Absolutely - a new young keeper with potential would be nice. Bit gutted that we never went for Butland before his price rise due to the Olympics (that's me speculating)
The main reason we were never originally in for Butland, is because Harry didn't 'do' young keepers. He simply wasn't interested. AVB is looking to replace all 3 of our senior keepers and so Butland is very much being monitored by our goalkeeper scouts.
I'd be interested to know what his price would've been pre-Olympics compared to now. I thought he looked really solid - kind of like Joe Hart just before he became absolutely amazing.
If we only signed two more players - Butland and another striker, then I'd actually be reasonably happy. I know it still leaves us quite light up front with only Defoe, Kane and A.N Other but Butland looks class and is still young, and would in my eyes represent a seriously good bit of business, at the right price of course. The striker situation is starting to worry me now though. Damiao is IMO unlikely to happen with the likes of City sniffing around, Ade looks less likely with every passing minute and any move for the likes of Remy, Llorente etc. who have all been linked to us has not yet materialised into anything significant. If this doesn't get sorted soon then my initial optimism about the AVB era will rapidly dissipate.
I'd be well aggrieved if we just signed Butland and a striker. We need two strikers plus a top keeper, which Butland isn't, IMHO.
Well you'll be even more aggrieved when we do neither Ah you gotta laugh - no point gettin wound up about it - not as if we can do anything about it.
Take your point Morpheus, but as a massive and long-serving supporter of the club, I still get down when we lose, and lose is what's looking likely if we carry on like this at Toon. ENIC's penny pinching is ensuring once again when the trophies and CL places are handed out we'll be trailing in the wake of the 'new big 4', again.
I think having seen that performance last just now my opinions are somewhat revised! Of course Defoe is not really a striker who can play on his own like Ade did, and I just can't see him being effective in this style of play. Part of my statement earlier was based on my high views on Butland, and while these obviously haven't changed I think the need for a striker that suits us is by far the bigger concern. Much as it would be nice to get one of the brightest English prospects out there into the squad, at this point in pre-season the need for effective frontmen is far more pressing. The trouble is that I really struggle to see who we are going to get, especially without going well overboard on the price.
All the top clubs pay over the odds, there really is no choice if you want to reach the top, as someone pointed out "penny pinching" will only get us so far and while its fantastic when we sign gems like lennon, bale and walker for a fraction of what they are worth, to push on clubs need to spend big to get certain players. Even sunderland are having to pay 12 million for steven fletcher, which does sum up how crazy the market is but clubs can't just stand still or risk going backwards out of stubbornness to pay an extra 2-3 million on a player, especially with alll the money in our game.
It would be far better to sign Butland now but loan him back to Birmingham for a couple of seasons and sign an experienced stopper for now. With this FFP coming in, buy now-play later will become the way to go.
from SSN website on Leandro Damiao "But Internacional president Giovanni Luigi has moved to dampen speculation by highlighting the Porto Alegre club's financial strength and the length of the player's contract. "I think it's very hard for the transfer to happen unless Tottenham pay the €60million (£47m) buyout fee that is included in his contract," Luigi told O Jogo." £47mill! dear o dear. I know it's been said, but we should have pushed to get this guy at the same time as Sandro. The market is hilarious this summer, more so than last year. 12 mill for fletcher? 15-20 mill for Joe allen. 27mill for Agger. it's bloody hilarious when you think about it. ...then the laughing comes to an end and you realise that we could be ****ed.
I agree Roo the money for good not amazing players is crazy. I mean 27m for Agger?! Where on earth does that come from?! Surely 10-15m would be about right. I have begun to accept that we have what we have and we are going to have to live with it.
Unless of course the buyout clause is in $R's (Brazilian Reals) $R60,000,000 = £18,981,137 which is about the £19M already quoted.
Rumour has it that we are about to sign Sturridge and Damiao this weekend. Not sure if I believe it myself, but if this were to happen, would we be happy?
Happy with Damaio. Sturridge is a decent player no doubt but i don't think he can fulfill the lone striker role. However, he could perform as part of a front 3. An injury to Damaio would still leave us with problems. I can't see us paying the £47m(!!!) for Damaio to be honest, and i dread having to pronounce his name.
as for the name, i think it's dam-yaw. but HBIC will answer this, he gave everyone a lesson some time ago. sturridge would actually be better as our winger option, IMO and as a striker, if needed. But if we get Leandro, i'd be inclined to say that him and defoe would be ahead in the pecking order over Sturridge. i think AVB will like how much of a predator and natural goalscorer defoe is. there's been rumours about us signing "x" or "y" over the last few weekends and nothing has come to fruition. the bullshitters are out in full force right now because there is so little happening. However, I'll remain optimistic and continue to suggest that Levy is keeping his cards to his chest. ...I hope, I pray.
