Spurs 2013-14: Jermain Defoe, The Greatest European Scorer
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Raise for Bale. Can still leave for 50 million
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/gareth-bale-agrees-new-130000aweek-tottenham-contract--but-can-leave-next-season-for-50m-8623959.html
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/gareth-bale-agrees-new-130000aweek-tottenham-contract--but-can-leave-next-season-for-50m-8623959.html
URI said:
That's all true, but at least grant that it's crappy luck that it took 73 points this year. Most years, 72 would be plenty.
What Chelsea and Arsenal did to close the year was pretty amazing -- Arsenal in particular. They didn't even look at that impressive in doing it, but you can't question the results.
DennyDoyle'sBoil said:
Even as an Arsenal supporter, I will be the first to admit that the Gunners benefited from the schedule at the end of the season. Yes they still had to go out and win the games and all that, but QPR, Wigan, and this version of Newcastle was a (relatively) easy road, especially since Tottenham and Chelsea had the head to head late in the season. Plus the fact that Man U had already secured the title before they came to the Emirates.
If Spurs can keep hold of Bale, and add a few spare parts, I'm convinced they'll move up next year. There's not much room at the top, but you never know who may falter. If Bale goes, I don't see it happening for them.
Moutinho apparently heading to Monaco.
http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/21/spurs-set-to-lose-joao-moutinho-to-monaco-in-59m-double-deal-3803128/
Also, Adebayor and the Deuce out?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfers-clint-dempsey-emmanuel-1901498?
And, in a blow to URI, the immaculately-coiffed Scott Parker could be heading to QPR...
http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/21/spurs-set-to-lose-joao-moutinho-to-monaco-in-59m-double-deal-3803128/
Also, Adebayor and the Deuce out?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-transfers-clint-dempsey-emmanuel-1901498?
And, in a blow to URI, the immaculately-coiffed Scott Parker could be heading to QPR...
SidelineCameras said:
I'd argue that only the Man U match was an example of fortunate scheduling. Arsenal had easier games at the end, but tougher games up to that point.
DLew On Roids said:
It's all academic at this point, but I think Wigan winning the FA Cup was a nice warning for the Gunners. As in, "They just beat Man City on the national stage, don't take them lightly." I also think Wigan might have been spent a little, both emotionally and physically. And once Arsenal ensured Wigan being sent down, Newcastle was safe and didn't need to play desperately in their last game. Arsenal avoiding any direct competition against either Chelsea (Arsenal Kryptonite) or Tottenham also helped.
Sorry, I don't mean to clog up a Spurs thread with Arsenal talk.
Who's trolling or complaining? Someone said Arsenal's accomplishment was amazing, I was qualifying that. 9 points off of QPR, Wigan, and Newcastle isn't amazing.
URI said:
If you weren't a Dope, I'd have the stones to really tell you where to go!
Like...to Cranston!
You said you didn't want to clog up the Spurs thread with Arsenal talk, and I was joking by saying you should complain about how unfair it is to be an Arsenal fan in the Spurs thread on Twitter...which is where Arsenal fans go to talk about how terrible and awful Spurs are.SidelineCameras said:
DLew picked up on it.
Aha. That certainly sounds like a productive use of one's time.
Anyway 140 character is not enough for me, I like to use a lot more words when I'm bitching about how fourth place shouldn't be a trophy.
Exhibit A: here's my fourth post in my futile attempts not to clog this thread.
Anyway 140 character is not enough for me, I like to use a lot more words when I'm bitching about how fourth place shouldn't be a trophy.
Exhibit A: here's my fourth post in my futile attempts not to clog this thread.
SidelineCameras said:
He was referring to a specific tweet that one of the Arsenal fans wrote recently. It wasn't a shot at you.
DrewDawg said:
I can understand Spurs dumping Adebayor, but why on earth would they be interested in unloading Dempsey? He seemed to be particularly appreciated by AVB and ought to have value as a squad player even if he is superseded as a regular starter.
My guess, and it's only a guess, is they have 2 younger players who do basically the same things and aren't 30.Mr. Wednesday said:
But yeah I think they should keep him also. He's certainly been effective enough.
I dunno... rumor of Real offering that money plus one of Higuain, Di Maria, or a couple of other players for Bale... might be a good deal for Spurs, if they can spend the money wisely.
I don't take anything the Sun says seriously, but IF this were the case, it'd be stupid to turn down £80-100 mil for Bale right? That's 3 £30m players they can bring in, just to replace Bale. I love Bale but to seriously contend for CL and then compete in the PL and CL, they can't be so reliant on one player.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4947303/Five-clubs-hunt-Tottenhams-80m-ace-Gareth-Bale.html
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4947303/Five-clubs-hunt-Tottenhams-80m-ace-Gareth-Bale.html
veritas said:
When Liverpool fans were flipping out over selling Torres to Chelsea, this is the exact same thing I was thinking. You can't afford to tie up too much value in one player relative to the rest of the team, because if he gets injured or loses form, you're F'ed. There's obviously risk in buying multiple replacements, but there's a lot more risk in putting everything on one guy's shoulders.
URI: I'd love that. I follow @MirrorFootball because they're funny but I don't have any reputable source of EPL news, let alone Spurs specific news on twitter
edit: and for general soccer strategy, no one beats @Zonal_Marking
edit: and for general soccer strategy, no one beats @Zonal_Marking
A few of these are new and I'm not sure how good they are yet. Some are just fans, but ones more plugged in, being closer to the team.
General Transfer:
@transferscoop
@barclaysbible
@futbolbible
@eplstuff
More Spurs related:
@lovetheshirt (runs a Spurs podcast)
@cockerelcrows (season ticket holder)
@spursprss
@cartilagefree (acct name: Ledley King's Knees)
@spursofficial (duh)
@ohhwhenthespurs
@spursshow
@windycoys
@crackersthfc
@liamocoys
General Transfer:
@transferscoop
@barclaysbible
@futbolbible
@eplstuff
More Spurs related:
@lovetheshirt (runs a Spurs podcast)
@cockerelcrows (season ticket holder)
@spursprss
@cartilagefree (acct name: Ledley King's Knees)
@spursofficial (duh)
@ohhwhenthespurs
@spursshow
@windycoys
@crackersthfc
@liamocoys
Two things...
Here is that Spurs Twitter list I pulled together...let me know if you want me to add anyone: https://twitter.com/jkuhn_22/sosh-spurs
Second, it looks like things are heating up with Spurs, with the Telegraph saying that we're about to buy Paulinho for £15m from Corinthians to replace noted WW1 flyboy Scott Parker.
Paulinho, the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder, set for £15m move to Tottenham Hotspur
Here is that Spurs Twitter list I pulled together...let me know if you want me to add anyone: https://twitter.com/jkuhn_22/sosh-spurs
Second, it looks like things are heating up with Spurs, with the Telegraph saying that we're about to buy Paulinho for £15m from Corinthians to replace noted WW1 flyboy Scott Parker.
Paulinho, the highly-rated Brazilian midfielder, set for £15m move to Tottenham Hotspur
Seems like Paulinho is done for £17m. If they swoop for that pair, and Villa for £12m...that puts 4 players in at £47m.
Which is odd for Levy...which makes me think either Spurs have a cash windfall somewhere, or Bale has a foot out the door. The only other players I've heard on the way out might be guys like Defoe, Huddlestone, Parker, BAE, and Adebayor, and I don't see them getting more than a combined £18m it would cost for the Zagreb pair.
Which is odd for Levy...which makes me think either Spurs have a cash windfall somewhere, or Bale has a foot out the door. The only other players I've heard on the way out might be guys like Defoe, Huddlestone, Parker, BAE, and Adebayor, and I don't see them getting more than a combined £18m it would cost for the Zagreb pair.
I don't get the Croatian deal. 18m for two 17-year-old midfielders? Spurs don't lack midfielders, and that's a lot of money to invest in players who presumably won't be ready to help the squad much in the next season or two.
The Villa deal, however, I like. At age 31 he's not a long-term solution but just two years ago he was one of the 3 or 4 best all-around forwards in Europe. Then he broke his leg (not a chronic injury) and lost his place at Barca. He should be worlds better than Defoe and Adebayor, as well as motivated to keep a spot in the Spanish national team, and Spurs badly need a reliable striker.
The Villa deal, however, I like. At age 31 he's not a long-term solution but just two years ago he was one of the 3 or 4 best all-around forwards in Europe. Then he broke his leg (not a chronic injury) and lost his place at Barca. He should be worlds better than Defoe and Adebayor, as well as motivated to keep a spot in the Spanish national team, and Spurs badly need a reliable striker.
Not really.
Last year, we sold Modric for £33m, VDV for £10, the Croatians for £11m, and then Pienaar/Bassong/Gio for £12m, which is £66m.
Gylfi was £8, Lloris was £12, Dembele was £15, Duece was £6, Ade was £5, Vertonghen was £9.5, Holtby was £1.5 to get him early, and Zeki was £3. That's £60m
Spurs gained £6m via transfers last year.
Last year, we sold Modric for £33m, VDV for £10, the Croatians for £11m, and then Pienaar/Bassong/Gio for £12m, which is £66m.
Gylfi was £8, Lloris was £12, Dembele was £15, Duece was £6, Ade was £5, Vertonghen was £9.5, Holtby was £1.5 to get him early, and Zeki was £3. That's £60m
Spurs gained £6m via transfers last year.
The transfer fee isn't what I'm worried about, its the wages & injury history.
I guess I really don't know which I prefer. I would honestly just ask Bale who he'd rather play with, since whoever the first choice striker is will just have Bale playing off him anyway.
I guess I really don't know which I prefer. I would honestly just ask Bale who he'd rather play with, since whoever the first choice striker is will just have Bale playing off him anyway.
soxfan121 said:
I'm not at all sure that Villa is better than Soldado at this point. It's tough to judge, of course, because not getting playing time at Barcelona is no knock against a player. And he had that great season with Valencia in 08/09 that was much better than any season Soldado has had, but that's now five years in the rear-view mirror, when he was a year younger than Soldado is now. Excluding that career year, Soldado's last three seasons have been vintage Villa. (Not to mention that Villa's great season was alongside, to my eyes, a much stronger supporting cast than Soldado has enjoyed since the team got itself into financial trouble, sold Juan Mata, etc.)
His most recent season, 34 goals in 43 games in all competitions, is pretty slick for anybody not named Lionel Messi.
The eye test: Villa's style comes at the cost of innumerable offsides calls to create space behind the back line, which... well, YMMV, but I think it's kind of a drag. It might work a decent proportion of the time, but it makes it hard to build sustained pressure against a well-organized defense. Soldado is a bit bigger, and relies on strength and a great first touch to win balls played into the box and create space. I think his game is a better fit for an offense built around excellent midfield speed on both flanks. Both players finish well.
So I'd take Soldado, even for a bit more money. Of course, if you can get both, by all means...
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