Lens youngster set to join Spurs

[Geez]

Tottenham Hotspur are set to sign 17-year-old Lens midfielder Abel Taarabt for 3.5 million euros from the Ligue 1 side.

Source: Eurosport

The Moroccan has been at the Lens youth academy since being discovered by Septeme-les-Vallons, Zinedine Zidane's first club.

"I have learnt how to play football in the streets," Taarabt told La Voix du Nord.

"At the age of 11 I was wanted by a lot of clubs, but I felt Lens were the best for me to mature.

"For my first professional contract, I wanted to be guaranteed to play a minimum of matches.

"My first objective was to succeed with RC Lens because I know I owe that club.

"I have discussed things with Martin Jol, and he really wanted to have me. I have visited White Hart Lane, and I can't wait to play there."

Whilst Jol will be hoping he has uncovered a jewell in Taarabt, the Spurs boss may have to tame the youngster's wild side, which Lens are already only too aware of.

"I have had a problem with two pros when I was playing for Lens reserves," Taarabt explained. "Sidi Keita and Gregory Vignal didn't accept my way of playing during a reserve match. So I asked to be replaced."

[Marty]

Holy crap! This guy better be good, considering we paid about £100,000 for Dag Alexander Olsen, who's the same age...

[longdistancespursfan]

leftie???

[jackhealy]

What position does he play?

[TheChosenOne]

All I could make out from a french translation was he was midfield, with an engine, know what I mean

If true I bet a certain AW from the new library is peed off

[Shambles]

I love the way we snap up young talent.

[TheChosenOne]

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/language/translatedPage?tt=url&text=http%3a//100lensois.blogs.eurosport.fr/archive/2006/10/22/un-nouveau-talent.html&lp=fr_en&.intl=uk&fr=slv8-msgr


Clear as mud !

[gump]

Holy crap! This guy better be good, considering we paid about £100,000 for Dag Alexander Olsen, who's the same age...

So what - its hardly like we have paid 12 million for him is it?
people seem to have a complex about money on this site - Chimbonda was a rip off at 5 million etc - how many think that now?

If we paid 3.5 then he is worth it otherwise our structure that has basically got everything right financially wouldnt be doing the great job they have so far.

regardless if we lose any money on anyone else lennons made us about 20 million so its irrelevant - playing LM if he does thought might not be irrelevant.

[guynaisse]

I have visited the website of Lens fans and most (90%) of them believe its a good thing he leaves the club as apparently he had arguments with other players and was not accepted by the team. Although good technically, he never pass the ball and has a bad attitude ( he left in the middle of a reserve game as he though other players didnt pass him the ball quickly enough !... he has been banned several games by the manager for this "starlett" attitude)
He simply believes he's the best player on earth and the others have to play for him...
Apparently Lens management could not manage this guy and are not that "unhappy" to see him away.
Just hope that he will quickly learn that this is a team game and still a long way to go before to be the shadow of Zizou...
so wait and see...

[mawspurs]

I have visited the website of Lens fans and most (90%) of them believe its a good thing he leaves the club as apparently he had arguments with other players and was not accepted by the team. Although good technically, he never pass the ball and has a bad attitude ( he left in the middle of a reserve game as he though other players didnt pass him the ball quickly enough !... he has been banned several games by the manager for this "starlett" attitude)
He simply believes he's the best player on earth and the others have to play for him...
Apparently Lens management could not manage this guy and are not that "unhappy" to see him away.
Just hope that he will quickly learn that this is a team game and still a long way to go before to be the shadow of Zizou...
so wait and see...

Blimey he had better learn fast that he won't get away with that over here.

[alfiespurs]

We do not need a little hyped up twat like this guy disrupting our dressing room. Otherwise let the Hudd and Davids sort him out ....

[Pinto]

Lets hope this works out for us but seems a little risky with his attitude.

Anyone actually seen this kid play?? Or know what position he plays??

[tottenham4life]

big man will sort the little sod out and if he dont then davids will

[doom]

lets hope that she doesn't release her balls too early when she plays for us then:whistle:

[theMAXILOPEZpsycho]

This is exactly the kind of signing that gets me exited!! He sounds the biznis; and for those of you worried about his attitude, what do you want? A team of 11 wear your heart on yr sleave boring ass Gary Neville and Scott Parker types?? Or would you rather a player who thought he was a waste of space and came spouting a load of crap about how he wanted to learn from Davids and the senior players and maybe get a game by the time he's approaching his mid-twenties?:duh: :duh:

Besides, he's only 17, and to be pushing senoir pros around at that age shows you've got a pair; martin will be able to make him mature into the new zizu. What a quality signing!

[BringBack_leGin]

hopefully he loses the attitude, we already have zomora filling the scumbag role, i dont want any more!

[TheChosenOne]

hopefully he loses the attitude, we already have zomora filling the scumbag role, i dont want any more!

??

[BringBack_leGin]

??
sorry, i meant zokora, typo... the M and K are neighbours on the keyboard, sorta!

[TheChosenOne]

Bad as me you are,,,,,,,,,,, mix up my morocco's with my algeria's

heh heh

[BringBack_leGin]

:rofl: Bad as me you are,,,,,,,,,,, mix up my morocco's with my algeria's

heh heh

[davidmatzdorf]

17. He's 17.

I had attitude problems when I was 17 (don't say it...).

If he's good enough (never heard of him) to be worth that kind of money at 17, then he's worth MJ eyeballing him and telling him in no uncertain terms the standard of behaviour that is expected. If he can't discipline himself, he'll be off.

But he's 17. Defoe was a bit of a prannet when he was 20 and now he's a positive influence. So - assuming he's actually coming - let's give him a break.

If he's 2/3 as good as he thinks he is, he'll be an asset.

[Pinto]

This is exactly the kind of signing that gets me exited!! He sounds the biznis; and for those of you worried about his attitude, what do you want? A team of 11 wear your heart on yr sleave boring ass Gary Neville and Scott Parker types?? Or would you rather a player who thought he was a waste of space and came spouting a load of crap about how he wanted to learn from Davids and the senior players and maybe get a game by the time he's approaching his mid-twenties?:duh: :duh:

Besides, he's only 17, and to be pushing senoir pros around at that age shows you've got a pair; martin will be able to make him mature into the new zizu. What a quality signing!



Not that any of us really know what happened in Lens but God forbid this kid actually try to act like a professional footballer and show his team some respect.

It would be a load of crap if he didn't want to take advantage of Davids experience or just plain stupid, and yes I want a kid to want to play football as soon as possible but why not take advantage of someone as gifted and experienced as Davids??

Also if this kid is anywhere near as good as Parker or Neville then I will be thrilled but playing for the Lens reserve team doesn't quite fill me with hope that this kid is going to be the next Lennon or Huddlestone.

[fatspur]

A l’occasion des rumeurs faisant état d’un départ prochain pour l’Angleterre du jeune espoir lensois Adel Taarabt, le Directeur général chargé du sportif, Francis Collado, interrogé, ce mardi, devant les caméras de RCL TV, a, tout en confirmant les sollicitations extérieures, démenti la signature d’un accord à ce sujet, mais a surtout profité de cette tribune pour faire la lumière sur le problème plus général de la formation française.
Une formation mise en danger par une législation bien peu soucieuse des intérêts des clubs formateurs et qui oblige ceux-ci à trouver un juste milieu entre une volonté de conserver ses jeunes et le fait de « ne pas être idiot », c’est à dire risquer de voir le jeune joueur partir à l’étranger sans la moindre indemnité à défaut d’avoir su trouver un accord avant la fin de son contrat « aspirant » ou « stagiaire ». Une réflexion à mener à l'aune du prix de la formation à Lens : cinq millions d'Euros par an !

[bouncebackability]

Although i am sure that buying the cream of young talent is the way forward (as with Pekhart, this fella, etc) i just hope it doesnt stunt the growth of our home grown boys......would love to see some more of our youngsters coming through.....

[jackhealy]

We bought Ekotto from Lens, and have been linked with other Lens players. I thinl Commoli must have some special affinity with the club.

[podde]

If any of you have any difficulties googling him, it is because his name is in fact ADEL (not Abel) Taarabt. Follow this link for a photo:
http://www.rclens.fr/2006_janvier_25_jeunes.asp

Could anyone with more knowledge of French than me please translate the following:
I guess it means something along the lines of him being a very exciting prospect, but that he rarely passes the ball.

C’est un joueur très doué. Il sait tout faire ! Et il possède, lui aussi, une grosse personnalité : il n’est pas du genre à se cacher pour ne pas recevoir le ballon. »

[SouthLondonSpur]

He sounds quite disruptive, but then he's quite young (dont mean to be patronising, but you know what i mean).

Nothin BMJ hug cant sort out!

[SouthLondonSpur]

Just had a thought. remember when Fergie won the Junior competition with his 'young stars'. then then became the most inpenetrable force in English football for most of the late nineties.

Could be a nice plan to get these young players to gel early make an immense team for the future. With still plenty of English representation!

[mackay78]

If any of you have any difficulties googling him, it is because his name is in fact ADEL (not Abel) Taarabt. Follow this link for a photo:
http://www.rclens.fr/2006_janvier_25_jeunes.asp

Could anyone with more knowledge of French than me please translate the following:
I guess it means something along the lines of him being a very exciting prospect, but that he rarely passes the ball.

C’est un joueur très doué. Il sait tout faire ! Et il possède, lui aussi, une grosse personnalité : il n’est pas du genre à se cacher pour ne pas recevoir le ballon. »

"He's a very talented (actually technically it says he's a 'well endowed' player!!). He can do everything. He has a big personality: he's not of the type to hide in order to not receive the ball."

Just the photo of him makes me smile - seems like the type who'd be happy to square up to anyone (as long as it's not to BMJ he should be alright)

[littlemandefoe]

Sounds Intresting...When could he be joining? Jan?

[jenko]

Well hes already got it all to do, cos he sounds like an asshole!

[jackhealy]

If any of you have any difficulties googling him, it is because his name is in fact ADEL (not Abel) Taarabt. Follow this link for a photo:
http://www.rclens.fr/2006_janvier_25_jeunes.asp

Could anyone with more knowledge of French than me please translate the following:
I guess it means something along the lines of him being a very exciting prospect, but that he rarely passes the ball.

C’est un joueur très doué. Il sait tout faire ! Et il possède, lui aussi, une grosse personnalité : il n’est pas du genre à se cacher pour ne pas recevoir le ballon. »He's a very gifted player, who can do everything. He has a big personality and always wants the ball.

[rooster1]

This is exactly the kind of signing that gets me exited!! He sounds the biznis; and for those of you worried about his attitude, what do you want? A team of 11 wear your heart on yr sleave boring ass Gary Neville and Scott Parker types?? Or would you rather a player who thought he was a waste of space and came spouting a load of crap about how he wanted to learn from Davids and the senior players and maybe get a game by the time he's approaching his mid-twenties?:duh: :duh:

Besides, he's only 17, and to be pushing senoir pros around at that age shows you've got a pair; martin will be able to make him mature into the new zizu. What a quality signing!
Tottally agree maxi,It's a case of i've got bigger aspirations/asparagus than you lot,laters.This is what we pay comolli for, isn't it ?

[CharlieB]

If any of you have any difficulties googling him, it is because his name is in fact ADEL (not Abel) Taarabt. Follow this link for a photo:
http://www.rclens.fr/2006_janvier_25_jeunes.asp

Could anyone with more knowledge of French than me please translate the following:
I guess it means something along the lines of him being a very exciting prospect, but that he rarely passes the ball.

C’est un joueur très doué. Il sait tout faire ! Et il possède, lui aussi, une grosse personnalité : il n’est pas du genre à se cacher pour ne pas recevoir le ballon. »

He's a very girted player. He (literal knows) has it all. And he has a big personality; definately not the kind of player to shy away from receiving the ball.

o la la

[CharlieB]

gifted even

beaten to it anyway

[sloth]

Just the photo of him makes me smile - seems like the type who'd be happy to square up to anyone (as long as it's not to BMJ he should be alright)

Looks like a North African version of Dawson :grin:

[sloth]

Apart from that that the silly season is almost upon us and every man and his dog's going start being linked with us, one thing I'm getting from these rumours is that we're starting to reap the benefit of our European form...

It's one thing qualifying for Europe, but in many countries UEFA qualification is no big deal (I remember MJ saying something to that effect soon after taking over), the leagues have less strength in depth and so if you're any way half-decent you could expect to get in...

But I sense that playing five and winning five, including away wins against Beksitas and Bayern Leverkusen, has got a few people sitting up and taking notice.

Look at the fellow Basturk we've been linked with, his team Hertha Berlin qualified but couldn't past the first round, he'd look at Spurs and think, "I wonder..."

Maybe it's all in my mind, but I think there may definitely be some welcome side effects from doing so well.