[Update 80] POTL Summary

[Scutch]

Who Phantom of the Lane
Date 5th Feb 2010
Time 09:00
Site COYS

Firstly an apology, I wrote this on Monday evening, but havn't had access to a computer as I've been away the last few days, but here goes...

I cant believe it was a year ago I was writing one of these! I will write something in more detail in the next few days when I have a bit more time. Firstly can I just say PLEASE can we have a bit more positivity, look where we are now in comparison to a year ago, the progress we have made is outstanding. Yes Harry and Daniel have their faults, for example some say Daniel is too businessman like and doesnt know enough about football, some people say Harry only gets on with certain players and takes forever to make a substitution, others will have other grievances, others may not have any, but that is football, each to their own and everyone entitled to an opinion. Not my job to provide opinions, In the words of Adrian Durham for all you Talksport listeners, I deal in facts! And it is my job, or should I say a job I have taken on board, to provide all of you coysers will the latest going ons at the club.

So to give you a brief overview of our activity:

Ins-
Eidur Gudjohnsen- Harry wanted him in, thinks he offers us a wealth of experience in the race for Champions League and can play in a number of positions. Not fit to play yet, but has trained with the first team. Maybe a week or two till we see him in a Spurs shirt.
Younes Kaboul- Again Harry is a big admirer of him, and with the money that was owed to us by Pompey we only gave them £2m, Harry also thinks he can play as a rightback hence the decision to let Hutton and Naughton go out.
Kyle Walker- Called back as has played football all season and will privde cover at right back, If Naughton had played more football, he would of stayed.

Outs-
Alan Hutton- Was allowed out on loan when Kaboul came back in, expect him to leave in the summer.
Kyle Naughton- He just needs to be playing games and Harry recognised this, hence sending him out to get games, very highly thought of at the club, will be back for next season with more experience under his belt.
Gio- Doubtful he will come back, poor attitude, poor application, and gets drunk far too often, its no surprise hes ended up in Turkey, Barca didn't let him go for no reason, the same applies to us.
Robbie Keane- The players are all gutted at this one. King of the dressing room. King of the banter. King of keeping up the squad morale. Yes he has been poor this season, but it remains to be seen what effect it has on the squad without him there, but I can tell you the players aren't happy hes gone.
Troy- Didnt progress as well as had been hoped. Wasn't even close to the first team.
O'Hara- Had a bid from another club for him, but cant play for 3 clubs. Will re evaluate at the end of the season, but could be off permanently, but not to Portsmouth. Credit due to the lad, he wanted to go there and play rather than sit on the bench at us.

Maybes/ Rumours/ Nearlys

Now if I put every rumour in here I would be here all night, so I would rather just focus on a couple.

Begovic- So nearly signed, did the medical/ stayed in London/ verbally agreed to sign. Last minute agent spun it in favour of a move to Stoke where he has been promised first team football.
Scott Loach- Not dead yet this one. Watch this space.
Jones/ Moses/ Cahill/Anton/ Parker/ Lovren- All pie in the sky.

Future

Two top targets remain as Ashley Young and Micah Richards. we will see what happens with these in the summer, both players are interested. I am sure CL football will help with landing these targets.

Finally a mention to Pav. Feel for him as he desperately wanted to leave. Brum was the only real option but they could meet the asking price or wages. Hopefully he will get a chance now Keane has left. But he is very down that he hasn't moved clubs. Also a mention to David Bentley who after being told he has no future and wont play again, has really knuckled down the last few games after his surprise inclusion vs Fulham due to Niko being ill. Sunderland and Wham both inquired regarding loan deals.

Injuries.

Lennon about 3 weeks to go- Has met with Gary Lewin at the lodge and has worked out a rehabilitation programme. Will NOT being have an op. Should be back shortly, has started running and moving with the medical team.
Ekotto- Still a while off, Bale has got to stay fit and keep putting in the performances. Ekotto has a hip problem and its not a quick healer.
Woodgate- Having real trouble with his groins- hate to say it and dont want to tempt fate, but the R word may be looked into if the surgeon he is working with cant solve the problem.

I think that is about it. I am sure I have missed some things out and when I notice what I have missed I will update! For all of you that have PM's me and have not received a response I apologise, and will try to go through them. All in all we have made significant progress in the last year, we are sound financially, we dont pay silly wages and give in to player demands which have landed other clubs in trouble. We have a GOOD manager and a GOOD chairman who wants the best for the club and we are soon going to be moving into a wonderful new home which will enable us to compete with the best in the business.

Lets all try and remain positive, we have a strong squad that will be fighting til the end for this CL spot, we may not have signed everyone that we wanted but we have a talented group and we still have good cover. Most o f all we have a wonderful fanbase who i am sure will continue to support the team so brilliantly.

The future's bright, the futures lillywhite.

 

[$hoguN]

Good summary by POTL, thanks for posting Scutch. Richards and Young transfer targets seem a bit ridiculous tho, unless Harry is dreaming of a team of only RB's and LW's

 

[$hoguN]

unless Harry is dreaming...

I really wish there was an edit post button in here

 

[kcmei]

:clap::up:

 

[barry]

Lovren??? pie in the sky??? his club actually said we put in a bid, no

 

[Raxscallion]

Nice one Scutch (& POTL) :up:

Ashley Young though? Really?

So our LW options would then be:
Modric
Niko
Young
Bale

Not to mention Lennon or DB if desperate....

I don't get it.

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

First of all, good round up and well dome mate, tough job I am sure (but still prefer the ITK the old way, sorry had to get it in

Couple of obvious things I see missing - Nothing on what we all thought was a done-deal, and that is Sandro! Do we know what is happening, if it will - last we heard was, it was just red tape and we wouldn't get it done for this window but he should be here in the summer?

Loach, are you saying we can still sign him before the summer, or are you saying this is another summer signing (the old special dispensation job?)

I think EG and Kabul are okay signings, and for the reasons you mentioned - Hutton and Kyle all make sense!

Glad to finally get it straight about GIO, if true I can now see why he never played, and probably never will!

Bad news about Keane, as you say a big big loss in the dressing room, I hope it doesn't effect the mood to much! Time for players like Bentley, Dawson, Defoe to step up, they are good lads and could make a difference in this area I feel!

As for the proposed summer targets, very, very disserpointed, don't think we now need AY, and Richards IS NOT a replacement for King, or even Woodgate IMO, I don't rate him far above (if even) Bassong. Was really hoping for CM and Striker targets as I think JJ has reached he's peak (years ago) and Pav will probably be offski!

 

[Dr Know]

I would just like to add to Wex there.
Is Bentley still offski?

 

[dcarney75]

I would just like to add to Wex there.
Is Bentley still offski?

I'm not ITK by any stretch of the imagination, but I get the feeling that the last couple of weeks mean that this is still to be decided. If he is knuckling down as reported (and his last few performances have indicated that he is) then I'm sure 'Arry will view him as a valuable member of the squad.

What do people think of the "Bentley in London = too many distractions/dickhead mates etc..." theory?

 

[Dr Know]

I said Harry didn't big up Bentley enough IMO in the post match interview and I heard him on talksport last night and he sounded like he was saying to other clubs listening that Bentley is a "triffic lad" I think Harry has made his mind up about him and even if he gets MOM in the next 10 games he won't change his mind


Please can we get the bloody edit button back.

 

[Scutch]

Lovren??? pie in the sky??? his club actually said we put in a bid, no

I think pie in the sky in this context means we didn't have a chance of getting him in this window.

 

[hybridsoldier]

Lovren??? pie in the sky??? his club actually said we put in a bid, no

i dont buy it, alot of clubs use other clubs names to get higher bids from interested parties. Im not saying we didnt make a bid, but I wouldn't take his clubs word for anythigng

 

[TheWaddler]

For someone as accurate as POTL, given he got the Pav-to-be-gone-by-5pm thing wrong (Update 74), I was hoping he would explain what happened, but he hasn't really done so there.

 

[taidgh]

yeah, want to know re: sandro as well. all's quiet but not in a good way...

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Not sure about Young and Richards as top targets either. They might have been previously but with Kaboul signed do we really need Richards as well? Whilst I like Young a lot and he would offer us more pace in the side we have great left side options right now.

I'd imagine Harry will be looking for a top class big man up front if we make Champions League. Another central midfielder would be nice too.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Not sure about Young and Richards as top targets either. They might have been previously but with Kaboul signed do we really need Richards as well? Whilst I like Young a lot and he would offer us more pace in the side we have great left side options right now.

I'd imagine Harry will be looking for a top class big man up front if we make Champions League. Another central midfielder would be nice too.

Yeah, I don't want to sound a douber because POTL is actually almost always spot on with transfers, injury news, etc, but Young and Richards sounds like two of the last players we need looking at the current squad. Ok, IF neither King nor Woodgate are here next season, I could understand Richards (though would prefer someone else I think) but Young? That would have to mean an exit for Modric and I see that happening.

I'd have thought, like you say, a central midfielder and a striker are the logical targets, given that we only have 3 central midfielders in contention and once summer comes we will probably lose 2 out of Eidur, Roman and Robbie.

 

[rockyhotspur]

yeah, want to know re: sandro as well. all's quiet but not in a good way...

and Kjaer.

 

[$hoguN]

I've been thinking about the young being a transfer target piece of POTL post and it only makes sense if Harry wants to go to a Mourinho-esque 4-3-3

with

Modric/Krancjar - Palacios - Huddlestone

Young - Defoe - Lennon

But that formation would leave Defoe isolated; and probably wouldn't get the best out of Modric or Krancjar

 

[$hoguN]

Also don't think Lennon could score enough goals to justify that formation

 

[punky]

I was surprised about Keane as he was supposedly uphappy about not playing. If he was that unhappy how could he lift the dressing room?

I'm guessing now Bentley will fill the vacuum. He's a real live wire although I thought they fed off each other.

Doesn't bode well that people are unhappy he's gone although it was his choice.