Spurs; hard boiled round the edges, gooey centre needs nuts
Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 9:49PM Jan Vertonghen has signed. He’s been in a perpetual state of signing for what seems like months. You can trace this transfer saga back to Friday 2nd December 2011, when we were first linked. Regardless of how long it took for it to become official at no point did I find myself thinking the usual knee-jerk thoughts as this all played out. You know, the usual agent-mind games that haunt and tease us where we get used in public to drum up interest elsewhere. Here was a player willing to come to Spurs, wanting to be part of our club. Thanks to a technicality, nothing shifted until the player shook hands with the Ajax over a contractual obligation owed. So seven months on, he belongs to THFC. Although until he parachutes onto the high road riding an inflatable cockerel singing Chas’n’Dave I’ll hold back from getting his face tattooed on my back.
12 million Euros the alleged fee. Yet another signing and it’s not even the middle of July yet. Whatever will Jim White and Sky Sports News do when that final fifteen minutes starts ticking away on deadline day? Pre-season kicks off on Monday and the message is one of relentless desire to get all our business done. Although I’m being a tad colourful with the truth as both Sig and Vert were ongoing deals that concluded regardless of Villas-Boas being appointed. It’s the signings made now onwards which will be most telling in how we plan to shape up for the new season.
Vertonghen truly adds another dimension to our centre-back horde. Intelligent, drives forward out of defence (eye for a goal) and a talented left foot - we’ve got ourselves a glamour boy that lives up to the hype. Ajax captain, Eredivisie Player of the Year and (according to Wikipedia) ‘Male Performer of the Year’. Those Dutch love putting it about. He will bring with him not just experience (title winner) but pace – something that Villas-Boas will no doubt require if we plan to play with a high-line (which failed at Chelsea thanks to their distinctive lack of it). A defender that can defend, attack and most importantly consolidate strength at the back. What with Ledley King’s future as a player in doubt. A back four of Walker – Kaboul (Dawson) – Vert – Benny is looking good (full back positions requiring sustained cover).
The key area (thanks to complete lack of depth) is up front. Defoe being the only recognised forward we currently have on our first team books. Adebayor continues to be linked and is on the cards thanks to the success he had with us and the fact that he’s open to returning (the player confirmed this himself back in May that Spurs and City were in talks). This has probably dragged because of the asking price so much like the Vert transfer, it’s going to happen but it might take a few more shrewd manoeuvres from our chairman. We’ll still need another. I’m not too concerned with this conundrum because there is no puzzle to be solved. We might play a 433, we might only need the one ‘striker’ but across the season? Three is the magic number. The ultimate would be a forward that can play on the right hand side, therefore fixing two problems (cover and alternative to Lennon, able to also spearhead the attack). I can remember thinking we needed this last season.
The biggest question however is the one in the middle. The heartbeat of the side is its centre. The phrase ‘build a team around him’ is not something you hear too much of in these modern times. Mainly because there’s no loyalty and players are very career driven meaning everyone is a stepping stone till they reach their ultimate goal. With Luka Modric, you’d love to do just that. Build the team around him. Although building a fence around him so he can't escape would be more apt. He attempted to tunnel his way out last year, but I expect this time when he gets to the barbed wire he'll jump it without crashing his motorbike. The great escape complete. We're left bouncing a ball off a wall in deep thought on what to do next.
Doesn’t score much? Placing that aside, he completes a ridiculous amount of passes and creates chances from open play, more so than most. He is prolific as the heart-beat of the side. Starting from deep, recycling possession and attacking forward space with effect. Under Villas-Boas he, in theory, would be phenomenal as I expect he would be used with far more astuteness. He’d benefit from a more structured system. But alas, it’s all theory because he will end in a different ilk of white shirt next season kicking up a storm. So what do we do?
Thankfully we have our holding midfielders. Scott Parker (the Jedi) and Sandro (the Padawan). We have the industrious ball winners and walls that you shall not pass. Bale will play out left or perhaps inside left. Sig is an attacking midfielder, van der Vaart is talismanic - but what we need is a player similar to Luka. A conductor. Oscar, the Brazilian kid, is one name touted. More of unknown to most of us, a midfielder that pushes into the penalty area with an eye for goal. Hugely talented and highly rated.
Joao Moutinho is the more obvious target. He’s a Porto player. He knows Villas-Boas. He’d like to work with him again. And, apparently, wants to leave Porto this summer. Central midfielder, adaptable and not too dissimilar to what we currently have in Modric in terms of sheer talent but perhaps with a touch more all action box to box about him. Like Modric he can get stuck in (something that people tend to forget then act all surprise when Luka does it) is disciplined and reads the game extremely well.
He’s a top target for a fair few clubs but if he is available and if we are interested, we’ll have the money to spend and in Villas-Boas we’ll have a potential transfer winning wink and hand shake.
It’s going to continue to be an exciting summer. We’re getting our work done early. Villas-Boas has given everyone currently at Spurs a clean-slate which might impact what players we target in terms of covering the key positions. The return of David Bentley? I’ll believe it when I see it, preferably with no feet on fire and not a skip in sight.
So far so good.
Reader Comments (39)
It's all ststems go.
heaven.....im in heaven!!!!
For the first time in a while, I'm actually feeling optimistic about a transfer window, and the season that follows it...
Buzzing but not from Highline .Just couple more signings will be well happy
COYS
Apart from bringing good players in, one key goal should be to flog 'the Modric horse' as hard as we can. I mean, why not? Why, when Modric thinks we are no longer good enough for him, should the club not insist on the highest fee? This needs to be done, bring in 35 million quid and we can get more players in. COYS.
looking forward to the new season. Are the rumours true Stefan Freund assistant manager
i say keep modric for another year and put him on the bench. play moutinho, yes we can afford him without selling modric, as long as we get rid of most of the deadwood and then let him go to the highest bidder after that. just to make a point that we cant be f**ked with.
Steffan Fruend has been mentioned as a coach on another blog.
i think its something we have needed since forever...and unlike with harry i hope we have 2 players for every position..i hope the reserve team is playing again as i feel that was part of the problem over the past few seasons......for all the love i have for arron lennon i need more from a right winger and i hope we add to that position its been a long time since we got going in the transfer market early and im just going to get the baby oil ready for the next high profile arrival.......
ive got a funny feeling there is going to be a big signing, that no-one has sniffed at! maybe in january, maybe soon, but i got a feeling Levy will give avb a superstar of his choice... remember i said this!!!
Who was it that said spurs would sign a superstar?
I have a good feeling if Modic goes to Mardid, we will get Kaka in return. HAPPY DAYS
I'm baffled why you think complications over Adebeyor's possible move is anything to do with a transfer fee. I am sure City would give Ade to anyone prepared to take over his contract and pay the £27m he's due from them over the next three seasons. Apart from not wanting him anywhere near their club his wages will make complying with the financial rules that much more difficult.
we dont want superstars, we need team players for this to work. and how old is kaka?
kaka is 30
do you not agree tha that is just a bit too old for our squad, we need younger players with a possible sell on value.
do you not think that is too old for our squad and at 30 he wont have any sell on value. you know dan the man has to have that.
I think Daniel had AVB on board way before it became official and was advising on which targets were appropriate. Those targets themselves were told who the next manager would be. I heard elsewhere on t'internetz that Modders will probably stay as well as VdV and Addy the boy is coming for 5 small ones. If that's the case then the wife won't be getting the second child she's been craving cos I'll be all spunked out.
is this another pre season of false hope? i think not my fellow yids - this is the one now - this season we kick ass.. i said this last year and the year before and the one before that but mark my words ''..blah..blah..spurs ..blah..fa cup..blah..top 3 and beyond..blah blah..best team in london..blah blah..''
Modric has been the metronome for Tottenham over the last few successful seasons and is the heartbeat of the team. His displays for Croatia show that there is still potential for him to take us to greater heights. But if its all about the money then DL should break the bank for him. Bale's contract seems to show there's some scope there and if E. Adebayor is going to be signed I suspect he won't be squeezed under our current pay contraints. I don't know whether DL has made him an offer that would be hard to refuse - but I would like to think the new telly deal might make it possible.
We've seen names like Moutinho, Oscar, Sahin and Dzagoev linked with the Club but realistically why would they want to join us if they can't get to play in the Champions League?
If all else fails then I suppose a move abroad would be the next best option, with us pocketing enough for some half decent strikers.But I think DL should be careful who Real Madrid offer in part exchange - because they've got more deadwood than Nottingham Forest.
COYS STICK IT TO ALL THE SCUM
Just had to share this knowledgeable and insightful comment on BBC article on Vertonghen signing:
I agree with Cyber
Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle will all finish above Spurs next year.
Spurs are in steep decline. I should imagine Villa have a chance of finishing higher if they get their act together. And maybe Sunderland.
The comments boards everywhere appear to be filling up with all sorts of insanity and plain, good, old fashioned stupidity. What is it about gooners that makes them so damned smug and condescending especially when it is likely that Wenger is again going to look for bargain basement transfers. I just love my football, I love watching games and I am getting to feel more and more happy about how things are going at WHL. Good luck to all the other teams in the Prem but I am feeling more confident that we are going to build well this season.
What I'd love to see is Vertonghen put in a bone-crunching tackle on Eden Hazard! If Modders goes, I've still kind of got the hots for his 18 yo countryman, Mateo Kovacic, from Dinamo Zagreb.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateo_Kova%C4%8Di%C4%87
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWTEeegvyVA
Jack..."steep decline"? Yeah, we fell hard from fifth, in 2011 all the way down to fourth, in 2012. If we keep falling like this, we could tumble all the way to the Premier League Title...
Looking good. AVB is already saying the right things, and indicating that most will have a fresh slate, not just Bentley. Let's not forget our late surge 2 season ago that gained Champions League Qualification was in no small part down to the form of Bentley, Nico and Pav. The latter 2 have gone but Bentley finally looked solid there for a while in Lennon's absence and was at least confident enough to drench A'rry after the away City win!!. Gio Dos Santos is another potential world beater in the squad that needs to replicate his national form to EPL level, and AVB could provide the opportunity for the diminiative forward. We have Caulker coming back as well so there is scope to find another Bale or Kyle Walker from within our current list next season. Exciting times indeed !!.
Can someone please explain?
a) why Dos Santos can't play the right/forward slot in a 4-3-3, since he'd be free of his defensive responsibilities and while not as fast as Lennon is more lethal in front of goal (at least that's how he looks when he plays in this hemisphere)
b) why we should expect Levy to let Modric leave this summer? We won't sell to Chelsea, and United can't afford him. Madrid don't really need him, which leaves...PSG? Anyway, he's under contract, and Levy can always point to Dos Santos as the example of what will happen to his career if he can't get his head right.
c) Is Caulker likely to compete seriously for a first team slot in the center of defense, and if so, will Dawson be sold?
I agree with giving Dos Santos a chance but I just wonder if it's too late. He has never impressed here because he was used incorrectly. I think that may have spoiled the lad for the EPL. He has done well in La Liga and they speak Spanish there, so perhaps he feels more at home. I wish he would give AVB a chance; but then again if his head's not right, he should go.
The same is true for Modric. He should stay if he believes AVB can make him a better player and get him to the CL; but...if his head's not right , he should go too. If he would rather sit on the bench in Spain for a bigger paycheck than play in the best league in the world then he's not the man for us.
As for Caulker and Daws, Kaboom and Vertigo...we need at least 4 good center backs for the wear and tear of a 38 game season, plus three cup competitions. Levy would have to be crazy to sell any of them. Remember...it's all about "Rotation, Rotation, Rotation!"
Sheik352.... Yeah I loved that "steep decline" observation. Someone surely missed physics at school.
A peek over the other side of the fence. Laugh, I nearly went to ethiopia
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=dc8_1341769688
Huddlestone will hopefully play a big part next season, with or without Modric!
AVB has inherited the nucleus of a very strong squad and like most of us I'm very impressed with the acquisition of Sig, Vert, and Fryer thus far. As you correctly stated Spooky, our key area is the midfield . The likelihood that Modric will leave does seem highly inevitable and if that is the case then the introduction of Mouthino as a like for like replacement seems more than logical, the player himself has already expressed the desire to join up with AVB, a manager that he regards highly. I agree that we do lack depth among our forward line and I wouldn't mind seeing us putting in a cheeky bid for Demba Ba, the type of player whom I'm sure would be able to add a significant goal threat. We have been linked with Leandro Damiao for what seems like ages now hopefully he'll also join the ranks. WHL seems to be a hive of activity at the moment......Happy days imminent no doubt. COYS!!
Spooky - when I read your headline I thought the piece was about Mrs Moe!
@jack - you`ve missed the point my starry eyed friend. Why WERE all gooners so smug and condescending? Because they won lots of trophies and left us in their wake.
Why ARE gooners coming out with such know nothing senseless b****cks now?
Because they`re frustrated and worried. `The only way is the Arsenal way` they spout. What build a new stadium, sell your best players and stop winning?
Now they`re beginning to see that the Tottenham way may just work. The only way they can comfort each other is to suckle on each others` tits of despair and frustration.
Without the Arsenal way working, they have absolutely nothing to chirp about and they know that their club is soulless with a spiritless home.
As for Spurs- looks like we`re going to have a really powerful side next season, can`t wiat for it to begin.
Not sure of spiritless is actually a word, but you get the gist!
COYAVBS
Quite frankly I'm too excited for words. I have a good feeling, and with Knap and Pav gone, the future looks bright. I've heard some discord among some fans about Ade's Lilywhite future. Can't imagine why there would be such a fuss, he's proven to be a hella good for us. Also there many who are still whinging on about AVB. Regardless of what will happen, we just gotta wait and see, it's in their hands now. I can't imagine who we'd be signing after Sigurdson and Vertonghen had Knap still be in charge. I don't want to either. Up and at em COYS!
P.S.
Not that it concerns me what the cunts at Ars*nal are doing or going to do, but if it's possible I hope to see them fail like the miserable tossers they are, just to wipe the false sense of smugness they still somehow manage to retain.
Spurs; hard boiled round the edges, gooey centre needs nuts - doesn't need Ricardo Carvalho
Lloris and Moutinho. Please.
@ bim spur
'Fire in the hole'
Think you'll find that Vertonghen was Harrys signing mate.
@wisky tom
I don't think it was Redknapp's signing. It was simply Levy's signing like most players are.... He is probably ensuring the manager is kept in the loop or we end up with players that the manager doesn't approve of(pienaar springs to mind).
If we get Lioris and Moutinho i will piss on my own tits with excitement. I dont actually have tits.
I hear what you say S4L - but AVB is our coach mate not our manager and so the same applies...