*I was a regular poster at the old 606. I run a Spurs blog called http://taxiformaicon.blogspot.com and this is my first post - congratulations to the guys who set this up, it's brilliant.
Over a week into the transfer window and teams are beginning to show their intentions. While Liverpool and Manchester United are making huge offers early on, Spurs have signed ageing Brad Friedel on a free transfer.
What United and the Reds have moved quickly to indicate is not just their willingness to spend but their desire to plan for the future.
Spurs, on the other hand have delved into the bargain bucket for a transient solution to the goalkeeping conundrum, adding yet another name to a squad bursting at the seams in the process.
In case you didn't know, Liverpool have agreed terms with Jordan Henderson over a £16-20million switch from Sunderland, whereas Blackburn's young defender Phil Jones is close to securing a high-profile £17m switch to Manchester United, along with Aston Villa's Ashley Young.
Interpretation of our Friedel freebie depends on who pushed for the transfer; board or manager. If Harry Redknapp was the instigator, then it signals he's looking for short-term gain; maybe he's seriously eyeing the England job so isn't looking past next season, or maybe he just wants a wise, experienced head to bring some much-needed organisation to our back four.
The worry, and it is a big worry, is if it was the board's choice. Arsenal may only have shelled out £1million on their first signing Carl Jenkinson this week, but the Finland Under-21 star's capture does signify that Arsenal still have one eye on building for the future.
Our mid-noughties tactic of signing young british talent seems to have fallen by the wayside. Maybe it is seen in part to have backfired; Jermaine Jenas is unable to hold down a first team place, Tom Huddlestone is failing to fill the boots of his own huge potential and the £18m capture of David Bentley can only be seen as a tremendous waste of resources.
Potential ability costs a lot of money at the moment and clubs are only too happy to hold out for £20m-plus for largely unproven players. You can't blame chairman Levy for waiting to find a proven talent before he signs the big cheques but he has to back the manager and, with Redknapp seeing fit to repeat in public that he wants "Daniel to go out and get three fantastic players", there are signs that the support is not forthcoming.
If murmurs in the press are to be believed then Levy's enthusiasm over the Redknapp reign may be at a low ebb but this is a crucial time for Tottenham and the chairman cannot afford to let his interest wain. The fans can accept we need to sell before we buy but so far Redknapp has claimed that Jermain Defoe, Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch are not for sale, and that even Robbie Keane could force his way back into the team.
Levy needs to get a move on and kickstart our summer, as the rumoured streamlining of the playing staff seems like a distant memory. If Jamie O'Hara heads to Wolves and Robbie Keane joins Martin Jol at Fulham we are still above the 25-man Premier League quota even before adding to the squad.
The Friedel transfer is done and, who knows, maybe it'll take the pressure off Heurelho Gomes giving him a chance to get his confidence back. Friedel could even teach the Brazilian how to catch a ball with two hands. But from now on, players need to go, full stop. The board can't be messing around waiting for as much money as possible, we need gaps on the team sheet and space in the payroll. Cue the exodus...
Spurs must be pro-active over busy summer
posted on 10/6/11
Tottenham_Boy
I see your point. But whilst we may not think Palacios is worth £10m, Levy must be witnessing other, less talented, players transfering for far more.
posted on 10/6/11
I agree with Tottenham boy on this one. We have a packed squad; all our fringe players (gio, keane, krancjar, jenas) will be on at least 30,000 a week (£1.5m a year). If we get rid of six players at a bit less than we're hoping for, then that frees up £9m-a-year of wage money that can go on two real, real top-quality players, maybe with a bit left over.
There is simply no point in having too many players on the squad list with the new rules.
posted on 10/6/11
I see your point. But whilst we may not think Palacios is worth £10m, Levy must be witnessing other, less talented, players transfering for far more.
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unfortunatley palacios is honduran and not english which affects he value, if he was english then we could demand 20million for him.
posted on 10/6/11
Chicken.
I think that the players that tend to go for a premium are young English players, which Palacios is not. Players also go for a premium if Chelsea Man city and now Liverpool are buying them.
Our dead wood will either go abroad or to mid/lower table clubs, who do not tend to buy players at a premium. They tend to get players at bargain prices!
posted on 10/6/11
On the other hand Liverpool have just paid £20m for an average player who just kicks people and is no better than what they already have.
I bet Sunderland are laughing all the way to the bank, but thats Comolli for you lol.
posted on 10/6/11
Cockerel Barfly
I was going to use Henderson as an example but i thought i would be shot down for people telling me its because he's young.
I agree though, Henderson's biggest strength is that he's a mean tackler but the fact is, he's a reckless tackler - not a good one. I think Liverpool will find out the hard way about this young man - they'll be finishing quite a few games with 10-men me thinks.
posted on 10/6/11
Chicken;
Their "true value" is what somebody is willing to pay.
These are not superstar players like Modric, these are squad players, who get the very occasional run out when we have injuries.
All the time we hang on to these players, hoping somebody will be desperate enough to pay top dollar, we have to pay their wages - with each month that goes by, they become older - their contracts become shorter, reducing their value further. Plus it's dead capital that we can't employ usefully, elsewhere.
Worst of all, these players occupy valuable squad positions.
As I said in my earlier posting, we need to ruthlessly cut any players that are no longer wanted and use that money to bring in freah blood.
posted on 10/6/11
Spurs are skint. They already punched way above their weight and now the chicken is coming home to roost.
posted on 10/6/11
On yer bike you idiot. UEFA is coming for you and the Chavs. Let's see how you do when you have to play by the same rules as everybody else
posted on 11/6/11
NowsufferinginSpain
I get what you're saying but Palacios is hardly been a fringe, bit-part, player has he?
Up until his injury &/or Sandro hit form he was a first-teamer. Also, Levy knows you have to play the game, ie. if someone comes in with a bid, they will start at the low end, a bit like buying a 2nd hand car, the seller advertises a few bob higher than its worth, the buyer bids a few bob lower & you meet in the middle somewhere.