Taking stock and thinking ahead (R)

[Rambler]

Wow ! After one of the most turbulent fortnights in our recent history, I bet you ,like myslef ,are all asking what the heck is in store next ! Firstly let us take the positives. Shortly before Christmas we were second from bottom and it looked like a relagation battle was in store. The run of games that has just finished against Leicester were criticaly important, and out of a possible 21 points we have taken 16. Now everybody would of taken that before hand. Of course we should of won today - but keep it in perspective. Secondly, we now have a strikeforce more than we could of hoped for.

Now the negatives. Well of course we all know where that lies. It doesnt start and finish with the defence. The defensive has performed well at times this season - they are not COMPLETLY incompotent. What the whole team lacks is tenacity. In the second half once again we were totally overrun. Leicester are one of the more tenacious sides in the prem - they need to be they have very little quality, but I actually feared this game for that reason. They set about us in such a way in the second half that you could see the panic spread throughout the team. What we need here is players who are up for a fight. There is not one player in the team who is capable of that. Nicky Butt is a must in the summer. If the club doesnt make a bid then I will be annoyed. The defense often had no options when they were coming forward. Thats why we looked so nervous, there were no passes on. It leads to mistakes and the downward spiral that we have seen in games recently. Docherty is not up to the job. He has the odd good game but he is out of his depth. pleat needs to put King back in central defense with Gardner and drop Richards. His confidence is gone. Tarrico remains a liabilty.

The midfield needs two new central players. Nicky Butt plus an all round tackler/passer. Davies is a first team starter for next season - Brown should be no more than a squad player same goes for Ricketts and Jackson. If he (Brown) was supposed to plug the gaps then it aint worked. Dalmat needs to go (this team cant afford such luxuries) along with Poyet, Anderton and Redknapp (plus Doc, Richards + Ziege who wants to return to Germany). Postiga is also expendable.

Kasey Keller. He is not the weakest link but it is obvious he inspires no confidence in our fragile defense. I believe we will sign Robinson in the summer which is a step in the right direction. Keller also has very poor distrubution.

So in conclusion, having already outlined the players we should oust, we need to bring in two central defenders, at least one central defender, perhaps a replacemnt for Ziege/Tarrico and Paul Robinson. Thats not gonna be cheap or easy, but it is what we need to become competitive.

Oh yeah, we need a new manager too !

Drained, Rambler

[DigitalTron]

I agree with most of what you're saying Rambler, but disagree about Keller and Butt in particular. While there is an obvious need to re-form the defensive triangle (Dmid + 2 central defenders) in front of Keller, I don't think adding Robinson is going to change anything for the better there.

At best he's an improvement at distribution and a lesser shot stopper, so we'd likely allow more goals, not less. In the long run he'd be a good acquisition, but he cannot sit, because the pressure on the manager to yank the yank (pun intended) would be too great and probably destroy Keller's confidence as well.

While Leeds is not a good team at the moment, their defense is actually better than Spurs IMHO. As for Butt, I think he's an adequate destroyer, but he's not nearly as good as his World Cup, and he's a poor passer IMHO. I'd be happy to add him, but not for high wages nor for a significant transfer fee, so I just don't think it makes sense to add him. But we definitely do need a Dmid.

As for central defenders, King definitely does have potential, but he's always injured, so I'd be reticent to install him as the starter there. I'm warmed up to Gardner though, particularly now that he's been able to remain relatively healthy. Now we need a durable organizing central defender to take Richards' place and orchestrate the back line. Also, we have an obvious need for a left back, and if we don't add one in the summer then I'd be OK with putting King there until one of our central defenders gets hurt, and then shifting King into the middle temporarily. Or, perhaps letting Mabizela sub in there.

I'd like to add Van Bommel as one central midfielder, and either add a similar two-way player for the other, or pick one from Redknapp, Ricketts, and Brown as the situation presents itself. On the left I'd add Convey in midfield and Konchesky at left back.

Diego would be nice, but until we get our defensive triangle settled, I don't think we should make any more major expenditures on offense.

I agree about most of the other things you've said Rambler.

-Digital

[chriswalk27]

I also agree with most of what you said except for Brown and Butt. I don't see Brown as much worse than Butt and kind of think of Brown as a poor mans Butt and here is the big thing Butt does not want to come to Spurs so thinking we need him or should get him becomes kind of moot.

I actually agree with you about King moving back to central defense and just say ******** this season and let Gardner and King establish themselves together, if they can both stay healthy that is.

I think we need major help but to be honest I am starting to think most of this is Pleat's fault and should try to forget these horrible games as best we can. Sorry but he doesn't motivate or inspire to say the least.

After really thinking about this defeat, even though we tied it sure feels like a loss to me. I think Tottenham have a bright future and need things but there are few clubs who don't need things, we just haven't addressed them in over a year. No help in the back, actually moving backwards with the loss of Perry(who I don't think is great by any stretch but is better than Tano or Ziege) Just a general lack of depth is my main concern and it seems to be biting us in the ass on two occasions and almost against Portsmouth as well. Oh well as Rambler has said in late Dec. if you would have told me we would get 16 of a possible 21 points I would have been thrilled so hey at lest we aren't in any real relegation problems. Lets just stay clear of the bottom three and hope for a great summer.



Chris Walker

[sendorange]

I find it difficult to come to any conclusions about most individual players. The real problem right now is the dreadful management, bizarre team selections and no organisation.

I really don't think there is a need for someone like Diego yet, if we start consistently getting into Europe then yes a playmaker like that would be good to add, but now it would be overkill. I think Postiga could be comfortably offloaded as the youth teamers like Yeates and Barnard can cover for injuries/tiredness. The money we could get back from him would be worth it.

Defence. Needs a dedicated defensive coach, a co-ordinator. Even Plymouth in division 2 have one for ****s sake. Apart from that I'd like to see Mabizela given his chance and polished. Gardner and King will be the first choice centre backs, with Mabizela competing. Doherty I've never been a fan of, but he'll get better with experience and good coaching and will be 4th choice. Richards time has passed. I don't want to criticise him too much because Pleat has hung him out to dry. Stripping him of the captaincy, then playing him when he's unfit. It's been the systematic destruction of Deano's confidence. I'd rather keep a fully fit Deano then Doherty, but he costs too much and gets in the way of the development of others.

I think the club doesn't really need to buy yet another centre back, only if there's someone experienced and would cost no money, or depending on how Mabizela does. The real solution is playing people in their proper positions, when they're fit, getting them to work as a unit and then having protection in front of them.

In conclusion:

Sell/release:
Ziege
Richards
Redknapp
Anderton
Postiga

1x Left Mid (Andy Reid or Milner) - 3.5 million
2 x Centre Mid (Someone experienced and class, plus talented youngster) 6 million + 1 million
1 x Left Back (Arca or Konchesky etc..) - 2.5 million
1 X Goalkeeper (Robinson) - 2 million

I roughly estimate that's about 15 million, could well end up less. Selling Postiga for roughly the same we paid for him would be the key to this lot, plus offloading the overpaid veterans and getting the share issue money.

The only real issue for the team then would be experience. But I'd be confident that despite the young ages, there would be players who have seen enough in their careers already and are talented enough to compensate for that.