The Tottenham Thread 12/13

[Marvin]

I would definitely take David Villa, still quality imo. The possible deals for him and Leandro Damaio are looking positive.

But isn't this what Spurs do? Their name seems to be linked to some truly top footballers, as is normally the case, then thos etop players don't materialise and Spurs end up with the next level down, or lower. You can't help but wonder whether Levy ever will sign off on the transfer fees/wages needed to get top level players.

Yes unfortunately it feels familiar. I'd still be pretty surprised if we bought David Villa, I can't see Levy forking out the money he would want for wages as well as increasing Bale's wages, but I think we may actually get Leandro this summer finally.

I don't think Spurs will allow themselves to go another season without a striker to support / complement Defoe. It's the glaring weakness in the squad and we've seen Spurs try to resolve it in recent transfer windows.

Good luck keeping Bale. I know he's not coming to City, but I don't want to see him at Old Trafford. Looks like Real Madrid are going all out to get him. Some people think you should sell him and use the £50m plus to strengthen, but how do you replace a player like Bale? The really top players are going to want Champions League football.

Dificult situation. if you manage to keep hold of him, Levy has to strengthen, get that top 4 spot and then maybe he will stay with you.

 

[GHoddle]

But isn't this what Spurs do? Their name seems to be linked to some truly top footballers, as is normally the case, then thos etop players don't materialise and Spurs end up with the next level down, or lower. You can't help but wonder whether Levy ever will sign off on the transfer fees/wages needed to get top level players.

Yes unfortunately it feels familiar. I'd still be pretty surprised if we bought David Villa, I can't see Levy forking out the money he would want for wages as well as increasing Bale's wages, but I think we may actually get Leandro this summer finally.

I don't think Spurs will allow themselves to go another season without a striker to support / complement Defoe. It's the glaring weakness in the squad and we've seen Spurs try to resolve it in recent transfer windows.

Good luck keeping Bale. I know he's not coming to City, but I don't want to see him at Old Trafford. Looks like Real Madrid are going all out to get him. Some people think you should sell him and use the £50m plus to strengthen, but how do you replace a player like Bale? The really top players are going to want Champions League football.

Dificult situation. if you manage to keep hold of him, Levy has to strengthen, get that top 4 spot and then maybe he will stay with you.

I think that it's a fair point, imo Arsenal were better off after selling Van Persie and bringing in Cazorla, Giroud, Podolski, and Monreal. But on the flip side if they could have brought those players in AND kept Van Persie they could have been title contenders.

For us I think the fact that we have (imo) the best player in the league, or close to it, is something that is too great an opportunity not to build on it. For instance, Arsenal won't sign a player of Bale's quality and they don't have one in their team, so logically if we sign players like Villa, Damaio, Belhanda (or whatever quality players we can get), we have the potential to hit a level higher than they can. What we lacked this season was attacking quality to supplement Bale - Adebayor, Defoe, Dempsey, and even others were shockingly bad at times. We really need other attacking options so that even if teams try to mark Bale out of the game, other quality players are there to take advantage of the space that leaves through the rest of the pitch.

I just worry that DL won't take the opportunity yet again. I think Damaio will be a Spurs player but we need more than just him. Really we need 2 strikers, a wide left forward, a creative midfielder, and a left back but I'm not holding my breath. And I don't see why Bale should want to stay if he thinks it's going to be another season of carrying us on his shoulders, he deserves to play alongside top players. Not shit players like Defoe and Parker.

 

[Crouchinho]

Yes unfortunately it feels familiar. I'd still be pretty surprised if we bought David Villa, I can't see Levy forking out the money he would want for wages as well as increasing Bale's wages, but I think we may actually get Leandro this summer finally.

I don't think Spurs will allow themselves to go another season without a striker to support / complement Defoe. It's the glaring weakness in the squad and we've seen Spurs try to resolve it in recent transfer windows.

Good luck keeping Bale. I know he's not coming to City, but I don't want to see him at Old Trafford. Looks like Real Madrid are going all out to get him. Some people think you should sell him and use the £50m plus to strengthen, but how do you replace a player like Bale? The really top players are going to want Champions League football.

Dificult situation. if you manage to keep hold of him, Levy has to strengthen, get that top 4 spot and then maybe he will stay with you.

I think that it's a fair point, imo Arsenal were better off after selling Van Persie and bringing in Cazorla, Giroud, Podolski, and Monreal. But on the flip side if they could have brought those players in AND kept Van Persie they could have been title contenders.

For us I think the fact that we have (imo) the best player in the league, or close to it, is something that is too great an opportunity not to build on it. For instance, Arsenal won't sign a player of Bale's quality and they don't have one in their team, so logically if we sign players like Villa, Damaio, Belhanda (or whatever quality players we can get), we have the potential to hit a level higher than they can. What we lacked this season was attacking quality to supplement Bale - Adebayor, Defoe, Dempsey, and even others were shockingly bad at times. We really need other attacking options so that even if teams try to mark Bale out of the game, other quality players are there to take advantage of the space that leaves through the rest of the pitch.

I just worry that DL won't take the opportunity yet again. I think Damaio will be a Spurs player but we need more than just him. Really we need 2 strikers, a wide left forward, a creative midfielder, and a left back but I'm not holding my breath. And I don't see why Bale should want to stay if he thinks it's going to be another season of carrying us on his shoulders, he deserves to play alongside top players. Not shit players like Defoe and Parker.

With Townsend back we could use him on the wing, either side really and with rose back he has shown he can play left back comfortably. I'd take the creative midfielder and strikers if possible. Selling some deadwood along the way. We always seem to chase leandro and nothing comes of it, have you heard something? I haven't seen much of him to know how good he is. Another name I keep hearing is Benteke, I worry he may be another papa cisse and zaki for a first season

I'd get rid of Defoe, parker, hudd if mark huges would bid 30m for the 3.

 

[GHoddle]

With Townsend back we could use him on the wing, either side really and with rose back he has shown he can play left back comfortably. I'd take the creative midfielder and strikers if possible. Selling some deadwood along the way. We always seem to chase leandro and nothing comes of it, have you heard something? I haven't seen much of him to know how good he is. Another name I keep hearing is Benteke, I worry he may be another papa cisse and zaki for a first season

I'd get rid of Defoe, parker, hudd if mark huges would bid 30m for the 3.

Idk if Rose has shown he can play left back comfortably for us. In our team he would have to play in a position far further up the pitch than he's played at Sunderland. That requires a different level of positional awareness and understanding. Remember how good Walker and Caulker looked last season? This season they struggled to adapt to a high line in Caulker's case, and Walker in the first half of the season struggled with his positioning in a new system. If AVB thinks Rose will suit us then I trust him but I think for the price Sunderland want to pay, it would be very tempting to sell and bring in someone else.

Townsend though I definitely think could offer us something next season. I think we would still need to bring a wide player in though, imo it's very important to have quality wide players on the bench to bring on. If we could bring in Bernard or Aubameyang along with 2 strikers and a creative midfielder I think we would be in pretty good shape. I'd like to see us get Leandro, Villa, Bernard, and Belhanda.

 

[City Raider]

Yeah I'm sure Townsend can offer you something next year - about 2/1 each game

 

[stony]

Just had a quick look on Glory Glory and a little bit of giddiness is creeping in. Someone actually thinks they will finish about both us and Utd. He actually thinks we won't make top 4. I know we have a new manager, but I think he's being a tad unrealistic.

Interesting to see a few think Arsenal will be in with a shout for the title too. Is this just a fearing your nearest rivals thing, are people reading too much into the possible disruption of new managers at City/rags/Chelsea or are they just idiots?

I can't see Spurs getting top 4, even if they do keep Bale and Arsenal will not be challenging for the title any time soon. Not unless they really splash the cash this summer.

Whatever happens, next season is going to be fascinating. I can't wait for it to start already.

 

[NipHolmes]

Yeah I'm sure Townsend can offer you something next year - about 2/1 each game

Hahaha

 

[MSP]

Wouldn't Damiao have a sell on value if he does well here?

I think you should go for a Benteke or the like, if he steps up with you guys then you again can sell him on. Maybe a Soldado or Negredo, over 20 league goals each this season and both clubs not strong financially. Maybe Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar, think you need to set aside £15-25m on a striker if you really want to challenge as a top 4 outfit next season. Levy needs to stop being a tight arse and help AVB out, you'd have the likes of Moutinho now if he hadn't been so stingy.

Last summer our bid for Moutinho was accepted but arrived to late to be registered.

Nothing to do with Levy being "stingy", the deal only fell through because of the complexities of third part rights.

It was accepted by Porto but Moutinho did not accept personal terms. So yes, it's about Levy.

 

[GHoddle]

Just had a quick look on Glory Glory and a little bit of giddiness is creeping in. Someone actually thinks they will finish about both us and Utd. He actually thinks we won't make top 4. I know we have a new manager, but I think he's being a tad unrealistic.

Interesting to see a few think Arsenal will be in with a shout for the title too. Is this just a fearing your nearest rivals thing, are people reading too much into the possible disruption of new managers at City/rags/Chelsea or are they just idiots?

I can't see Spurs getting top 4, even if they do keep Bale and Arsenal will not be challenging for the title any time soon. Not unless they really splash the cash this summer.

Whatever happens, next season is going to be fascinating. I can't wait for it to start already.

Imo I think Chelsea and City are the only certainties to finish in the top 4. Yes we are used to United being there but who knows what they will become next season. Remember they are replacing one of the greatest managers ever with Moyes. I'd be very surprised if they came anywhere close to what they achieved last season with the squad they currently have. God knows how they got 89 points - no quality wingers besides Nani who rarely played - Valencia and Young were terrible, lack of quality in central midfield, Carrick is the only decent one then you have Cleverley, Anderson, and Giggs. The only top class CB is Vidic and he was out for a long part of the season, Ferdinand is old and then there's Evans, Jones, and Smalling. Rafael is top class, De Gea is pretty good, and Evra is good attacking but not great defensively. Obviously though they have an excellent strike force but as I see it they lack quality everywhere else on the pitch. Ferguson had them massively overachieving imo. I actually think Arsenal's team is better on paper.

Whether Arsenal can challenge for the title depends on whether they invest this summer I'd say. They would need 3-4 quality signings to do so, and same with Spurs imo. I'd say if we could sign Villa, Damaio, Bernard, and Belhanda we could be up there as well. Who knows though if Levy will finally do what's required.

 

[stony]

Just had a quick look on Glory Glory and a little bit of giddiness is creeping in. Someone actually thinks they will finish about both us and Utd. He actually thinks we won't make top 4. I know we have a new manager, but I think he's being a tad unrealistic.

Interesting to see a few think Arsenal will be in with a shout for the title too. Is this just a fearing your nearest rivals thing, are people reading too much into the possible disruption of new managers at City/rags/Chelsea or are they just idiots?

I can't see Spurs getting top 4, even if they do keep Bale and Arsenal will not be challenging for the title any time soon. Not unless they really splash the cash this summer.

Whatever happens, next season is going to be fascinating. I can't wait for it to start already.

Imo I think Chelsea and City are the only certainties to finish in the top 4. Yes we are used to United being there but who knows what they will become next season. Remember they are replacing one of the greatest managers ever with Moyes. I'd be very surprised if they came anywhere close to what they achieved last season with the squad they currently have. God knows how they got 89 points - no quality wingers besides Nani who rarely played - Valencia and Young were terrible, lack of quality in central midfield, Carrick is the only decent one then you have Cleverley, Anderson, and Giggs. The only top class CB is Vidic and he was out for a long part of the season, Ferdinand is old and then there's Evans, Jones, and Smalling. Rafael is top class, De Gea is pretty good, and Evra is good attacking but not great defensively. Obviously though they have an excellent strike force but as I see it they lack quality everywhere else on the pitch. Ferguson had them massively overachieving imo. I actually think Arsenal's team is better on paper.

Whether Arsenal can challenge for the title depends on whether they invest this summer I'd say. They would need 3-4 quality signings to do so, and same with Spurs imo. I'd say if we could sign Villa, Damaio, Bernard, and Belhanda we could be up there as well. Who knows though if Levy will finally do what's required.

I agree with everything you've said about utd's squad, but I can't dismiss them so easily. Their demise has been predicted too many times and just like the Terminator they keep coming back. I want to believe they will fail, but the winning mentality is ingrained in that club.
As to whether spurs can take advantage is another thing. I think you relied way too heavily on Bale last year, and he got you out of a lot of shit. You'd have been mid table without him. There's a chance he'll be sold, and even if he stays what happens if he gets injured ? I just don't see where the goals are coming from without him, unless you invest wisely.
If I was Levy I'd get as much possible for Bale and use every penny to strengthen the team. There hasn't been a better opportunity for a club like Spurs to make a push for top 4.