The problem we have IMO on strikers is that we're desperate. - Or certainly seem it anyway. - some of you may not think we are, and perhaps we're not. However, whatever your opinion, it's become a huge talking point amongst a hell of a lot of spurs fans, the media and pundits, that "spurs need a new striker", and those words have now stuck. whether the club is actually after a new striker, who knows? I don't know who to trust. But for about 2 years, we've been the focal point of transfer windows regarding strikers, and in particular, missing out on them, which has built up over time making us seem very desperate. It's actually turned into a bit of a joke on spurs now, especially with this whole Damiao saga. I said this before, but we need to go safe and sign someone like Remy, who is half decent and gives us another option, aswell as being a realistic signing. IMO, this gives us some bargaining power over the future "marquee" striker signing. it makes us look like we've got what we're after and if we show interest in anyone else, the desperation is no longer there, as we've already signed someone. It looks like Adebayor could be leaving, if the Besiktas rumours are true, so "remy" (or whoever) could be seen as his replacement. But having got someone fresh in (the remy example), it's got to be beneficial to us? every club knows of this "desperation" (even if it's just what has been built up in the media) and they are playing/or will play Levy at his own game as they know exactly what he's like. IMO, Levy needs to have a bit more bargaining power, as I think he's going to be over a barrell, what ever striker he tries to sign.
I think that you might be letting yourself get a little carried away with all of these transfer rumours, Roo. Our squad's barely changed from last season, with only Gallas and Bentley leaving and Paulinho joining so far. It appears that our main striking target was Villa and that fell through, but there's been no other confirmed reports of bids by us. The Benteke thing seems to have been created by the media and ITKs, with Chelsea also being heavily linked with him. No bids reported by anybody. People want us to bring in a striker (understandably), but that doesn't mean that we should just go out and buy someone to appease the fans. It has to be the right player at the right price and we might have to move on others before that happens. Vucinic is someone I've mentioned a few times and it appears that he's just started to make noises about moving. Juve signed Llorente and Tevez, so he's dropped down the pecking order, along with Quagliarella. Baldini's Italian routes and South American links may see us making an unexpected move for someone virtually unknown, though. A Levy move for a Berbatov- or Modric-esque nearly player wouldn't be out of the question, either.
If we do only play one up front then our situation isn't disastrous. I honestly can't see anyone available to us better than Defoe or Adebayor. I agree with you Roo if we could sign Remy for a reasonable amount then we should. It wouldn't be a risk and at least gives us some cover if Defoe or Adebayor got injured. I would love the marquee striker signing but I just can't see it happening. Lets hope Adebayor has a good year. I don't think we will sell him unless we get 2 new strikers in.
I don't think we'll sign a marquee striker until the time of us getting a new stadium and clearing any debt against it. Bale is likely to go next year and I can see the vast majority of his money going to the stadium project as well.
I guess thats the crucial random factor - nobody can tell which Adebayor will turn up this coming year. If it's the one we saw when he was on loan with us then I think, given that it seems overwhelmingly likely that one striker will be used for us this season, that an on form Adebayor, Defoe and Kane as the up and coming prospect might be sufficient. However because he was SO dire at times (read: most of the damn season) last year none of us seem willing to accept taking that risk, which is completely understandable. Also of course Kane may well get loaned out to a Prem club again this year, hopefully to get a whole, injury free season under his belt, and in that case two strikers isn't enough for me, regardless of form. I will not be wanting to see Dempsey playing as a no.9 ever again. I agree with what others have said in so far as the only real hope for a true 'marquee' striker signing left is Soldado, and I'm not confident we'll be moving for him. Vucinic has been mentioned from Juve but I don't think he will have the desired effect for us - he's not a specialist no.9 and his best season in terms of goals really came back in 04/05 when he got 22 in 31 for Lecce. I think he's has reasonably bad injury problems as well. Overall, I would say that our summer hunt for a 'marquee' striker is now almost certainly going to fail. Bugger.
Haha, reminded me of this - I will post this again after the window shuts and we haven't signed anyone good. [video=youtube;F1iC7SzZ4N8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1iC7SzZ4N8[/video]
He played 45 minutes for us the other evening, but it remains to be seen whether he's recovering well from his injury. If he can rediscover his form from the campaign before last, then he'll knock Dawson out of the first XI, in my opinion. If you're asking because of Fantasy Football, then I wouldn't take the risk.
YEEEEES haven't watched that series of Blackadder for some time, I fondly remember the days when I could do the 'Private Plane' episode pretty much off pat!
Apologies for earlier chaps. didnt mean to take it so far OT. Good luck for the season, hope you get top 4.
I keep hearing about a marquee signing. Would Benteke have been one? One good season at a club fighting relegation doesn't make him one in my opinion.
I think arguably yes. A marquee signing isn't just a good/great player, he is a statement of intent IMO. Benteke clearly has talent but whether he can replicate it is another question, but because of the hype around him and the fact that a number of big clubs seem to have been interested in him, he would have been a marquee signing for us. Similar to VdV in a way - we all loved VdV but I think we can widely admit that he did have his shortcomings despite his qualities.....but he was a big name for us to sign from Real Madrid to announce ourselves in the CL for that year. Obviously a marquee signing has to be quality but I think he's also got to be a household name - someone who doesn't gather the collective response of "who?" when you announce his arrival down the pub. I know its a loose definition but I think you can see where I'm coming from with it.
Good bye possible Benteke signing then. Da-meow it is There's enough strikers out there though for us to look at. I'm disappointed we couldn't get the Belgian but it's not the be all and end all. Even though not all are massive upgrades (if at all), I'd still happily see any one of: Soldado, Ba, Cisse, Damiao, Remy, Fred, Hosiner, Muriel, Martinez, Huntelaar, Dzeko join the club. Not all have actually been linked but I believe that all can be got providing we made the right offers. While it'd be nice to have a nigh on guaranteed 15-20 goal a season striker, to actually have another striking option to Defoe and Adebayor is vital for me. Last season, we only had a choice of two strikers and at times both were misfiring, if it's the case again this season then it'd be nice to have a 3rd senior striker to call upon rather than relying on Bale or putting pressure on the likes of Kane and Coulibaly to deliver.
Read somewhere that we had tabled a bid of around 22mil for Soldado but it was rejected as they had a min release clause of 30mil.
Paul Lambert describes his conversation with Christian Benteke as "full and frank". He must be delighted with the results, as the big Belgian striker has subsequently agreed to stay at Aston Villa for another four seasons. Here's what Benteke said... "This is a great club and it has given me a lot. Now I have to give back to my team-mates and the fans who have always been right behind me". From Sky transfer watch. Really,oh well,next!
Ah, she was so looking forward to a big money move to that London. She had big plans for the pre-match meals - egg and cress sandwiches with the crusts cut off, pork pies, cottage cheese vol-au-vents followed by blancmange, egg custard tarts, rice crispy cakes and posh fruit salad. She'll be gutted
