1. Credit where it's due. 2. Answers needed

[Harry_Snatch]

Started the season with our centre piece, midfield pivot being illegally tapped up and disrupting our pre-season.

Had one of our main attacking transfer targets stolen (Mata)

Manager had a heart operation

Player died on the pitch and had to be revived

Constant speculation about our Manager leaving ( yes that was disrupting Harry )

Some of the worst refereeing decisions consistently going against us and in every key game

Season ending injury's to key players and our best RW out most of the season.

Shocking transfer window in January

Goal Keeper blatantly fixed to stop us finishing 3rd

To finish the season in 4th after all of that and having finished one step closer to our arch enemy and above the blue scum, is a remarkable feat. Yes it's disappointing not to have finished a deserved 3rd but 2 out of 3 in the top 4 makes us a consistent top 4 team now.


The second last point is the one that needs answering.

Who is responsible for our horrific transfer policy in January?

Was it Harry for not having the bottle to go after more realistic but risky targets like Cisse or Jelavic
or
Did Levy withdraw the funding meaning HR was forced to raid the charity shop for Nelsen and Saha.

Why was our only RW target only a possibility on loan ( Krasic )? he wanted a permanent move. Only good enough for a loan? or no money for the transfer fee?

Even an average transfer window in January and surely we would have finished 3rd by a country mile.


Well done Spurs but as always WTF?

 

[Roynie]

I seem to recall that we had too many players and there was a post which said that Harry was told that some players had to go before any more were bought. Hence we sold some, took some on loan and loaned some out. I've lost track of how many pro's we have now, but there could still be an issue with having too many players on the books.

I do think that we should accept a hit on lower transfer fees for certain players if we got enough of their regular wages off the books.

 

[eddiebailey]

Not sure why people think we had such a bad window in January. We were flying, we did not need to bring in anyone; there is always a risk when bringing in players of disrupting something that is working (see Tino Asprilla's impact on a Newcastle team that seemed nailed on for the title.)

None of Pav, Corluka, Pienaar and Bassong had been that impressive when called upon and it is doubtful they would have suddenly caught fire if given the odd rotational game; they clearly felt that they needed regular football, and were probably right. Saha and Nelsen were shrewd signings as willing bench warmers who could be relied on do a competent job if required.

In only one game was the squad seriously stretched and I do not believe that if we had had more players available Harry would have rotated; nor should he have done, none of our first team regulars had clocked up much cup time, so they should have been fresh for the league.

 

[Harry_Snatch]

Not sure why people think we had such a bad window in January. We were flying, we did not need to bring in anyone; there is always a risk when bringing in players of disrupting something that is working (see Tino Asprilla's impact on a Newcastle team that seemed nailed on for the title.)

None of Pav, Corluka, Pienaar and Bassong had been that impressive when called upon and it is doubtful they would have suddenly caught fire if given the odd rotational game; they clearly felt that they needed regular football, and were probably right. Saha and Nelsen were shrewd signings as willing bench warmers who could be relied on do a competent job if required.

In only one game was the squad seriously stretched and I do not believe that if we had had more players available Harry would have rotated; nor should he have done, none of our first team regulars had clocked up much cup time, so they should have been fresh for the league.

I hear you but we finished the season with 1 RW 1 LW and 1 RW. Adebayor is the only striker that could play on his own and if you take away the few goals he scored recently, he was off the boil for most of the second half of the season. A striker in January and a RW and we'd have finished 3rd minimum.
Saha had 1 good game I think and Nelsen was ok but what happened to HR saying that it was only worth bringing players taht would improve the first 11?

 

[eddiebailey]

II've lost track of how many pro's we have now, but there could still be an issue with having too many players on the books.

Currently over the age of 21: Friedel, Cudicini, Gomes, Alnwick, Button, Corluka, Naughton, Assou-Ekottu, King, Gallas, Kaboul, Dawson, Nelsen, Bassong, Khumalo, Huddlestone, Parker, Sandro, Jenas, Livermore, Modric, Pienaar, Krancjar, Giovanni, Dawkins, Bentley, Lennon, Bale, Defoe, Saha. (30 + Adebayor on loan)

Over 21 next year: Jannson, Walker, Rose, Falque (4)

Under 21 (not counting trainees and other U18s): Ranieri, Archer, Smith, Byrne, Caulker, Gallifuoco, Nicholson, Carroll, Parrett, Luongo, Mason, Bostock, Ceballos, Fredericks, Waller-Larsen, Pritchard, Kane, Lancaster, Oyenuga, Obika (20, not sure if some of these are over 21 next season)

So 55 professionals, of whom all but twelve have played for Spurs first team.

 

[NEVILLEB]

King going lame was probably the biggest reason we fell away.

He almost guaranteed victory before christmas.

 

[Lucky22]

You forgot Harry's court case as well!! It was a mental season all round and, you're right, what we had to deal with it's amazing we are in the position we are in! I'm proud of our achievements this year. Yes, there is so much in the second half of the season that I wish we had have done differently, but it's all part of the learning curve. We'll be back bigger, better and stronger again next season!! COYS

 

[Harry_Snatch]

shit yeah the court case as well. unbelievable achievement.

 

[Roynie]

Currently over the age of 21: Friedel, Cudicini, Gomes, Alnwick, Button, Corluka, Naughton, Assou-Ekottu, King, Gallas, Kaboul, Dawson, Nelsen, Bassong, Khumalo, Huddlestone, Parker, Sandro, Jenas, Livermore, Modric, Pienaar, Krancjar, Giovanni, Dawkins, Bentley, Lennon, Bale, Defoe, Saha. (30 + Adebayor on loan)

Over 21 next year: Jannson, Walker, Rose, Falque (4)

Under 21 (not counting trainees and other U18s): Ranieri, Archer, Smith, Byrne, Caulker, Gallifuoco, Nicholson, Carroll, Parrett, Luongo, Mason, Bostock, Ceballos, Fredericks, Waller-Larsen, Pritchard, Kane, Lancaster, Oyenuga, Obika (20, not sure if some of these are over 21 next season)

So 55 professionals, of whom all but twelve have played for Spurs first team.

Thanks for that. On the assumption (possibly wrong) that those who are 21 next year would have to be included in the squad, that would mean we will have something like 9 players that we can't name in the league squad. It stand to reason that some players will have to be sold before we buy. Although a few extra's out on loan should expected we seem to have concentrated on selling before purchases. I wonder how many contracts expire this summer.

 

[Riandor]

Thanks for that. On the assumption (possibly wrong) that those who are 21 next year would have to be included in the squad, that would mean we will have something like 9 players that we can't name in the league squad. It stand to reason that some players will have to be sold before we buy. Although a few extra's out on loan should expected we seem to have concentrated on selling before purchases. I wonder how many contracts expire this summer.

It's the other issue we have. We loaned a lot of our "deadwood" out rather than selling it. So we still have some players to shift this summer.

R.

 

[Roynie]

OK. I found a website which shows the end of contracts and other info. I have no idea how accurate it is, but assuming it's correct we have 4 out of contract this summer: Gomes, Cudicini, King and Saha. In addition there is a question over Nelsen and Khumalo, presumably they extension options, with Adebayor going back to Citeh.

Next year there are another 5 contracts up: Friedel, Benny, Gallas, Kranjcar and Dos Santos. If the clubs doesn't want them then it would be best to sell them this year or they go for nothing next year.

So in total between this year and next we could lose 3 goalkeepers, 4 CB's, 1 LB, 2 Mid,s and 2 Strikers. Of those at least 5 are key players, having figured in the first team regularly this year. That means that there is much to be done this summer, and leaving it to the last minute would be disastrous. And that is without bringing in anyone new! If anyone could shed light on the accuracy I would be grateful

Source: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/tottenham-hotspur/kader/verein_148.html

EDIT: There is also Jenas, Button, Naughton, Parrett, Caulker and Carroll who are out of contract next year. As least 2 of those we need to keep for the first team next year, and 2 others are youngsters still with much potential. So, even more to be done this summer then !

 

[Harry_Snatch]

From that list Gomes and Saha probably won't get new contracts. King probably will get some kind of role but maybe player-coach. Nelsen was a stop gap and Khumalo won't be given a contract.

The next 5 Gallas, GDS and Kranjcar will probably go.

Out of Jenas, Button, Naughton, Parrett, Caulker and Carrol You could only say Jenas will go with any conviction.

How long is Bentley's contract?
Surely he will go in the summer.

Bassong will surely be sold as well.

So we could easily have 10 squad spaces that previously weren't available.

Hopefully not all of those are filled as that has been holding us back in the transfer market for the last few years.

If you look at the first team squad minus the above players we can see where we will be ( should be? ) looking in the summer

GK Friedal Carlo

RB Walker, Naughton, Smith, Corluka

CB Kaboul, King, Dawson, Caulker

LB Benny, Rose

RM Lennon

LM Bale

CM Modric, Parker, Sandro, Hudd,

F JD, VDV,


Basically looking at that we are very light at LB, CB, RM, LM and at Forward. Could probably use a GK as well.

Busy summer ahead.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

how the hell was mata 'stolen' from us?

 

[ziggy]

Don't forget starting the season late as well, would an early home win have meant a change of results against the Mancs ?

 

[vegassd]

A striker in January and a RW and we'd have finished 3rd minimum.

Well we did get a striker, and we certainly had options on the wings!

The whole situation is not as simple as you seem to be making out. January is not the time to get the best players, and when our team was going so well it would have been a bad idea to change it around too much. We got rid of some players who weren't happy on the bench and got in some players who were.

It's very frustrating to hear people go on about "had we bought X, Y and Z" because it just isn't that simple. There are any number of reasons why it would be impossible to get the players in and why they could have bad effect on the club as a whole.

 

[Stoof]

I didn't hear anyone crying out for Jelavic or Cisse at the time.

Some gambles pay off, you know. But I'd say if we'd have signed either the pressure on their shoulders coming to a (at the time) title challenging club would have been much greater. Especially as neither would have probably started straight away, they'd be subs where we'd expect them to immediately come on and score 3 goals every game.

It's questionable whether their arrival would have been as explosive for us.

 

[Roynie]

If you look at the first team squad minus the above players we can see where we will be ( should be? ) looking in the summer

GK Friedal Carlo

RB Walker, Naughton, Smith, Corluka

CB Kaboul, King, Dawson, Caulker

LB Benny, Rose

RM Lennon

LM Bale

CM Modric, Parker, Sandro, Hudd,

F JD, VDV,


Basically looking at that we are very light at LB, CB, RM, LM and at Forward. Could probably use a GK as well.

Busy summer ahead.

IMHO, I think Gallas should be good as a stop gap cover for one more year, and I believe that Naughton can cover at CB as well. I am concerned at the lack of cover at RM and LM as our best performances have been when we can attack at pace from either wing, so I would like to see cover for both, one being Bentley IF he knuckled down! VDV can do 2nd striker and CM, so I would love to see 2 quality strikers come in, one being a top notch scorer and the other being a young apprentice, Leandro?We do also have some improving youngsters who could come off the bench if necessary.

I know that Ade has played really well this year and has brought much to the side. My concern about him is that his first touch lets him down too often and he seems to miss a lot of chances that a top striker really should score. However, I don't think we are far off a Title challenging side, just one LM and 2 strikers and we're good to go!

 

[Twizzle]

how the hell was mata 'stolen' from us?

from all reports he had agreed to terms with us them the Chavs threw a shit load of money at him in the last few days of the transfer window

 

[not_tenth-again]

from all reports he had agreed to terms with us them the Chavs threw a shit load of money at him in the last few days of the transfer window

Same as they did with Courtois - the keeper they will never use! I can imagine Lukaka is wondering what the hell he was thinking choosing them too. Having said that it shows the players character and you do sometimes wonder if you're better off without them... and their managers.

 

[SNAFU_Clarke]

from all reports he had agreed to terms with us them the Chavs threw a shit load of money at him in the last few days of the transfer window

so we made him an offer, he received what he considered a better offer and decided to take that.