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)
I take it all back if Raphael van der Vaart shows up this week in the Spurs lilywhite. The boy is class.
I must admit. I am surprised.
Disappointing window overall as we have not addressed our failing strikers.
We need Premier League points this season and we need a striker who can score in the Premier League otherwise 4th place will be just a flash in the pan.
Our strikers are just the same after three months of the transfer window. How can that be right. Even if money was tight we should have freshened things up a little.
So, still nothing said on the bible that is SSN...what are the chances that the premier league staff went home bang on 6 and are coming in at 10 today for having to hang around late last night?
On ESPN Van der Vaart is declaring his pride for signing on for spurs. Surely its done?!?!
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=819695&sec=transfers&cc=5739&cc=5739
"The Premier League are understood to be investigating what Spurs claim were difficulties involving computer servers used in the transaction between themselves and Real, which hindered their attempts to submit the relevant paperwork on time."
Are we still using Amstrad computers?
FFS
VDV is what I call a Youtube player. Watch a 3 minute highlight reel, he looks like the best player since WG Grace. Watch him for 90 minutes....well you would be lucky to do that since he hardly ever plays 90 minutes. Hope his injury/lack of fitness woes are behind him.
So, a 25 man squad as follows:
GK: Gomes, Cudicini, Pletikosa
Def: King, Dawson, Bassong, BAE, Corluka. Hutton, Kaboul, Naughton
Mid: Lennon, Bentley, Modric, Huddlestone, Palacios, Sandro, Kranjcar, Jenas, Van Der Vaart (if completed)
Fwd: Keane, Defoe, Crouch, Pav, Gio
Then there's the U21s who I have as:
Walker, Bale, Rose, Alnwick
Don't see any place for Woodgate or O'Hara
Also, I just worked out that VDV isn't on astronomical wages either.
He's said 4 year deal at €11 million, which I think works out at about £45k per week.
walkerboy what about gallas?
Walkerboy - Actually I think Sandro counts as an under 21 becasue he was 20 at the start of the year. Obviously as these 21yo get older we'll need to clear out the dead wood but apart from Woody we've not got any other major head aches this year
Duh, how did I forget Willy?!?
In that case, with Sandro being an U21 then Gallas slips nicely into the 25.
Wouldn't be too surprised if O'Hara was named in the 25 at the expense of Hutton.
Yes. Even though he has the smallest, most useless legs in the known galaxy I cant help but think he deserves some sort of chance, especially if you are going to give Jenas some games. Plus Hutton is 4th choice RB behind Charlie, Younes and Kyle 1.
It's baffling how some of these players were not sold. It's not like their value is going to rise after another 6-12 months of no football is it??
Sky Sports are apparently reporting that we failed to get him registered in time and are asking for special dispensation.
Problem now is that we have to register the 25 man squad by 5pm, so the longer they fanny around at the Premier League with the transfer, the more problems it causes when registering the 25!
Like chrisman I'm not so concerned about the lack of ins as the lack of outs. Why do we still have Hutton, Jenas, Keane, O'Hara and Bentley?
Bit worried about the VDV thing now. Seems like a typical Spurs thing for something awful to happen only to us in an unprecedented first time ever event (e.g. lasagna). If it does come off it would be a great signing. VDV or Joe Cole? Easy choice.
Surprised by Huntelaar going to non-entities Schalke. I can only assume no-one any good (incl. us) were interested. Perhaps here's a striker still dining out on his scoring record at Ajax?
The thing with Schalke is they are pretty regularly in the CL. They are financially the second strongest team in Germany. They can pay the wages that Werder can't, and they have a stronger CL pedigree in recent years than Stuttgart and Hamburg. It's a decent bet for CL football, probably more so than at Spurs long term. Plus it's quite open football with rubbish goalies so people who are past it/never had it like Huntelaar and Raul can just generally take it easy-ish.
The reason we didn't get rid of Bentley, Jenas etc. is because we need some elelment of depth in the squad.
Remember, we can only name 25 players, and one would imagine, all but one are in the 25 (that one being either O'Hara or Hutton).
We now have 2 players for each position and a few add-ons.
The choice would have been to sell them, and be left with kids as back-ups, or keep them in case we need them.
Face it, they'll play the FA & Carling Cup games......
Thanks for that. When I think of German footy I don't get far beyond Bayern and Dortmund. The move makes some sense then, but like you say it's not a destination for someone on the rise.
The deal is a goer. SSN are just trying to drum up some business.
If the deal was dead, VdV wouldn't be talking about joining us and the club would have made a statement by now. The process part of it is probably why there is a delay, rather than Spurs trying to prove anything.
Have faith.
Personally, I would be astonished if this didn't happen because of some legality the Prem cite (considering how they bend over for anyone else).
Player is ours. We've bought him, its his registration that is up for debate. The issue being that we might not have registered him in time, which is why the authorities are dragging their heels, because they need to be seen to be doing so.
Metro.co.uk is reporting that Real are ready to send him off to Copenhagen on loan...... Transfer window shuts there tonight.
How come so many variations on the window closing date/time???
Sky Sprts News is the worst ever. Esp now they've stopped using that Requiem for a Dream music.
Did the scum not get a 24hr dispensation last season?
I'd be seriously pissed off if this does not work out. Agreed that it's partly overblown by SSN and Jimbo but still feeling a little uneasy about the whole thing.
Where does his signing leave us in the grand scheme of things 4-4-2 or 4-5-1?
I'm assuming 4-5-1 due to the lack of strengthening in the FW department
I'd go with this against West Brom
Gomes
Charlie - King - Daws - BAE
Azza - Thud - Sandro - VDV - Baler
PSB
V de V all nice and confirmed on the spurs official website. Happy days!
Van Der Vaart is officially a member of the yid army!!!
Proper nice
Hmmmm dunno doesnt mention anything about the "technical issues"
Also fails to mention that wile we have an agreement for the transfer etc he might not be eligible till Jan
Hope not though
If its sorted then happy days indeed.
A striker in Jan would be nice and hopefully our season wont be over by then.
Wouldn't be surprised if we had signed Van Der Valk instead of Van Der Vaart!
Still gutted we sold Taarabt, the kid had something special about him.
At least there was no Andy Booth/Rasiak style transfer yesterday!
Hey Spooky ..check out the new training regime ..
.the Vaart workout !!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=futAE3LvBUM&feature=fvw
not Bad at all