The insular mentality at Spurs will take time undo, after all everything trickles downwards from the club’s uptight boardroom, as I’ve said previously, a business doesn’t develop its culture from the boys in the loading bay.
Dealing with Chelsea is anathema to many, just as trading with the Woolwich lot would cause hackles to raise. However, the arrival of José Mourinho has undoubtedly sent a mild panic through the ranks of the Nice Boys International Limited, as the Portuguese appears to have spent much of time strutting around Hotspur Way reminding everyone that football is our business and that business is war. At times of war one doesn’t mind doing deals that advance one’s chances – with folk you’d ordinarily cross the street to avoid.
Sky Sports say that Tottenham are interested in loaning Antonio Rüdiger from rivals Chelsea, and it is my understanding that as this comes from Lyall Thomas, then this has been fed straight from our press office.
I don’t like Rüdiger; that crying wolf business was pathetic and I wouldn’t want to see that from a man in the Spurs shirt, but he’s a hell of a footballer on his day, and if José can get a tune out of him, then so be it. The fact that he’s not a nice boy, actually appeals.
Mourinho and Lampard are insanely close, so this could happen.