My good friend Steffan Chirazi continues to offer words on more than just Spurs throughout the close season on his excellent blog "Jumpers for Goalposts"
LUKA MODRIC…A STAR
The hacks all said that he was too lightweight, and even a few ex-professionals commented that he’d get pushed around when things got physical, but any lingering doubts that Luka Modric was tough enough were finally buried when he sent Germany’s Torsten Frings 5 ft into the air with a bone-crunching challenge in the 89th minute of Croatia’s 2-1 defeat of Germany.
Aside from dictating the rhythm, conducting the Croat orchestra and generally pulling the strings of the match, Modric showed time and time again that he can either deal face-to-face with physical types or can skip and scoot away from such situations. He will do for Spurs what Osvaldo Ardiles did back in the ’80s. Ossie was another man who wasn’t a giant, but he took care of business, kept the ball moving quickly and with intelligence plus he could pass through the eye of a needle.
Of course there is no Glenn Hoddle either at Spurs or in modern British football, but Modric’s arrival coupled with the skill, swagger (and strength!) of Giovani Dos Santos promises to offer Spurs plenty of opportunities to score even more goals than last season. If they can find a central defensive partnership which can stay fit (King and Woodgate would be nirvana for all Spurs supporters) then with Gareth Bale returning from injury, Spurs look to be genuine top 4 challengers. It was vital to find a player like Modric, and Spurs transfer committee did just that. And he will prove to be a resounding success.
