Exactly. Someone already said how we have lost Pav who hasn't been replaced, so we're a striker down. Ade hasn't signed yet. Those two have to be replaced with quality, top quality. We even looked short with just those 2 + defoe. Although Kane is a great prospect, it's unfair to put pressure or expectation on a young lad. We're in 4 comps next year, we haven't got the depth. Unless we plan to sack 2 of the comps off early on.
AVB has pretty much said all comps are to be taken seriously, (Harry said the same btw!) which is precisely why his view of our striker situation, saying that if Ade falls though, he's only looking for one, is alarming...an alarm bell even.
Then our strikers need to start training with the gb Olympic team. It's going to require a lot of fitness!!! I remember this time last year, we were all discussing options and we were massively disappointed on August 31st. There was outrage at the lack of activity and everyone saying how short we were up front. It's like bloody de ja vu!! The more I think about it, the more I realise we won't have big names. We just aren't prepared to spend the cash. it amazes me that we ever spent 16.5mill on modric. - its almost like levy always has on his mind that period where we spend a fortune on hit and miss players. - fair enough I guess. But don't have ridiculous demands for your manager if your not going to at least try to match what those clubs are doing around you.
If Spurs aren't going to splash the cash then there could be cheaper alternatives. I stand to get massively shot down on this but if Adebayor doesn't sign what about Niklas Bendtner and Berbatov. You could probably get them both fairly cheap. I know Bendtner is inconsistent but he could do a job for us and fit in the system we are trying to play. Whether Arsenal would sell to us is another matter. Berbatov is just class and a front 3 of him Bale and Lennon would be incredible.imagine VdV or Sigurdsson behind him with Parker and Sandro as holding midfielders. We could probably get both for less than 10 million together. I await the abuse for even suggesting both these players!!
I see what your saying and the theory jack, but those two just aren't good enough for where we need to be going. Supposedly we're progressing gradually and levy is supposed to want CL football, with perhaps a title challenge, but neither player is good enough. 2 of my mates take the piss out of bentdner daily. - a bit like the "Emile heskey" jokes we all see so regularly. Berbatov would come back and just collect his pension each week. I think it would be sour the second time round and cast a shadow over how good he was the first time. To name a player that is similar and support your idea - Luuk de Jong. But as usual, we were too slow and he signed elsewhere for about 10mill.
What about edin dzeko? Is he a possibility? That wouldn't be a bad signing at all. However, I know nothing about his wages...
Do you know what he earns? I think the days of them not selling to us are over now that they are so strong. However, if the wages are insane, then forget this.
Liverpool are also in the bidding for FC Porto's Ghanaian winger Christian Atsu. I can think of a few good reasons he wouldn't want to go there...
I remember last time we was left in this situation, Levy managed to bring in Fraizer Campbell Personally I don't believe there is going to be any big money signings for strikers and that Levy is hoping the Ade deal comes off and that when Modric leaves, Madrid will loan us a striker for a season.
I don't reckon you're far off there. I do think we'll spend something replacing modric though. Maybe not the reported 25mill on moutinho, but certainly 10-15mill on someone else. There will be uproar if we sell one of our best players and a replacement isn't brought in.
Yeah I expect a midfielder to come in when Modric leaves but AVB doesn't seem to buy into "four strikers needed", he is clearly one of these managers that puts more emphasis on high pressure therefore he believes the more pressure you put on your opponent, the greater possession you have in their half and the goals will come from all areas. So I guess he thinks we only need two main strikers, one youth striker and more goals from midfield, with bale and sig being the main providers from midfield. Well it work? we will soon find out!
I don't understand the negative against going in for Berbatov. I know he left under a cloud but we are desperate and I haven't heard of any better solutions in the press or on this board. He's only 31 and his game isn't really about pace although I do remember a quality goal he scored for us against Charlton when he ran from the halfway line. United clearly favour Rooney and Wellbeck and Hernandez is before Berbatov in the pecking order (I would be very happy with a bid for Hernandez too although I think Berbatov would fit our system better). He may not have set the world on fire at united but his goals to games ratio isn't bad and just think of the first touches of VdV and Berbatov up front playing balls in for Bale and Lennon. At least this gives us some breathing space to look for a long term replacement and not panic buy some mediocre striker to fill a gap.
Well all I can say is that I hope Gio gets a look in next season. He couldn't have done much more to impress his new manager recently, despite not being in training. That's our "alternative" winger option right there. He at least deserves a run of regular games and clearly has talent.
Completely agree with Gio I think he could be another Boateng if we got rid of him. Still doesn't solve our New Striker problem though! ;-)
The sad thing is that, despite the fact we did well last season playing some nice football and finished 4th, we're still only in the Europa League. We're not going to be attract the likes of Damiao and the other top strikers. Yes we need to sign strikers - but I think we need to be a bit more realistic in who we're likely to get.
True...but we have lost our best centre back BUT of course his days were unfortunately numbered yet can't take away his performances from last season before king started to suffer again. Our best midfielder wants away, and 99% certain he will be gone. Our best striker has left (but could be back) AND we have a new manager. Yeah we look to the positives but its another pre season of transition, new team being formed, losing key players so i'm waiting for that pre season when we keep our squad, best players, manager and make smart signings to move forward.
just to think, it was all so rosy (no pun intended) around feb. We were playing some swish football, the team looked happy, gooners n chelsea were struggling, 3rd was ours...... All that was needed was: a) harry to shut the **** up b) harry to rule himself out of the England job c) harry to learn how to rotate d) harry to have a backup winger for Bale/Lennon so we didn't have to change formation.... was that really too much to ask?
Redknapp could do with shutting the **** up now, too. If his speculation about Modric leaving wasn't bad enough when he was our manager, he's decided that he's still ITK, for some reason. Levy really should've inserted some sort of gagging clause in the terms of his leaving package.
