Author: Nel4Life
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 2:03pm (PST)
Subject: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
It seems pretty incredible how much we're spending at the moment- we seem willing to do anything for a chance to break into the top 4. The Chairman obviously trusts manager Ramos with the club's war-chest; giving him what appears to be an unlimited transfer budget. With such financial strength, it appears that those involved with transfers rarely, if ever, sleep, as they're constantly working to bring in new face after new face. What I'm worried about though is whether we're removing the spine of the team. With Keane gone and Berbatov all but a Manchester United player, you have to wonder what the plans are. At the moment the attitude appears to be "no worries, we'll buy a new strikeforce." It seems extremely risky, and you have to wonder, with this many new faces and so many different nationalities floating around, how in God's name is the team expected to gel? Don't get me wrong, I'm not angry- I'm as excited as the next Spurs fan by these big names joining our club- I'm just sceptical, having seen so many false dawns during my time as a Spurs fan.
So, this question is aimed at not just Spurs fans, but anyone who is intrigued by the club's attitude towards success: How will Tottenham Hotspur fare next season? Will all this money bring the success we so badly crave? Or will this blind spending end in disaster?
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Tottenham Hotspur transfers, Summer 2008:
IN:
Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb) - £16.5m
Giovani Dos Santos (Barcelona) - £4.7m
Paul-Jose Mpoku (Standard Liege) - Undisclosed
Heurelho Gomes (PSV Eindhoven) - £10m
Mirko Ranieri (Perugia) - Undosclosed
John Bostock (Crystal Palace) - £700k
David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers) - £15m
Cesar Sanchez (Real Zaragoza) - £250k
OUT:
Radek Cerny (Queens Park Rangers) - Released
Leigh Mills (Brentford) - Loan
Simon Dawkins (Leyton Orient) - Loan
Joe Martin (Blackpool) - Undisclosed
Tommy Forecast (Southampton) - Undisclosed
Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers) - £3.5m
Robbie Keane (Liverpool) - £20.3m
Anthony Gardner (Hull City) - Loan
Teemu Tainio, Pascal Chimbonda and Steed Malbranque (Sunderland) - Undisclosed
Younes Kaboul (Portsmouth) - £5m
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Click here for Spurs-related rumours and articles.
Author: Mycon
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 2:40pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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No need for the Transfer & Rumours thread now then.
I think Spurs have the potential to break in to the top 4 this season. It all relies on their start to the season. In the last few seasons they have had very poor opening months and I wouldn't be surprised if this happened again given all the players that have to gel. But if they're up near the top around November, I think Spurs could have a very good season.
Author: Nel4Life
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 2:48pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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quote MyconOh yes there is- the Abdoulaye Meite saga is hotting upNo need for the Transfer & Rumours thread now then.
But yeah, I agree that it's mostly down to the start of the season. I mean you saw what happened last year- Ramos was brought in when it was already too late. If we start strong we'll at least have more confident going into games, and that could help us maintain some sort of form. Thing is though, if this is to be the case, the new boys are gonna have to gel superhumanly fast.
Author: D I O S
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 2:59pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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quote Nel4LifeOh yes there is- the Abdoulaye Meite saga is hotting up
Tottenham to finish 4th ahead of Liverpool cause lets face it, Liverpool are shite comparatively no matter who they sign.
Author: Cashis
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:27pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Haha, Spurs apparently signing Stephen Bywater.
Author: Harman
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:28pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Hopefully they'll break the top 10 this time around
Author: D I O S
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:31pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Hopefully Liverpool'll break the top 2 this season.
Nah, no chance of that!
Author: Harman
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:32pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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How so? I didn't know you were psychic.
Author: Harman
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:35pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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It may well be. It might also be your year to break the top 4
Author: D I O S
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:43pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Your manager isn't very good, in terms of Premier League at least, he's amazing in Europe but he hasn't actually quite worked out that's not what 'Pool fans want.
You are once again linked with players that although good won't really push you up the table in the way that's needed.
Neither of your wings (except Babel) offers anything that good that will be able to break teams down regularly and effectively, and Babel may be reaching his sell-by date in terms of the fact now everyone knows his left foot is there for aesthetics alone.
And at the time when you're barely improving United's youngsters are getting even better along with the possibility of Berbatov.
Chelsea look set to spend big.
And Arsenal's players have all experienced the kind of pressure a title race gives and will be ready next year for the whole season.
When was the last time ANY of your plaeyrs experienced a title race?
This is all my opinion of course, but I'm generally fairly correct with my hunches. First time for everything of course and I'll hold my hands up if you finish top 2 next season.
Author: Nel4Life
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:44pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Oh how I would LOL at Keane if we finished above Liverpool!
With all these signings, how do people think we'll line up? Say we sign Arshavin and Pavlyuchenko, what's the plan? There's too many players to fit into one formation. I suppose it'd be something like this:
Gomes
Hutton - King - Woodgate - Bale
Bentley - Jenas - Modric - Giovani
Arshavin
Pavlyuchenko
Hutton - King - Woodgate - Bale
Bentley - Jenas - Modric - Giovani
Arshavin
Pavlyuchenko
If that's the case, where's the defensive midfielder? Where does Bent fit in? What if Berbatov stays, does that mean £15m-odd Pavlyuchenko is dropped to the bench? I hope and pray Jenas isn't dropped, as he's part of the team's spine and a true fan favourite. He's just singed a new cotract so he should get to play.
What do other people reckon?
Author: cambiasso
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:48pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Bentley-Jenas-Zokora-Modric(he's no more or less a left midfielder than Malbranque was)
Author: Harman
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:49pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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Chelsea have got a new manager in who hasn't proven himself at the highest club level. Man Utd are always there of course. Arsenal have lost 2 great players and only replaced one. We have added Keane who should be great, and Dossena.
We have 4 great centre backs, 1 new left back who was hailed as the best left back in Italy last season by some and we've only spent 11/12M. We're probably going to bring in some more players. I think we have the best squad now than we've had in a long time, and maybe it is our year, who knows.
Author: Nel4Life
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 3:51pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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quote DannyidoIf Jenas is dropped i solemnly swear I will not visit White Hart Lane until Ramos leaves. That's how strongly I feel about Jenas- he has to play in my eyes.At that formation NEL, i'd buy a DM over Jenas and maybe a Milito over Pavlyuchenko.
Author: Ishy
Date: Jul 31, 08 at 5:13pm (PST)
Subject: re: Tottenham Hotspur - What Next for the Lilywhites?
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quote D I O SI think Yossi's pretty decent, but him and Babel should really just be back up players if we're looking for a title push, right now at least. If we had a quality left winger, then the likes of gerrard/keane/torres/mascherano/alonso in midfield and attack (Our defence is obviously good enough imo), why would we not be capable of a title push? With Gerrard out right. Assuming the winger's good enough, that team's good enough.Your manager isn't very good, in terms of Premier League at least, he's amazing in Europe but he hasn't actually quite worked out that's not what 'Pool fans want.
You are once again linked with players that although good won't really push you up the table in the way that's needed.
Neither of your wings (except Babel) offers anything that good that will be able to break teams down regularly and effectively, and Babel may be reaching his sell-by date in terms of the fact now everyone knows his left foot is there for aesthetics alone.
Although I feel Tottenham have made some major improvements with players I'd wished Liverpool had signed (Modric and maybe Bentley), I can't see them finishing in the top 4 this year. Next year I see them as a real threat once their players have settled, and they've truly replaced Berbatov/Keane.