Rafa on Defoe and Cisse

[CarraLegend]

Just spoke on SSN just then about it, done the usual "Cisse is our player and i'm happy with him" etc then moved on to say "I have a clear idea, Tottenham are desperate to sell Defoey (As he called him)" Few more bits about it, was then asked if he wants to sign Defoe and said "I'm happy with my strikers" so thats a yes then. Weird him saying that Spurs are desperate to sell, he's not usually that open.

[Benitez]

tis strange he said that.

 

But, maybe he knows summet we dont - ie, Spuds could have been chitstirring regards Cisse

[jimmylibel]

tis strange he said that.

 

But, maybe he knows summet we dont - ie, Spuds could have been chitstirring regards Cisse

 

Of course there is no harm in unsettling the spirit of a side that is pushing to catch you in the league.

[Benitez]

Why not say "twelve hundred" and save on the typing?

 

 

cos that's a completly different number silly

[Lee W]

Levy wants a straightener with our Rafa

 

http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/artic...nsresponse.html

 

In response to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez's comments today during his pre-match press conference, that we are 'desperate to sell Defoe', our Club Chairman, Daniel Levy, has responded swiftly and angrily:

 

"I find today's reported comments by Rafael Benitez beyond belief. Not only are they completely untrue, but it is unprecedented that any manager should comment in this way on another team's player. It could in fact be interpreted as a direct and blatant attempt to unsettle Jermain.

 

There is absolutely no basis, let alone any element of truth whatsoever, in Benitez's claim today that we are looking to sell Jermain. We have not had a single conversation on this point with Liverpool or any other club so I fail to see how he can make this statement. Additionally, for the avoidance of all doubt, we have previously said and I repeat, we have absolutely no intention of making an offer for Cisse or Saha. On all these issues, I resent having to put the record straight when it should never have been put into question.

 

I should expect that Mr Benitez on reflection, withdraws his wholly inappropriate, unprofessional and inaccurate comments. They do him no credit."

 

So it was your tea-lady that offered Defoe to us in the January window ?

[Stew F]

I should expect that Mr Benitez on reflection, withdraws his wholly inappropriate, unprofessional and inaccurate comments. They do him no credit."

 

AAAh go n boil ya bellend!

[fred milne]

Of course there is no harm in unsettling the spirit of a side that is pushing to catch you in the league.

I hope that's not the case - I'd like to think we were above that.

[Benitez]

Mr Levy is right, Rafa shouldn't say such things, and should withdraw the comments, so long as it's true that Spurs didn't try and unsettle Cisse, and didn't try and sell Defoe in the past.

[Earl Hafler]

Why ?

 

If Owen isn't available, then Defoe is probably the next best bet in terms of fitting in with the shape of the team. Defoe and Bent/Johnson would be good business for us in the summer.

 

I think Defoe would be worse than having Baros in the side.

[mooks]

i reckon spurs were in for cisse and Jol coming out and saying he was never interested in cisse annoyed rafa

yep

[Guest Kev]

Before you go all high and mighty on Rafa.

 

Spurs wanted Cisse + cash for Defoe in the summer, Liverpool turned the move down.

 

Maybe Spurs have repeated the offer and pissed off Rafa.

[Lee W]

I think Defoe would be worse than having Baros in the side.

 

Defoe can be a bit greedy sometimes granted, but other than that I think they're very different players. Defoe's finishing is far better.

Edited March 24, 2006 by Lee W

[Billy Dane]

Perhaps we've decided not to try and sound desperate to sell one of our players like we have in the past, one example being Diouf.

[Benitez]

Before you go all high and mighty on Rafa.

 

Spurs wanted Cisse + cash for Defoe in the summer, Liverpool turned the move down.

 

Maybe Spurs have repeated the offer and pissed off Rafa.

 

Isn't their chairman lining himself up to be made a prize tosser of then - Cos he's basically issued a statement of lies?

 

 

Thing is, people are gonna believe an 'official statement' on the spuds website, ahead of a comment in a press conference.

[mooks]

Mr Levy is right, Rafa shouldn't say such things, and should withdraw the comments, so long as it's true that Spurs didn't try and unsettle Cisse, and didn't try and sell Defoe in the past.

What are you talking about?

 

Are you saying it is okay for Spurs to try and sell Defoe in part-exchange for Cisse via their agents and then hide behind the technicality that "they" never tried to sell him?

 

This reeks of McManaman saying he never spoke to Barcelona (when it was in fact his agent that was speaking to them).

 

Levy is disingenuous and a complete tosser. Let's see him try to start legal action against Benitez. (You'd think you'd stand up for him as you are blatantly borrowing his username )

[Lee W]

Rafa and Benitez are taking the p*ss.

[Guest Kev]

Isn't their chairman lining himself up to be made a prize tosser of then - Cos he's basically issued a statement of lies?

Thing is, people are gonna believe an 'official statement' on the spuds website, ahead of a comment in a press conference.

 

To be honest I'm not arsed what Spurs think of us or Rafa. But if Rafa wants to go public about something and express his thoughts, then let him.

[Benitez]

To be honest I'm not arsed what Spurs think of us or Rafa. But if Rafa wants to go public about something and express his thoughts, then let him.

 

I agree with yer Kev, I aint that arsed. Just thought the original comment from Rafa out of character, but then as I said earlier in the post, I suspected it was said on the back of a lot of goings on with Spurs behind the scenes.

 

Which is why I thought Levys official statement a tad pretentious IF it's basically lies.

[Guest AdamS]

ignore

Edited March 24, 2006 by AdamS

[monkey puzzle]

Rafa is far from stupid, there'll be a very good reason he has done this. What that reason is, none of us know.

[johngibo YPC]

Rafa is far from stupid, there'll be a very good reason he has done this. What that reason is, none of us know.

 

I know

[Falconhoof]

Its very intriguing this. Completely unlike Rafa.

Either he wants Defoe and is trying to force the issue or behind the scenes a deal is possible but Spurs are asking for a stupid price. If we know that Defoe wants to sign for us, and that Spurs want to sell him but are asking for Ciise and a load of cash, well its understandable.

 

Bit of a mystery though, would love to know whats going on there.

[monkey puzzle]

I know

 

 

Nice one lad.

[Guest Kev]

Its very intriguing this. Completely unlike Rafa.

Either he wants Defoe and is trying to force the issue or behind the scenes a deal is possible but Spurs are asking for a stupid price. If we know that Defoe wants to sign for us, and that Spurs want to sell him but are asking for Ciise and a load of cash, well its understandable.

 

Bit of a mystery though, would love to know whats going on there.

 

I believe that we will sign one of Defoe, Owen or Johnson or even a player of similar ike.

[Earl Hafler]

Owen it is then.