Valon Behrami

[Cavehillspur]

Napoli midfielder, formerly of West Ham, agent supposedly in talks with Spurs over a summer move. Plays same position as Capoue - were Lazio interested in Capoue or was that Napoli? Always get those 2 mixed up as they play in sky blue lol

http://www.insidefutbol.com/2014/04...alon-behrami-has-talks-with-tottenham/134485/

 

[VegasII]

Napoli wanted him. Could be a swap like we did Postiga & Mendes.

Or most likely agent swill.

 

[Chris12]

Napoli were interested

 

[DaSpurs]

Honestly wouldn't mind it if had any ounce of truth. We need more gnarly fuckers in our squad, and I'm not even kidding. Far too many nice, handsome fellas in the squad.

 

[DanielCHillier]

Honestly wouldn't mind it if had any ounce of truth. We need more gnarly fuckers in our squad, and I'm not even kidding. Far too many nice, handsome fellas in the squad.

Would you say the uglier the better, maybe someone on a par with Ribery in the looks department?

 

[DaSpurs]

Would you say the uglier the better, maybe someone on a par with Ribery in the looks department?

Haha nah, we don't need any more discouragement keeping ladies away from the Lane. But we do have a good many nice-looking, smiley guys who I'm not sure would yell at a fly if it landed in their food. That's all well n dandy, but it works better if you give them a core of gnarly fuckers to keep them and the opposition in line. Sandro really is all we have in such a department.

 

[Davo99]

It was Napoli who wanted Capoue, though Behrami used to play for Lazio as well. He isn't that bad but I wouldn't swap Etienne Capoue for Valon Behrami, not the position we should be looking to strengthen with Sandro and Bentaleb also more defensive minded centre mids

 

[DaSpurs]

It was Napoli who wanted Capoue, though Behrami used to play for Lazio as well. He isn't that bad but I wouldn't swap Etienne Capoue for Valon Behrami, not the position we should be looking to strengthen with Sandro and Bentaleb also more defensive minded centre mids

I don't think it would come at the expenditure of other positions. It'd be a like-for-like swap, and it seems the club is genuinely concerned with Capoue's injury record since coming here.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Another Swiss player, so I'll comment real quick. Has really hit the prime of his career, and as someone said up there, not scared at all to go in for the ball (not in a dirty way though) and fight in the match...would be a nice change compared to some of Paulinho/Dembele/Sigurdsson's CM performances. He is a real battler, can't remember the last time I've seen him lose a 1v1. Good player on the ball too though. However, I'd be a little surprised if Napoli broke up their 3 Swiss CM contingent, because all 3 are very good players and get along, and they can rotate them effectively too. I wouldn't be opposed at all to this because Behrami is a bit like a more skillful and stronger Scott Parker...However, we have too many CMs already so I'd expect one of Dembele/Paulinho/Capoue to go if this were true. I'd expect Behrami to start at the WC for us so I'd imagine we do the transfer before then, his value might rise a bit during Brazil. Primarily a defensive minded center midfielder, but played on either wing as well earlier in his career - think he did it for West Ham too. Like I said, an upgraded Parker - defensively very good, battler, 110% percent, but with something more about him when going forward. Can't remember how many times Parker won the ball in midfield, charged forward, and nothing happened. Was one of his only faults.

 

[DaSpurs]

Another Swiss player, so I'll comment real quick. Has really hit the prime of his career, and as someone said up there, not scared at all to go in for the ball (not in a dirty way though) and fight in the match...would be a nice change compared to some of Paulinho/Dembele/Sigurdsson's CM performances. He is a real battler, can't remember the last time I've seen him lose a 1v1. Good player on the ball too though. However, I'd be a little surprised if Napoli broke up their 3 Swiss CM contingent, because all 3 are very good players and get along, and they can rotate them effectively too. I wouldn't be opposed at all to this because Behrami is a bit like a more skillful and stronger Scott Parker...However, we have too many CMs already so I'd expect one of Dembele/Paulinho/Capoue to go if this were true. I'd expect Behrami to start at the WC for us so I'd imagine we do the transfer before then, his value might rise a bit during Brazil. Primarily a defensive minded center midfielder, but played on either wing as well earlier in his career - think he did it for West Ham too. Like I said, an upgraded Parker - defensively very good, battler, 110% percent, but with something more about him when going forward. Can't remember how many times Parker won the ball in midfield, charged forward, and nothing happened. Was one of his only faults.

An excellent description, and as such this is exactly the kind of player I'd like to shield the back line. With Sandro and Capoue's injury records, shipping Capoue and bringing this guy in seems to be most likely to our advantage. I assume since he is Swiss, and has already played in England, he would be at least fluent in English. Would certainly help out squad dynamics, especially playing in a commanding position on the pitch.

 

[Syn_13]

Another Swiss player, so I'll comment real quick. Has really hit the prime of his career, and as someone said up there, not scared at all to go in for the ball (not in a dirty way though) and fight in the match...would be a nice change compared to some of Paulinho/Dembele/Sigurdsson's CM performances. He is a real battler, can't remember the last time I've seen him lose a 1v1. Good player on the ball too though. However, I'd be a little surprised if Napoli broke up their 3 Swiss CM contingent, because all 3 are very good players and get along, and they can rotate them effectively too. I wouldn't be opposed at all to this because Behrami is a bit like a more skillful and stronger Scott Parker...However, we have too many CMs already so I'd expect one of Dembele/Paulinho/Capoue to go if this were true. I'd expect Behrami to start at the WC for us so I'd imagine we do the transfer before then, his value might rise a bit during Brazil. Primarily a defensive minded center midfielder, but played on either wing as well earlier in his career - think he did it for West Ham too. Like I said, an upgraded Parker - defensively very good, battler, 110% percent, but with something more about him when going forward. Can't remember how many times Parker won the ball in midfield, charged forward, and nothing happened. Was one of his only faults.

I've been very impressed with him at Napoli and Fiorentina in recent years. He's often the unsung hero with Inler picking up most of the plaudits. I actually rate him more than Inler, I think he's got a lot more drive about him and he's come a long way since his West Ham days. He's a good utility player and would be great cover for right back, better than Naughton definitely. He does have the odd Parker moment when going forward, sometimes his forward passing can be lacking, but he's certainly better on the ball.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Yep, very much an unsung hero if you will. He works his ass off winning the balls and distributing them and then when Inler scores one of his 40 yard piledrivers he gets the plaudits.

Would have no problem fitting in the EPL with his style, and yeah, English shouldn't be a problem for him.

 

[Japhet]

It was Napoli who wanted Capoue, though Behrami used to play for Lazio as well. He isn't that bad but I wouldn't swap Etienne Capoue for Valon Behrami, not the position we should be looking to strengthen with Sandro and Bentaleb also more defensive minded centre mids

Bentaleb has been useless as a defensive midfielder.

 

[$hoguN]

He is not fit to lace Sandro or Capoue's boots

 

[Barry Mead]

I don't think it would come at the expenditure of other positions. It'd be a like-for-like swap, and it seems the club is genuinely concerned with Capoue's injury record since coming here.

I really don't see why the club would have any worries about injuries for Capoue, he played practically every game for Tolouse for about 5 years, he had one injury and a club that has had the likes of Anderton, Scales, King, Woody, Ferdinand and Kaboul out for huge lengths or amounts of time starts to worry?

I would imagine the only time our lot worry about a players injuries are when they read their obituary in The Times

 

[Kalim]

He is not fit to lace Sandro or Capoue's boots

Who are you talking about Benteleb or Brahiimi

 

[DaSpurs]

I really don't see why the club would have any worries about injuries for Capoue, he played practically every game for Tolouse for about 5 years, he had one injury and a club that has had the likes of Anderton, Scales, King, Woody, Ferdinand and Kaboul out for huge lengths or amounts of time starts to worry?

I would imagine the only time our lot worry about a players injuries are when they read their obituary in The Times

I'd like to agree with you, but there was some supposed ITK in January that said the reason the club was talking to a few suitors about Capoue wasn't because Tim thought particularly poorly of him but rather because the club was concerned about his injury status. I rated him pretty highly on his play in August, but you must admit that it's a concern that he's been fit for all of about two months this season. And you're absolutely right to bring up the injury statuses of some of the other long-term issues, so wouldn't they be closer to threshold in willingness to sell off a guy who's barely had time to settle and make attachments yet?

 

[Barry Mead]

I'd like to agree with you, but there was some supposed ITK in January that said the reason the club was talking to a few suitors about Capoue wasn't because Tim thought particularly poorly of him but rather because the club was concerned about his injury status. I rated him pretty highly on his play in August, but you must admit that it's a concern that he's been fit for all of about two months this season. And you're absolutely right to bring up the injury statuses of some of the other long-term issues, so wouldn't they be closer to threshold in willingness to sell off a guy who's barely had time to settle and make attachments yet?

Well he's supposedly been fit for a while but Sherwood hasn't picked him. I don't really know but our medical room does seem to have become something of a Bermuda Triangle for players, they go in there for a short trip but seem to disappear, occasionally small glimpses are seen before they once again seem to disappear.

I think he was rushed back from injury because we needed someone to play CB, maybe he aggravated the injury and that can happen again it hardly makes a player injury prone simply more prone to additional niggles if they are rushed back

I might say there was some concern if he wasn't supposedly fit now and might have a career threatening injury but that doesn't seem the case

So I find it curious that there are these rumours specifically about a player that has been far less injury prone than the bulk of the team

 

[nightgoat]

Didn't Spam play him at full back? I only seem to remember him being crap in the Premier League before.

 

[DaSpurs]

Well he's supposedly been fit for a while but Sherwood hasn't picked him. I don't really know but our medical room does seem to have become something of a Bermuda Triangle for players, they go in there for a short trip but seem to disappear, occasionally small glimpses are seen before they once again seem to disappear.

I think he was rushed back from injury because we needed someone to play CB, maybe he aggravated the injury and that can happen again it hardly makes a player injury prone simply more prone to additional niggles if they are rushed back

I might say there was some concern if he wasn't supposedly fit now and might have a career threatening injury but that doesn't seem the case

So I find it curious that there are these rumours specifically about a player that has been far less injury prone than the bulk of the team

I agree, as there's been all kinds of weird things going on with our "injured players" for a few years now. I actually starting banging on the drum about how shitty our medical team was this past fall, so I'm happy to see folks now realizing that this has become unacceptable. They seem to be shrouded in the darkness that is the news that our club puts out. I think we'd all like a real answer as to what in truth is going on with our transfer record.