What's going on? He's 'been back training' for weeks apparently, yet never appears on the team sheet, even when as against Rubin, there were plenty of vacancies. I shall be scouring the pictures from training this week to see if I can spot the elusive Mr P, hey maybe even the OS will tell me what's occurring. Nah, now I'm getting silly, ain't I
Seems a bit mysterious doesn't it. They say he's fit but is never seen and the EL match last week was a perfect way to get some match fitness. Anybody close to the club shed some light on this.
Not bothered about him to be honest G10, think he's utter pony. Amazed that he won Everton's POTY award. I was under the impression he was signed to replace Niko who looked to be on the way out and was supposedly a better player... Only thing he has over Niko is more willingness to track back, other than that, Niko wins hands down for me for a starting position when its available. Hope we sell him in Jan to get him off the wage bill as I think he's on £60k a week which he really doesn't justify. He'll never be a first teamer and with the youngsters coming through in positions where he'd play (Andros at left wing, Tommy Carroll and Livermore in the centre, Gio on the right) I'd rather use them and aid their development. Though I wish you the best in trying to spot him in trying pics!
Hi PL, it's soooooo strange. Has the Lodge become the new Bermuda triangle? Hi Tots and SOS, I can see where you're coming from, but completely disagree. I was all for signing him, and IF he can get fit again, he'd be an absolutely vital squad member. But for some reason, ever since we bought him he's been injured in some form or other. On the form and ability he showed for Everton he was a great acquisition to the squad for that price, but obviously we haven't seen the 'Everton Steve'. He's also captain of South Africa, which is another indication of his abilities.
He's offered nothing to us though G10 since he signed, I agree at Everton he looked a decent player but Arteta and Cahill would have been far better acquisitions than, even if they may have been more expensive. He had a half decent game against Milan at the San Siro and done well to win the penalty at Anfield (pryor to that had an appauling game), bar that, there's nothing positive about his performances, he's been a hinderence at times - sloppy passing and poor shooting ability definitely comes to mind. For a guy who's on one of the highest wages at the club should, in my eyes be a player who'd be a guaranteed starter and crowd favourite (ala Bale, Rafa etc) not a squad member, which he is at best and even at that, I wouldn't have him in a fully fit match day squad (although Spurs and fully fit is pretty much an oxymoron! ). Perhaps I'm being a bit harsh as he hasn't had a pre-season with our squad since he signed and therefore still hasn't had time to get into the Spurs rhythm but I still stand by the fact that I'd rather sell him and see Townsend, Carroll and the rest get playing time instead.
What's with the stupid emoticon? right back to you. There was I thinking just this morning what a nice well-behaved board this was, then someone like you has to come along and spoil things.
I agree SOS he hasn't offered us much, because he's been perpetually injured. It's pointless comparing him to Cahill or Arteta, because they weren't available at £2m, and maybe didn't want to join us at the time. You have to judge the deal on its merits, not looking at other players. I don't know what his wages are, but it's unfair judging him on those as well, the club agrees them, it's not his fault. I remember how Bent got unfairly judged on his fee, that's not the player's fault. I think at the price we paid, it was a good deal, and I'm happy that Levy knows enough about our wage structure to deal adequately with that. I was completely happy to get, what I always saw a good squad member', and have no doubt if he gets back to his Eveton form, he would be in our match day squad most weeks and games, precisely because we always have injuries/suspension/rotations, especially in Europe and for the domestic cups. To me, it's a definite miss that he's not available. He would have made the team v Rubin, and I think Harry would probably send him out there for the away game as well, as vital experience for us, if he were fit.
GH10 my wife's nephew is a Everton tragic and he told me that contrary to everyone thinks he is injury prone and was when he was there. But when he's fit he a valuable utility player.
Just pointing out that being captain of S.A isn't exactly a hallmark of quality. Ramon Vega was a Swiss international. The Great Helder Postiga was a Portuguese international. Two teams who are superior to South Africa in every area of the pitch, and look what good that did us! Didn't mean to cause any offence with the emoticon mate. Apologies.
Fair enough PL, I don't know that much about him at Everton, injury-wise. IF he was injury-prone, THEN I have to start questioning the validity of the deal, which otherwise looked a real bargain.
I gained more satisfaction from the fact that he quite publicly 'chose' us over chavski than from the actual transfer itself.
Fair enough Helder, and apologies for any over-reaction on my part. I love this board already, and don't want to start getting involved with petty fights with fellow Spurs. It's bound to happen with oppo fans, but I love it when we Spurs get on even when we differ. Regarding your points, fair enough, but neither Vega or Postiga were their country's captain, and Ronaldo is Portugese and I wouldn't mind him in our team There have been some decent SA players over the years, and Pienaar is obviously one of them. IF he was injury-prone when we bought him, then that is a problem and Levy and Redknapp's judgment then has to be called into question. But when I've seen him for Everton, he's always seemed a neat, tidy player and well worth £2m. It was on that basis that i welcomed his signing and am sad he rarely plays for us.
I think, a little like Niko, it is a case of you get what you pay for. Both have something to offer, neither are complete players, (or at least as complete as the regular faces at Spurs,) hence their relatively low valuation. Basically, not good enough and in Pienaar surely, a player who will go out on loan or be sold in the next window, if not in the summer.
Very good points in regards to the club deciding to agree the wage terms G10 and also at the time, £2m for a player to help increase the squad strength seemed a good bit of business. However, why the club would pay a player who'd warm the bench more often than not wages that would eclipse some of our current first teamers is beyond me, could have also back fired (which in fairness it doesn't seem to have done) as the first teamers could have thrown a hissy fit. Also, as of right now, Pienaar isn't worth £500k in my eyes. Yes injuries haven't helped but he hasn't played good enough for me to feel his injury is a huge blow, in fairness I don't think we've missed him and I honestly haven't seen anyone on the forum thus far say "we could have done with Pienaar that game". The youngsters that have come in have performed far better in my opinion and their wages combined wouldn't match Pienaar's (which I think must be around the £65k mark as that was what most papers and the media said he was on at Everton and I doubt he'd have joined us when Everton offered a new deal and Chelsea were interested too). Which brings me to my initial point of why I'd sell him now. We'd have have a substantial amount off the wage bill which could contribute to adding real star quality in January/ next summer and it'd allow us to place more faith in the youngsters - something which I've always been keen on, nothing better than seeing the likes of Carroll, Townsend, Livermore come in and do really well and know that they've cost us peanuts. Look at Caulker at Swansea too, although injured at the moment it's great to see someone of his age, who prior to his injury was performing very well at the highest level.
Fair enough SOS, but for the record I think there's quite a few games in which we've missed (a top form) Pienaar this season. At least 3 of the EL matches, the Carling Cup game, and I'd have rather seen him come on at Rovers on the weekend than Rose.
For the minimal fee he cost it seemed a no brainer at the time. Unfortunately for him he has had bad luck with injuries since he joined us. I'll wait until he is fit and plays a few more times before I slate him.
