http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896...-eden-hazard-keen-on-summer-move-to-tottenham Its only goal.com, but the last sentence says it all regarding Spurs and top transfer targets.
Anything could happen in that time, he could break his leg, get put in jail etc and we've wasted £24mill. We could've had provisions put into the deal to allow us to pull out but then there'd be no incentive for Porto to get the deal done now. If he gets even better or other clubs become intertested by January the value would go up.
I'd forgtotten about Aguero and Rossi! haha Aguero... that's just laughable now! In fact, it was at the time! yeah you could be right, SF. there's only so long this will work for though. The reasons under Harry were because a) We'd spent large volumes after having a pretty ****e DOF in Comolli and didn't want to make the same mistakes. b) The fact that Harry was obviously not seen as a long term manager is probably why the net spend was so low. we signed players, but masked what we actually spent very well, selling a lot on whilst continuing to improve. - Nothing wrong with that, at all! However, now we've supposedly got our man to take the club forward and we're looking to improve over the years, he now needs backing. we can't let ever the period of comolli hang over us and I'm sure we wouldn't to be honest. There's evident holes that need filling and unfortunately that will cost money in this day and age. We dont' need to/cant be going spending ridiculous millions and millions on fees, but we have to do something to attempt to keep up with those above us. we tried the "very little net spend" tactic this summer, but this time we've not got away with it, due to the unfortunate injuries we've had (which could happen every year. we've just been lucky in the past). we've always pointed out areas of improvement in the past, but we've never left ourselves threadbare in terms of quality cover, like we've had at the start of this season, due to who 's been injured and who we needed that we missed out on. A top four finish needs quality in depth, we've just gotta sort out the depth bit! That will cost money, if we're actually going to give AVB some decent permanent players for his project, rather than just getting loans which don't help long term. (which we've seen in the past) it'll be interesting to see what approach we adopt. we've missed "targets" and the need for cover is obvious. Actions speak louder than words, so in january we'll find out whether it's "same old Tottenham" or whether the clubs ethos of expansion and improvement is also being translated onto the pitch.
I guess it all depends what formation we want. I'd like to see us sign a more mobile creative midfielder than Huddlestone although if Carroll continues to do well in that role I'd happily have him as our 2nd choice to Dembele. The other signing I'd like to see us make is another who can play on the wing and hopefully either upfront or off the striker like VDV did. For the first role I'd quite like us to sign Cigarini from the odd games I've seen of him. He's a bit rough around the edges but he can produce some Worldy passes and looks like the kind of player who can set the tempo of a game. Further up the field I'd love it if we went all out for Schurrle, He's best as a striker but I think he'd play well in any of the 3 attacking positions behind. I know Chelsea want him but hopefully we can take advantage of them going in for Falcao in January. I've only been watching the Bundesliga highlights on ITV this season but I like the look of their team and think we'd be best moving before all the big clubs start coming in for their players and the silly money gets thrown around. Alternatively someone like Dzagoev could be an excellent signing if his price tag has gone back down enough after the Euros. In terms of leaving, apart from the obvious ones, I'd only let Huddlestone go with maybe Livermore, Townsend and Sigurdsson going out on loan spells.
Who are Bundesliga, YV? They good are they? I would be concerned about depth again if we let both Hudd and Livermore go. If we sold both and replaced them with 1, then fine. (a separate player to replace those two leaving, NOT one that we already need.) I'd like to keep Townsend and Sig. Sig's not impressed, but as someone correctly shot me down for in the past, he does need more time. he's impressed everywhere else he's been and he's only 22.
I think I'm missing a sentence or two there. I meant that Leverkusen have impressed me from the MOTD style highlights you get of Bundesliga games. Yeah, I suppose we might be a little light if Livermore left on loan but I think he's at the stage where he needs regular Premier League games to just kick him on that bit further, like the two Kyles and Caulker did. We'd still have Sandro, Parker, Luongo, Chigarini, Dembele and Carroll for those two roles though so whilst two of them are inexperienced I still think that's enough centre mids.
Yeah I agree with the Jake bit (providing Scotty is fully fit in Jan and Sandro is still fresh), he could do with some regular minutes, like you say it's worked well for Caulker and Walker (and to an extent Naughton) so I see no reason why it'd hurt for Jake to get a good half season under his belt of regular football for a Prem side. I reckon Southampton could do with a player like him. He'd play well alongside someone like Davis and with Lallana infront of him. Chigarini? Not heard of him.
This one is probably beyond us wages wise but, I would love us to sign Edin Dzeko. He cant be happy playing as 4th choice at City can he? plus the little bugg£r always seems to score against us.
I was planning of having that for dinner tonight! Forgetting the "wing" options, the names we currently have for the "defensive 2" and the "middle of the 3" are: Parker - Defensive 2 Sandro - defensive 2 Dembele - defensive 2/middle man Huddlestone - defensive 2 Livermore - defensive 2 Sigurdsson - middleman Dempsey - hmmm Carroll - defensive 2 on paper (for the benefit of sky sports' tactical computers), but not playing a defensive role. At any one time, we're using 3 out of 8 of those names. To be honest, I'd like to strike Dempsey off, so I'm going to, as IMO, that position isn't suited to him. - Hence the "hmmmm". so it's 3 out of 7. If we get rid of Hudd and Livermore (loans or not) it only actually leaves us with 2 strictly defensive options; Parker and Sandro. Yes, Dembele can play there but we all know how much of an attacking menace he can be and his creativity needs to be used further up the pitch ideally, IMO. However, if we can sign someone similar to dembele; a player who's got quick feet, retains possession, never gives the ball away, is strong and has a good engine... then I think we'll be sweet, and can let both Thudd and Livermore go. Not much to ask at bargain price, eh? If we can't, I think we should keep hudd. letting them both go could be dangerous. Parker isn't getting any younger and his injury could flare up again, and the same goes for Dembele.
I have an idea! We buy him for £5m and then City pay >£5m to the player as a contribution to his wages. I can't see why they wouldn't go for it! He would be a good signing for us, but in reality as you say, out of our range.
Wasn't even being sarcastic! I missed the first post where you said Cigarini, I've still not heard of him lol. Update - just wiki'd the name - plays for Napoli?
I know nothing about cigarini, but immediately have concerns. he's 26 and has been on loans away from napoli since 2009. Known as the poffessor apparently, due to his reading of the game, and his vision which is believed to be similar to that of Pirlo. (explains your comment about passing YV) But why has he been out on loans since 2009 and how has a player (if that good) not got into napoli's team? He's also never made a full international cap.
I wouldn't say he's like Pirlo but he is quite good. Frankly I didn't know he was out on loan but on the handful of occassions I've seen him play he looked like a good player and I figured he'd be a decent price. Screw it lets go to "plan b", Disco Isco from Malaga
aaah Roo is in his element with this thread. ****sake why didnt we sign Willian!? still think we should go for Demba Ba.
