The transfer solution.

[Gareth Keown]

my point was that you dont have to get only established players (by the Media's criterion) to improve a team.... value for money can come from looking at the attributes of a player irrespective of what the asking-price is...

Berbatov is an example I quoted in that respect.... players of potential can play in the Prem now, but if they play for a team that doesnt utilise them properly eg. play a striker like C.Jerome as a wide-player mostly, then there's hidden value there to unlock.... just 1 example..

I dont really care whether we buy Ngog, Jerome or Ba.... I DO care that that's the TYPE of player we should be getting in the summer: tall, fast, okay technique, good shot, not unselfish and able to pass it when required....

we really dont need a Spanish version of Carroll eg. Llorente at 100 mega zillion pounds/euros, just to show the world how big our collective penis is...

[dimexi]

A fair point and well put. 

[aspursfan]

I see your point, GK. We don't need to go after a striker with lots of hype, and who other clubs are competing to sign if it means we have to spend sickening amounts of money for him. There may be better options without the hype. Although usually that hype comes with the player being successful. If you look at some of the recent big signings by Premier League teams, there's a good reason for paying more. It's amazing how much players are going for but when they have stats which make them less of a risk, you can understand why it costs more.

Suarez - His scoring stats are absolutely amazing and although he hasn't scored 3 in every game since joining Liverpool, it's clear to see that he's going to score goals.

Dzeko - The fact that the media seemed to deem him a failure after his first game should tell you something about the level of expectation. He's already started scoring goals and it looks like he'll continue to do so. Unfortunately he'll be doing it for City. His inclusion seems to have caused them problems though and understandably so.

Balotelli - I really hoped that he would be a complete failure. His attitude and work rate are terrible, but he is a natural goal scorer. His technique is amazing. Imagine if he put effort in for 90 minutes.

[Gareth Keown]

personally, I think Dzeko is the perfect example of hype causing a side to actually weaken a team by swapping a better player IMO (Adebayor) for a lesser one.... Dzeko can only play as a central striker therefore in Citeh's invariable 4-2-3-1 this will cause Tevez to vacate the position.... unless you waste Dzeko by not picking a 30m pound player regularly for Prem games especially (which may well happen)..

Dzeko is good but waaaay overhyped.... the excellent Grafite next to him made him look very good in the weaker German league...

Suarez too looks like a goodish player but nowhere near worth 22m+..... I'm looking forward to seeing him and Carroll in the Prem... I think it may surprise a few people in a most negative way..

Wet Spam have done fantastically in getting Piquionne and Ba to supplement C.Cole... watch them easily clear relegation now despite an average midfield and defence..

[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. 

After the Wolves game I think I only need to restate my case, with more emphasis on our inadequacies in the defence dept!

[bigv]

<br>

<br><br>using your criteria, we probably wouldnt have bought Berbatov (a player from a weaker league and not written about much in the papers here)..<br><br>

<br><br>I think GK that you are so keen to give your opinion, that you don't always take on board others' point of view. If you had done you would have realised without too much effort that Berbatov was a perfect example of a player who had potential, someone from abroad who was little known about but was scouted as someone who could become a star. Hence we bought him for £10.9 m and once he became a proven premiership player we sold him for £30.75m. You are countering my arguments with statements that ironically support my point of view. So thank you. <br><br>

<br><br>both Ngog and Jerome are actually better players than Carroll (who is just a big targetman who got lucky for 3 months from August, when Prem teams didnt give Newky or Carroll much respect and they capitalised on that....<br><br>it aint about the price, it aint about the hype.... its about the atributes a player can bring to a team which are currently missing..<br>

<br><br>Also, you never seem to conced a point, even when you are clearly mistaken or the only person saying it. I completely disagree that Ngog and Jerome are better players than Carroll. I agree that Carroll is not the finished article but I think you will find it hard to find anyone in football who would rather have Ngog than Carroll. Do you really think that if both players were free transfers and Harry had the choice of either of them he would pick Ngog? And yes it is all about the attributes that a player can bring to a team, which is why managers and clubs agree to pay huge transfer fees, not because of the hype, although this can add £s, but because the team that needs that player consider him to worth the outlay to help them succeed. Therefore, we can either pay under £10m for a player of Jerome quality or we could pay +£15m for a proven, experienced and quality player that has all the attributes we need and more.<br>[/q<div><br><><div><br><><div>.<>






 


Now thats hitting the nail on the head.


Peoples opinions however valid are lost on Keown. He will fail to&nbsp;grasp&nbsp;the fact that a player of berbatovs type was exactly the type both you and I were referring to when we were stressing the importance of a good scouting system as opposed to chancing our luck on "maybe" and "might do it" players. For him to then cite Berbatov as an example of the contrary just illustrates the level of intelligence at which the guy is operating from. It would be quite ironic were it not actually saddening. Im sure he is encumbered somewhat with his blinkered and &nbsp;limited mindset. Maybe treatment might help

[Gareth Keown]

<yawn>

youre trying waaaay too hard now..... sad really 

Dimexi - Today's failings were not those of our strikers, so our 'defficiencies' as discussed were irrelevant today.

upon further analysis, both wide-middies naturally moved infield... this left both FBs isolated and frequently doubled-up on by Wolves.... they had alot of joy out wide.... not Modric or Pienaar's fault as its not their natural game to stay wide....

thats is possibly the last game this season that we will not see at least 1 of Bale or Lennon start in midfield.... and probably starting together..... problem solved.

[dimexi]

In a recent Radio interview Harry Redknapp stated we are 3 good players away from being able to win the title. Which was later highlighted again by different hosts, emphasising the fact that good players meant the kind they may cost a bit more and have higher wages.

I would also take it as meaning 3 players of a quality that was better than those that are currently in the first team, otherwise he would say we had the players to challenge for the title with the players we currently had.

Now I know that HR did not specify positions but I would still say that the positions I identified were the weakest areas of the side. If you do not agree that the 3 positions we would need to bring in good players for are: LB, CB & ST, then please say which 3 positions you think HR was talking about?

[bigv]

i agree, maybe even 2 strikers and a cb. Dawson isnt title winning material.On his day very good but prone to errors at the most important moments. Gomes similar. Lb is ok unless you mean as cover for BAE who played well yet again against milan. Harry needs to transfer his winning ways and tactical genius in Europe to the everyday grind of the epl or the 4th position we will need will be a manager.

[Gareth Keown]

when other CBs are fit, Dawson is/will be strictly for the bench.... I'd play Kaboul ahead of him as well as King (when fit) and Galllas.... Bassong too as the leftsided CB

[Gareth Keown]

the 3 positions Arry was talking about, for us to win the title are as follows :-

striker... striker and.... er... striker.

we need better ALL-ROUNDED strikers..... not specialists just good at 1-2 tasks a striker needs to perform eg. Crouch: heading)

[Holtspur]

I think Hulk could add some serious weight up front......... INCREDIBLE! lol. Seriously, I hope Harry has him on his radar. Amazing strike rate per game

[bigv]

Too high profile for Harry. Harry prefers the cheaper "bargain" buys as he still has the manger of a small club with limited funds mentality. A penny pinching chairman's wet dream. Expect no big transfers lad except those going in an outwardly direction.

[Spurs218]

Hulk is very overrated.

[RiffHard]

Hulk is very overrated.

I agree, his goals/games ratio is good but take a look at the leagues he's been plying his trade in... Remember tha last incredible Portuguese striker we had? (Yes, I know that Hulk is Brazilian but he's playing in Portugal).