Jim White's head to explode in 3...2...1...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at 11:04AM Always amazes me how we can get down to the final day of the transfer window, and still be looking to acquire new players. I guess our desperation (along with everyone else's) and the opposing selling clubs agenda mean that the cat and mouse game played in the weeks leading up to 6pm cut off on the 31st August, serves both best to get a deal done and dusted. So in that final day, everyone goes loopy. Must be easier to negotiate when the clock is ticking because something has to happen, right? Last chance saloon.
If you go by what Harry says (when he's not abusing Sky Sports reporters), we need a CM and a striker.
We've signed a keeper on a season long loan (Stipe Pletikosa). Got Gallas in. Sandro has arrived. But, there is still persistence with Parker. And there are a number of forwards we've been linked with since the summer. So we've not been completely inactive. Just not overly active for areas deemed key for our continued progression. That added depth and removal of deadwood to freshen things up. Plenty of flirting, no first base.
I guess there are no young British forwards or continental gems to wine and dine.
If you look back to the methodology used to sign Modric and Berbatov (to name a couple of examples), these were players scouted and then bought well within the boundaries of the window. You'd think, having finished 4th and qualified for the CL we'd have had players tied up long before today and thus aid in avoiding the imminent melt-down of Sky Sports News.
Comolli, where are yooooooooou?
But these modern times are not as free-spending as previous seasons. There doesn't seem to be much in the way of options, and what is available appears to be way too expensive. I always thought we'd consolidate CL status with a superstar or two. I guess that's an expectancy too far. And probably nothing more than the want for something that's not actually necessary (Moddle, Bale etc - are players we should retain our faith in, as both are potential superstars). Signing of an actual world class player isn't and never has been easy, and is probably something we won't be able to do for a while yet (if all goes to plan). But it's what we lack. It's the difference between contending for 4th and challenging for the title. The other 'top 3' and City would tell you they have one or two world class players in their ranks. Liverpool too.
This is probably why some of us are frustrated with it all. But gun to head, we can't force a transfer just because it works in discussions on blogs and forums.
Perhaps we don't have quite as much disposable money available (to buy really good players who could play for us, if we could afford to match their estimation). Or maybe there is a genuine lack of affordable viable deals to be had (was Fabiano really ever an option?). Which means there is potential for panic. We've done that before what with the re-signing of Chimbonda.
This time round, it's not the defence that needs fixing up. So, who's it gonna be? Adebayor is being linked again. You would also have to speculate that one or two of our current players (the deadwood) will be shifted out on loan or otherwise. Odds on Keane to West Ham and Parker to us? With plenty of spin thrown in to attempt to mask the back footing? I guess with everyone desperate for an injection of new blood, it's all quite possible. It probably doesn't matter what's in the syringe, just stab it into the vein.
I hope we keep a level head. No need for dilatation of the pupils.
Levy and Harry should only sign a player(s) if it's the right player. Might be that there are three or four 'right players', and for reasons touched upon above, it comes down to the last day thanks to the tradition of wheeling (soz 'arry) and dealing and the fact that those opposing clubs play hard-ball right up to the final hour.
Irony to all this is, on the surface, it all looks a bit manic. But then most of what's being written is just commentary on what people think is going on. Leaked info from agents, genuine club insiders talking to their journo mates. Take a look around:
Adebayor to Spurs/Adebayor to remain at City. Parker bid rejected from Spurs/Parker to join Spurs. Young to Spurs/Young in no hurry to move.
All corners covered then.
Keane is now being linked with a move to Besiktas. Jenas to Stoke? Is 46 year old Sully Muntari really going to sign for us? Jim White's head to explode in 3...2...1...
We don't need much in the way of change. I'd rather a new forward than a new CM. Would love a game-changer, a talismanic signing. But my feet are firmly on the ground.
Onwards to 6pm.
I hope to be surprised. But won't be surprised if nothing happens.
Visit the DML Facebook page for collective shaking of the head whilst the hours tick away with no sign of a new player signing for the Lilywhites.
You tube vids here.
Reader Comments (130)
In talks for Bongani Khumalo .....................to arrive in january
What about now ?
WHO??
he was on trial at spurs, a south africa defender! i dont give a f*ck now! levy and redknapp have f*cked right up! champions league football, what a joke...................hleb to birmingham, a gyan to sunderland, KJH to schalke and eidur gud to stoke. Levy and Redknapp??? wtf are you doing??? You said you will only bring in a player if it improves our squad................so hleb ain't better than donkey jenas or wilson on current form. And Eidur Gud, KJH and A.Gyan ain't better than Father Ted or Crazy Paving???
WELL PLAYED TWITCHY FACE and WELL PLAYED LEVY.
It's an anagram of 'Aha! Knob Mogul In!'
Here's me thinking it was a diamond find from Harry.
Ronaldihno to Sunderland! Is he that shit now?
I'm glad you mentioned the salad, I was concerned how many tea bags were involved.
Two hours left and everyone is churning the same old stories out.
Apparently Spurs are still involved in the Cole/Babel deal, somehow.
Hutton and Jenas for Parker is the other gossip on the wire.
Rehashed nonsense from the looks of it.
Babel off to West Ham Cole to Liverpool now
just the one t bag lemonademoney lol. although i may request a salad refill lol
OMG>>>>>>>>>>BREAKING NEWS>>>>>>>>>>well, there is none!!! I am just an attention whore! lol
Love the was SSN can twist a player's comments completely.
Just saying that Parker is definitely staying put, yet the player only said that as far as he knows he's not leaving.
That's with 2 hours of the window left!
Fuck me have a read of this
Parker in Thud and JJ to spammers
Bollocks
http://www.sportingpreview.com/transfer_window_aug2010/10110020.php
I'll be home just in time for the final hour.
Shudder.
I still believe we are going to sign a player.
Thud is going nowhere lol. We are not going to Sign anyone FACT.
Tomtraubert - just read the same thing..... However, I can't see there being any way on earth that Redknapp would let Huddlestone leave.
We should just go in and double deal them - Cole & Parker in for Keane, Jenas and a fresh £5 note....
Fuck the deadwood...if we waste the next hour and a half trying to shift them then we'll miss out on our "Targets" stump up the cash for Cole/Parker/Babel.....the scottish window is open till midnight so after 6 we can send keane to cellic hutton to anyone who wants him and JJ can polish the boots in the dressing room.
Fresh £5 note, i'd want £4.01 change :D
Skybet
Jenas evens to join stoke.
Oh and the other thing bugging me about SSN reporting on West Ham is that they evidently have no idea about facts.
They were going on earlier that O'Hara could be headed to the Hammers to re-unite with Grant.
So, is that the same Jamie O'Hara who has a fractured back and is having surgery ruling him out for a while?!?
Am filling up the motor now! I'll drive him myself!
Ryan Fucking Babble?!?
WTF?
Really is a wank day innit! I'm happy with what we got thanks.
Talksport saying Jenas has rejected the move.....
Anthony Lozano - Done
Lozano? WHO? WHERE AND WHY?
This marquee is looking more like battered old tent by the minute, Ryan Babel please NO.
ESPN
Redknapp has intercepted Babel and he's now going to sign for us.
So if the Lozano deal has been done we have strengthened all areas of the team
GK - Pletikosa
CD - Gallas
Mid - Sandro
FW - Lozano (another "one for the future")
Redknapp said that he wanted 3 players
Pletikosa/Gallas/Sandro 3 players who will make us better
Lozano - the academy will benefit
How exactly does a reserve keeper make us any better?
Signings to improve us need to be players who regularly make the starting XI.
i want hutton, father ted and donkey jenas out and get in a quick right back as corluka is a slow plodder and another striker! but as we've been slow in the market everyone else has signed up the strikers, Fabiano resigned for Sevilla and KJH signed for Schalke!
OH well, another window deacon can lick
Ahem Gomes injured so Pletikosa steps in instead of Cudicini. And he's better than him now.
Redknapp said he wanted 3/4 players, and Sandro doesn't count because he was already signed. Pletikosa does count I think, but he shouldn't as he is a reserve keeper, and no-one cares about them. I have to say, why the fuck wait till that flippin goofball Carlo has already cost us points with his pathetic shattered wrists??
So in reality we are at least 1 player short, possibly 2 if you think (as I do) that we need another left back (because Bale is a winger).
Can we leave Keane and JJ in a binbag outside Age Concern? As for Hutton, just melt him down and sell him as scrap.
According to his Twitter account (updated just minutes ago), Babel is not leaving Liverpool.
A tad harsh chrisman?
I agree about Cudicini needing to be replaced/benched. Gomes makes that save on Saturday. Pletikosa probably does too. That was weak.
babel official tweet......"i'm going nowhere" via ubertweet (blackberry client)
Redknapp wanted to sign Joe Cole and Craig Bellamy and Scott Parker.
Sorry those did not work out as I think all three would have improved us a lot.
After this window we will have a fight on to get 6th place.
A tad harsh chrisman?
As always! I'm in a super-strop after Saturday. And today's lack of business. And a business deal going sour for me on Friday. Basically I need at least 1 massive positive before midnight or I'm going Ralph Moat on the locals
Van der Vaart anyone?!?
Everything has gone quiet on the VdV rumour in the last hour.
Harry on SSN / Beeb:
1953: Those Harry Redknapp quotes for you, then: "It (The Rafael van der Vaart deal) is still dragging on. We have been trying to do something but we are waiting to see if it has all gone through and we are hoping it has. It's something to do with clearance. I think he was going to Bayern Munich yesterday for £18m and suddenly he became much cheaper. They let me know around 1600 BST that he was available for £8m and for that money he is a top player who will definitely improve us. The fee has come crashing down because the deadline is so close. He's a great passer of the ball, he's a top footballer, he will join in here and be a big plus for us. We were also interested in Ryan Babel, he was a player we made an enquiry about but it never came close."
Can a player's value decrease by £10m in one day ?
Finger's crossed - he'll do nicely
Goal.com were reporting just after 7pm that Real pulled plug on deal with 5 mins to go.
That was a loan deal though. Not sure I believe them either, especially as Harry said it was £8 mill from the offing.
Would be fantastic to see this one come to fruition!
Marca are saying it's done. I'm sure it's done.
So is it or isn't it happening? Wouldn't be surprised to see Robbie fuck off north again if its done.
Even if the last minute cloak and dagger stuff took VDV beyond the transfer deadline we can still loan him until January and buy him then. The loan deadline is not up yet.
I know he is a high profile player and he should be great in the CL games. But we still have four striker showing relegation form in front of goal. Where are the strikers we need ?
Spooky, any chance of staring a parallell blog entitled "Dear Harry" so that we can direct our musings, advice and abuse more accurately?
Funniest thing ever heard was this westham fam on talk sport complaining Spurs and westham are same sized clubs and why Spurs can spend so much money and they can't.I knew they're deluded but that is pure lunacy
Not sure about van der vaart because Harry hasn't come out and called him a 'great lad a top top lad'
goal.com is bollix. They pulled the plug on a loan and levy made an improved offer for a purchase. If Harry is to be believed then it was always a transfer. Why would real want to loan him. His wages would mean they'd have to contribute. This way he takes a pay cut to play and stays in the Dutch squad.