Jan Vertonghen Signs

[Stoof]

This is ball-ticklingly lovely news.

 

[felmani26]

It wouldn't surprise me at all. One of the main reasons that Roy got the job was his backing of the National academy and that he would develop the youngsters as oppose to the Harry option of 'win now' and playing veterans. It's not like Caulker is completely unproven he has been a central part of one of the biggest success stories in the Premiership this year, all the Swansea fans rave about how good he has been and he has been capped at U21 level. Nobody can convince me that Jones is better or has had a better season than Caulker.

Not that I was knocking you for advocating Caulker, it was more the fact that despite him coming on leaps and bounds at Swansea, there seems to be very little media recognition of this - in fact Williams has had more of the plaudits.

Would certainly expect to see Caulker remain a Spurs player next year i.e. not go out on loan again and have more of an impact than some may initially think.

 

[bomberH]

Well something has happened in the last few days then considering we were only given a passing mention in his last interview. Maybe he's had a chat with the Haz and they've agreed to link up at Spurs.

*drips spunk on carpet*

**in shop**

 

[ItsBoris]

The only reason to loan him would be to keep him playing having paid money for Vertonghen, otherwise why bring in Vertonghen?

I suppose it could be Kaboul who makes way or we could simply throw Caulker in and let the strongest survive so to speak but I am just working on the logic that its better for him to play week in week out than it would be to sit on our bench and with Kaboul rather established currently and if we paid big money to bring in Vertonghen I'd suspect chances are Caulker would start as a back up (maybe even behind Dawson and/or Gallas) and this might not be the best thing for him at this time.

If as you say he is already ready to step into our first team why sign Vertonghen? on top of that who do you relegate? Nelson obviously would be off and one of King/Gallas too I assume.

Would you sell Dawson and replace him with Caulker? or just over load that area with an extra couple of CB's by signing Vertonghen and recalling Caulker?

I think the answer largely depends on whether we get CL. I think we need 4 top class, reliable CB's to mount a CL campaign. A perfect group IMO would be Vertonghen, Kaboul, Caulker, and Dawson. That would put us in a good position to rotate for CL/PL/FA Cup/League Cup. Idk if I see much point in keeping Gallas or King if we have those 4 all in the squad next season. Very few teams have 4 central defenders of that quality. City's 4th choice is Savic. Arsenal's is Squillaci. Chelsea's is ... idk if they have a 4th CB actually. Just Terry, Luiz, and Cahill. United have greater depth in that position, but if we had Kaboul, Vertonghen, Caulker, and Dawson I would say we have the best set of CB's in the league and we are pretty set in that area.

I think it's time to get rid of stop gaps, and the old and feeble, and really create a healthy squad with depth.

 

[sweyid]

We need this guy. Get it done and get it done early so he can gel with the rest of the squad.

Naugthon, Walker, BAE, Vertonghen, Caulker, Kaboul and Dawson... some pretty exiting stuff!

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Not that I was knocking you for advocating Caulker, it was more the fact that despite him coming on leaps and bounds at Swansea, there seems to be very little media recognition of this - in fact Williams has had more of the plaudits.

Would certainly expect to see Caulker remain a Spurs player next year i.e. not go out on loan again and have more of an impact than some may initially think.

The media is only really bothered about players that might be transfer targets elsewhere. Given that there is no chance of Caulker being sold he isn't going to get bigged up by the media too much because there is no story there. I think if Caulker was a foreigner playing in a foreign league then everyone would be creaming themselves over him. With him and Kaboul we have a ready made partnership that could be in place for years to come. Obviously we need more than 2 top class centre backs though as we have seen at just about every club, every season has been stretched to the limit. Chelsea have spent millions on CB's, United ended up playing midfielders in defence because they ran out, and we have ended up with 3 aging/crippled players patching up our defence. I don't see the signing of Verthongen meaning that we have to let one of the top English CB's go.

 

[AngerManagement]

I think the answer largely depends on whether we get CL. I think we need 4 top class, reliable CB's to mount a CL campaign. A perfect group IMO would be Vertonghen, Kaboul, Caulker, and Dawson. That would put us in a good position to rotate for CL/PL/FA Cup/League Cup. Idk if I see much point in keeping Gallas or King if we have those 4 all in the squad next season. Very few teams have 4 central defenders of that quality. City's 4th choice is Savic. Arsenal's is Squillaci. Chelsea's is ... idk if they have a 4th CB actually. Just Terry, Luiz, and Cahill. United have greater depth in that position, but if we had Kaboul, Vertonghen, Caulker, and Dawson I would say we have the best set of CB's in the league and we are pretty set in that area.

I think it's time to get rid of stop gaps, and the old and feeble, and really create a healthy squad with depth.

I think we will need 4 CB with or without CL football, anymore than four is a no go with the squad size restriction though

So if Vertonghen is an incoming and Caulker returning 2 out of Dawson/King/Gallas must go (I'm not so sure that will happen just yet)

Nelson will of course go, King may well retire so its a choice between letting Caulker stay at Swansea for another year as he seems to be developing nicely or selling Dawson/releasing Gallas probably

I'd happily see Caulker come back but if he is not going to get enough game time I think it could be better for him and us to have him play week in week out in the PL again and then bring him back. I am however more than up for releasing Gallas or even selling Dawson to make room for him (now could be the last time to make a profit on Dawson who you'd think will slip further down our pecking order and isn't getting younger)

 

[ryantegan]

We need this guy. Get it done and get it done early so he can gel with the rest of the squad.

Naugthon, Walker, BAE, Vertonghen, Caulker, Kaboul and Dawson... some pretty exiting stuff!

Would definately make sure he stays next season. Getting better every week at Norwich

 

[punky]

The player agrees what we are offering is reasonable and it's Ajax demanding the earth. Something with the Levy-won't spend-money brigade to think about.

I don't think a CB should be our priority right now but if a plan can be worked for those that want first team football but won't get it (i.e. Gallas, King, Caulker maybe), then good

 

[Super Tottenham]

I think Ledley will retire, Gallas picks up injuries easily, Dawson is really struggling with this injury and could keep having a problem with it. Getting Vertonghen makes perfect sense, he just won the Dutch league player of the year. The fact he is so versatile aswell only adds to the appeal. I do think it's down to the players and Harry now to get us over the finish line to 4th to sign this guy though.

 

[raf18]

We'd lose big character and experience if Gallas and King both left. Gallas spoke about a move abroad earlier in the year. Can't see both leaving though.

 

[$hoguN]

I think Gallas will go to the US along with Nelson and King will probably take up a player coaching role

 

[Ionman34]

How about a double swoop for Vertonghen and De Jong?

It wouldn't be such a bad thing to build a healthy relationship with Ajax either, building ties like that could see some prime Dutch talent making their way over to utilise the 'state of the art' facilities we will have to offer.

 

[mattyspurs]

I wouldn't be surprised if Caulker was in the England squad for the Euros. He has been one of the top CB's in the league this season (right up there in tackles, headers, clean sheets etc.) and definitely one of the 5 best English CB's this year. I don't know why we would have any concern about him stepping up for us, he's played in a Premiership side that has faced more attacks than us and has done his job to the highest level. I am a big fan. Caulker would be a big upgrade on anything we have put next to Kaboul this season.

Exactly this IOMLS. This is reason I've been luke warm on Vertonghen joining us. Don't get me wrong, I know that he is a great talent, but I have so much hope for Caulker, he has performed at the highest level all season, earning rave reviews, putting in performance after performance. I think he is ready to step up, and I say step up, it's not is it? he's already been doing it all season.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Vertonghen and Kaboul could be an excellent partnership if this goes through. Together with Daws and Caulker as back up that could leave us pretty much sorted in the centre back department.

Still think he'll keep his powder dry until the Champions League qualifiers are decided though.

 

[Kingstheman]

I'd like to see us buy emerging (youngish) talent. Would really like us to go back to proper team building.

Get a hint of him 'name-dropping' though.

But 'water in the wine'? Is he from Cana?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Exactly this IOMLS. This is reason I've been luke warm on Vertonghen joining us. Don't get me wrong, I know that he is a great talent, but I have so much hope for Caulker, he has performed at the highest level all season, earning rave reviews, putting in performance after performance. I think he is ready to step up, and I say step up, it's not is it? he's already been doing it all season.

I think in this day and age (and with us being in Europe in some capacity) there will be more than enough games for Caulker to strut his stuff next season even if we do sign Vertonghen. I'm sure Harry has been keeping an eye on him and he'll have spoken to Rodgers about him as well so he'll know where he is in terms of getting into the Spurs first team.

What I would want though is for Caulker to be given a fair crack of the whip and if he is outperforming Kaboul, Daws and Vertonghen (if we sign him) then he deserves to be in the team.

 

[AngerManagement]

Vertonghen and Kaboul could be an excellent partnership if this goes through. Together with Daws and Caulker as back up that could leave us pretty much sorted in the centre back department.

Still think he'll keep his powder dry until the Champions League qualifiers are decided though.

If we had a qualifier to play players like him should sign and show some commitment to the course by helping us get through said qualifier

 

[AngerManagement]

I think in this day and age (and with us being in Europe in some capacity) there will be more than enough games for Caulker to strut his stuff next season even if we do sign Vertonghen. I'm sure Harry has been keeping an eye on him and he'll have spoken to Rodgers about him as well so he'll know where he is in terms of getting into the Spurs first team.

What I would want though is for Caulker to be given a fair crack of the whip and if he is outperforming Kaboul, Daws and Vertonghen (if we sign him) then he deserves to be in the team.

Walker has shown that Harry will give a young player a fair crack, this time last season or so he had both Hutton and Corluka ahead of him and now he is a mainstay

 

[gilzeantheking]

Sounds promising, keeping everything crossed that this one comes off.