299 replies to this topic

[URI]

First move of the new season came through, with Brad Friedel leaving Villa for Spurs on a free transfer.

Friedel is, of course, too old to replace Gomes, but with Stipe going back to Moscow, and Cudicini no spring chicken himself, I like this as a depth signing.

Friedel is the first American to be with Spurs since Kasey Keller left for Borussia Monchengladbach

[teejay1324]

Pavlyuchenko had a hat trick today for Russia against Armenia. And Robbie Keane scored Thursday? For Ireland. Don't know if either of them will be around next season but good to see either way.

[DLew On Roids]

@OptaJoe just tweeted: Alberto Aquilani has provided more Premier League assists (6) than Luka Modric (5) since August 2009.

As a Liverpool fan, I think this calls for a straight-up swap!

Incidentally, if you aren't following OptaJoe, wtf is wrong with you?

Edited by DLew On Roids, 18 June 2011 - 06:43 AM.

[teejay1324]

According to the Guardian, Modric has said he wants to move to Chelsea but won't formerly put in a transfer request. Modric cited a want to play more Champions League football as his primary reason for wanting to move but doesn't want to leave London either. This comes at the same time that Levy has adamantly said Modric won't be sold to anyone, at any price. I don't know how this kind of stuff typically goes down but it doesn't sound all that great if you like the idea of Modric staying with Spurs.

http://www.guardian....-sale-tottenham
http://www.guardian....ttenham-chelsea

[MarkInLondon]

According to the Guardian, Modric has said he wants to move to Chelsea but won't formerly put in a transfer request. Modric cited a want to play more Champions League football as his primary reason for wanting to move but doesn't want to leave London either. This comes at the same time that Levy has adamantly said Modric won't be sold to anyone, at any price. I don't know how this kind of stuff typically goes down but it doesn't sound all that great if you like the idea of Modric staying with Spurs.

http://www.guardian....-sale-tottenham
http://www.guardian....ttenham-chelsea

Ultimately Levy will realise that if Modric is unhappy at Spurs, the best bet is to cut their losses and take the £20m or so they'll get for him.

He probably knows this anyway - just needs to trot out the usual speil to keep the supporters hopes up whilst it's 'season ticket' time.

[Zomp]

Levy is one of the toughest negotiators in football. If he decides to sell Modric, he'll rape Cheslea/United for everything he can get. I'll predict 30-35 million.

Seems he wants to go to Chelsea so he can stay in London. Shame. He was my first choice midfielder to come into United. Exactly what we need.

[URI]

The alternative is that Spurs spend more...keep Bale and VDV, and convince Luka they are back in the CL next year since he won't officially put in a transfer request.

[MarkInLondon]

The alternative is that Spurs spend more...keep Bale and VDV, and convince Luka they are back in the CL next year since he won't officially put in a transfer request.

It might come down to a situation where they can keep two out of the three of them. Bale, VDV plus £30m. (Scott Parker?)

[URI]

I'm trying to positive here, that Spurs can keep all 3 as long as they spend elsewhere.

I thought for sure all 3 were gone, actually, and Bale signed that big extension and VDV is basically telling everyone how much he loves it at Spurs.

Stop pooping on my heart, Mark.

[Tangled Up In Red]

What is Scott Parker's game all about... and why does it sound like Palacios is out the door?
Truth to the Crouch / Gyan swap? Sounds like a win to me (though didn't watch much Gyan this season)...

[teejay1324]

No posts here since the nineteenth of June and not much to talk about really all summer. Modric's still around, Spurs haven't bought anyone of particular note(a striker) or sold off anyone of particular note(a striker) either. But they've got a game in six days on ESPN2 against Everton, time to get excited?!

[URI]

Looks like the only two that Spurs really have made any headway on so far is Samba and Lassana Diarra. A defender and a midfielder.

[Tangled Up In Red]

So... bringing in Adebayor and Lass
And keeping Luka,

Monday afternoon (night) at Man U will be interessant.

[Tangled Up In Red]

Sad performance today.
Friedel - despite giving up 3 - played like a #1.
Lennon was terrible, VdV did little and the team could mount little attack behind Defoe.
Kaboul played great on the ball, but was watching (not marking) on each of the first to goals. Bale looked solid, as did Dawson.

Much hill left to climb.

[URI]

Sad performance today.
Friedel - despite giving up 3 - played like a #1.
Lennon was terrible, VdV did little and the team could mount little attack behind Defoe.
Kaboul played great on the ball, but was watching (not marking) on each of the first to goals. Bale looked solid, as did Dawson.

Much hill left to climb.

Tale of two halves and a disorganized team with no chemistry in the 2nd half.

Friedel was very good. Dawson is very quietly one of the best centerbacks in the league, and isn't plagued by the "one deadly mistake" problem that's dogged him his entire career.

But Lennon, and Defoe were awful, destroying essentially any chance they've had all game. Walker and Corluka had their hands full with Ashley Young, with Walker completely out of his depth, and Corluka being a step too slow. Livermore was invisible (probably a function of inexperience rather than lack of talent) and Krancjar didn't do a whole lot either. BAE and Kaboul were solid, but ran out of gas as the game went on.

VDV was awesome in the first half, easily being the best attacking player on either team. But as the game went on, which has been a issue since he came over from Madrid, he became less visable...I really think he too easily runs out of gas, and was nothing over the last 30 minutes of the match.

Bale was Bale.

Spurs have major issues, such as VDV and Defoe having no chemistry out there, and the center midfield having no creativity, so I wonder if dropping VDV into the mid and starting Crouch up top wouldn't have been better (Defoe and Crouch work very well together).

I really think that Spurs could have had a 2-0 lead going into the half if Luka/Huddlestone played in the center, as they also play pretty excellently together. By the time of the goals, Spurs were playing like a tired, 11 man group rather than the team that almost came back from 4-0 at San Siro.

[URI]

Ugh, this game pisses me off 24 hours later. Get a fucking striker.

[teejay1324]

No one wants to talk about the City match? Good, me either.

[Tangled Up In Red]

I will re-ask: "What is Scott Parker's game all about...?" How will he be used?

[URI]

No one wants to talk about the City match? Good, me either.

It didn't happen

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

No one wants to talk about the City match? Good, me either.

Hopefully if all goes well today, the Spurs who got blitzed by City are not the Spurs who will play the rest of the season. The additions of Adebayor and (hopefully) Parker alone will make them a new team. And at this point I'm thinking the absence of VdV to hamstring injury may be addition by subtraction. Great player for 55 minutes. And lately he seems to be taking a lot of wild, long-distance shots that just waste Spurs attacking strength.

[teejay1324]

Was really hoping that they would land Cahill yesterday as the day went on, would have been nice with Gallas and King constantly hurt and Kaboul being inconsistent. Anyone know anything about the kid from Juv? Will he see regular Prem duty or mostly just cup/Europa matches?


At least they did do something and managed to keep Modric, but another CB would have been nice and I don't think anyone would think they're settled up front either.

[teejay1324]

How about that? Finally got some points on the table and the new guys looked good. I like Parker quite a bit already, made a few clumsy passes in midfield but thought he had a good match. Nice to see both strikers score and Friedel was great too.

It is just Wolves but grabbing three points on the road ahead of next week's Liverpool match was crucial. Get to wear the Spurs shirt a little bit more proudly at the bar tonight.

[Zomp]

[URI]

Sandro is weird.

[URI]

Sometimes I forget just how fast Bale is. In the open field, he just literally ignited Henderson and drew a card from Skrtel for armsweeping him right next to Henderson's charred remains.

[Zomp]

Is this a more complete team than the one that made 4th 2 seasons ago? I think it has to be, no?

A Parker, Modric, VDV trio in the midfield is up there with any in the league. Adebayor might be motivated enough all season to get a big pay day.

Early days, but its looking like Liverpool and Tottenham will be battling it out for 4th.

[URI]

They really played well today without their best center back on the field.

Kyle Walker played fantastically at RB, Liverpool had no answer for him. Completely 100% better than when Ashley Young actually sodomized him a few weeks ago.

[Tangled Up In Red]

Who played wide opposite Bale? Seems like Krancjar (VdV), Parker and Modric are all more central players...
Regardless, a pleasant surprise result to wake up to this morn.

[URI]

Who played wide opposite Bale? Seems like Krancjar (VdV), Parker and Modric are all more central players...
Regardless, a pleasant surprise result to wake up to this morn.

Krancjar started over there and played wide.

When VDV came on, Walker actually took that whole flank, and Luka, ADE and VDV kind of switched who was playing off center, who was playing up, and who was playing off Defoe.

Parker played back in the center a lot.

[Gene Conleys Plane Ticket]

Is this a more complete team than the one that made 4th 2 seasons ago? I think it has to be, no?

A Parker, Modric, VDV trio in the midfield is up there with any in the league. Adebayor might be motivated enough all season to get a big pay day.

Early days, but its looking like Liverpool and Tottenham will be battling it out for 4th.

Spurs look to be a completely different team than the version that got crushed by the Manchester sides. I only wish the transfer window either a) closed before the season started (which I realize is difficult because different leagues start at different times) or b) just stayed open at least through January. It seems weird that the first two games of the season get played with a fundamentally different team than the one that plays the rest of the season (at least until January window).

[teejay1324]

With both Adebayor and Defoe off to great starts, if they continue to play well it'll be interesting to see who gets selected in the midfield once Huddlestone and Sandro are fit again and Van der Vaart is 100%(or as close to 100% as he's going to get anyways). Think it would be tough to pull off one of the strikers the way things are going the last two weeks and go back to the 4-4-1-1 like much of last year.

In the meantime, it was a great game on Sunday and at least they have got one win against a big club in now. Wigan is up next and then another tough one against Arsenal.

[URI]

I can see ADE going off vs. Arsneal. He's been so good so far, and should have had a brace today.

[teejay1324]

Thought Walker looked good again, he looked better to me defensively than in previous matches and he does a pretty good job playing balls into the box when he gets forward. It's good he can get forward and support the attack because whoever is in front of him to this point, be it Kranjar or Modric or VDV they all like to drift inside and seem to be leaving him good space to come into.

Feel much better about this team now with three wins in a row, probably should have had an easier win than 2-1 yesterday considering how the first half went and Wigan being a man down but they got it done.

[Zomp]

Pretty funny

[teejay1324]

A little late but I'll be watching the derby with a buddy of mine and a few other people tomorrow at the bar I work at, the Nashua Garden, in Nashua NH. If anyone wants to come up/down for the game let me know. Cheap beer, two dollar drafts for Spurs fans and a breakfast sandwich order at halftime. Anyways if anyone's down let me know.

[URI]

Walker is a completely different player than he's been against the Manchester teams.

That strike was awesome.

[Dummy Hoy]

Walker is a completely different player than he's been against the Manchester teams.

That strike was awesome.

Seems that Spurs is a completely different team than they were against the Manchester teams.

[PedroSpecialK]

There was a fair bit of mustard on it. Szczesny still shoulda stopped it, but Spurs were without a doubt the better team today.

[Zomp]

Spurs have a very good team now, with a manager who just lets them play. Sometimes it costs them (VDV's defending on the goal) but most of the time it makes for a very enjoyable game to watch.

This was the first time that I remember that Tottenham were favorites and they played like it.

Still early in the season but it looks like there is a gap between the two Manchesters/Chelsea and Tottenham/Liverpool and maybe Arsenal if they can turn it around.

I don't think its foolish to say that Tottenham are the best of the 3.

[PedroSpecialK]

I agree with you completely there. Maybe throw Stoke into the mix, dare I say above Arsenal? Arsenal aren't quite relegation zone (15th right now) but if Sagna's out for a significant period, that's another big blow.

It'll take a few breaks for Liverpool to contend with Spurs for the last top-4 spot, not the least of which are Gerrard coming back at full fitness and Carroll keeping his form. I'm hopeful they can keep within striking distance through the January window, but with Walker's development and Modric staying put, I just feel like there's too much talent on that squad to overcome. Not to mention Harry's a pretty good manager.

[URI]

Seems that Spurs is a completely different team than they were against the Manchester teams.

Well that's true. Modric, Walker, Palker, ADE, and King have all been awesome since the 0-2 start.

[URI]

I agree with you completely there. Maybe throw Stoke into the mix, dare I say above Arsenal? Arsenal aren't quite relegation zone (15th right now) but if Sagna's out for a significant period, that's another big blow.

It'll take a few breaks for Liverpool to contend with Spurs for the last top-4 spot, not the least of which are Gerrard coming back at full fitness and Carroll keeping his form. I'm hopeful they can keep within striking distance through the January window, but with Walker's development and Modric staying put, I just feel like there's too much talent on that squad to overcome. Not to mention Harry's a pretty good manager.

I don't think Stoke have the horses long term, but they are certainly a frisky team with an insane home field advantage.

I think right now it's the Manchesters/Chelsea, then Spurs/Pool, then Stoke/Newcastle/Villa/Arsenal/Fulham/Everton blah blah blah.

[Tangled Up In Red]

Kaboul could well prove to be the key man... if he can remain solid.
I (mostly) liked what I saw from Walker and Parker is relentless. Lots of options for success with this group if healthy...
I do worry about depth up front.

[teejay1324]

Going to be interesting to see what happens now with VDV complaining about having to play out on the right and Harry telling him he should do as he's told. Kyle Walker's defense hasn't looked that bad to me but my other Spurs buddy has been way more critical of his defensive work and van der Vaart not staying wide isn't helping. Defoe is playing well as is Modric so I don't really know what Harry is supposed to do with VDV.

The other issue is who to play wide right that will stay wide right, Lennon is really the only option because Kranjar is going to come inside as well.

[DLew On Roids]

Oops. These are Pienaar's three most recent tweets:

therealstevenpi Steven Pienaar

Bafana qualify AFCON 2012!!!!!!!!!!! #shapabafanashapa well done boys!!!

21 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply




therealstevenpi Steven Pienaar

I thought it was head-to-head?

20 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply




therealstevenpi Steven Pienaar

Devastated just leaned that Niger is through. To be honest we should be winning our home games.

20 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

Edited by DLew On Roids, 09 October 2011 - 09:29 AM.

[Zomp]

LAWL

[URI]

The whole South African FA needs to grow the fuck up.

[teejay1324]

Felt Spurs were lucky to come away with anything against Newcastle. Their passing and movement didn't look as good as recent weeks and Newcastle certainly played well, no wonder they've gotten off to such a good start. But a point on the road is fine even if they did cough up a lead twice in the match.

Not surprised but still sad to King come off with an injury.

[teejay1324]

The boys decided to only cough up a 1-0 lead this week and and held on at 2-1. Decent game, not the greatest, thought Walker and Bale were strong, Walker's run to set up the first goal was tantalizing. He could really be something for this club for a while.

Ade didn't seem as involved as usual but VDV carried the goal scoring weight for the week. Nice game from Freidel too, Spurs had to deal with a lot of crosses/corners.

QPR is up next.

[teejay1324]

C'mon boys, Spurs are on a seven match unbeaten streak, they've eliminated their poor goal differential from the Manch massacres and got to a plus four, they're a mere four points off United for second with a game in hand AND my Kyle Walker jersey is inbound from Tottenham sometime this week. This thread shouldn't be dead!