Comollis' signings.

[brasil_spur]

Like the thread, here's my view on it.

Heurelho Gomes - £8.9m - HIT
Dimitar Berbatov - £10.9m - HIT
Pascal Chambonda - £5.25m - HIT
Benoit Assou-Ekottu - £3.5m - MISS
Didier Zokora - £8.2m - HIT
Ricardo Rocha - £3.3m - MISS
Mido – £3.5m - HIT
Dorian Dervitte - UNDECIDED
Hossam Ghaly - £3.25m - MISS
Darren Bent - £16.5m - UNDECIDED
Kevin-Prince Boating - £5.4m - MISS
Younes Kaboul - £8.2m - MISS
Gareth Bale - £10m - HIT
Adel Taarabt - £2.7m - UNDECIDED
Danny Rose - £680,000 - UNDECIDED
Ben Alnwick - £1m - UNDECIDED
Roman Pavlyuchenko - £14m - UNDECIDED
Vedran Corluka - £8.5m - HIT
David Bentley – £15m - UNDECIDED
John Bostock – £1.2m - UNDECIDED
Giovani Dos Santos – £4.6m - UNDECIDED
Luka Modric – £16.5m - UNDECIDED
Alan Hutton - £9m - HIT
Jonathan Woodgate - £8m - HIT
Chris Gunter - £3m - HIT
Gilberto - £1.9m - MISS

So i make it:

HIT - Berbatov, Chimbonda, Zokora, Mido, Bale, Corluka, Hutton, Woodgate and Gunter

UNDECIDED - Gomes, Dervitte, Bent, Taarabt, Rose, Alnwick, Pavyluchenko, Bentley, Bostock, Dos Santos and Modric

MISS - Rocha, Ghaly, Boateng, Kaboul and Gilberto


Firslt let me say that i know people will criticise my choices of Mido and Chimbonda as Hits, but i look at is as who we could have got in at the time who was better than them, and ultimately whether they proved to be good players for us at their time at Spurs and also if we sold them on for a reasonable amount.

Notice as well that a lot of the undecided players just joined us in the summer, and it is much too early IMO to judge any of these players based on the few games they've played for us. The other players in that undecided list are all very young and have a lot of time still to come good.

 

[thebenjamin]

Like the thread, here's my view on it.


Didier Zokora - £8.2m - HIT

EekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEekEek

 

[Hoowl]

On the face of it Damien Comolli has added absolutely no value whatsoever to our player trading. His much vaunted scouting abilities have unearthed a lot of players everyone in the world had heard of who we then bought for well over what they were worth, a lot of godawful, shit, useless players who we then bought for well over what they were worth, and Dimitar Berbatov.

Added to the absolute genius of bringing in Rocha, and then Pav and Corluka as cuptied players it's frankly an amazement the bloke still draws a wage.

I have no problem signing players everyone has heard of if they are good, why do we have to go for guys no-one has heard of? If Comolli has helped us sign Modric, Woodgate, Bale, Hutton, Corluka etc (and I would be highly surprised if he hasn't been involved) then he's done some great work and I hope he continues in this vein. These are players that everyone was happy we signed, some of whom we didn't think we had a chance of getting. How many of the top premier league clubs discover unknown players? Arsenal bring a lot through their acadamy but this is somthing that has taken years to develop and Comolli hasn't been here long enough to add his influence to this area (or for us to see any results of his influence).

I don't think we can blame Camolli for how much we pay for players, surely that's Levys domain. Furthermore, wouldn't you be less happy if we wouldn't fork out the money to actually buy anyone? You can't have it both ways.

Rocha was a cock up, definately, but in the case of Pavlyuchenko and Corluka we reportedly started negotiations long before we signed them and were unlucky that they ended up being cup-tied.

 

[thebenjamin]

I have no problem signing players everyone has heard of if they are good, why do we have to go for guys no-one has heard of? If Comolli has helped us sign Modric, Woodgate, Bale, Hutton, Corluka etc (and I would be highly surprised if he hasn't been involved) then he's done some great work and I hope he continues in this vein. These are players that everyone was happy we signed, some of whom we didn't think we had a chance of getting. How many of the top premier league clubs discover unknown players? Arsenal bring a lot through their acadamy but this is somthing that has taken years to develop and Comolli hasn't been here long enough to add his influence to this area (or for us to see any results of his influence).

I don't think we can blame Camolli for how much we pay for players, surely that's Levys domain. Furthermore, wouldn't you be less happy if we wouldn't fork out the money to actually buy anyone? You can't have it both ways.

Rocha was a cock up, definately, but in the case of Pavlyuchenko and Corluka we reportedly started negotiations long before we signed them and were unlucky that they ended up being cup-tied.

When we brought in Comolli he was heralded as the man who unearthed a bevvy of Arsenal's youngsters, and under ENIC's directive that the way forward was 'spending money wisely' rather than just splashing out on established names. IE that we were going to be buying smart, rather than just buying expensive, and under Comolli the squad would be built with continuity, notwithstanding any change of coach. (People at Arsenal say the only signing Comolli had anything to do with was Gael Clichy and his supposed standing there was just a fabrication. Wenger's scouts are just that, scouts. He finds the players and sends scouts to check up on their form. No one 'finds' players for Wenger as suggested by our official site when Comolli joined, greeted by much mirth up the road.)

My point is that Comolli was supposed to bring this 'Arsenal' model with him; the ability to find players who weren't necessarily expensive or famous, but who would do very well for the club and whose value would increase. I can't see that he's made one such signing. The youngsters he's signed have been expensive and bad.

It's clear no deal is finished without Levy's input. So are we really paying him his not insubstantial wages to just start the ball rolling on deals, a job that thousands of half decent businessmen could do? Where is his so called incredible scouting network and the promised wisely spent money? I don't see it. Is it not a worry that the players he's brought in from his home country have been the worst of all?

What value has Comolli added to Tottenham Hotspur? Stability? No. Continuity? No. Bargains? No. Filling gaping holes in the squad? No. Spending money - BIG money - on players we don't need over ones we are desperate for? Yes, every single window since he's been here. Inadequately replacing departing key players? Yes, every single one. Bringing in cup tied players hamstringing the coach? Check.

I ask you, please tell me what I'm not seeing, what value has Comolli brought?

 

[SpurSince57]

Leaving last summer aside, it seems to me that this year Comolli and Levy have been pursuing players Ramos either specifically wanted or at the very least was entirely happy with. Does anyone seriously believe it was their idea to dismantle the squad?

Ramos has been signed what amounts to a whole new squad. The fact that he doesn't appear to be able to get it to play as a coherent unit is hardly Comolli's fault.

 

[WhiteStripe]

I have no problem signing players everyone has heard of if they are good, why do we have to go for guys no-one has heard of? If Comolli has helped us sign Modric, Woodgate, Bale, Hutton, Corluka etc (and I would be highly surprised if he hasn't been involved) then he's done some great work and I hope he continues in this vein. These are players that everyone was happy we signed, some of whom we didn't think we had a chance of getting. How many of the top premier league clubs discover unknown players? Arsenal bring a lot through their acadamy but this is somthing that has taken years to develop and Comolli hasn't been here long enough to add his influence to this area (or for us to see any results of his influence).

I don't think we can blame Camolli for how much we pay for players, surely that's Levys domain. Furthermore, wouldn't you be less happy if we wouldn't fork out the money to actually buy anyone? You can't have it both ways.

Rocha was a cock up, definately, but in the case of Pavlyuchenko and Corluka we reportedly started negotiations long before we signed them and were unlucky that they ended up being cup-tied.

Can't say that. there is no way on this earth that levy doesn't ask Comolli the question "So Charlton are asking 16.5m for bent my smug faced friend, worth a punt?" to which Comolli replies "Well, e play ze good game for ze team on Pro evoluzion so yes, e mus be worth ze money? No?"

Silly french impersanations aside though, of course the final say is down to Levy, but Comolli must advise how much he thinks we need the player, and therefore how much he believes said player is worth.

 

[thebenjamin]

Leaving last summer aside, it seems to me that this year Comolli and Levy have been pursuing players Ramos either specifically wanted or at the very least was entirely happy with. Does anyone seriously believe it was their idea to dismantle the squad?

Ramos has been signed what amounts to a whole new squad. The fact that he doesn't appear to be able to get it to play as a coherent unit is hardly Comolli's fault.

And what about the inadequate squad that required dismantling?!?! Who's fault is that? Anyone, or just put it down to experience? If Comolli believed in the signings he'd made, why bring in a coach who didn't rate any of them?

Why are people so scared to demand accountability? We've made a lot of unbelievably bad signings for ridiculous money for years now, but people are HAPPY that the man specifically in place to oversee it is continuing to draw wages from the club. Amazes me. Our transfer policy is an absolute laughing stock, and rightly so. The personnel are incompetent; demand better for your club!

 

[WhiteStripe]

Leaving last summer aside, it seems to me that this year Comolli and Levy have been pursuing players Ramos either specifically wanted or at the very least was entirely happy with. Does anyone seriously believe it was their idea to dismantle the squad?

Ramos has been signed what amounts to a whole new squad. The fact that he doesn't appear to be able to get it to play as a coherent unit is hardly Comolli's fault.

This is precisely why the DOF role causes confusion, nobody knows who is responsible in reality other than the 3 stooges'.

 

[Hoowl]

This is precisely why the DOF role causes confusion, nobody knows who is responsible in reality other than the 3 stooges'.

Communicating information with the fans is definately part of the clubs current failings. Not just in this respect.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Communicating information with the fans is definately part of the clubs current failings. Not just in this respect.

Agree with this 100% :up:

 

[SpurSince57]

And what about the inadequate squad that required dismantling?!?! Who's fault is that? Anyone, or just put it down to experience? If Comolli believed in the signings he'd made, why bring in a coach who didn't rate any of them?

Why are people so scared to demand accountability? We've made a lot of unbelievably bad signings for ridiculous money for years now, but people are HAPPY that the man specifically in place to oversee it is continuing to draw wages from the club. Amazes me. Our transfer policy is an absolute laughing stock, and rightly so. The personnel are incompetent; demand better for your club!

How was it inadequate? It achieved two fifth places, did it not? It was, I understand, fit to challenge for a top four spot last summer.

Forget the players. There's one disastrous signing above all that he's responsible for, and that's Ramos. So, yes, I'd demand accountability on that score.

 

[thebenjamin]

How was it inadequate? It achieved two fifth places, did it not? It was, I understand, fit to challenge for a top four spot last summer.

Forget the players. There's one disastrous signing above all that he's responsible for, and that's Ramos. So, yes, I'd demand accountability on that score.

So are you happy with the player trading before Ramos's arrival? Kaboul Bent Boateng Zokora Taarabt Mido Ghaly Murphy etc.

We finished 5th because of a good midfield and sold the key players.

Having been bottom half all season we then finished 5th because of Keane and Berbatov's goals. So we sold them and got rid of the coach and Comolli brought in his man.

If Comolli has no accountability for player trading, or the coach, or the gaping holes in the squad EVERY SEASON, or the team's results, what is the point of him?

Honestly mate, I respect your views but if you think the player trading by our club over then last 3 years has been anything short of scandalous, then we see things very differently indeed.

It is NOT GOOD ENOUGH for Tottenham Hotspur.

 

[Kendall]

Was Mido such a bad buy?

We bought him off the back fo a season where his goals got us to within 1 game of 4th place. He cost about £4m.

I thought he was an absolute bargain.

 

[WhiteStripe]

Was Mido such a bad buy?

We bought him off the back fo a season where his goals got us to within 1 game of 4th place. He cost about £4m.

I thought he was an absolute bargain.

True, maybe not such a "bad buy", but not a bargain as things didn't work out in the end. This can't be blamed on Comilli though, as he wasn't to know that mido wouldn't be used or come good in the end I suppose.

 

[thebenjamin]

Was Mido such a bad buy?

We bought him off the back fo a season where his goals got us to within 1 game of 4th place. He cost about £4m.

I thought he was an absolute bargain.

We had him on loan when he did alright for half a season, came back from African Nations fat, then when they told him he couldn't play until he lost weight he stopped turning up for training and when they disciplined him he never came back, leaving us with Keane and Defoe only for our last 6 games, in which we got 1 win, costing us the C league spot. Do you not remember the magical moving Mido injury? this week its a virus, then its his knee, then his back - all bullshit.

We sent him back in disgrace, and then because we couldn't do a deal to sign any other strikers, all summer, signed him back.

Then, as everyone knew he would repeated the same thing, out in the casino every night, never fit to play. Brilliant.

Absolutely disgraceful.

 

[Kendall]

We had him on loan when he did alright for half a season, came back from African Nations fat, then when they told him he couldn't play until he lost weight he stopped turning up for training and when they disciplined him he never came back, leaving us with Keane and Defoe only for our last 6 games, in which we got 1 win, costing us the C league spot. Do you not remember the magical moving Mido injury? this week its a virus, then its his knee, then his back - all bullshit.

We sent him back in disgrace, and then because we couldn't do a deal to sign any other strikers, all summer, signed him back.

Absolutely disgraceful.

You mean we didn't sign a certain Dimitar Berbatov?

oh, right.

 

[thebenjamin]

You mean we didn't sign a certain Dimitar Berbatov?

oh, right.

I think clubs usually look to have more than 1 player for each position, especially when the coach has stated on many occasions your other 2 can't play together. I'll check that though.

 

[WhiteStripe]

You mean we didn't sign a certain Dimitar Berbatov?

oh, right.

I think clubs usually look to have more than 1 player for each position, especially when the coach has stated on many occasions your other 2 can't play together. I'll check that though.

Sarcasm doesn't work on the internet :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

 

[Hoowl]

When we brought in Comolli he was heralded as the man who unearthed a bevvy of Arsenal's youngsters, and under ENIC's directive that the way forward was 'spending money wisely' rather than just splashing out on established names. IE that we were going to be buying smart, rather than just buying expensive, and under Comolli the squad would be built with continuity, notwithstanding any change of coach. (People at Arsenal say the only signing Comolli had anything to do with was Gael Clichy and his supposed standing there was just a fabrication. Wenger's scouts are just that, scouts. He finds the players and sends scouts to check up on their form. No one 'finds' players for Wenger as suggested by our official site when Comolli joined, greeted by much mirth up the road.)

My point is that Comolli was supposed to bring this 'Arsenal' model with him; the ability to find players who weren't necessarily expensive or famous, but who would do very well for the club and whose value would increase. I can't see that he's made one such signing. The youngsters he's signed have been expensive and bad.

Is that what Comolli or the club promised? I found this article on the BBC saying he wants to bring in good young English players [e.g. Bentley, Rose, Parrett, Bostock] and also sign foreign talent [e.g. Berbatov, Modric, Gomes, GDS, Corluka]. I also found this saying that he would work on the acadamy and this listing his role at the club:

Main Responsibilities:

-To oversee the recruitment of the coaching staff and to advise the Board on the matter.
-In charge of senior and youth scouting and development of a new scouting network (main First Team signings: Zoumana Camara, Didier Zokora, Frederic Pïquionne, Damien Perquis).
-To oversee the development of the Youth Academy both in terms of infrastructure and personnel.
-Involved in the players transactions (deals and contracts) with the Chairman and the managing director.
-In charge of all negotiations concerning youth players with parents, agents and clubs (i.e contracts, signing fees, compensation fees).
-Development of partnerships, locals, nationals and internationals (3 partnerships signed with amateur clubs from the St Etienne area, 1 signed with a 2nd division club, projects of youth academies in Guinea and Brazil)
-Use of international network made of scouts, sporting directors, managing directors, chairmen, agents...

I presume by Arsenal model you mean the work on the acadamy but this kind of thing takes time to setup and it's a while before prospects start coing through the acadamy. It's not something that can be done overnight otherwise every club would have done it. The are also a lot of aspects in which we aren't in a position to judge how well he is doing, such as the the infrastructure of the acadamy.

 

[WhiteStripe]

I also found this saying that he would work on the acadamy

In this article it says.....

Played a role in Arsenal signing Thierry Henry, Robert Pires and Robin van Persie....

thats like me saying i played a role in helping Spurs achieve 2 top 5 finishes and winning the Carling Cup. I did, I was there, but come on. That is complete horse shit!