Pleat says Big Hitters want the job

Discussion in 'Tottenham Hotspur' started by sendorange, Nov 7, 2003.

  1. sendorange

    sendorange Member+

    Jun 7, 2003
    Bigsoccer.com
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    http://skysports.planetfootball.com/Article.asp?id=171521

    http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,58-1110509,00.html

    His comments are very interesting. In some respects they allude strongly to the Martin O'Neill stories. He's a big hitter who would surely not be interested in us on a purely footballing side. But I've heard a lot of talk that his wife wants to move back closer to Wycombe as she hasn't settled up north, which makes Spurs a close option, and also that Celtic have hit a bit of a plateau in terms of their spending money. Without that money they cannot realistically make a serious challenge at winning the Champions League. Also it looks like the Old Firm will be staying in the SPL, which means a top 2 place every year is guranteed, with all the inevitable boredom that entails.

    It seems strange that the board have made no visible move yet, not even an announcement that Pleat will continue until the end of the season, let alone until January. They must be waiting for something. Could that be for Celtic's Champions League progress to be resolved?

    Anyway, regardless of who is interested, I suppose all we can do is wait patiently until it's confirmed.

    What odds on Christian Gross getting a second spell in charge? :D
     
  2. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Wengers comments about Spurs are very, VERY true.

    Basically, he's said theres NO excuse for Spurs's position. And he's right. He said Spurs have the same size fan base, same resources, and WHL and the Library are just about the same size. So whats the problem?

    But then he ruins it all by praising Hodd's management style.


    I'm not sure what the link is, but I'll find it.
     
  3. DigitalTron

    DigitalTron New Member

    Apr 4, 2001
    Arlington, VA
    Here's the link to Wenger's comments. Of course, Hoddle is Wenger's protege so I am not surprised that he felt sacking Hodd was a bad move. The wierd thing with Wenger is that in between all the thug tactics, whining, arrogance and snobbery, every once in a while he says stuff like this, which is not only spot on but also good natured. One day he'll say the US team isn't in the top 50 in the world, and the next he'll praise the country and bring in our youth. He's truly a skitzophrenic dude ... but I also agree with his comments here.

    http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,58-1110487,00.html

    As for the Charlton comment ... well we did try to get Scott Parker, and while I'm not quite as high on him as sendorange is, I do think he would have made the difference while Hoddle was here. Hoddle plays exciting attacking soccer, but Pleat--who is having success--doesn't. Pleat shores up the defensive holes but we just aren't the same going forward. I'd prefer to see a real Dmid and another good central defender then attack a lot more. I also wouldn't mind another attacking midfielder or two.

    -Digital
     
  4. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Yeah, bring on Diego. Rather him than Parker.

    Who would make (realistically) a good Dmid for us?
     
  5. DigitalTron

    DigitalTron New Member

    Apr 4, 2001
    Arlington, VA
    Agreed about Diego.

    As for the Dmid, I've always kinda thought that we might be able to get Owen Hargreaves. He has a ton of energy and tenacity as well as a bit of technical skill. He's a bit of a mutt in that he had English parents and grew up in Canada and has played for quite some time in Germany. Despite the fact that he's getting playing time for Bayern Munich, I somehow keep thinking that he's going to eventually end up in the Premiership because of his cap-tie to England.

    He prefers Dmid to fullback, and I think that he'd be ideal for Spurs. I suspect that Bayern might let him leave if A) he isn't getting first team soccer, B) they are fed up with his injury-woes (and as we know, Spurs love players with injury-histories), or C) he's fulfills his contract and is entitled to leave on a free.

    Frankly, I'm not convinced that Gardner is good enough in the back against the quick tricky players, and I'm not convinced that any of King, Richards or Gardner can stay healthy. So, it's probably not a good idea to put a guy with such an injury-record in there, like Hargreaves ... but I just really really like his game, and the fact that he's English is another point in his favor. While I'm American, I do think that teams should have a strong representation of players from their own countries.

    Then again, Van Bommel is an utterly perfect answer in central midfield. Somehow, I knew that wouldn't work out, but man was I intrigued by that prospect.

    Scott Parker re-signed with Charlton for substantial money. Sean Davis has been convinced by Coleman's Fulham's recent run of form and announced he no longer wants a transfer. Gerrard was named captain of Liverput (or whatever the name of that team is), and Hargreaves is the only other high calibre English dmid not currently playing in the Premiership. Otherwise, we're stuck taking defenders and converting them (i.e. King, Marney, Konchesky) and that requires a long learning period.

    I hear that Ch€£$€a now fancy Parker. They might fare better than Spurs as they're willing to pony up more money.

    As for Spurs, it is an obvious hole, but I suspect that it will not be filled until after a new manager has been appointed.

    -Digital
     
  6. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Hargreaves would have to be some kind of nut to leave Bayern for spurs.

    Van Bommel would be very interesting. Whats his position club-wise?

    Robbie Savage? Cisse? Both doing the business for Brum, and as much as I loath the scum that is Savage, he is just the kind of player we need. Boundless energy and non-stop running.

    On a different note, did anyone else see that Westahhm threw away a three goal lead and lost 4-3 at home to West Brom? Genius.
     
  7. sendorange

    sendorange Member+

    Jun 7, 2003
    Bigsoccer.com
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Nigel Reo-Coker at Wimbledon - no question. He's young and raw but he's already their captain and has unbelievable talent. A big tackling physical presence in central midfield (which we need) but also has great mobility, stamina, leadership qualities and technical ability. Saw his goal last week against Bradford, he picked it up on the left wing, did a stepover to beat the defender and then drilled it into the far top corner from 25 yards out. The only problem is prising him away, their board killed the Portsmouth deal in the summer, and they're struggling so badly this year without him they're effectively guaranteeing themselves relegation.

    Anyway, on the manager front check out these two reports:

    http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N142605031109-0758.htm
    Houllier on the official Liverpool news site. In your dreams Gerrard! :D He's just inventing this crap to try and help keep himself in the job, especially if they lose to Man Utd today. In fairness he did exceptionally well at Liverpool in the first few years. But since he came back after the heart trouble it just hasn't been the same.

    http://www.tribalfootball.com/november/englinews4091103.html
    Now this is fascinating. Everton are a very good club with a lot of potential, very comparable to us, but are over 30 million in debt with limited investment opportunity and I think Moyes feels without more money he's going to have a hard time taking them much further. Despite our losses this financial year we're still in better shape than them money-wise, with an upcoming injection of cash if we get that share issue sorted, and therefore have more potential to go further. Not sure it's true though, more like people putting 2+2 together, Everton's financial trouble + Tottenham needing a new fresh manager.
     
  8. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Booooo to the Moyes rumour. Everton are very, very boring. Also, its not like we have a ton of cash for transfers.

    And when Pleat says 'big hitters are interested', call me deluded, but I'm imagining someone with a little more pedigree than the former manager of Preston, or the fast fading manager of Liverpool.

    Advocaat, anyone?
     
  9. The Double

    The Double Moderator
    Staff Member

    Nov 11, 2002
    Denver
    On Soccernet.com regarding Advocaat's decision on Van Nistelrooy for the Dutch National Team, this is what the headline said.


    "Dick stands firm on Van Nistelrooy"


    Call it 3rd grade humor, but I was laughing for a good ten minutes.
     
  10. Danners9

    Danners9 New Member

    Aug 7, 2003
    Drunken Clam, Quahog
    Those of you in the UK, check out ITV teletext 518.

    At the end of the pages it says that Cok*-a-Doodle-Do, a fanzine, knows something big and it will happen before christmas regarding a new manager. They didn't say what, but did say it would be revealed in the next edition - before the Villa game. Nov 23rd.

    * won't let me put the very bird we have standing proudly above out stadium!?
     
  11. sendorange

    sendorange Member+

    Jun 7, 2003
    Bigsoccer.com
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    I hope so. I'd quite like to see it wrapped up one way or another. The fact no announcement has been made by the board on Pleat, or any details of any kind, certainly makes it seem like they have something planned and which will happen comfortably before Christmas.
     
  12. jumhed

    jumhed Member+

    Mar 26, 2001
    London
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Maybe Pleat is being arrogant and talking about himself?

    - Also, to the chap/bird who said Pleat is too defensive....we're winning/drawing mostly. For a caretaker manager, thats exactly what we need!

    - Hodd was all attack, or at least wanted to be, and look where that got him and Spurs! Whatever it takes, for the time being, I'm happy with.

    - When the new boss comes in, and then with his signings, I'll expect more. But until then, Pleat is doing the best he can with what he's got (no DMid!). Any win is a bonus.

    Come on you Spurs!
     

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