SC's judgement is just clouded and out of them 7 signings most will be over priced flops, Eriksen is the obvious star and one other may be a decent player but for the money spent them signings will go down overall a mistake and unnecessary purchases.
I always thought the criticism of Baldini was very harsh. Maybe I'm wrong but I didn't get the impression he was brought in to spend £100mill but was signed as much for his methods and experience as much as anything else. I'm sure Baldini did have a big say in players and what went on last summer but what else was there that we could do, it seemed like a far from ideal situation all round. Again, maybe I'm wrong but he doesn't strike me as a glorified scout, if that was the case I can't see why Broomfield would've come back regardless of what the job title was. Even if he was brought in to have the final judgement on signings, I thought he was supposed to make an impact in the long term so how can that be judged on one season? If there were players he brought in last summer then they'd have been scouted while he was at Roma, so of course not all the dots join up when applying them to a different club in a different league. I wish I shared SoS and SC's confidence in our signings from last season though. I'm always hopeful, and I do like the players but deep down I'd be very surprised if by the end of the season we're talking about Chadli, Soldado, Paulinho, Chiriches, Lamela and Capoue as all being worthwhile signings. Lamela I can see excuses for and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the others did better next season too but it's still the same 6 players that really didn't do an awful lot last season. Here's to hoping I'm wrong
I think as OS has the inside track - knowing far more about what actually goes on in the club, than all the pre- supposed theories that I'm reading, that on balance I will remain optimistic, unless and until events prove otherwise.
Have a read of this http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnatio...franco-baldini-transfers-scouting-youth-spurs He sold Soldado when at Real Madrid. I doubt he expected to be signing him for 28 million, years later!
The whole HG thing is starting to become a headache, for a number of reasons... #1: Defoe, Dawkins, Livermore and Sigurdsson leaving were all HG players last season and have all left, meaning Dawson, Naughton and Rose may stay to fulfill the quota. #2: Kane, Davies and Fryers fulfill the criteria for HG players...yet do not qualify as they are listed as U21 players. Same goes for Bentaleb and Veljkovic, who qualify this season. #3: The distinct feeling that certain players are retained and loaned out every season solely to fulfill a HG place. Obika and Mason are the obvious examples.
chadli wont do anything; paulinio will flatter to decieve; soldado will score penalties but do little else; chiriches will plod along; only lamela and eriksen will do well imo hope i am wrong but ...
What got me at the end of the season was the various lists of Premier League flops usually had one of Soldado or Lamela, yet none of them had Paulinho. The fact is that the WHL crowd didn't turn on Soldado like they have with numerous misfit signings (i.e. Bent) because they could all see why he wasn't scoring: it wasn't because he was a fish out of water, it was because AVB had the team passing sideways for 90 minutes or because Sherwood through the best thing for his shattered confidence would be to bench him indefinitely. How can a striker score when he doesn't have the ball passed to him, or if he isn't on the pitch? Compared to this Paulinho was either unable to influence the game in any way, or was anonymous for several games in a row - which makes him Brazil's answer to Jermaine Jenas. And judging by his equally anonymous displays in the World Cup, perhaps the blame doesn't lie with Spurs on this one.
There are two separate questions about our transfers: 1. Is he good? and 2. Have we really played him regularly enough to find out if he will be good? Many players were crap for half a season or a season, then found their feet. Last year a player would have a bad game or two (or three), then vanish. The one signing who had a fairly long run of games and was disappointing was Soldado, and I'm impressed enough with his abilities that I think he would still be one of our best three attacking midfielders even if he's not scoring. As of right now, I'd start Ade, Soldado, Eiriksen and Lamela, and play Holtby frequently. As I've mentioned, I thought Sherwood did well enough in the last few games to deserve another chance--at least unless he'd inspired a player revolt. On the other hand, Poch was my first choice as replacement, so I'm, well...optimistic is such a strong word for a Spurs fan...
I still think Paulinho will become a top M/F for us,yes,he had a bad world cup,but he was one of the top 3 players in the confed cup,none of our signings played well last season,but i'm optimistic they will this season
Capoue showed he's a good player in the games he played in at CM, he got MOTM in his home debut and looked a good player to compete with Sandro for the DM role, his problem was injuries and the falling out with Sherwood otherwise I don't think anyone would be calling him a flop. Chadli got a lot of unfair stick, yes he wasn't great but he certainly wasn't terrible, he got a lot of niggling injuries which doesn't help any player, especially one in their first season with a new club in a new country. Chiriches settled well, he's not the best in the air but made some great tackles and his willingness to get forward impresses me, will only improve with more game time. Eriksen, no words needed, showed his class, was our POTS and will only improve with time. Me and Roo enjoy saying "We told you so" . Lamela already looks like a new player judging by pre-season. I'm not saying pre-season form means he's now world class but compare the confidence he has on the pitch now to that of last season and there's a huge difference. Very excited for him this season, think he'll be a star. Paulinho had a bad season yet still managed 6 goals in the league plus a couple in cups and the odd assist, imagine what he'll do if he has a good season. I've also mentioned loads of times about his lack of adequate rest since his final season with Corinthians. Played roughly 75 games with very little break, not many players can do that and maintain a high level, unless your Messi and Ronaldo. Soldado did flop, there's not much that can be said for him other than hoping he finds his confidence and form. At first there was an argument of the system not suiting him but he missed some glorious chances throughout the season that really should've been buried by a player of his calibre - but that's what gives me hope he'll come good, his calibre and skill set is of a higher level compared to other strikers and he just needs that bit of luck and form to show that. One final thing I will say with all these guys, is that at their respective former clubs, they were all the main men, so having 7 "main men" join a new club would've likely resulted in awkward situations for some as they're used to being the guy everyone looked too, add onto the fact all were coming from abroad it was natural they wouldn't gel immediately even if we really hoped they would, in the end it was Eriksen that took the main man role here but I'm confident that this season, we'll at least see two others vie for a top dog role and it'll only benefit the team.
It is inconceivable that anyone on here can know enough about any of our signings to second guess Baldini and our scouts about how good they are based on a small number of appearances in one season. Most players have similar skills and to tell which of two is 'better' currently is difficult enough, never mind telling who is going to improve and who is going to get worse with age. There were a lot on here who thought Bale was a poor signing and Bentley a good one! Reading everyone's opinions is fun but the unsubstantiated criticism of our staff is ridiculous. If, of our 7 signings, one turns out to be brilliant, two very good, two average and two rubbish then that is a good outcome and I think we will do better than that And why is everyone so worked up over the home grown quota? The rules don't require you to have 8 home grown players they require you to have not more than 17 non home grown players. So it only matters at all if we need 25 over 21 players in the squad which given that we can field 3 or 4 U-21 players is not necessary.
The only person on here (who doesn't post anymore) that never rated Bale said "Redknapp should have been sacked if he continued to pick Bale" but anyone who had even the slightest understanding of football could see Bale would always be a top player, that was never in doubt. The current players we have (that are struggling) may well be talented playing in different leagues but foreign players are a much bigger risk, much bigger and to throw so many together at one time was foolish and naive and for that, the staff employed to make signings, must accept the blame if they turn out to be flops, as a year on and only one of the 7 is a success. Although it was funny last year reading fans say we're building for the title with them signings!
Just like our stadium it's currently in the process of being determined, though shouldn't be too long.
