Levy Plays Hard Ball
Sunday, 04 January 09, 08:54 PM · Comments (171)
Tottenham have sharpened their teeth for this window and are resembling more of the sharp operators that dazzled Ramos and less like the patsies who watched Berbatov vanish beneath a blanket.
The death threats to one side, Jermain Defoe is said to be giddy at the thought of returning to The Lane. Certain sectors of the ground were positively bristling on Friday night with the gossip that he was in his Exec Box (no idea of the young lady's name at this stage)Lemsip Max in hand.
Stewart Downing, if you believe Sky Sports News is also on a Spurs inspired Go Slow. The channel that understands more than your average agony aunt says a transfer request is threatened come tomorrow morning.
If the now fashionable chuntering and groans at Bentley's every touch are beginning to grate, then I suggest you have some earplugs on standby should Downing ever don the Lilywhite shirt.
Neither player makes my heart skip a beat. Defoe is a place we have been before. The key is wether Arry can provide him with the required class of service that will distinguish him from the ailing Bent and the slow to start but sumptious Pavlyuchenko. Maybe Arry thinks if Bentley and Downing are both firing crosses in Jermain has to ping one in eventually.
According to the Independent, 'The Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah will start training with Tottenham today with a view to signing for the club until the end of the season.' A DM folks!
The word is that Levy, despite Tottenham's shoddy league showing and abysmal return on August trades, he's still talking the talk and offering both Pompey and Boro buttons for their charges.
Pleased to hear it. But the bottom line is we need to be buying players who will make a real difference and get us out of this mess.
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171 Comments · Add yours
Interesting times indeed... Me thinks
I'll second that!
Reply to Longlivetheking26:
yes
my non-yid mates, who all know Downing is shite, assure me he'd be a good signing for us. Up top it looks like we could get 'Poldi' from Bayern for half the money that pompey want for JD....might be worth pursuing....he IS amazing after all...
saw a few players in the spanish football round up just now - abidal, toure, diarra, henry, iniesta, villa etc - I reckon with Levy's bargaining skills we could get the lot for 10 million with huntelaar thrown in as a bonus - or will it be lucas neill for 25 million?
The thought of us signing Defoe and Downing gives me a serious floppy
As we all know and Arry confirmed, most of the media transfer rumours stuff is total bollocks and the difficulty is recognising what's actually true.
What is certain is that Arry has a far better track record in the transfer market than those two numpties Dim and Dimmer (A K A Danny and the Dame).
I have faith in the man and I await his purchases with interest.
I'd see it as a fantastic window if we were to spend £30mil on Podolski, Downing and Upson. THAT is strengthening.
Yes
Throwing away 35+ million on two players like Pompey and Boro want us to do sounds like a great idea.
Reply to glenwasgod:
With Levy's bargaining skills ? You cannot be serious!
How come we lose the magnificent 3 strikers and end up with one ?
Reply to onedavemackay:
ODM - are you saying Bent is our only remaining magnificent striker?
None of the targets we've been linked with really tickle my goose.
We need two great strikers, like Berbatov and Keane who we should never have sold. And then replacements for Bentley and Jenas, possibly Arshavin to play alongside Pavlyuchenko who once fully adapts to the premiership, will be a top class striker. Defoe could cut it so if the deal's on the cards and there are no better alternatives in Europe, let's get him back and start to climb back up the table!
Of our interest in Downing...
"They BLEATED away when Dimitar Berbatov left for Manchester United in the summer - but they sold at top dollar."
That's funny, coming from Keith LAMB.
Reply to stoney:
Hey, Coloumbo! How did those links works out for you?
Let's hope Levy's MINT (sauce).
first off let me thank you on a great site!....2nd downing will be a class signing! pelt me with rocks if you want, but he offers quality in depth. and thats what we need!
The shame is there that there is no one of real ability available in the transfer window. Defoe would be a step backwards in my view, especially given the prices quoted. However I do concede he would score the goals to help us avoid relegation. This is a real danger and given the performances of late (notwithstanding a win against under-par Wigan) there is nothing to indicate we are moving forward... At least Bale was involved in a victory mind...
i think DEFEO will be a very good signing as we should have never let him go anyway..... i think sell BENT, GHALLY, ROCHA,EKOTTO and buy DEFEO,LEFT WING , CHEAP STRIKER AS A SUB AND A CHEAP DEFENDER TO COVER.... then we will see in the summer were we need to strenghten with good signings...... DRONTE WOULD BE GOOD AND CHEAP.. COME ON YOU SPURS and we trust you harry redknapp !!!.
Reply to onedavemackay:
Hardly Levy's fault IMO. There were other factors that saw the 3 of them take leave of WHL.
Berbatov made it clear or rather his agent did that he wanted to leave for Man U that claim was common knowledge for pretty much a whole season. Defoe went becuae he couldn't displace Keane or Berbatov. And Keane's head was turned by the fat waiter.
My critism of Levy is that he didn't sort Comoli into finding a suitable replacement for Berbatov sooner.
maybe he wont be that bad !!! if we can get him for about 10mil......
i dont think the goose tickling season is open yet. we need scary midfielder, injury free centre half(one that can pass would be a bonus), left winger(pref. left footed)and onion bag rattler.off the top of my head, barton.upson/distin.downing. defoe.
Defoe for twenty bars is insane, 8.5 is the right price. Harry of all people knows that. Downing at any price is insane.
maybe DRENTE from real for about 8 million ,defeo and acheap defender like hangelland from fulham !!!
Reply to GioDos:
I'm with you.
No mention of any DMs though.
the only diffrence between bently and downing is ones at spurs and ones not. they're both slow as shit and cross a decent ball every 5th attempt. no point buying downing at all but i would love to see defoe back always liked him as a player.
COYS
i think sell BENT, and get DEFEO,PODOLSKI, AND UPSON!!! also SELL GHALLY,
'arry is deliberately depleting the relegation candidates and augmenting us in the process.
The way I see it, he'll buy a player from most of the clubs likely to go down, including Boro, Spam, Barcodes, WBA and Blackburn, but he'll naturally draw the line at Scum.
Reply to robertsthruthewall:
You're right there. It seems inevitable we'll pay too much for Defoe, however much a fire sale is talked up and as for Downing...
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I did post you a reply later down the list. Just as I suspected. Credit to you for supplying your own rope.
Ok, news from the North.... once Downing puts in his transfer request and moves to Spurs, Aiden McGeady will be subject to a bid from Boro..
Forza
Why do people want Defoe back,
I do not understand it...
Time to move on.
why spend money on downing ?
is he really any better than bently, i dont think he will raise spurs above the situation we are hovering in. we need a 20 goal a season striker. if levy is to spend money, use it where its needed,not fine tuning at this stage of the season.
defoe would be welcome
pav . will get better next season
Why not give Giovani Dos Santos a go on the left when fully fit. Looked promising in pre season hasn't been given a chance. Also we lack creativity in the midfield and service to Bent has been shiite. Give the lad a chance!
Reply to lawdylawd :
agree we need a CD,CM,LW,ST but barton is the wrong type of scary.my pick-distin/nolan(i'm not his agent),downing,owen.
Look - Defoe is prolific. He's not a Berbatov but he does the job. And I for one would love to see him back. Not only a much needed striker but one who would LOOK FORWARD to coming back to us, someone who WANTS to play for Spurs.
I'd like to see GDS given more of a chance too.
Podoloski would be great but cant see it happening.
Also agree that Pav will come on leaps and bounds in time.
Trusting 'arry. Hope we're happy bunnies come Feb 2nd at 5pm!
Reply to Yid at Work:
THAT was my point.
My Great Aunt who died a hundred years ago knew Berba and PSB leaving in July so what does clever Dick Levy do? He gets a million or two more out of Man U but doesn't bother sorting out anyone else til about 11.15 pm on the last day. That is crap.
Reply to 9__37:
HA HA HA HA
I didn't realise he was a striker
Reply to onedavemackay:
Is he still considering a move to Villa? I heard John Carew was possibly saddling up and moving out.
Reply to stoney:
I really don't get your point. You posted saying what a git Ghaly was. You then asked me to link to when I had done the same.
I presumed your point was that I was a hypocrite. As I had 'just decided' to change my mind because of the booing the other night.
I reveal to you I actually thought Ghaly was worth a second chance only a few months after the event.
I don't want to spend the resty of my life on this, but what were you seeking to achieve and what is the 'rope' are you refering to?
I'm puzzled.
Reply to 9__37:
They are having problems placing Carew.
SSN understands, 'he's bigger than me or you'.
I'm referring to just that. One of your articles said ghaly should never play for spurs again. The 'rope' was a reference to you hanging yourself by digging up the old articles. Credit to you for doing that, but i take that credit back for you not standing by what you said.
You have to wonder. Defoe's return can be viewed in the light of the fact that he wasn't good enough to be picked in front of PSB and the sulky Bulgar. His ratio of chances provided to goals scored seemed to be about as good as PSB's is now. Bent scored the best part of a goal every other game for Charlton. Put him in the right spot with the ball and he'll score. I, personally, can only worry about a manager who thinks that Adel Taarabt is a "genius". I saw him play for the reserves against West Ham and he was so bad that his substitution was a blessing for one and all. On my way out of the ground, I was interested to see young Adel putting in good effort and a little skill in chatting up the receptionist. If only.......
As for Downing, maybe someone will show some sense and we'll dodge that bullet as we'll as not allowing Bellamy anywhere near the home dressing room.
Sorry, I dont see how Levy is to blame when he had a manager AND a DOF to do the transfer dealing. Levy only stepped in when he realised what a hash they were making of it. Screwing Man USA was the right thing to do IMO. The DOF should have been doing his job months before that.
Am I being unnecessarily pessimistic if I believe that manure will stop our dreams of league and FA cup glory?
Glad to see this site no longer resembles Croydon town centre's Wetherspoons at closing time on a friday night.
Good to see Harry hasn't lost his ability to rub 'em up the wrong way however.
Reply to stoney:
'not standing by what I said'
You mean I lost points for calming down and re-evaluating the situation and player's worth?
I stand by every word I pump out on this wall, but I reserve the right to engage my brain without fear of being labeled a hypocrite.
Apologies to you and any other readers that experienced any whiplash type sensations during that u-turn over two years ago.
I haven't examined my entire archive but feel confident that it may well be littered with other instances of duplicity.
Player ratings should prove a Gold Mine for you Stoney.
One week I'm there praising a player the next I'm wise cracking the same guy should be deported.
Perhaps you could comprise a comprehensive list of such instances and I'll change my name to Harry Fraudster.
i don't want to sound like i'm in downings fan club because i'm not....and i wouldn't want levy paying more than £12million for him...and i understand that is alot.....
he is not fast,granted...but he can put a ball in,he is left footed,he plays out on the left,he doesn't need time to adjust to the english game,he played for england in berlin so good enough for capello.......and we
could really do with a left sided player...i mean really do.....
so before you just say but downing is shit....have a better option to show me....as i'm open to anyone who can play out on the left for us....and interested in who you have lined up.....
yours desperately seeking a leftsided option for tottenham hotspur....
Reply to Yid at work:
Surely Levy is to blame for bringing in a shite director of football and watching him slowly dismantle all martin jol's good work?
Reply to Yid at work:
You are right, but it's the months of the DOF making a fist of it when Levy ought to have been on top of things.
I'm pro Levy, but his trust in The Dame and consequent lattitude he afforded her was pretty misplaced.
Reply to KOJAC:
This is one of the best left wingers I know but I'm not sure if he's available or actually that fast.
LINK
Reply to KOJAC:
You beat me to the punch Kojac.
None of our targets this window are very exciting but they do fulfill the criteria for the situation we find ourselves in and most importantly are within the realm of possibility.
We need players for the waffa cup.
For too long we have agonised over someone better than Downing for the left and shot ourselves in the foot by having no-one at all. Get him in, regain some balance and upgrade later.
We cannot really risk a player who will need half a season to adjust so Premier League players it is.
It's not flash.... just necessary. We supporters need to grin and bare it.
Just to let people know that according to the currant bun, Shimbomba is coming back on loan. And the Independent are certain that Mr Stephen Appiah is at Spurs from today forth trying to earn a contract.
LINK see the bottom of this article.
I wouldnt mind Shimbomba back to cover but Appiah would be a very good move in my eyes.
Reply to 9__37:
Please please please say it's true Martin O'Neil.
Harry,
I'm begining to lose confidence in the boy Levy myself. Some of his recent decisions have been nothing short of catastrophic. His job - as with say a film producer - is to creat a masterpiece or at least a solid piece of work by bringing together the right mix of high quality talent. He's failed. Even jol got the job by default.
Harry seems to me like a make-do and we're back to approaching nearly players if the rumours are correct.
Here's to a couple of big january surprises.
Reply to Cheesy Whatsits:
i'm not sure he could do the job...but his books look interesting...
Reply to Jason Bartley:
A DM!
Reply to Yid at work:
Screwing Man U is good.
Screwing Man U and fucking things up for us is bad.
If Levy had been clever, he would have replaced Berba as soon as he knew he was going. If by playing hard ball with Rudolph we get relegated it won't be worth the extra 5 million, will it ?
If you don't think Levy is heavily involved in transfers you are in a small minority and if you don't think Levy is responsible the current fiasco which is a direct result of 4 managers in 5 years who do you blame ?
Reply to Zok's jock strap:
true zok....ashley young,joe cole would be good widemen....but we can't get them two...i think we can take a chance on a couple of outsiders....but in jan we really need a couple of players who know the english game....for me downing is worth a gamble...people might be surprised....and he is probably faster than we think....
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I'm certainly no fan of the DOF role and certainly not Comoli. However, IF I understand the role right he and the manager work hand in hand so to speak. Manager tells the DOF the player he wants DOF goes And gets said player. Do we have it on any authority that Jol had nothing to do with any of the players coming into the club ? A number of players with the DOF finger print on them are starting to show signs of being great Spurs players. Who's going to take the credit for that ? Comoli/Jol/Redknap. All 3 or just 1
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I'm not sure I always understand what Harry thinks he said just as I'm not always sure he understands whether I understand what he thinks he might not have said. Sometimes, we all understand what Harry understood by what he said but at other times we're unsure whether we understand correctly or as usual he's talking out his bottom like the rest of us.
Reply to Jason Bartley:
Does 'Arry know about Shimbomba's antics in the CC final?
Another can of worms.
Reply to Yid At Work:
Never forget that over the last 3 seasons we have been one of the biggest spending clubs in the world.
Do you think we have had value for money overall ?
And don't you think when a team that has scored over 100 goals 2 seasons running stops scoring goals after losing it's 3 leading goalscorers that the DOF might take some responsibility for that ?
Reply to TMWNN:
yes bring him back....we can all have a right go at chimbonda....
Reply to onedavemackay:
amen to that ODM.....
'kin Man U away in the next round, looks like we have a chance to stick it to Berba and lets hope we well and truly take it. Buy someone not cup-tied too!!
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I know you are pro Levy but even the biggest Levy fan has to admit he has steered us from one fiasco to another .The guy may mean well but he is not fit to lead our club any longer,he has proved he is just not up to the job .
Reply to onedavemackay:
You'll have to speak up, I'm wearing a towel.
HH - I have this funny feeling you're still up with smoke coming out of your ears after hearing the Chimbo rumour. I'll be looking forward to another fun topic in the morning.
My only worry about Defoe is that, after his 'left-on-the-bench' hissyfit, he's going to expect to be first name down on the team sheet. Add to that the Defoe is a Yiddo explosion that'd hit WHL and you'll have someone who feels that their feet are so far under the table you'd need to ask the neighbours to put his slippers on.
This could completely jigger any chance of competition on the forward line for quite a while and stop other forward players coming to Spurs at the next window.
If you go Defoe it has to be long-term serious girlfriend/marriage and I'm not sure I rate him enough for that.
Reply to daytripper:
I am actually waiting outside my GP's as I predict a rush on Weapons Grade Prozac...
Reply to Astromesmo:
Well said.
The JD Show will require lasers, go go dancers and a large bowl of M&M's with the brown ones taken out.
Reply to Nick_The_Greek:
Nick... please mate, Levy is awesome, the good far outweighs the minor negatives. One does not an omelette make without breaking a few free range eggs!!!
Reply to Nick_The_Greek:
This will sound like a cop-out, but I always wonder/argue who we might replace him with...
There are clubs going down the toilet left right and centre.
transfer nerdseye view of the team according to the official site....
based on king,hutton...being out longtime..and what i think harry might do...
1st 11
----------gomes----------
????? corluka woodgate BAE
lennon zokora modric ?????
----pavlyuchenko bent-----
2nd 11
--------alnwick--------
gunter dawson rocha bale
bentley jenas ohara ?????
---dos santos obika-----
cesar huddlestone ghaly KPB taarabt
king bonus
hutton fucked
campbell send back to man utd
gilberto finished.....?
harry might go for a right back,left midfield and a centre forward aswell as the obligatory defensive midfielder....coys
Reply to onedavemackay:
I am not for one minute disagreeing with you. The DOF role was a mistake, but, as I said. The DOF gets his mandate from the manager. The club losing their 3 strikers wasn't the fault of the DOF The club hirarchy have to take responsibility for that.
All the managers we've had ! Well the supporters have to take a fair share of the blame there. Jol wasn't doing such a bad job but look how the fans got on his back when results took a downturn. I dont know whether HR is the ans. He has to be given time by the fans and the chairman to make the club /team great again. As for Levey... Who would you want in his place ?
I genuinly believe Daniel Levy has the clubs best interests at heart. Yes he's a business man but he's also a Spurs fan. I dont see Levy as the same as other PL chairman.. Ashley is looking to make a £ or two at the Toon, the rich Ukranian at Chelsky .. that's just a toy till he gets bored... Levy as I said has the club in his heart. Replace him with who ?
The best thing for us would be a Podolski signing,Weve all see what this guy can do when playing,Harry would guide Poldi right into form in no time,+ it's obvious Pav & Poldi would be great together up forward..
Just pause for a second & think of what could be if PAV & POLDI play like they did at the EUROS & MODRIC in midfield with his EURO form & CORLUKA defending with his EURO form,our beloved Tottenham would be a FORCE to be reckoned with & would recover from this slump in no time..
Mail reporting this morning that we have agreed a 15m deal for defoe in time for tomorrow!?! I would of thought he would be cup tied?
Reply to chingfordyid99:
I think you'll find Defoe was an unused substitute in Pompeys 4-0 exit to Chelsea?!?
He is available for both cup competitions domestically but not the waffa cup.
Any more news anyone on Appiah? I really want that transfer to be true!
Reply to HarryHotspur:
I would like to see a Chairman with a pair of large bollocks ,rather than one with a bum that goes all the way round .When Berbatov was under the blanket in Manchester he was contracted to Spurs and Levy signed the forms for him to move no one else .
the most interesting bit of this post is the Stephen Appiah bit. Presumably he would play the Carrick role and give strength to our back four and power in the middle. This is what we need. Not Defoe. Not Downing - but some brass balls in the middle where we are talented .... but weak
Reply to sid trotter:
The link said that he's training with us today.
I've a good mind take a drive over there just so I can refresh my memory of what a proper DM looks like.
If he does sign and we're able to play 4-4-2 with him and Modric in the centre, who will be left on the bench?
Reply to HarryHotspur:
Former City chairmen - Frank Sinatra or Franny Lee
Mike Ashley or the previous toon bloke Shepard
The Icelandic bloke who owns the spammers
Niall Quinn
Mo Al-Fayed
The Gold Brothers
Any of the yanks at three of the big four (all of whom owe millions of pounds and apart from Man U have stopped spending serious money on players for a couple of years)
Have I forgot someone oh what about Irving Scholar or Sir Alan Michael Sugerman
We need to be careful what we wish for
Reply to Yid at work:
If the management were ruled by the supporters we'd be in real trouble.
Jol's results only seriously dipped after the early season nonsense involving Ramos and even then most fans supported him.
I am not advocating Levy should go, he hasn't done a bad job and there are a lot worse out there but there have been some serious mistakes over the last few years that were avoidable. Prime example was Ramos. If Levy wanted to replace Jol it should have been done in the summer instead of October when it created an utter shambles. This summer's business with Berbatov etc gave Ramos no proper pre-season and that is a big disruption for a manager.
Finally, we should all remember that Levy and Co want to sell and that's not some unfounded rumour but an opinion expressed by Steve Perryman and others.
Reply to TMWNN:
TMWNN, surely with a DM in the its 4-5-1???
RB CH CH LB
DM
RW CM CM LW
Striker
?
How about this
Appiah - Free so worth a punt until end of season (bit injury prone which is a worry) but worth a risk and is not cup tied, gives us another body etc
Mcgeady - Is he any good? - LOTW? A lot of rumours that Boro would look to sign him to replace Downing, why not buy him as he's fallen out with Strachen and so would cost less than Downing (he must be quicker and I remember him running AC Milan ragged a while back?) or what about N'zogbia? Not seen that much of him but rumours are he's on his way, always looks reasonable when I've seen him and has a bit of pace or Drenthe from Real if they don't want him?
Podolski (or Bellamy) whichever City don't go for, Defoe = not good enough, look at his goal record didn't he score less than 10 league goals for us in about 30 games (albeit a lot where off the bench) At least Podolski has real ability, has something to prove, isn't more interested in his 'Bling' than goals (JD) or Bellamy who is a bit injury prone but would create chances for the team via his workrate and pace and he's an 'orrible', nasty piece of work which is something we lack
Barring any of these a nice rabbitt out of hat trick by Arry would be nice - some unheard of Peruvian or Bolivian who turns out to be mustard!
Reply to perryman:
No - rubbish reasoning, we'd become another Wet Spam or Charlton (or worse - Leeds) and would never be taken seriously by anyone with any ability. Name me a club who's gone down in the last 20 years and is now a regular contender for trophies?
Reply to onedavemackay:
I think they realise that selling in the current climate is not going to happen, that ship has sailed and unless they are desperate (fire sale stuff) its not happening in the immediate future
Reply to toddspur:
You have to go and spoil my morning.
Your formation leaves room for Jenas.
Although it would allow JJ to be more attack minded and not have to worry so much about defending. At the moment he's trying to do too much and just ends up giving it the Benny Hill.
In the 1 up top formation, you'd need someone who can head the ball, not a midget.
If we were in a comfortable position in the league I love to see Podolski, however, we're not therefore I think it could be a risk. We need proven players, when he plays, Defoe scores goals.
p.s To completely contradict my point on proven players, I would love to see Appiah.
Reply to Touch of a Vega:
Defoe is proven at getting caught offside, his goal record is average at best and at international level its terrible.
Reply to Ginge1:
I wont hear a bad word said about Sir Alan Sugar .Have a look at Villa and their Yankee chairman ,he could tell Liverpool where to go .Levy sold a 50 goal partnership,he could not hold his own piss .It was Levy who appointed two non English speaking managers ,he has now landed us with a non English speaking English manager .
Reply to Nick_The_Greek:
One, and we will wait and see what happens there as Villa have won nothing for donkeys years.
We shall see, if they finish fifth this year are the likes of Barry & Young going to have their heads turned? Laursen is their rock at the back, he's no spring chicken and has a bad injury record. What happens if his knees go? It is easy to get so far, if your good but don't quite make the CL then your players want to leave. We lost Carrick, Keane & Berba + King's knee went. (Carrick & Berba had to go due to contract expiry worries etc - could have been handled better but would we be any better off? who knows
You take Barry, Gaby, Young & Laursen out of their team and how good would the chairman look? Fair enough they'd get decent money for them but its not easy to replace quality as we've found out no matter how much money they've got.
Reply to Ginge1:
Its got to a point where I honestly don't care about international goal scoring records and to be fair its abit of a irrelevant comment. I just want players who can score in the prem (is that fair?) and who want to play for us. Defoe fits that mould.
Hey guys why does the signing of Defoe not excite you. he is a proven premiership goal scorer that would play for the badge. He has a great first touch and a good shot so lets not be silly and say its a backwards step. If he didn't have a year left on his contract we would not have sold him anyway.
So sing it jermain defoe hes a yiddo jermain defoe hes a yiddo.
As for the left wing give either Gio or adel tarrabet a go. Both players are real exciting going forward.
I would have Defoe back. Even though I fully remember his lack of understanding of the offside rule, his sulky petulent tendancies and his missed chance 3-1 against Chavski in the cup.
He will be the same player we sold, nothing more, he will not be the new messiah.
Its not a mark of how good defoe is, more how bad we now are that he is our best hope.
Though a fully fit over his injuries Appiah would be a beast in our midfield.
And i dont think Downing is all that bad. just he is not £12m good. Like a Bentley on the left but with better delivery. 8m tops.
Reply to Touch of a Vega:
My point is he doesn't score that many in the prem, he was great for us for 6 months, got a new contract and was shit. End of.
We seem to remember all the early stuff but his record was worse than 1 in 3 after the transfer window when we bought him he scored an amazing 6 goals the rest of that season!
In terms of who he scored against I can't remember but I do remember us not beating any of the top sides so its a fair bet he didn't score against anyone half decent. He does have a better record in the cup's, I would hazzard a guess that this is because he's really good against lower league sides. As such if you think we're going down he'd be the man to sign, we want to stay up and so I'm not convinced
At international level he's playing with better players and he doesn't cut it. He scored against Andorra, Poland, T&T and the Khazak's. You may say this is irrelevant however it tells me he's not very good.
For all you Defoe lovers out there what does he offer?
Please bear in mind he is not a great finisher or else his goal record would be better (especially at international level where he's had countless chances) Why do people say this? He smashes the ball as hard as he can every time he sees the goal, not the work of a great finisher more the work of a sunday league player. He never out paced anyone while at Spurs (probably why he gets caught offside all the time), never wins a header, can't hold the ball up!
Answers on a postcard to
Ginge1
Wake up & smell the coffee House
Open your eyes Lane
Over-Rated
London
Reply to Ginge1:
Juventus.
Reply to park lane yid:
But neither can defend
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I should have caveated in England.
Juve doesn't count as they got relegated not cos they were shit but because they cheated, they still had decent players who statyed with them, came straight back up (cos they had decent Serie A players) and did ok again, although not sure they've won anything since?
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I agree with you on this, but the way things are looking we could end up paying a fortune for an average player (Darren Bent anyone?) I know we're in the shit but would rather spend £8m on Podolski or Bellamy than £15m on Defoe at least the other two offer more than an offside threat.
Saying all that I'd rather we bought Defoe than have a last minute panic and sign someone like Rasiak or even worse ANDY BOOTH! (cue shivers down my spine!)
Chimbonda?
Sorry did I actually read that Chimbonda the 'i want to play for Arsenal' merchant may be returning on loan?
20 years ago Chelsea were in the 2nd Division.
Reply to Ginge1:
Not sure I would consider Bellamy class and defoe average.
Podolski whilst being a 'big name' has been pretty average in German league football. But at the price 9m i agree it may be worth a punt.
Reply to elfranklins:
chimbonda, defoe, ghaly
its the good ole days back again.
Mido in for Bent?
looks like we all better get used to the idea of the left footed bentley rocking up at our doorstep.
transfer request is in.
The pessimists have it. Not the Levy Out pessimists, the non-mental ones.
Out with conversations peppered with prospects like Arshavin and Veloso, to be replaced with...the names of players we used to own. Madness. A more public sentiment of "we're just making it up as we go along" we couldn't hope to make.
The quality of players link are conspicuous by their averageness and impotence.
Podolski - why can't he get a game at Bayern? Because he's rubbish against defences that don't let you play open football, in the almost verbatim words of his own manager. Stick him in a premiership team who wouldn't have the slightest idea of how to unlock a defence if you gave them a key and guided their collective hands to the lock, and it's the ides of march to £10m.
Which brings us to Defoe. Neither prolific or outstanding. Quite good. Stop saying "but he's a yiddo", like it's some kind of superpower. So is Dave Kitson.
We find ourselves in the unenviable position of needing to attract fighting, immediate return talent who may not consistently get on their team sheets like Tevez, Alex, Ivanovic, Mikel or even Michael Johnson when what we currently deserve is actually a packet of scampi and lemon Nik-Naks with a Mar 08 enjoy by date.
Appiah is a step in the right direction. That's about it so far.
genius idea.
Lets sign Dave Kitson!
Podolski is actually Polish. Consider we will shortly start erecting a new stadium - a bonus surely?
What is going on with Downing?
This must be the 5th transfer window in a row that we have been linked with him.
3 different managers in that time, a DOF (who could have been the driving force behind it up till this window) someone at Tottenham has the hots for him thats for sure!
Maybe his agent has a contact at the club?
Personnally, I think Stuart Downing is rubbish, but Harry obviously sees something in him I don't, so I will support him all the time if and when he plays for Spurs. (until he throws the shirt on the floor of course!)
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Well apparently Spurs never learn.. We already have two flops by name of Bent and Bentley and soon there will be another name written on our list of mega flops... Stewart Downing!!
Reply to TMWNN:
sorry to bring BH back into the reckoning.....i just think 442 means appiah would leave a great big hole between BH running off on one and him sitting too deep. At least with 451 or even 4-1-4-1 there is balance
BTW; Modric and Thudd would be my two CMs in front of Appiah, dream scenario as long as Appiahs knee is up to it
yours, Ron Manager
Reply to jolsgonemental:
I wouldn't say Bellamy is class either, however he offers a lot more than Defoe. He's a nasty little f*cker, won't roll over and die or let his head drop and sulk all game unlike other we have.
He's got real pace and will harry defenders all day giving us a proper first line of defence.
Podolski is a bit of an unknown, certainly in our league. He's not really done it at Bayern although a lot of that was down to a fall out with the coach. He's still rated by the national team and made team of the tournament at the world cup (can't ever see Defoe doing that). He also has played wide left, which gives us options.
Finally I'm a great believer in never going back, we've had Defoe, he couldn't get a game and left.
Reply to park lane yid:
i'd like Defoe to be a spur again but i fear the follwing;
1. Too many F*ckin offsides
2. Too many selfish moments in front of goal
3. His attitude when not picked week in, week out....he plays every week at Pompey I believe
If he can sort the above out then I will take him over Podolski, if not then not very excited at all tbh.
We talk about players we need and players we don't need and so on and so on, but I think the key is in what HR said, we need competition for places, and if I am correct, I believe JW said the same thing. So, even if Bellamy, Defoe, Downing and so on are not exactly what you are looking for, it still helps the team. Direct competition for a spot in the starting XI. We all like certain players and want certain things, but the bigger picture is that we need to sign people to put direct competition on the starters. I see it as this, sign two strikers,
be it defoe, bellamy, or podo, or a no name or longshot (santa cruz), and you have competition for pav and bent, sorry FC you're going back to manure. downing on the left or someone else to give hair gel a wake up with lennon being the sh*zn*t this year. so competition on both sides with lennon, bently, GDS, new left side player. and finally appiah or a RB, to help with competition of corluka in a DCM? lastly, we need a CB for cover, that is a given, so not much competition, just cover. so let's welcome anyone that our manager welcomes to bring in because he feels that are fit for his squad. we all know who we like and whomever HR brings in I will like. If you want whomever you want to play for us make sure you make your team on FIFA '09.
Reply to munso:
5th transfer window, more like the 13th!
Just looked at articles about Downing on Skysports, Spurs had an offer turned down in July 2005 and were 'linked' with him as far back as Dec 2003!
Reply to jolsgonemental:
JGM, the voice of reason and common sense
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Its a bonus, stop calling me Surely.
Now we're cooking - so he can play upfront, on the left and help build the stadium. With this sort of flexibility he's a must have? What is Dave Kitson like up a ladder, he does remind me of a former Hod carrying footballer with his ability... oh and he's ginger, you can never have too many gingers in your team!
Reply to jolsgonemental:
It's this horrible feeling that an aire of desperation is driving us to shore up our defences with the left overs of transfere windows past.
We appear to be undoing the carnage caused by Comical 'Comoli', and it's gonna cost us twice as much to boot!
Lets just hope we can survive this season (which I am sure we will) and that Levy swallows the news that this summer he will need to break his mantra of wage caps and spending limits!
undoing the damage to get us almost back to where we were before, which was even then 'not quite good enough'.
Why are we going to buy DowningLINK
Reply to ToniMontana:
Downing no
Reply to jolsgonemental:
LINK
I hope this article is true
Please not Defoe again. He's only a 5 million squad player and was very average when at the lane before.
G'day Spurs. If anyone saw the recent video of Arry being interviewed about his potential transfers, Arry was fielding away questions on who he's after. As well as the overpricing of players, and mentioned during that interview, that even if the interviewer guessed one of his targets correctly he still wouldn't confirm if it was true. Levy at al have been putting out smoke screens ever since Levy took over (the main reason he fell out with Graham Roberts who tended to not play that game). So in essence its all guess work.
I quite liked 75. KOJAC's analysis. Though Arry does seem fixed on Bently on the left mid, Gio can also play there, as can Adel. Leaving cover for RB, a DM & a striker.
Ginge1 nice to see you're on form today
OK back in Barcelona & lots to do.
Yid Out
The aforementioned interview:
LINK
i have never been so disillusioned as a spurs supporter.
It began witht he summers with levy ballsing up the transfers, then the sacking of ramos and then the appointment of del boy as our manager, and probably the weakest and most uninspiring spurs team for ages.
Now we are buying back defoe, never much good in the first place, downing, hot and cold player, all pretty awful and uninspiring and none will make a difference really.
Get the arabs in, its time for a billion dollar sheikh up
Reply to True Spur:
OK reality check for you Sir;
Who says we are buying back JD? Its pure supposition!
Who says we are buying Downing? Do you believe the rags? If so you deserve disillusion
Billion dollar sheikh up? What happens when they tire of their toy? Are we a toy or are we Tottenham? Levy rules!!!
Now, i've really got to go shopping!
Ok, so Defoe is a place we have been before. Not a bad place if you ask me. Considering he played 2nd fiddle to Keane and Berbatov for quite a while, his goal scoring record was still pretty good. He is quick, skillful, not afraid to run at players and scores goals. We should remember that we are in a relegation battle this season, so we are not the hottest ofprospect for the worlds best players. We should be pleased that Defoe wants to come back at all. Maybe if we can get some players in January that can hit the ground running, we might push up the table a bit and finish in a half decent position. Why buy players that will take 6 months to adjust? We risk unsettling the team even more and a nervous end to the season. If we finish in the top 10, then maybe the Summer is a better time to concentrate on getting some really high calibre players.
I cant believe tickets are still available for tomorrow night!
LINK
Ideal time for non-season ticket holders like myself to get up there!
Reply to munso:
yep. and some mental thinks we need a 60,000 seat stadium.
Some of you lot on here really need to check into Hotel reality....
WE are at the foot of the table scrapping for our lives and people slag a proven goal scorer/ decoy for Pav in Defoe and a natural left winger in downing.
It's January, do you really think we are going to get some of these pie in the sky players that are being bandied about to fill spaces in the red tops.....
This player is only worth this and I would not pay that......well, I got news for you.
It's not your money and who gives a flying fcuk if we pay a little over the odds for a player that will add depth and get us out of this sh*t the previous management structure has gotten us into..
Just because I pay for my food in Tesco every week don’t mean I can tell them how to run their business.
Now get your head out of your arses and get back to playing your fantasy football manager game tonight.....Muppets
Reply to Dunley:
Some of the insults were a tad strong...but you spoke a lot of sense in that last comment.
Downing is no world beater, but he gives us balance and natural width, and decent service. Defoe knows where the goal is. Can't see much wrong with having these two.
Guys, my carrot crunching days are nearly over and was wondering whether there was any possibility of me gracing the white shirt for a couple of seasons. You know I couldn't defend or score but I am a ginge
what d'you think. If the say is yes, I'll stick a transfer request in today. As for my contract - 2 years, and all the spuds I can eat
Reply to Gary Doherty 4 ever:
Done, to have the Ginger Pele back would make us all smile. This would then leave us only needing someone left footed, bags of tricks, step overs, drag backs, someone worls class........... come back Mr T Atouba!!!!!!!!!
Reply to Gary Doherty 4 ever:
Always rated you Pele, it was when the intelligentsia boo boys didnt realise you had lost a yard of pace after breaking your leg for the cause, that you lost it, a lot of your teammates lost it too, as they didnt know if they would be booed next. Hand it in Pele, hand it in.
Reply to toddspur:
that about sums up my feelings on Defoe.. particularly his selfishness..
too many times we've seen him shoot selfishly when there was a better option on...
but at the moment i say bring him back due to Darren Bent being shit..
i guess i'm still clinging to memories of his goals such as that against Arsenal in the 4-5 game..
Reply to jazz15c:
Tad strong maybe, but far to many fans think they know it all and think they have the right to boo individuals from the terraces.....
Maybe it's the old green eyed monster and they wished they were on 40 grand a week and not working in a factory or wherever.
I remember a time where we used to sing the players names and got behind our beloved team.
Now everyone seems to just get on the players backs and sing unimaginative Arse*al B*llocks.....
In my humble opinion we need balance in the side and sometimes with the right manager a team will become more than the sum of its parts...
Reply to Ginge1:
I saw Justin Edingburgh in a boozer in Billicay not so long ago, I don't think he is doing much at the moment and would probably get him back for the price of a Mars Bar...
Reply to Bimmi:
Come on Bimmi, Bent is a much better all round striker than JD.
Another master stroke from the Daniele Levy school of good house keeping .Sell a young squad striker for £ 9 million in January 2008 and then buy back the very same player a year later for £ 15 million .Is it just me or does anyone else think the Lunatics are in charge of the Asylum .
Reply to DoubleVision:
what?
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Hmmm JGM... you know it makes you blind... Bent is a much better all round striker than JD.
defoe deal done for 15 mill
Reply to Dunley:
you have no right to talk sense round here . your a stranger to these parts aint ya
go away
why is it we only ever talk about football on here. its getting me down
Reply to happyhamster:
source?
Reply to DoubleVision:
So, what did you buy, DV? Where's our Defensive Midfielder? Do you know a secret nook in Las Ramblas where they're sold?
Reply to summerspur:
I may be a stranger, but should'nt you be in hibernation!
Reply to DoubleVision:
what? are you on crack?
bent can run fast, he brings very little else to the table. he is the forrest gump of strikers.
Defoe is flawed in many ways but at least he has basic ball control ability.
JOHNSON NOT DOWNING!!!!
Reply to jace:
I don't care who's Johnson's going downing on - just tell us the facts
Reply to jolsgonemental:
if JD is to come back we should insist he has his jabs. we dont need him running round biting everyone. he could spread that nasty pavo virus, a condition that causes sporadic moments of brilliance all to frequently punctuated by rodney trotteresque footballer type behaviour.
Reply to DoubleVision:
made-e-uppy.com
Reply to jolsgonemental:
But is a foot shorter and ten yards slower (I think I'd beat Defoe in a foot race and I'm a fat fucker), they are both cut from the same cloth, good on their day only their day tends to be 29th Feb!
Reply to munso:
I wont stand for him fucking Hamsters & then pretending they're happy! So we can ignore everything Peter fucking hamster says then.
Maybe he's a liberated hamster.
LINK
anyone who rates Bent above Defoe is just undermining anything they say on here..
DV.. you're being absolutely ridiculous..
Reply to Bimmi:
Disagree. Defoe is probably the better footballer, but i'd take Bents chances to goals ratio over Defoe's. Bent has hardly had a kick this season, and the system we're playing isn't to his strengths.
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Bent has scored some sublime goals this season. He is the sort of striker that looks a tad clumsy, but that also serves to put of defenders. Bent has more talent than JD. Dazza is a top class striker, JD is above average. We can make Dazza even more lethal, if we want too, by supporting him fully...
Whilst i'm on that subject, lets support our players! We are supporters after all, when our boys are playing our role is to simply support them with all we've got, not aim personal angst at our own players, how unproductive.
Reply to Bimmi:
You cant argue your point so you call me ridiculous... ouch, the death of DV. JD is 1 trick, just above average, nothing special, not a 20 PL goal man. Bent is a 20 PL goal man & has done it!!!! Just cos he hasnt had supply doesnt mean its not in him. Insult me again please, i love it!
Reply to DoubleVision:
cuntface
Reply to jolsgonemental:
X Love you too
Reply to DoubleVision:
Sorry not to insult you DV but the plain facts are :
1. JD is a class act who scores goals at any level for any team.
2. Bent is a one footed one dimensional striker. He is poor in the air and has a poor first touch.
3. I cannot remember any sublime goals this season but I can remember a number of miss hits that went in.
Correct me if Im wrong but we can not have Shimbonda back he has only been gone 6 months.
Defoe will be good but no more than 15 mil.
Downing is not amazing but he is one of the best left footed wingers in the prem.
I think Nicky Shorey from villa for 3 mil or loan plus Tal Ben-Haim 3 mil or loan.
I know Im being greedy but would still love to the Smoothbum at the lane and that would piss off gooner fans.
Reply to cartel_only:
what size rocks would you prefer
Reply to jolsgonemental:
Have you been reading Red Dragon again?
Reply to Nunchucks:
My thoughts entirely.
Just wanted to say happy new year cunts.
What is it like 5057 for you or something like that. Just kidding. Don't be mad just thank me for a the good weapons we are supplying you and we will call it even.