AlexSkree
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- Aug 21, 2006
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http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11096_3891699,00.html
Juande Ramos has been splashing the cash and ringing the changes as he prepares for his first full season in charge of Tottenham Hotspur.
Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson lead the list of familiar faces that have gone with Luka Modric, Geovani dos Santas, Heurelho Gomes and now David Bentley passing them on the Seven Sisters Road in the other direction.
Sky Sports viewers will get the chance to see how the Ramos' revolution is taking shape this weekend when Tottenham take on Celtic and Borussia Dortmund in the Feyenoord Jubilee tournament.
Before the action kicks-off, Sky Sports News asked former Spurs skipper Graham Roberts what he makes of the coming's and going's and their chances of success this season...
Sky Sports News: It's been an interesting first pre-season for Juande Ramos, 10 players have left, six have been brought in and over £50 million has changed hands...
Graham Roberts: I think the manager has looked at the whole situation and I think last year the players let the club down. It wasn't good enough for the team and then you get the likes of Robbie Keane coming out and saying he wants to play for his boyhood heroes - you've got to let players go when they're in that mood. You don't want an unhappy situation in the dressing room. I know people who are there and they said they've been walking around with their heads down and just moping about, so you've got to get rid of them.
Dimitar Berbatov has to go as well. I think the chairman has done the right thing, he's got a lot of money for Keanie, who was a great player for Tottenham. I think he had a one in two goal record, which is fantastic but he had already made up his mind that he wanted to play for Liverpool. They would have had a moping player all season, so you have got to let them go. With Berbatov as well the chairman is holding out to get the best price that he can and let this manager rebuild a team to get us into the top four.
SSN: With so much upheaval in one summer perhaps this is not going to be the season when Spurs and Juande Ramos turn things around. Maybe a lot of Spurs fans might have thought that last year was the blip when they finished 11th after a miserable start, but it could be difficult this time as well...
GR: Well I'm not so sure - although I think that the manager is fantastic. The first thing he has done is gone in and got them fit. They'll be the fittest team in the Premier League this year because I know the way they have been training and I know what he did to them this year.
Earlier in the season they were faltering in the last parts of games and conceding silly goals from set-pieces, but he sorted that out and we won the Carling Cup. I believe there are only two or three things that Tottenham have a chance of winning: the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Uefa Cup. If they won another cup this year the supporters would be delighted, but let's give him three years to sort this club out because there are some average players there. He's bringing the right players in, he's bringing quality in and that's what we need.
SSN: What do you think the fans will make of David Bentley?
GR: I think they will be absolutely delighted. He's made it known that there's only one club that he wants to play for and he's got a great cross and a fantastic shot. Aaron Lennon, when he plays, will go down the line and cross the ball and nine times out of 10 it will go behind, but Bentley will make sure they go in front of goal. I think the likes of Darren Bent and the other strikers that the manager wants will be absolutely delighted with him. He's a top-quality player, he's an England international and I think it's the right way forward.
SSN: You've talked about that strike partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane - were they the best in the Premier League on their day?
GR: Yes, but I saw them at the beginning of last season when they played Everton and Berbatov threw all of his toys out of the pram. He wanted to go, he was moping around the pitch and we lost 3-1. In the first four or five games he wasn't interested, but when they got to the cup final he seemed to decide he wanted to stay. He wants to move on this summer, but Manchester United will have to pay the price that Tottenham want.
The chairman's right to hold out because Berbatov's a wonderful player. He's the best player they have got so they're not going to give him away on the cheap. The chairman has the right to do that. There's a few names being thrown around like Arshavin and Milito, so bring them in or let the manager have the funds. If you look at all the players going out - Tanio, Robinson, Chimbonda, Keane, Cerny, Berbatov, Malbranque, Kaboul... there's got to be £70million there. I'm sure this manager would love some of that to spend.
SSN: With the players they've got there now, who would be in your starting XI for the opening game of the season against Middlesbrough?
GR: Gomes will come in as goalkeeper, Hutton will play right-back, Woodgate and King are the best two in Britain at centre-back when they're fit and I'd put Bale at left-back, even though we haven't seen the best of him. In midfield you've got the likes of Modric, Dos Santos, Jenas, Bentley and Bostock - who has played in every pre-season game and has been fantastic. I think they'll play with five in midfield against Boro with Bent up front on his own. But I would think in the next week to 10 days there will be another three signings at least.
SSN: If there are signings to come, what would be the priorities in terms of positions?
GR: I think you need a ball-winner. I like Didier Zokora, but I don't think he's strong enough to be in there. I think Arshavin would be a good signing and Milito will come in for definite. I also think we desperately need a left-sided player to give us that balance. I don't know who that might be.
SSN: If they get those players, where could Spurs finish next season?
GR: I think they can finish in the top seven. I don't think we'll break into the top four; it will be two seasons before we do that. But I think you've got to give this manager a chance. I believe he's cleared out the dead wood, there's young exciting players there and I think Tottenham could be a surprise package this year.
Juande Ramos has been splashing the cash and ringing the changes as he prepares for his first full season in charge of Tottenham Hotspur.
Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson lead the list of familiar faces that have gone with Luka Modric, Geovani dos Santas, Heurelho Gomes and now David Bentley passing them on the Seven Sisters Road in the other direction.
Sky Sports viewers will get the chance to see how the Ramos' revolution is taking shape this weekend when Tottenham take on Celtic and Borussia Dortmund in the Feyenoord Jubilee tournament.
Before the action kicks-off, Sky Sports News asked former Spurs skipper Graham Roberts what he makes of the coming's and going's and their chances of success this season...
Sky Sports News: It's been an interesting first pre-season for Juande Ramos, 10 players have left, six have been brought in and over £50 million has changed hands...
Graham Roberts: I think the manager has looked at the whole situation and I think last year the players let the club down. It wasn't good enough for the team and then you get the likes of Robbie Keane coming out and saying he wants to play for his boyhood heroes - you've got to let players go when they're in that mood. You don't want an unhappy situation in the dressing room. I know people who are there and they said they've been walking around with their heads down and just moping about, so you've got to get rid of them.
Dimitar Berbatov has to go as well. I think the chairman has done the right thing, he's got a lot of money for Keanie, who was a great player for Tottenham. I think he had a one in two goal record, which is fantastic but he had already made up his mind that he wanted to play for Liverpool. They would have had a moping player all season, so you have got to let them go. With Berbatov as well the chairman is holding out to get the best price that he can and let this manager rebuild a team to get us into the top four.
SSN: With so much upheaval in one summer perhaps this is not going to be the season when Spurs and Juande Ramos turn things around. Maybe a lot of Spurs fans might have thought that last year was the blip when they finished 11th after a miserable start, but it could be difficult this time as well...
GR: Well I'm not so sure - although I think that the manager is fantastic. The first thing he has done is gone in and got them fit. They'll be the fittest team in the Premier League this year because I know the way they have been training and I know what he did to them this year.
Earlier in the season they were faltering in the last parts of games and conceding silly goals from set-pieces, but he sorted that out and we won the Carling Cup. I believe there are only two or three things that Tottenham have a chance of winning: the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Uefa Cup. If they won another cup this year the supporters would be delighted, but let's give him three years to sort this club out because there are some average players there. He's bringing the right players in, he's bringing quality in and that's what we need.
SSN: What do you think the fans will make of David Bentley?
GR: I think they will be absolutely delighted. He's made it known that there's only one club that he wants to play for and he's got a great cross and a fantastic shot. Aaron Lennon, when he plays, will go down the line and cross the ball and nine times out of 10 it will go behind, but Bentley will make sure they go in front of goal. I think the likes of Darren Bent and the other strikers that the manager wants will be absolutely delighted with him. He's a top-quality player, he's an England international and I think it's the right way forward.
SSN: You've talked about that strike partnership of Dimitar Berbatov and Robbie Keane - were they the best in the Premier League on their day?
GR: Yes, but I saw them at the beginning of last season when they played Everton and Berbatov threw all of his toys out of the pram. He wanted to go, he was moping around the pitch and we lost 3-1. In the first four or five games he wasn't interested, but when they got to the cup final he seemed to decide he wanted to stay. He wants to move on this summer, but Manchester United will have to pay the price that Tottenham want.
The chairman's right to hold out because Berbatov's a wonderful player. He's the best player they have got so they're not going to give him away on the cheap. The chairman has the right to do that. There's a few names being thrown around like Arshavin and Milito, so bring them in or let the manager have the funds. If you look at all the players going out - Tanio, Robinson, Chimbonda, Keane, Cerny, Berbatov, Malbranque, Kaboul... there's got to be £70million there. I'm sure this manager would love some of that to spend.
SSN: With the players they've got there now, who would be in your starting XI for the opening game of the season against Middlesbrough?
GR: Gomes will come in as goalkeeper, Hutton will play right-back, Woodgate and King are the best two in Britain at centre-back when they're fit and I'd put Bale at left-back, even though we haven't seen the best of him. In midfield you've got the likes of Modric, Dos Santos, Jenas, Bentley and Bostock - who has played in every pre-season game and has been fantastic. I think they'll play with five in midfield against Boro with Bent up front on his own. But I would think in the next week to 10 days there will be another three signings at least.
SSN: If there are signings to come, what would be the priorities in terms of positions?
GR: I think you need a ball-winner. I like Didier Zokora, but I don't think he's strong enough to be in there. I think Arshavin would be a good signing and Milito will come in for definite. I also think we desperately need a left-sided player to give us that balance. I don't know who that might be.
SSN: If they get those players, where could Spurs finish next season?
GR: I think they can finish in the top seven. I don't think we'll break into the top four; it will be two seasons before we do that. But I think you've got to give this manager a chance. I believe he's cleared out the dead wood, there's young exciting players there and I think Tottenham could be a surprise package this year.
