Summer transfers

[SlickMongoose]

Left wing:

I've been desperate for us to sign a left winger for what seems like forever. But....

If we sign a top left winger, what do we do with Modric? Do we put him in the centre and play 5 attacking players? Much as i'm a fan of the Tottenham way, there are limits. A top player like Downing (about as good as we could attract, IMO) will not be happy sitting on the bench when Modric is fit, either.

I'd be happier signing a good youngster who wouldn't mind not starting for a few years, but we should have that already in Rose and Bale. Plus we have Gio, who I'd love us to keep.

Or we could just sign someone cheap and not that good, as cover. But I don't see why this would be an improvement on Gio/O'Hara/Bale covering.

Striker:

We already have Defoe, Keane, Pav and Bent.

There is a problem here, in that I don't think that Defoe and Keane can play together, and they won't be happy rotating with each other like under Jol. Harry will try to play them together, but IMO it won't work. So I can see why people think we need 4 strikers with those two.

If we do sell Bent, it'd have to be to bring in someone better, else there's not much point. But who is better who'll come? Anyone better than Bent will not be happy on the bench. But if we sign someone to start we'll piss off one of Keane or Defoe.

We could sign someone like Beattie, but I fail to see that as a step forward. I've seen Kanoute mentioned, but why would he want to come? I haven't been following him recently, is he not happy where he is?

Kenwyne Jones would be expensive and again, where does that leave Keane, Defoe and Pav? You sign someone for that much money, they expect to start.

Viduka is an interesting idea... But only if he's happy never starting. He's slow and unfit, and I don't think he'd fit into our attacking play with the likes of Keane, Defoe, Lennon and Modric. You can suggest signing someone big for corners, but if they're as unlikely to start as Viduka it won't help.

I think it'd be much better to leave things how they are, as long as Bent isn't moaning too much.

Centre mid:

Have people lost faith in Palacios already? Seriously? I doubt it, are we looking for someone to partner him?

First, we have planty of cover here with Zokora, Hudd and O'Hara, plus two great youngsters coming through in Bostock and Parrett. If we sign someone, they'd have to be better than Jenas. How are we going to get someone better than Jenas? They'd cost a lot, and how would we attract them? I know a lot of people here don't rate Jenas very much, but come on. There aren't huge numbers of better players queueing up to sign for us.

And if we did sign someone better than Jenas in centre mid, we'd have to sell one or two, we can't keep all those players happy and on the payroll. More change and more disruption to the squad.

 

[SlickMongoose]

Arguably, the club had no choice but to sell Carrick, Berbatov and Keane. That's a whole debate in itself. Modric sounds like he's happy to stay and hopefully the same is true of everyone else.

Maybe we had no choice to sell those, but I think we could do with being a hell of a lot more stubborn. We should make it clear sometime between now and the end of the season that no first team players will be sold, and refuse all bids. That will help a lot, IMO.

History suggests they'll be money available, despite spending a significant sum in january. Why wont we be able to attract world beaters? I'm not convinced the UEFA cup was a huge draw and we've never challenged for the premiership title and yet we've managed to attract the likes of Ginola, Klinsmann, Berbatov, Modric...

History suggests that there'll be money available? In the last few years we've always had incoming transfer money to match, or nearly match, what went out. But we spent a hell of a lot of money in Jan and didn't sell anyone, which is not that common for us in recent years. I realise that we're a wealthy and well-run club, but we are run as a business, and I don't think we'll be spending more than a few million net this summer.

As for attracting players, we have had a few things going for us recently. The two 5th place finishes and UEFA cup runs have really helped our reputation, IMO, as have the career paths of Berbatov and Carrick. It's made us a place players want to come to improve their own reputations. But I think this season will have been a serious knock to that. Nobody wants to go to possible relegation candidates.

 

[Shanks]

Zoko, Hudd, O'hara have all shown that they are simply not good enough to play central midfield for us.
We have been pushed aside easily in the middle of hte park, so I personally would prefer to have someone who could cover WP, better than what we have.

LM - Maybe Modric will continue there, maybe he is better suited centrally, LM for proper balance, because although we looked good, it was a very poor middlesborough last night.

Thats my reasoning and something I ams ure Redknapp will do.

 

[Kendall]

Maybe a bigger striker to give us another option up front but I see no need for big changes, we need this group to grow and gel.

 

[Kendall]

Zoko, Hudd, O'hara have all shown that they are simply not good enough to play central midfield for us.
We have been pushed aside easily in the middle of hte park, so I personally would prefer to have someone who could cover WP, better than what we have.

LM - Maybe Modric will continue there, maybe he is better suited centrally, LM for proper balance, because although we looked good, it was a very poor middlesborough last night.

Thats my reasoning and something I ams ure Redknapp will do.

I disagree. I think Zokora is plenty good enough to cover Palacios as he proved against United

 

[SlickMongoose]

Keeper (3 different players in 7 seasons)

02/03 Keller
03/04 Keller
04/05 Robinson
05/06 Robinson
06/07 Robinson
07/08 Robinson
08/09 Gomes

Defence (19 different players in 7 seasons; average of 3 defensive changes per year !)

02/03 Tarrico Perry Richards Carr
03/04 Tarrico Gardner Richards Carr
04/05 Edman King Naybet Pamarot
05/06 Lee King Dawson Stalteri
06/07 Lee king Dawson chimbonda
07/08 Bale Kaboul Dawson Hutton
08/09 BAE King Woodgate Corluka

Midfield (17 different players in 7 seasons; average 2 midfield changes per year)

02/03 Davies Poyet Anderton Etherington
03/04 Davies King Anderton Brown
04/05 Mendes Carrick Brown Davies
05/06 Carrick Jenas Tainio Davids
06/07 Zokora Lennon Malbranque Jenas
07/08 Lennon Jenas Zokora Malbranque
08/09 Palacios Jenas Lennon Modric

Attack (8 different players in 7 seasons; average 1 striker change per year)

02/03 Sheringham Keane
03/04 Kanoute Keane
04/05 Kanoute Defoe
05/06 Mido Keane
06/07 Berbatov Keane
07/08 Berbatov Keane
08/09 Bent Pavlyuchenko

This is what i'm talking about. It's crazy. Another three first team changes, as some are suggesting, won't help (although it will improve those averages a little, which is scary).

 

[Shanks]

I disagree. I think Zokora is plenty good enough to cover Palacios as he proved against United

Whilst I agree, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and not just the last few games.

Zoko has not been up to scratch in that position this year, he has struggled against some of the more physical teams.

But, saying that, it may well work with Zoko as cover now that a set format of playing has been sorted out!

 

[Shanks]

Slick - I'm not talking about 3 first team changes, I am talking about 3 players for he squad that could offer great balance.

Whilst I would be happy to keep what we have, we still cannot forget that this squad was part responsible (bar Redknapps additions), for our terrible start.

There are some areas that still need improving if we are going to get back to the levels of challenging a Europe spot, which we really need to continue next season.

CM/LM and Centre forward (possibly replacing Bentley as well), are, what I believe all that is needed.

In the same process, get rid of some of the lightweight fringe players - gilberto, rocha, possibly Hudd, Poss Bentley.

Thats not changing the first team, but giving us greater depth.

 

[SlickMongoose]

Zoko, Hudd, O'hara have all shown that they are simply not good enough to play central midfield for us.
We have been pushed aside easily in the middle of hte park, so I personally would prefer to have someone who could cover WP, better than what we have.

I'm not a Zokora fan, but he can do a job for us. Hudd is already one of the most creative players in the league, and O'Hara's best performances have come in the centre. They all have weaknesses, but I don't think they're worth another signing.

Hudd and O'Hara are also young and have a lot of time to work on their faults. Centre mids shouldn't be expected to be at their peak at that age, and they need playing time to improve.

 

[Kendall]

Whilst I agree, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture and not just the last few games.

Zoko has not been up to scratch in that position this year, he has struggled against some of the more physical teams.

But, saying that, it may well work with Zoko as cover now that a set format of playing has been sorted out!

Thing is though you will rarely get like for like and keep them happy.

we've been after a proper midfield general for a few years now and Palacios cost us big money and was a real good capture.

If Palacios is fit 80% of the time, how will you keep the other happy? I think Zokora is perfectly adequate backup.

 

[markiespurs]

I think we only need a tall target man and a left winger.

I dont think we will sell Modric, but i do think that Rocha, Gilberto, Bent and possibly Bentely will be sold.

Would'nt be surprised if the left winger we signed was downing, loved it last night in the second half when Downing was taking a corner, and the Spurs surpporters in that area started chanting "your Spurs and you know you are"

My starting 10 of my starting eleven next season would be:

Gomes
Corluka
Woodgate
King
BAE
Lennon
Modric
Palacios
LW/ Downing
Keane

Playing in a 4-4-2, Keanes strike partner would then be dependant on who the opposistion is.

 

[DC_Boy]

I think we need a big striker - I expect Bent to go - probably best all round

I want someone who can do a job at LB and LM - (asking too much?) - of course if Bale turns it around then not needed - but I don't think he will

anyway we need cover at LB one way or the other - unless zoko can play there too

I don't think any of our stars like lennon or modric will go - but it's the same old thing if utd/chelsea/whoever offer £25/35m/whatever and the player starts agitating - what are you going to do? it's not easy

Harry is quite clear, he says he will sell under such circumstances, and Levy probably will too

 

[SlickMongoose]

Slick - I'm not talking about 3 first team changes, I am talking about 3 players for he squad that could offer great balance.

Whilst I would be happy to keep what we have, we still cannot forget that this squad was part responsible (bar Redknapps additions), for our terrible start.

There are some areas that still need improving if we are going to get back to the levels of challenging a Europe spot, which we really need to continue next season.

You're possibly right that we need a couple of extra players to get back to where we were and challenge for 5th/6th.

But wouldn't it be nice to have a season without any disruption, so we could actually find that out? Do it next summer, if it's needed.

 

[idlepete]

I´ll take something from the 15m pound mystery box please.

Yep, it's more exciting that way.

 

[Shanks]

I am pretty patient, but even I know that we have found out all we need to find out from this year.

Another year like this, would just send many spurs fans into fits of hysteria!

It is absolutely certain, that redknapp will buy some players this summer, he will also sell some, because he needs to put his own mark on the team.

Although I am not sure we will be able to improve on our first team, but we can certainly improve on our squad as a whole, bring in better subs, will/should improve the players in the first team, keeping them on their toes.

 

[StuckinPoland]

This is what I'd do...

Gomes, Cudicini, Alnwick (loan out)

Hutton, Chimbonda, Gunter (loan out)
BAE, Bale
King, Woodgate, Dawson, Corluka

Lennon, Bentley
Palacios, Zokora, O’Hara
Modric, Huddlestone, Taarabt (loan)
Downing, Dos Santos

Pavlyuchenko, Bent
Keane, Defoe

Sell Rocha, Gilberto, Boateng and Jenas.
Buy Downing.
Loan Alnwick, Gunter and Taarabt to teams in either Championship or lower level Premiership.

1 Gomes
2 Hutton
3 Assou-Ekotto
4 Zokora
5 King
6 Woodgate
7 Lennon
8 Huddlestone
9 Pavlyuchenko
10 Keane
11 Downing
12 Palacios
13 Cudicini
14 Modric
15 Bentley
16 Bale
17 Dos Santos
18 Defoe
19 Taarabt
20 Dawson
21 Chimbonda
22 Corluka
23 Bent
24 O’Hara
25 Bostock
26 Parrett
27 Gunter


I think Huddlestone and Bent may leave but I'd be happy for them to stay. Both could easily end up at Villa and I'd rather they were on our bench than theirs. We don't want to be strengthening those around us. I firmly believe that only Man Utd and maybe Chelsea have a better squad than us. We just need time to allow players to settle.

Right now, I'd like to start next season with this as our team.

Gomes,
Corluka, Woodgate, King, BAE
Lennon, Palacios, Modric, Downing
Pavlyuchenko, Keane

 

[Shanks]

Thing is though you will rarely get like for like and keep them happy.

we've been after a proper midfield general for a few years now and Palacios cost us big money and was a real good capture.

If Palacios is fit 80% of the time, how will you keep the other happy? I think Zokora is perfectly adequate backup.

My thinking behind it is competition for places.
We need someone that could also play alongside him, to keep both JJ and Palacios on their toes.

I like Zoko and I want him to stay because he can fill gaps all over the midfield and defense.

I'm not sure about Hudd though, I see a reference about him being one of the most creative players in the league. Thats quite simply an overstatement, because if he ws, he would be playing a lot more, and so far only the 'smaller' clubs have been interested in him.

Just not sure he can offer what we need.

 

[finch101]

I think Liverpool are going to come in all guns blazin for Lennon this summer, apparenttly Benitez wanted him in a swap deal for Keane in January.

I think Levi will tell them where to go, Downing will come in and probably Jones or another target man for Bent.

I'd like to see us sign Warnock from Blackburn, give us decent competition at LB with Ekotto.

 

[Kendall]

Oh yeah Bale has proven he is nowhere near a Premiership quality LB, I think we need decent LB cover now that BAE has come of age.

I personally thought Gilbert was very good against Shaktar but I think Harry will be looking to offload

 

[van_Pommel]

I'd like to see a Bent upgrade, and possibly a Jenas upgrade if one is available at a decent price.

Other than that I'm happy with this first XI and would like to see what they can achieve given time and stability.

Cudicini​

Corluka--Woody--King--Ekotto​

Lennon---Jenas---Palacios---Modric​

Pavlyuchenko--Keane​

I think a fit Hutton will be good enough for 1st choice RB so Corluka can gradually become Ledley's replacement.​