Is Modric irreplaceable?

Luka Modric: Simply Irreplaceable
By Studub Published: 31st May 2011

This
season in La Liga, Xavi Hernandez scored 3 goals & got 7
assists. Now by some peoples’ logic this means that Joey Barton (4
goals, 9 assists in PL) is better than him.

But no one would ever dream of saying
such a thing would they? No of course not. Xavi is arguably the key
player for one of the best sides ever. Sure Messi is the best player on
the planet but what use is he if you can’t get him the ball?

That’s why Xavi is key, he’s the
heartbeat & conductor of their team, all roads go through Xavi, he
may not take the glory, but there would be no glory for anyone else
without him.

I very much believe that the same is
true of the man I have dubbed the ‘Croatian Xavi’. Luka Modric does for
Spurs what Xavi does for the European Champions. He is our only truly
irreplaceable player. A bold statement and people will ask, what about
Bale? I can name you at least half a dozen wingers we could
realistically sign that could do Bale’s job, maybe in a different style
but still get the same results.

However I can’t see there being one
realistic target who could do what Modric does for us. Players like that
are few and far between, Xavi is one, Pirlo is maybe a little past his
best now and wouldn’t be interested in us. Xabi Alonso is similar in
that he can dictate the pace of a game, but I can’t see him swapping
Madrid for N17 anytime soon. Marek Hamsik at Napoli may have taken the
step into that stratosphere this year too, but he’s already on the
shopping lists of the very best clubs so would again be a no go. There
are a few younger names coming through who could be considered, but they
are unproven and no one could guarantee that someone like Ajax’s
Christian Eriksen would settle into Premier League football quickly
enough.

So, Daniel Levy, I know you’ve already
said that bids won’t be entertained, I cannot stress enough how that
really has to be the case. Losing Luka would be a massive blow to any
ambitions we may have.

Many people were surprised when we paid
Dinamo Zagreb £16.5m for Luka’s signature even before the Euro 2008
Finals had begun. This appeared to be a lot of money for a relatively
unknown player from what is hardly one of Europe’s elite leagues. He had
however played his usual quiet unassuming role in getting Croatia to
those finals, as they famously prevented England from qualifying
(helping us get rid of McLaren in the process, result!)

Much was made of his small size and it
was repeatedly doubted that he would be able to survive in the Premier
League. The doubters, including Harry Redknapp when he first arrived,
should have taken a look at his history. Zagreb, seeing an 18 year old
with all the technique in the world knew that he needed toughening up.
Their solution? They sent him on loan to Zrinjski Mostar in the Bosnian
Premier League, a championship that is renowned for its physicality.

Modric proved his worth, learning how to
mix it with the tough guys and won the Player of the Year award. He
then went on to establish himself as a key figure for Zagreb and the
Croat national team, as either an attacking left sided or central
midfielder. He was always the man to provide tempo, and play in the
likes of Kranjcar & another of Luka’s friends, former Arsenal
striker Eduardo.

When Luka arrived at Spurs we were in
the midst of the Ramos debacle and Modric was suffering from a niggling
knee injury. This led to the media further questioning his ability to
cope in the league. As the season drew on, he began to show glimpses of
exactly what was to come. Mainly playing from the left side he was
becoming the man to give the ball to. His supreme confidence on the ball
comes from a low centre of gravity & surprising strength along with
a delightful touch and seemingly eyes in the back of his head. Added
to this and something which is still missed by some, is his phenomenal
work rate, he’s always chasing, tackling and pressing and he’s good at
it.

Luka really came into his own as we made
our run to fourth place in 09-10. His permanent move into the middle,
at that time along with THudd, was crucial. The determination he
showed in coming back from a broken leg typifies him. His role really
has become that of the deep-lying playmaker, often picking the ball up
from the back line. At this point he’ll either play a quick pass and
move up with play. Or he’ll turn, drop his shoulder, show a deceptive
turn of pace taking 2 or 3 players out the game before releasing his
inevitably accurate pass. When he does that I can’t help but smile, it’s
glorious to watch, poetry in motion. That’s what football is about,
moments like that.

One of the biggest remaining criticisms
of Modric, is that he doesn’t score enough goals. That may be a fair
point, but going back to the Xavi stats at the beginning, that really
isn’t what he’s about. He’s the man to release Bale or Lennon on one of
their trademark runs so they can get the ball in the box for
Pav/Crouch/Defoe to spoon it over the bar.

Seriously though, when Luka does get a
goal, it’s usually vital (winner v Chelsea) or special (the Gazza-esque
run and finish v Stoke). His penalty at Anfield was also taken with
composure, considering it was his first since missing one for Croatia in
the Quarter Finals of Euro 2008 in a shootout.

One of the highlights this season has
been the developing link up with Rafa Van Der Vaart. Rafa doesn’t always
seem keen to give up the ball but he rarely hesitates to find Luka and
they have provided some sparkling passages of play and appear to operate
on the same wavelength. Xavi is better for his combination with Andres
Iniesta and I see a similar symbiosis with Luka and Rafa. This can only
bode well for our future.

I was delighted to see Luka receive
recognition from the fans, voted our Player of the Year. Spurs fans know
a proper player when they see one. It doesn’t surprise me, but still
bothers me that he didn’t figure in the PFA awards list. At least the
Football Writers recognised his ability, although they again bungled it
by choosing Parker above him.

Luka Modric is truly the best player
I’ve seen in a Spurs shirt since Paul Gascoigne. Although Gazza went
about things in a more headline hogging fashion there is no doubt that
Luka is as influential on our side as the Geordie genius.

That’s why he’s irreplaceable, losing
him actually scares me. I do however really believe that Luka is a loyal
guy and he’s happy at Spurs. He’s allowed the opportunity to run the
team, as I’ve mentioned he plays well with our other top players, his
mate Charlie will still be here next year and he’s settled. Unless
there is a major change in our ambition over the summer I can’t see him
going anywhere.

We’ve been privileged to see a world
class player develop and I hope we get to see Luka Modric grace White
Hart Lane for many years to come.

Since I started writing this on Friday,
the Champions League Final has taken place, in its aftermath Tor
Kristian Karlsen said this on Twitter: ‘consensus of footballs top
opinionistas seems to be that only Cmid who could play for Barca without
weakening them is Modric’ via @karlsentk - (Karlsen is a highly
respected scout & football writer)

High praise indeed.

COYS

Submitted by THFC1882

Easy with the Luka for Sale threads Baz,,,one is enough lol

If we sell Modders it will underline the fact as a club we have no desire to progress , it would be a huge mistake , but the problem is we are a profit before silverware club , OK nothing wrong with having stable finances , but in my opinion we should try everything to keep hold of Modric and build a team round him , if we do sell him it would be questioning my faith in the club it seriously would i for one would be gutted . don't sell him at any price

Enic = English National Investment Company

lobo right if we sell him then it shows we are a selling club.

so whats new, same as all the years before . if the money is right levy will sell and find some excuse to fob us off with.