An article in last nights evening paper: Andre Villas-Boas needs Daniel Levy to go on offensive to boost Spurs attack
Club’s steely transfer negotiator has to back his manager who admits they are playing a game of risk
The substitutions made by Sir Alex Ferguson and Andre Villas-Boas showed exactly why Tottenham need to back their head coach in the closing days of the winter transfer market.
With Manchester United leading 1-0, Ferguson sought to stretch Spurs by sending on Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia. As the home team chased the game, Villas-Boas deployed Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Tom Huddlestone — his second-choice left-back and a midfielder he has twice been prepared to sell.
While it is unrealistic to expect Tottenham to have as strong a squad as United, there are few proficient attacking players available to Villas-Boas other than those he relies upon regularly. Chairman Daniel Levy is one of the most steely transfer negotiators in the game and he has consistently found good value for his club.
A glance at Spurs’s team-sheet yesterday would have told the chairman all he needed to know about the fragility of this squad, especially in forward positions. With Emmanuel Adebayor at the Africa Cup of Nations, Jermain Defoe is the only senior striker.
As Villas-Boas pointed out, Spurs are taking a considerable gamble.
“We have a good squad but we know we are at risk with the striker situation,” he said. “We can take the risk but it doesn’t mean something can’t happen before the window closes.”
Both Assou-Ekotto and Huddlestone performed competently and the full-back had a hand in Clint Dempsey’s stoppage-time equaliser but how Villas-Boas would have loved to call on a dangerous forward or two when his team were running out of steam.
A top-four finish is there for Spurs to seize and Levy can lock it up in this window with a couple of clever signings. Lewis Holtby, the Schalke midfielder, has been secured for next season and a relatively small fee will bring him to north London immediately.
Schalke say they have turned down Spurs’s initial offer and they are thought to be asking for about £1.5million. There is still confidence that a deal can be done and for one of the brightest talents in German football, it seems a great price, although Villas-Boas said the situation was “very difficult”.
Able to play on the left, in the middle of an attacking three or in a deeper midfield role, Holtby would provide quality and versatility. If his addition — plus that of a forward and a holding midfielder — this month prove the difference between clinching a Champions League place and failing to do so, the transfer fees are worth paying.
Will it happen? Levy’s record shows he is prepared to buy in January, although not since the 2008-09 season, when Spurs were in danger of relegation, has he spent a large amount in this month. Although there is no need for the outlay of four years ago, the lessons of last season are apposite.
Then, Tottenham signed only Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen and allowed Sebastien Bassong, Steven Pienaar, Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko to leave. Poor form in the second half of the campaign let Ars*nal take third place and Spurs were denied a spot in the Champions League by Chelsea’s victory in last May’s final.
When Spurs tired last season, the weaknesses in their squad were laid bare. They have already lost Sandro for the rest of the campaign. What would happen if Aaron Lennon or Gareth Bale, both of whom have a history of muscular problems, were absent?
There is much to like about this Tottenham side. Robin van Persie put United ahead in the first half after taking advantage but the only assertive football thereafter was played by the home side. Dempsey’s equaliser was the least the team deserved.
Neither Defoe nor Adebayor is in form and the early arrival of Holtby, coupled with additions in attack and central midfield, would add depth and edge to the squad and should secure fourth.
Villas-Boas is aware of the precarious position his squad are in and must hope that his boss is, too.
In a division with few excellent teams, Spurs have a better chance than most of ensuring they play in the Champions League next season. It would look even rosier if Levy chose to go on the offensive between now and January 31.JANUARY SHOPPING BILLSpurs chairman Daniel Levy has spent less than £10million in the last three January transfer windows, but might need to splash out this year to cement the club’s place in the top four.
2012 - £0
R Nelsen (free); L Saha (free)
2011 - £4.5m
S Pienaar (£3m); B Khumalo (£1.5m)
2010 - £5m
Y Kaboul (£5m); E Gudjohnsen (loan)
2009 - £42m
R Keane (£12m); C Cudicini (free); P Chimbonda (£3m); W Palacios (£12m); J Defoe (£15m)
2008 - £17.9m
Gilberto (£1.9m); A Hutton (£8m); J Woodgate (£8m)
2007 - £4.5m
B Alnwick (£1m); R Rocha (£3.5)
2006 - £5m
H Ghaly (£3m); D Murphy (£2m)
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