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Valon Behrami

ButchCassidy

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Jul 12, 2012
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Napoli, Behrami could leave in June: the prosecutor sees Tottenham
gianlucadimarzio.com
03/04/2014 - 12:00

valon-behrami.jpg

Behrami and Naples, parallel destinies. The Swiss midfielder is farther and farther from Naples, in June the streets could finally separate.Ramadani, the boy's attorney, flew to London a few days ago to speak with Tottenham. First contact, a chat to probe the future plans. And evaluate possible market dynamics. Behrami like in Italy, some winking Inter Mazzarri. Contract expiring in May 2017, Behrami's future yet to be written. The games are open.
 

Barry Mead

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Jan 31, 2013
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I really can't see anything in this, not a player we need or would want, sounds more like an agent trying to get his name in the press
 

Knarf44

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Jun 30, 2008
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Admittedly haven't seen much of him recently but from what I remember of him being at the Spammers he didn't stand out as anything special. Maybe the EPL doesn't suit him but I can't see that he offers us anything. Certainly not an upgrade on who we have now so what would be the point?
 

DaSpurs

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Jan 20, 2013
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Admittedly haven't seen much of him recently but from what I remember of him being at the Spammers he didn't stand out as anything special. Maybe the EPL doesn't suit him but I can't see that he offers us anything. Certainly not an upgrade on who we have now so what would be the point?

Iirc he played as a fullback for West Ham. He's since moved to CDM and has become a solid option there for both Switzerland and Napoli. If Capoue does indeed want to bounce this summer, we could do a lot worse than this guy.

As I said in another thread that was brought up about him, we could do with more gnarly fuckers in the squad anyway, as an Italian fashion designer said at the beginning of the season that we were the "cutest team." Plus you can't not like the added bonus of fucking off the Spammers with such an acquisition.
 

Hoddle&Waddle

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Nov 25, 2012
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Pointless to keep buying players like this, no better than we have, would be a complete waste of money. Rather give someboby like Velkovic a squad place.
 

DaSpurs

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Jan 20, 2013
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Pointless to keep buying players like this, no better than we have, would be a complete waste of money. Rather give someboby like Velkovic a squad place.

I agree that it would be senseless without any sales. But for the third time, if Capoue does leave, this player would not be a bad option. Veljkovic is unfortunately not ready to step into such a role anytime soon, as he's not even remotely big enough. Part of the reason the coaching staff moved him from CB to CDM for the academy squad was because of their concern with his physicality.
 

Hoddle&Waddle

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Nov 25, 2012
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I agree that it would be senseless without any sales. But for the third time, if Capoue does leave, this player would not be a bad option. Veljkovic is unfortunately not ready to step into such a role anytime soon, as he's not even remotely big enough. Part of the reason the coaching staff moved him from CB to CDM for the academy squad was because of their concern with his physicality.
How do you know Velkovic is not ready, nobody knows until he's given a chance. Aslo I don't see why his size matters for a CDM, remember Makelele? He basically defined the position and was about 5ft'5".
 

DaSpurs

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Jan 20, 2013
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How do you know Velkovic is not ready, nobody knows until he's given a chance. Aslo I don't see why his size matters for a CDM, remember Makelele? He basically defined the position and was about 5ft'5".

Because DaSpurs makes no such statements about a player without being based on fact. One of the coaches cited this very reason last year for the positional change. You're absolutely right size shouldn't rule a player out for such a role, but coupled with the coach's quotes the painted picture is quite clear.

If we do sell Capoue (which I hope we don't), and go into next season with the oft-injured Sandro, Bentaleb, and Veljkovic as our back line shielders, it would be unreasonable to expect better results next season regardless of any changes made to the back line. So if you're more focused on a very long term project at the expense of immediate success, that's certainly fair and I've no debate with you.
 

Hoddle&Waddle

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Nov 25, 2012
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Because DaSpurs makes no such statements about a player without being based on fact. One of the coaches cited this very reason last year for the positional change. You're absolutely right size shouldn't rule a player out for such a role, but coupled with the coach's quotes the painted picture is quite clear.

If we do sell Capoue (which I hope we don't), and go into next season with the oft-injured Sandro, Bentaleb, and Veljkovic as our back line shielders, it would be unreasonable to expect better results next season regardless of any changes made to the back line. So if you're more focused on a very long term project at the expense of immediate success, that's certainly fair and I've no debate with you.
So he got moved to CDM from CB..whats that got to do with anything? I'm saying we should give youth a chance, rather than be stuck in this ever revolving circle of buying average players.
 

DaSpurs

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Jan 20, 2013
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So he got moved to CDM from CB..whats that got to do with anything? I'm saying we should give youth a chance, rather than be stuck in this ever revolving circle of buying average players.

A) ...Has to do with everything considering the coaches were concerned with a primary role of a CDM and CB in this league.

B) I agree that we shouldn't buy average players and I agree that youth should be given a chance (you may note in the Pritchard returning thread that I'm one of the strongest advocates that he receive some time against Villa), but every player in every role has to be examined regardless. If the coaches cited a concern that is fundamental to such a position in this league, it is entirely reasonable to have doubts about expecting the player to immediately perform in said league.

C) Behrami is no longer an average player. He has been quite good for the Swiss and Napoli since his position change. Just because Baldini is shit at evaluating talent doesn't mean I'm about to stop evaluating foreign players entirely at the expense of domestic or our academy players.
 
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Lufti

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Jan 3, 2013
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A) ...Has to do with everything considering the coaches were concerned with a primary role of a CDM and CB in this league.

B) I agree that we shouldn't buy average players and I agree that youth should be given a chance (you may note in the Pritchard returning thread that I'm one of the strongest advocates that he receive some time against Villa), but every player in every role has to be examined regardless. If the coaches cited a concern that is fundamental to such a position in this league, it is entirely reasonable to have doubts about expecting the player to immediately perform in said league.

C) Behrami is no longer an average player. He has been quite good for the Swiss and Napoli since his position change.

And given his fallouts with Inler, it looks like one of them will move on. Why not I say, better ball playing CB than our other two and more consistent
 

DaSpurs

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Jan 20, 2013
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And given his fallouts with Inler, it looks like one of them will move on. Why not I say, better ball playing CB than our other two and more consistent

And less injury-prone. However, if Cap is willing to stay I'm all for him going forward. I think he would be one of our players to benefit the very most from a more open field with elimination of the high line.
 

Snarfalicious

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Jul 15, 2012
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Not really a big fan of Behrami. He's okay at just about everything but not really good/great at anything. Jack of all trades but master of none, basically.

To be honest, Bentaleb is pretty comparable and he's only 19 years old. Bentaleb offers more range of passing and I do believe he's got more in his locker in attack (than he's shown and in comparison to Behrami).

It'd be an unnecessary signing in my mind.
 

Lufti

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Jan 3, 2013
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Not really a big fan of Behrami. He's okay at just about everything but not really good/great at anything. Jack of all trades but master of none, basically.

To be honest, Bentaleb is pretty comparable and he's only 19 years old. Bentaleb offers more range of passing and I do believe he's got more in his locker in attack (than he's shown and in comparison to Behrami).

It'd be an unnecessary signing in my mind.

Except that Bentaleb is hapless in defence and has poor positioning
 

Snarfalicious

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Jul 15, 2012
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Except that Bentaleb is hapless in defence and has poor positioning

I don't see it that way at all, to be honest. Lapses? Yes, but that's also expected. He does have a tendency to "sink" into the wrong man, but there have been times when he has dropped back into vacant spaces left by our fullbacks and in return has stopped counters or at least slowed them greatly. I immediately think of against Southampton when he did this repeatedly. I don't view him as strictly-speaking a DM, but more so a B2B at this point with the potential to become a deep lying playmaker should his passing continue to develop.

He's 19 years old. I think it's a bit ridiculous to think he'd come in and be absolutely polished all around. Well, unless you're Tim Sherwood.
 
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