Should we have re-signed Berbatov?

[stemark44]

Berbatov was on a different planet for Fulham last night.
Reminded me of his performance for us against Bolton.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Apart from the fact that we were warned by nearly everyone that this would be the case after he gets a permenant contract.

But a quick reality check would have established this was just bullshit spouted by gooners a little bit bitter at becoming ManC's feeder club.

 

[DotNetCoder]

Clearly not as we tried to sign him back this summer. But in typical Levy fashion we left it too late.

Can you point me to some hard evidence of this? I've not seen anything other than a few stories from poor sources.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

He's a striker. He's an effective, lethal finisher. Yes.

 

[jimtheyid]

Exactly.

All these threads about getting Modric and Berbs back are nice, but the fact of the matter is simple:

Fuck with Levy, the bridge is burned.

Forever.

You say that, but look at Keane. He royally fucked Levy off but was back in 6 months.

 

[E17yid]

No I don't think AVB was banging down any doors to sign Berba, but then equally I don't think he was doing so to sign Dempsey either

You may not be 100% sure that Berbatov would have banged in the goals for us now, but I am certain he would have done so, more than Ade, Defoe or Dempsey and more importantly his football brain, hold up play and ability to link would have made us a better attacking force I have no doubt

I think it is pretty undeniable that Berbatov would have been a better signing for us than Dempsey was, work rate doesn't match class and while Dempsey has maybe got some undeserved stick he also has been generally poor and I find it hard to imagine anyone thinking we wouldn't have been better off had we resigned Berbatove

Yes I also doubt Berba was a target for AVB but I doubt Dempsey was also

As for Levy, yes I agree he probably didn't want him but like I said to me that smacks of cutting our nose off to spite our face like when Sugar went on his anti Carlos kicaball rant post Klinsmann and set us back years while teams like Arsenal built a small dynasty with players like Bergkamp, Overmars, henry, Pires and Vieira and we wasted small fortunes on Fox, Armstrong, Sinton and Ferdinand

Put the good of the club first, signing Berba back instead of Dempsey would have been better for the club and if Levy dismissed it due to personal issues with the way Berba left the club I feel that was a mistake (of course this is hypothetical as I don't know for sure what Levy's position was)

I totally see where your coming from mate, and I admit I find it hard to disagree with some of the points you make. However, I do take issue with your use of the word "certainty".

While I find his "Keep calm and pass the ball to me" T-shirt funny, I question his overall mentality with specific regards to fitting if with AVB's system and philosophy. I could be wrong but I take issue with people pretending real life is FIFA and not taking into account the hundreds of "real life" variables that can come into effect. Had we signed him how can you say that:

1. He wouldn't get injured (yes I appreciate he has not for Fulham but that does not mean to say the different trainign regime under AVB would of been exactly the same

2. Even with no injury, Andre might not have played him

3. What effect would point 2 have on his attitude and how would it thus effect his game?

4. Can you say 100% that JD and Ade would of carried on as badly as they have if we had signed Berba? (It might of risen their game and thus kept him out of the first team)

5. Baring in mind the whold "Keep calm and pass the ball to me" bollocks, How do you think that personality would have an effect on the rest of the team

6. Would Bale be playing as great as he is?

7. Due to lack of games (not starting every match as the main man like he is at Fulham) the game she did come off the bench/start could of seen him "try to hard" much like Holtby and lead to less then impressive performances (He sems to have 1 or 2 for Fulham followed by not turning up for 2 or 3, particually big games)

I'm not saying all of the above of even any of the above would have happened but I recognise that life, football and human beings are fucking unpredictable. I for one am verry happy with how our season is going. The only slowish ex player I want back and Spurs, and who we should of never of sold, is VDV.

Like I said at the start though, I agree with most of what you say. For the record, Like all spurs fans, I loved Berba and think he is a class act, even if he does have a questionable attitude (like 1 or 2 others in our squad mentiontioning no names) I'm still undecided as to whether I would have had him back, I think it's impossible to answer these things without knowing what actually happened (but fun to play these hypotheticals) For starters, do we even know for sure if Berba wanted to come back to the Lane? If he did, then we can't know the ins and outs of of his terms, might of pissed a few people off, not just DL.

 

[CowInAComa]

But a quick reality check would have established this was just bullshit spouted by gooners a little bit bitter at becoming ManC's feeder club.

firsthand evidence would suggest that it isnt bullshit though. Predications have been spot on.

On the subject of Berba. No brainer, had we had a half decent striker this season we would be comfortable CL already. Had we had a top drawer striker (ie Berba) it could have been fucking beautiful.

 

[E17yid]

Call me clueless of whatever but I still find it hard to belive that the main problem with Ade this year has been becuase "he's not trying hard enough"

The guy is a professional, no matter what people say on here. He obviously has better days than others but to say that injury, ACON and being in a new set up has had nothing to do with his form seems harsh IMO. Obviously he has been shit though and even I have given up hope of him making ammends this year

 

[neogenisis]

I voted yes from a purely footballing standpoint.
Watching Fulham last night its painful to see just how good he is and how wasted he is at Craven Cottage.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

Can you point me to some hard evidence of this? I've not seen anything other than a few stories from poor sources.

Maybe in future do your own research maybe? Its not hard to find, the story was in every newspaper and almost every media outlet in the country. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8048705/Spurs-made-Berbatov-bid

 

[Bus-Conductor]

firsthand evidence would suggest that it isnt bullshit though. Predications have been spot on.

On the subject of Berba. No brainer, had we had a half decent striker this season we would be comfortable CL already. Had we had a top drawer striker (ie Berba) it could have been fucking beautiful.

ManC paid twenty odd million for Adebayor based on performances for Arsenal when he was contracted. He also performed very well initially at City, again, with a contract already in place. Gooners spouting that nonsense are talking out of their arses.

The truth is that Adebayor, for whatever reasons is not the most emotionally strong players. It's got fuck all to do with whether he's secured a contract or not. More internal issues of his psyche.

 

[CowInAComa]

ManC paid twenty odd million for Adebayor based on performances for Arsenal when he was contracted. He also performed very well initially at City, again, with a contract already in place. Gooners spouting that nonsense are talking out of their arses.

The truth is that Adebayor, for whatever reasons is not the most emotionally strong players. It's got fuck all to do with whether he's secured a contract or not. More internal issues of his psyche.

I have no doubt it was a prediction based on bitterness. And no one can possibly no why he does what he does.

Still. They were right. Bitter or not, based on fact or not. He has been total shit since he has become a permanent player for us.

He doesnt leave many clubs on good positive terms does he? Still, 7 or so games to put up with him.

 

[Nocando]

Maybe in future do your own research maybe? Its not hard to find, the story was in every newspaper and almost every media outlet in the country. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8048705/Spurs-made-Berbatov-bid

It doesn't actually state why he didn't come though.

 

[Misfit]

I voted yes from a purely footballing standpoint.
Watching Fulham last night its painful to see just how good he is and how wasted he is at Craven Cottage.

Whilst I agree largely, your second sentence leaves a bad taste in the mouth. I get what you're saying but fair play to Fulham. No reason at all they shouldn't have a skilful player on their books. Just sounds like those yanited and Chelsea wankers talking about Berbatov/Modric/Bale/whoever playing for us.

Sorry for a nothing post and no harm meant, just struck me is all.

I'll shut up now.

 

[Misfit]

The fact that we made a bid doesn't lend much support for the DL was guilty of pride reasoning though does it? If DL wasn't interested/baawing with epic butthurt, there'd have been no bid made. He agreed to join about 150 clubs in the space of 2 days. Maybe we were just too late to the party?

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

It doesn't actually state why he didn't come though.

There's things we will never know about many transfers, but considering we tried to hijack the deal at the last minute(he was having his medical at Fulham) , it is my own opinion that he didnt want to fuck over Martin Jol, who lets not forget brought him to Spurs all those years ago.

 

[Nocando]

The fact that we made a bid doesn't lend much support for the DL was guilty of pride reasoning though does it? If DL wasn't interested/baawing with epic butthurt, there'd have been no bid made. He agreed to join about 150 clubs in the space of 2 days. Maybe we were just too late to the party?

I agree with your first part. However do we actually know the circumstances regarding the second part? As you rightly say he was flashing his knickers at plenty of other clubs but is it correct to assume that we lost out because we came in too late (even if it is the most likely scenario)?

I suppose we will probably never find out and in any case it doesn't really matter now.

 

[Misfit]

Still, bit shoddy we left it all summer as usual. Mind you, targets were obviously missed and he was likely just a punt which didn't come off. The day before everyone thought he was off to Italy anyway, where he truly would be wasted. Imagine the damage he'd do to that league.

 

[Nocando]

There's things we will never know about many transfers, but considering we tried to hijack the deal at the last minute(he was having his medical at Fulham) , it is my own opinion that he didnt want to fuck over Martin Jol, who lets not forget brought him to Spurs all those years ago.

Quite possibly, although I always assumed he had no morals. Could we be giving him a little too much respect in this case (perhaps because of his ability). When in all likelyhood it doesn't take a lot (well actually it just takes a bit more money) to turn a players nose, regardless of the time frame involved.

 

[Misfit]

I agree with your first part. However do we actually know the circumstances regarding the second part? As you rightly say he was flashing his knickers at plenty of other clubs but is it correct to assume that we lost out because we came in too late (even if it is the most likely scenario)?

I suppose we will probably never find out and in any case it doesn't really matter now.

Aye, just half-answered this myself. Thinking out loud day for me obviously.

I don't think anyone at the club viewed him as a serious target. He was twiddling his thumbs all summer after all. Naturally we always let things go down to the wire and when it became clear Leandro and whoever else we were chasing wasn't happening, we realised Berbatov wasn't going to Italia and made a punt but by that time, it was too late.

Maybe if we actually had a coherent direction and contingency plans in place, we wouldn't constantly be left holding our dicks with 5 minutes to go having to scramble for alternatives.