The transfer solution.

[dimexi]

I think Harry is great but...

Now I know I am not the first, nor will I be the last, who can honestly say Harry is the best manager we have had in years. He is down to earth, knows how to get the best out of his players and gets his teams playing the kind of football we want to see. However, the result against Blackpool highlights a few problems that we have wanted to be resolved for a while but are just left scratching our heads, wondering why nothing has been done to correct them.

Spurs are a very good side, with a fantastic squad, but it is not good enough if we are to be consistently in the top 4 and pushing towards a future title. I know it is a bit cliche, but really believe we are 4 (possibly 3) players away from being equal to Manchester Utd and being better than Ars*nal. So here are my suggestions to making Spurs great.

Right Back - This is the area I am least concerned with. I think that Hutton can be good going forwards, but makes too many mistakes at the back. Corluka is the opposite. The solution: I think Kyle Walker is looking good playing for Aston Villa so we may not need anyone in this position. Cost £0

Left Back - I have had my doubts about Assou-Ekoto for a while now, he can be really good. Against Ac Milan, it was his best game yet. If he could do more of the same then it wouldn't be such a problem. But he is too inconsistent and needs to have a fight on for his place. The solution: Quality full backs are actually in short supply so I would suggest Michel Bastos who can play anywhere along the left and even fill in at right midfield if you need him too. Ideally he and Bale could swap roles, pulling the defences apart. Bastos is even faster than Bale too. (If the worst case scenario happens then we should still replace Bale with Bastos, and look for a more defensive LB) Cost- £15- 20 Million? I know it is a lot but worthwhile.

Centre Back - Dawson needs someone fast that has good positioning off the ball, his areas of weakness. So John Terry is not an option! We need consistency at the back and a proper partnership. Also someone who can tackle properly and does not give penalties away too easily. Woodgate is quality and if he was able to achieve full fitness and stay fit again this may not be such a problem, but his history is not good and Ledley is the same unfortunately. The solution:Ideally, Giorgio Chiellini from Juventus but this is a bit out of our range. Also a defender who is used to the premiership or could adapt quickly. So Either Arne Friedrich or Richard Dunne Cost: £3-10 million

Striker (one that can score) - The final piece in the jigsaw puzzle is one that we all have been calling for for some time. I believe that Defoe on his day is capable of brilliance, but if he is not firing or is injured the replacements can not fulfil this role. We need a player than can form a partnership with him as well as become a goal poacher when he needs to be. We are looking for an in form Torres, but at half the price. Crouch is a good squad player and I think he can add something different so he needs to stay. Pav' I am afraid you just are not a top 4 player so your time is up. We need something special. The solution: I was hoping we were going to get Suarez, before he started to get on Liverpool's radar, and Andy Carroll became too expensive. A proven goal scorer, who can also pass, hold up the ball, create goals for others and is strong. I have never liked his attitude on the pitch, but believe we could soften to him (think Klinsman), but Drogba could be our man, and Harry will know how to keep the old dog going for a few years yet. If this is not on the cards then I think Hulk is the man to go for. Cost £10 - 20 million.

My final point on making Spurs great is a need to change our wages policy. I don't think we should pay ridiculous prices but if the right player is available then we should do all we can to get them.

Total cost: £28 - 50 million (But I am sure Harry can get the best deal possible)

Please share any thoughts and alternative solutions. 

[RiffHard]

I agree with most of your points but it really seems that some players you mentioned are probably too old to be considered a proper solution. A temporary solution, yes probably.

[Persemillion]

Don't agree with the Drogba option. Too old, too self centred and too injury prone. Hulk perhaps. Definitely bring Walker back from Villa.


What would be nice is that, one day, we can actually develop a youngster from the thousands we seem to send out on loan every season. Kane? Townsend? Are any of them ever going to make the grade at our place?

[dimexi]

I think that you need to have a mix of youth and experience. I agree Dunne and Freidrich are 30 plus but players are are playing at the top level for much longer now anyway. So if they are still able to play for the next 3 years then the solution does not need to look beyond this time. Then, during the next few years you can start to bring in someone else younger. Also Drogba is 'getting on' a bit and is not someone I would normally suggest (I agree his attitude stinks but refer again to Klinsman). Harry is known for having a few old boys in his teams so this would be his kind of signing. If we were able to win the title within 2 years, would you still be saying it is not a solution? However, I think Hulk has all the physical and technical attributes of Drogba, and less of his faults and is mid-twenties I think, so could be a more viable option.

[ugs]

Centre Back = Kaboul when fit along with Dawson this will be our long term Centre Back partnership
 
Right Back - Walker after this season on loan he will be our first choice.
 
We really only need a Left Back and striker, the striker we desperately tried to get in the last window but failed miserably due mainly to our wage structure !
 
Left Back is simple Leighton Baines young enough good enough.
 
Tinkering that's all too many changes too much trouble
 
 

[Persemillion]

I used to rate Baines but, apart from his free kicks, I'm not sure he's done enough this season to suggest he's any better than Benoit.

[dimexi]

Too much tinkering? You agree with Walker and to getting a new left back and striker and the only thing you disagreed with position wise was that Kaboul is our long term CB. But this area still needs strengthening and there is no point getting a player that is not better than the players you have. I  agree that Baines is a possibility for left back and would provide competition for the place, but I am not convinced of his impact towards making Spurs title challengers and that was my aim.

[ugs]

To be fair Walker is already our player and has played in games for us, and we all know that we need a striker. We are not that far off, Baines would be an option but BAE is a good enough defender we just need some competition in that position. Before Kaboul got injured he was playing regular anyway, tinkering just look at Alex Ferguson over the years one or two players a season just in areas that are in need of a freshen up or strenghten.
 
 

[Gareth Keown]

BAE is a topclass LB.... if you can't see that than you need to go back to kindergarten..you say Dawson needs a pacy CB nrxt to him... then you propose Friedrick 

we have Hutton, Corluka and( Kaboul too) to play RB... and we still have Walker to return.... enough.

we need a backup LB (maybe Rose could be developed there, as he's played there for Spurs before).... we have about 3 million CBs so I really dont think we need another, even with the injuries we still have Galllas, Dawson, Bassing, Khumalo fit (as many as a fully-fit Utd or Ars*nal squad have) and still have Kaboul, King and Woodgate to return.... how many does a club need ffs ??

WE NEED A BIG, PACY, WORLD-CLASSISH STRIKER....... the beginning and the end of the next transfer-window (for incomings) and we need to sale the deadwood eg. Bentley, Keano,

[bigv]

BAE is a topclass LB.... if you can't see that than you need to go back to kindergarten..you say Dawson needs a pacy CB nrxt to him... then you propose Friedrick 

we have Hutton, Corluka and( Kaboul too) to play RB... and we still have Walker to return.... enough.

we need a backup LB (maybe Rose could be developed there, as he's played there for Spurs before).... we have about 3 million CBs so I really dont think we need another, even with the injuries we still have Galllas, Dawson, Bassing, Khumalo fit (as many as a fully-fit Utd or Ars*nal squad have) and still have Kaboul, King and Woodgate to return.... how many does a club need ffs ??




 

WE NEED A BIG, PACY, WORLD-CLASSISH STRIKER....... the beginning and the end of the next transfer-window (for incomings) and we need to sale the deadwood eg. Bentley, Keano,

Im with the gimp on this one^ ^ ^ ^

[ugs]

BAE is a topclass LB.... if you can't see that than you need to go back to kindergarten..you say Dawson needs a pacy CB nrxt to him... then you propose Friedrick 

we have Hutton, Corluka and( Kaboul too) to play RB... and we still have Walker to return.... enough.

we need a backup LB (maybe Rose could be developed there, as he's played there for Spurs before).... we have about 3 million CBs so I really dont think we need another, even with the injuries we still have Galllas, Dawson, Bassing, Khumalo fit (as many as a fully-fit Utd or Ars*nal squad have) and still have Kaboul, King and Woodgate to return.... how many does a club need ffs ??




 

WE NEED A BIG, PACY, WORLD-CLASSISH STRIKER....... the beginning and the end of the next transfer-window (for incomings) and we need to sale the deadwood eg. Bentley, Keano,

Im with the gimp on this one^ ^ ^ ^

Crikey I must be ill I totally agree with GK..... Nurse bring me my revolver !!!
 
 

[dimexi]

BAE is a topclass LB.... if you can't see that than you need to go back to kindergarten..you say Dawson needs a pacy CB nrxt to him... then you propose Friedrick 

...we have about 3 million CBs so I really dont think we need another, even with the injuries we still have Galllas, Dawson, Bassing, Khumalo fit (as many as a fully-fit Utd or Ars*nal squad have) and still have Kaboul, King and Woodgate to return.... how many does a club need ffs ??

I would like to discuss the two points made above.

Firstly BAE is one of the main areas of weakness in our side, he is not a top class LB consistently enough to warrant that judgement. Like I said, if he played like he did against AC Milan more often then I would agree, unfortunately this is not the case. If there is competition for his place then he would have to raise his game. By the way your childish statement of 'if you can't see that then you need to go back to kindergarten' is a little embarrassing. I think there are plenty of football fans as well as experts and pundits that would disagree with you.

As for the CB issue, yes we have a lot of CBs on the books, but too many long term injuries and a number of similar level players means that there is not an established partnership which should be the bedrock of our team. I am not sure if you have noticed but our defensive record is not good enough, so unless you are willing to take your head out of the sand this problem needs fixing. We don't have to keep all the players on the books as well as buy in  better players so you question of ' How many CBs do we need ffs?' has no relevance and you said yourself to sell the deadwood.  If King was fit we would not have a problem because he is a top quality player. Friedrich may not be as fast as he was, but he is not slow. I know there are others faster but his positioning and experience would be welcomed and is needed at spurs.

Finally, I only put this out there as a starting point for discussion, so please contribute with ideas for how we could push for a title. We have a good squad but it is not great and your idea that we can make do with what we have is even going to make getting in the top 4 difficult. One big pacey striker is not going to be enough and will not help stop the goals being scored against us.

[ugs]

Dimexi you are creating a problem where it dosen't exist at Centre Back, Dawson and Kaboul will be our first choice pairing with Gallas, Bassong, Woodgate and Corluka as back up. Unless you can find a dramatically better pairing then I find the idea of buying another CB as pointless, we have had to constantly change our back two due to injury this year along with the  RB this alone causes us to leak goals. Pretty much the only constant has been BAE who has had to play alongside 4 or 5 different pairings no wonder he has the odd moment so would you if you worked closely with someone and had to change that person every couple of days.
 
If we have evryone fit from the beginning of next season our back line will almost certainly be
 
                           Gomes
 
Walker          Kaboul        Dawson          BAE
 
 
And you we do need a big powerful pacey forward to score us some goals period.
 
Its very rare for me to agree with with GK but he's spot on this time !!!!
 
 
 

[Gareth Keown]

dimexi..... I like your thought processes, but I think you dont delve deep enough me ole Snugglebug..

BAE is so much more than just a LB who defends consistently very well (tho like every other player on Eath, not every single game he plays in)..... the guy is a great creative source and sets the tone, along with a few others, of our style of play.... his 'flow' helps others play with confidence and creativity too.... otherwise you'd have a team of Dawsons booting the 'hot potato' 50yds everytime it comes even close....

as for him being a bad defender, sorry but I dont see it..... he is a very good defender who reads, anticipates and executes pretty well... he certainly is 1 of our best players and we really only need a nerdy, studious backup for him, not a replacement...

Kaboul is our BEST defender.... already near world-class at CB or even RB.... he really is that good now... Kaboul and Gallas or Bassong would be my 1st-choice pairing, tho' Dawson has improved I like my CBs to have abit of pace and confidence to hold the ball when needed (also he's still prone to errors when the ball is on the ground, against real pace)...

between them King & Woody add up to 1 great experienced CB..... we then also have Gallas, Khumalo, even THudd can play CB (with Dawson-like weaknesses re. pace).... it really is enough..

we need a tall, strong, pacy striker to score goals and link well.... here are my well-priced options in the summer: Vucinic, Amauri, Obinna, C.Jerome, Wickham (Lennon was a regular at 18yrs), Sturridge..... any 2 from here will do Moi..

[Derry-Yid]

Obinna

Where is that list of strikers i had, to i add him onto it

Agree with your two posts....spot on!