There may be changes coming

[dimexi]

In a different article. AVB was talking about the arrival of Franco Baldini as the new director of football. Saying that there will be changes to the squad and more importantly the way we approach the transfer window, going for targets early, setting up the squad properly for the start of the season etc. Baldini has great contacts around Europe and would be better at acquiring them than Levy (Okay so I added the last bit, but still true).

AVB thinks we need two strikers, a goal scoring attacking midfielder and a Left Back. All the positions we have been asking for this year (except Voice of course he just doesn't like change)

Also there is talk of David Villa coming to the club, what are your thoughts on that?

[RiffHard]

In a different article. AVB was talking about the arrival of Franco Baldini as the new director of football. Saying that there will be changes to the squad and more importantly the way we approach the transfer window, going for targets early, setting up the squad properly for the start of the season etc. Baldini has great contacts around Europe and would be better at acquiring them than Levy (Okay so I added the last bit, but still true).

AVB thinks we need two strikers, a goal scoring attacking midfielder and a Left Back. All the positions we have been asking for this year (except Voice of course he just doesn't like change)

Also there is talk of David Villa coming to the club, what are your thoughts on that?

Well, we know what happened the last time we had director of football at Spurs. But, I agree that things must be changed. Villas-Boas probably doesn't have the time to deal with all transfers and therefore it is better to delegate this task to someone who knows something about technical aspects of football (unlike Levy).

As for David Villa, I brought this topic up a few months ago and replies were not very enthusiastic. I personally feel he's a proven goalscorer and we could get a few years out of him.

[ugs]

In a different article. AVB was talking about the arrival of Franco Baldini as the new director of football. Saying that there will be changes to the squad and more importantly the way we approach the transfer window, going for targets early, setting up the squad properly for the start of the season etc. Baldini has great contacts around Europe and would be better at acquiring them than Levy (Okay so I added the last bit, but still true).

AVB thinks we need two strikers, a goal scoring attacking midfielder and a Left Back. All the positions we have been asking for this year (except Voice of course he just doesn't like change)

Also there is talk of David Villa coming to the club, what are your thoughts on that?

So AVB has identified the same problems that Redknapp did and Redknapp was let go because he wanted to strenghthen the squad and made no bones about it !!!
Funny Redknapp didn't need a director of football to help him secure players, we are going backwards as far as I can see we were at this point two seasons ago but there still one thing that keeps cropping up and putting a fly in the ointment ......... LEVY !!!!
Alot will depend on the Woolwich Wanderers and there result today as to wether any of this happens and of course us beating Sunderland.
David Villa 31 years old and at the end of his career looking for one last pay check injury prone but once a fantastic player, if we were buying him when he was 27 then I'd be excited !!!!
 
In all honesty not much has changed we have a different manager telling us we are making progress and a chairman who is unprepared to put his hand in his pocket to sign the kind of players we need to move us on to the next level !!!
 
 

[dimexi]

So AVB has identified the same problems that Redknapp did and Redknapp was let go because he wanted to strenghthen the squad and made no bones about it !!!
Funny Redknapp didn't need a director of football to help him secure players, we are going backwards as far as I can see we were at this point two seasons ago but there still one thing that keeps cropping up and putting a fly in the ointment ......... LEVY !!!!
Alot will depend on the Woolwich Wanderers and there result today as to wether any of this happens and of course us beating Sunderland.
David Villa 31 years old and at the end of his career looking for one last pay check injury prone but once a fantastic player, if we were buying him when he was 27 then I'd be excited !!!!
 
In all honesty not much has changed we have a different manager telling us we are making progress and a chairman who is unprepared to put his hand in his pocket to sign the kind of players we need to move us on to the next level !!!
 
 

Redknapp wouldn't work with a director above him, but it was Levy who was then left (or insisted on) doing the transfer deals. The fact that AVB has identified the same areas of weakness as Harry, is not important. What is important is whether anything gets done about it. Levy did try to use a director of football before and has wanted to be more like the european model. He had to change that plan in order to get Harry in, but AVB stated that he is happy and used to working that way. Maybe with Levy just having to sign the cheques as it were, maybe the negotiating will have more success this way. I really hope that Levy has learnt his lesson from the way he has handled the transfer window disasters we have seen previously. If he has, then we may actually see some improvement next year.

I think having a player of Villa's quality would be an asset to the club, I think that he would bring something we lack and experience to boot. We would also need a young, up and coming striker too though. 31 is not that old, think he will have a good couple of years left at the highest level.

[Paul Finch]

     Personally I don't think signing David Villa is the answer, more of a band-aid, he is coming to the end of his illustrious career, and he is injury prone, I would rather see us sign a younger striker, someone like Benteke, Higuain, Remy or Falcao. Note that we have been linked to all of these strikers at one time or another. I think we need to sign two strikers, Defoe is now 31 and obviously starting to reach the end of his use by date, and as much as I like Ade, his form this season hasn't been good(Captain Obvious).
 
 

[Glenn R]

(except Voice of course he just doesn't like change)

I never said we don't need any strikers. If I remember rightly Mr Levy said he couldn't get the striker he wanted and AVB said was happy with what he said. Personally I think for next season he needs to buy two strikers and a few other players.

[a12 warrior]

Spurs will be linked with every available striker, will the club go out and sign the two strikers they need?
 
Will they clear out the dross ie Gallas, Dempsey, Adebayor and bring in the players needed to ensure Spurs can compete with the the top clubs?
 
Will Spurs keep Bale?
 
If its yes to all of them we will be in good shape next season, if no just another up and down season!    

[Glenn R]

Spurs will be linked with every available striker, will the club go out and sign the two strikers they need?
 
Will they clear out the dross ie Gallas, Dempsey, Adebayor and bring in the players needed to ensure Spurs can compete with the the top clubs?
 
Will Spurs keep Bale?
 
If its yes to all of them we will be in good shape next season, if no just another up and down season!

There will be a lot of speculation this summer. Until a player has signed then it will be just pie in the sky.

[pukekohespur]

First up let me say that despite the tone of what follows I am very optimistic about this season. I fully expect us to be in a top four situation.
BUT
Lets look at where we are after the Monaco debacle.
Defence
Daws and Vertonghen injured, Kabul showing no signs of a return. We have sold Caulkner, we don't want Bae (at least it seems that way judging by his on field time per season ).Vlad has been told he can't come.
Positives are that Rose is looking ok and Lloris is world class.


Midfield
Sandro still out and of our two new buys only one has put on a Spurs shirt in a game situation (we do only have one more friendly per season game to go)
Most of us accept that Bale our best player is gone as well.
Townsend has been the pick of the midfield pre season, which in itself is of concern.


Forwards
Defoe injured. Adebayor is not wanted but not going. Saldado has not played for us yet. Dempsey has gone


If Bale goes and two new players came in exchange and if Vlad does come this means that we could start the season with six players who have had, at the most, one game together and are all new to the Premier league.


As I have said I think it will be a great season but this morning there is a certain sense of preseason déjà vu where we start the season in a mess then we hit form and play catch up for the rest of the season.
I hope I am wrong, I hope Bale stays and Vlad comes ,then we will be aiming for the title.

[Metalanimal]

Did nt you know our plan for this season is the following formation to take the EPL by strom

                                      GK
              RB                                          LB

   RW          DM     Headless chicken        DM         LW

                                      CAM

                                    Bale

                                 A proper Striker

[RiffHard]

Did nt you know our plan for this season is the following formation to take the EPL by strom

                                      GK
              RB                                          LB

   RW          DM     Headless chicken        DM         LW

                                      CAM

                                    Bale

                                 A proper Striker

Bale? Who's Bale?

[Glenn R]

According to AVB he is putting Bale into his thinking for season 13/14.

[spursjoolz]

You can replace Bale with "the player behind the poacher"

[RSS61]

Yet again, it seems to me that our defence, or rather lack of is a major cause for concern.

Having brought in Paulinho and Soldado, the best 2 pre season deals for years, it would seem that Bale has had a change of heart and decided that he wants to leave. And for a probable 60 - 80 million over the next 6 years, can anyone really blame him ?

I actually believe that it was Levy's intention to keep him, as is demonstrated by the above mentioned buys. But, once a player states that he wants to leave, then plan B has to be put into action.

Plan B for me is get the maximum possible for Bale, lets say 90 mill. Now spend that on a CB, LB, creative midfielder and another striker.

Apparently Levy is meeting Real tomorrow in Miami, and I dont think he is about to let them have our prime asset easily.

I would insist that if they want our best player, then we want something good in return, and I would insist on Morata and Contrao, plus say 60 million, or whatever. Then I think we will have a good chance of building a better all round squad for the future.

We are already addressing the issues of substandard players with the sale of Caulker and Dempsey. Lets now go the whole hog, and get rid of Hudd, BAE, Ade, and move on.

[spursjoolz]

RSS. Good points regarding dead wood, except perhaps BAE.

It is pretty much unavoidable that Bale will leave,so max dosh please,  but £60M + Coentrao and Morata is very opimistic to say the least. We know how good a negotiator Levi is, and if he manages 50, I think he will have done very well. 

We have (or will soon have)  Kaboul back and even with Daws and Vertonghen in the middle, we are still short. Fryers is not up the job yet and I am not aware of anyone linked with us in that position.