I don't think we'll necessarily be sticking to this 4-3-3 formation next season as many suggest. Yes, I think AVB's leaning towards it, but away from home i think we'll still see a lot of the 4231 we saw last season. IMO, what AVB is after, is a group of players who can play in those suggested formations comfortably, and adapt well. I agree, Lewis hasn't exactly hit the ground running, but in a position he's more comfortable in, such as the one he plays for the German National team, he's far more useful. Next season, he may well feature for us in a 4231, but he needs to be adjusting his game as he develops, so he can play slightly deeper, IMO. This will give him a better chance of cementing a place, and he could be our new parker. Last season, sig realised he was being used as a wider player, which didn't suit his game, so he adapted. Unfortunately, the way he adapted often meant we were without anyone out on the left as he kept drifting in, but at least he showed that he's hungry to make it work wherever he's put on the pitch. Lewis needs to follow suit, otherwise he might seeing himself on the bench regularly and end up unhappy. He could well end up asking to move on elsewhere. The same applies to Sig, as the signings of Paulinho and Chadli have made it very difficult for him also, despite his efforts towards the end of last season. If we bring in someone who's hyped up, such as an Eriksen or Bernard, I really don't know how Holtby or Sig are going to fit in. it's hard enough as it is. If they are both here come Sept 1st and we've made signings such as the above, I am confident one of them will be leaving in January. As it stands, there's a creative spot needed in our midfield with someone's name on it, so we don't keep passing it to bale, which is just too predictable. IMO, one of these two needs to be grabbing the bull by the horns and making themselves too difficult to drop from the team. The question is: With a team that has now purchased some very good midfield talent in addition to what we already have, are they good enough to step up? A top 4 finish is required, let's remember.
Barnett is defo his agent, and you are right he is the owner of Stellar group, he's a snide though, I take it everyone remembers he was/is Ashley Cole's agent through the sordid, outside the rules Chav transfer, secret clandestine meets...****er, disappointed Bale associates with the prick really.
Ah so he's both, ok I got myself in a muddle. Cheers for clearing it up He sounds like a proper ****er. I suspect that that can be said of the majority of football agents though.
A complete list of Stellar clients: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/stellar-football-ltd/details/berater_190.html
They're all bad but he's bottom of the list, most haven't been charged like he was over the Cashley thing. He's a proper parasite, coming into football for the money. He came from boxing, hitching a ride on Lennox Lewis's career, other than that there's little info on him, covers his tracks most of the time!
And if anyone's still unaware of how totally devoid of content and integrity modern journalism is then why not compare this story above with this one: http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...l-over-real-madrid-transfer-saga-8746933.html The headline for the first story is: "Gareth Bale may not train in hope of forcing Real Madrid move". The headline for the second story is: "Gareth Bale will appear for training, despite fears he would go AWOL over Real Madrid transfer saga" Story number one was "written" by Simon Johnson and published at 3:32pm. Story number two was "written" by Simon Johnson and published at 5:06pm. Both stories are, almost word-for-word, identical aside from some alterations to the opening paragraphs. First story introduces "fears" and then, an hour an a half later, these "fears" are addressed and undermined. In short Bale may or may not boycott training. He may or may not be upset. He may or may not move to Madrid. Simon Johnson may or may not enjoy the job that he trained for years to do. Simon Johnson may or may not go home and cry into his glass every night. Simon Johnson may or may not have seen All The President's Men as a young man and dreamt of being a journalist. Simon Johnson may or may not exist. The Evening Standard used to be a newspaper. Now it is happy to compete with blogs written by teenagers in their bedrooms. This is what modern journalism is like.
I don't know why i found that bit so funny, but i did. You couldn't make it up could you....discounting your own made up story 90 minutes later with more sitting on the fence pondering's....
I think the main issue ATM is our non-existent defence. Bale can stay or go but we'll be leaking goals like a sieve on steroids with the current shambolic situation.
Why all the doom and gloom? You seem to be forgetting we have Fryers and Livermore to provide backup and competition for Kaboul, Vertonghen and Dawson. please log in to view this image P.S. Welcome to the board. I've given you some rep as a welcome present. You a long time lurker?
Cheers WY, and thanks for the rep. No, not a long-time lurker. I used to post on here, but fell out with a lot of people, particularly over Lloris. That situation is no longer a 'live one', so thought I'd have another go. To me, currently we have NO quality defenders at all that are fit and available. Maybe Walker is, I'd say no, but if others say yes then that's fair comment. To me on form and fit we have three quality defenders. 1) Kab - may never be the player he was, and has to be discounted completely ATM, IMHO. 2) Daws - 'Out for a while' is a typical ITK comment ATM. 3) JV - May make Palace - but is unlikely to be 100%. We'll know more after the Espanyol game. So that's why the doom and gloom. To be realistic CL contenders, IMHO we need two defenders in ASAP, certainly by Friday, and another one next week. That's not going to happen IMHO, and I think we will be looking very shaky v Palace, and ATM I think we will drop costly points at the start of the season just like last season when the team wasn't in good shape to face Toon and (IIRC) then WBA and Norwich. That was the key period where we lost CL, not on the run-in where we racked up stacks of points.
Hi KOL. On the positive side I think Paulinho is a fantastic signing, and I have great hopes for Soldado, though unlike Paulinho I do have my doubts over him. ATM, I'm depressed over the defence. Much also depends on Bale of course and any replacements. Currently, I reckon we'll finish 6th come May HOWEVER, I never make my prediction till we've played one game after the transfer window closes. By then we may have Vlad in, JV back, a new LB, another CB and Bale at full tilt and only be a point at worst off the top 4 places. Then I might go crazy and say 4th
Has anyone heard anything about vlad the impaler? Or CB in general? What about the young guy at psg, sakho? After marquinhos' move, as well as being in the last year of his contract it could be worth a cheeky bid... Rumours are he's unhappy
Welcome as well James. I share your fears. I really hope Soldado isn't a flop as its a hell of a lot of money, I still can't believe we spent £26 million on a player. The defence situation really is a joke. I'm guessing Dawson will be back as we surely can't be starting our first match with either Livermore or Fryers there? Away against a newly promoted massively fired up Palace in a London derby isn't really the sort of match we should be using a full back and a midfielder as either of our centre halves. I don't get the Caulker transfer. Surely we should of been 100% that a deal for the replacement was done first? What with all the injuries as well it's ridiculous. This is why supporting Tottenham is so frustrating, We nearly have a bloody good team. We finally get a striker and then we look like we could lose our star player. Then one of our best defenders gets injured and we sell the back up. There's always something that is not right. If we could put our best 11 out every week I'd fancy our chances of being easily top 4 and maybe even a title challenge.
I wonder if we could get Christian Chivu? He wouldn't be super expensive considering he's 32 and out of contract at end of season and assuming we can use the Caulker & Demps money (£14m odd) that should easily cover his cost. Also in a fairly average Inter team who don't look like challenging AC, Napoli or Juve Obviously not a long term thing but a top class CB and would do a job for a couple years. Just a thought Didn't realise he had slipped down pecking order at PSG / Was in last year of his contract. Definetely worth a bid I reckon, looked brilliant the few times I've seen him, but so did Taarabt at times... I'd certainly at least ask about him. If we got Sakho & Chivu then Kaboul / Verts returning from injury we'd have a very solid defence. Chivu being able to play DM, LB and CB, Verts being able to play LB, DM & CB, Sakho being able to play CB and I think i've seen play RB before but wouldnt be certain. Kaboul being able to play CB, DM, RB. Would give us a lot of top quality defenders that could fill in numerous positions.
Last I heard about Vlad, it was a no- no till his club had got to the group stage of CL or were out of it. Well clearly our need is this week or next week, so that's no good for our short-term needs. Whether we messed this up and sold Caulker thinking he was 'signed', I know not. Apart from that I've heard talk of Rolando and Sakho, I know nowt about either. To me we should get a Prem experienced CB in PDQ, as well as a couple of defenders from abroad.
