2010-11 EPL Preview: Tottenham Hotspur

Hey, I can post this twice in the same morning!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkKzUUjER_4

hahaha…spurs are s**t!

Ned: Pretty solid. Although I’ve been down on Two Saints in the past, ‘Arry seems to be keen on him, so I hope he has a season like Bale had last year where something just “clicks” and he shows his promise. Rose, however, is definitely one to follow.

So are we counting all the MON talk as the Villa preview, or did the departure completely blow y’all’s mind?

We’ve pushed back Villa to tomorrow because of all the news. I want to be complete.
Also, since the Spuds fans hijack so many threads around here, I propose we make this thread all about how cool Wes Brown thinks Ryan Giggs is.

Spurs are s**te.

/animated bear’d

@whiz, yes and Arsen is building a team for the future. You have to love gooners for being nothing if not predictable.

Well done, Ned, agree with almost all of what’s here. I think you’re a bit too hard on Bostock, who is still young and raw, and a bit too generous to Corluka, who had some horrific gaffes at RB last year. I agree that he’s almost useless at CB, but he’s not a sure thing at RB, either. I definitely agree with your take on Keano, but everyone knows I’m way too in the bag for him, so take that FWIW. I, too, think we’ll have trouble holding 4th. Our strike froce is still only so-so, and one or two injuries to the defense could make that unit pretty bad. Imagine Kaboul at CB and Hutton at RB. A more worthless tandem I cannot imagine. It will be interesting to see who ‘Arry brings in before month’s end. I’m going to predict that we’ll see Bellamy and a defender in and Crouch and Pavs out.

I agree, Phil. Spurs will not finish 4th in 2010-11. Just Sandro in? That backline and their fondness for being injured?

The Totting-Ham Hotspurs are the best team ever.
/American announcer’d

@JT: Yeah, I think it’s a big ask, especially given the fixture pile-up we’re going to have early on. Levy’s not going to let ‘Arry buy his way out of trouble, either. The only player I see Spurs splashing for at this point is Young, whom Levy doubtlessly views as The One That Got Away. Otherwise, I think it’s loans, a la the Eidur thing last season.

@Goat: I think you mean The Spurs from Tottingham Hotspurs.

/Simmons’d

@ phil: You just gave me this evening’s nightmare: Hutton & Kaboul together. It doesn’t seem to be ‘Arry’s style to go after defenders, but Spurs need to be bolstered back there. Charlie was shaky at times and needs to be rotated out every so often and BAE (to me) had some Jekyll/Hyde performances.

@Phil

No Corluka means Hutton. OOOF.

I rate Corluka a lot.

@Ned: Not really. No Corluka means Naughton or Walker. I hope. I have nightmares about Alan Hutton and Kaboul playing on the same line.

@phil – Wouldn’t Naughton get the call at RB? I mean I figured they were just showcasing Hutton’s awfulness for his League One loan.

Also, granted injuries are a concern at CB, but Dawson and Bassong would have to be hurt for Kaboul to see time, and they have remained relatively healthy during their careers.

I have zero confidence in Keane doing anything.

Dos Santos, are we sure Harry is impressed? It just seems like every August since we bought him, that we talk about how the manager must have been impressed from how he played for Mexico, but it never translates in playing time. There are also the concerns of his partying/drinking, which he has again stated he’s put in his past, only there is no clue if that is actually true or not.

Surprised there wasn’t more on Gomes, he was fantastic last year.

@ knoc: Shh–don’t jinx the Gomes!

@Phil I’ll put money on one or both on loan by Aug 31st.

Also, as for Bassong, he and Dawson could have their “brain fart” moments last year, but Kaboul was rotated in a few times, if I recall for Dawson when he was injured. So, the backline could have been BAE/Bassong/Kaboul/Charlie. That’s okay, but each of those guys are prone to “WTH was he thinking” moments.

@Ned: I think Naughton and Hutton get loaned (Hutton maybe sold outright), but, as knocs says, Walker stays as cover for Corluka.

Bassong is fine with Dawson or King alongside, but when he and Kaboul are left to their own devices…yikes.

@ phil: Anything on Bentley?

Biggest question mark: will Modric be able to keep tuberculosis at bay for another year or will consumption finally claim him.

@ Goat!: That’s what Kranjar’s for: he’s your huckleberry.

No rumors. His play when Lennon went down last season was massive. Simply massive. Arguably the performance of the season behind Gomes’ incredible run. He seems to have accepted his role as a squad player for now, and I’m sure he understands he’ll be seeing increased minutes with a crowded fixture list. I like having him around. He gives us a different dimension than Lennon, and isn’t a bad fellow to bring in with a lead. I like him and I’d keep him around.

@Goat: if Lee Bowyer can’t stop Moddle, nothing can.

The comment @2:47 is about Bentley, in response to OM, BTW.

Has anyone put out an APB on Anonsters? We’re 25 comments in and he’s not on here?!

@OM – Agree, at least Gomes has decent cover in Cudicini, he looked pretty solid in preseason even though he was coming back from that awful motorcycle wreck.

Mickey mouse cup, etc etc

No mention of Klinsy? He wasn’t there long, but 39 goals in 65 appearances is very impressive. I know I hated him with a passion while he was there; figured Sp*rs fans had an equal but opposite feeling.

And after you crash out of the CL and lose an EL shocker in February, you’ll settle comfortably into a battle for 5th with Liverpool.

@phil: didn’t know if there were any rumors of selling him on if Keane can’t be moved.
@goat!: yeah, last term was a bit nervy for me re: GK as Carlo was out & Gomes seemed to show he was knocked every so often.

@berg: I don’t think you can fault an ardent Three Lions man like Ned for excluding Klinsmann.

@Goat: There were rumors he could be included in a package to Villa for Young, but that was never more than a rumor, I think. He hasn’t played much in the preseason, either, which has, of course, fueled such speculation.

That was @OM, not Goat. F**k me, I’m out of whack today.

@ phil: but Ned did rightly include Ossie & Villa: no Falklands War bias?

@ TSE: perhaps Anon is at the vet making sure all his shots are current prior to this weekend

@OM: lol, but in truth, the Mannschaft-Three Lions rivalry is a different thing altogether.

Um. No Teddy Sheringham?

I’m with Ned. I love Charlie at RB, but I don’t rate him at center back at all. I also don’t think we’ll see much of Hutton or Naughton this year. Kaboul looks like he’s really progressing as a right back and he’ll probably back up Corluka. He had a tremendous end of the season and he looks to be carrying on in the same form. I think Walker will see some time there too if he stays.
.
Definite question marks at CB. If Dawson gets any kind of lengthy injury we’re truly f**ked.

I think Gio will stay. He’s saying all the right things about how he’s ready to buckle down and get his s**t together. If it’s true, he could have a really big year. If our striker situation improves I really believe we can hang onto fourth.

@ LE: Correct on the CB situation. I think phil said it best: Bassong @ Dawson/King OK, but if Dawson goes out for any considerable time, we’re likely hosed. Wondering if anything could be made of getting Hangeland from Fulham.

I think if Hangeland can be had from Fulham, he’ll be at Stamford Bridge in short order, what with the sudden departure of Carvalho. I’d look at younger, English, lower table & League One CB’s. I think ‘Arry will seek to bolster at CB mush as he did at fullback with the buys of Naughton and Walker.

Would Spurs fans like this player?

http://unprofessionalfoul.com/2010/08/10/forgive-and-forget/

@Ned: with all the youngsters in our dressing room, and with our own resident drunkards well-established, I say no to King. There’s also the fact that he’s never really shown any real brilliance at the international level

He’s never shown any real brilliance at the EPL level. His international scoring record is very good. 10 in 18 for Jamaica.

Is that a joke? Marlon King is f**king terrible.

@LE: I assume so. I might rather have Crouch. Might.

@phil: If Crouch can play even half of next season at the level he played against Citeh last year, he’s worth keeping around.

@phil – I doubt Hangeland will be sold now that Senderos is out for 6 months.

@Phil and LE

It was more a moral question, like the one posed by that blog entry.

@LE – Wasn’t Gio saying the EXACT same things about turning his life around LAST year too?

knoc’s right. Forget that Senderos crocked himself yesterday. And no Marlon King, not worth the risk.

@knocs: I don’t remember Dos Santo saying much of anything last preseason. And ‘Arry seems to be doing most of the talking this time around. We’ll see with Giovani. There’s no denying he’s been playing extremely well since the WC started. If he can take that form into the season…

I’ve been looking for comments Two Saints has made, but the only ones I could find were about having confidence from his play in the WC and pre-season and how ‘Arry is giving him a chance to earn his minutes. Most of the quotes are from Redknapp about him needing to step it up this season…

@phil – Hopefully he’s turned it around, I would think playing in Turkey might change someone’s attitude a bit.

He’s nice cover as a spark off the bench who can break down defenses 1v1, like a limited Kranjcar in that respect.

If Bellamy is left off Citeh’s 25-man roster, and then sold/loaned to Spurs, would he remain ineligible until January?

@knocs: if Gio plays to his full potential, he’s much better than Kranjcar.

@phil: I think the squads are due when the transfer window closes. So if he’s sold, there would be time for Spurs to include him in the squad.

Ah, I see. I suppose we shouldn’t make anything of Bellamy and Ireland being dropped from the EL squad, then.

@Phil – That’s a pretty bold statement. I don’t watch La Liga, so I have no idea how much potential and/or quality he showed at Barcelona. But in the limited time I’ve seen him play at Spurs (and at the international level) he seems to use up his touches running at players 1v1, and lacks the ability to create for others.

But I do rate Kranjcar pretty highly too.

Dos Santos has been brilliant during the World Cup and in the preseason friendlies. He’s a much faster and far mroe creative player than Niko. I rate Niko, but Gio’s cieling is just much higher. It’s not to say that Niko is bad. He obviously isn’t. Dos Santos is just a more talented player. The rub, though, is that Niko, right now, is a better player but is probably at the peak of his skills. Dos Santos could surpass him, but he’ll have to work his ass off.

@phil: To be honest, I feel both are out the door, and have been for a while. Mancini’s decided they don’t fit into his plans, and now it’s a matter of finding a buyer/loaner. So no, nothing new to read into the situation.

@Ryan: I think the only reason both aren’t gone already is that the most likely suitors–Villa and Tottenham–are direct competitors with Citeh for league position.

@Phil – Niko is still only 25, even if his skills have peaked he still should be able to stay at this level for quite a few more years. Gio does have the higher ceiling due to his youth and such. Hopefully all goes well with Gio this year and he can be a spark off the bench this season in league and champs league games, and get some starts in the Carling/FA cup action.

@knocs: with all the matches we’ll be playing, we’ll need both to be on top of their games.

@ phil: was looking up the official deadlines for transfer window, etc: transfer window closes 6pm Aug 31, but the clubs do not have to register their squads until 5pm Sept 1. I guess that gives the clubs time to complete deals @ the deadline (possibly for players left off the 25 man) and have the paperwork in place the next day.

I don’t know why people are so down on our chances for holding onto 4th. I think we have an excellent chance. We still need a striker and probably a CB at this point, but we can probably make do with the strike force we have, and if we get lucky with injuries, our defense is, as Ned said, solid. We haven’t made any huge additions, no. But. Dos Santos has really impressed me lately, and I think he has a shot to have a breakthrough year, or at the very least to make a positive and substantial impact. ‘Arry has apparently finally discovered that Bale is a damned fine left midfielder, as opposed to a defensively questionable, offensive-minded LB. That was my biggest complaint for the most of last year: Bale was wasted at LB. I don’t think we’re going to have that issue this year. Add to all of this the continuity factor, plus the confidence boost that finally breaking through the fourth place barrier has to bring. In sum, I find it somewhat bizarre that people are prepared to throw Spurs down into the mid-table. Especially when everyone thinks Liverpool is somehow magically going to reassert themselves this year. Um, ok. Why? Because they got Joe Cole? Joe Cole, who Chelsea let go on a free? Joe Cole, the injured one? (Maybe Nando needs an injury buddy?) Or maybe Danny Wilson is what’s going to push Liverpool over the top this year. As they lose the one player that the Scousers around here consistently relied on last year to give them a lift: Super Jew. Go back and read some of the bootrooms. Liverpudlians were all about them some Yossi. And if Mascherano departs, how is that not a huge blow? Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to argue that Liverpool is s**t. What I’m saying is, it’s bizarre to see how people are just assuming that ‘Pool will regain their place while Spurs are destined to lapse into mediocrity. And I strongly suspect that people have that attitude because they regard our success last year as a fluke. Whereas I, I think we earned it.

Also, we’re probably not going to see Sandro in action until September-ish. Stupid Copa Libertadores.

Since UF is my first soccer destination, I caught up here before heading over to DML, where I read this post, which expresses much the same sentiment as mine above. I agree almost completely with it.

If the Mirror is to be believed, Stevie Ireland fancies a move our way and Citeh are keen on it. 8 mil GBP. Not sure where he would fit in the side, but I do rate Ireland.

Hmm, that would be a tough one. I’d love to take Harry’s money, but I could really see Stevie rejuvenating himself at Spurs. Like you say though, where would he play?

Yeah, it would be tough for him to break in, barring an injury. Villa is the best place for him, IMO.

The more I think about our midfield, the more I fall in love with it.

Can Dos Santos be a withdrawn CF or striker?

@Tno: I believe so.

COYS COYS COYS. Just because I wanted to see that on the most recent comments bit.

Parrett on loan to Plymouth and Townsend is headed on loan to Ipswich.

@LE: Saw that. I expect Naughton, Rose, and Hutton to follow them soon, as ‘Arry pares down to 25.

Do you think we’ll keep any of the kids around the first team?

Dos Santos and Walker I think will stay. Maybe Obika, depending on how transfers go and how the strike force then shakes out. Other than that, I think they get loaned.

You guys think Rose will go on loan? Thought ‘Arry might keep him in the 25 for some League Cup/FA rostering.

@ phil: saw that, jumped over to this thread.

I think he goes on loan, yes. Dos Santos has outplayed him in the preseason and featured prominently for his country in the WC. In addition, Dos Santos’ ability to play striker, LW, and as a 2nd striker gives ‘Arry positional flexibility he doesn’t get with Rose. But if Dos Santos returns to his former ways and stumbles in training, that could change very quickly.

I definitely think Dos Santos is staying.
And we have so many options on the wings with Lennon, Bale, Luka, Niko, Bentley, and Gio all happy to play there. I don’t think Rose and Townsend would gain much by sitting on the bench behind all those guys. Hopefully they get a lot of playing time on loan and come back in January in good form and able to step in when the first teamers need rest.

Good point, didn’t consider the positional flexibility, which Spurs need more this season than prior ones.

And I guess hanging with the Tractor Boys worked out okay (so far) for Dos Santos. I guess I’m a bit concerned whether Roy Keane’s managerial influence would be good/bad for Andros. Definitely agree playing more than bench warming will help those lads.

@LE: Exactly. No need to use precious roster spots to bolster what is already a deep position. CB and RB, OTOH…our starting backline is perhaps our strongest asset; the lack of real depth behind them is perhaps our weakest point.

@OM: There are worse people to teach a young one to play midfield than Roy Keane. For all his personality faults, Keane was an excellent midfielder.

@phil: They’re all under 21, so they wouldn’t take up roster spots. But it’s still better for them to be playing regularly than sitting on the bench. Definitely agree about CB and RB, so Walker staying makes a lot of sense (even though he scares me as a CB).
Has Livermore gone on loan yet? I expected him to make some kind of impact last season. Is that still a possibility, or is he on the verge of being moved on permanently? I feel like his name doesn’t come up as much any more when people talk about our promising youngsters.

@ phil: Agreed on Keane as a player–I’m thinking more about a young lad’s confidence–wondering if Keane’s motivation involves telling loaned players constantly they’re rubbish and should be on the next train to London if they don’t perform as he likes.

@ LE: Last thing I saw on Livermore was a possible loan deal to Dirty Leeds.

Just did a rough count of 1st team players pretty certain of being in the 25, and including Woodgate, Sandro, and Dos Santos, there would still be one spot available for either Naughton, Walker, Hutton, Rose, or O’Hara.

@OM: I don’t think Woodgate will make it. He’s perma-crocked, methinks. So maybe all of Rose, Walker, and Dos Santos will make it. But remember in that 25-man: given all the extra matches we’ll be playing, ‘Arry will probably carry three keepers so you have to figure Gomes, Cudicini, and Pletikosa or Alnwick in your 25-man.

@OM: Walker, Naughton, and Rose don’t take up a squad spot because they’re under 21. Bale, Sandro, and Gio don’t take up spots either because they weren’t 21 yet at the first of the year. So we’ve got plenty of squad room.

@ phil: I was assuming 3 keepers, but LE’s note indicates some of those guys wouldn’t technically take a spot b/c of their ages, so there’s more room? I put Woody in there but really, he shouldn’t–don’t think the lad’s going to play for Spurs again honestly.

I had completely forgotten about the age requirement thing.

@OM: I fear that Woody won’t be playing for anyone again. True shame. He was a brilliant defender.

I guess with that age thing, it’s more about who makes you less nervous if you see his number flash as a sub b/c they could all be on the bench.

@Phil
Your lads ruined a national treasure! Bastards!

Random Thought:
Spurs : Central Defenders :: Dusty Baker : Cubs pitchers

@ phil: Agreed on Woody. Hell, I had #39 for one of my rec league jerseys (despite not playing defense) b/c I appreciated his play.

@JT: Haha. You’re a Cubs fan.