Tottenham Hotspur FC 2013/14

[EJG1980]

Yup, it'd be hugely convenient for me too. 15 minutes to Wembley by tube instead of my current journey of 50 minutes to Seven Sisters by tube followed by a 25 minute walk (alhough I do actually enjoy the walk down the high road).

I was sure that we'd end up having to do something a bit naff like play in Milton Keynes for a season, but now with the political pressure ramping up I'm hopeful there's at least a reasonable chance for us to do a deal to use Wembley. It'd be a shame if we had to leave London for a season.

The only other problem with Wembley is my awful record there with Spurs. Played 6, Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 5. If that run keeps going we might go the whole season without winning a match at "home"

A bit of bad news today as a little while ago Spurs confirmed the Hugo Lloris has fractured his wrist. Touch and go whether it heals in time for the start of the season, but if it doesn't he should only miss a couple of matches at most, so it could be a lot worse.

Edit - According to French journalist Julien Laurens, Hugo should be okay for the start of the season:

"Also, good news for Tottenham fans. L'Equipe reports that Hugo Lloris will only be out for 2 weeks & will be ready for start of the season.

Lloris only fractured a minor bone of his wrist three weeks ago. He still did all his fitness preparation for the season and will be ready."

[fallenangle]

Yes I saw that on the BBC web site about Lloris. Just what we don't need: our first choice goalie out with a fractured wrist. But it would seem not as serious as first reported. Fingers crossed.

Loads of rumours out there about who is and isn't coming and going. One report even said Levy wasn't going to allow Poch to buy any new players until until after Spurs have got rid of at least six current squad members.

[EJG1980]

One report even said Levy wasn't going to allow Poch to buy any new players until until after Spurs have got rid of at least six current squad members.

I'm an atheist, but I have more faith in God than I do in that story being true

Yup, nothing but rumours of ins and outs at the moment. Hopefully it won't be too long before we get a couple more transfers in and some of the unwanted players leave. It'd be nice if the squad could be sorted by the end of July but that's probably wishful thinking as something like 80% of transfers get done in the final two weeks of the window.

I really think it would benefit the game if the transfer window was closed at least a week before the start of the season, or at worst the day before the opening match. Every squad should be finalised before a ball is kicked. We'll have played four matches before the window closes on 31st August, which is ridiculous.

[fallenangle]

LOL.

I agree too it would be more sensible if the transfer window was closed before the start of the season.

More rumours about getting rid of various players, including Andros Townsend (why?), to fund a bid for Everton midfielder James McCarthy.

[EJG1980]

This time last year when it was rumoured Townsend might leave I thought it was worth giving him another season to see if he could step up, but I personally don't think he has. It's rumoured that Newcastle and Villa are both willing to pay ?12 - ?15 million for him, and at that price, I'm more than happy to sell and let someone like Alex Pritchard take his place in the squad; different kind of player but covers the same wide attacking areas on the pitch.

If he goes elsewhere and comes on leaps and bounds then fair play to him, but personally, I don't think he's ever going to be much better than he already is. Of course, all that comes with the caveat of the rumours of him leaving actually being true!

I think McCarthy could be a very good signing, him and Bentaleb in the middle of the park could be a nice partnership. Concerned that Everton might want a bit too much money for him but if we do sign him I think it's likely to end up being cash + Aaron Lennon.

Something that seems to be true, and close to completion, is Younes Kaboul moving to Sunderland. Sky Sports News and pretty much every other media outlet are reporting that he's having a medical in Sunderland right now, with a view to a ?3 million move.

Edit: and Kaboul has indeed joined Sunderland. I thought once he came rejoined us from Pompey in 2010 he was very good for a couple of seasons, but he hasn't hit top form for a while now and injuries seem to have caught up with him.

Some of my favourite recent Spurs moments are due to Kaboul: his last minute equaliser in the 125th anniversary game against Villa; his cross that set up the Peter Crouch goal that qualified us for the Champions League; his late header to beat Arsenal 3-2 at the Emirates after we'd been 2-0 down. Hope he manages to stay fit and does well at Sunderland.

[fallenangle]

I've always like a team to have traditional, fast paced wingers rather than wing-backs or roving utility mid-fielders fulfilling the same roll. After getting rid of Aaron Lennon who, for some reason stopped doing what he was actually good at: beating and getting behind defenders with his speed, having a replacement younger player who can do that as well as cross and shoot better gives the team more options.

Andros Townsend is that player and although he has a habit of dwelling on the ball too long and losing it, when he's doing what he's best at there are few Premiership defenders who can handle his pace. He also has a goal scoring habit which, even though it's utterly predictable what he's going to do (or try to do) whenever he dribbles the ball diagonally into the 18 yard box, he can still score or, at the very least, test the defenders and keeper. These are valuable attacking skills I just don't think Spurs should dispense with so easily.

[EJG1980]

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on Townsend

I do agree that his pace can cause the opposition all sorts of problems. I just don't think he's does enough to hurt the opposition once he's got the defender on the back foot, either in terms of goals or setting up a team mate.

In the past two seasons he's got 3 open play goals in 68 matches (plus 4 penalties). He's scored a couple of sensational goals for England but I think they were shots he just happened to catch perfectly, rather than being something he can reproduce on a more consistent basis.

I don't think we should actively be trying to sell him (unless Poch himself has said he'd rather have the money to spend on someone new) but If a team comes in and puts ?12, ?13, ?14 million on the table...

Depends on the player too of course. He may well be determined to stay and continue to fight for a place (which I'd have no problem with) or he may be at the age where he wants to go somewhere where he thinks he's likely to play every single week.

[nakamura]

Townsend is hopeless. Prime example of the English valuing pace over quality. I'd sell him or help him improve.

[fallenangle]

His record has to be seen in the context of the number of times he's been in the starting line up and actually played the whole 90 minutes. With both Spurs and England he's often been employed as just a 'super-sub' when whatever the default formation and tactics have failed. Many good players have been wasted using them like this and never reach their full potential as a result.

[EJG1980]

Plenty who are used like that because they're not quite good enough to be a starter too. Multiple managers in the past couple of seasons, all with different approaches to the game, none of whom who have been convinced enough to give him a seriously long run in the side.

Anyway, I think we could go back and forth with arguments for and against for ages Whether he stays or goes I hope it ends up being the best decision for him and for us.

[EJG1980]

Another fringe player trimmed from the squad: Benjamin Stambouli has moved to PSG. Great move for him. Even if he's likely to still be stuck on the bench, at least he's upgraded to a Champions League bench!

Doing a good job so far of trimming the unwanted players from the squad with Paulinho, Capoue, Holtby, Kaboul and now Stambouli all shipped out relativley early in the window. More than once last season Poch mentioned that our squad was far too big, so it looks like we're backing him by getting rid of players quickly rather than trying to squeeze every last penny from a sale.

Could be 2+2=5 stuff but there are lots of stories appearing in the press saying that Sherwood is going to relieve us of Adebayor and take him to Aston Villa. I'll be happy even if we let him go for on a free or year long loan, as it gets the wages off the books. There's a very talented player in there but too much of a headcase and too much hard work getting the talent to show itself.

[fallenangle]

Yes, Adebayor is undoubtedly one of those mercurial, talented players who has it within him to amaze and delight. He has undeniably done that for Spurs on occasion but far too often barely contributes.

In the financially harsh world of 21st century first tier club football players who don't pull their weight consistently, in the case of a striker, score regularly or at least make goals simply don't justify their considerable wage. I'll be happy when Spurs finally offload him.

[EJG1980]

Brad Friedel did a Q&A session with the Atlanta Spurs supporters club over in the US. He revealed a few snippets of info:

Winks, Onomah, Cameron Carter Vickers and Glover are all currently training with the first team, being evaluated in their development. CCV is close to ready to make the first team, but probably a year off.

Don't believe everything you hear in the press; he denied Kaboul Cabal story as we currently know it (Kaboul, Capoue, Adebayor and someone I can't remember supposedly complained about youngsters getting too much game time and wanted to be picked ahead of them) but did mention that some players tried to go around Pochettino to Baldini/Levy. Those players then didn't play for a month.

Pochettino hates the sort of player who calls up on Sunday and asks why he didn't play. Poch's answer to that player is likely to be "Because I pick the team".

On the other hand, a player who comes in and trains hard on Monday and Tuesday and stops by his office Wednesday to ask why he didn't play is likely to be invited in, shown training and game footage and given specific things Poch is looking for, and if he works on those he will be given playing time. Those guys are Poch's guys, and a lot of the people leaving this summer are the other sort.

There is a very good feeling among Poch's guys in the direction of the club, and that has been reinforced this offseason by the players who are leaving. Friedel said it's more important right now who is heading out than who is coming in, but he does feel that we have to get another striker and/or combination of players who can get us another 10-15 goals.

Poch at times last season persisted with younger players irrespective of wins and losses to get them game experience at the top level, as he was building a foundation for the future.

Adebayor to Villa has legs and may happen, but if it does expect Soldado to stick around along with bringing in another striker.

About Soldado - He ticks all the boxes like technical ability, tactical awareness, social skills within the squad, and he was mentally strong when he arrived (this has changed somewhat due to the scoring drought). He trains really well, and it just hasn't happened in the games. Nobody seems to be able to figure out why.

[EJG1980]

Pretty even game today which probably should have ended as a draw, neither side really looking that great and one mistake from Bentaleb with the misplaced pass leading to their goal that decided it. Kyle Walker did well to get back to make any kind of challenge at all on Rooney, quite unlucky that he managed to get his foot in only to see the ball spin into the net.

Our best spell was the opening twenty minutes, a shame we couldn't take advantage, especially the chance for Eriksen that was set up beautifully by Kane. The middle of the match was Man Utd slightly in charge but not really giving our defence too much trouble (neither keeper had much to do for most of the match) and then we had a nice spell again in the last few minutes where we could have grabbed a draw with a bit more luck. As Hoddle said on commentary, it's a shame our spell at the end didn't start ten minutes earlier.

Ah well, not nice to lose on the opening day but losing a close match at Old Trafford isn't anything to lose sleep over. Hopefully we can get up and running with a win at home next weekend.

[fallenangle]

Yes a predictable result if not the way the goal was scored.

I was listening to it on the radio and the moment the goal went in I thought that was it even if we score they'll get another. On MotD after the decent start Spurs had where they looked far better than Man.Utd the loss of the goal seemed to affect the players psychologically. They didn't play as well until the last few minutes of the game by then too late. Pity but as long as we get some points from the next match nothing to be worried about.

But as Alan Shearer said on MotD, and has been obvious to any Spurs fan, we desperately need another specialist striker ASAP.