Spurs Banter Archive January 21 2013

21 Jan 2013 21:31:15
Hotltby and negredo in this transfer window and i'll be chuffed. This will cost us 14 mill in total plus we could maybe clear out a couple. With fryers that would be a good transfer window.
Maybe wishful thinking but I definitely think that would be enough to cement 4th his season and make a bigger push next year.

Essex person 84

21 Jan 2013 20:35:24
Not sure what everyone else thinks but I still think a creative midfielder is as important, if not more, than getting a striker. Don't get me wrong, I'd love us to get a Negredo or Damiao but I think some people are slightly misinterpreting our chance to goal ratio as Defoe not being good enough.
One thing that Defoe is very good at is crafting shooting positions from difficult situations. So I think we should remember that a lot of the shots (chances) Defoe has on goal are chances he creates for himself. The same often goes for Bale and Dempsey. In fact a lot of the shots we had at Utd were from outside the box, directed into a wall of Utd defenders.
I think part of our problem is that Spurs have always loved playing attacking football, home or away. This means a lot of the time however we are putting constant attacking pressure on teams like we did on Sunday. This puts the opposition into counter-attacking mode (parking the bus) as we see time and time again against the "smaller" teams. This doesn't allow our best players the space that they would get if we played in a more counter-attacking mode. For me, buying a new striker will give us a different card to play for sure. But it won't solve our goal-scoring problems unless we either add a creative midfielder to our "constant attacking" style, or we revert to more of a counter-attacking mode working to the strengths of Bale and Lennon.

Just my thoughts.

hk_yod

I think you're right. We produce a lot of half-chances which is why we have so many chances yet barely any goals.

That playmaker could provide us with those clean cut chances and allow Defoe, Bale and Dempsey to finish them off. Maybe its not that we need a striker who can put away half-chances, but a playmaker who can provide our players with convertible chances.

While I still would like a clinical striker, I agree a playmaker is miore important for the reasons we mentioned.

Plus with a playmaker, our possession and chance creation will achieve Barca-like numbers (like the game against reading). Hopefully we'll improve our conversion rate too, with better final balls.

Royal Yid

I diagree (respectfully). I think you raise a lot of good points about having a creative midfielder, and I certainly think that there is room for one, but I think that this is not as important as a striker.

The reason is that teams are working us out and defending deep. This nullifies Bale and Defoe hugely, who profit from space behind the opposition line (Leenon too but his acceleration means he is better placed against deep lying teams). This gives opponents a simple solution to playing us, and although a creative midfielder could help it relies on Defoe to stay up (whereas he drops deep to look for the space to exploit) or Ade to be good (which seems some way off at present).

A striker like Negredo would suit our team style as well as being an excellent player. He's technically very good and can help link up the front when required, but most of all he is a strong presence in the box that (like Dembele) has quick feet and topped off by an ability to finish well from the edge of the area. Opposing defences will find playing deep very tough against someone like him because he has the strength to hold opponents off, the agility to turn quickly, and the technique to make it count.

As such opponents will have to defend higher against us to keep him further from goal, and this opens up the spaces such that we don't need a creative midfielder as much as it releases the potential of our wide players.

So although I think a creative midfielder would be good for us I think a striker like Negredo would be even better.

Wulf.

While I see your point about deep defending teams, I can't help but feel a great final ball is all we're lacking, even in that situation.

I would love a ST, but if I had to allocate funds it would be to a playmaking cm.

We'll agree to disagree. Lets hope we get both

Royal Yid

Some good points there Wulf.
As you say Lennon does often benefit from teams lying deep. I think however that this is partly due to the fact that teams always double-up or even triple-up on Bale which gives Lennon that extra space. Either way I think Bale and Lennon are most dangerous when on the counter attack and both have proved they can score and assist when on the break.
If we choose to persist with a strategy of imposing constant pressure players like Bale and Defoe won't get the space they need. I think this is why we've missed BAE so much because he can draw at least one of the opposition's right-sided players. Perhaps this is also why we win more games with Adebayor playing, because as you say, good (or at least threatening) strikers will draw players away from the box and away from our other forwards. I still think that with the system we're playng we'll be able to stretch teams better across the width of the pitch and have more penetration for the diagonal runs of Defoe, Bale and Lennon - with a creative midfielder who can spot the long pass or incisive through ball. At times Modric and VDV were testimony to this arrangement last season. Ultimately, adding a better finisher to the mix would make us scary opposition. I think we can all agree that with two additions we could probably really challenge for the title.

hk_yod

21 Jan 2013 15:35:41
Think we should buy a player that can score from a free kick, our free kicks from a realistic scoring position to goal ratio is shocking!! {Ed008's Note - Sneijder would have been ideal...

Bale is a decent FK taker. I do see your point for a specialist to come in, but I'll give Bale more time to perfect his technique until that happens. He looks more Ronaldo-esque with every FK I see him take.

Royal Yid

Yeah except for getting the ball in the back of the net.

Marc

Lol nice one, cherrs

Royal Yid

21 Jan 2013 13:59:50
I know everyone is saying we need a striker and I agree but also believe that if we get moutinho or someone of equivalent standard in then he can play in the hole behind bale and sigurdson can play on the left.

Bale has the potential to be great up front has all the attributes and we have seen more and more this season him coming in through the middle.

I would love a world class striker but can't see it happening until we get CL football.

Just hoping we get moutinho...

NorthernSpur

Moutinho is class but he doesn't play in the hole, he is a deep lying playmaker, would play cm alongside a Parker/Sandro type of player

21 Jan 2013 13:17:50
anyone know the lastest on kaboul?
thought he was meant to be back in late december? {Ed008's Note - He's in rehab with his recovery should be back before end of the month.

Most recent at one site is feb 23 against west ham is the return date.

Royal Yid

21 Jan 2013 11:05:18
To get goals how about a cheeky £15 million for Chicarito Hernandez
Yorkshire Spur

Fergie wouldn't sell anything to us at the moment.
If he did, the price would be inflated so he got the fryers money back.
Forget about any united players.

COYMFS.

21 Jan 2013 00:02:37
Everyone talks about mvila and his 'attitude problems' but does anyone know what this actually means? Is he like balaotelli, arrogant and grumpy? Just think its good to know the details before ruling out a potentially very good player

Players like mvila make my blood boil, he has the talent unquestionably but he wastes it, he looks great when your winning but if you go behind in a game he has no heart, no fight, no pride. The way he behaved for France at euros was a disgrace, undermined his manager & didn't bother a leg in knock-out game, he couldn't be bothered your playing for your country, he's a disgrace.
Players like him are not good for dressing-room & get managers the sack. You can put up with someone been a bit of a jack the lad off the pitch if they do there stuff on it consiatantly but he doesn't, he's mentally week.
I'd much prefer we go after Mario suarez of atl Madrid or Gary "pitbull medel of Seville & although he's 31 arevalo rios of Palermo, Those guys are warriors just like sandro.
Espur