Special speculation
Thursday, January 5, 2012 at 12:23PM Five days into the January transfer window and it's started. Rumours, whispers, suggestions. The WBA game and the hectic Xmas and NY period proved more or less the importance of rotation and resting players. We have to be in a position to do that without detrimental effects on the team.
My personal mantra remains the same:
We need to bring in couple of players, ideally though that cover should be competition for the players in the squad already. So we should look to sign quality players that are long term and not just short term. If one of them happens to fit the 'special' bill, then that does me just fine and it will elevate us further forwards. But in terms of reality, that 'special' big name signing doesn't quite fit into the sides dynamics if you consider our current first team if all fit and well.
Midfield wise, we've got star quality. Signing a major player for a key midfield role, it's hardly pragmatic. Although the more astute might point out that Levy did just that with Rafa van der Vaart when he was not the type of player we actually needed at the time. That was supremely opportunistic and it was a risk, one that worked at the time and one that did shift us up a level performance wise.
Up front we have Adebayor. On loan. So if we do sign a striker for plenty of £££ then I'd expect our loanee to return to Eastlands in the summer. Any new signing in this position that is not a young hungry player willing to play second fiddle, will want more game time and although Adebayor is in need or a rest we can't keep him + two other forwards content (not forgetting Pav).
Then there's centre-backs. I've ever so slightly changed my opinion on this. Signing one will give us more than ample cover at the back (with Dawson, Gallas, Kaboul) what with King and his cameos. If any of the aforementioned three pick up knocks (Gallas already has) then its too much of a risk to ignore not signing someone. It will also allow us to play Kaboul at right-back to cover Walker (if Corluka goes or is simply no longer fancied). Not ideal having him deputise at RB, but its an option. It does look congested with that extra CB. So again, it has to be a long term signing if it happens and not simply 'cover'.
edit: not forgetting Bassong. Or forgetting him if you so wish.
I guess, what with our position in the league, we can't hope we muddle through Jan/Feb without any further knocks. Hence the importance of getting in players that will improve the squad in key positions and inspire competition. Again (repeating myself now) its dependent on how much money Daniel Levy is willing to spend this window.
The right-wing can do with some injection of new blood. A three-tier player will do. That's an attacking midfielder that can play wide and either just behind the main forward (van der Vaart role) or further forward. To find such quality though, it's a big ask. Which is why we're being continually linked with Junior Hoilett. But again, Harry might be okay to simply push Rafa out there (which is never a good thing), much like pushing Luka to the right.
Huddlestone has stated he's back 'running' in the next week or so. Sandro is out with a calf injury. Parker is injured (not too seriously) and was in a dire need of a rest prior to that. I feel Harry will stick with Livermore to cover the midfield unless there's a better quality player who can be signed. Rodwell is being linked. It would have to be someone similar. Young, willing to be patient. Because once Parker is 100% and Sandro is fit, then its the midfield's turn to be congested.
I'm not even going to consider the consequences of losing Luka to injury. Or Bale.
Perhaps that special player will do after all.
Check out the monster ITK thread over on the forum. I prefer to stay clear of it, but you might want to keep track of all the tittle tattle.
Listen out for the latest episode of The Fighting Cock podcast where we discuss the Jan transfer window. Available on Friday via itunes and on the FC website.
Reader Comments (52)
Reckon Hoillet would be good cover all across the attacking midfield line. Plays on the left, can play on the right and even centrally. Of course that would give good cover as Azza and Bale all can play these positions.
Bale, Lennon and Hoillet all in the same team at the same time? - yikes!
Young hungry centre forward who doesn't mind not being behind Ade this season but will be able to step up next season - big, strong, fast and good in the air.
Samba/Cahill - getting rid of bassong, this may also lead to more 352 with bale and walker wide (no need for hoilet then?)
I think Junior Hoilett could easily turn into quite a special player so would be delighted if we get him for £5m to £8m. Excellent ball control, pacy dribbling and a decent shot on him too when he cuts inside. And as mentioned he provides cover for both left and right, not sure about him int he middle yet though. Certainly an improvement on Pienaar and probably Kranjcar too as a backup option with potential to improve.
I like the look of jnr, he looks a good player and we need cover on the flanks, so would make sense.
Not sure we need anyone else. At CB I am not convinced we need anyone else, as we have Kaboul, Dawson, Gallas, king, caulker, south african dude and Bassong (though he is probably off), If we do sign someone I think they have to be a level above Dawson, who is probably not good enough to make the first 11 any more (asuuming one of king and Gallas is fit). Bring back caulker wth a years experience and let him fight for a starting birth.
COYS
Not sure about Hoillett. All his attributes are being talked up exactly as Pienaar's were 12 months ago. Pienaar can 'play left or right or even support the front man'. He can't, not at Top-Four level anyway. We should be wary of medium-sized fish in small ponds.
Blackburn, though, may offer us genuine improvement via the giant Samba. Spurs' set play work, defensively and going forward, is very poor and Big Chris could change all that, in both penalty boxes (although we'd also need someone who can take a corner).
Spooky - Easy to do but you forgot Bassong(!) so we're just about alright for emergency cover at CB this year. I'm of the opinion that with Caulker coming back next season it's not the priority that many make it out to be BUT if we can 'upgrade' Bassong for resonable money then I wouldn't turn my nose up..
Actually that's just what I was thinking about Samba - he would definitely add some serious punch to our attacking corners, and that's an area we've been pretty poor in for several years now (for evidence see the WBA game this week, goodness knows how many corners and barely a shot on goal resulting from any of them). But how good really is he as a defender - is he better than Dawson or Kaboul?
Assuming at least one of Ledley and Gallas goes at the end of the season (no new contract) would Samba get a regular game? Def better than Bassong or Corluka as centre back options, but would he break up a Kaboul/ Dawson partnership? Or would it be worth giving Caulker a chance? (Has anyone been following his progress at Swansea - I know he was out injured for a while but how's he doing now?).
have to disagree with you a bit here spooky...
obviously i would never say no to a special player but i really think its the squad that needs improving
our bench is too weak - it pains me when i see the likes of livermore, pienaar, rose and kranjkar coming on, they offer nothing on the pitch.
if anything i think we need players who can come on and do a job when needed - they dont have to be special, just not crap!
star players at teams like fulham, sunderland, newcastle, everton and the like would probably jump at the chance to come join us and would surely offer more options in a situation where a player gets injured or is need of a rest
maybe im being too harsh but when van der vart, parker and gallas come off for livermore, bassong and kranjkar i despair!
Basswrong. How could I forget.
I completely agree with koume2 on this, I also think that the bench options are just not good enough. The players that are on the bench are inadequaete cover for the first team, e.g Rose for BAE, Pavlyuchenko for Adebayor, Livermore for Parker, Bassong for Gallas etc.. Aswell as a lack of depth where is the impact player to come on and change a game? I think this could be our undoing in terms of a title challenge this season, I hope I'm wrong!!
I think Niko can still do a job, he came in and was great in the CL qualification season winning us a couple of tough games with crucial goals. He just needs game time and to get his confidence up.
just tried to access the itk thread from the office vvvvvvv that's about right :-) vvvvvvv
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haha
Work networks are funny. Might be because of the domain name having the word 'cock' in it. I'll sort out an alternative domain url to get past it. Unless the network picks up on word content.
koume - I tend to agree its the squad/first team that needs fixing more so than a 'superstar' signing. Just making parallels to the past.
What do people think about Moses? He could easily fill in for Bale or Lennon when injured, can play up front too and would be a cracking option to come off the bench. Young, English, full of pace and skill, whenever ive seen him play this year ive been impressed. What do you guys think of him and any potential move?
I've been reading about hoillet and samba/cahill etc for the last few days and on forums everyone seems to think they would be great additions for us....If we are considering ourselves to be regular top 4 and potentially challenging for the title, then are these really quality upgrades on what we have?
Don't get me wrong they are all decent players with good attributes, but barring Cahill you don't see these guys being linked with the Sky 4 do you? Lurch suggests Moses which again falls in the same bracket.
We have Caulker and Khumalo out on loan as well as Townsend and a couple of other youngsters. Don't forget we've also got Falque, Pienaar, Niko etc who can cover these positions. They are the squad/backup players, who need to step up when they get a chance and I really don't see the benefit in getting more squad players who are no better than this bunch.
CB could be an issue but i'm confident we have enough cover...
Every window people convince themselves that players we DONT own are better than those that we DO own. I remember in the summer arguing with people on here who thought Ruiz would be an upgrade on Defoe. They mocked when IO told them that if we put Defoe on the market, every side outside the top 3 or 4 would be after him. Anyone wanna make that trade now? Likewise there's plenty who told me Bentley was a massive upgrade on Lennon, what with his free-kicks and crossing abilities. Till we got him of course, now they tell me he's a cnt. I also vividly recall shouts for Warnock a while ago, and for Gary Cahill in the summer. Cos Cahill is much better than Kaboul you know. Yeah, righto. Thats why his team will be relegated by Easter with 3 digits in the goals conceded column.
The idea that Hoilett is an upgrade on either Kranjc or Pienaar is fantasy. He isnt. Ask any Blackburn fan - they'll tell you. He isnt as good as Kranjc in ANY position. He had a good game against Corluka last season, which seems to be where Spurs fans get this admiration from. But I have to tell you, that aint much of a benchmark. Hoilett is an exciting loose cannon, but he wouldnt get in our team, he would struggle to make the reserves. Apparently he can play 'anywhere along the front line'. So please, do enlighten me on the career stats (PL goals and assists) of this young superstar (who is actually about Bale's age), who plays in a free role along the front. I'll sum him up in two words; DOS SANTOS.
Samba would add a threat to our set pieces, I am told. Really? Why would he - because he does for Blackburn? Adebeyor hasnt added anything and he is HUGE. Crouch never did and he's HUGER. Both have, I am sure, far more career goals from headers than Samba. We dont score from corners because we dont spend hours in training developing intricate plans (blocking moves, shirt tugs, dummy runs etc) in the way that Blackburn and Stoke do. Probably because we have better things to do in training, like practicing passing moves. Interesting that none of the top teams get many from corners, but the bottom ones do, isnt it? All that would happen if we signed Samba (assuming he'd get a game, which he wouldnt) is that he would stop scoring goals from corners, and Blackburn would find another giant who does. And we would be really, really slow and lumbering at centre half.
I doubt we will sign ANYONE this window. If it aint broke, dont fuck with it.
Paul F, you speak sense and i agree with you on most of what you say but surely even you must realise that our bench is weak and needs improving?
Damn right Paul F
Samba no brainer if less than 10 million. Dempsey anyone?
I wanted Jr. Hoillet...until I read Paul F's submission. This Paul F guy is to be listened to people. I think he knows what he is saying.
That said, we do need a striker to replace Adebayor (who we can't afford on our own and who, usually, begins to fade after the first 6 months). That player may be Leandro Damiao. Remember that we fail to get Brazilian players in the summer due to their involvement in their CL equivalent.
huddlestone to start running in 2 weeks. Now that will be a first.
Day of the Triffics pt.2 , ive mentioned dempsey a few times, i like the look of him - not world class but definately a competent hard working striker. I'd take him.
K2, the bench looks a bit thin now because we currently have loads of injuries. The squad is doing its job. We wont always have lots of injuries, so then what? Loads more Kranjcs, Corlukas, Bassongs, Bentleys and Jenases moping around cos they cant get a game with the reserves?
I agree with you on one position - left back (though one could argue that Bale and Bassong can both do a job there). But CB? If Kaboul, Dawson and King are the first choice, then arent Gallas and Bassong good enough as a bench? Not to mention Caulker? Yes we have injuries there now, but how many very highly paid CBs do you want at the club? Does ANYONE have as many international CBs as we do? I mean, anyone in the world?
I cannot agree that the midfield bench needs strengthening, in any position. Bentley and Jenas are both England players, neither could even make the bench. Again, how many players do you want? What to do when Hudd is fit again, if there is yet another midfielder? Yes Livermore is currently back up for Parker, and thats not ideal, but its short term. In 2 months time there will be both Hudd and Sandro challenging Parker for the starting position.
Upfront, Pav cant make the bench sometimes. Experienced international, 1 in 3 scoring ratio at the top level. I know he isnt everyone's cup of tea, but he's hardly a youth player.
Utd would die for our bench. They recently had Carrick and Evra at centre back!
if ade is inured our whole offensive play will suffer, defoe and pav simply cannot offer the movement and work rate not to mention the hold up play and quick thinking of this guy. He has transformed our attack.
For anyone thinking samba isn't needed you need to watch bassong's peformances again. He is terrible - too scared to do anything, Freidel stopped passing the ball out when Bassong was an option. At times against WBA he ran away from the ball. As long as bassong is making the odd appearance we need a new centre back! Gallas is probably in his last season, Ledley maybe has one more.
I'm not concerned about RB at the moment, if we can keep Corluka as cover for the rest of the season I think Naughton will be cover enough for Walker when he comes back.
Still think Lennon needs cover for the right and I think Hoillett would work, however, I thought Falque looked ok in the Europa games he played? Could work for the rest of the season no? I'm not convinced about buying Samba unless Bassong goes and we need someone. I think Caulker has played well for Swansea and have no qualms about him coming back to play a bigger part in the Summer. Have no idea how Khumalo is doing, I see Reading are doing ok but he's only made a handful of appearances which isn't great. I also believe that Rose is good enough cover for BAE, he did impress there last season.
As for Pienaar I can't help but feel Levy wanted him because of his price and potential resale value. 2.5M we paid and we'll sell him for more I'm sure.
My shopping list would be as follows:
Striker - Needed no matter what, one injury to Ade and we're not covered sufficiently, even more so if Pav leaves and especially with Kane gone on loan now.
Centre Back - Only if Bassong leaves
Right Back - Loan deal, only if Corluka leaves
Right Mid - Hoillett or put Falque on the bench more
And what of our lost yoof again? Is Bostock really not worth a punt? No really, I'm asking here...
also thought andros townsend was worth keeping around the place
Sell pav and bring in soldado from valencia. There in financial trouble. Prob cost 20m but worth it and that's the crouch and palacios money spent. Then go to everton and offer them pienaar or krancjer plus bassong and 5m for Jagielka. Bet they would bite your arm off for that deal. Sell dos santos to seville for 5m. And sign a back up for azza. Then in the summer when ade's loan is up offer newcastle 15m for Ba. Ba, soldado, vdv and defoe is a pretty tasty front 4.
Don't get why Townsend wasn't given a chance.
Another unfancied Redknapp player or is it because he's planning on bringing in cover? If its the latter than it suggest Andros isn't ready yet (in HR's eyes).
Id quite like us to have a look at Podolski. He fits the bill perfectly, in the prime of his career... can play wide, run from midfield or as a centre forward. Goal scoring is ridiculous, and is left footed. Would cost a little bit but IMO a cracking signing
I'm worried that Kranc is so unfit. Surely a player at Tottenham's level in the Prem would be fit enough to be a sub twothirds way through a game and be buzzing. He looked like an old man. Joe Jordan looks fitter. Harry made a derogitory comment about Pienaar the other night, at least it sounded like a slur remark?
I think we have a decent 'back-up' bunch of players at the Club, but the likes of Pav, DosSantos, Bentley etc (that don't put in a shift when they are given the opportunity) fcuk me off. I think we need a striker who can sub for Ade. The man needs a rest and he needs to be substituted at times when/if he goes off the boil during matches. My observations this season thus far is that the team are brilliant, but there's times, particularly in the first half, when so many chances go astray. Having said all that, we are third by five points with a game in hand so what do I know !!
Paul F tells it as it is. Samba is not good enough, nor is Ade I'm afraid. The fact that we do not have a reserve side is also causing us to loan out. We can't really keep track of some of the better fringe players.
I agree that the bench is not good enough and we need to strengthen but there isn't very much quality out there that can make an impact I'm afraid, unless it's one world class purchase.
The issue is a man u or a man city with can keep everybody happy with £££££££, but our better fringe players want to leave. We are not at a point where the entire squad wants to be part of this dream. If there was enough want, belief, commitment and determination from say Pav, Nico and co, our squad of say 17 would be good enough to take us through the season.
Our fringe players are looking to leave and this reflects on the attitude and the way they play on the pitch and we cant allow this to screw us up.
We do need a centre back now, that's for sure, I just see who this could be. I don't think Samba is good enough! We do need a forward, we may be able to get away with this until the summer.
I am with Paul F.
It seems that just about everyone keeps mentioning that we need to strengthen the bench at Tottenham. It's probably the ideal time given that B&Q are currently having a sale. Bruce Castle Park would welcome such a gesture.
I did a bit of time traveling the other night and can categorically state that
1. Caulker will be England's first choice Centre half for the 2014 world cup
2. Andros will feature strongly in our title and CL push in the second half of next season.
3. Harry will be the first manager to in consecutive years win the PL and CL, manage england, and spend time at her Majs (getting a knighthood)
I've stuck a tenner on number 3.
Don't have a go at Kranjcar for not being fit - everyone talks about players needing to be 'match fit' and it's not a great conspiracy. It's one thing to be physically fit (and I imagine even that's difficult enough when you're never actually playing), but you also need to get mentally into the game. It takes playing time, and in actual competitive matches.
Kranjcar's never going to be the fastest player on the pitch, but his awareness and decision making are his key skills - and I imagine it's hard to keep that functioning at top level when you're on the bench.
If spending big money we should by the best talent for the future.
i.e
BUY
Leandro Damaio 25m – (ronaldo named him as his succesor in brazil national team – quality!)
Ganso 20m – (new kaka plays for santos)
Shaqiri 18m – (swiss bale – brilliant player)
Get Adebeyor on Perm 10m
73m total
SELL
10 PAVLYUCHENKO
8 DOS SANTOS
8 KRANJCAR
7 CORLUKA
5 BASSONG
6 PIENAAR
3 BENTLEY
5 JENAS
3 KHUMALO
3 GOMES
58m
NET -15m
Thinking very big i know hahah, but thats an option...
What we NEED is help in defense and up front. Realistic options for Jan/Summer:
Chris Samba(7-10): Absolute monster. Much needed steel to a (admittedly) fragile backline.
Jan Vertonghen(~10): Young, versatile defender. Can play at CB, LB, and CM – all areas we could use cover in.
Leandro Damiao (~15): The next big thing at striker. Arrys been after him for a couple seasons. If we don’t make our move soon, we may lose him to bigger teams.
Also – buy Adebayor on a more permanent basis. While other teams claim to have trouble with him, he hasn’t stopped working for us since he put on the jersey. City don’t want him, why not snag him!?
Regarding each position, my thoughts are for gk we're set then buy someone young next Summer of even jan 2013. Left back I'm happy enough with Rose or even bale in an emergency. Cb only needs sorting this window if bassong leaves, but defo in the summer to replace gallas my dream joice being vertongen. Rb don't want us getting rid of Charlie until the summer, then we can just recall naughton ( who can also play lb). Rw need cover who can keep up the pace with Lennon out, ideally use falque but I don't know enough about him yet to know if he'll be good enough. Cm absolute glut of talent, don't need anyone. Lw confident in Townsend or kranjcar's ability to cover bale. Most urgently IMO we need another big cf like ade or what pav should be like, ideally b4 city game on the 22nd so we don't have to go with vdv and Defoe up top (it just doesn't work!). Damiao, Papiss Cisse, sow or doumbia would all be amazing. End of essay :)
You have all missed the obvious deal.... not one for the future but one that could help us now and could happen.
Redknap has a nephew living in London whose boss thinks he is a wanker... We need World class back up to play 10 matches this season and help us win the league.
We can worry about atracting likes of Schneider & Remy when we are champions...
Not sure if now is the right time but would like to see Bassong leave and then bring in another young english defender like Ryan Bennett at Peterborough. Maybe even stump up some cash for Jagielka in case Gallas packs in. Don't buy Samba though, he is too slow, would get torn apart in the CL.
In several posts Pienar is criticised as not being good enough. How on Earth do we know? He should at least be given a decent run of games before we write him off. We buy the lad (I am not sure why) but do not give him a decent chance. It does no credit to the managment of Spurs. I would add that getting rid of Krancjar would be a major error. He has real talent and needs a decent run to get match fit again.
Don't be silly, Krancjar, does not give a shit anymore and looks like he is running knee deep in treacle, as does Pav when asked to track back. These are not the players you want in your side when the shit is hitting the wall and you need to find a result.
COYS.
@Paul F If we already have such an abundance of quality then how come one injury to Lennon meant our whole team shape going to pieces? Modric wide, VDV wide, people saying we should be playing Walker at right wing. The same if Adebayor is injured. Pav is no replacement at all for the movement and ability to hold the ball up which Ade offers and has been so vital to our play. Centre back? Is it really so hard to imagine King and Gallas both being crocked for a few weeks? Then what happens if Dawson breaks down again? Bassong, that's what, and he's a complete liability.
What we have is an abundance of dead wood. I agree we have plenty of players so if we got a decent centre back in then Bassong goes. New forward? Goodbye Pav. Winger? Two of Dos Santos, Kranjcar or Piennar are on their way.
I won't pretend I've seen enough of Hoilett to make a proper judgement of him but I notice you alluded to stats without actually supplying any. It is of course the case that as far as goals and assists go Modric has lousy stats for an attacking player. Frankly after the key signings which have transformed our team this season I'm prepared to trust Harry's judgement on that.
As for a winger and a forward, who knows when we will get another chance at the title like we have now and I'd rather have all the bases covered than be caught with our pants down due to a couple of injuries to the wrong players. At the moment let's face it, Ade breaks a metatarsal in February and we will end up fighting tooth and nail for fourth.
If Harry believed the players we had in reserve were good enough he would play them as direct replacements instead of swapping the team around. I trust Harry to know his squad better than any of us.
That is an interesting point you make about the corners and lower teams however, although John Terry does pop up with a few for Chelsea. I'd agree that Samba doesn't really impress me much.
Not sure when Coulibaly's going to be given a try, anyone know?
QPR have lodged a £5 million offer for Samba. Time for Harry to wake up and open the chequebook!!!
I cannot believe how much utter tripe has been discussed in this thread.
If we sign Samba and Hoilett it's because people who know much better than us think they're players that will improve our squad.
I commend Paul F for sharing his views but everyone who has jumped on his bandwagon I have little to no respect for.
Our unbelievably good Chairman and management team have got us to this fantastic position that we find ourselves in now and have hopefully learnt the lessons of last January's transfer window (or lack of).
Our squad is stronger than it's ever been but can always be improved. We must trust them to make the right decisions to ensure the club continues to go from strength to strength.
Yea more or less what I just said Philpete. Thanks for the namecheck.
And for anyone who'e interested, Hoilett has scored 3 and has 4 assists.Compared to Lennon's 2 goals and 3 assists.
Good discussion by everyone.
However, I must say that “rob” robbed me of my thoughts :) ....
....especially in regards to our current squad and the impact possible injuries may have on the style we play.