Personally, I liked "Charlie"
Spurs official news releases seem to be a week or two behind the rumour machine and the network of "ITK" information, but they finally announced yesterday (29th June, 2012) that Croatian right back Vedran Corluka has signed for Lokomotiv (Moscow), where he will play for his former national coach, Slaven Bilic. Corluka will be re-united with former Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, and will be able to share notes regarding the experience of being a squad player at Tottenham Hotspur, rather than one of the regular first team choices.
The transfer fee paid for Corluka has not been disclosed, but was rumoured to have been around £6 million, which is an excellent return for Spurs, who paid in the region of £8 million when securing his signature from Manchester City in August, 2008.
"Charlie" was never every Spurs fan's cup of tea, and he certainly does not match the pace of current first choice right back Kyle Walker, who secured the right back spot last season. However, I always admired Corluka's defensive guile, perhaps best demonstrated in his first season, when Harry Redknapp put Didier Zokora on Ashley Young in a game at Villa Park. Zokora was supposed to be able to contain Young with his pace, but failed dismally. Corluka replaced Zokora before the first half was over, and had Young in his pocket for the rest of the game.
I'd also say that Corluka had a better understanding with Aaron Lennon than does Walker. There were a few times last season when Walker and Lennon seemed to be having words over their on-pitch relationship, and that is an issue that will need ironing out before the new season starts.
Corluka was clear first choice in his first two seasons at Spurs, supported by Harry Redknapp, despite the fact that Corluka was one of Juande Ramos's last signings. Now, we have Walker holding the slot, with his former Sheffield United club mate Kyle Naughton likely to be his deputy. Whether that is a situation that will satisfy Naughton remains to be seen, after he enjoyed a full season of Premier League football with Norwich. That is a quandary for the new Spurs manager, whose appointment we anxiously await to be confirmed in the next few days. Perhaps this will even be tomorrow (July 1st) if all the rumours about Andre Villas-Boas are true.
So, Spurs have lost two of their three Croatians, leaving us with Luka Modric. I wonder how long that will remain the case?
Anyway, good luck "Charlie". I liked you, and I know a lot of Spurs fans were also supporters of your style of play.
