Being stuck on a ship in the Far East (UK bound next Thursday) , I haven't had the discomfort of watching our last 2 games, but by all accounts we played reasonably well without getting a result. I think a win against Bolton in the cup could re-ignite us, Wouldn't the players then be playing for a place at Wembley???? What's on my mind, more long term than anything else, is the following, I ask first of all, would our beloved club spend 25 - 30 Million on one player(Hazard or Remy???), in my opinion NO!! Will the club break the barrier of, lets say 80 or 90K per week, debatable??? I of course could be completely wrong, but with a new stadium to build and the measly Gov. input!!! I think its imperative we at least finish 4th, I still think we'll finish 3rd!!!!!! But lets be honest an awful lot depends on us finishing 3rd or 4th, I'm not referring to the stadium because sponsorship will help and when that happens White Hart Lane will become something idiotic like the B+Q Bowl or other stupid names like the Tesco Arena anyone who thinks otherwise will be severely disappointed. My concern is, whilst at the minute we are quite frugal with our transfer budget we must surely now have to spend before the stadium budget comes into real effect, now we all know we've spent millions so far and wasted millions on that stupid Olympic bid. to sum it all up we cant remain static over the next 3, 4. or 5 years whilst the stadium is being built My heart pumps and at times bleeds Spurs, my fear is if we dont spend now we will suffer later your thoughts please !!
As for 80/90k wages, that will happen for a select few, Modric for starters, it has too, and Levy is more than aware of that fact. I do not believe for one minute he won't have learnt from Modrics antics last summer. I fully expect the final dregs (JJ, Gio, Bentley etc.) to leave in the summer for whatever fee just to get them off the wage bill, because if they hang around one more year they'll be walking out for nothing anyway. In summary, I'm not to concerned about a lack of future team investment.
It's clear we've been trying to get the wage bill down of late (hence allowing Keane to leave in the summer, Pav in January, and loaning out Jenas and Bentley to halve the wages we're paying to them), and that will continue in the summer with some of the higher earners not in our first team squad (Bentley, Jenas, Dos Santos, Bassong, Gomes) leaving and being replaced by youth teamers like Caulker and Naughton, and some of the savings being used to top up wages of the likes of Modric and Bale, as well as invest in one or two quality additions to the squad. I think there's room to negotiate for Remy, and we could sign him for closer to £15m and fit him into our wage structure - Leandro is another option, as the expected mass rush never materialised, no matter how much his agent was trying to start an auction with half the teams in Europe, and both Vertonghen and Hoilett are option as well. I can't see Hazard arriving, because that's one player guaranteed to be at the centre of an auction this summer and we'd be wise not to get caught up in it as other areas of the squad need attention.
I think that we'll continue along similar lines to the ones Levy's used over the last few years. Speculation on some highly rated youngsters (Modric, Kaboul), continued investment on our youth system which is finally looking like it's getting somewhere and some very experienced players who are probably reaching the end of their careers. Picking off the most promising players from relegation candidates has been pretty standard, too. I can see us filling out our squad in that fashion this summer.
hbic - I see Caulker coming back but not Naughton, he's enjoying his football at Norwich and he won't be ahead of Walker anytime soon. The rest of what you and PNP have said is pretty much how I see things.
It's amazing isn't it that it's March 2012 and we're still talking about letting Jenas, Bentley, Gio & Bassong go. Frustrating that 1. We haven't shipped them out on loan and 2. No teams (to my knowledge) have come in for em. I as others have stated, expect the ceiling salary earnings to increase for key players like Modric, Van der Vaart & Bale, with the hope that this filters through to at least one transfer in the summer that brings us that extra spark. This (as has been stated many, many times) would be a striker capable of doing what Berbatov did a few years ago. We have some quality players coming through too, Caulker & Livermore. Hopefully these can push on and become top, top first teamers.
I see Naughton being used as cover for both Walker and BAE, so he'll get a fair share of games when one or the other is injured/suspended/rested. As for Gio, we do get offers but they never come to fruition because Gio wants to move back to Spain and not Italy/France, or Levy thinks the offer is too low. At this rate he'll more likely be involved in a cash + player deal to bring in someone from La Liga than sold on.
Bassong's on loan at Wolves, Baz and both Jenas and Bentley had loans cut short by bad injuries, unfortunately. Why we've hung on to Dos Santos when Redknapp clearly doesn't have any plans to play him, yet loaned out the likes of Pienaar, is beyond me.
Yeah yeah forgot about the loans and I was meaning full transfers just didn't type it very well! We all refer to "deadwood" but we have to transfer these players at the end of the season. I'd always hoped Pienaar would do a decent job for us but he never really has had a chance.
Mission Impossible 5 is out this summer PNP, haven't you heard? - the plot revolves around Tottenham's impossible attempt to sell the rest of the dead wood. as for pienaar, agreed. that was a strange one. - could it have had anything to do with Saha coming this way? perhaps a bit more that we don't know about?
It's possible, Roo. It would explain why there was no fee for Saha, wouldn't it? Why loan out a player like Townsend, who Redknapp might actually play, yet keep Dos Santos, though? Ipswich would've taken him back on loan again like a shot and he might actually put a couple of quid back onto his asking price. He's just rotting at the training ground, now.
although Pienaar struggled with injuries, he was starting to make more appearances in more recent months and seemed like a candidate less likely to leave. so a link between him and Saha would make sense. again, the Townsend situation another Bizarre one. Arsenal4life (i think) made a good post in the "Everton Vs Spurs match thread" on saturday and stated how we're an attacking side with wingers... but how come we've only got two of them?! (referring toBale + lennon obviously). It was a very good point. A team that relies on pace and width, should have more options, which only adds to the point about townsend going out on loan. he was looking impressive in the EL, and would have provided good backup. - which it turns out we need!
Can't you recall Townsend if you need him, or does it need to be agreed by all parties? I really hope you don't; the lad's quality.
I'm pretty sure that there's a date after which we can't recall Townsend, but it's extremely unlikely to happen anyway. He's doing what the coaches want him to do at the moment, by getting games, playing in position, doing well and improving himself. Hopefully he'll do enough on loan and in the next pre-season to prove himself and push for a place in the squad. He should still be young enough to avoid using up one of the 25 places and I'd like to see him given a chance to be back-up for Bale.
