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Tottenham Discussion => Spurs Chat => Topic started by: SomersetYiddo on December 20, 2010, 03:37:07 PM
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I do really think we need to buy a left back in January as cover for BAE. He is a great player and i rate him and has done a fantastic job for us over the past couple of years but if he is injured we are weak on options down there and also if we bring someone in it gives in competition to compete for the place and maybe give him a kick up the ass that he sometimes needs. Who is available and who would you want to bring in?
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We have bale who can play LB and then we can drop Modders Left side and let someone play CM. But the problem is our CM players are down to teh bare bones!
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Bale isnt really much cop at LB though, much more effective for us at LM, we do need LB cover and someone to push BAE as sometimes he does make me stain my pants as his decisions and timing can be shocking.
Dont get me wrong I rate him highly and he is our most improved player since he joined us Iremember some of those displays) but we need suitable competion for the position to keep him at the top of his game and teh obvious.
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I think we a need another LB too. Problem is no decent player will be willing to come in as back up...and the type/stanrad or player that is willing to come in as back up will they be any better than Bale at left back?
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any half-decent journeyman LB or any young promising LB will be more than happy to join a glamorous London-based top Prem club with realistic CL aspirations and playing stylish attractive football.....and if that doesnt do it, the 20k a week contract will...
he could be playing anywhere in Europe so the choice really is vast...
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Good point made by Biggy~ id say someone from Blackburn could do the job as backup :D
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I'll tell ya what guys I'll help the club out for a bargian 10k per week I'll be cover for left back a sacrifice I am willingg to make, I'll write a letter to Mr Levy now should do the trick outlining my ability to run the full length of the pitch in just under 40 minutes, an intended clean tackle assured everytime and the kicking and heading ability of a donkey!
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I'd take Wayne Bridge - he has more chances to get one over John Terry at Spurs than he has at Man Sheikhy.
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Bridge is far too good and expensive for mere backup.... we need to go somewhere like Croatia or Czech Republic and get a really good talent thats also cheap,and would kill to come to the Prem and sit on the bench for the next few years...
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Doubt bridge would come to us and break his current wage.
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lads its time now too start acting like the big club we are and as is rightly said give bae a right run for his money at LB where to be honest is the only position theirs no real competition for places and that means to me getting the most improving and promising LB in the prem at the moment and that is Leighton Baines his performances are getting better and better each week and him and BAE would really keep each other on their metal as they both would need too put in strong and consistent displays in order too stay in the side .
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DiscoPants....
too much competition is not always a good thing, as it makes players feel too insecure and therefore can knock confidence.... best to go with an heir as a spare, rather than 2 kings...
Baines.... inevitable predictable response I guess after last night..
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I'll tell ya what guys I'll help the club out for a bargian 10k per week I'll be cover for left back a sacrifice I am willingg to make, I'll write a letter to Mr Levy now should do the trick outlining my ability to run the full length of the pitch in just under 40 minutes, an intended clean tackle assured everytime and the kicking and heading ability of a donkey!
Should go down as well as my fax to Terry Venables offering to partner the fat geordie bastard in midfield against Forest in Cup Final
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Inevitable, predictable response after last night....?
Yup, up 'til now Baines has been s**te...must be why Bayern are after him eh?
:santa_rolleyes:
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too much competition is not always a good thing,
Says the man who wants us to sign everybody going!
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too much of a good rthing is ultimately bad for you... as Al Citeh will continue to discover..
BAE is a top-class LB as he's proved over the last 2yrs.... we need an understudy to him that will not threaten BAE's status and primacy, but will be happy to learn and progress as opportunities arise when the main man is rested/injured...
Baines is too good and waaay too expensive (in wages too)a player to use as cover.... and its only after last night that I remember ANYONE asking for Baines for Spurs in the last 3 months.... he scores a nice goal last night and the knee-jerks come out to playthe following day.... coincidence ??
and those who understand English will fully comprehend that I suggested players that would fit the template of the type of striker we need in January.... of which 1, maybe 2, will suffice.... not every single one, like numpties are apt to think..
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I see your point GK but if we took that veiw in every position we wouldnt really move forward would we.
Competition is healthy, players have big egos that the managers have to manage and the bottom line is be better than your competitor and you are in the side, a dip in form injury etc and a chance comes! example Hutton!
We cant have just BAE as king of the LB position with only an understudy who then could be put right in it, which would be damaging to both player and club. We have alot of fixtures in a season with CL footi and there is room for each position to have at least 2 equal players battling for it.
Baines is quality as stated but he would cost a fair price and on that basis I think he would be a no go, plus with his international career beckoning he would want first team footi assured.
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theres always a balance that needs to be struck..
we will get a LB to cover BAE, but also, as I;ve already mentioned, have the potential to progress into the side over time, therefore will inevitably offer some competition to BAE...
lets not forget that we also have Bale (currently) who can play LB if needed, and even Bassong as a left-footer can fill in there as an emergency LB (the main reason why he hasnt played regularly as leftside CB this season)..
we really do need to focus on the main point this January.... an effective target-man (for Pav/Defoe) come lone-striker (for Vaart, if he plays)....
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To be fair BAE really started stepping up when Bale started getting back in the first team, when he had some competition. Thats when we really started seeing the best of BAE.
because if you remember when Bale first got his place back, it was in the LB position, then got moved up to LM due to injuries and that's when BAE came back in.
Someone like BAE who strictly sees football as a profession and has said on a few occasions now he doesn't "love" football its just a job to him, won't get to disheartened by abit of competition i don't think.
Like i said, i think we only started seeing the best of BAE when he had that competition, it made him improve his game.
Competition for places isn't always a bad thing, it depends on the player. Some will step up & some will feel threaten
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with respect Biggsy you ole goat, BAE was playing mighty impressively for a good season and a half before he got injured just before Xmas against the Spammers..... otherwise Bale would still be making the PG-Tips for halftime...
BAE didnt just step up his game after his hernia comeback after 3months out, when Bale was playing LB.... he was playing excellently before too, which kinda destroys the argument that he needs stiff competition to play at the desired level...
I will say tho, that BAE plays better with Bale at LM, as opposed to the great Modric, as he gets a damned sight more protection down the left than he ever could count on with the great Modric jogging along leisurely baxk into position...
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I wouldn't say BAE was playing mighty impressively before the start of last season. This season and last and last season are his best by far in a spurs shirt.
The fact that you was saying Competition will hurt a player...i was just pointing out that it's the opposite for BAE imo.
BAE only got his place after his injury was because Modric got injured and imo stepped up his game because he had to, because Bale came in and was doing well at LB
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Bale being Bale did very well at LB when the chance came.... he was a huge attacking threat and improved defensively..
Modric was injured for a long period BEFORE Xmas and was actually back playing by the time we played Spam (the game BAE got injured)... in fact Modric even scored that game..
I agree that a degree of competition is healthy... but buying Baines to compete with BAE for LB is simply over the top... competition is like fire: too much and it will burn all a player's confidence and team-spirit (Al Citeh ??), too little and its ineffective..
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Gonna be a real homer here, but speaking of inexpensive options in Europe to provide LB cover - why not US captain Carlos Bocanegra? If we are really interested in Payet from St. Etienne we could work Bocanegra into the deal as well. He's cheap, experienced, happy to defend, and good in the box. If we wanted a veteran LB who can also play CB and provide leadership - he seems ideal. At his age though (31) I think he enjoys playing regularly in the first team.
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the way we play with the 2 wingers in midfield making the playing area as big as possible, we need a better athlete than Bocanegra in his prime, never mind a 31yr old version...
ideally, we need a someone like Ars*nal's Gibbs, young, talented, pace and stamina, will be happy to play as and when needed for this year, then build on that the next season..
or someone experienced but past his best, looking to be a bag-man and happy to be so.... Roberto Carlos anyone ?? :santa_grin:
must be a few out there from either category to choose from surely....
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I have been saying this all year, Ekotto looks a beast of a player in possession very very surprisingly strong, and never over commits to injure himself but s##t does happen and if ekotto gets injured we are screwed
Bale isnt a left back and playing him there would lose soo much of our attacking play, because other team will tell there wingers to play high up the pitch and hug the line so Bale cant venture forward, I wouldnt like to give that prick Nani a 50 yard run on anyone.
In terms of replacements/cover 2 players spring to mind problem is they may turn out better than Ekotto, first is leighton Baines reckon he would cost 10mil, better than ekotto going forward and positionally better, although ekotto is more physical, and then Jose Enrique of Newcastle I would say he would cost 6mil, I really like him similar to Ekotto but technically in terms of passing the ball is much better.
I guess Gallas who played at left back for Chelski and Basson who played there for Newcastle in his first season could do a job there...... I would worry about Gallas there due to lack of pace, but Bassong is quick and left footed, the thing that lets him down is he isnt technically great but worth a try!!
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What about either of the two Kyles (Walker and Naughton) we have? Isn't one a lefty?
That would be perfect :santa_cool:
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BAE is starting to look useful wne attacking too! still need cover and comp for him though.
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cover: yes....... comp: NO!!
get some cheap, young Croatian from Zagreb who's a leftie and with some pace, and teach him to carry BAE's bags for away-games...
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He needs competition too mate, cant see him going of and sulking like a certain Keane and Berbatoss partnership days
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BAE is the last player at Spurs to need competition.... he couldnt care less if he plays or not, as he aint that into footy as it is...
dont pee him off by giving the impression you don't trust him by getting in decent compo.... just trust him, make him feel loved and he will CARRY ON repaying you with excellent performances...
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agreed with GK though.. need someone good as a back up. But not someone who takes his place away. Well unless BAE suddenly goes out of form. Then he shouldnt complain if he gets drop.
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Walker is RB, Naughton is LB ( I think), i hear they are both doing terrific jobs at there loan clubs QPR & Leicester.
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Walker is RB, Naughton is LB ( I think), i hear they are both doing terrific jobs at there loan clubs QPR & Leicester.
Naughton is a right-back but can play on the left as well. He is right-footed, though.
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Maybe they can be an option for back-up to BAE?
Both young, neither are on a big wage and at the moment would be happy to support BAE left back
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Walker is a CB come RB.... Naughton is really more a RM than a RB (but has played at LB in emergencies for Sheffield Utd)...
I rate Naughton alot, as he has great composure, technique and intelligence.... but he's only impressed me in Pre-Seasons when he's been played at RM rather than as a fullback...
we need a pwoper backup LB who is naturally left-footed
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Walker has been playing LB for QPR played well the other day too
Adel Taarabt too :santa_shocked:
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Walker is mainly a RB, tho he has played CB for England youth teams too... he may occasionally fill in at LB for a Championship side but it doesnt make him 1 by definition...
I believe a chap called Gareth Bale got lumbered with the label of LB too, after he unwittingly agreed to cover the LB slot after Southampton's regular LB was on long-term medical-leave.... it took him yrs to shake off the tag apparently and is now playing back in his always favoured natural position at LM.... not doing too badly apparently..
Tarbuck really doesnt suit our slick 1-2 passing style od play, for all the talent he has.... Arry did well to shift him along, and the player himself can now be a big fish in a much smaller pond...