Benzema for Spurs?

[badajozjim]

I've just read in the Spanish press that Harry is after Benzema, I don't beleive it as it is the sports paper Marca which love to spread rumours. On a hypothetical level though, do you think he's the striker we're missing?

 

[Dr Know]

Who knows what Spurs need m8. We bought Wilson for £15m or so and VDV for £8m. On price you would have thought Wilson would be in the starting 11 every week. Benzema might benefit from a low sale price as it seems expectations are less when the fee is less but who knows what Spurs need. VDV wasn't even on the target list but could turn out to be the buy of our history!

 

[AngerManagement]

I think he would be an excellent signing, I am very doubtful we could pull it off but he will have had a years worth of training and playing with VDV already so one would assume they have an idea of how to link up together.

Personally I think this is about as good a signing as we could hope to make providing his form stays off and he remains out of favour at Real...even then he is a long shot at best and I would expect bigger fish to be willing to take a gamble on him before we got our shot (then again I would have said the same about VDV)

 

[mill]

I think he would be an excellent signing, I am very doubtful we could pull it off but he will have had a years worth of training and playing with VDV already so one would assume they have an idea of how to link up together.

Personally I think this is about as good a signing as we could hope to make providing his form stays off and he remains out of favour at Real...even then he is a long shot at best and I would expect bigger fish to be willing to take a gamble on him before we got our shot (then again I would have said the same about VDV)

I'm not so sure Madrid will be happy to do us such a good deal again after Harry's comments about Bayern being interested when we signed VDV

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Benzema would be the perfect signing for us.

However, he seems to be more in favour under Mourinho so I can't see him leaving now, unless Madrid go for Torres or Dzeko.

Ignoring realism though, I do think a Benzema-Diarra double signing from Madrid, plus the return of Woodgate, would be the final pieces in a title challenging team.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I'm not so sure Madrid will be happy to do us such a good deal again after Harry's comments about Bayern being interested when we signed VDV

If that was explained/apologised for (remember Redknapp said he heard that was what was happening, not knew), we otherwise seem on quite good terms with Madrid.

At board level Levy spent a few days out there the summer before last and seemed to be on speed dial for them when the VdV thing came up. Redknapp has talked about phone conversations he has had with Mourinho. Levy and Mourinho also know each other fairly well from when he was in discussions over our job in Sept/Oct 2003.

 

[Teddy Klinsmann]

Benzema is the type of player UTD would be interested in if he became available. Our only chance of getting him in January would be if we were still knocking around in the CL and looked good for it next year too. Would be an amazing signing, but just can't see it!

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Benzema is the type of player UTD would be interested in if he became available. Our only chance of getting him in January would be if we were still knocking around in the CL and looked good for it next year too. Would be an amazing signing, but just can't see it!

Normally, but I don't think United would have the money unless they sold Berbatov, which I don't think they'll do now that he's found his form again.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11499023
Manchester United reports pre-tax loss of £80m

 

[AngerManagement]

Benzema is the type of player UTD would be interested in if he became available. Our only chance of getting him in January would be if we were still knocking around in the CL and looked good for it next year too. Would be an amazing signing, but just can't see it!

Assuming he has or will have played for MAdrid in the CL by then and be cup tied for us anyway I doubt our CL progression will have much bearing.

It will be entirely down to his opportunities at MAdrid, is options of clubs interested in him if he wants to move and how much we are willing to pay him and pay for him I would think.

From a footballing point of view our likelyhood of being in next years CL may well also be a factor. Other than that it's his alternatives and the number o 0's at the end of his wage packet.

 

[michaelden]

Doesn't Fergie (Red faced one not the singer or ex-princess) have a real hard on for Benzema?

 

[Krafty]

We'll have to ship someone out first. With VdV doing so well, one up top will be used more and more, and Keane is already unhappy about not playing (even with Defoe injured)

 

[Lilbaz]

We've been trying, but as most clubs don't have any money at the moment it will be difficult.

 

[woodward]

VDV was on the list, Harry added his name after watching him play for Holland a couple of months prior to his move. We just did not imagine he would be available at the right price.

 

[Chimbo!]

exactly the type of player we need but would he sign for us?

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

exactly the type of player we need but would he sign for us?

That's VdV and Gallas' job to sell us to their mate.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I guess Keane will be out at some point (if someone is willing to stump up £5m/£6m or something like that).

Not sure Benzema would sign for us. Would be a great signing though.

Seeing VDV and KJH link up well for Holland last night is making me wonder what we've missed out on there too.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'm all for upgrading the likes of Keane/Defoe/Pav, but to be honest I'm really quite liking the Crouch/VDV combo right now. I think it's the best formula for us, which means for optimum performance we only need to consider a Crouch upgrade as a priority, and we all know hard it will be to find an uber striker who can hold up and provide more creativity/goals than Crouch. Ibrahimavich would be ideal but can't see that happening.

For the moment though, I'm pretty happy with VDV playing in and around, and feeding off Crouch, it works really well.

 

[AngerManagement]

I'm all for upgrading the likes of Keane/Defoe/Pav, but to be honest I'm really quite liking the Crouch/VDV combo right now. I think it's the best formula for us, which means for optimum performance we only need to consider a Crouch upgrade as a priority, and we all know hard it will be to find an uber striker who can hold up and provide more creativity/goals than Crouch. Ibrahimavich would be ideal but can't see that happening.

For the moment though, I'm pretty happy with VDV playing in and around, and feeding off Crouch, it works really well.

I agree with the notion, VDV is certainly thriving playing off Crouch but I worry about the lack of goals Crouch brings to the table.

Can we afford to have a lone striker who simply doesn't score goals?

I get what you are saying when you suggest we should upgrade him rather than Keane/Defoe/Pav (although we are yet to see how well VDV plays along side Defoe) but I suppose it's easier said that done to find a striker with Crouch's abilities who actually scores goals.

Wasn't Zlatan recently sold to Milan? surely he wouldn't be moved on so soon (not that he is in our range even if he were to move)

I don't know who else is availble who can optimise VDV's play in a way Crouch looks to be able to do whilst actually being a goal threat himself.

I would certainly like to see us try the Defoe/VDV combination although the lack of heading ability would be an issue surely. (aside VDV's salmon leap for the first goal against the Villians)

 

[brett.spurs]

Rooney/Defoe partnership looked very good until Jermain got his ankle ruined.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I agree with the notion, VDV is certainly thriving playing off Crouch but I worry about the lack of goals Crouch brings to the table.

Can we afford to have a lone striker who simply doesn't score goals?
I get what you are saying when you suggest we should upgrade him rather than Keane/Defoe/Pav (although we are yet to see how well VDV plays along side Defoe) but I suppose it's easier said that done to find a striker with Crouch's abilities who actually scores goals.

Wasn't Zlatan recently sold to Milan? surely he wouldn't be moved on so soon (not that he is in our range even if he were to move)

I don't know who else is availble who can optimise VDV's play in a way Crouch looks to be able to do whilst actually being a goal threat himself.

I would certainly like to see us try the Defoe/VDV combination although the lack of heading ability would be an issue surely. (aside VDV's salmon leap for the first goal against the Villians)

That's key.

Our lone striker needs to have goals, pace, movement, power, intelligence and aerial ability. As a medium-to-long term solution Crouch is lacking in several of those departments.