http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-n...8948/1/spurs-set-sights-lokomotiv-moscow-pair please log in to view this image Ibricic can play attacking midfield position or upfront while Gatagov appears to be a left winger. Gatagov is the younger prospect with a good return for goals at U21 level while Ibricic had a similar return for Hadjuk Split before his recent move to Lokomotiv. Record for Ibricic: Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2003–2004 Podgrmeč 23 (16) 2004–2008 NK Zagreb 99 (22) 2008–2011 Hajduk Split 76 (35) 2011– Lokomotiv Moscow 14 (3) National team‡ 2005– Bosnia and Herzegovina 30 (4) Record for Gatagov: Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 2008 FC Lokomotiv Moscow (reserves) 2009– FC Lokomotiv Moscow 47 (4) National team‡ 2009– Russia U-21 13 (7)
I'm confused. What are the scouts doing the rest of the bloody year? You know, the time when they are supposed to looking at players and making up their minds who will fit in with harry's requirements. Now is the time we should be negotiating for the carefully selected gems that they have found, preferably stealing a march on our competitors and not telling the press about it until they are signed. How can you judge a player by seeing him once in friendly? Bent scored a hatful in the friendlies before his first season here. This is shaping up to be a repeat of January.
Our transfer policy worries me. We never seem to be organised and seem to go for players who show good short term form rather than research and sign long term targets. On 31st January, we were only mins away from signing Charlie Adam apparently (didn't need a midfielder at the time) and then rather than carry on pursuing him when the summer transfer window opened we didn't seem interested and let him go to Liverpool. Did we suddenly not want him even though he carried his form on from Jan til the end of the season?
I think "policy" may be overstating it. I fear for us now the News of The World is kaput. Where else are we going to research prospective players?
No harm in looking at a couple of players while they're over here but I do understand where you're coming from. There seems to be no real structure apparent (least from the outside) as to how prospective deals are bought to the table. I mean we have Levy doing the negotiating, Redknapp watching the odd match abroad when he's got time away from coaching / managing and our scouts ... ? Saying that however Harry doesn't seem to have much faith in our scouts, wouldn't it be a better idea for him to bring some people in he works well with and who'll do the job he wants? Transfer window time should be purely negotiation time, I'd expect people lined up even signed up before the window opens. Contingency targets (prospects) also were we to lose players like Modric. You have to plan for the worst and hope for the best.
100% agree. Either use the scouts or get in some new ones. Look at Man Utd, last year they wrapped the signing of Little Pea in June (after months of scouting) before the WC and this year they had 3 deals by the beginning of July so the player could get used to team mates etc. Signing a player at the end of the summer transfer window is never good (VDV is an exception and we got lucky with that deal)
I seem to remember Levy telling the THST that whilst it may look like we do our business at the last minute, the deals are already in motion from the day the window opens and its just that they take time to complete. Unlike every other team in the PL.... Personally, think that that is bull-pucky, we haven't had a decent early window signing since Modric. oh... lets remember the source of this transfer target rumour though...
Why is it that our management never sees this? Everyone knows that a good side contains both quality players and time to settle in, understand the wanted systems, teammates style of play, get to the required fitness levels etc and is not simply a team thrown together for a couple of weeks. Not only do early signings allow for this but it signals intent to both other prospective targets and those still at the club with one eye on the door. I don't advocate spending on the scale of other clubs who I don't care to mention, but sometimes it seems we are a little too business and not football focused? If I was really cynical I would think that the football is now only a showcase to display the talents of the "stock" we currently have to prepare for more profitable business dealings come the next transfer window.
Not personal but balls to policies and scouts,let's just get some forwards in. Some new faces up front will do wonders for our morale.
Baring in mind our manager wont be here next year its no surprise we are in limbo in the transfer stakes. Season starts in a few weeks! aaargh!
We've got some forwards in - Cristian Ceballos and Antonio Pedroza Whitham... can you imagine just how FEARED our frontline will be now
