i'll probably get a grillin' for this. it's really horrible what Daniel levy must be going through, as it is for anyone who is in that situation. My thoughts go out to him at this very sad time. But personal issues aside, Tottenham Hotspur is a business, no matter how you look at it, or when you at it. It shouldn't really make a difference what's going on in the personal lives of any member of staff, including Levy. Levy should have briefed a colleague and given orders, then taken the time off he needed, letting another spurs representative deal with things. Levy is 1 man, and he's just a human being, like anyone else. But unfortunately, business is business and someone else should have taken control so no time was wasted. (if this is the case, as you say HBIC)
Of course the unfortunate sufferings in Levy's family life have affected things. I am not his biggest fan, but even I have to cut him some slack on this one. Having said that, we do have a very well paid Director of Football Administration in Darren Eales, and as far as I can see, there is no reason why Mr Eales cannot oversee at least some of these transfer issues in Levy's absence.
Well, the obvious choice is moutinho, but I think he is too expensive. Internally I thought Hudd but hat is out the equation now. Carroll looks a similar player but he isn't ready to be chucked right in IMO. When we signed Gylfi I really thought that meant vdv was on the way rather than 'here's our modric replacement'. So, in short, I have no idea who to replace modders with. I agree that there was probably a delay due to personal circumstances. I feel for the guy but I also agree with Roo. Every company I have ever worked for has had a disaster plan. Knowledge is shared in case, for example, an employee becomes ill or gets hit by a bus. If Levy is the only one capable of doing his job then we have a problem. He may well be the best at doing his job but he still needs an understudy.
I know Moutinho is expensive but didn't someone on here say earlier that our current net spend this window is £1 mill? If Dawson goes for £9 mill then that puts us firmly in profit, and then the Modric money we'll presumably get from Real should be far more than the price of Moutinho. Not to mention that we still have deadwood to shift which should chip away at any cost. There is nothing wrong with spending plenty of money on a player when you've just sold another player for the kind of price Modric should be going for.
I'm with you there. Quality players cost. But will Levy spunk that much cash when he's been burned a couple of times with Bentley and to a lesses extent bent?
It's hard to say, to be fair Bentley did score that cracker against Arsenal which makes him worth almost any price! But seriously it is a difficult one because you can't win with every transfer, even the likes of SAF make mistakes. As long as the cash doesn't just 'disappear' and gets re-invested into the squad then I won't complain, whether it's a Llorente type signing or a Moutinho/Pjanic is a moot point.
That was me. Sigurdsson (£8m), Vertonghen (£10m) and Adebayor (£4m/£5m?) in. Kranjcar (£5.5m), Corluka (£5.5m), Pienaar (£4.5m) and Bassong (somewhere from £4m to £5.5m in various reports) out. Not a lot spent, anyway.
Think we may not get Fryers after all- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...nited-outcast-Zeki-Fryers-Standard-Liege.html I know its the Fail,but it may explain the lack of info.
Looks like the Willian story has some legs...usual hassle over the price, though!.. http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11675/8011199/Spurs-locked-in-Willian-talks
spon on! great signing from what i've seen. surprised there's not more clubs interested to be honest.
Interesting times. The teams at the top of premier league are running out of positions or slots for the best importable players. These teams can't sign everyone! Their squads are pretty much rebuilt. Arsenal have been rebuilding over the last season. Man City are having trouble getting rid of players that they have signed on inflated wages. (They still have Santa Cruz. lol) It looks like it's our turn, hence our squad being hacked to shreds. It could be a very positive window for us, we are creating that space in our squad, and they money in our bank.
I'm going to show my total lack of knowledge about recent and potential signings here, but can Sig and Will.I.An play in the same team? Is an attacking midfielder what we need, unless of course we are not going to do a like for like with Modric? Anyway, as an attacking midfielder surely Chelski would be buying him? I think there's still a few they haven't got yet.
vimhawk, I think Willian is a winger firstly, so will cover Bale and Lennon's positions. I think he also plays were Sig plays. This makes me think that the rumours of VDV going may well be true. We still don't have the Modric replacement yet. I'm hoping that we are holding out for Moutinho.
http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/basics/spielervergleich/basics_90466_52769.html Check out this comparison. It appears that Willian is an out and out winger.
Hi Vim right, Will.i.am is a strange one. he can play as a right winger, a left winger and as an attacking midfielder. throughout games, he just wanders about switching sides and generally being a pain in the arse. he's therefore very hard to mark. i've seen him a few times, and i've witnessed him play on the right, just like Lennon (except he can actually cross a ball) and i've seen him play on the left. however, in each game, he's also drifted inside and just run in a straight line at the opposition, to gain territory and win freekicks. he's very skillful and a clever footballer. - his only downfall i've noticed, is again, he's lightweight and fairly short. (but great for winning free kicks!) what I've seen of him in the 4 or 5 times I've watched Shakhtar, is that he's NOT a replacement for modric. IMO, he'd be the "back up" winger we need. in reality, he'd probably end up replacing Lennon in the first team. he'll also provide the option of switching with bale, and coming in for bale if he was injured. As mentioned, he could also play a central attacking role. very versatile. So in answer to your question, yes, Sig and will.i.am can play in the same team. However, with Will.i.am.'s versatility, you'd have to question VDV's role now. could he be another casualty due to the lack of pace and attributes AVB isn't fond of?! you might think this sounds daft lads, but I can see VDV being the biggest surprise to be shipped out by the end of the window. Don't get me wrong, I love Rafa, but I'm trying to put myself in the mind of AVB here. But it all Depends on who we actually sign, of course.
jeez Lock stock, I've just managed to write pretty much what you've said, whilst typing at the same time you posted your comment. Great minds think alike, eh?
I think 4231 requires three different styles of players in the '3'. Ideally an out and out wide-man, a playmaker/passer type and a fast auxiliary striker. If I could choose anyone in the world I'd have Ronaldo, Iniesta and Messi. Bale, Sig and Willian backed up by Lennon, VdV and Dos Santos should be OK?
