So that leaves Zakora, Thud, Ghaly, Jens and Tanio, fine by me

Z-O-K-O-R-A!! :bang: :roll:

Jenas!:bang:

Huddlestone!!:bang:

lmao, sorry but those replies did make me laugh.:grin:

:lol:

Not bothered about Davids. Always thought Murphy could have offered us something, and I thought he played well in the few games where he had a run in the team, but I think Ghaly has stepped in front of him now and so he should leave, unless he's happy being a squad player.

And we'd have Lennon and Malbranque, of course - 7 players for 4 midfield positions. I'd like 8, but I think 7 would do.

Think most people can cope with this . Like both of them, but I think at the age both players are at they need and want to be playing every week and thats unlikely to happen. Davids definately seems to be out of favour now and I think its warrented, I expect he's probably not the happiest man about it either so sure he isn't great for squad morale either. Think he will be off. Murphy I think is actually fairly content, but is the type of player (with his slight lack of pace among other reasons) who needs to be in the team week in week out to perform at a high level. He's not going to as Jol is very forward looking and prefers to get the younger (high potential) players in the team rather than play with the older players if it stops the younger ones developing. Unfortunately Murphy isn't really one of those players you want to bring on as a sub either. He needs a good 5-10 minutes to settle which is common in central midfielders. In this case I think we'd let him go, but I wonder if he's overly bothered about moving, I wonder if he's got the drive these days for another challenge at a new club. Guess we'll see in January. Huddlestone, Zokora, Tainio, Ghaly, Jenas are quality options anyway, as long as we increase wing options. Malbranque and Lennon need cover, and I don't mean any of the central midfielders. How long is Routledge on loan for? How has Ziegler been doing for the reserves this year?

New striker signs?

I was flicking through a few websites the other day and came across this. I don't know what truth is in it, or even who he is. But i thought id bring it to peoples attention just incase. IF and only IF it is true, i can only think it maybe because of the injuries to Mido and Keane.
Levan Melkadze is a Georgian striker currently out of contract after being released by Valerenga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tottenham_Hotspur_F.C._Transfers#2007

Just a suggestion but for away games, I feel we should try something different. Think we're too defensive in these games and lack forward drive and thats why we get beaten. When Keane is back, I'd have

Defoe Berbatov
Keane
Zokora Huddlestone Jenas
Ekotto Dawson King Chimbo
Robbo

Give Keane a free role, get a solid hard working three in midfield who will cover ground and use the ball well. Just feel we're loosing the away games because we're not taking the game to our opponents. Tainio or Ghaly would work fine in the midfield trio also. Think Malbranque and Lennon although provide a threat, leave us more proan to being done on the counter and weaker as a midfield unit, also they aren't the type of players who are up for a battle, they want to get forward and provide creativity not tracking back and tackling. We were reletively successful last season on the road because we often played with four central midfielders. We didn't score too many but didn't concede many either, thus we ground out results and points.

Playing with Keane in a free role you've got three very attacking players and three who are giving defensive responsibilities (main goal of the midfield trio being to ensure we don't give opponents chances). Keane tracks back anyway and would link up to midfield and attack. It simplifies it, gives us a solid unit and with the three forwards you still have quality attacking options. Lennon would be sub and could also come on and be given the free role, which he has played a few times this year.

For me this formation would give us a great chance in away games. Solid team, with quality and the roles and system isn't overly complicated which makes it easy for the players. Come on the Jol, get it right on the road and we'd challenge for the title with our home record the way that is!

Wouldn't have a problem losing either Murphy or Davids. Davids has played his part in his first season and while he gives a bit of grit where needed he isn't offering enough and Murphy is not good enough to get ahead of Zokora, Jenas, Huddlestone or Ghaly or Tainio and at his age he isn't ever going to be.

As for the 4-3-3 away suggested by chiveliyid, I agree. We played this very successfully in preseason and with Mido and Keane playing alongside Defoe or Berbatov you have a very adaptable formation with Keane having the option to play deep or Mido pullng out to the wings to stretch the defence. We are very predictable away and our defence isn't as soild yet as we like to think.

Has to be said 2006 has been a very good year to be a yid. First ever top 6 in the prem, enjoying success in Europe, signing some very good players (Berbatov, Zokora and Chimbonda the best of these signings) and closing the gap on Arsenal, it is a good time to be a yid.

Interesting formation, but even narrower than we are playing at the moment. You'd see Zokora, Huddlestone and Jenas crowding each other out in midfield and the opposition's wingers roaming unhindered up both of our flanks.

And I can't see any justification for putting a fit Lennon on the bench, in any game.

as david says that is even narrower than what we play right now.
all teams would have to do then is pack the middle as we wouldn't be able to pass the ball around them and create space (opposing teams already do that now due to our lack of width resulting from no real left-sided player). so if they did it even more when lennon isn't playing, we really would be making it hard for ourselves, and i think you really are relying on a 'piece of magic' then to win the game.

having said that, i do see your concerns for lennon's lack of cover, but tbh, from what i've seen of him recently, he seems to have improved on that a lot.

One win and one lose over the Christmas break so far.

Although I am diasppointed about the Newcastle result as I still think we are the better team, I suppose I have to look at the positves in that three points are better than 2 (ie one win one lost as oppose to two draws).

Being temporarily in a country where "soccer" isnt on their list of priorities, I have to depend on the net to see the results. Can anyone tell me how we looked against Newcastle and Villa?

A win against Liverpool I think is crucial as we need to cement our position in the top third of the league as there is not much between the chasing pack with regards to points.

On another note, I believe we have been linked to both Gamst Pedersen of Blackburn and Kieron Richardson of MANUre, which either could be the answer to our left midfield problem. I would prefer pedersen for his goal scoring ability.
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If Davids goes.. many many thanks and respect to him.. In my opinion he still is one of the best Spurs buys ever..

He showed us mentality... helped the youngsters.. and basically helped Spurs progress.. a shame really he is past it now

It's very obvious that you do not know what you're talking about. Melkadze was released by Vålerenga practically without playing a game after only six months. In this period, Vålerenga were struggling near the bottom of the Norwegian League. After he left (along with coach, Kjetil Rekdal) they turned good and ended up in 3rd...

And with only 4 caps for a country as shite as Georgia at his age just forget about him. I'd much rather play Barnard or Barcham. I'd even much rather play Pekhart, Dixon or Olsen (when he arrives). I don not believe for a spilt second BMJ has wasted any resources on him. It's probably just some Georgian prick who's gone and edited wiki and nobody's checked it over. Cos last I heard this guy was totally bollocks.

Now if every there were a gratuitously obnoxious post...

You haven't read what you're replying to. He's not recommending that we sign this player. He's reporting a rumour that we have signed the player. The rumour is very likely complete moonshine, but that's no reason to have such a spike up your arse.

I'm sure he awaits your grovelling apology. :wink:

True, if Davids does depart he deserves an awesome send off and a great deal of thanks. He helped create a buzz about the club again when he signed and even though he didn't set the Premiership alight with his performances last season he had a massive impact on the squad.

Thats one thing I always hate, is when a player retires or leaves they often don't get a decent celebration and send off. Although I didn't overly like Anderton, I remember thinking it was a tad harsh that he didn't get more of a send off after serving us and our medical staff for so long.