Hot-Spurts
Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 9:22PM
Gylfi Sigurdsson was finally unveiled a Spurs player yesterday. Attacking midfielder, further up the pitch than those with deeper qualities - so he's not a replacement for Luka Modric. But perhaps one that might play the role van der Vaart does. The latter continues to be linked to a move back to Germany whilst the former will hopefully link up in attack with precision passing and pin-point thunderous shots. Useful with set pieces which given our recent history is a Gods send. Let's hope he doesn't lose his abilities from dead ball positions once he dons the Spurs shirt.
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Steven Caulker has signed a new four year contract. High hopes. Brilliant season for Swansea and hopefully will be part of our campaign this one along with what is shaping up to be strong centre-back depth alongside Kaboul, Dawson and Jan Vertonghen (any day now). Still no news on Ledley King's decision on whether to retire and if he plans to accept one of the clubs offers to retain him at the club (perhaps as a coach).
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Pienaar back to Everton. No shocker. Well documented he wanted to join Spurs then soon admitted a mistake and wanted to leave. A signing the chairman made the manager didn't want. I'll add in 'allegedly' to give it that whimsical touch of confusion. Because you wouldn't believe it was Bill Kenwright that confirmed all of the above. Ooh ITK. Where's my badge of honour?
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Talking of Vertonghen, he's training with his current club Ajax although sources in Holland suggest by Monday he'll be training with us. The player appears to be philosophically ambiguous, suggesting he's prepared to move but is happy at Ajax but would be disappointed if he didn't join Spurs. The contract wrangling over money owed to him by Ajax remains the glitch in completing the move. Medical, contract and fee all agreed and done.
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Oscar? Tim Vickery (South American football expert) had this to say on a much maligned radio station. Rare credibility for them.
Seems a mature young man. Happy to take responsibility. Always a gamble bringing him over. Question over whether Inter want to sell. Given the choice I think they would rather sell Leandro Damiao.... They have a hefty wage bill and might need to sell. Would be surprised if they have done a deal already (before the olympics)
This particular link has been doing the rounds since last season when Oscar was connected with Tottenham (along with Leandro, no not that one, another youthful Brazilian striker). It's all been made more tangible by the fact that Inter already have a relationship with us (Sandro) and our persistence on Damiao (which has cooled). Villas-Boas was recently in Brazil. Daniel Levy was recently in the USA (could have comfortably taken a connecting flight?). Let's do the maths and dance a jig. This one might actually happen.
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dos Santos on ESPN radio:
"I want to return to Spain, there is a new coach at Tottenham, a new season is starting and it is clear to me that I want to return to Spanish football."
All dependent if Levy is still looking to earn back more on the player than he spent on him. Is £4M a fair valuation? Taking wages paid to player into consideration, it's probably why he gets priced out of a move every summer. Levy probably wants £6M. Villas-Boas might fancy him. Wouldn't be the first time a player has returned from the brink of oblivion and made a success of it. Although in his case it will be from the brink of the bar. If legend is true. If it isn't, if the lad does commit in training then we'll see it for ourselves - either at Spurs or in La Liga. Mexico aside he has flattered to deceive. If it's because nobody has believed in him since signing for us, we'll have to wait to be proved wrong - then again, judging by the above quote, we won't see the outcome in Lilywhite.
Talk of a media embargo on a certain sports radio station (yep, the much maligned one) and one of its presenters bragging about 'massive Spurs' news before doing a complete u-turn to suggest he was only referring to the appointment of Villas-Boas. The suggestion is it involves knowledge about this alleged investment/financial injection/naming rights rumour that has spent the best part of the last month waiting to be announced (according to people who claim to know its going to be announced). It gets more colourful when people start to connect the dots, claiming it's why Bale signed a new long term contract and why other players want to sign (as opposed to all that just being business as usual in-house developments). Until Tottenham reveal all, it's all guess work.
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Caulker and Villas-Boas photographed at The Lodge in Under Armour shirts. Cockerel on opposite side of where it would usually grace the chest. Innovation.
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Player exodus:
Ben Alnwick - to Barnsley
Oscar Jansson - released
Jesse Waller Lassen - released
Kudos Oyenuga / Mirko Ranieri - contracts expired but no more info
A collective 'meh' is shrugged.
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Goal line technology set to be introduced this season. It's all coming together people. No longer shall we be cheated. FA could be introducing it during December (won't be ready before then) so controversy still has a few games left to break hearts.
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Newcastle away. Live on ESPN. The revolution will be televised. Haters gonna hate.
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Latest from the ITK grapevine: Hugo Lloris is linked. Too early to scratch our heads over this one. Easy to forget we still have Gomes at the club. Adebayor might sign permanently, always a 50/50 chance of that happening based on his loan spell with us. Now that Sahin has ruled himself out of moving away from Real Madrid, Gonzalo Higuain is being linked as part of a deal involving Luka Modric. Higuain? Far fetched. Out of our reach. Didn't we go through this already with the Benzema fantasy? It's got to be fantasy, right? Yes? No?
Time for a cold shower.
Reader Comments (37)
Its all getting rather exciting, the time between now and the Newcastle game gonna be very interesting. COYS
Despite countless hours spent praying for the appointment of Louis van Gaal, YES, I am jumping on board with AVB because our club must march ahead.
One little thing. There seems to be a general consensus by most posters that AVB is incredibly tactically astute, and thus is a managerial upgrade from Harry Redknapp.
Please, someone, give me ONE reason (his team tactics, a match situation, a video clip etc... just something other than his 3/4 suit and fantastic young Obama-like appearance) why you feel this way.
Just back up all these references to "tactical awareness", "tactical acumen" etc and I will definitely agree with you.
To me it seems that he was not even able come up with a successful tactical system that would properly utilize the players he had at his disposal (at Chelsea); but I hope for the best. COYS!!
AVB's BLUE & WHITE ARMY sounds good to me ! COYS
I saw an interesting article on the net earlier today about how AVB approached the job at Porto which might answer your questions:
http://footballfollower.com/football-blog/andre-villas-boas-change-tottenham/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FootballFollower+%28Football+Follower%29
So we JD and hopefully Ade will sign..but who will be the other two strikers?
The impression I get at the moment, more inference than any direct proof, is of a great LIFTING sigh ....... as if the weight of ages is being pushed aside, and we are moving forward into a new era. I may be wrong but the Caulker deal seems very positive - his previous language was that it might be the time to move on, and my feeling is that that was related to Harry's attitude to youth. I can imagine all those youngsters who gave a lot in the Europa last year and then were shipped out on loan feeling more involved now, and positive. I think also that VdV worked hard at the end of last season, but that he was part of the falling off that slid us down from 3rd to 4th earlier. I shall not be disappointed if Sigurdsson replaces him though I shall be grateful for his two season contribution.
I suspect also that Daniel is finding it easier now to NOT resist thrusting his hands into his pockets because 'Arry is not the man deciding HOW to spend the folding stuff. We shall have to wait and see, but none of it is alarming me, yet.
What I want to see as we go forward is some real coaching, and some real tactical innovation that unlocks defensive-minded away teams, for example ........ and new some enterprise and excitement on the field - then I shall begin to believe COYS!!
sounds like Vertonghen is done (source being Duncan Castles) COYS
Higuain is totally under appreciated by Madrid. His scoring rate, and lack of acknowledgement thereof, is similar to Owen's at the club. It wouldn't surprise me if he fancied us and he'd be a great signing in my opinion. P.s. And I'm usually wrong about these things, but I think we could convince Luka to stay with us one more season. New coach, new manager, team gelling and growing up together, a season where we were better than the year before, a realization that there are very few clubs better than us. I think he'll give us one last try.
As Round-Ups go, the word 'comprehensive' doesn't do it justice. Cheers, Spooky.
Ade is the most important deal, hope it happens.
I can't see Ade and VDV wanting to play for AVB. We all know that AVB is going to change things at Spurs. More tactics and chalkboards, less arms around shoulders and being told to run around a bit.
VDV very much liked the way Redknapp went about managing the team, leaving the players to do their own thing, and I can't see him buying into the AVB philosophy one bit. Whereas Ade is a player that suited Redknapp's approach because he doesn't like being told what to do. He won't be left to his own devices under AVB.
VDV and Ade are both great players on their day, but there's no denying that they're both approaching their 30s, so don't fit into Levy's youth policy. Knowing that, and knowing the kind of characters they are, I don't think AVB is going to want them around. One player seen to be not buying into his project will lead to dressing room unrest and uncertainty in the minds of the younger players, like Bale and Walker.
We don't need this. And I'd argue that, given the right summer transfer dealings, we don't need VDV or Ade. VDV had a fantastic first season, but last season was average, and when will ever be fit enough to play a full 90 minutes? Ade has no doubt been the linchpin of our attacking prowess. He holds the ball up, brings other players into play, and adds the odd goal here and there, the perfect lone striker, but there are plenty others like him who won't destroy our wage structure. I'd rather see us splash the cash on someone younger and hungrier.
I will get excited when i see what we play like in America and if our Qaurter Back Hudds is not poached by the Orlando Pirate . Joking a side i hope he is full fit we will have the perfect team too beat energized teams with Tom launching the ball over packed midfielder's full of running just like Spain's style chasing the ball like a swarm of wasps. We have missed his presence 6FT3 like Everton s skeleton with curly haired 6FT4 Fellani this was one of the reason we conceded a lt of goals from corners. I cant get excited yet because if we make to many changes and sell to many we will get haunted to death by ex players every week and have to many virgin players settling in and miss continuity our best signing Avb can make my wish is for Avb to buy Ady. This one is a killer loan Modric to Chelsea get Sturridge on loan and he cant damage us but damage others and we get a very good striker we have Sandro Parker Hudds Livermore Bale Lennon Townsend Oscar Muitino Jenas Bentley Kane Bostock. Oh Well its the silly month nothing happening yet only rain rain and tennis. in AVB WE TRUST FOR NOW.
the To add to 'mass exodus' tag - apparently, Our young midfielder Alex Pritchard only has a year to run on his contract. I've seen this kid a few times and, frankly, I'd be gutted to see him leave. Hopefully, we can get a contract sorted out this summer.
I don't go along with "One player seen to be not buying into his project will lead to dressing room unrest and uncertainty in the minds of the younger players ". Surely AVB has been brought in to manage the squad. If there is any friction with any of the players he will have to learn from his past experience and adopt a strategy to win the player(s) over to his way of thinking over a period of time. It may be that certain players in the squad do not have the physical or skill capability to play the AVB way and they should be shown the door (special arrangements for those with names rhyming with Bling). However, if a player shows that he is capable of consistently producing the goods for the club, he should not be rejected just because he has the confidence to speak his mind, or challenge decisions. There are many top players past and present who have not been easy to handle. There are also many people that are giving AVB the benefit of the doubt and are now getting 100% behind him. What I ask for is a period of time for the manager to bed in his ideas without making snap judgements on the existing core players who have done so well for us in recent years and some patience and flexibility from the playing staff to adapt to some different ideas. Evolution not revolution.
Well done Levy. Think AVB will be the best manager since Bill Nick. We as Tottenham supporters need to back him all the way as we all know he will face a media witch hunt after replacing their darling Redknapp. COYS.
AVB's going to have to go on a charm offensive to get the First Team squad on his side as they'll be more than a bit apprehensive from what they've heard went on at Chelsea. And there'll have been lots of gossip fed via Fat Frank to Uncle Harry to the coaches to the team. I don't believe in the stories that AVB is cold, aloof etc etc any more than I believe that Redknapp was a complete tactical cretin (Yes, some incredible blunders, but on the other hand, the wins over Inter and Milan didn't just *happen* ffs) but I hope the new man's learned from any mistakes he did make and that an arm round the shoulder for some players is a lot more effective than chalkboards and dossiers.
God you would think we were talking about the tots in a 'kinder garden' when you lot talk about hard to handle players. £75,000.00 a week anybody. These pampered players will get their heads down and adapt to their new coach, as they would if they changed clubs. Levy doesn't pay wages and tolerate players going into a huff. We have to get real here. The players are employees and they will do as their told and train as the coach directs. So lets stop fretting whether some touchy individual doesn't think it's fair that they might have to get 'properly fit' and eat the food he's directed to eat and behave himself like the professional I keep hearing footballers calling themselves. Let's assume that AVB has had the nous to learn from the Chelsea experience as I think he will have.
The eagle has landed. He can't be all bad otherwise Chelsea would never have spent 13 million on him. By all accounts he is a very astute manager. He will probably have the, recently missing, plan B. As we don't appear to have over sized egos in the dressing room he may be able to get his message across without too many ructions. If some of the recent gossip is true then some of the incomings will certainly beef up the squad. I still don't want Ade because of his history and baggage. And I have an open mind about VDV. He seems to blow hot and cold. One game he is brilliant and in the next he goes missing. His defensive duties are neglected to an alarming degree. Reminds me of Lennon when he first arrived. AL has improved over the years but I doubt if VDV has has the fitness or determination to carry out those duties. Regardless of what happens in the transfer market we will all know by Christmas if Levy did the right thing.
Levy has put his money where his mouth is with this one.
The players will be left in no doubt that AVB is the boss and if they don`t like it, there`s the door.
The difference is Abramovich is prepared to burn his money on a whim.
As for the gossip coming out of chavski - our players know that T***y, Fat Frank, Cole etc are a bunch of w****rs and will take them with a pinch of salt.
VDV - two seasons, legendary status but we should be prepared to say thanks and goodbye. Injury prone, incapable of 90 minutes and towards the end of his career. Cash in, now that Sig (and therefore about 15 goals from midfield) has been secured.
Ade? No thanks. Once signed he will become comfortable and bored, as he did elsewhere. Plus with proper tactics our centre forward shouldn`t have to cover every blade of grass as poor old Ade did last season.
Can this week get any better? New manager, players signing, player exodus at the arse and reportedly Sir Rudolph infuriated at us snatching his young left back. If points were scored during the close season, we`d have won the league already!
Nice to see us linked with so many quality players - hope that there is some substance to it. Concerned that Luka Modric seems set to go and that a top replacement will be hard to attract without the Champions League. However it seems that it will be difficult to sign the strikers we need without his transfer fee. Suggest that we also need a top class established Centre Half with a bit of pace to build the defence around.
Boris Johnson and Ledley king, near H.Q today ,talking about NPD project getting started .Sainsburys shopping complex to start
in August ,and sorting out transport around new ground. looks like things are at last starting to move forward .
I would love pump it to Leandro and oscar in new sainsburys (paying) for Doughnuts
COYS
Not being one for scientific stuff I cannot help commenting on the recent discovery of the Higgs-Boson particle, the so called God Particle, and would draw your attention to this article: http://creativemythology.blogspot.jp/2012/07/higgs-boson-new-signing.html It would appear that Arsenal may be signing said Higgs-Boson!
Great stuff, Jack.
Anyone know much about this Fryers lad?
see our journo friends are at it again. `I know Spurs are interested but nothing is set so I`ll concentrate on Internacionale for now` translates into `Oscar no to Spurs` in lazy journo language. Meanwhile they muster the energy to type complete b*****ks like `van Persie to sign for Spurs?`
Twats.
COYAVBS
please please please GET RID OF MODRIC ASAP before his stock drops ( very high for some one who doeasnt score enough,set up enough,and a little bit of a pussy when the going gets tough - what i mean by that is, a so called 30mil + player can and should turn a game around when it matters.)
The Portugeezer 'as been awful quiet since he took-over the drains in Enfield. 'Ow do we know what 'es up to? Anyone know if 'e 'as a Twitter feed or blog? I got ants in me pants! I want to be ITK!!
Hi Spooky You may recall my previous info re Internacional and Spurs and Sandro as Inter's my wife's team. Well my niece is over from Brazil and was very distressed when I told her Spurs were sniffing around Oscar. Apparently he's the bees knees. Leandro Damiao is of course another fine player apparently suited to the English game. We live in hope.
Sitting out here in Tokyo in the July fat furnace melting away and desperately looking for news. Thankfully Talk Balls will only play if you have Micro$oft Windohs (which I wouldn't touch with a gooner pole) as a platform so can't even be tempted to listen to their inane drivel. All I have keeping me sane (saner) is DML. Spooky, can't you write two articles a day?
If I had the time I'd blog about 5 times per day. Thought that counts, right?
Completely understand Spooky, no good trying to wring fine wine out of a grape. Fine wine comes as it is meant to though thirst is ever present. Please forgive my thirst and know I appreciate your fine wine.
Buzzing with anticipaaaation for the new season!
It should be monumental. One way or the other, hell, to dare is to do!
As Spooky has noted about our crest, I just hope that the shirt that VB is wearing was a quickly embroidered UA white polo they had knocking around. I wouldn't like a UA deal where they have their logo on the left of the official kit. It's out of order.
Would like to draw everyone's attention to Vertonghen's Wikipedia entry which says:
Following the departure of Luis Suárez for Liverpool in January 2011, Vertonghen was appointed vice-captain of Ajax under Maarten Stekelenburg; following Stekelenburg's transfer to Roma, Vertonghen was made captain. In 2012, Vertonghen was named Male Performer of the Year. He will join English Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur in July 2012.
Now we all know that a Wiki source is not accepted in academic circles as a reference source as it can be modified by anyone at anytime including malicious gooners. However, we also know that most footballers actually edit their own Wiki, well they get someone who can type to do it for them, and so in the world of football rather than academic writing, a Wiki is a good source.
So the question is this: What exactly does "Male Performer of the Year" actually mean and how safe will Gareth be in the showers if we sign this mean central defender?
LOL @ male performer. We're signing a porn star.
Vert deal finally done. It's official. COYS
jan deal done. Get in!!!!!!!!!
First he was done, then done again, and again, and then came news he'd gone! His head, apparently, was already in London! Not done, but gone, but just his head.
The joy I felt clicking onto the Mothersite just now was so overwhelming, I collapsed into a heap over my keyboard. Somehow we've done it, we've managed to, not only, secure Vertonghen's head but his arms and legs too, by jingo I love it when blueprints become structures.
Meanwhile:
I heard tale of Modric's cohorts, taking it upon themselves to contact Madrid, to negotiate, and agree terms for Modric's imminent fairy tale transfer, and that this meeting was without Tottenhams knowledge or consent!
If this is the case I hope Levy flatly refuses to talk to Modric's agents, unless they can capture and tame a Griffin. AVB wanted Modric at Chelsea, we said no. AVB wants Modric at TOTTENHAM we say, no Modric, that's not a Griffin, it's a cat, which you've obviously spent time sticking feathers to. Now fcuk off and runabout.
#keepmodric
Been away with dodgy wi-fi but no need to panic just tune in to DML and update completed.
You're really spoiling us Mr Spooky with your comprehensuive posts.
New manager/head coach within three weeks. Siggy and Verty within a week.
What can possibly go wrong?
Doh!.
Does anyone know how Andros Townsend plays on. He seemed a good prospect (cover for AL?) but kept being moved from club to club by Harry Redknapp - Is he on a witness protection screen.