Ghaly, Stalteri, Rocha, Boateng, Taarabt

[Phillystile]

Welcome back to the Tottenham Hotspur football club first team! I never understood why Ramos sent certain players into basically exile from the club. Like we couldn't use someone like Rocha if we have some injuries in the back line? Hopefully 'arry gives some of them another chance if we can afford to.

New (or old, depending) squad #'s-

Stalteri - 13
Ghaly - 15
Taarabt - 19
Boateng - 23
Rocha - 33

[NJgotlove]

screw ghaly....

[vasilli07]

Are they all given all numbers now?

Edit: Just read that...

I like to see Ghaly and Taabart in some cup matches. With them back in, we have a 20-22 men squad.

[DigitalTron]

There are going to be some changes, but Harry is doing the right thing by using today (day after a match) to concentrate on players he doesn't know enough about and who are fresh enough to show him what they've got. It's their first chance to impress, but not their last.

Personally, I've always been impressed with Taarabt, but with Dos Santos here it's going to require more than fancy dribbling to break into the first team. Lennon and Johnny Two Saints ("JTS" aka Dos Santos) fill the quick pacey dribble machine roles pretty well, and JTS is even a good passer with vision, so if Taarabt wants to break into the first team--he certainly has the raw ability to do so--he's going to have to show two things: 1) defensive desire, and 2) better judgement and skill as a passer.

Personally, I think Ghaly, Boateng and Staltieri are done.

[Hauler]

I like Adel, Boatang, and possibly Rocha. Ghaly had a problem with his attitude but Harry will put that in check.

[AudereEstFacere]

I'm partial to KPB, I dont' know why. Something about him makes me think he would just be a good holding mid if we could coach him to that position.

[Phillyspur]

Don't really understand the significance of being given a number. Were they not registered to play up to now? I could see no sense in that.

Rocha is needed in the squad, especially if Zokora is falling out of favor as he is one of the back-up CBs. Taarabt and Boateng should also be given time and another chance, but Staltieri and Ghaly aren't of any use to us now IMO.

[vasilli07]

Don't really understand the significance of being given a number. Were they not registered to play up to now? I could see no sense in that.


I believe it's nothing to do with the registration. When a player is not given a number, it's like telling the player, you have no future at this club. Time for the player to move on.

My take

Stalteri - Don't think he will play much with Corluka, Hutton and Bale at rb. Maybe play him at leftback?
Prince - Not too sure about him. I find him too clumsy.
Taabart - A decent player, maybe can try playing him in cup matches.
Rocha - Better than Dawson? Would be a decent backup...i think.
Ghaly - Should be given a chance to prove his worth and performing well in the reserves. Another shirt-throwing, and out you go.

[Spur_Forever]

I'm all for competition for places. I don't think Stalteri can displace Hutton, lol. But if Rocha wants to give Dawson a run for his money, or if Taarabt can make Lennon or GDS try even harder, why not?

[chanman83]

Speaking of Johnny two saints.. where has he been?

[arak0r]

Speaking of Johnny two saints.. where has he been?

ive been wondering this, i assumed he got injured?

[vasilli07]

ive been wondering this, i assumed he got injured?

He is not injured. He came on as a sub in the match against Udinese and was on the sub bench for the Bolton match.

[CelticOnFire]

STALTERI IS BACK!!!! YES!!!!!!!!

Anyways, I also sort of like KPB. Don't really know why, but it's good to have these guys back in the first team squad competing again.

[Mr Tips]

Nice to see those guys getting a fair shake, but I doubt you're going to see any of them really getting any first team action. The only one really worth anything is Ghaly, and he's not getting in barring some serious adjustments to his attitude. This is probably more of a chance for Harry to see them and decide whether or not to ship them out more than anything else.

[DigitalTron]

Stalteri - Don't think he will play much with Corluka, Hutton and Gunter at rb. Maybe play him at leftback?

FYP bro. Don't think the Welshmen would like being mixed up, heh.

With Bale playing LB/LW we could definitely use a backup LB, especially with the health issues of both Bale and BAE. Gilberto was supposed to fill that role, but thus far he hasn't shown he can. Gunter is a CB/RB, but in a pinch can play LB, as can Corluka I'd suppose, but it would be nice to add a good solid LB for sure.

-Digital

[DigitalTron]

Ghaly is an attacking midfielder, and in the current roster he's going to be the odd man out even if he gets his attitude in check. Staltieri is old, so he's a fringe player at best. Boateng just doesn't cut it and his confidence is crushed, so unless Harry can pull a miracle of restoring confidence and fullfilling potential, I think Boateng is headed for the exit door--possibly after being put in the shop window a bit before January though.

Taarabt definitely is a talented kid. He may or may not go, but if he goes I'd imagine he might go on loan first to raise his price, or be thrown into a few matches during garbage time to up his price. Remember, we have Lennon, Johnny Two Saints, the hotshot youngster we sto...errrr acquired from Crystal Palace, all of whom are attacking midfielders. Plus I'm fairly confident that Modric and Bentley will be mainstays of Harry's lineups. All of those guys are youngish attacking midfielders ... so it's still going to be hard for Taarabt to break into the lineup. Jenas, O'Hara, Corluka and Huddlestone are all in the mix at holding midfielder until Harry brings in the proper Dmid we've lacked for so long.

-Digital

[jumhed]

I think its an excellent thing to do. To let these lads who might be needed that there is a chance for them will do them wonders.

Ghaly is a good player. Egyptian international.
KPB, likewise, a very good player, one of the best in Germany.
Taraabt we all know can play, but has never been given a full match to prove himself. What would you do, with his talent, and only being given 10 or 15mins every now and then to show your talent? You'd play to that strength. His is dribbling. If he was given 90minutes regularly, he'd be immense!
Staltieri is a bit Charlton/Fulham.
Rocha was never given the time to acclimatize to the EPL, instead thrown in against Arsenal and derided for a mistake that led to a goal, which has coloured everyone's perception of him. He is a useful squad player.

Personally, I'm behind anyone who wears the Spurs shirt and puts in the effort and shows some pride. Which means I'm not really a fan of Berb's performances last season.

[songoose]

Have you guys seen Ghaly play? He is terrible, regardless of his attitude.

KBP has very questionable skills as well -- "one of the best in germany" -- that is insanity. He won "best young player" or something like that a few years back but has yet to show anything positive for Spurs.

[Spur_Forever]

Have you guys seen Ghaly play? He is terrible, regardless of his attitude.
Rubbish. Your judgment is obviously clouded by the shirt throwing incident. Frankly, I didn't think he was the best player in the team (by any measure) but he was doing a decent job. You may not like him as a player, but he could not honestly be classified as "terrible." Whether he fits into the team now, that's another issue altogether.

[DigitalTron]

I realize you weren't addressing me Spur_Forever, but if you don't mind I'll chime in on Ghaly. I like the guy.

Lots of players throw tantrums when they aren't given a chance that they feel they deserve--it's part of their competitive nature. I always loved Robbie Keane, and he also threw a tantrum once when substituted, but he was disciplined and all was forgiven. But any guy that can get 4 teeth knocked out, get treated and continue playing ... THAT'S a guy who has earned my respect. Hell, throw a shirt every game if you're going to give that kind of effort, those shirts may be symbols, but the effort he showed playing without teeth and through pain clearly shows that he gives his all for the team far more than some silly tantrum. If all our players showed that amount of effort instead of simply putting in a shift, we'd be battling for a CL spot instead of battling against relegation at the moment.

That said, he was never a great player. He is a guy who always forced the ball forward, which sometimes led to goals and very often led to needlessly turning over the ball and leaving us exposed to the counter-attack. I'm an attack-minded fan, so I can forgive that, but he produced less goals per turnover than even I'm comfortable with accepting. He definitely is Premiership quality, and I think he should have made it work at Birmingham, but given Spurs depth of attacking midfield talent at the moment, he shouldn't really see the light of day here, so IMHO, it's time for him to move on.

I don't think I'm being negative stating that he has an attitude problem--it has been cited by numerous sources over a long period of time. Jol handled players like him very well, but most managers aren't as good at that as Martin Jol.

Still, any player that shows enough heart and loyalty to the club for playing through that kind of pain needs not pet the fans hair with complements to prove his committment to the club. If anyone can't get over the shirt throwing incident, then they simply don't understand how high strung professional athletes must be to keep their confidence up. Not all of them throw shirts, but they're all obsessed with proving their worth ... and if not they'll never be successful.

-Digital