How old was Lambert when we bought him? Is 27 really too old, especially when proven in a top league.
Having watched a lot of Serie A last season, I can say from what I've seen of Roma, they play Osvaldo as the highest man up the pitch in a central position. Totti and Lamela supported him in a two behind, without lots of width. Totti and Osvaldo played some great little one twos to get Osvaldo in on goal.
All the papers are getting their info from the same Italian sources we are linking to on here, I haven't seen any dodgy translations about Spurs having an offer accepted, let alone it being a done deal. Therefore I am not worried.
A player may reach his peak about 27 years, but (with modern diet and exercise regimes) they can maintain that standard well into their thirties.
http://www.offthepost.info/blog/2013/08/spurs-and-southampton-go-head-to-head-for-pablo-osvaldos/ Presume this is just off The Suns article.
Chinese whispers I can't be bothered to look back for the original Italian story but it was mentioned that Roma were meeting with Saints and Spurs. Saints about Osvaldo and Spurs about a possible deal for Lamela or Pjanic
Now this really is a Serie A transfer saga. Bid accepted, other clubs interested, but still no one claims to have ownership of his testicle.
Current betting with SkyBet: Spurs only 2/1 now after the article in the Sun, but we are still overwhelming favourites. Inter still 20/1. Southampton 4/7 Tottenham Hotspur 2/1 Arsenal 20/1 Atletico Madrid 20/1 Benfica 20/1 Inter Milan 20/1 Juventus 20/1 Liverpool 20/1 Manchester City 20/1 Wolfsburg 20/1 Fulham 22/1 AC Milan 28/1 Barcelona 28/1 Manchester Utd 28/1 Real Madrid 28/1 Anzhi Makhachkala 40/1 Napoli 50/1 Zenit St Petersburg 50/1
I am very uneasy about this. Wrong age, wrong temperament, wrong salary, poor value and I feel it could be a lot of money down the drain. It could make or break Nicola depending on whether it works out or not.
I guess it is my FIFA brain taking over then. It kind of makes sense to earn our money from the Academy and buy players to get us goals and fill the (expanded?) stadium.
Brilliant, a French article about a Sun article which was poorly translated from an Italian article: http://www.goal.com/fr/news/33/transferts/2013/08/16/4190644/transfert-ang-osvaldo-vers-tottenham
27 isn't too old, he may have the wrong temperament but Pochettino knows best, his reported salary is in line with the likes of Morgan and Wanyama, and it certainly isn't poor value for his ability.
When I look through the various photo galleries of our players I am always impressed by the seeming camaraderie that exists between them That is priceless and I don't want any new player to upset that as it could cost us dear in terms of team performance.
What about Boruc? He's in his thirties, supposedly had attitude problems and has had a track record in being controversial.
If he does sign and falls out with the club and fans like in Roma recently. I wonder if he can steel himself against the wrath that would spew forth on the saints forums. No man could take that. No man.
There's a little of the fear of the unknown occurring I'd say, which I feel myself a bit re Osvaldo. But the advantage we have (if signed) is the fact that there is a mutual respect between Poch and Pablo, so we have to trust that I suppose. The club has been so careful on who they bring in, its paying dividends thus far. They're not going to **** it up now surely. I mean, we need another quality striker, but we are not that desparate to mess up the dressing room, it would go against the whole ethos of the club.
