VDB going to Man Utd and they’re targeting Upamecano next. Them and Chelsea strengthening big time this summer. Obviously the biggest transfer will be Messi if he joins City but makes me feel very underwhelmed as a Spurs fan to see Josh ‘6 goals last season’ King being linked
More talk of Gazza going to Fulham is doing the rounds. Based on the pre-season games it certainly looks as though Hart has immediately joined as 2nd choice keeper. Gotta be a kick in the bollocks for Gazza I’d imagine, I’m also quite surprised at it too because even though I think Hart will be great to have around the place, he doesn’t fill me with much confidence based on his last couple of seasons. Gazza for the most part has been a reliable number 2 and at times put in some great performances.
To go like for like, rewind 5 years, and this was the summer incomings : Kieran Trippier Kevin Wimmer Toby Alderweireld Clinton N'Jie Son Heung-min Alli (already signed during the winter) and we know how the then squad performed over the next two seasons. Compare and contrast I guess once the transfer window closes.
Signing Hart to lose Gazzaniga would be a backwards step for me I thought Hart was here to replace Vorm as the experienced elder 3rd choice
The other signings of Hart, Hojbjerg and Doherty are solid if not spectacular but again I’ll say I feel the club needs a big name with a bit of extra quality to go with them. Always seem to be linked but never get the deal done (Dybala, Bruno, Van de Beek). Imo a glamour name will give the whole club a massive boost.
Gonna sound like the worst of the Liberal Democrats but I actually can see both sides to this. Like you, I have reservations about Hart but Gazzaniga did not distinguish himself from October to January when Lloris was out injured. It's going to be a tough and important choice
Both are adequate as backups to come in and play games in and there. But selling Gazzaniga would mean another keeper is needed unless the club is gonna have a young keeper as 3rd choice. I like the idea of 3 senior keepers rather than 2 and 1 youngster. Imo the young keepers need to be playing week in week out so loan them out rather than stifle their development by being back up to Lloris and Hart
Considering how Hugo wasn't distinguishing himself either side of that period, that's more due to our midfield being about as effective at breaking up play as a slice of carrot cake We were having the exact same conversation about Paul Robinson and Heurelho Gomes when both of them happened to have Didier Zokora being as effective at screening our defence as Barren Dent was
It's interesting to me that our current transfers Hojberg, Hart and Doherty are more like Harry Redknapp signings than anybody else. Not glamour but targeted to the need of the team. Apart from Van de Vaart which was glamorous as well as extremely effective Harry's additions were always designed for the team. Jose sings from the same book.
For the first time in a long time it does seem the present is being concentrated on rather than the future (signing 21-23 year olds) Time will tell if that’s the right approach but good to see the club being flexible.
I presume the club thinks good business can be made, Jose clearly likes Hart and it would seem he's joined immediately as second choice judging by how pre-season has gone (which is a kick in the bollocks for Gazzaniga) and so getting him for nothing and selling Gazzaniga for possibly £10m I'd imagine (having paid £2.5m for him) would make sense from a financial standpoint, especially as it's no secret we've been hit harder than most during covid. Alternatively maybe Gazza himself just wants out? 28 with two years left on his deal, possibly demoted back to third choice, may fancy his chances at finally being a first choice keeper somewhere else. Independiente are supposedly looking at him too.
Barcelona are a mess. Didn’t PSG bid €90million for him in 2018 and now they’re losing him on a free Apparently Rakitic was desperate to rejoin Sevilla so no other club stood a chance
Yes Rumours were he wanted to go back there so I guess it was gonna be tough to convince him otherwise. Apparently he's even agreed a 50% wage cut just to join them.
Ivan’ll Fix It In all seriousness though apparently it was always his first choice and after all he used to play for them. I’m not too miffed, I thought he was a bit old and would be a risk. I know DH wanted him though.
