"I do not want to sell Bale. [url=http://www.airmax1wholesale.com/]Discount Air Max 1[/url] . No way, absolutely no way. If you do, where do you go from there? If you want to progress as a team and as a club you have no chance if you sell players like that." – Harry Redknapp, 2010. Three yea

"I do not want to sell Bale. Discount Air Max 1 . No way, absolutely no way. If you do, where do you go from there? If you want to progress as a team and as a club you have no chance if you sell players like that." – Harry Redknapp, 2010. Three years later Gareth Bale has been sold. And Harry Redknapp is in the Championship. More importantly, despite selling their best player for a world record 100 million euro fee, Tottenham are indeed progressing as a team thanks to a brilliant strategy, led by their manager Andre Villas-Boas, that has seen them excel in three crucial areas where many other clubs struggle. Evaluate your own talent better than everybody else For any sports franchise this can be very difficult. Clubs have a tendency to overrate their own players. After all, there is a reason why the player is at the club in the first place as usually someone senior at the club is still there after they initially brought you to the club or through the youth ranks. In the case of Bale, Spurs learned under former manager Redknapp, how to initially get the better of him, moving him from left back and on to the wing where his explosive speed and ball control was best utilized. This prepared Bale to shine on the games biggest stage, particularly during a 15 day period in 2010 when Tottenham played Inter Milan twice in the Champions League. Bale tore apart one of the worlds best right backs Maicon at the San Siro, scoring a hat-trick, and was equally impressive in their return match at White Hart Lane with a sensational combination of attacking play down the left flank. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) European footballs giants were now on high-alert but Redknapp was ready for them, sending this message post match: "Hes an amazing young player, hes just signed a new contract and we have to build a team around him here for years to come." Redknapps attempts to build around Bale with the likes of Steven Pienaar, Scott Parker, William Gallas and Rafael van der Vaart ultimately cost him his job and left Bales reported value in the media around the 30 million pound mark. New manager Andre Villas-Boas came in with a different approach to help Bale blossom. At half-time in a match at Norwich last season, with his side trailing 1-0, Villas-Boas switched Bale from the left wing to the number 10 position more centrally and it had an instant impact. Not only did Bale score one of the goals of the season he also contributed far more to the teams attack in the final third. (photo: fourfourtwo.com - Click For Larger Image) Villas-Boas had seen enough and Bales move to a number 10 meant his minutes per pass received and minutes per shot went down while, crucially, his average shots per match, strike-rate and passing accuracy went up. Six goals in his next four games and 12 goals in his last 14 in total elevated him to a world class standard. By getting the best out of Bale, Villas-Boas not only increased Bales value in the market but also the players value to the club. Where would Spurs be without Bale? was the overriding message, meaning any potential buyer knew the reliance the club had on the player, instantly pushing the price up further. In this case it went from a reported 50 million pounds to the staggering sum agreed upon today. Evaluate your own club in the market Tottenham had found a way to get the best out of their star player and show just how much they needed him. The footballing intelligence they required to do that was now required in reaching reality in terms of the players wishes. In 1998, Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke, after nine years at the club, went to see manager John Gregory in his office to tell him he wanted to go to Manchester United after they had tabled a bid that Villa rejected. Gregory was so disappointed that he famously said of the moment: "If I had a gun I would have shot him." The manager was clearly disappointed that he would be losing his best player but in reality if a club like Manchester United come calling for his players, what would he expect them to do? Stay? A game older than 150 years that allows teams to simply buy players from other teams without giving more than cash is bound to create a hierarchy system where clubs are simply bigger than others. Tottenham Hotspur has a fantastic history but they are not, and never will be, larger than Real Madrid. If they are lucky enough to have a player wanted by the Spanish giants it is up to them to do whatever they can to get the best price for him and then do whatever you can to use those funds to improve the team and make them bigger than others. A crucial mistake made by many sports franchises happens when they overestimate the desire of their own players to stay with them. Tottenham were very unlucky to not reach the Champions League this season (the 72pts they achieved last season meant they were the first team in Premier League history to get that many and not finish in the top four) and Bales wishes to play at the top level are warranted but he isnt leaving because he cant play in Europe for Spurs on Wednesday nights. Had Tottenham qualified for the Champions League they simply cannot have hoped to stop Bale from wanting to go to Real Madrid once interest was shown. Big football clubs everywhere are best suited in these cases to remind themselves who is bigger, and it is clear by Tottenhams performances off the field this summer that they did just that. Evaluate the market, be an expert in recruiting talent Speak to any coach in one of the big North American sports about European soccer and sooner rather than later the conversation comes around to the role of a Premier League manager. Coaches on this side of the continent cannot understand how so many managers are in charge of coaching their team and being the major decision makers in recruitment. Before they signed a player this summer, Tottenham made a superb acquisition with the hiring of Franco Baldini as technical director. Villas-Boas, unlike Redknapp, had wanted a TD who knew the continental market since he arrived. He and Baldini got to work immediately. Villas-Boas had evaluated his team from his first season and crucially had realized they had significant flaws. Without Champions League revenue and with an old stadium, Baldini knew most of his transfer kitty would come from the upcoming money from Real Madrid so he moved swiftly and effectively. Thanks to his managers ability to evaluate the clubs players, make Bale better to get more money, and know realistically he would go to Real Madrid, Baldini was able to go about spending a good deal of money to improve key areas. Last season the likes of William Gallas, Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Clint Dempsey (all since departed) featured in 50 per cent or more of their league games, yet Spurs still got to 72 points. Bale played a massive part in that, without doubt, but the clubs overreliance on the Welshman meant two significant things. 1) They clearly needed to strengthen in other areas, and 2) Bales price was never going to be higher because of how often he Baled them out in 2012-13. Sure, Tottenham finished just a point behind Arsenal last season but Villas-Boas will know Arsenal led in 32.7 per cent of their matches (1,119 minutes) as opposed to Tottenhams 28.2 per cent (966 minutes) which was even lower than Everton and Liverpool. It was time to go to work to put a squad together that can ensure they found themselves in winning positions more often. The additions of Paulinho and Etienne Capoue make their midfield much more dynamic and stable and they are certainly massive upgrades over Parker and Huddlestone. Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela will surely score more than the 16 league goals Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe managed last season. The Spaniards off-the-ball movement and finishing ability are on a different level to his other strike partners while 21-year-old Lamela is a diamond in the rough unearthed by Baldini who is reunited with him from their time at Roma. These signings are not gambles; they are proven international players with experience in the Champions League and for their countries. Considering they were able to get them after selling a player with very little experience playing at the highest level shows just what can be done at a club when you have smart men like Baldini and Villas-Boas running it. "I dont know where wed be without him," once said Redknapp after a Spurs match hed managed. The truth is they have a plan in place to be much better. Cheap Air Max 1 Sale . "I had a pretty good year," the soft-spoken Granberg told TSN.ca with a grin from the teams annual rookie tournament in London. A fourth-round selection in 2010, Granberg is worth keeping an eye on with NHL training camps rolling around in less than a week. The six-foot-two, 200-pound defender may not possess the wow-inspiring theatrics of fellow prospect Morgan Rielly, but nonetheless has a chance to contribute with the Leafs when all is said and done this season. Cheap Air Max 1 Online . Wall made the comment in a speech to a Regina business crowd that included Lesnar. The U.S. wrestler and retired mixed martial artist says he was visiting his brothers farm in Saskatchewan and decided he wanted to hear what the premier had to say. http://www.airmax1wholesale.com/ .C. -- Charles Oakley, one of the NBAs all-time tough guys, may not return to the Charlotte Bobcats bench next season because of a painful back condition he says was caused during an assault last year in Las Vegas.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. In the Rangers-Canadiens game on Thursday, after Chris Kreider and P.K. Subban left the penalty box, Kreider clearly dropped his gloves first and Subban never did want to engage. How did the refs make such a decision to give them coincidental minors? Dropping the gloves should have been the first penalty before any contact between the players. Correct? Any thoughts on the cross check/embellishment penalties before?. I do not understand this disturbing trend. If you decide the first infraction was a cross-check, then there cannot be embellishment. It should be one or the other. Stephen Silver Vancouver B.C --- During the first period of the Canadiens-Rangers game on Thursday evening, Chris Kreider received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and P.K. Subban was given an embellishment penalty on the same play. Upon returning to the ice, Kreider immediately went after Subban, threw his gloves and tried to get him to fight. Subban did not oblige, and attempted to skate away without even acknowledging Kreider, yet they were both given matching unsportsmanlike conduct minors. What is the justification in penalizing Subban, when he apparently did absolutely nothing to warrant a penalty? Joey Savoy Stephen and Joey: There are a couple things at play with regard to the assessment of penalties in the two incidents involving P.K. Subban and Chris Kreider. Embellishment can result in a penalty after an initial infraction has been signaled based on any attempt by the player fouled to sell the call. The referees were instructed at the beginning of the season to remain vigilant on diving and embellishment so the trend will continue. First, let me (once again) address the depth of the embellishment hole that Subban has dug for himself with the vast majority of NHL referees. The unnatural falls that Subban can demonstrate to various levels of contact from opponents has the Montreal superstar skating on very thin ice with the refs. The phrase, perception is reality can be applied in this case. The reality is that Subbans behavior is clearly on the refs radar screen. As great a player and leader as P.K. is, he had better recognize and work hard at altering the reputation he has created for himself with the ref fraternity before his Habs get any closer to the playoffs. If Subban fails to find common ground with the referees on this issue, an undesirable penalty call could hurt his team at a most inopportune time in a game or playoff series. I strongly encourage P.K. to buy into what I am suggesting much sooner than later! Subban is far too good a player and much too valuable an asset for the Montreal Canadiens to be branded as a diver. While I probably would have handled the first situation between Krieder and Subban differently than referee Brad Watson, I understand the referees desire to put a stop to any nonsense that could get in the way of a great hockey match-up. After the whistle had stopped play and as both players were moving to their respective bench for a line change, KKrieder gave Subban a short shove with his stick to lower back of the Montreal player. Air Max 1 Wholesale Cheap. Subban went down like he was shot and Kreider tripped over Subbans feet and fell to the ice as well. The theatrics of Subbans unnatural fall to the contact by Kreider resulted in a trigger reaction by referee Watson to nip the circus atmosphere in the bud. Both players jawed at one another inside the penalty box and I saw the word fight mouthed by Kreider. It is reasonable to assume that the table was set for a mutually agreed upon fight once the two were released from the penalty box. There is no question that Kreider squared up to face Subban with his gloves dangling as he stepped out of the box. Subban skated toward his opponent and demonstrated a quick shoulder and arm shrug that would indicate an affirmative response to a fight invitation. Kreiders gloves flew off and Subban skated away with a mission accomplished feeling that he had drawn the Ranger player into taking a stand-alone penalty. The flaw in Subbans attempt came as a result of referee Watson trailing close behind the two players as they exited the penalty box. From this close proximity Watson observed the shoulder and hand shrug from Subban and assessed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for actions designed to incite an opponent into incurring a penalty (75.4 iii, v). The referee was dialed in and fully aware of the potential confrontation once Subban and Kreider hit the ice from the penalty box. Subban was not as innocent as you suggested Stephen and Joey and was penalized appropriately for his role in the second altercation. Referee Watson then approached both benches and read the riot act to each coach. Pierre McGuire, positioned between the benches quoted the referee as saying, Were here to play hockey, were not going to have embellishment, were not going to have guys staging fights, were not going to have any kind of garbage, were gonna have hockey tonight and Im gonna make sure of it! I would have had this conversation with the coaches immediately after the first situation involving Kreider and Subban. Rather than impose penalties on that play I would have told both players to get up off the ice and quit acting like clowns. I would then have followed them to their players bench and read the riot act to both coaches. In that conversation I would put the onus on the coach to deliver my message to their players and if any more nonsense took place I would be imposing a stand-alone penalty wherever possible. I would not limit myself to a minor penalty but the option to impose a misconduct would remain on the table. I would also make it clear that the penalty might be their player and they probably wouldnt see it coming so it was in the coachs best interest to control the troops! I issued this edict to coaches on many occasions with resounding success. Sometimes I even had to impose that stand-alone penalty until they got the message that I meant business. The Greatest Show On Earth performs annually at Madison Square Garden. On this night however, referee Brad Watson made sure the performance by the Rangers and Canadiens didnt turn into a circus. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '