Bale's probable departure is sad but we shouldn't be too surprised after failing to secure a CL place. Yes, we achieved a record PL points tally, but the failure to secure a striker in January has cost us dearly. Bale cannot be blamed for seeking a move as he deserves to be playing in the CL. He may have left anyway but our chances of keeping him another year, and our negotiating position, would have been far greater with a CL place.
But let's not dwell on that. Bale's departure should not mean doom and gloom. We will still have an excellent squad with a good chance of getting CL this time round. We were far too reliant on Bale last year but I expect others to step up in his absence. My "ones to watch" for this season are:
- Siggurdsson - had a slow start last year but grew in confidence and influence as the season progressed. I expect him to step his game up this year and to have a big season for us.
- Holtby - I have a feeling he is going to deliver for us this year. He hasn't shown us too much so far other than lots of running and pressing, but he needed time to adapt. This year I think we'll see an extra 30% from him and will make a strong contribution for us.
- Paulinho - from what I've seen, he looks made for the PL. If they stay fit, then our trio of Paulinho, Sandro and Dembele should give us one of the strongest midfields in the PL, even without Bale.
So what are we lacking? My main concern is creativity. We'll have plenty of pace with Lennon and Chadli but if Bale goes I think we'll need another player who can unlock defences with a killer pass and to chip in with 10-15 goals. Dempsey is not that man, though I'd like to keep him in the squad. Pastore would be ideal but I doubt PSG would sell.
The most frustrating thing about Bale's departure would be that, with him, we could realistically challenge for our first title since 1961. Without him, we can still challenge for the top 4 and the cups, but the title will be out of reach.
Reasons to be cheerful
posted on 30/7/13
I read the countless Bale articles everyday and I don't think the point is made often enough about the support we are picking up due to him. I have 2 non Spurs supporting mates whos young sons are latching onto us because of him. The money is mental but I would rather keep him and keep attracting new young fans.
posted on 30/7/13
Good evening / morning all, haven't posted in what can only be described as a relative era but thought I'd weigh in too.
Back to the origional article 'reasons to be cheerful'......as a Spurs fan we have so many in this gerneration of footballers that those of us who remember the 90's should never cease to be cheerful!
Joking aside, we have a youngish squad/team that for once can challenge absolutely anyone else in our league on our day, and finally, those days are no longer one off's, but generally week in week out.
Bale has been fantastic for us for the best part of 3 years and this season was an absolute joy to watch. I for one don't believe that he's leaving us. Since Chelsea haven't made another bid for Rooney the papers have nothing gossip worthy to print except Bale and the furor surrounding him currently.
By all accounts he is a level headed boy (boy....only 5 years my junior!) never nappears in the paper for anythnig other than footballing reasons, loves playing for AVB and hasn't come accross as someone who kicks up a fuss or gets above his station. He has a young family with a relative new-born, just some of the factors that makes me think he knows his value to us as well as his own value and will give it another year with a club that is heading in the right direction and seems pro-active in the transfer market this year.
As for seeing the Bale of last year, part of me hopes we don't have to....whenever we looked to be stuggling to break a team we'd give the ball to Bale and hope he could dribble past 6 players and score another 25yarder. I believe he has the character, from interviews with people who know him, that even if he does want the move (which we have not heard one quote from him to say he does) but isn't granted it, that he would continue playing to the limit of his ability.
Hopefully we have a team that is less reliant on him, but he undoubtledly is the star within it. If we want to get to the levels we aspire to, the money from his sale is not going to help us. His marketing appeal has already been discussed, our ability to attract other players is not dependant on having him, but it helps! We don't pay the wages of top teams....or even of Arsenal, yet we can still attract quality off the back of heading the right direction and having quality within our team that makes potential recruits know we can challenge.
there are very few offers I would accept for Bale off the back of the season he has just had when just by being here he offers so much more.
So, if after reading all that, you can still be cheerful.....your a lot more bloody minded than me
posted on 31/7/13
How on earth can you guys be reluctant to sell for £85mil!!!
Bale is amazing, there's no doubting that but he is not at the level C.Ronalo was when he left us for £80mil. That year Ronaldo won the WPOTY scoring 42 goals in one season the year before and winning the double.
Bale had half a season where he was at Ronaldo's level, and apart from that, maybe 1 and a half where he's been very good, but not quite world class.
£85mil is an insane offer, I thought £65mil would be enough. Having said that, I hate how Real think they can get whoeever they want, when they want so I hope Levy pushes them to the £100mil mark
posted on 31/7/13
If Bale went to Real for funny money, lets say 100 million Euros........... how much of that money would Bale himself get in one way or another??
If the player himself will get a substantial amount of money as a result of a sale to Real, then I say good luck to him. Take the money and go.
But if his only reward is a higher salary and the dubious pleasure of playing in front of the most unforgiving fans in the world, then I'd say "stay at Spurs and build a top of the premiership club".
Barca or Bayern are better choices for Euro footy.
posted on 31/7/13
You're right, £85m is an insane amount, for any footballer in my opinion is absurd.
But to us and what he brings to the team/club/ merchandising/profile/appeal you can understand the stance we have.
Further to that, who could we buy?
Arsenal have come out and said how much they have to spend this window and look at how they are struggling, plus they sign off on higher wages than we do, the sale of Bale would look to any other team that we had more than that available and so we would struggle in the same way.
posted on 31/7/13
Final word:
If the player wants to go....... the club should let him go ..... for the highest possible bid, of course.
But history shows that once a player's head is turned ... forget it.
posted on 31/7/13
£85mil could get you at least 3 world class players for £30mil each.
Don't get me wrong, Bale definitely single handedly won you games last season with some outrageous last minute goals, but I watched alot of your games and his influence on the game over 90mins was never THAT outstanding.
Use the money and get a world class CB to partner Vertroghen (sp), a world class winger and a world class striker. Then use your summer budget on a world class playmaker.
Bale scored 26 last season, it's hardly the 42 Ronaldos cored for us and we managed to replace his goals as the whole the goals were spread amongst the rest of the team.
posted on 31/7/13
Use the money and get a world class CB to partner Vertroghen (sp), a world class winger and a world class striker. Then use your summer budget on a world class playmaker.
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its as simple as that isn't it...just a buy 4 world class players and we're sorted
we aren't in the champions league
we can't pay the wages city/monaco/psg can pay
they won't want to join a club that sells its atars
if we do get £85m, a £30m player will suddenly become a £50m player
posted on 31/7/13
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 31/7/13
True, didn't really take into accounot the fact Spurs aren't as fanciable as United, but surely, if the £85mil is recycled and used to buy players, you will improve as a team.
I mean, in the year we sold Ronaldo, Ferguson only bought Valencia and Owen (the £80mil kind of disappeared into thin air, Glazers...) and we retained the title I think. Our team was more balanced, everyone chipped in with goals etc.
Looking at your squad, I'm sure you guys could challenge for top 4 even without any new signings and I seriously doubt AVB won't sign anyone