Thanks for all the info Spurcat, good to see someone that we can genuinely tell has good knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes of the club is willing to share with us. 99% of all these "ITK" on SC/ Twitter always spout bullshit then claim "they can't release info of how/ why" the know etc, so thanks for actually giving us the insight mate
I think you could do with a good winger? Maybe not as much as a defensive midfielder or a striker, but Lamela would improve you a lot. Losing out to them could put the dampeners on though. Glass half empty.
Surely Baldini puts us in the driving seat with Roma? If we are after him i'd say we are favourites for that reason
We are very lucky to have him SoS it adds hugely to the value of this board. So being nice to Spurcat is a house rule.........right! Seriously, thanks for the info OS your enthusiam for the new set up is very good to hear.
"The whole concept of a DOF has never sat easy with me" The on-paper concept was never a problem for me. The practical application is (Arnesen, Comolli etc) . The turning point is probably AVB. Unlike most managers, he seems to be ok with the job boundaries and lines of communication, which means Baldini will get on with it. Seeing AVB alongside Baldini watching the first 45 mins of the U21s game, and Baldini remaining for the 2nd half, speaks volumes IMHO.
"I'm a bit surprised about your comment about the youth system by the way; I'd have thought that that could be classed as a real success these days with the likes of carroll, townsend, pritchard etc as well as some of the foreign kids who have gone through the academy lately." The acid test has to be how many of these kids go on to become fixtures in the seniors. So the jury is still out at the moment. FWIW, those of a certain age will remember the likes of Hazard/Miller/Falco/Brooke coming thru the ranks together into the seniors over a 2 yr period in the early 80s. For the Academy to be working I'd expect to see similar over the long term.
"Cannot see how both can be bought without Bale being sold." Having thought about it last night, I now can actually see it. Mainly because the payments are likely to be 50% up front, the rest later. For example : Soldado. So incoming TV money and outgoing players will sort the up front stuff. Next payments is where a gamble would be tested (CL next season etc) .
"Franco must not sleep if he's got time to watch U21s too. Machine" Probably scouting the City kids (while on the phone buying Lamela) . He was chatting to Viera at the end so no doubt he hung around so he could say hello to him etc.
Micah Richards would certainly force Walker to raise his game. Not sure if Naughton will get the chance to do that.
For the first time this year, I am no longer afraid of us losing Bale. Sure, I'd love for him to stay, but if we get in the three (now four) top players with whom we are being currently linked we will find ourselves with a truly awesome squad. It's not just the players we are getting in that has impressed me, but also the players we are letting go. Even letting Caulker go is an impressive move, and must surely signal the intention to Baldini/AVB to get in a CB who (they believe) is CL quality. Because there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Levy and the board have made the decision to get CL footy, not just for next season, but for the foreseeable future. Doing the business early on so many good players and using Badini's influence to get in the likes of Willian has stopped our rivals, in particular Arsenal, from getting them; so we have strengthened to their detriment. It's a double-win for us. As I said, for the first time I am no longer worried about Bale leaving, because this is going to be the most exciting Spurs side I personally will ever have seen assembled at the Lane, and that includes the side that had Waddle, Hoddle and Gazza in it.
Hoddle and Gazza never played together. Hoddle had left before Gazza joined. If they had played together with Lineker, then the current side wouldn't be a patch on that side.
He meant sides, not side. But we understood what he meant. And Waddle was sold before Lineker played a game (shades of Paulinho and Bale here) .
Maybe not for talent but in a real-game i think our current team would run rings around teams from th 80s and early 90s by about the 60th minute even with those 4 in the team
Indeed, I did. Brain too fast for my fingers! @RobSpur - it remains to be seen if a Spurs side comprising our current players (less Bale) and the new signings that are rumoured to be coming in, will be the best Spurs side since the late 50s/early 60s. I think it has the makings of being the best Spurs side in our history. Then again, I am naturally an optimist.
Outside of some domestic/UEFA silverware, IMHO the club in league terms has got back to where it was in the 80s. Always at the business end, sometimes thinking the unthinkable. But consistent with it.
I'm sorry, but if you added Gazza and Lineker to say the 86/87 side, then nobody is going to "run rings" round them.
