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The trouble with Gio

Jaesen1

The thinking woman's tramp
May 3, 2005
64
191
There has been an awful lot of conjecture lately on this website regarding the Giovani Dos Santos situation. Views veer widely, from the school of thought which believes Harry is doing an undoubtedly gifted player a disservice, to those who feel the Mexican is too lightweight to command a place in a Premier League side.

It's safe to say that Gio polarises opinion, yet the single common denominator is that, despite question marks over his stature, he clearly is a talent.

His recent triumph with the Mexican national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup should have been a timely reminder to Harry that a team crying out for a left-sided player could do a lot worse than to give the Gold Cup Player of the Tournament another go.

Ostensibly, it seems a no-brainer, but Harry clearly has his own agenda regarding who plays, which, of course, is how it should be. Obviously, the manager isn't trying to sabotage the club from within and we all know that you can't please all the people all the time, but for a club in need of a decent left-sided option, his decision not to give Gio another go on the left wing, particularly during pre-season when he has the time to work out whether or not the player is for him, seems churlish at best.

There's no doubt he's watched the player in training and seen something we haven't (or vice versa, as the case may be), hence Gio's stint in Suffolk last season. It is difficult, though, to understand Harry's reasoning when he makes no comment about the player, particularly during the transfer window.

We know that he doesn't want Bent, this fact was barely disguised all last season but all we know about Gio is that he doesn't play nor get anywhere near the squad. It's a shame, but football is a funny old game.

One final thought. I've always found it a strange notion that some seem to think Gio is too lightweight to play in the Premiership. How does this theory stack up when Lennon, Modric and Defoe, hardly giants themselves, have flourished? Also, the English game is certainly more technical and less physical than it was 10 years ago and yet Zola played his best football against some quite ferocious defensive cloggers.

The question of a player being too lightweight, therefore, is moot.

The boy can play, but not for Spurs it seems.

As a footnote to this piece, I must apologise for missing the patently obvious in that Gio will clearly be away relaxing before returning to duty in the near future, hence the lack of appearance in training, etc.

This fact seems to render the piece somewhat obsolete, however, as a starting point for debate I hope that it serves a purpose. I would address the other points made, but there are quite a few, so best to let everyone put their tuppence worth in. Let the debate continue!
 

guate

Well-Known Member
May 12, 2005
3,270
1,486
I believe I read somewhere that he's been given extended leave as he hasn't enjoyed his holidays yet due to his participation in the Gold Cup. This being the case then there's no need to speculate yet, as we should be seeing something of him in another couple of weeks.
Personally I like the kid and as I live over here in Latin America (Guatemala) would love to see him do well at Spurs as it would heighten our brand name in the area where until now it's been all Man Ure, Chelski, The Pool and Arse anal.
With Wilson also from this region little by little fans are beginning to take notice of us and if we ever get into the Champs League, welll..........the sky's the limit.

QUE VIVA LOS SPURS
 

Spurs_Bear

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2009
17,094
22,286
I was thinking it was only a matter of time before a Gio column, trust me mate this is going to kick off one almighty debate.

From the beginning, nobody was more excited than I was when we announced the signing of Giovanni Dos Santos, a player I had watched a bit of in Spanish football and just generally heard good things about him, and at the price we paid for him I was a bit confused as to why Barca had let him go so cheap.

Gio was included in most pre season games, I was at the Roma game where I thought he played as well as anybody, but I think like many I got a bit over excited at the fact we beat a rubbish Roma side so easily.

Then the first 8 games he was involved but rightly not criticised more so than others over the disastrous "2 point" haul, then came Harry.

At first I think Harry even went as far as to say he was looking forward to working with him when he took over, so all looked good. Then an injury came, and things seemed to stall somewhat.

Now, it is clear that we have a talented player, but talent does not give you an automatic starting place or indeed one on the bench.

Firstly the myth about the left wing, Gio is not, and never has been a left midfielder/winger, he played his best football on the right at Barca, cutting in from the flank. And with Modric playing so well, how would he get a look in anyway?

There is no way Harry has a vendetta against him like so many claim, maybe he just isn't any good in training?

Also, if we are indeed missing such a big trick, why aren't our rivals or in fact anyone else coming in for him?

There has to be something that we are not seeing that is causing this?

But what?

If there are no logical reasons to this, then how do so many of us claim that Harry needs his head read?

Do people have any thoughts other than "Redknapp doesn't like him cos he's not English" etc and all that same old crap......why does he not rate him?
 

nferno

Waiting for England to finally win the Euros-2024?
Jan 7, 2007
7,014
10,012
I hope that he gets some games under his belt soon, such a waste to not even give him a chance.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Giovani has been playing non stop internationals since the end of the season, with World Cup qualifiers and then the Gold Cup, hence his lack of being anywhere near our pre-season. He is no doubt having a week of doing nothing, not even train, at the moment so he can recharge his batteries. Afterwards he will either be included in our plans, or be sold. I hope it is the former, but fear it is the latter. I have to admit that I will not understand why we cannot even give him a sniff. I personally think he'd be the perfect player to have around for when Lennon is unfit or off form. He is also a player that drags defenders left right and centre.

The "why not put him on the left wing" question is not really a starter. Modric is playing brilliantly with a free role from out wide, better than the majority of left footers would in our system, and Giovani is must more a player who likes so cut in and shoot or play through balls than he'll ever be a get to the byline and cross it type. On the right or up front.

Like i said, I'd love to see him get his shot, and I can't understand why we'd ship him out, but ultimately I support the club not the player.
 

Boony

Active Member
Feb 24, 2004
1,475
0
I've always found it a strange notion that some seem to think Gio is too lightweight to play in the Premiership. How does this theory stack up when Lennon, Modric and Defoe, hardly giants themselves, have flourished? Also, the English game is certainly more technical and less physical than it was 10 years ago and yet Zola played his best football against some quite ferocious defensive cloggers. The question of a player being too lightweight, therefore, is moot.
The boy can play, but not for Spurs it seems.

Just because they are the same height, doesnt mean that they are the same strength. Barcelona have a great record of developing from within, so my initial question would be, why let him go for £4.7 mil? and not loan him out?

I must also point out that he was nealry sold to Portsmouth in Jan but failed a medical, so Harry must have seen something recently, which we havent.

My mature guess would be that he literally has a boy body !! no strength just skill...... much better players have failed in the prem, so I struggle to understand why so many people cant beleive that he is not right for the Prem. Id like to see him have be given a run in the side.. its very strange
 

laneoflegends

Member
Jan 3, 2007
388
0
Factually incorrect:
1. How can he be involved in pre-season when he is away on international duty, and

2. Norfolk? Ipswich is in Suffolk.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
I think Harry has to be put under pressure to confirm his views of Dos Santos

We need to know why he hasn't had a sniff since Harry arrived
 

DiscoD1882

SC Supporter
Mar 27, 2006
6,934
14,669
where did Dos Santos play in the CONCAF? was it left mid or behind the strikers?

This could be the whole square peg round hole situation that Redknapp doesnt agree with.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
where did Dos Santos play in the CONCAF? was it left mid or behind the strikers?

This could be the whole square peg round hole situation that Redknapp doesnt agree with.

All his best work in the final (from highlights admittedly) appeared to be as a result of pushing forward either from the centre or cutting in from the right.
 

Rumbaldo

Well-Known Member
Jan 1, 2005
1,051
107
I really want him to do well for us but think he will be going back to spain in the not to distant future, not because he is a bad player but because we are the wrong club for him, as much as it pains me to say it he would of been better of at arsenal with his mate Vela :(
 

PerthDave

New Member
Oct 28, 2006
49
0
As pointed out above:
He has been playing internationals all summer so couldn't be involved in Pre season.
I also think last year when we needed points he was to much of a gamble, it was hardly a season to give someone a crack. We were desperate to climb out of relegation, then due to a mix of some good play and other teams playing crap football we had a sniff of Europe.
Any player would need a run in the team to find their form, understand their team mates and build confidence. However if Harry kept playing him and it didn't come off, people would have been saying why wasn't Modric playing on the left or Gio was to weak we should have played O'Hara!!
Just my thoughts, I don't know that he will get a run now especially with missing pre season where he could have proved he could fit in. Worse case his performance in the gold Cup have added a few million to his price!!
 

mawspurs

Staff
Jun 29, 2003
35,069
17,740
I don't think the fact he hasn't been played has anything to do with his ability or his physical strength.
I think it has more to do with the fact that while he was injured and supposed to be recovering and looking after himself he was pictured being carried out of a night club, maybe Harry felt he had let him, the club, himself down. Maybe he made the injury worse or caused a new one that kept him out longer than expected.

I could be wrong but if that is the case it is a real shame that one silly incident stops him playing for the club and showing what he can do.

I can't see any other reason why he would not at least be given a few games to show what he can do.
 

riversmonkey

Active Member
Nov 24, 2004
1,244
1
He's a handy game changer to come on from the bench, but he's miles behind Lennon and Modric, the two players he would be competing with for a starting place.

We don't know too much about the guy, what are his ambitions, is he desperately seeking first team football? can he handle sitting on the bench? what is his relationship with the coaching team like?
 

Midostouch

Active Member
Aug 9, 2006
2,374
4
The Ipswich fans I know would be ecstatic if they could have him back - there were certainly no problems about being lightweight and the Championship is as good a test as anywhere. I really hope he gets a chance when he returns from his break.
 

don1

tottenham till i die
Dec 30, 2006
3,562
145
for the 100 time i dont know why harry doesnt give him a go
 

MidnightCaller

Life Long Spurs Supporter
Oct 22, 2006
378
6
Lennon is a right winger, where Dos Santos is left footed, plays the same game as Modric, which means he can play on the left wing, up front or behind the strikers.
I believe he is still young and maybe a loan deal to a premiership team would be the answer.

He's a handy game changer to come on from the bench, but he's miles behind Lennon and Modric, the two players he would be competing with for a starting place.

We don't know too much about the guy, what are his ambitions, is he desperately seeking first team football? can he handle sitting on the bench? what is his relationship with the coaching team like?
 

spursLA

Raising the 4th generation
Feb 3, 2005
417
122
I was under the impression GDS is a number 10, rather than a lefy wing so his natural competition would be Keane or Modric in a central role rather than out on the wing. If so, we have never seen him in his best role at Spurs and that might be why he hasn't done as well for us as internationally.
 

SpursVaulter

Member
Jan 7, 2008
70
6
as a Mexican who has followed el Tri and the career of Gio for years i was overjoyed when he came to spurs, few can understand the pride i have seeing gio in blue. but to see him rot in our reserves has killed me inside and if harry sells i hope he can deal with a dead yid on his conscience :bang:
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
For all those saying he's not a left winger.

He's only 19 years old. He hasn't cemented his place in any position. With a left foot and if he has the ability people think he has I am sure that he can learn how to play on the left wing. FFS O Harra, Lennon, Bentley and Modric have all played there with differing amount of success. If he wants to play for us he should be willing to adjust his game.

The thing is he is not good enough (atm) to get a starting place anywhere on the pitch. Who would he replace Lennon, Modric or one of the strikers? Not unless he improves a lot or there are injuries.
 
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