Deluded thought of the day
Friday, August 12, 2011 at 12:25PM You'll all mad if you think Levy isn't working his cotton socks off trying to bring in players. Our problem is always going to be our ambition (we need to sign players better than what we have or to the standard of our 'world class' players) and the fact the market has been clusterf*cked in recent seasons meaning mental transfer fees and astronomical wage demands.
Shame we can't scout a bargain (I guess we have with the Brazilian Leandro Damiao at Internacional, although not so much a bargain any more thanks to his new contract) but if we're aiming high, remember we're dealing with players who are obsessed with CL and clubs that want to milk us for every penny.
Something has to give. What Levy has to accept is that we might just have to pay that extra £5M or lose a little on players we wish to move on.
Failure to improve the squad will be massively detrimental. Which is why I still hold faith. If I can see it, Levy can see it.
If you think I've gone soft on Mr Chairman, that's not the case. Benefit of the doubt because strike three and you're out is just not a conclusion we could all possibly embrace. I'm not going to spend the lead up to the closure of the transfer window depressed if there's the potential that I'm going to spend the entirety of the season depressed.
Cometh the Spurs.
Love the shirt.
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Reader Comments (42)
1st!
Defies belief we're not going to sign somebody between now-Aug 31. Hopefully a striker. More hopefully two strikers. KInda neutral on yet another centre-half. Hopefully not yet another midfielder. Unless Modric goes. Hopefully, we also say goodbye in the process to a whole bunch of dead wood.
Delighted Everton game postponed for no other reason in that it gives us a chance to strengthen the the side before we do play them. And of course because WHL will feature on Episodes 1-12 of new season of CSI.
Much easier to write this season off, save the money and give it to a manager with commitment next term. We missed the boat last season, not this one.
Everton postponement means our season starts at Man U! Would have much preferred a game under the belt when we face them.
Definetely agree. I am sure they are busting a gut to land a new striker and I don't think 99% of us would do any better. But they do need to make that leap and just pay the extra 5m or whatever and show they really mean business.
So, when are we putting in a bid for wantaway striker Berbatov...? *ducks and runs for cover*
I think that we should take a punt on Hunterlaar.He already has an understanding with V.D.V.and he is a proven goal scorer.If we play 442,i would pair him with Defoe.
TMWNN - risky mate, risky. Could end up far too behind the pack to ever catch up.
You see how everyone is counting us out of even getting top 4 because we havent spent money.
Watch if we sign Hulk, Diarra and Ruiz we would at least finish 2nd or 3rd.
I quite pissed off now!
said it a million times....we have to wait and see what is left after the big/CL clubs have gorged themselves on the available world class players.
Whatever is left we can pick through....like Adebayor...Do Real want him, if no then we stand a chance because he'd rather take a pay cut at THFC than not play at City, but we wont't know until Real andf any other interested club decide. He may be their 3rd choice so they won't decide until their 1st and 2nd choice have been ruled out.
THFC are shopping in an expensive market where they cannot compete, they have to rumage through the World Class bargain-bucket to find an affordable gem, like VDV last year!
That is why its all last minutel.
If we wanted average tat then we can by that now, but even then (like Parker) its worth waiting til the last minute because that way we'll get the best price from desperate sellers.
Thing is that we are also a desperate seller so clubs are waiting before going in for our deadwood, so they can get the best price.
In these fiscally tight times, few teams will over spend to get the deal done early because it aint sustainable...LFC may rue their lavish over spending if they fail to suceed this season.
With the addition of a decent striker or two and a manager who understands tactics, we'd have a good chance of finishing somewhere in the top 4, but with Modric leaving and rent-a-gob at the helm, it will be a season of listening to excuses about why we can't compete and being told that we should be grateful that poor little Spurs had a season in the CL after 2 points from 8.
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I'm very optimistic for the season. We have a fantastic squad, and I think we'll concentrate completely on the league. Fresh players, hopefully less injuries. I'd be even more confident with a fit Sandro, who I had down to be one of our star turns this season, but he'll be back soonish and needed the rest anyway.
Seriously, I think we'll be challenging for the top 4 at the absolute minimum. I think we're well ahead of Liverpool, who finished behind us last year despite only having the league to play for and not suffering any injuries of note all season. I dont care how much they've spent, they are no better in the first game of this season than they were in the last game of last season. They already had a decent midfield and have signed a whole load of new midfielders, no better than what they had. No CBs have been signed that I am aware of, and they are seriously weak there. Enrique, forget it, not good enough. They'll put a lot of faith in Saurez and Carroll, but again, not for me. Carroll is a donkey. Suarez is tricky and a nice footballer, but something tells me he wont become any better than he is now. Still their best player, but not another Torres in my opinion.
City and Utd are out of context for us. They are way ahead of the rest. I think City will win the league - take the odds now while you can get them. It seems obvious - they have no flaws anywhere and have brought in a 30 goals a season striker. I see City and Utd finishing 10 points clear of the rest.
Chelsea though, are bang in our league. They havent strengthened, an old team is a year older and they have a coach who believes in trying to win every cup he goes for. Thats gonna stretch their squad as the oldies start picking up strains. Take Drogba out and I'm not sure where the goals will come from. Torres maybe, we'll see. Great player but even great players just dont work out at some clubs sometimes. Anelka is a busted flush, Sturridge and Kalou arent good enough. They still lack width. Very solid, great defence, but is that enough? We'll see. I could see them starting strongly but lets see where they stand come February.
Arsenal are also bang in our sights. Fabregas is a huge loss - enormous. He was their heartbeat. The stats are scarcely believable and must really scare their fans - and Wenger. Over the last 3 seasons they've barely won a match without Fabregas in the team. Barely lost one with him. The big fear with Arsenal is who they'll bring in. Whilst we love to hate him, even the most blinkered of Spurs fans cannot help but admire Wenger's ability to pick up seemingly worthless stones and polish them into gold. I cringe every time he buys someone - unless its a CB or GK of course!
And so to us. I love our first team. Its absolutely bursting with talent. Bale still excites - a year older, a year wiser, a year tougher. Magnificant player. Modric...hmmm...quality of course but I will find it hard to cheer him. Gallas is a great player - keep him fit and we wont concede many. Friedel definitely an upgrade on Gomes. Best keeper in the PL over the last 3 seasons. Short term? Yes. Good enough for this season? Absolutely. However, VDV is the one who gets my pulse racing. He's had a rest and a proper pre-season. What a talent. This could be his best ever season. Well worth a punt on Player of the Season. If he clicks, finds the holes to operate in, we'll win much more than we lose. The strikers got a hard time last season, understandably, but we should be careful not to throw the baby out with the bath water. Crouch works well with VDV, few can deny that. And Defoe's season was ruined by picking up an injury with England early last season. He's had a good pre-season, if he keeps fit, he'll score. Even last season's 'disaster' for him led to 9 goals in 20 odd starts.
I think we'll finish between 3rd and 5th. I'm quitely optimistic it'll be in the higher end of that predication. Keep the faith, we may start slowly with the Modric fall out, waiting for Sandro and iKing to get fit etc, but (CLICHE ALERT) - its a marathon, not a sprint
I think we have a decent chnce this year, we under achieved last year and if we do not finish 4th this year we will have under achieved again, contary to what Redcrap says!
Arsenal have weakened, Liverpool have spent a fortune on useless players and chelsea haven't improved.
There is an arguement we haven't improved either but we certainly haven't gotten any worse and with no champs league (though we made far too much about how it impacted on out league form last year) we should be ok.
P.S. A decent centre forward and no other signings would be more than welcome!
At least everyone would expect us to lose aaginst Man U even if we had blasted Everton off the face of the Earth, so any result which is not a hiding will be good.
As to transfers i agree would should be prepared to lose cash on players such as Keane and Bentley etc. Just clearing them out would be therapeutic for the club and particularly the youngsters, but we should also hang tough over Modric--it will set a precedent for Bale in the next season or so. Accept only 35 milliion plus Sturridge and McEachren with no add-ons such as Drogba, Alex, Benayoun who are all clearly unwanted by Chelsea and their fans.
As much as we need a striker we also need a thinking CB who can read the game, organise the defence and stay fit for the whole season, someone like a fit Gallas, only better in the air. Going to OT with Dawson in charge and no Sandro for cover has disaster written all over it.
Being a fan we are allowed opinions and it's interesting to see how we differ. TMWNN would rather throw a season away because he hates the manager and wouldn't like to see him succeed, and Paul F thinks VDV is the greatest.
While I agree with much of Paul's optimism, for me I would sell VDV as he just doesn't fit into this squad. He is not a box-to-box midfielder, he is not a striker, he is often injured and he has no pace, and IMO he is one of the reasons that our strikers dried-up.
BUT, who cares. What will be will be and I can only hope that whoever finishes up in our squad for this season, we can challenge for the top. It will be interesting to see just how good City and United are this season, and I certainly would not write-off Arsenal as they will probably re-inforce big-time before the window closes. Chelsea are the big unknown for me with a new manager and old players...could be fantastic, could be a disaster.
Of the rest, I expect Stoke to be pushing for top4/5 along with Liverpool. You can mock the players that Liverpool have bought but Dalglish and the supporters will instill so much confidence into them that I am certain they will be a force again.
Interesting times.
Adebayor loan deal sealed - season long......
VDV with a full pre-season under his be will be brilliant. DaveK - you are going to love having your opinion changed
We have a good squad. Don't want Modric to go but Kranjcar is a much underused player as is Pav (just thinking aloud). May be worth remembering that last season we had a lot of injuries and we could have clinched fourth with more consistency in the last quarter of the season. What difference may Adeybeyor make? Depends how hungry he is I guess. Not despondent nor confident, would feel better with a 'star' forward signing but maybe that's a fantasy that does need fulfillment for success.
Back blogging again. Cheers Nick.
Optimistic at this juncture about the season ahead. I'm sure we'll get a striker. Sandro is a quick healer, so might be ready for the City clash. We have the Hearts match prior to Man U, which will loosen the team up.
When a team doesn't make 'wholesale' changes, it's a good thing. This squad (minus the deadwood) are familair with each other and I can see them gelling this season.
Modric wants Keane to stay. Surely that means he cares. I'm going for top four.
Lets be positive.
If, and only if, we lose Modric, we should play a 4-3-1-2. Van der Vaart behind 2 strikers, Lennon and Bale on the wings, and Sandro/Huddlestone as a DM.
I admire the positivity here but the only realistic view is DaveK's on VDV. Good talent but a luxury player who Rednap is struggling to find a position for. The positives are that the players we have at the moment are the same players who got us into the CL. Therefore, know what to do to get us a a top 4 finish if Harry finds the bottle to stand up to VDV or other players who sulk when substituted. Players should be able to do a job, if not there's always some one within the squad if given the chance. The main thing is that the players need to work for each other. It's not just about playing lovely football as your Stokes and Blackburns and WBA won't let you play, there's a physical element that we lacked last season against these clubs. Therefore, a balance is required of ball winners and ruthless goal scorers which the Spurs possess in abundance.
Nice one Cookie. Sounds like the host made changes to stop spammers and it sort of went belly up and stuffed comment posting a little. Looks like they've fixed it.
BAE, what a fucking legend....
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14510618.stm
Loving the Angry Birds T-Shirt, proper made me laugh when I saw that.
We can't continue to play with 2 out and out wingers AND an attacking mid the way we are. And playing VDV on the right is a waste so what do you do?
Well, what Harry won't do with VDV is anything other than 4-4-1-1, and that is the crux of the issue.
We have the personnel to play various formations, we could play a fluid 5 man midfield, a 3 man midfield and wingbacks or diamond 4, yet we persist with the 4-4-2ish with VDV playing deep and Crouch with the infamous 'flick on'. Sure, it worked a bit, but it was easily delt with by some teams and is, in no way, getting the best out of the players Harry has at his disposal.
As much as I appreciate what Harry has done and the methods that have done him well in his managerial career, I can't help but wonder how much more we could achieve with a more tacticaly astute manager.
@PaulF...hope you are right about VDV, and if so, I will hold my hands up.
As others have pointed out, he may be more effective in a different formation...in fact even the strikers could be more effective in a different formation!
Let's hope for the best.
Meanwhile, a number of posters are saying Adebayor on loan is a done deal in the headline, but the content tends to fall back on "in negotiations for". I think it would be a great signing for us and for City, as he would not be available to play aginst them but would be available against there rivals for top spot.
Jonny B, kinda disagree. Vdv is best suited to a 433, as any Dutchman will tell you. Redknapp struggles a bit with it, primarily cos he likes to get bale and Lennon playing together. I think he'll get there. Some of our players maybe need to be more flexible. Bale should be made for one of the front 3 roles in a 433. Quick, tricky, eye fir goal, what could go wrong? It would make us narrow, but Rose and walker attacking from full back could mitigate. Would Lennon fit in a 433? Maybe not. Hudd, modric, sandro? Definitely. Id like to have seen it tried out pre-season. Maybe it was, frankly I didn't pay that much attention.
My 433 would be friedel ; Rose/bae daws, gallas, walker/kaboul; hudd, sandro, modric; bale, crouch, vdv. If we are to believe the very well sourced rumpled today, you could substitue adebeyor for crouch.
I'm a big fan of Lennon and I don't think 433 has to be the default. Sometimes 442 would work. Sometimes 4211 (next Monday, for example).
"TMWNN would rather throw a season away because he hates the manager and wouldn't like to see him succeed"
Rather than let the charlatan that is Redknapp anywhere near the transfer kitty, I'd rather let Levy fully invest in the new manager next season. Nothing to do with 'throwing the season away'.
Why don't you just stick to your opinion rather than twisting other's?
@TMWNN...not trying to twist your opinion which is very consistent and centres around your view of Harry.
How disappointed would you be if we qualify for CL this season with Harry in charge?
I wouldn't be disappointed at all. When we did make the CL I praised Redknapp for a job well done and gave credit where it was due, and I'd do exactly the same in the unlikely event it happened this season.
I feel we are now wasting our time with Redknapp in charge and I don't expect to get into the top 4, if you don't agree, fine, but to say that I'd be upset if we were to qualify again is nonsense, but go ahead and believe what you like.
If anyone is throwing the season away, it's Levy. I don't blame him for not financially backing harry because a) harry's preferred (apparently only) transfer strategy is buy old, british and expensive, possibly good for results and harry's rep current season, bad for the club long term and b) whether it's jail or England, harry won't be here next year.
I do blame Levy for not having the backbone to sack harry now and get us a manager who sees us as something other than a very short term term stepping stone. Come next summer, what will be the cost of finishing fifth or lower?
"If you think I've gone soft on Mr Chairman, that's not the case"... *gone* soft?????
Anyway, we have two options:
1) Be small fish in the CL
2) Be big fish in the Europa
Last 3 transfer windows inactivity tells us all that option #2 is the preferred one and all can see the current squad needs not a touch to get to the Europa QF/SF then just needs a bit of luck to win it.
6th place and a Europa Semi next season may look like a missed opportunity to some of you but I don't think everyone is tearing their hair out at the thought.
Personally I think we are an Aderbayour or a Drogba short of grabbing a top4 spot myself but aside from the expected Leandro deal on deadline day I think Friedel is all we are doing.
Assuming we don't pick up any injuries etc. on Thursday, we have to be in with a chance at Old Trafford next Monday.
United have just lost their first choice back 4 to injury and have a 'keeper who has no confidence whatsoever.
Test...tickle...Phew!
But the season has already started? If we didn't get a lucky call off on Saturday then we'd most likely have dropped two points after our lack of firepower meant we failed to beat Everton.
We can't match the wages and we probably can't match the ambition and we certainly can't match the CL football, but we knew this 3 months ago and if we couldn't scope out a bargain since then how are we expected to do that with 3 weeks to go until the window closes. Even the Fabregas move has gone through...that is how far behind we are.
We need to sell before we buy...I get that. Sell already then. Stop asking for 8m for Jenas and 10m for Palacios, these figures are laughable and although they are roughly what we paid for them we are also the team that spent 14m on Pav. Says it all.
I'm bored of the excuses Spooks, I want signings and I want them today. I'll even take him...you know who I mean.
"Adebayor, Adebayor, his Dad used to wash elephants, but not anymore" will work for me. anything!!!!
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This window has all the makings of another atrocity. I'm convinced Modric will be sold, and I get the impression that rent-a-gob actually welcomes his departure; a perfect ready made excuse, "Well, we lost our best player and couldn't compete with the triffic clubs' above wages to sign a top, top topper. Not my fault guvnor". And thus hoping his England job chances aren't affected too badly. His stock is about to plummet and he knows it.
For a club that has supposed aspirations of returning to the CL, our transfer policy is the stuff of complete amateurs. After Modric is sold, no doubt we'll be rummaging through the bargain buckets of Europe looking for a player who will placate the easily pleased soft headed happy clappers, all too eager to have their latest overpaid plastic heroe's name printed on the back of the latest overpriced plastic kit (for a price of course).
That some were wetting their knickers over the prospective loan signing of 'Ade' shows us how shameless and desperate they have become. And that's without even mentioning everyone's favourite magpie.
We are lacking direction and looking like clowns because of it.
"Much easier to write this season off, save the money and give it to a manager with commitment next term. We missed the boat last season, not this one."
Surely, then you are predicting that what you prefer to happen will happen?
As for Modric being sold, if that happens then Levy will look a complete fool and most people on the blogs don't think he is, and therefore it will not happen. If, however, it does happen then it will obviously be Levy's decision, not Harry's and he will be justifiably able to claim "Not my fault guvnor".
I agree with you though that we are going backwards. We needed the striker problem sorting at the beginning of last season and we need a quality fit Centre Back who can organise the defence and,IMO, a leader in MF. Maybe Sandro will be that person in time, but Modric, good as he is, certainly isn't that player.
Only 2 weeks and a day (or 2or3 if an established top4 side) to go and we will know what resources we have for the season.
Woke up in a cold sweet last night - A chocolate Cornetto!! Now you weren't expecting that..... were you?
I wasn't expecting this either! August 16th - gray skies, drizzle, Tottenham high rd looking like down town Fallujah (ooh ahh) and still no marquee signing! Oh, and Modders stuffing our collective heart into a Louis Vuitton drag along!
But on a good note....great to see Fabregas smile again!!
Just you wait....the window is going to be so exciting in the last 10 days:
OUT:
GDS - Seville
Hutton - Villa
Palacios - Stoke
Crouch - Stoke
Bassong - Blackburn or loan
£20m or so raised to add to the £8.5m from Keane/O'hara
Sneaky feeling that Pavlyuchenko will also be off (£10m)
IN:
Parker - loan
Adebayor - loan
Samba - buy
Rossi or Llorente - buy £30m
£40m spent
This is a bit of a wish list but keep this in mind.....last season we got VDV for £8m at 11th hr when originally quoted £18 earlier in the window. Real wanted him off their wages and VDV was desperate to play. This year it seems we have been in contact with Real again re: Diarra. Talk is that Real are asking too much. Perhaps come 31st August they will be similarly desperate to off load the player and he'll be happy to go somewhere where he will play. He knows Harry & EPL. So again we could get a top player for a snip. That is why, my freinds, it is worth hanging on til the last minute, because we can better dictate the fee & wages to be paid. Diarra/Real may not accept a £8M bid and £65k/wk offer now, but may be delighted to do so on 31st Aug. Patience!
Yeah, yeah, yeah.....been there, done that! At the end of the day....If we meant business, we'd have done business....
Keane leaving as broken the inertia, something will happen now, I can feel it. Now only three senior strikers, so room for one more, plus maybe a chance for Kane. Let's do this!
wisky...we don't have the luxury of being able to pay top fees and top wages. We have to swing things in our favour if we want the very best players....sure would could have gone in heavy on Gyan or Odenwinge or Parker and probably signed them up by now, but if we want the very best, we will have to play the waiting game, because the very best will be considering their options and we are unlikely to be their first choice.
Said it millions times before, I'd rather we end up with top quality on 1st Sept than accept average/barely better than we have already now. Its a long season, lets get the best we can possibly afford and if we have to accept average players, lets only do so if we have to.