In 48 hours time we will have a much clearer idea of how
Spurs will be able to operate in the transfer market this summer. The outcome
of Chelsea v Bayern will not only decide if we have Champions League football
to offer potential new signings next season, but subsequently if there is the
extra television revenue to splash out on both transfer fees and wages. But
before we are brought crashing back down to earth by an inexplicable winner
from David Luiz in the 93rd minute, I shall suspend reality for five
minutes and share with you my vision for improving our squad this summer.
Steven Fletcher
To my completely untrained eye it seems
that this will be the summer Jermain Defoe leaves Spurs for the second time. He’s
been making those noises again about lack of playing time and even gave himself
a Demolition Man dye-job to get noticed
by other managers. He should have 2 games at the start of the Euro’s to push
himself further to the front of the shop window, undoubtedly in some sort of
throwback Little ‘n’ Large partnership with Carroll, and ultimately who can
blame him? 17 goals this season despite being a benchwarmer for most of it
points to the fact that Defoe deserves to be starting regularly, just not for
Tottenham Hotspur. He’s improved his all-round game but I’ve never been a huge
lover of Defoe and I don’t think he would be a huge loss, especially if
Redknapp persisted in throwing him on anytime we need a goal despite us
dominating the midfield (see FA cup semi-final against Chelsea).
However, if Defoe is to leave, and hopefully Saha to
boot, then it leaves us a little light on attacking options even if we do
secure Adebayor. The relegated teams are always a solid choice to look for
back-up players at cut-down prices, with their downtrodden stars at least
having that fabled ‘premier league experience’ which seems to make bugger all
difference. But Fletcher seems like a good shout to me, he scored 12 league
goals this season in a team which only managed a total of 40 and with very
little in the way of service, in fact I would go as far to say that he could
match Defoe in terms of goals if he took a similar role within our team. Unlike
Defoe however I would think Fletcher would be happy to wait for his opportunity
from the bench at Spurs, now undeniably a ‘big club’. His wage demands wouldn’t
cause Levy’s ulcer to flare up and seeing as Craig Levein has ostracised him
from the national side for the foreseeable future, Fletcher doesn’t even have
to worry about being overlooked for Scotland due to not starting enough games.
So long Jermain, welcome aboard Steven.
Junior Hoilett
You don’t have to be a tactical expert like me to notice
that as soon as Aaron Lennon got injured, and Redknapp started to force players
into unnatural positions, Spurs’ form dipped dramatically. Van der Vaart and
Modric are simply not as effective when played on the wings and also neither
provide adequate cover for the full-backs when we are defending, an area which
Lennon has improved on dramatically in recent seasons. This problem would be
solved if we had a back-up winger who was talented and trusted. There was an
attempt to sign Krasic in January which apparently fell through due to the
player, but I think we need to press on with bringing in younger talent and
there were very few youngsters who caught the eye as much as Hoilett this
season. Able to play on either wing, Hoilett would even allow Bale to drop back
if the worst was to happen and BAE picked up an injury. While I noticed a tendency
to go missing in a few of Blackburn’s matches, he possesses great pace, power,
the ability to do this
and potentially available on a free in a month. Must be worth a punt.
Jan Vertonghen
Younes Kaboul has been much maligned
during his two spells at Spurs, mainly by me. But I have enjoyed eating my
humble pie this season as Kaboul has grown into an absolute beast of a
centre-back, often unbeatable in the air. It is now clear that we are looking
for a partner for Younes. Step forward Jan Vertonghen. The Dutch Footballer of
the Year winner is as calm and assured as they come. Able to cover multiple
positions on the pitch and just as likely to be found joining in with attacks
as he is stopping the opposition, Vertonghen really is the epitome of the
modern defender. Not only that but as Ajax captain at just 25 it is clear that
he is a leader, which is what we desperately need in defence. Both Kaboul and
Dawson look so much more comfortable when playing next to Ledley King and that
is due to his ability to organise and lead a back four. Ledley might have
another season in him but it’s time for new blood and with Vertonghen added to
Kaboul, Walker and BAE, Spurs might finally have a back four worth shouting
about.
Steven Caulker
“Hey you bloody idiot” I hear your cry “Caulker IS our
player!”
Yes I know that, I...
“He was just on loan at Swansea you muppet!”
Bit harsh, if you would just let me expl...
“I bet your mother doesn’t love you, you cretin!”
Enough now.
My point, if you will allow me to make it, is this:
Getting Steven Caulker back will be just like signing a new player, accepted
this is an awful cliché, but only if he is utilised correctly. Nobody can deny
how impressive Caulker has been in a Swansea backline which has looked very
sturdy during its first Premier League outing. So impressive in fact that I
would argue Caulker should be our 3rd choice centre-back if we sign
Vertonghen and if not then he should start the season partnering Kaboul.
Redknapp has been busy mumbling into his eight chins about how Caulker might
need more time out on loan if he’s not going to push for first team at the
Lane. But he should be pushing for first team; he must be trusted as he has
spent all this season proving his ability to handle the Premier League. Truth
be told we have no idea how Dawson will be after his long lay-off and King
should be used far more sparingly next season. It’s no surprise that Ledley had
some of his extremely rare bad games late on this season; you simply cannot
expect a player not to train and still play more than two consecutive
matches. In the words of Michael Hughes
(@InOurHO) King should be rolled out ‘like a classic car on the odd Sunday’.
Gallas can go but we still need five centre-backs and Caulker should be above
King and Dawson in the pecking order.
In a similar vein I am looking forward to the return of
Tom Huddlestone next season, hugely underrated in my opinion. Too many times
this season Spurs have played with one or two destructive holding midfielders
against teams who offered no threat going forward and were happy to sit back
and soak up pressure. Having Huddlestone in there instead would still provide
limited defensive cover but he also has s superb range of passing and thus the
ability to create attacks from deep within our own half. Viva Thuddz.
Anders Lindegaard
There is no doubt that Brad Friedel has
proved to be a superb bit of business for Spurs this season. Commanding and
composed, he has seen it all before. But despite his impressive run of
consecutive games the time will come soon enough when he can no longer perform
at the top level and currently we have nobody ready to take his place. Over at
Old Trafford, the llama-faced donut thief that is David De Gea has
unfortunately settled in quite nicely and looks like he will make the number
one jersey his for the foreseeable future. Which begs the question, Is Anders
Lindegaard happy to play second fiddle during his peak years and rely on
injuries or dramatic loss in form to get his chance again at Old Trafford? I
would think not, earlier in his career Lindegaard left his hometown club due to
a lack of first-team opportunities and even if he wasn’t promised to start when
he joined Man Utd, I think he will become easily frustrated at sitting on the bench
every week. As Utd only paid around £3.5
million for him I don’t think it would take too much to bring him to WHL. Get
him in this summer for a season of learning from Friedel and Cudicini and then
we have our first-choice ‘keeper nailed on for the next 5 years.
LLorente in – Redknapp
out
This dear reader is the dream. Fantasy land, if you will.
I have tried to be realistic with my previous targets but you can’t blame a guy
for sticking his head in the clouds once in a while.
LLorente is everything a modern striker should be. Good
in the air and great on the ground. He is even nicknamed The Lion King, how
cool is that? In short he is everything Peter Crouch is not. If we were to sign
him I would throw my cynicism in the bin for at least two weeks and really
start to believe that this club could challenge for the title.
Harry Redknapp on the other hand is everything a modern
manager should not be. While I could spend a whole blog pointing out his
faults, it has been done by better writers than me already and I don’t want to
stick the boot in too heavily on a man who has more than exceeded the
expectations I had when he took over this club. But the truth is that we need a
manager with a bit more tactical nous and a habit of winning things. Is that
Mourinho fella still larking about in Madrid?
Tom Malone (@tbear995)
Podcaster for Live From Your Living Room, available on
iTunes and soon to return from hiatus.
