New signings now harder to achieve?

[There's always next year]

Do others believe that it is becoming more difficult for us to bring in players that are better than what we currently have.

The reason I ask the question is that I believe we already have a squad that has great quality in depth and the task of adding players who are better is becoming much more difficult to achieve.

In previous year it has been relatively easy to bring in players that are better than those being replaced, as the quality has not been there.

If we look at all the speculation linking players to our club, there are few in my opinion that are better than what is already here.

There is a requirement to remove some of the fat and I expect the likes of Keane, Jenas, Hutton, O'Hara and Pav to depart. Do we honestly need to replace them all, as we have a number of youngsters that should be stepping up. I do realise that we require replacements for Keane and Pav, but this may prove both costly and difficult.

Are we has Spurs fans now seeing our transfer strategy reflect that of Utd and Arsenal, where they add one or two players of top quality each year instead of our previous wholesale change attitude which prevented any form of continuity.

 

[Loque]

I don't think it's a case of new signings are harder to achieve, but your point about finding the right signings I agree with. Our squad is actually pretty good in terms of quality, depth and age if you look at it and I reckon minor tweaks are all that's needed. I hope that this coming year Harry will look to blood some of the youngsters in the CC, ala Wenger. Only way to see if any of them are up to it (Parrett, Bostock, Mason et al).

Of course, it could all change within days and we'll probably unveil 5 new signings. But for the first time in a long while I sense that this current squad we have can go on to achieve great things.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I think all the years of building have finally come to a stage where we're almost built.

There has naturally been some blunders along the way, but we have now assembled a very good squad of players. Squad being the key word, apart from when we had a huge amount of injuries our bench was always very strong.

We need to keep that, this season especially with the amount of games. Let's remember this current crop got us to 4th place, so we don't need major changes as we have in previous years.

Of course there will be a few players leave who want promises of first team football, but that can't be helped and most of the top clubs have to move on squad players.

We're now in a position where we only buy to replace or improve on quality players, which is a very nice place to be.

 

[guate]

Like others have said before me we already have a very good squad, so good in fact it took us to 4th place even having key players out for several week due to injuries and losing several games we really shouldn't have, i.e Wolves (x 2) Stoke, Burnley etc.
This season, provided we can be more consistent and less affected by injuries, with a more "bedded" squad we hopefully should do better.
However you're right, it is becoming harder to find the one man we so badly need, an old style number 9, a Bobby Smith type of player, one who leaves his mark on each game and who scares the living daylights out of opposing centre backs...........come on D.L., Barca need the money to balance their books so make an offer for Zlatan as he IMHO is the missing link to our offensive frailities..

 

[chinaman]

But Zlaten never delivers in crucial games.

 

[Benspur]

As a couple of others have mentioned we have a good core squad now rather than a few great individuals and some less gifted players. I would imagine that the problem is that we are in the market for specific types of players who will either compliment what we already have, fill any gaps we have, be better than some of our other squad players that we may move on, or the hardest type to get, a top player to take us to the next level. Chances are these are coverted by a number of other big teams and we'll be in a queue to try and sign them. Maybe we'll be lucky and find another gem like Berbatov (Footballing wise) that other teams aren't willing to take a chance on.

 

[guate]

Chinaman, with all due respect I don't think Ajax, Juventus, Inter and Barca would all be fooled into signing a player who doesn't deliver in crucial games would they?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

But Zlaten never delivers in crucial games.

Oh yes...that is the problem with us signing Ibra. Forget that he is earning over 200K a week.

 

[tRiKS]

But Zlaten never delivers in crucial games.

He has had some high profile stinkers but plenty of big game performances too. Ibrah seems to be used as the ultimate "overrated" player but the facts on his contribution to big clubs over a season belies this.

we will not sign him because other CL clubs will pay him more and give him a better chance of adding to his trophy cabinet.

 

[Coolpudge]

But Zlaten never delivers in crucial games.

If you include the 2 titles taken away from the calciopoli scandal (which he does) he has won the league title in each of the last 7 years. He must be doing something right.

 

[StartingPrice]

TBH I think this is, in essence, pretty similar to the 'What has CL given us?" thread...questioning what benefit qualifying was if we can't sign targets.

And, as said in that one: there has been a World Cup, and it would be prudent to wait for Citeh's splurge. Besides which, we really don't know what is goin' on behind the scenes, do we:shrug:

Can we all just wait until the Summer transfer window actually closes before pronouncing whether it has been a massive let down or a monster success:shrug:

 

[Coolpudge]

TBH I think this is, in essence, pretty similar to the 'What has CL given us?" thread...questioning what benefit qualifying was if we can't sign targets.

And, as said in that one: there has been a World Cup, and it would be prudent to wait for Citeh's splurge. Besides which, we really don't know what is goin' on behind the scenes, do we:shrug:

Can we all just wait until the Summer transfer window actually closes before pronouncing whether it has been a massive leet down or a monster success:shrug:

well said

 

[danielneeds]

I think the main problem this summer is that around 90% of the players who could potentially improve our squad require wages that Levy is not prepared to pay, which means we have to be canny and patient hunting out those ones within our reach.

 

[SpurSince1961]

I expect that what is hindering us at the moment is that we have not sold anyone, which we probably require to make decent offers for the likes of Turan or even up any offer/salary for Cole.

I am really surprised at the lack of news re possible sales of Jenas, Bentley and Pavluchenko + the apparent lack of any concrete offers for Keane, Hutton, Dos Santos and even O'Hara. Most of these are proven players that should be valuable to a number of teams. Hopefully teams are waiting until the end of the World Cup.

I would like to sell all the players listed (with the possible exception of O'hara) and even the addition of Defoe and would like to get in Cole, Turan, someone like Suarez or Huntelaar if possible + an experienced decent injury free central defender.

 

[walworthyid]

As has been noted, there has just been a world cup and city are running around paying b-list players ridiculous amounts of money, so it is prudent to keep our powder dry!

It is also the case that we are in need of very specific players as our squad is very good. Harry has been making all of the right noises about playing different systems and he knows what he needs to enable us to do that.

Harry has proven himself over the years to be an astute transfer operator and although this is by far the biggest transfer window he has ever had, I believe that he will either get the players he wants or he won't buy anybody at all. I honestly don't think we will see a "Raziak" type signing.

I am slightly concerned that we won't be able to get what we want and that we will be left short, but it is early days and Harry will have been scouting his arse off and I suspect that contacts have been made with the players we want. A good example of this is the Turan/Cole scenario, where we really want Cole but have made our interest in Turan known just in case Cole falls through. But this carries with it an inherent risk that we may end up with neither and this is where Harry will need all of his experience.

 

[Bobishism]

I'm sure, as others have said, it's a financial issue.

 

[michaelden]

give it a week or 2 after the world cup and it'll be frantic with deals and rumours

 

[Sauniere]

I seem to recall Everton having a very similar problem following their 4th position a few years ago. Their squad was not as good as ours is now and they were unceremoniously dumped out at the qualifiers having made no real discernible improvement to their squad. Not many players of a perceived certain level want to commit to what might be a flash in the pan (apart from the money aspect e.g. Man City etc). We would almost certainly have a better chance of making good signings if we were to do well in the comp this year and qualify next season as well.

I have a feeling our best chance will be to sign a few players who will be using us as a stepping stone onto the established CL sides and then hope to do well enough to keep them once they realise we mean business.

The joys of running a football club eh?

 

[Stoof]

give it a week or 2 after the world cup and it'll be frantic with deals and rumours

Agreed. It's just because of the World Cup.

No need for twisted knickers. Premier League clubs are starting to do deals again. Never fear, our ITKplosion will come.

 

[$hoguN]

Agreed. It's just because of the World Cup.

No need for twisted knickers. Premier League clubs are starting to do deals again. Never fear, our ITKplosion will come.

This can also be coupled with the fact that we are looking for high calibre players who are not always available, and the spending power of Man City.

We are probably working on a few things but we shouldn't be shocked we haven't already made a load of signings, when we take all these things into consideration.