Arsenal are talking about Vertonghen and Chelsea are going to bid for Krul according to talksport,i think
A lot of people saying Hoilett as backup for Lennon/ Bale, what are people's views on Pennant? He seems a certainty to leave stoke after falling out with Pulis. He may be a former Arsenal man, but as long as he plays well that wouldn't bother me. Failing that, someone like the young Marc Albrighton?
I really don't understand why so many want rid of Defoe. it's impossible to replace him as strikers cost a fortune and he's a good player, but doesn't get enough game time. he's the 1 striker we've got who will score a goal out of nothing, like the goal against united. Defoe's a natural finisher and a poacher in front of goal. if we sell him to someone who can give him regular game time, it'll come back to haunt us. caulker is looking very promising, but i still believe we need a big name centre back until caulker is ready. the potential demands from us next season could be a lot for him. although he might not be first choice centre back, it's still a lot of pressure to put on young shoulders. although the wage bill for the dead wood has been hideous for some time, in terms of money spent to acquire players and money from sales... we've done pretty well and it's relatively balanced. now we need to spend to make the difference.
i would'nt sell Defoe,we have to remember ade will probably go back to £ity at the end of the season Harry will go to England,by the time we get someone in the transfer window might be closing and we'd be short on strikers
He's shown at times to be a good player, and might be a bit clueless at times, (incident with the Porsche) but I don't really see the problem?
The only thing I'd say about JD is yes hes a very good striker but doesn't suit our best formation. He would do well in 4-4-2 and we can't manage that.
Exactly, thats the issue and for me personally I'd rather VdV over Defoe just because he can score and create chances.
However you look at it, Defoe is an odd man out - he can't play the primary striker role because he can't hold the ball up like Ade has done so this season, whilst in the supporting role he doesn't drop deep and link play like VDV has for the last couple (which, thinking about it, was also the problem he had when the Berbatov/Keane partnership was firing on all cylinders) Last season we were salivating at the thought of him getting onto VDV's passes and he didn't deliver, and he doesn't like with Ade like Saha or VDV do. If we can get a good offer whilst finding a replacement (or a Leandro-shaped improvement), selling him makes more sense than keeping him around.
like it already did,so we bought him back...just to put the lad through the same crap again....yeh he hits row Z alot....but hes a cracking player and looks just right in a Spurs shirt!!
I'll have to disagree there, that he is not, his movement and awareness around the 6yd box is dire, one of the thickest forwards I've seen, if he see's his partner at one post, he goes and joins him! Way too many crosses go begging, especially Bales, a wingers job is to get crosses into good areas, and he does that every game, its up to the strikers from there to get in the right place. Yes he scores goals, usually shots around the 18yd box, very predictable and decent defenders keep him quiet more often than not. Not to mention crap in the air, limiting the type of cross our wingers have to put in when he plays. He does score out of nothing, but its not enough to rely on. JD has good spells, then periods of nothing, in fact when all he's doing is giving the ball away being offside he can be a liability.
Llorente and Hangeland are too old, if we spend any sizeable money it will be on quality young players with the potential for their values to increase. I`d bring Caulker back to replace Nelson, and would be ecstatic if we could get any or all of Hazard, Leandro or Remy. We need at least 1 top drawer striker, quality backup winger and full back, a new centre back and maybe a goalkeeper to eventually replace Brad
I can see both sides of the Defoe argument. Firstly, it's hard to deny that he is a proven premiership goalscorer. Those are not as easy to come by as some may think. On the other hand, I agree with Notso that he's doesn't seem to have been given his fair share of brain cells. He's instinctive, rather than cunning, like some strikers. All in all, I'd be inclined to keep him as a valuable squad player assuming he's prepared to accept that he won't be a starter in most games.
If he's happy to be on the bench, he'd be perfect as he's the type of player that can help us overload teams we're not breaking down and can score goals out of nothing at times. It doesn't sound like he's happy to be a bit part player though. Edit: Basically what NSS said
Llorente too old? 27 is a great age for a striker. He's in the prime of his career and according to reports, will be the man to lead the Spain frontline in the Euro's. I'd happily pay £30m for someone like him, get the best out of him for the next 4/5 years and then either sell him for a small fee or let him go at the end of his contract... Providing he'd suit our system and bang in the goals, his costs will be covered by (hopefully) Champions League revenue and possbile trophies. Sometimes it's not always about the sell on value, look at Scotty Parker. Getting Hazard would make us an incredible force on the attack. Though with City interested, they'll blow us out the water financially so it'd depend on Hazard as to whether he'd be interested in our cause to try and become a major force in Europe, we could probably guarantee a starting spot where as City couldn't, so maybe that could sway it too.
Notso, we must watch a different player. yes defoe is always offside, but that's the way he plays. - he hangs off the last defender. like i said in my previous comment, he scores goals out of nothing and is a good finisher. some times you need that. I can honestly say out of all our strikers, I feel most comfortable with Defoe in a goal scoring situation. Ade misses tonnes and I've not seen enough of Saha yet. you say he had good spells and then periods of nothing, but he NEVER gets a regular run. he comes on for 20 odd mins and puts in a good shift, often scoring then we don't see him again for 2 or 3 games. I do agree with you about defoe in the air, but this is just like those who say that "he can't hold the ball up like ade"... we know that. he's not the same type of player. VDV seems to get so much praise, but he's always injured, last 60-70 mins, goes missing in games and although a very talented player on his day; he causes us just as much of a formation headache, as everyone's scared about him sulking and kicking up a fuss if he's left on the bench. anyhoo, regardless, IMO we shouldn't be looking to get rid. his goal record for us speaks for itself. his current stats since rejoining us show a goal in every 2.4 games - considering how little game time he actually gets, I wouldn't be selling a player like that.
