So I thought I'd rate the arrivals and departures at the club on a deal-by-deal basis.
Key: A* being great business - F being we got done like a kipper.
Most fees are according to reports in the press that I've seen.
Departures:
Saha & Nelson - Released - C- - Actually think we could/ should have kept both for another year, Saha especially, very good option to have on the bench and Nelson by no means put in a bad display.
Corluka - £5m - D - Thought Charlie was a good solid defender and if the fee we got was only £5m having paid out £8m to get him, think we got a little shafted there.
Niko - £5.5m - B+ - Always a great squad player to have but he was never really going to be a first teamer with the players we had. We supposedly paid Pompey £2m to get him, so we made great business there.
Pienaar - £4m - A - A player who undoubted quality yet couldn't produce it for Spurs. Found him annoying in the end with his constant "side ward play" - never looked to attack much. Again, got back double what we paid.
Alnwick - Unknown (released?) - B - Needed to go. Had no future.
Bassong - £4.5m/ £5m - C - Was unfortunate not to play, a good defender, just a case of there were better players in his position. Didn't get enough game time so getting £4.5m/£5m isn't bad, £3m loss.
David Button - Unknown - D- - A keeper that was highly thought of at the Lane, impressed on loan, would liked to have kept him as a future back up to the number 1.
Luka Modric - £33m rising to £38m - B - Best midfielder (arguably best player along with Ledley, Bale & Berbatov) I've seen in my 22 years of supporting Spurs, unbelievable talent, yet his behaviour in the past two Summer windows was appauling. We knew we were gonna lose him -especially without CL football - and I'm glad he's gone abroad to arguably the best team (certainly the biggest) in the world. Think we could have got a bit more but receiving £30m+ on a player is always good business (unless you've paid more than that obviously
).
Rafa - £10m/£11m - F - Brilliant player, loved scoring against Ars*nal, one of our top scorers, linked play brilliantly at times, wasn't desperate to leave and yet we only made a £2m profit. A huge loss. But best of luck, he's back at a place he loves.
Dos Santos - £4m - C+ - Decent amount for a player who featured about 10 times for the first team in 4 years. No doubt he had huge potential but his loss hasn't effected us as we never really got to see what he could actually do on a regular basis.
Arrivals
Sig - £8m - B - Beat off competition to land a young, goal scoring midfielder with a good set piece. Hasn't fully shone yet but I'm hoping he's just finding his feet.
Verts - £8m - A- - Erevidisie player of the year, captain of Ajax, £8m is decent money for a player who we needed to replace Ledley with. Not the most rugged of defenders, though very silky with with ball, can also play LB so will keep Benny on his toes. Given time to learn alongside Gallas/ Dawson/ Kaboul, he'll become an extremely good CB in my opinion.
Ade - £5m!!! - A* - A top, top striker on his day, can score and provide, at £5m we're absolutely laughing.
Mousa Dembele - £15m - A* - An amazing talent, less than half the price of Modric but by no means half the player, obviously I don't expect him to reach the exact level of Modric but I think we have a real gem of a player here.
Hugo Lloris - £9m+ - A - One of the world's best goal keepers, France captain, the man who'll replace Friedel and worthy of the challenge too, Friedel has been a master signing but we all know he won't be around in the long run. Very surprised we've manager to get Lloris in all honesty.
Dempsey - £6m - A - Like Ade, an absolute bargain. One of the best and most consistent midfielders in the Prem, great versatility and an eye for goal, a complete attacking midfielder in my opinon. Happy to have him on board.
Overall Window Activity - C+/ B-. Could really have done with Moutinho and perhaps another striker while also getting rid of deadwood like Jenas & Bentley but the people we have added to the ranks are all of top, top quality and aslong as AVB see's sense (or we can replace him - I'm sorry but never been a fan and he's not done himself any favours with his selections, tactics and treatment of Dawson & Huddlestone) we can really push on from last season with a squad that, despite losing 3 of its best players in Ledley, Luka and Rafa, is potentially stronger and capable of great things.
Will be good to see your views, don't need to long it out with the reasonings like I have, the grades will be interesting enough
Key: A* being great business - F being we got done like a kipper.
Most fees are according to reports in the press that I've seen.
Departures:
Saha & Nelson - Released - C- - Actually think we could/ should have kept both for another year, Saha especially, very good option to have on the bench and Nelson by no means put in a bad display.
Corluka - £5m - D - Thought Charlie was a good solid defender and if the fee we got was only £5m having paid out £8m to get him, think we got a little shafted there.
Niko - £5.5m - B+ - Always a great squad player to have but he was never really going to be a first teamer with the players we had. We supposedly paid Pompey £2m to get him, so we made great business there.
Pienaar - £4m - A - A player who undoubted quality yet couldn't produce it for Spurs. Found him annoying in the end with his constant "side ward play" - never looked to attack much. Again, got back double what we paid.
Alnwick - Unknown (released?) - B - Needed to go. Had no future.
Bassong - £4.5m/ £5m - C - Was unfortunate not to play, a good defender, just a case of there were better players in his position. Didn't get enough game time so getting £4.5m/£5m isn't bad, £3m loss.
David Button - Unknown - D- - A keeper that was highly thought of at the Lane, impressed on loan, would liked to have kept him as a future back up to the number 1.
Luka Modric - £33m rising to £38m - B - Best midfielder (arguably best player along with Ledley, Bale & Berbatov) I've seen in my 22 years of supporting Spurs, unbelievable talent, yet his behaviour in the past two Summer windows was appauling. We knew we were gonna lose him -especially without CL football - and I'm glad he's gone abroad to arguably the best team (certainly the biggest) in the world. Think we could have got a bit more but receiving £30m+ on a player is always good business (unless you've paid more than that obviously
).Rafa - £10m/£11m - F - Brilliant player, loved scoring against Ars*nal, one of our top scorers, linked play brilliantly at times, wasn't desperate to leave and yet we only made a £2m profit. A huge loss. But best of luck, he's back at a place he loves.
Dos Santos - £4m - C+ - Decent amount for a player who featured about 10 times for the first team in 4 years. No doubt he had huge potential but his loss hasn't effected us as we never really got to see what he could actually do on a regular basis.
Arrivals
Sig - £8m - B - Beat off competition to land a young, goal scoring midfielder with a good set piece. Hasn't fully shone yet but I'm hoping he's just finding his feet.
Verts - £8m - A- - Erevidisie player of the year, captain of Ajax, £8m is decent money for a player who we needed to replace Ledley with. Not the most rugged of defenders, though very silky with with ball, can also play LB so will keep Benny on his toes. Given time to learn alongside Gallas/ Dawson/ Kaboul, he'll become an extremely good CB in my opinion.
Ade - £5m!!! - A* - A top, top striker on his day, can score and provide, at £5m we're absolutely laughing.
Mousa Dembele - £15m - A* - An amazing talent, less than half the price of Modric but by no means half the player, obviously I don't expect him to reach the exact level of Modric but I think we have a real gem of a player here.
Hugo Lloris - £9m+ - A - One of the world's best goal keepers, France captain, the man who'll replace Friedel and worthy of the challenge too, Friedel has been a master signing but we all know he won't be around in the long run. Very surprised we've manager to get Lloris in all honesty.
Dempsey - £6m - A - Like Ade, an absolute bargain. One of the best and most consistent midfielders in the Prem, great versatility and an eye for goal, a complete attacking midfielder in my opinon. Happy to have him on board.
Overall Window Activity - C+/ B-. Could really have done with Moutinho and perhaps another striker while also getting rid of deadwood like Jenas & Bentley but the people we have added to the ranks are all of top, top quality and aslong as AVB see's sense (or we can replace him - I'm sorry but never been a fan and he's not done himself any favours with his selections, tactics and treatment of Dawson & Huddlestone) we can really push on from last season with a squad that, despite losing 3 of its best players in Ledley, Luka and Rafa, is potentially stronger and capable of great things.
Will be good to see your views, don't need to long it out with the reasonings like I have, the grades will be interesting enough
