class players to come through the front door to make you fight for your place.”

“Mauricio is a world-class manager and I can only voice my opinion — as a Tottenham ‘fan’ for the last six months.

“But hearing Ross might be available, well, I have played with and against Ross and bringing him through the door, in itself, would be a huge boost.

“I’m a huge fan. In terms of physical stature, right and left foot and trying to get him off the ball, he’s like Mousa Dembele. If Ross wants to push on to the next level, Mauricio Pochettino is the best manager to do that — just look how many players he has got into the England squad.”

“Kyle leaving has been a big blow to me because when I play I am going into battle and when I am playing against the top people, I look over to Kyle and I fully expect Kyle to get the better of anybody.

“He was, and is, the best right-back in the league and seeing him sold to a title favourite and rival was hard.

“I wouldn’t expect Daniel Levy to tell me how to play football — we get on really well and he runs the club brilliantly — so I am not going to tell him how to run his club.

“But I didn’t want to see Kyle sold. I wish him all the best and he deserves what he is earning. City will win a trophy this season and he deserves to be part of that.

“I knew Kyle may have been moving at the end of last season and I did voice my view. ‘Try to keep him, he’s the best, why would we sell him?’ — I said that to the manager.

“But I’ve seen the manager say he feels Tottenham had the best of him and if that is what he feels, I fully respect the judgement of the manager and Daniel Levy.

“We do have a perfect replacement in Kieran Trippier. His crossing ability is the best I have played with and, as a person, he is one of the nicest I’ve ever come across.

“He looks like he’ll be Tottenham’s No 1 right-back. He deserves it and can flourish.”

Seems a bit too honest for his own good.

 

[thfcsteff]

I think that a key issue in analyzing Rose's comments are the real motivation for giving the interview. It appears that he wanted to give it, and one must question his motives. Is he agitating for a move? A big pay rise? Is it just a result of pent up frustration and concern about his injury? I think most important is what he has been saying to Poch and the club generally. They may have heard all of this, most of which is hardly news -- others pay more, we haven't spent anything, he wants medals, he misses Kyle W. and he wants to go back up North. And I doubt that any of this is news to the players either. As long as he doesn't say I'm going on strike until I get my dream move to [insert boyhood Northern club] I don't think there is much to be concerned about.

I am not concerned about it at all. Poch will do what Poch wants. The player is on a contract getting paid. We hold the power. Poch won't give that up. I am disappointed in what is an act of insubordination. You don't do your dirty laundry in public, and if you do, IMO you pay whatever price the recipient of said soiled undies demands. Of course discussions have been had with all the players and yeah, you know there's been some serious back and forth. But in house. In OUR house. And resolved.

fudge him. No excuses. No mercy. He threw it down for a second time this summer, so again, fudge him.


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

 

[thfcsteff]

We wouldn't be able to keep the team together

I am genuinely alarmed no-one else sees this as insubordination! I promise, I will slap my own hands if I continue posting in this thread right now!!!! [emoji23]


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

 

[AdamB]

He's got a point no doubt.

Can completely understand the frustration. We are so close to becoming a title winning team. Yet this has not come from some tycoons riches instead we are a team put together by a brilliant young manager who was fortunate to inherit some fantastic young footballers and made them even better. These things very rarely happen in football where a team come together and are young. United had it under fergie and it propelled them into becoming the money making machine they are today.

This wasn't supposed to happen. Compete for top 4 was supposed to be Pochettinos job, instead he nearly won the title twice. So now everyone can see we are maybe 2/3 players away from winning it. Instead fans and players can see rivals spending hundreds of millions while we spend nothing and sell the best right back in the league to our rivals (which in itself sends a hugely negative message to the dressing room).

I feel for Levy because he now has a conundrum. Does he take a gamble and risk going for it all knowing these opportunities very rarely come around. Or does he play it safe and stay within our means sticking to the long term vision. Slow and steady wins the race.

Still have a problem with rose talking about it in the press. Wish I could say his motivations were simply to give spurs a kick up the bum to get their act together and sign someone but more realistically he is agitating for a move

To me his motivations are trying to understand whether the club match his ambition and if not then, given players careers are limited, find a club that do want to win things before it's too late. Our actions this window do not suggest we're a club which want to win things

 

[AdamB]

I am genuinely alarmed no-one else sees this as insubordination! I promise, I will slap my own hands if I continue posting in this thread right now!!!! [emoji23]


Sitting on my porcelain throne using glory-glory.co.uk mobile app

My guess would be that he's said the same privately. I'm pleased we have players who want to win; frustrating that we're not matching that with signings

 

[Nigeyman]

Can't say I have any issues with the comments from rose and it makes such a refreshing change from being lied to by players towing the line.

Is the timing poo poo? Yes but whenever is the right time for voicing hard truths?

cant say I like everything he's said but with the service he's given us he is entitled to his opinion.

 

[DubaiSpur]

Wow.

It's been said already, but there are two parts to this - what he said and how he said it.

*What he said* is entirely reasonable. He feels he's being underpaid, and that the rest of the team is being underpaid too - fair enough, they *are*, relative to their peers. If he wants to try sparking some collective bargaining, hey, his right to try.
He misses his family and friends up north and Kyle in particular (who he didn't want to see leave) - fair enough.
He wants to win things and feels like he has one last big contract in him - fair enough.
He holds a grudge against the fans who viciously abused him on Twitter and elsewhere when he signed a new deal - fair enough.
He wants signings that show our ambition, and does not want us sitting on our hands with 75m burning a hole in our pockets and wondering which utter no-name comes in to replace Kyle or provide backup to Eriksen or Alli - fair enough.

All of those are reasonable positions to hold for an ambitious player who wants to make the most of his career and wants to see us actually back up our ambitions for the title in a way that doesn't involve going into mid-August having signed nobody and having lost a first-team player to a league-rival. I'd suggest that last sentiment in particular is one most of the fans agree with as well - if he's calling out Levy or Poch on it, it's nothing we haven't done ourselves over the last couple of months.

What he said is entirely reasonable.

But how he said it is unacceptable.

You do not go to the S*n.

You do not go to the fudging S*n.

And, even if you do, you do not go to the f*cking S*n less than a week before the season begins to give your great and honest takes on life, the universe and everything.

I agree with nearly all of his positions. But I do not agree, and will *never* agree, with doing what he's just done. If we're weaker than we were, if we need new signings, if we need to show ambition or raise salaries or just get Levy's f*cking a*se moving - that makes public unity all the more necessary from our players and staff, because it's increasingly all we have to differentiate us from our rivals while we try to do what we can to rectify our disasvantages.

By giving his great opinions the way he has, he's smashed that one advantage to pieces on the eve of the new season.

I agree with the people who are suggesting that there is tapping-up behind this - agent's work, other clubs, there are a range of possible culprits. This is not coincidental.

And it's a damn f*cking shame, because a lot of what he says, *I agree with*. Hard truths are never easy on the ears, and he said what needed to be said in a lot of ways.

But not like this, Rose. Not like this.

And as for the fans slagging you off three years ago - yes, I agree, that was awful and a black stain on us as a fanbase (and one we haven't learned from - we're still busily slagging Sissoko off, calling for Janssen to be sold...we haven't f*cking learned).

But be honest with yourself - when you suggest that you want to see *big* signings, and when you allege that your f*cking colleagues, your team-mates like N'Koudou, Janssen and the like are no-names you need to Google...

...what the *fudge* are you doing that's so different to what the fans did? If anything, oh great, honest and outspoken Danny Rose, you're doing far worse - the fans don't interact with you on more than a hands-off basis, but you have to help your colleagues succeed and feel secure in their surroundings. By saying what you've said out loud, you've failed in that responsibility above all.

So why are you so much better, Danny?

 

[Jordinho]

“Under Harry, there were two Premier League-class players for every position. We are finishing even higher under Mauricio but we don’t have that depth now.

“The standard of training when there’s that much quality is amazing. I have competition for my place but why shouldn’t everyone have competition for their places? Everton midfielder Ross Barkley starts and finishes move off against West Ham

“Top-class competition where, if you have two average games, you might lose your place. I have that and I don’t see why anyone else shouldn’t.

He's gone. If not now, then next summer.

 

[Jordinho]

Wow.

It's been said already, but there are two parts to this - what he said and how he said it.

*What he said* is entirely reasonable. He feels he's being underpaid, and that the rest of the team is being underpaid too - fair enough, they *are*, relative to their peers. If he wants to try sparking some collective bargaining, hey, his right to try.
He misses his family and friends up north and Kyle in particular (who he didn't want to see leave) - fair enough.
He wants to win things and feels like he has one last big contract in him - fair enough.
He holds a grudge against the fans who viciously abused him on Twitter and elsewhere when he signed a new deal - fair enough.
He wants signings that show our ambition, and does not want us sitting on our hands with 75m burning a hole in our pockets and wondering which utter no-name comes in to replace Kyle or provide backup to Eriksen or Alli - fair enough.

All of those are reasonable positions to hold for an ambitious player who wants to make the most of his career and wants to see us actually back up our ambitions for the title in a way that doesn't involve going into mid-August having signed nobody and having lost a first-team player to a league-rival. I'd suggest that last sentiment in particular is one most of the fans agree with as well - if he's calling out Levy or Poch on it, it's nothing we haven't done ourselves over the last couple of months.

What he said is entirely reasonable.

But how he said it is unacceptable.

You do not go to the S*n.

You do not go to the fudging S*n.

And, even if you do, you do not go to the f*cking S*n less than a week before the season begins to give your great and honest takes on life, the universe and everything.

I agree with nearly all of his positions. But I do not agree, and will *never* agree, with doing what he's just done. If we're weaker than we were, if we need new signings, if we need to show ambition or raise salaries or just get Levy's f*cking a*se moving - that makes public unity all the more necessary from our players and staff, because it's increasingly all we have to differentiate us from our rivals while we try to do what we can to rectify our disasvantages.

By giving his great opinions the way he has, he's smashed that one advantage to pieces on the eve of the new season.

I agree with the people who are suggesting that there is tapping-up behind this - agent's work, other clubs, there are a range of possible culprits. This is not coincidental.

And it's a damn f*cking shame, because a lot of what he says, *I agree with*. Hard truths are never easy on the ears, and he said what needed to be said in a lot of ways.

But not like this, Rose. Not like this.

And as for the fans slagging you off three years ago - yes, I agree, that was awful and a black stain on us as a fanbase (and one we haven't learned from - we're still busily slagging Sissoko off, calling for Janssen to be sold...we haven't f*cking learned).

But be honest with yourself - when you suggest that you want to see *big* signings, and when you allege that your f*cking colleagues, your team-mates like N'Koudou, Janssen and the like are no-names you need to Google...

...what the *fudge* are you doing that's so different to what the fans did? If anything, oh great, honest and outspoken Danny Rose, you're doing far worse - the fans don't interact with you on more than a hands-off basis, but you have to help your colleagues succeed and feel secure in their surroundings. By saying what you've said out loud, you've failed in that responsibility above all.

So why are you so much better, Danny?

I'm a little baffled by this interview. Does not strike me as something the club would have sanctioned. During the season there's usually someone present to make sure nothing untowards is said when tv channels come to visit.

 

[DubaiSpur]

I'm a little baffled by this interview. Does not strike me as something the club would have sanctioned. During the season there's usually someone present to make sure nothing untowards is said when tv channels come to visit.

Apparently he specifically requested an interview, and the Sun obliged.

I don't think it's something the club's sanctioned at all. Either he went out and did it without prior approval, or he misrepresented the proposed contents of his interview to the club when running it by the media team.

I mean, I highly doubt Levy would want to see his ambition questioned (however justified that questioning may be amidst this increasingly disappointing window), or have a player trying some collective bargaining via the press - likewise, it's impossible to imagine Poch allowing Rose to effectively slag his teammates off in the press, however complementary he may have been about Poch himself.

 

[thfcsteff]

Can't say I have any issues with the comments from rose and it makes such a refreshing change from being lied to by players towing the line.

Is the timing poo poo? Yes but whenever is the right time for voicing hard truths?

cant say I like everything he's said but with the service he's given us he is entitled to his opinion.

I love your posts usually, but I could not disagree with you more mate. Until Poch showed up, he was bog average and teetering on disastrous.

 

[Daisuk]

Oh, Danny, you fudging wum. Show some bloody respect for the man that made you. I wonder how it's saying brick like that and going to back to work facing your colleagues. fudging clam. What a fudging idiot.

 

[thfcsteff]

Apparently he specifically requested an interview, and the Sun obliged.

I don't think it's something the club's sanctioned at all. Either he went out and did it without prior approval, or he misrepresented the proposed contents of his interview to the club when running it by the media team.

I mean, I highly doubt Levy would want to see his ambition questioned (however justified that questioning may be amidst this increasingly disappointing window), or have a player trying some collective bargaining via the press - likewise, it's impossible to imagine Poch allowing Rose to effectively slag his teammates off in the press, however complementary he may have been about Poch himself.

He did it earlier in the summer on 5 Live. I was tinkled off then. I know his game. To me, he is an absolute traitor. And for those who say he has the right to share his opinions, just because you have the right to do something it doesn't mean you should. I would question whether anyone who makes over two hundred thousand fudging pounds basic wage (without bonuses) from my club has the 'right' to saunter off and blabber like this. In the real world, there are NDAs. He has just fudged over the man who taught him everything he knows about football (clue: it wasn't Harry fudging Redknapp or Tim 'nice But Dim' brickwood)...

I don't think I have been as aggravated by a Spurs player since C*******...and before anyone starts explaining the technical differences, I am not Helen Keller, I can see them, I am talking about the MORAL equivalence. It is, for me, a desertion. Driven by the player and others. Poch is between a rock and a hard place; sack the bastard for speaking out of turn and he essentially gives him what he wants (a fudging rail pass to Manchester). Hold him to his contract and he has a potential dressing room virus a la Adebayor. This will be a test for Poch, but I feel sure he will handle it with class, poise and some bluntness...

 

[Finney Is Back]

The Barkley comments are interesting. i wonder whether those that dont rate him on here would listen to a guy who has trained and played with him?

 

[thfcsteff]

Well well well...we have a plan. We have a system. We have a manager we trust. We have a world class stadium literally rising. We have probably the three most in-demand players in international football. We have only sold the one player we were OK selling.

Yet the drip drip drip of summer media, of pundits, of the agents, of the whisperers, has finally managed to land a punch in it's attempts to drag us off our path and into the culture of 'must have must want must spend however much whether necessary or not'...

I keep reading about 'lacking ambition'...we have kept 5 players that the entire fudging Prem are trying to equal in terms of quality with their girthumptyzillions spending sprees!!!
No-one likes the fact we are doing it our way, and no-one likes the fact our true stars won't be bought just yet, won't break ranks and that the manager is loyal. even Eric Dier, whose head WAS turned by the money thrown around at Old Trafford, kept his mouth shut and buckled down. He didn't commit a form of football treason! The media, Guardiola, Mourinho and clame have all been gunning for us the entire summer. We are their real threat. They known it. So they try to create brickstorms in our dressing room...

Yet here we are, with some people actually believing that Danny Rose was 'just being honest'...in giving an interview to The S*n. Such an honest paper. fudge THAT!

I have rarely been more proud of the club than right now. Resisting the urge to spend STUPID MONEY on MEDIOCRE players, only wanting to sign the right players.

The ONLY man whose opinion counts for me right now is Mauricio Pocchetino. End of. He has earned my trust and he should've earned yours by now. if he hasn't, if you still believe we should spunking 100 mill one a couple of razz signings at 60% inflated pricing, then you must be of that era that lacks any sense of patience, any sense of perspective and any true sense of what this club, and this manager, is trying to do.

GET BEHIND THE CLUB. AND THE MANAGER! AND fudge THE DISRUPTERS...EVEN INSIDE ONES!

Rant over!

 

[Daisuk]

He did it earlier in the summer on 5 Live. I was tinkled off then. I know his game. To me, he is an absolute traitor. And for those who say he has the right to share his opinions, just because you have the right to do something it doesn't mean you should. I would question whether anyone who makes over two hundred thousand fudging pounds basic wage (without bonuses) from my club has the 'right' to saunter off and blabber like this. In the real world, there are NDAs. He has just fudged over the man who taught him everything he knows about football (clue: it wasn't Harry fudging Redknapp or Tim 'nice But Dim' brickwood)...

I don't think I have been as aggravated by a Spurs player since C*******...and before anyone starts explaining the technical differences, I am not Helen Keller, I can see them, I am talking about the MORAL equivalence. It is, for me, a desertion. Driven by the player and others. Poch is between a rock and a hard place; sack the bastard for speaking out of turn and he essentially gives him what he wants (a fudging rail pass to Manchester). Hold him to his contract and he has a potential dressing room virus a la Adebayor. This will be a test for Poch, but I feel sure he will handle it with class, poise and some bluntness...

This. 100%. He is either a) trying to engineer a move, or b) fudging stupid. In either case, to go out on your own initiative and talk that brick to the public is just unacceptable. He knows how this works. fudging WUM.

 

[PochettinoPochettinoPochettino]

I'm with dubai on this. He's done it the wrong way. At least Walker didn't say all this and had some respect. I'd either stick him on the bench or just sell him to the highest bidder now. Davies should start date when fit anyway now but he's disrespected the club and you don't do that until you are at least at another club (but you shouldn't do it anyway).

As I said before I read the article, fudge Danny Rose and fudge him off.

 

[billyiddo]

Quotes from the second Sun article about signings


“I am not saying buy ten players, I’d love to see two or three — and not players you have to Google and say, ‘Who’s that?’ I mean well-known players.”

“Under Harry Redknapp we signed Rafa van der Vaart. It was like, ‘Wow, how did he do that?’

“I mean signings like that are what we need — that’s just my opinion.

“There are three weeks to go until the window shuts and you look at Emirates Marketing Project and think, ‘If the window shut now they would be happy with the business they have done’.

“Man United, more or less, are there — although I hear Mourinho may want one or two more players — but I am sure he’d be happy with his squad.

“As a Tottenham player I’d love to see more signings. It would lift me seeing a top player come through the door.

“I’ve seen a couple of players previously saying, ‘We don’t need a top signing or signings’. But I am sorry, I am not singing off the same hymn-sheet on that one.

“I think we do need one or two top signings to strengthen the squad. I’m just not buying the idea that we don’t need anyone.”

“I know it was only pre-season but I watched the game against Emirates Marketing Project and I was just in awe of City.

“They only had Kyle Walker, Danilo and the goalkeeper Ederson out of the players they’ve just bought.

“Speaking to some lads when they got back, they’re saying: ‘City are taking off £200million and then they are bringing on Aguero, Toure and Sane’. That just speaks volumes to me.

“Anyone who says we don’t need any signings, I’m not buying into that.

“As a starting 11 we have one of the best in the league, without a shadow of a doubt, but after that . . .

“We played Chelsea in the Cup semi — Costa, Hazard and Cahill didn’t play.

“After 60 minutes, Conte has brought on Fabregas, Hazard and Costa and they’ve changed the match.

“I thought to myself, ‘Could we ever afford to play against a top team and afford to have Harry Kane, Dele Alli and a top centre-back not playing?’

“No disrespect to anyone but I don’t think we could do that and Chelsea did that to us. They’re still in the game, they bring on Costa, Hazard and Fabregas and they won.

“I definitely feel we need to bolster the squad.

“Under Harry, there were two Premier League-class players for every position. We are finishing even higher under Mauricio but we don’t have that depth now.

“The standard of training when there’s that much quality is amazing. I have competition for my place but why shouldn’t everyone have competition for their places? Everton midfielder Ross Barkley starts and finishes move off against West Ham

“Top-class competition where, if you have two average games, you might lose your place. I have that and I don’t see why anyone else shouldn’t.

“I want world-class players to come through the front door to make you fight for your place.”

“Mauricio is a world-class manager and I can only voice my opinion — as a Tottenham ‘fan’ for the last six months.

“But hearing Ross might be available, well, I have played with and against Ross and bringing him through the door, in itself, would be a huge boost.

“I’m a huge fan. In terms of physical stature, right and left foot and trying to get him off the ball, he’s like Mousa Dembele. If Ross wants to push on to the next level, Mauricio Pochettino is the best manager to do that — just look how many players he has got into the England squad.”

“Kyle leaving has been a big blow to me because when I play I am going into battle and when I am playing against the top people, I look over to Kyle and I fully expect Kyle to get the better of anybody.

“He was, and is, the best right-back in the league and seeing him sold to a title favourite and rival was hard.

“I wouldn’t expect Daniel Levy to tell me how to play football — we get on really well and he runs the club brilliantly — so I am not going to tell him how to run his club.

“But I didn’t want to see Kyle sold. I wish him all the best and he deserves what he is earning. City will win a trophy this season and he deserves to be part of that.

“I knew Kyle may have been moving at the end of last season and I did voice my view. ‘Try to keep him, he’s the best, why would we sell him?’ — I said that to the manager.

“But I’ve seen the manager say he feels Tottenham had the best of him and if that is what he feels, I fully respect the judgement of the manager and Daniel Levy.

“We do have a perfect replacement in Kieran Trippier. His crossing ability is the best I have played with and, as a person, he is one of the nicest I’ve ever come across.

“He looks like he’ll be Tottenham’s No 1 right-back. He deserves it and can flourish.”

All sensible stuff but really not what you should be saying in the media before the start of the season (at all even)

Like I've said previously people have their heads in the clouds if they think signing minimal players promoting youth and expecting Dier to cover half the positions on the pitch is going to keep our stars happy - ambitious players won't want to slip down the league because of a lack of (perceived) investment.