Various rumours are circling regarding Connor Wickham, the 17 year old striker from Ipswich. The England under 21 international is considered one of the hottest young properties and has courted attention from some of the biggest clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea and Spurs.
There is a suggestion that there is already an agreement between Tottenham and Ipswich in place in that Spurs have an option to sign him. Although other reports say he has not yet made up his mind.
Tottenham will be on the lookout for probably two new strikers this summer. Our frontline has been misfiring all season with only seven league goals between Defoe, Crouch and Pavyluchenko with the latter looking to leave in the summer.
As a youngster Wickham may be a good 4th Striker. I believe if Wickham were to come to Spurs he would benefit from training with an experienced top class centre forward i.e. Drogba, Fabiano, Huntelaar. I am sure this would be an ideal scenario for a young English player.
As with all transfer rumours I treat this one with a pinch of salt.
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Monday, 14 February 2011
Lets play the numbers game
With only twelve games to go we are now in the business end of the the season. I believe the title is now between Manchester United and Arsenal. Third and fourth is now between Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea. Forget Liverpool any side that condes 8 points in 11 games shouldn't be there in the first place.
Looking at the fixtures chelsea and Spurs both have 4 games against the top 6 and eight against the rest, Manchester City have 3 against the top 6 and 8 against the rest.
Spurs are away to 3 of the top 6, manchester City 2 and Chelsea 1. They all have to play each.
If Spurs don't lose at Manchester City and Chelsea and win their eight agianst the rest then they should finish fourth at worst. The hardest of the home games are Arsenal, Stoke and West Ham, but it looks a good home run but a nightmare final 3 away from home where we play Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
It is in Tottenhams hands now, which is obviously good but there is so much work to do. I didn't expect Spurs would do it going into the last half a dozen last season but with wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City managed to seal it.
I have had a good moan about our squad this season which I felt should have been improved in January, however we have enough quality to win the games that matter. It will be nailbiting stuff.
Looking at the fixtures chelsea and Spurs both have 4 games against the top 6 and eight against the rest, Manchester City have 3 against the top 6 and 8 against the rest.
Spurs are away to 3 of the top 6, manchester City 2 and Chelsea 1. They all have to play each.
If Spurs don't lose at Manchester City and Chelsea and win their eight agianst the rest then they should finish fourth at worst. The hardest of the home games are Arsenal, Stoke and West Ham, but it looks a good home run but a nightmare final 3 away from home where we play Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.
It is in Tottenhams hands now, which is obviously good but there is so much work to do. I didn't expect Spurs would do it going into the last half a dozen last season but with wins over Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City managed to seal it.
I have had a good moan about our squad this season which I felt should have been improved in January, however we have enough quality to win the games that matter. It will be nailbiting stuff.
Is Levy trying to sell us down the river?
As the dust settles on out failed bid to move to the Olympic Stadium site, we are left with more questions than answers. I amongst many Spurs supporters was happy that we are now not moving to Stratford, but I fear the motives of our chairman.
We have been hearing the stories this week that Spurs need a bigger stadium to compete with the best. That is a fact that is undeniable. The problem is moving may improve the balance sheet but at the cost of ripping the soul out of this great club.
Yes the area around Tottenham is run down, deprived and has attrocious traffic, but when you walk to the turnstiles and take your seat you know you are in the same place that graced Blanchflower, Mackay, Greaves, Hoddle etc. There is the sense of being part of a family an atmosphere that is hard to beat.
I for one have an attachment to Tottenham that will never be breached, moving the club wont change my support but I would feel that the club is selling out its heritage in order to achieve balance sheet success.
Quite clearly Levy is putting the club in the shop window, why else would he attempt to move the club closer to the City. Despite his denials I am sure he is hoping for some middle east money to come in.
Obviously there is a need for a new stadium as expansion at White Hart Lane is not possible. To be honest I was never happy with the Northumberland Project as I didn't think it was ambitious enough. I would have liked to see a 65,000 seater stadium to eclipse all club stadiums in London and would probably produce more revenue than Old Trafford.
Tottenham must make the Northumberland project work in a way to satisfy all parties at the most econmically cost effective way. Whatever happens we the fans must be consulted not ignored as levy has done.
We have been hearing the stories this week that Spurs need a bigger stadium to compete with the best. That is a fact that is undeniable. The problem is moving may improve the balance sheet but at the cost of ripping the soul out of this great club.
Yes the area around Tottenham is run down, deprived and has attrocious traffic, but when you walk to the turnstiles and take your seat you know you are in the same place that graced Blanchflower, Mackay, Greaves, Hoddle etc. There is the sense of being part of a family an atmosphere that is hard to beat.
I for one have an attachment to Tottenham that will never be breached, moving the club wont change my support but I would feel that the club is selling out its heritage in order to achieve balance sheet success.
Quite clearly Levy is putting the club in the shop window, why else would he attempt to move the club closer to the City. Despite his denials I am sure he is hoping for some middle east money to come in.
Obviously there is a need for a new stadium as expansion at White Hart Lane is not possible. To be honest I was never happy with the Northumberland Project as I didn't think it was ambitious enough. I would have liked to see a 65,000 seater stadium to eclipse all club stadiums in London and would probably produce more revenue than Old Trafford.
Tottenham must make the Northumberland project work in a way to satisfy all parties at the most econmically cost effective way. Whatever happens we the fans must be consulted not ignored as levy has done.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Is there a case for our strikers?
I am never one to have a go at any player during a game and very rarely swear. But yesterday after seeing Crouch fluff another chance I had a little outburst. It goes along the lines of "Can't we get a striker who can score a goal" and I paraphrase.
There is barely a Spurs fan who doesn't feel we need a new strikeforce and yet we hear today that Pavlyuchenko wants to leave. This is deja vu. Just last season we heard this and a good cup run and a few goals he was back on board.
Looking at the stats between Crouch, Defoe and Pavlyuchenko they have made 54 appearances and scored 7 goals. Peter Crouch may argue that he has assists to his name but I can't think of too many. The reason we are fufth and not higher up the table is a lack of goals. I cannot believe it is poor service. With Bale, Modric, Lennon and van Der Vaart in our side plus new addition Pienaar supplying I would find it hard to believe there is a lack of opportunity.
Without trying to sound too hard, our front line and too one dimensional. Crouch is unable to hold the ball up or beat his man and invariably is beaten in the air. He has a weak shot if he has to run more than five yards and constantly has his back to goal. Defoe works hard and has pace but is unable again to beat his man and is predicatble with the ball at his feet. Pavlyuchenko is an excellent finisher on his day however he goes missing for long periods of time, often takes the wrong option when he passes and attempts too many long range shots.
Harry Redknapp has talked about players he tried to sign in January. Well that is all well and good but he clearly didn't try hard enough. Frankly I would have been happy with Cole, Sturridge and Davies over Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Defoe. I know I am being harsh, but I feel Spurs have missed a big opportunity this season. A return of an extra dozen or so goals may have just been enough to be us near to Manchester United this season.
I hope the lessons will be learnt and the necessary changes made for next season.
There is barely a Spurs fan who doesn't feel we need a new strikeforce and yet we hear today that Pavlyuchenko wants to leave. This is deja vu. Just last season we heard this and a good cup run and a few goals he was back on board.
Looking at the stats between Crouch, Defoe and Pavlyuchenko they have made 54 appearances and scored 7 goals. Peter Crouch may argue that he has assists to his name but I can't think of too many. The reason we are fufth and not higher up the table is a lack of goals. I cannot believe it is poor service. With Bale, Modric, Lennon and van Der Vaart in our side plus new addition Pienaar supplying I would find it hard to believe there is a lack of opportunity.
Without trying to sound too hard, our front line and too one dimensional. Crouch is unable to hold the ball up or beat his man and invariably is beaten in the air. He has a weak shot if he has to run more than five yards and constantly has his back to goal. Defoe works hard and has pace but is unable again to beat his man and is predicatble with the ball at his feet. Pavlyuchenko is an excellent finisher on his day however he goes missing for long periods of time, often takes the wrong option when he passes and attempts too many long range shots.
Harry Redknapp has talked about players he tried to sign in January. Well that is all well and good but he clearly didn't try hard enough. Frankly I would have been happy with Cole, Sturridge and Davies over Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Defoe. I know I am being harsh, but I feel Spurs have missed a big opportunity this season. A return of an extra dozen or so goals may have just been enough to be us near to Manchester United this season.
I hope the lessons will be learnt and the necessary changes made for next season.
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