Have been a Spurs fan now for going on 30 years. In that time I've seen some up and some downs but mostly to be honest I've seen us as a mid table team. Yeah we've had some great players at the club over that time. We've won some silverwear but never really moved on in any tangible sense. We were always known as a 'cup team' which always grated on me because being called that means you are not a contender in the league. In the last few years though I've seen us challenge for Champions League places for a few years now. I've seen us achieve it and I've thoroughly enjoyed our time in the competition. My question though is do you believe the club has moved on now? Do you consider us to be an annual challenger for top 4 or do you think that in the next few seasons we will drop back a few places in the league which would be a real shame after being so close. I think this summer will tell us all we need to know. The last 2 transfer windows were very disappointing for us fans. The VDV signing was a last minute very lucky signing by Levy. If we hadnt got VDV we'd probably be up in arms now as fans. Stevie Wonder could see we needed a striker but we didnt manage to get one. It was very disappointing, but we still had a very strong squad and team that was 1/2 players short of being in the CL again. This summer is the big one. If we let our top players go I dont know how I will react. I will feel so let down by the club. You cant blame players for moving if they do but the club has to do ALL they can to keep them. If a player is unsettled and wants to move then find them a club abroad. Do NOT strengthen our competition. This summer will tell me exactly what our club is all about. If we let Modric for example leave for Man U well I'll know we are a club of no ambition and are happy just to exist.
Yes, I do believe the club has moved on, and grown in stature. I think the fact that a lot of us were dissappointed with a 5th place finish this season instead of 4th highlights this. As you said, the true test will be whether we manage to keep hold of Modric and Bale or not. If they go, then I'd say perhaps we haven't progressed.
I think a lot of our fans are worrying over nothing, with regards to our top players leaving this summer. Having read the quotes Modric has made, they in no way tie in to the sensationalist headlines/stories that then appeared. He is happy at WHL, he said it is a possibility that a move could happen if it interested him and the club - not that he is pushing for a move. If you couple that with levy's comments about spurs not selling their stars, then i think it is an impossibility that Modric will leave the lane this summer for less than £50m, whether anyone thinks he is worth that or not. This summer though is pivotal, if spurs don't make the right signings, then yes we will just slip back into mediocrity. The reported interest in Palacious is a good sign, and highlights what Levy was getting at when he spoke about trimming our squad, and i would expect us to get £20m from the sales of Palacious, O'hara,. and Kranjcar. If we can get another £20 - £25m from the sales of Keane, Bentley, Hutton, GDS, Gomes, Bassong and one of Pav/Defoe/Crouch - add in the volume of wage these players consumed, Spurs could increase their wage bill modestly and attract a couple of top players to an already strong first team. This would then leave space in the squad to bring on the young players who show real promise - Rose, Walker, Naughton, Caulker, Townsend, Parrett, Kane (maybe a bit young), Bostock. Our midfield is certainly top 4 material, our defence needs a tweak but isn't far off, Gomes is a clown and needs to be replaced, and our strikers can either only do it in europe (Crouch), or can only score absolute belters (Defoe/Pav) we need a little poacher with great movement.
I've supported Spurs all my life being born into a Spurs family and apart from the Sixties we have never been a league challenging side - much to my annoyance. If you look at the history of the Premier League and total up the points won Man U are top with 1577, the Ars*n*l on 1379,Chelsea 1338, Liverpool 1279, Aston Villa are on 1051 and we have 1017. So I guess that makes us a top six side anyway but breaking into that elusive top 4 is hard. Man City by the way have only 695 as they have had 5 seasons outside the Prem.
Messiah mate, I said something very similar on another thread about Modric. THE worst thing about willingly selling Modric - especially to a Prem rival, would be the clear message that that would send to all the other players; and, of course, the fans. It would just say that all this talk about winning the title etc, was just a lot of bollocks to keep the fans happy,and convince players to stay a while longer. Like you said, we'll see this summer how serious Levy & Co are, in whether we buy big players, or sell them.
we'll see this summer how serious Levy & Co are, in whether we buy big players, or sell them. spot on Bud gonna be a long summer of waiting!!!
Our major problem in recent years has been keeping hold of our best players, which is a combination of things. Primarily it has been about not being able to pay top wages, but the secondary problem has been the total spinelessness of those who run the game, as they've continually ignored the most blatant underhand tactics. Still, what can we expect from a group of people that couldn't see a problem with Sky owning shares in certain teams?
Messiah,I would say that we have moved on........a little. Three 5th places and a 4th place in five years proves that. We haven't kept our best players as PleaseNotPoll states but our best players were not as good as the top team's best players. Many experts I have read over the last three or four years think that the success Tottenham should have must surely come and soon. I'm sorry to say this but we have a bit of a fly by night character as a manager who comes across as a bit of a Delboy Trotter. I honestly think that to take us higher we need Harry at the moment but not for much longer and that a proven coach should take over in the not too distant. Now I realize that that statement might anger a few supporters and if so I'm sorry. But as has been previously stated we as supporters do tend to worry too much. I think we can get better but as for your other statements messiah I can only completely agree with you.
I've supported Spurs since I was a wee lad. This is the best Spurs team we have had since 1990 and definately has progressed. Who remembers the 90's when we appointed average manager time after time. We have finished in the top 5, 4 times out of the last 6 so we are definately doing something right.
yeah Thor for some reason I'm just really worried atm I dont know about Harry, I've never seen him as top top notch but what he does seem to be great at with most of the guys is man management. Whether thats enough to progress us is anyones guess.
I read that we may be offering Pav a new contract, although I still can't see him progressing from his current status of impact sub/cup striker. The papers (naturally) misconstrued Levy's comments about trimming the squad when he made them. The fact is that Bentley and Keane are on first team salaries but aren't in the first team, so need to be moved on so we aren't chucking a combined £120k per week their way, with Palacios and Hutton replaced by the superior Sandro and Walker so there's no need to keep them. Those four should bring in about £25m, and when you factor in the CL cash and the £6m we got for Bent, we should bring in two or three who can go straight into the team and improve it, notably a top striker and goalkeeper. We've got plenty of squad players who can contribute as it is, as well as a couple of youngsters, so we need to tweak the first team where it needs the most twaeking.
As you've made a sensible point, Luke. Yes, it will be very difficult - but not impossible. As far as Man ****ty go, as you say, unless UEFA rules stop them, they will just keep throwing money at it until they get where they want to be. I have very little doubt that they will win the title in the next couple of years. Chelski bought success, and so will City. To be honest, the most vulnerable team in the top 4 at the moment, is the Goons. IF Fabregas, and or, Nasri leave they are going to struggle. It will be interesting to see whether Wenger wakes up and realises he needs to change some things; or whether his natural French arrogance won't allow him to accept that he's got it wrong, as far as the Prem goes. Spurs are not a million miles from being a very good team. IF we can keep our top players. Add the firepower we need, and tweak the defence. We could actually mount a serious challenge.
Offering RP a new contract is the most sensible thing that I've heard coming from Spurs for a while as well as getting rid of Palacios and Bassong that is. I wish we could keep NK as well but in what role. He scored some stunners last season and with him we could at least consolidate.
