regardless of what defines "top 4" status in your own head, I think you've missed the point in HIAG' s post. The first paragraphs states that "he isn't good enough to match our ambitions". - Which against clubs with bottomless pits of money, is top 4. Therefore "he just isn't a top 4 player" is a very valid point from HIAG, as that's what we're competing for, whether we make it or not.
Dempsey was a panic last minute buy. We had lost out (yet again!) on who we really wanted, and for some reason, known only to Levy, we decided to nick Dempsey. A bit like having that last drink, it seemed like a good idea at the time!..
I'm the same, although Levy gave Redknapp, Comolli and Arnesen a war chest when they arrived. Whilst there are lessons to be learnt from some of our poor signings in the past overall we progressed and you can't help but look at AVB missing out on Oscar, Willian and Moutinho with a feeling that more of an effort could have been made to get just one player that he highly regarded in addition to the other signings intended to match the outgoings in the summer. I can fully understand why we don't and haven't spent but I think Levy's stuck too strictly to that and it's resulted in us missing out on a £24mill singing on deadline day, leading us to sign a £6mill panic buy and then only spend about £3mill more in the next transfer window, pinning our hopes on a last minute signing that again wasn't possible. I don't think AVB escapes criticism if we miss out on 4th but Levy will come in for criticism too.
While Levy handles transfer negotiations I really hope he doesn't decide who we are going for - I assume AVB or (Sherwood?) came up with the Dempsey idea
Not sure. We know that Levy does make decisions about who to buy ( VDV) and they seem to always be the "bargains"
I thought Harry said something along the lines of 'Daniel told me he could get VdV - Did I want him? He's a top-top player so I said yes'. (I may have made up the second sentence)
How can AVB come in for any criticism? As I pointed out on the Chelsea board, he currently has Kaboul, Sandro, Lennon, Bale, and Defoe out injured. That's 5 players from our starting XI. There are very few sides in World football that could maintain any degree of competitive edge with 5 of their best players out. AVB simply has not been around the club long enough to be able to conveniently blame him for the current state of the squad and our appalling lack of depth in certain areas. All of that blame has to be laid at Levy's feet.
While I agree that AVB is doing a good job it is totally unrealistic for us to have players as good as these sitting on the bench. Actually our cover isn't too bad - Dawson/Caulker for Kaboul, Parker/Livermore for Sandro, Dempsey and Holtby for Bale and Lennon and Ade for Defoe (although I would argue that one is back to front). It is a little odd that we've not gone for like for like players to cover the wide areas but I suspect that is AVB's choice as he always talks about having different sorts of options as a good thing.
Neither Dempsey nor Holtby are up to the task. Perhaps Holtby will improve - who knows? - but he certainly would not be in my starting XI on current form. Livermore is a player I rate a lot, but he's still undergoing development, and isn't a starter, for me. Parker has been erratic, at best, since he's rejoined the first XI. His work-rate and endeavour are there, but his passing has been dreadful most of the time. Dawson and (possibly) Caulker are the only players that I would say are of sufficient quality to provide cover in a squad that has Top 4 aspirations. None of that can be blamed on AVB.
Yes - for the moment these are all good squad players at best. If we had twice as much money then we would have better ones. Not sure how that is either Levy's or AVB's fault
I'm not sure about Dawson, great trier that he is, he got taken to the cleaners yesterday. Caulker, for me, is the better option. He's still learning, but he's strong, good in the air, and if he's good enough to play for England he must have something going for him.
AVBs appointment has been good for Spurs in many ways. My only gripe, with him, is he should have concentrated on the main prize. Finishing anywhere in the PL top 4 would give AVB and Spurs more of an oppotunity to consolidate and improve the squad. Europa football on Thursday nights is very interest but its not even going to pay the bills at Spurs., and whilst its not entirely to blame for our current injury woes., it is responsible for some of them, in part. The decision to go 'all out' in the Europa Cup has and will cost us valuable points in the Premiership IMHO. The gambles made by AVB regarding who plays in Europa has always been a concern. The trade off for our interest in the Europa may well cost us dear, come 19th May. After all, if there's insufficient depth in the squad., why spread what he had so thin.
Yeah, I realise that SD. He just worries me. I'll feel a lot happier once Kaboul is back. I also think that Caulker is the kind of player who will adapt well to the somewhat physical nature of the Premiership. He doesn't look like he's someone you can push around. I like Dawson & I admire his attitude and application. I just wonder if he has the quality to be in a side aiming for CL football.
It's hard to say taking the Europa seriously was a good idea at this point. I find myself hoping we'll win on Thursday anyway, even though winning will hurt our chances of getting a CL spot. It's a mix of optimism and pessimism. Partly I think we may be able to get fourth anyway, and partly I think if we don't get fourth, we still have a chance at the Europa.
Although I am desperate for us to qualify for the CL, I think the EL campaign gets blamed too much. If we were in the CL, we'd be playing just as many group games, it's only the knock out stages that provide extra matches in the EL, and only 2 of them (assuming that particular club makes it to the final). It's not like we've had to deal with successful capital one or FA cup runs this year either, is it? We can blame the EL for being pointless, not offering enough revenue or whatever... but too much blame is put on it when it's just 1 cup competition we're in, where it differs by a potential of 2 matches.
I can understand your views Redwhite and to a certain extent I share them. There's always a feel good factor when on the winning side in any competition. But I'd prefered the current squad to have taken less risk this season. Spurs could still end up with nothing but 5th place and if that were to happen now, it would be a disaster similar or worse then last year IMO.
I'm pulling your leg mate He's not good enough for Spurs, but was a low risk deal that hasn't worked out.
