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Was it wrong to sell Adel Taarabt?

rsmith

The hand of Ghod
Nov 8, 2006
792
848
It was a mistake to sell him, but an understandable mistake.

He needs a team built around him. We couldn't have taken that gamble, QPR could. Playing for QPR in the premiership next year will not give us a great indication of how could he is. However a team like Everton or Villa should absolutely be breaking the bank to sign him and build around him.
 

macspurs

Member
Aug 6, 2005
316
7
I agree with most of what has been said - he showed alot of promise when we had him, but what an arse! It looks very likely that QPR will be back up this year, and then we'll see. I just hope to God that we chucked in a massive sell on clause in case he takes the prem by storm and the big Euro clubs pounce. I don't think we sold him for much at all. Surely Levy was his usual canny self with that one ....
 

Paolo10

Well-Known Member
Apr 6, 2004
6,179
7,621
Taraabt is a complete prick with great feet and a big head, big deal. Good riddance tbh.
 

Sarsipius

"Show me his legs"
Jan 18, 2005
3,207
5,493
The quick answer is no, Tottenham were not wrong to sell him.

Despite his unbelievable talent with a football at his feet he really had not developed sufficiently as an actual footballer in terms of being able to play effectively for a team in what is fundamentally a team game. And, having grown frustrated with his lack of opportunities with us had become a seemingly unpleasant presence with his continuous whining.

To posses great trickery with a football is a thing to be admired in itself, but it doesn't define a career. Maradona isn't respected for the player he was solely on account of the one solo run from the half-way line against England in Mexico 1986. He created and scored goals consistently as part of a team throughout. The same could be said of Messi, arguably the best player playing today. Yes he'll beat his man with skill when needed but he also knows the importance of playing in his team mates when possible.

The great irony in the Tottenham/Tarrabt sage being that he came to us labelled as the 'new Zidane'. There couldn't be a more polar opposite comparison. Zidane's game wasn't about dribbling from the half way line, ignoring better placed team mates for the sake of personal glory. Quite the opposite. Look over any of his many highlight videos on youtube and you'll see endless demonstrations of skill in receiving balls, controlling them before releasing perfectly weighted/angled balls to put team mates through on goal or to allow them to provide the final pass.

Coupled to all of Zidane's football mastery were his fantastic qualities as a man. Very rarely ruffled (obvious exceptions noted) he always lead by example and for me couldn't have been a more dignified ambassador for the game (again obvious exceptions noted). Not only did he look like a monk during the baldspot years, but he almost held himself like one. A man of real character.

Sadly, for Adel if he doesn't grow up as a person as well as a footballer he will forever resemble that kid in the playground who tries to dribble round everyone else and refuses to pass unless he really has to and then only if it makes him look good (and that actually everyone really hates).

It's a nice cliche that we love great players at Spurs (though doesn't every football fan wish that for their club?) but simply possesing great talent doesn't make you a great player.
 
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