Category Archives: Transfer Stuff - Page 2

From the worst to the best

Posted by on September 2, 2009 10 comments

As our currently absent Miss Spur alluded to some time ago, Niko Kranjcar finally completed his move to Spurs yesterday. It’s a Croatian to replace a Croatian by the looks of things after Luka Modric picked up a significant injury at the weekend.

After being linked with a number of targets on deadline day, some good and some worryingly bad, we ended up with just the one signing and probably the best of the bunch at that.

Apart from landing a very good player, the price which Spurs apparently paid makes the transfer one the best pieces of business in this window. Just under £3m for a player of Kranjcar’s quality is a snip, even he was coming to the end of his contract at Pompey.

Kranjcar should be able to do a great job of filling in for Modric while he’s out injured. With Modric, Corluka and now Kranjcar, I think Harry is gradually putting together a nice little Croatian Clique!

The final day of the transfer window may not have been filled with excitement as it often is for Spurs fans but for me that is a good thing. It’s a sign that we now have a level of stability at the club and are not getting sucked into our usual desperation stakes where the only answer is to pay over the odds for average players.

It seems like we have gone from being one of the worst clubs in the country where the transfer market is concerned, to one of the best. The fees we held out for on Berbatov, Keane and Bent were excellent and players like Palacios and Kranjcar looks like absolute bargains. Let’s hope this trend continues in January and that the days of paying £15m and upwards for players like David Bentley and Darren Bent are well and truly behind us.

Poor Pavlyuchenko and Well Done West Ham

Posted by on August 26, 2009 68 comments

He certainly appears to be the 4th choice striker as far as Harry Redknapp is concerned and now Roman Pavlychenko has decided 4th place isn’t good enough and he wants to leave Tottenham because of his lack of first team chances.

‘No footballer likes being on the bench game after game,’ said the 27-year-old.

‘I could lose my place in the Russian squad for the 2010 World Cup.

‘I’m ready now to listen to offers from other clubs. But I can’t say anything concrete right now.’

I’m not surprised by the fact he wants to move on but I am a little surprised at the timing of his decision. Surely it would have made more sense to try and get a move before the season started and not after just three games and on the eve of a Carling Cup tie he is likely to start against Doncaster.

Pavlyuchenko must have realised he would be spending a significant amount of time on the bench this season, especially after the arrival of Peter Crouch, but he has a chance to impress tonight and put some pressure on the manager. If he didn’t start tonight, then I would have understood a decision of this nature after the game but to come out publicly beforehand makes little sense to me. He would have been far better off waiting until January. It only needs one of our other strikers to pick up an injury, and things could change completely for the Russian.

In other news, West Ham fans have likely ruined our chances of hosting a World Cup in the near future. Some of their comments on my post from Monday speak for themselves but their actions last night were a disgrace. Hopefully they get the punishment they deserve but I can’t think of a punishment severe enough for taking away the 2018 World Cup.

Well done West Ham, I hope you are proud of yourselves.

Hands off Modric red cheeks

Posted by on August 20, 2009 32 comments

As much as I’ve been enjoying myself since ten to five on Sunday, I’ve managed to find something to take the shine off ever so slightly. I saw a worrying quote in the press yesterday from Harry Redknapp regarding our little legend Luka Modric. I’m sure you all read it but it was the bit about Sir Alex that got me thinking. Harry said ‘Sir Alex Ferguson told me he could play in any team because he’s so good’. As much as I love the accolades coming Luka’s way, when Sir Alex is involved, I start to panic.

Our tremendous start to the Premier League season has been a team effort but Luka Modric has been key in that. The thought of Manchester United stealing him away in January, or at the end of the season, fills me with dread. This is the Manchester Utd manager’s style. Plant the seed in the player’s head and that of his agent, then just sit back and wait to pounce although I realise it was Harry’s fault this time!

We are already accused of being a feeder club for Utd by many of our rivals, another of our star players joining Berbatov and Carrick really would be the final nail in the coffin. Let’s hope our winning habit continues for the foreseeable future and we can tell any potential suitors to get well and truly stuffed.

Last night’s win was special. I know it was only a poor Hull side who’s manager is starting to come across as a complete mental but it was the same Hull that nearly held Chelsea at the weekend. To go to any Premiership side and score five is truly impressive. It’s important to keep our feet on the ground but at the same time enjoy it. It’s not often Spurs start the season in such impeccable fashion.

Jenas off, Bentley storms off and Modric taken off

Posted by on August 10, 2009 61 comments

There are reports circulating today that Jermaine Jenas has submitted a transfer request. He has been linked with a move to Inter for a while after Jose Mourinho voiced his admiration for the player earlier in the summer. I wouldn’t be that surprised to see JJ go. I get the impression he probably thinks he’s a bit better than Tottenham and probably also expected to have moved on to a bigger club before now although his performances for us haven’t demonstrated that he’s worthy of such a move. If there is any genuine inquiry from Inter, I doubt he’ll be hanging around.

David Bentley got a rare start in our final friendly of the pre-season against Olympiakos yesterday. We didn’t come to life until the 2nd half and unfortunately, that’s when he was substituted. He stormed down the tunnel but it’s unclear whether it was because he needed to relieve himself or because he was in a strop, I’m hopeful it was the first one. Ok, he really struggled last season but he’s a quality player and if he’s not going to Villa as was looking likely last month, Bentley should to be given a chance.

Luka Modric came on for the 2nd half yesterday and was superb, being involved in the first two goals of the game before coming off in the 79th minute. I’ve got everything crossed that this was just a precautionary measure from Harry because he will be the difference in us achieving something or not this season as far as I’m concerned. One of the best midfielders in the Premiership for my money.

Goals from Olympiakos game here

Ledley going for a song?

Posted by on August 7, 2009 16 comments

It looks like all our defensive responsibilities are being pinned on Ledley King for the big kick off against Liverpool at the Lane in two Sundays time. Considering last week Harry was saying our hero was yet to kick a ball this pre season, I’m a little concerned.

What concerns me more is the fact Levy has authorised an £8m deal for a centre back. It must mean Woodgate and Ledley are in very bad shape. We know Woody requires another hernia op and the manager hasn’t exactly sounded positive about him but with all his previous injury problems, I’m just hoping our Jesus isn’t out for the season.

Michael Dawson’s Achilles problem is likely to only keep him out for a few weeks. He was superb at times last season but he performs a lot better with King or Woodgate alongside. He had a terrible time at the start of our last campaign when he was leading the line. I can’t see Dawson and Bassong together working but it might be our only option at times.

Since Harry took over, he’s managed Ledley brilliantly. Unlink Ramos, he understands that everyone is different and is old school enough to let King give his all when it comes to game time, not on the training pitch. The problem we are faced with is Ledley King’s condition is only likely to deteriorate and the number of games he will be involved in will decrease as time goes on.

Is Sebastien Bassong Ledley King’s long term successor at Tottenham? I don’t think he’s fit to lace his boots on the evidence I’ve seen so far but I’m willing to give the lad a chance and hope his performances in the coming weeks and months prove he can be.

Moussa Sissoko for £12m?

Posted by on August 3, 2009 58 comments

Seems very pricey to me. I realise he’s only 19 but we have been burnt too many times in recent seasons on young players with potential. To be honest, I’m not an expert on the lad or French football in general but he does seem to have only had the one good season which was last year when Toulouse finished 4th. I’m not sure I’d be prepared to part with £12m on the back of that.

Sissoko has been quoted in the past as saying he would like a move to the Premier League and having watched a few videos he does seem like a busy and tough player who would probably be a welcome addition to our squad, it’s just the price tag that is putting me off.

Although Damien Comolli was to blame the majority of the time, our record when it comes to signing unproven talent from abroad doesn’t read well. You’d hope that things will change with Harry’s eye for talent but his past record when signing foreign imports has been picking up obscure players for peanuts and getting the best out of them, he’s not had this type of cash at his disposal up until now.

I know Joe Cole is probably nothing more than a pipedream but I’d be a lot happier paying that sort of money for his services, even if he does only have a year left on his current deal at Chelsea. The blues appear keen to keep the skilful 27 year old if the papers are to be believed, but Harry’s connection with the player coupled with the fact he doesn’t have long left on his contract at Chelsea, makes me think that there is an outside chance of a deal coming off.

If you could sign one player, who would it be?

Posted by on July 15, 2009 48 comments

It’s half way through July now and we are yet to see any fresh faces at the Lane. I really thought Harry would have brought in one or two players before next weeks Wembley Cup but it’s not looking very likely at the moment.

The thought of Patrick Vieira makes me very sad. I thought Arsenal did the right thing cashing in on him in 2005. A Patrick Vieira with another 4 years and a number of injuries on the clock can’t be any good for Tottenham, surely?

Also making me sad currently is the fact Craig Bellamy looks to be well down the pecking order at Manchester City now Mark Hughes has brought in Carlos Tevez and looks likely to sign Emmanuel Adebayor in the next few days. Redknapp was desperate to sign Bellamy last season and apparently the deal only fell through because West Ham weren’t happy selling to Spurs.

In other transfer news, Mirko Vucinic would never sign for us. That works out quite well because for one thing he’s shit, and for another, I doubt we were ever interested in him.

Anyway, I thought it would be find to find out what one player you would like to see brought in at Tottenham? It doesn’t have to be someone we have been linked with in the press. Is there anyone in the Championship that looks worth taking a punt on? Maybe a hidden gem in the Bundesliga? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Becks or some young blood?

Posted by on July 13, 2009 9 comments

There have been noises over the last few days about David Beckham becoming a Spurs player. I’d be surprised if the club managed to pull this off but after the money we got for Zokora, anything is possible!

Personally, I’d see this as a great move and massive step forward for Tottenham. David Beckham can still play to a decent standard, his marketing value is second to none and just his presence at the club would likely give everyone a massive boost.

The only sticking point as far as I’m concerned would be his huge wage demands. Obviously, this would be recouped in ticket and merchandise sales but it could have a knock on effect as far as other signings this summer are concerned.

If he brings Becks in, would Harry Redknapp have the funds available to go out and buy an Ashley Young for example? Would he even want another midfielder in his squad for that matter?

The problem is that Beckham is unlikely to play week in, week out. He’d be used sporadically and probably only for a season at that. For all his good points, would Becks contribute enough to justify us missing out on a top class young midfield player?

There are obviously a lot of ifs and buts here, but if it came down to it, would you prefer David Beckham at Tottenham or an Ashley Young or similar?

A great bit of business

Posted by on July 9, 2009 8 comments

Didier ZokoraIt looks like we’ve managed to get around £8m out of Sevilla for Didier Zokora. As much as I liked the guy, this has to be one of the best pieces of business I’ve seen Spurs pull off.

He’s been with us 3 years and was supposedly going to fill the void left by Michael Carrick but that just never happened. No matter how much of a nice guy he is, his contribution on the pitch has been nothing more than average in his time at Tottenham.

I first saw Zokora play in a pre season friendly at the Lane against Spanish outfit Real Sociedad. He looked quite promising in that game. Nothing outstanding but fairly solid and assured on the ball and I thought he’s only going to improve from here. The problem is, he never did.

It’s a shame we couldn’t have kept Zokora’s attitude and shoved it in Huddlestone or Jenas, both players with a lot of talent but very little heart. It’s such a shame Didier didn’t have a bit more about him on the field.

As soon as Harry brought in Wilson Palacios, the writing was on the wall for Zokora. I thought he’d be shipped out somewhere for around £3m but to get £8m has really astounded me. Let’s hope the cash is redistributed in the right way.

Absolute Disaster

Posted by on July 7, 2009 14 comments

If Luis Figo has seriously been approached, things are a lot worse than I ever imagined. Bear in mind I was imagining quite bad things when Jermaine Pennant’s name was being mentioned without a comedy effect chuckle in an I almost had you kind of way.

Figo looks like an old man and has been playing like one for the last couple of years. He scored 2 goals for Inter in 38 starts and didn’t do a lot else by all accounts. I thought this story was a complete work of fiction to begin with but even the decent papers are running with it. It could well be Harry on a wind up though and to be fair nothing he said gave any indication that he wanted to sign the Portuguese Granddad. It’s still worrying though.

Pennant has a bit of talent, is still fairly young and is English but he’s another one of that all too common breed of footballer, a brain dead. He’s been at more clubs than Jamie O’Hara and Danielle Lloyd and gets himself in so much bother; he’ll be on Danny Dyer’s Deadliest Proper Geezers before long.

We’ve dodged the biggest bullet of all already this summer by not signing Djibril Cisse. Fingers crossed we can avoid a couple more.