Posted on Tuesday, 21st August 2012 by Harry Hotspur
Good morning.
This is one to divide opinion. We appear to be selling Michael Dawson. Sir Les as he was, is affectionately known is understood to be weighing up his preferred choice of destination between QPR and Stoke.
It’s been suggested to me that the business of Liverpool being linked with Michael last week was simply a lose lipped agent discovering that the player was ‘available’.
There are a number of factors at play here. He has frequently had to combat injury and with the arrival of Villas-Boas he’s been found to be not quite sophisticated enough. Is this fair? Well, having a big heart and a desire to do your best are separate issues. Notable features of the boss’s new system is the control and focus on ball retention.
All hands to the pump type hoooooooofs up field aren’t desirable. They are old school and at best turn possession into a 50/50 ball. You’ll notice that Brad has mostly been rolling the ball to the back four’s feet.
Another issue has been development. Daws was always doing his best and improved over time, but did he ever really look ready to replace Ledley King? I’d argue not. He frequently looked the business when teamed up with Ledders but Kaboul looks a better long term bet. The addition of Jan Vertonghen the last nail in his first team coffin.
If we were on the same financial footing as Manchester City, we could afford to keep him in the squad. Alas we are not.
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Posted in Blogs, Premiership, Tottenham Hotspur | Comments (279)
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:22 am
1st! (sorry)
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SuperSpurs Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:27 pm
Apology accepted
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Benspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:55 pm
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:27 am
2nd? Anyway, agree with you HH that he is probably not sophisticated enough and never really looked the part unless playing along side the king. He has been a good servant to the club but I say cash in now and re-invest where we really need it. Bassong on his way to Norwich too?
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:28 am
Seb off according to SSN.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:37 am
Hopefully permanently, not loan.
Ever since some fool wrote a caption “Bassong sung blue” i’ve not been able to get that bloody song out of my head every time his name is mentioned.
I wouldn’t mind but it’s far from Diamond’s best.
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Bobbles Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
I’m more disappointed by Hudd’s alleged departure than Daws to be honest.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:29 am
And THudd going out on loan, I read somewhere possibly with a recall clause added so we can get him back in January, this may be to get him some game time and match fitness before deciding if he has a future with us or not?…
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:31 am
I think Thudd is Everton bound or at least that’s a possible destination at this stage.
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david Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:51 am
Swap for Pienaar ?
Wouldn’t mind Jagielka, Baines or Felliani.
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Eton Trifle Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:03 am
Fellaini would be awesome
`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:19 pm
do you live in a dream world, theres more chance of us loaning moyes then fellani
August 21st, 2012 at 9:33 am
Have to agree with the article. Love Daws as a bloke, would enjoy having a pint with him. Seems like a genuine, hard worker. Unfortunately, if he doesn’t fit into AVB’s new style, then he’s got to go. Plus, I think he deserves first team action.
COYS!
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:34 am
Good luck to him a decent servant to club,any news on a striker or 2. Trying to filter good or bad info from twitter
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Winston wolf Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:37 am
tried to find you on twitter Harry you seem inactive?
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:40 am
@theboyhotspur
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The Tottinghams Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:08 pm
Go and find the tweet to Jenas. Excellent!
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Eton Trifle Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:37 am
Reading in a few papers today that the Ade deal is as good as done, Citeh have a agreed a lump payment to cover the difference in wages
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:35 am
Daws is a bit like O’Hara. Gives his best, loves the shirt, a good player … but simply not good enough a player for where we want to be and the systems we need to play.
Good luck though if true, and all the best. Would be suited well to a Stoke, Fulham, Everton.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:18 am
Sadly O’Hara’s clone has a starting place at the moment, that is more of a concern.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:35 am
Cant understand why we are getting rid of Dawson, is Gallas anywhere near as good even Kaboul, had a good season but im still not convinced with hes defending, shooting ourselves in the foot, captain one minute, gone the next
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@joshyboi88 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:37 am
Kaboul is a class act, IMO.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:36 am
Because with Gallas you get a certain standard regardless of who you pair him with, he makes angle’s for the keeper so we can pass it out from the back and Gallas has no sale value.
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Jay Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:23 am
I guess you mean Livermore….
Thing is he is very fit, can pass a simple ball and is positional aware so I can see why they want to keep him as a sub, Jenas cant play simple balls but is a similar type of player we only need one so Jenas has to go.
I am getting annoyed at Levy all this money from sales and he still wont spend.
I just hope Moutinho, Leandro, Adebayor and Lloris are signed to shut me up
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:38 am
if they don’t fit in with AVB then they should go,we need to back what AVB wants,its only fair,i do not agree with the disrupting team spirit like the chavs and such,these players aren’t winners if they are not on board then they can leave
worrying that we are so close to the window shipping 6 in 5 out so close sounds risky but obvioulsy they wouldn’t leave us totally f*cked right?,Levy needs to get off his arse and get some decent players in,quickly
moyes has managed 4 hard working strikers on half a cheese sandwich and they beat utd ,something we never do
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Robspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:47 am
“6 in and 5 out”
I count 2 in…. unless you are talking about players already on our books who were out on loan.
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:53 am
well i’m talking about all the speculation,we are getting some others in i hope
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:39 am
Great stopper, but the proposed high line may well have done for him.
Could never question his commitment..Good luck Mr Dawson.
Everton bound. Is that egg bound with toffee?
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:41 am
I hope he doesn’t go to Stoke. Horrible, vile hackers and thugs. And that’s just the Manager.
Stoke represent everything i detest in football.
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:44 am
Anti-football.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:48 am
I stand corrected – anti-football is spot on. 4 centre-halfs, long throws, urgh. I hate Stoke
(N.B – never been to the city itself, may well be delightful and full of nubile single blonde female nurses)
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AVB's Beard Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:58 am
it’s the portsmouth of northern england.
UnkleKev Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Can’t see it happening, but I’d love to see Stoke go down. Daws is way too good a person for that shower of shite.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:22 am
But you don’t think Daws would suit this style?
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:01 am
No. Daws is a much better player than he’s given credit for. A lot of his so-called hoofs upfield are, more often than not, pinpoint passes to a winger. I really don’t know where this idea of him as a hoofer has come from.
John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:08 am
Because when he is closed down he panic’s and hoof’s it forward and gives it away and when he has time on the ball to hit his 50yard cross field balls they have about a 30% success rate and also give the opposition plenty of time to prepare because they are well telegraphed.
August 21st, 2012 at 9:45 am
j to the lo hello
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:45 am
It would be a shame to lose Daws as he is a leader of men, and a good team man.
When we have those terrible spells late on in the season where we are being battered in the last 15 min by a Bolton/Blackburn/Stoke/Everton/Villa/Wigan/Fulham type team we need someone that can stand up and fight. Someone who can win the ball in the air, and block shots. That man is Daws.
In those games we are usually defending so deep to hang onto a win (or a point!) that his lack of pace won’t matter.
Even if he isn’t first choice surely it would be better to have someone of his class to come off the bench as cover…
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:53 am
Agree 100%
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PeeLee Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:46 pm
I think Dawson has something that others at Tottenham lack — dedication, skill and fight. There will be no shortage of interested clubs if someone like Dawson becomes available, and that ought to tell the New Order something.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:45 am
Whats everyone’s opinion on Sunderland wanting to loan both rose and ***** ,I know this isn’t possible but can’t levy just give them ***** ? I would b on happy yid
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:51 am
at the moment,the media have us with just a 12 man squad to play in 4 comps and get top 4
one last chance for the J**** man
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UnkleKev Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:16 am
That’s a rhetorical question, right?
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:46 am
Friend of a man who works in a speciality meat shop in Hampstead said that his Uncle who works at the ‘Customer Services’ till at Saino’s in White Hart Lane mentioned he knew someone ‘In the Know’ who told him….
….Darren Bent may well be returning to the Lane…..
Oh my days.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:48 am
I used to hate watching Daws hoof it, however like you pointed out with your Brad comment, this is easily rectified and anyway i’ve noticed Daws not hoofing it anywhere near the amount he used to. I do like Kaboul but he does still get his caught out and you can’t have all your defense piling forward, someone needs to hold the fort. Personally I would like to see them both (daws & Thudd) go out on loan as i’m still undecided… And what happens if AVB fails? Do we then have to buy back these players for another manager? So loan for them both please as they both deserve first team football
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Hot_Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:16 am
If a new manager came in and bought them back then others would have to go. The point is that a club can only nominate 25 first team players, there is no point in having 33 (I think) “first team” players on the books when you can only use 25 of them. You are then paying wages to 8 players for doing nothing. The squad is now being trimmed to get it down to a sensible level and save million on the wage bill. Not to mention the transfer fees coming in to buy the strikers we need.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:29 am
Well I take it you didn’t see pre-season then because was well on form with his happy hoofing.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:50 am
How much of this is just ITK BS?
I can’t believe we would get rid of three centre backs (Daws, Bassong and Hudds) in one transfer window.
Have you not seen our injury record in defence over the past few seasons. I still have nightmares of Corluka and Hudds in defence…
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@joshyboi88 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 9:52 am
Hudds isn’t a CB… may have played there before, but he’s not a CB
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:55 am
Has got a point though, because Ledley already gone.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:51 am
He will always have a special place in my heart as the the man who turned the match against the Blue R*****s and gave us our first win against them for years. A man that gave his all for us, I just wish he’d had that extra bit of class which took him beyond “workmanlike” to another level.
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Ronnie Wolman Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:45 am
Dawson should play in Southend-on-sea. That way we could all watch him occasionally.Infact he could play for EVERY station from you know whereto you know where.
Look he might even make a better train driver than a footballer.Could get erratic sometimes,especially if the tide is out when he gets there.
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:23 am
You really have trouble getting all 4 LNER stations in Monopoly don’t you?
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:51 am
This is all rubbish! It all started with a few people questioning why he wasn’t in the squad for the Newcastle game, and huddlestone. The reason for both is long term injuries, a week ago AVB was set to make him club captain! Huddlestone out on loan is a believeable story, especially with the amount of midfielders we have, but he won’t leave, and definitely not to a mid-table side like QPR.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:57 am
The amount of midfielders we have? Atm it’s just Sandro, Jenas and Livermore if Thud were to go.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:54 am
What about Bentley have I missed something, has he gone already if not he needs to be one of the first to move on or has he been given a second chance. Daws you’ve been a hero many times for us and you deserve the very best and if you get that from another signing and first team footy then good luck!!!
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:56 am
Can argue either way with Daws – personally I would very much like to see him stay but I can understand why he would be let go. But Thudd, without Modric we need him even more and boy did Lennon and Bale miss his passes last season. Sorry AVB I was willing to put my doubts to one side but let Thudd go, even on loan and you’ve lost me.
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Jamie Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:17 am
Yes, except Thudd’s barely kicked a ball for 2 years. Two long term injuries and not a natural athlete so it takes him games to get his sharpness back.
AVB has spoken of his desire to get a playmaker in – so if he manages this, it then makes sense to let Tommy get some games in somewhere else until Jan then come back and challenge. You could argue he could play League and Europa Cup, but I think he needs consistent PL action.
If we let him go and don’t sign someone then I’m with you, but would think (or hope!) AVB is smarter than that.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:56 am
It’s a tough one with Dawson; too good for the bench, not good enough to start. Cash in. Ditto with big Tommy.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:46 am
So who do we have to transition play from the midfield 2 to the attack?
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:57 am
My preseason optimism is well and truly ebbing away now. I was for getting rid of Redknapp but based purely on non footballing reasons, now I’m not sure whether my reasons for wishing him gone were right for the club. Everyone around us or immediately below us have strengthened and I’m sick of hearing “Levy knows what he’s doing, training ground, new stadium blah blah blah”. I don’t even expect 30m players but why can we never seem to unearth a gem in the way Newcastle and other clubs have done. What do our scouts do? At the moment I’m holding on to the possibility of some big things happening soon, because in all honesty why did Gareth Bale sign a new contract? Ask yourself would you if you were in his shoes? Modric going, no new strikers, surely we’re missing something? Right?
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Jamie Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:22 am
I agree with all of this, but surely we might as well reserve judgement for another 10 days.
Scouting thing has been annoying me also. But for all his accomplishments, this is Harry’s legacy. He was only ever interested in short term impact signings, as at his age doesn’t have time to build long term.
Our eye for a bargain will improve now, but I don’t expect it will happen overnight.
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August 21st, 2012 at 9:57 am
Be sad to see him go is he gave hes all for Spurs
but probably right time to go as it will now give Caulker a chance and thats got to be good for his development. More importantly though Lloriente should give us a decision by end of today what a signing that would be!
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Eton Trifle Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:10 am
I reckon the London club in fit llorente is Chelsea not us, if it’s between us nd “a Manchester club” then we will not get him, based on the wages offered alone he will choose city
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Eton Trifle Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:13 am
*in for llorente
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:20 am
Sad but true!
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:07 am
By all means tell me to butt out as a Gooner, but I enjoy lively ‘discussions’ with my Spud workmate, and actually have a lot of respect for your club, as it is also run properly and with football at its heart.
I have to say I would be worried with so many going out the door and very few guaranteed coming in. I really rate Dawson as a rock of a CB (when fit) about to hit his prime. Similar story for Hudd. Get him fit and he is a fabulous passer/creator. I dont see the sense in a loan when you are short staffed.
IMO Llorente wont be coming and Ade isnt relaible for a whole season.
I wish you well(ish) but I’m happier as a Gooner.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Butt out, Gooner.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:18 am
There are a lot who’ll agree with you, but neither will get any better and will halt the development of the younger players at the club.
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John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:24 am
Ummmmh like Livermore!!!????
TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:37 am
Yeah, good point. Livermore doesn’t look that great, but he’s only just got into the team, can run and could improve. I’ll give him more time before I resign him to the ‘not good enough bin’.
I know some rate Huddlestone, and that his career has been blighted by injury, but he’s going to be another nearly man. Too languid for that position.
John Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:58 am
I know that was negative but it’s not that I dislike Livermore but unfortunatly for him, in the current formation we can only really afford 1 destroyer type midfielder(which we have much better options)and he is not technically good enough to be the transition midfielder. I think HH recently said he has no identity and I think it’s a bit late in his career to develope tom like passing or Luka type ball carring “it’s not him it’s us”
j Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Surely with Caulker Daws is surplus to requirements. We’re good at the back and Hudd on loan to prove he’s got his passing back would make sense. Wierd though, no cheap strkers from obscure leagues ever mentioned, Hernandez, Ba etc as was said above every ither team seem to find them, but not us? Michu, Dyer, Carroll on the bench. This Guy from Gabon who plays for for St etienne, how much is he 2 mil and 10,000 a week, worth a punt? Gotta be someone in scandinavia who can bang em in?
Hot_Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:22 am
TNWNN – There is no need for your attitude towards fans of other clubs if they are respectful and make valid comments. If they are abusive and derogatory that’s different but Barndoor was not.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:24 am
Keep your hair on. It was a joke, ffs!
Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:31 am
It’s hard to display a joke in a post sometimes, isnt it TMWNN? Same thing happened to me yasterday. I’m beginning to think that i should end my post with HA, HA, HA!(Joke)
TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:44 am
Perhaps we could use one of the little used emoticons as the ‘JOKE! – no need to get all PC on my arse’ emoticon.
How about the green one?
Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:47 am
Phil McAvity Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:23 am
Barndoor Bendtner said tell me to butt out as a Gooner, so TMWNN said butt out Gooner, how is that anything but a joke??
Silly one-liner replies like his one are what a lot of this blog is made up on is it not? It’s what I like about this blog as it goes!
TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:50 am
Quite right Phil, I would have been more upset if someone hadn’t posted the only obvious reply.
Barndoor Bendtner Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:39 am
You luv us really! As long as we cane the ‘Pool, Chavs et al together.
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:34 am
My next door neighbour is Polish, Gunner through and through. Couldn’t do any heavy stuff without him. My arthritis just lately, lifting a teacup is a strain. Anything electric, my nephew, Man U through and through is there, never accepts any money from me. Puts it back on the table when I’m not looking. All very fond of each other except weekends at tea time and occasional weeknights between 8 and 10.
SuperSpurs Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:50 am
Please dont call me a Spud …. thank you.
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Phil McAvity Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:30 pm
How about if he calls you a SuperSpud?
`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:25 pm
If anyone ever calls me a spud, they will have their teeth in a sling
Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:16 am
Sensible chaps such as yourself are always welcome round these parts dear boy.
I think you’ve nailed the common view of Dawson. But for those of us who’ve seen him over the years, it’s become blindingly obvious that he hasn’t quite ‘kicked on’ enough and that injuries are starting to take their toll. Totally understand what you’re saying but it’s a little like a conversation i had with an old Arsenal fan on Bould v Keown. To me Keown wins hands down, to him as someone who saw them both every week Bould was by far the better centre-half.
Also Dawson’s propensity for 60 yard diagonal hoofs were intrinsic to our ‘success’ with Crouch. They now just look aged and tired, rather like the poor boy himself does.
As a leader of men he’s first rate. However i fear his playing prime has come and gone.
If i’m honest i don’t actually think he’ll go.
Can’t comment on FL coming but i’ll be pleased to see Ade come.
And may i echo your comments – bon chance but i’m happy being a Lillywhite…
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:17 am
To be honest, we’re pretty overloaded in midfield, so its not really gonna affect us too badly once we get a good replacement for Modric. Ade may not be reliable for an entire season as you say, but he would still be the best striker by far in our team, and one of the best in the league on his day.
Oh by the way, your not gonna dupe us into buying Chamakh, Harry’s gone now, sorry to let you down on that one.
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Barndoor Bendtner Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:37 am
Pleeeeeeeaaase take Chamakh. You can have Bendy too, and Park. Job lot, all strikers to bring your front line up to strength (Blue Square strength that is).
I’m surprised Ade is still coming, and will be surprised again if he gives more than 1/2 a season effort for you once the cheque has been banked.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:42 am
Barndoor Bendtner Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:47 am
Ouch! Great return of serve there. Lets try and undermine other teams with these particular gifts!
Good luck. Over and out. I’m off back to the Gooner sites where I can really vent my feelings. COY-NORTH LONDON
August 21st, 2012 at 10:07 am
If Dawson does go, it will be disapointing, but he was only gonna be a bench player with AVB in charge anyway. Good to see Bassong hopefully sold. Huddlestone om loan is a bit of a strange one, I’d prefer to have him on the bench for us than someone else. What is happening with Dos Santos? Also is AVB going to replace these players or just thinning the herd? Looking forward to seeing what is going to happen in the next week or so. Now to try and get rid of *****, bentley etc.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:10 am
For some reason Dos Santos seems to be a banned name or something.
Your moderation awaits yet again Mr.HH.
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:08 am
Onwards and upwards, sacrifices must be made as someone once said….
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Sadly his time has come. Great bloke, brave, big heart and all that but short of pace and a tad lacking in class.
When all our central defenders have been fit he has always been third choice, even under Ramos.
Probably make a good manager one day
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:15 am
Don’t be surprised if he still ends up at Anfield as Agger’s replacement also Fryers when Rose leaves will be announced and he can also play CB very well.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:17 am
Good point – still no mention of Fryers on the website. What gives Daddy-o?
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:22 am
I think there’s a problem with price; red nose thinks he’s worth more than he is.
Expect it to go to a tribunal, and for us to get him for a bargain price.
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Totspurs Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:29 am
Waiting on the Tribunal before we can announce we need to make space in the squad hence Bassong/Rose/Dawson/Huddlestone and Bentley on there way arrivals will then come in including Fryers.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:39 am
I thought Fryers, as an Under 21, wouldn’t count in our Squad quota?
You’re both right about the Tribunal, i’d forgotten. I can see Slur Alex giving out in the dock like a not-quite-so-dead Taggart….
Johns Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:15 pm
I don’t understand you fellers Dawson on his day is top draw! OK he may not no Reo but he is a lot better than you guys are making out to be.He will adapt his game to AVB’s system given time,remember he has just come back from injury.AT the end of last season we were short of centre backs & IMO Michael Dawson would have helped push us over the line,the difference between 4&3!
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Phil McAvity Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:45 pm
Her name is Reo and she dances on the sond!!
August 21st, 2012 at 10:20 am
I would be gutted to see Daws go. The man just loves defending. If our other players showed half the desire and commitment as him then we would have been 3rd at worst last season. Every team needs a warrior.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:26 am
That’s true, but i think Vertonghen will be that warrior in the near future, and with buckets of class too which can only bode well for us.
COYS!
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Johns Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:16 pm
Spot on especially when some players go missing!
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:30 am
I guess a lot of you are more optimistic than I’m feeling right now. Given what’s been going on with out strikeforce for some years now what makes people think that we will sign a ‘premiership ready’ replacement for Modric by the end of the window? I’m with Cambridge Spur on our scouting, for me the last ‘clever’ signings were Berba and Modric, players that no one over here really knew about that wanted to come to Spurs because we had courted them early and in the right way. Personally I don’t think we’ve got a cat in hells chance with Llorente, but I’m all too happy to be proved wrong. I also think one new big striker Defoe and Kane is inadequate, we need two new big strikers who can play on their own or with JD. If AVB really thought Kane was ready I think he would have been given more than 5 minutes on Saturday. Let’s say we buy ADE and two weeks in he gets a long term injury – that’s our season over…
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:35 am
I completely agree Jill. Our scouting has unearthed some very good players in the last 5 years or so but not nearly enough. It always dissapoints me when we dont seem to look further afield than mainland europe for talent albeit a few Brazilians that we failed in getting recently.
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Cambridge Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:51 am
Totally agree that if Ade is our only striker coming in it would be a mistake, it really limits our playing options throughout the season, what if you want or need to play 2 up front from time to time. I hope I’m proved wrong but Kane doesn’t do it for me. I think we look very weak from an attacking point of view, 2 strikers and an attacking midfielder are a must for me. Being realistic I’d like us to go for Dembele.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:56 am
A year ago when i heard about our interest in Dembele, i was disgusted, but he has improved dramatically since Jol went to Fulham. Now, i think he would be a really good option and affordable.
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Cambridge Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:08 am
Controversial I know but I’d also take Berbatov back in a second. I still remember Bolton at home a few years back when Keane got sent off and Berba played up front on his own, he was majestic.
August 21st, 2012 at 10:35 am
It is my understanding that the reason Daws and Thudd were left out of the squad for the barcodes were:
1) Daws – A family bereavement
2) Thudd – Unfit: Let’s face it he could do with losing a few lbs. I’ve seen barrels delivered to my local that are slimmer than him!
Newspaper talk!!! Bored journos who’d rather make up something and then take the rest of the day off… Bar-B-Q weather isn’t it!
As for Bassong – well my old mates in Norwich tell me this is a true story and that he is expected to undergo a medical before signing a 3-year deal. Don’t know the fee, but I wouldn’t have thought we would recoup the 8M we spent on him in the first place.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:38 am
I’d say we’d be lucky to get 3 or 4 million quid for Bassong now.
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SeasideSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:48 am
And I’ll buy him the train ticket…
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:40 am
One thing that this DOES define: AVB is NOT looking for success(top four) this season. The removal of Bassong, Rose, ? Bentley ? Jenas and now Dawson with a loan for Thud indicates a long term view on the squad with loads of youth getting a chance and only a few new buys. This WILL take time to turn into a tight AVB system and you lot had better be patient. The problem with the strikers is that there really is NO one young enough that we can afford so we are stuck with toyboy rejects from the cheatclubs.
BUT IMHO the BIGGEST MISTAKE we have made is in NOT stealing NU’s scouting team and in missing Cazoria who is and was a ready made Modric replacement. Our scouts should be SHOT for missing him as he is 22 and the BEST player in la liga except Messi and Ronaldo. NU seem to be able to find nuggets while we dredge up expensive horse manure. They can find cheap forwards yet we cannot afford the only oens we can find WTF is WRONG wiht our scouts? Sure we have loads of the pimpled with potential but a HUGE gap in the age group 20-24 withe certain ability to do well in the PL.
Carrol will take at least 1-2 years. Coulibaly 2-3 etc..Unless we strike it with Dos Santos(can you see it?) we are really scaraping the barrel re creaticity and strikers. I know alot of you rate Defoe but his type of striker who does ****all otherwise and with nowhere near the success of Greaves is obsolete and I cannot see him in any long term plan of AVB’s.
IMO we should have overturned the scouting system.
Example: I emailed WHL about 2 players from a now PL club: they are both 17yrs of age and according to my cousin real gems: the club knew NOTHING about them. WhoTF does our scouting? Do we ONLY look at U21 and U19 international squad lists for our possibles? It’s well known that anyone who can score in the Bundesliga can usually do well in the PL while the french league has loads of possible strikers and not all are over 10mill.
I blame our scouting system more than levy’s pennypinching for our present predicament.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:01 am
How dare you!
We are using a troop of boy scouts who are bob a jobbing under Levy’s prudent command as we speak.
No stone shall be left unturned, no granny unassisted crossing the road and no filthy motor uncleaned.
I’m sure the cavalry is on its way before the window drops, isn’t it?
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mynameissiggy Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Dib, Dib,Dob,Dob-
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SeasideSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:02 am
Michelle, it is a sad fact that you have nailed it in one comment… What do the scouts actually do? There are 20 clubs in the Premier League all of whom have scouts – most of them seem to unearth gems, yet ours don’t! There must be a problem there somewhere!
While I’m venting – what about our youth policy?? If a club like Everton can produce Rodwell, Rooney and Coleman amongst others – why can’t we? And don’t get me started on West Ham (Carrick, Defoe, Lampard, Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson) etc. etc.
Sort yourselves out Spurs… Scouting and Youth system – a model for making money and producing on the pitch!
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:46 pm
not sure coleman was everton youth,thought he bought him from ireland for a lion bar and a garden shed or something
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:05 am
Newcastle’s chief scout, Alan Carr’s Dad, used to work for us but left.
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:15 am
newcastle’s chief scout was our chief scout for 5 years
he left for unspecified reasons, with the players he’s delivered up there it seems like we lost someone of immense talent, probably as important a person within the club as the manager & chairman
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Stu Barney Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Alan Carr’s dad, top bloke.
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JJ Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:33 pm
I’m assuming you mean Cazorla, who is 27 not 22.
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MysteriousStranger Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:02 pm
Thanks JJ, saved me the trouble of pointing out that “minor detail”.
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:42 am
sad to see daws go top bloke in my view
let’s be honest though if we play any sort of high-ish line which is likely poor old daws will get ripped a new one whenever we play anyone with pace up front
I wish him all the best and thanks for the memories
now let’s get that useless (unt J**** out of the club
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:42 am
The game has moved on and we need to move with it. AVB has his ideas on how we should play and he want’s fast paced high energy ball playing players and with that some players don’t fit. Bassong/Dawson Bentley Jenas and Huddlestone do not fit in to this new way of playing.
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:48 am
I agree with the majority of comments on here regarding Daws. Great player but probably not part of the future of Spurs. Selling him now won’t only be beneficial for the players first team opportunities, it will also maximise profit for the club.
I think we can all agree that it’s Caulkers time to step up and with Daws in the equation some1 is bound to suffer.
Gallas,Vert,Kaboom,Caulker seems more than adequate.
Hudd on a loan move would make great sense to me.
I think this is all part of the same clear out that started last season. Time to say goodbye.
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:54 pm
but billyg will be down pretty quick,one of the others will go for a bit,doesn’t leave much for ropa dopa and cups,i hope we have other youths and avb gets others he wants in
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:52 am
Dawson has a great heart.You have to admire a player who plays with soul and Dawson does.
He just isnt steady enough.He can have a great game occasionally when he gats emotionally positive and has control but too often he doesnt and its a lot of hot air.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:15 am
I know he had soul. If he didn’t he wouldn’t have been in here.
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doctorstefanfreund Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:33 am
Mike Dawson’s Funky People: Givin’ up Spurs for Stoke…
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:56 am
Llorente I think is our last shot at getting a quality striker.I think Levy though will wait rather than get fcucked with the price. But I do feel we should push for him more than anyone else.
I still holdout that there is some reason Sahin has not gone to the arse yet.Thats because we havet dealt Modric to them.Im hoping Sahin will come as part of a deal,at least for a loan.
Llorente and Sahin and Cesar would do it.
My Kingdom for all three.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 10:58 am
I hope your right about Sahin. It would be a coup for us, even on loan with something to prove.
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:18 am
I saw a clip on youtube with him & podolski having a right old barney, let him go there and unsettle their spirit
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:57 am
While there has been much praise for how Levy has run the business side of things, I think much damage has been done by running the club purely as a business. While Levy holds out till the last minute of every transfer window and attempts to get every possible dollar from his sales and get the best value for his buys, I believe this strategy costs us points and opportunities every year. Players take time to settle in and the team needs to gel and be confident. Levy’s waiting till the last minute stuffs up our August every year with last minute panic decisions. We got lucky with VDV but we were absolutely demolished by the Berbatov debacle, the Modric debacle last year and what’s going on with Modric this year. If we would have sold Modric a month ago, we could have had a new striker settled and ready for Newcastle and Modric’s midfield replacement having a good working relationship with the other midfielders. This way, we might get Adebayor at the last minute and we won’t get the striker/midfielder we need when we get the money from Modric’s sale because all the good players will have already been purchased well before August 31. We’ll buy the best of a bad bunch and it may work and it may not. That’s not how you run a football club! After the disappointment we suffered last year we needed to be ready to be a top four contender from the first game – and we weren’t! I am definitely sure this is not the way AVB wanted to start the season. Sometimes you have to pay a few dollars for harmony, certainty and confidence. Levy either doesn’t grasp this or doesn’t care.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:11 am
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j Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:55 pm
I always wonder why, with the money the likes of AVB are paid by Cheatski to get too fuck, you wouldn’t just offer Levy 2-4 mil out of your own pocket so you can ensure success for yourself, by landing that signing early, thus making more money when you move to a bigger club. He must be absolutely rolling in it, and I don’t think he has charity projects in Africa draining his resources.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:01 am
Bassong is gone. How gone? How’s about a photo of him signing in his new local rag.
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Nezspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:02 am
Seems I can’t put in a URL.
Oh well, currently newest story in NewsNow.
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SeasideSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:10 am
Looks like a rabbit caught in the headlights…
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:12 am
Hahaha the ‘Norwich Argus’ or ‘Eastern Daily Press’ probably. Poor old Seb – his career really has hit the heights now.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:14 am
“The 26-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers but could not prevent them from being relegated from the Premier League.”
To be fair transferring in half the team from ‘Escape to Victory’ couldn’t have kept Wolves up last season.
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:52 am
Christ, I hope he doesn’t come back to bite us on the arse.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:19 pm
You detected my nervous laugh then….
August 21st, 2012 at 11:07 am
Bassong gone
http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/sport/tottenham_hotspur_s_sebastien_bassong_signs_for_norwich_city_1_1488590?
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:08 am
I’m not sure our scouting is the worst… we’ve got far more bargains in the team than many of you realise. These are roughly the prices I remember us paying for some of our players, many of whom are now worth a lot more! Obviously there are some duds too – Bentley, Bassong, J****, Gomes etc, but I don’t think we are doing half as bad as Liverpool :0
Lennon – 1mil
Bale – 8/10mil
Huddlestone – 3/4mil
Daws – 4/5mil
A-E – 3/4mil
VDV – 8mil
Walker – 4mil
Sandro – 6/7mil
Parker – 5mil
Modric – 16mil
Kaboul – 8mil
We were also ‘in’ for Leandro well before his price went through the roof. I bet Levy would happily pay the 15mil now they wanted a couple years ago…
Keep the faith! COYS! COLYTFC
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SeasideSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:48 am
Let’s put a few of those ‘bargains’ into perspective:
1) Lennon – Very much a bargain, but mainly due to the fact that Leeds Utd. had imploded after showing how easy it is to go from CL football to League 1 football in one easy lesson.
2) Sandro – After signing a sporting deal with Internacional we said “Give us your best player at a reasonable price as a show of good faith”.
3) Parker – Didn’t want to play in the Championship as this would harm his chances of playing for England. Had told West Ham he wasn’t signing a new contract so they cut their losses and their wage bill to cope with life in the Championship.
4) Kaboul – Originally bought for 8M and then sold to Portsmouth from whom we had to re-sign him.
5) Modric – signed prior to the 2008 Euros in case his fee escalated after having a good tournament.
6) VDV – Deal concluded for two reasons i) Sylvie was in need of medical treatment and VDV wanted assurances regarding continued employment in Madrid which wasn’t forthcoming. ii) Daniel Levy and Jose Mourinho have a good relationship (although not in the biblical sense).
7) A&E – Picked up for a song by the ex-scum scout when he took over as DoF. He had already scouted A&E many times during his period of employ with them.
The others… Bale, Walker have worked out great! Hudd and Daws not so great.
But throw in Bassong, Jenas, Bentley, Gomes, Corluka, Pav, Crouch, Krancjar, Khumalo, Saha, Nelson, Gunter, Woodgate, Hutton, Gilberto, Giovani, Boateng, Chimbonda, El Hamdaoui, Andy Reid, Halfredsson, Stalteri, Tainio, Routledge, Lee, Rasiak, Murphy, Hossam Ghaly, Mido, Dervitte, Zokora, Rocha, Berchiche, Taarabt & Darren Bent… I could go on, and on… Not a great record is it?
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:23 pm
Translate 6 as “Sylvie needed a boob job”
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SeasideSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Otherwise known as Breast Cancer – but I guess you are in the right area!!
Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Christ i feel like a right c**t now. Didn’t have any idea. Nurse – break out the rosary beads for Thomas, he’s off to confession…
Michelle Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
Sorry but that is rubbish.
Bale was known for 18mths before he came here and all the others are either manager picks(Modric, dos Santos) or DOF picks(yes I had to say it) and it is NO coincidence that our total lack of any effective scouting system for foreigners in the 20-25 age group is related to the departure of the DoF. When you sack a DoF no matter how useless he is, you remove a massive network of scouting and give it to someone else. What was interesting about Liverpool was that when our former DoF went there, they resisted totally him putting his network in place of theirs and there was quite a donnybrook which finished up as a compromise system with elemnets of both supposedly integrated and you can see how successful that was.
We do NOT have an effective scvouting system for anyone outsdie(and possibly inside) the UK for unknowns in the 20-25 age group and frankly i doubt that our scoutgs even play Championship manager going by their success rate at finding unknown good’uns.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:11 am
Shame to see Dawson go if he does but have always felt he was not at the very top level. He is probably ideal for say Villa, Sunderland, Fulham but not a top 4 side now as he lacks pace and he is not as comfortable on the ball or passing it as we need . Caulker is a better bet and of course Vertonghen is exactly the cultured type that Ledley was.
Hudd is on the other hand great in possession and a great passér but is just not mobile enough. His physique and ability would suggest he would make a very good sweeper but that is not what we require in AVB system . He is just not mobile or quick enough which is a shame as I really liked watching him play but of course that has been so rarely what with his long injury problems. Infact both Hudd and Daws have been very unlucky with injury so hope a fresh start will bring them better luck. If Hudd goes out on loan it at least hedges our bets somewhat. If Daws does go will always remember him as a terrific 100 pc Spurs man and will recall the many last ditch headers, blocks, he made to save the day. Good luck to him wherever he goes but hope it is not Stoke, he is much much better than that. Fulham would be good for him IMO back with BMj and a very good club who,play the game the right way.
All this outbound activity MUST surely mean some imports soon. Please make it so, I just don’t think I can handle this transfer window nonsense much more. Come on DL get the deals done then our season can actually start.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:13 am
Daws is no hoofer. One of his favourite outlet balls was the 40 yard diagonal pass to the left wing. Probably tried it too often, but was usually accurate. His head was like a ball magnet and his commitment was 150%. With Ledley retired and Gallas on way out, would make more sense to loan him out, like THudd, if his face doesn’t fit at the mo.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:17 am
I would like to point out either Avb has a screw lose or the papers are up to their usual tricks stirring crap up for us which is nothing less than i expect from the redcrapp luving papers
And what seaside spur is spot on
And my other point ,i suggest some some of you get a coaching badge or something because maybe he doesn’t HOOF a ball 40yds to benny or bale ANY of you watch the HOD hoofing [hittimg]40yd diagonal balls ,thats 1 of his assets for christ sake
As for Kaboul needs to still learn a lot loses players in the area big time ,he needs to start thinking also ,oh yeh what about his runs into blind allys or hasnt people noticed that !!!!
Bit like FREIDEL with crosses and slow positioning
nobady seems to notice that for the last year!or ignores it.
NEXT whens jenas and rose going !and bassong has gone!
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:19 am
“You’ll notice that Brad has mostly been rolling the ball to the back four’s feet.”
I did not notice this against Newcastle at all, in fact I saw hoofs-a-plenty. I also saw Sandro and Livermore turn it over repeatedly. If we are going to do the high pressing, ball retention game, we need the personnel. Friedel not the one to run out of his box and spray the ball out quickly and accurately.
As for Daws, what he is is a superb penalty box defender but he’s always been more than suspect with the ball played over his head / into space behind him. So in one way it makes perfect sense that he doesn’t fit into AVB’s preferred system. However there will be some days against some teams when we won’t be able to dominate possession and press high up the pitch and will have to concede possession and drop deeper, and that’s exactly where we’ll Daws. To make a very simple comparison – Terry was never going to be the man to handle a high line system but Chelsea would have been literally annihilated playing Barcelona that way.
Just like AVB failed to make any significant tactical changes against Newcastle on Saturday even though Pardew had moved his team around at half time to counter our system, I have a sneaking worry that AVB may have just the one idea, the one tactical approach. And tbh moving on the likes of Dawson who can boss the penalty box on days when we need to dig in and defend it, and Thud who can receive the ball in midfield and make telling and accurate passes over any distance – even if he isn’t quick or very mobile – moving on these two makes this suspicion a little stronger…
Of course, have to reserve judgement til something actually happens, people actually leave and see who comes in. But these are slightly unsettling times atm…
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daytripper11 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:32 am
I agree completely on your AVB tactical comments. We held a 60-40 possession advantage at the 30th minute when Pardew made his first switch and started pressing our CMs.
Pardew’s half time change to the 4-5-1 was never countered by AVB and that lead to their big possession advantage in the second half. HR was always excruciatingly slow to recognise and make adjustments, but he usually made the correct ones eventually. That AVB was unable to make any changes has me very scared about what lies ahead for us.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:27 am
Look at the photo of Bassong, can we have a caption comp for it please Harry!
http://www.canaries.co.uk//news/article/bassong-signs-325464.aspx
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:29 am
“Shit. It’s a bit yellow isn’t it”
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:44 pm
J’amaicim?
No he signed of his own accord.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:37 am
I think that its fair to say that given the tone of the comments of the past few weeks, the glass is now half empty for most of us.
Daws is a sound pro with the heart of a lion and Huddlestone playing well could find Lord Lucan with a 40 yard pass.
Both contributed greatly to getting into the Champions League. Personally…probably based more on sentiment and hope, I would keep them both.
Whilst our squad has and does need trimmed, Im getting a bit squeamish about it now given the obvious lack of new faces. There are playing staff I would ship out long before Tom and Sir Les.
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ziege Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:43 pm
Yes.
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:47 am
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!!! Watching the Toffees stuff Horse-shit last night made up for losing to the fakkin Geordie Whores on Saturday! Fukkin priceless seeing Fergietwats boat, I was in hysterics!!! Excellent!! Rip van Pisshole made a losing debut, after coming on as “impact sub” for his first game for Horse-shit! ha ha …to55ers! If we dont win it then Id rather Mancini and his Mob beat Fergietwat again for the title. Get Damiao!!!
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Boy Charioteer Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:56 am
Absolutely brilliant match report! Ever thought of doing film reviews?
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:36 pm
I thought Mus was resident ‘Barry Norman’.
“do not mek me the angry this one make Gwyneth Paltrow good looking film facky hell!”
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Phil McAvity Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
I strongle the facky director for showing not the facky big tits.
Habib Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:05 pm
That was priceless and worth the price of the internet this month alone!
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:56 am
so avb keeping gallas,at least caulker will get a chance thats good. daws always gave his best,and had some serious long pass. ady in and we supposedly looking at dzeko and pjanic,would be great. as for bassong,read this morning,spurs star going to norwich,lol (STAR)crap he his,at least the ball is rolling and we do some good business this week :
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August 21st, 2012 at 11:58 am
If a job lot of players are to arrive before the cut off date, as long as we beat West Brom, and Norwich at home, we’ll be in good shape.
A lot of ifs there, but after the Norwich game there are two weeks of possible ‘gelling time’ before our next game.
Levy does fuck about, but he has always backed a new manger.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:09 pm
*manager even. The manger is for Tom.
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August 21st, 2012 at 12:07 pm
Meanwhile, odds on Llorente still drifting slowly in our favour…
http://www.oddschecker.com/football/football-specials/fernando-llorente-specials/club-after-summer-transfer-window
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August 21st, 2012 at 12:07 pm
I still don’t understand the doom and gloom and relating it to AVB’s appointment.
We would be in a worse position had Harry R stayed on as manager. Modric would still be leaving, Ledley King would still be retired and quite possibly Bale would be looking to head out the door too.
Yes we all want to see Marquee signings but it’s not that simple. And could you imagine the dross we’d be linked with if Harry was still in charge because Levy would never trust him to splash the cash!
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August 21st, 2012 at 12:15 pm
This Dzeko thing is still doing the rounds. Just think, if we had a rich benefactor or consortium, our bench too could be full of disgruntled
overpaidvaluable players who couldn’t get in the team.[Reply]
August 21st, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Right its getting worse we or now selling left right and center and good players daws and hudds were the hell is the players comming in ! At this rate we will be down to bare bones we need players coming in !!!!!
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chiversmetimbers Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Nurse! bedwetter in Ward 3!
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Hahahhahaha.
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August 21st, 2012 at 12:47 pm
I’m delighted Redknapp is gone and I want to support AVB’s ideas. If they work, it could be magical. But this Daws and Hudds out thing smacks of weakening the squad to make some sort of point. Except when out due to injury, these are two players who have been at the heart of our fourth and fifth place seasons. Plus they are Spurs through and through, unlike certain others…
And why the freaking rush to judgement here on two players who are both recently back from long term injury? If this were coming up in January, it would be different. But AVB has been working with this two for less than two months.
I hope this is pro-redknapp media shit stirring, but if not, I am getting a very queasy sense of ramos deja vu.
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:05 pm
one thing I’ve heard about AVB is that he’s very thorough, almost anally retentive on detail and research – a perfectionist
It’s a great attribute to have and in my experience people with that trait generally a very successful at what they do
I reckon AVB has gone through tape after tape of our players in action, looked at their weaknesses & shortcomings and decided they’re not going to get his team to the level required to move us on.
Bar modric name one player who’s on the way out who would get a game at any top club on a regular basis?
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:28 pm
the way he guided the chavs down the table was nearly perfection, another 3 months and they would have been bottom 6
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:37 pm
He was brought in to do a job but the owner bottled it, I saw no glory in the way they won the CL playing anti football
we’ll see how good his people skills are at spurs, that said our lot had a reasonable record at getting rid of managers before ‘arry landed so he may have a job on his hands again
`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:54 pm
touche`
August 21st, 2012 at 1:10 pm
Great yes Hudds and Daws going is a no brainer. Lets really give AVB his head and he will sell Baler and VDV as well. And we will all continue to be apologists for his ‘plan’. 8 games 2 points coming up. I wonder if HR will wind down his car window when DL comes acalling.
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:18 pm
Another redchump lover, id hoped they have all died off, chin up old chap, you can always support him at the next club he fills with pensioners and trys to bankrupt
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:18 pm
Dawson is not a proper player anyhow.Where are the numerous tattoos and silly haircuts? Needs to learn how to fall out of nightclubs in the early hours and crash a few motors..
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Harry Hotspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Precisely. If he’s not prepared to put the graft in then he will simply have to deal with the consequences.
Time-wasters.
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:31 pm
Something’s a’brewin’. I can feel it in my bones. Levy has a trick or two up his sleeve, or I’ll be a glory-hole-attendant.
Don’t think anyone knows quite how the chips will fall, but with all the deadwood-clearing I get the feeling we’re getting ready to pull out the stops to get a proper replacement for Modders + a proper forward (not counting Ade, who will be playing in Lilywhite guaranteed).
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Anthony In That Number Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Moutinho and Llorente plus Adam Johnson would be rather good. Being greedy but as you say something must be going on.
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:47 pm
The Bassong picture is a photo-shop.
In the original, he is clearly holding up a newspaper to show his relatives he’s still alive.
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kenny Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:47 pm
ha ha.
you can have him back for £4:99 and a packet of scampi fries.
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:48 pm
Interesting stat. In terms of key passes, Ratboy was the third most prolific player in the Premier League last season, with around 2,5 key passes per game. That’s clearly a big loss for us. But luckily, one of the two players with more key passes happens to be named Gylfi (2,6 per game).
STATS GALORE
Beyond this interesting observation, the link will provide hours of mindless clicking for the statistically inclined.
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LosLorenzo Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Ok, so I fooled around with this a bit more. Looked at a fairly random bunch of strikers who, by most accounts, had good seasons (RVP, Ba, Cisse, Aguero, Adebayor). I compared their stats with our much-maligned striker MIDGET GEM.
Chance conversion:
Ratio of goals to “big chances” (as defined by the Grauniad, or Opta, or whoever).
Ba 100%
Defoe 85%
Cisse 81%
Aguero 74%
RVP 65%
Adebayor 41%
So Defoe looks pretty good on this count.
Passing percentage:
Aguero 85%
Defoe 83%
Adebayor 80%
Ba 74%
RVP 70%
Cisse 69%
Not too shabby here either. Ade’s number is also surprisingly high.
Offsides per appearance:
Adebayor 1,6
Cisse 1,2
RVP 1,2
Aguero 0,9
Ba 0,8
Defoe 0,5
This is the real shocker. You don’t have to love Defoe, but when you’re going to tear into the poor little guy, lay off the “offside too much” line. Not only is it getting old, it’s just plain wrong.
I don’t think Defoe is the answer to our striker problem. I DO think he’s a quality player who we’re lucky to have in our squad.
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MysteriousStranger Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:11 pm
LL,
Excellent stuff in principle. Now apply the same for the previous 5 seasons, or better still one where Defoe wasn’t an impact sub and compare. One year isn’t enough. And he’s getting on a bit now.
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:12 pm
Hard to be offside when you’re on the bench for most of the game.
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SuperSpurs Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:24 pm
These stats mean nothing without each players mins on the pitch too. Are you comparing apples for apples?
daytripper11 Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:04 pm
There are three better stats that would better show Defoe’s major inadequacies:
1) goals against the top 4 clubs (compared to other strikers)
2) game winning goals/per total goals scored
3) turnover rate including number of shots blocked by defenders (this is not included in passing – his turnover rate has to be one of the worst on the planet)
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:48 pm
That chance conversion ratio for defoe is way out of kilter – 33% max, he’s always been a 1 in 3 striker unless he’s playing wigan
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:50 pm
Time to ring Trumpton Athletic, FC Camberwick Green,and Real Pogleswood.
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mynameissiggy Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Wimbledon Common FC?
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:53 pm
Dawns, Hudd, Jenas and Bentley are all remains from a different time when Spurs weren’t expected to challange the top four and albeit ambitions were high, Spurs were still a mid-table side in those players hayday (if Bentley ever had one and I know Daws and Hudd had good spells after Redschnaps). Fortunately that time has passed, and it is time for them to move on as they simply put are not good enough for a top side; it is a reason none of them are being linked to United or Barca. For Spurs to live up to our ambitions we need to clear out these players and get in class acts. Due to economy it may result in a smaller squad and fewer players, but that’s fine – we have a good youth set up with players that can step into a side when injuries comes along, and eventually having world class players will improve the youth sides also as it will attract talent, and new talent will benefit from their experience. It’s a little bit more motivating to kick a ball around with Gareth Bale than Tarrico I would imagine (sorry Tarrico).
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Llorente’s agent basically saying it is a straight fight between us and Shitty:
http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/909192-fernando-llorente-on-verge-of-premier-league-switch-with-man-city-and-spurs-keen?ITO=socialnet-twitter-button
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:03 pm
Oops, Reply button fail.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:04 pm
Anyway, we can only hope (dream?) that guaranteed playing time and our lofty ambitions win over piles of money and guaranteed medals.
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Mitchell Thomas Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 2:53 pm
“I don’t know the [choice of] club at the moment but there are two clubs, one is in London, and one is in Manchester.”
>Barnet and Crewe fans ears prick up….<
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TMWNN Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:10 pm
You can add Defoe to that list. Good comment.
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Delovely Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 3:47 pm
‘Class acts’? Spurs cant afford ‘class acts’ – Modric and Bale – we got lucky.
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August 21st, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Jenas is from a different game mate.50 yrs ago he would be sat in his piss in a field drinking scrumpy.Still more than he does now.
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August 21st, 2012 at 2:05 pm
No.. sorry thats me Im talking about…brandeeeee
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August 21st, 2012 at 3:32 pm
AVB is a perfectioist, and defoe isnt offside much, thats it, ive heard it all now, im off to ride my pet shark down to the money tree
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August 21st, 2012 at 3:58 pm
How does this blog work then? You announce players we’ve signed, when we haven’t, and you announce players we’ve sold, when we haven’t. Got anything else that’s fatuous that needs posting on here whilst we’re at it Harry?
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Spot on. Well done.
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:52 pm
H is probably argueing with chimps on twatter or sticking pins in his Redchump doll
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Phil McAvity Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:53 pm
What more do you want, winning lottery numbers?
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:55 pm
yes, then ill say the ticket is a loser, then get 2 and a half years in jail
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The Bwoy Wonder Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 11:02 pm
So long as we all know that there’s a place in life for fact AND ALSO fiction, then can I state that this clearly is the finest Spurs blog known to man, a champion amongst men, a pure personification of all that is great in these munificent grandiose times. All that is written here within the blog should rightly be known as not only gospel, but also as a timely reminder for remembrance for other blogs struggling in this current economic climate. Saying that, this page is alright Harry, mildly average possibly, slightly more palatable than a medieval outbreak of herpes, so as long as I feel an enjoyment amongst some of the sores, then I’ll frequent and ‘rubber-up’ accordingly. Can never be too careful, again.
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:00 pm
Daws gone to QPR £10 mil great buisness !
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:13 pm
Daws is the sort of guy you need in the trenches with you.
While AVB might prefer a more sophisticated form of warfare, sometimes you just know the enemy are going to bombard you from a distance and being able to control the ball with either foot and play it out calmly will not be relevant.
I am happy for Daws because even if kept he will have probably not been even 3rd choice, but he could have done a job for us when needed, if he was happy to spend time on the sidelines.
Fergie likes to pick his teams to suit the opposition and watching Gallas (who i rate) fail to win a header vs the likes of Stoke and Wolves last season pointed to me that sometime we need to use horses for courses and Daws & Kaboul would be ideal vs the Big Sams of this world!
Kaboul is the only real steel we have at the back, the rest are a bit pretty for my liking…note Walkers weak headed clearance vs NUFC.
£10m is great business but only as long as we spend this fucking massive pile of cash we have built up in the last year on some top quality in attack and wide areas!
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:41 pm
i think this massive pile of cash pays off some debt and the for the new playground somewhat
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:17 pm
BANG!
http://www.correiodopovo.com.br/Esportes/?Noticia=456444
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:20 pm
Que?
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:23 pm
Use the translate button.
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Thank God the Spainish don’t have any dodgy reporters.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:37 pm
Yeah, but what about the Brazilians?
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:22 pm
….’new brooms sweeping clean, eh’…..
The Eyeballer is sad to see Daws go, but alas, football has moved on and to truly become a top class team you need EVERY player in the team to be able to pass the ball on the floor and indeed under pressure…Thanks for the memories big man…
Thudd, on the other hand has an ego as big as his afro – and yes, he is a Jan Molby type player, but this style does not fit the AVB evolution ….
Whats the story with Ratface – apparently he was training at Spurs Lodge today – c’mon, get going, you’re not fit to wear the shirt no more….
Almost there with Ade (thank God); now for Pjanic to replace Ratface, Lloris to come in and we be happy …..would like to see some German steel come in (like our friend Herr Freund) e.g. Muller from Bayern
……….
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SuperSpurs Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Mmmmmm Muller, I heard he is good at corners
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:33 pm
yes i think we need a new keeper
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:53 pm
I’m not keen on this Lloris fella koj, wouldn’t mind pepe reina from the hubcap lifters even that craig gordon looks steady for a jock
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:01 pm
yeah i know nothing about lloris but not sure big brad should be No 1,but then again i don’t see keepers as worth £10m plus unless its a hart or better
jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:44 pm
the jfdit thinks mr muller is the nuts
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Benspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:22 pm
Heard that Gomes chap used to be a top keeper
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jfdit Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:37 pm
‘arry turned him into a jigsaw didn’t he?
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Benspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:05 pm
mmm
August 21st, 2012 at 4:25 pm
you’d take £10m for dawson for sure,
without knowing where the leaves will fall and what we end up with,levy and avb will have a plan you’d think,of course CL is the aim but they will still have a plan for more than a season i’d hope,the mancs and chavs are way out of here budget wise,we have to hold our nerve and battle the arse,pool and maybe the geordies,toffees who knows
we need to replace luka and adebayor to even start thinking of top 4 on our current squad if you ask me plus a couple of others
i’d like a style,a plan,some form of thinking to go with the new expensive playground they move into soon,if we grab CL off the arse then even better,avb’s plans must be backed and i’m sure levy is going to do this
COYS
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:33 pm
Sky has QPR’s offer at 5.5m and also says Gallas is our new captain. Who knew??!
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
how long is dawsons contract you think,not sure but will have a bearing on the dosh
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
Ade tweets:
“I’m back!!!! Tottenham here I come!! I’m hungry for goals…Get ready.”
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
http://twitter.com/SpursOfficial
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:39 pm
skysports news will be creaming for the rest of august,it was a bit flat last year but it seems every club will be moving/loaning in the next 10 days,everyone seems to have waited apart from the super duper rich
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Spurstacus Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:02 pm
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:36 pm
We’ve bought Adebayor.
Official according to Spurs Twitter account.
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Habib Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:42 pm
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Ade (finally) done. I think Damiao will be coming. I’ve always thought that’s the one with most legs. I also think he would be seen as more attractive to Levy as he is young and has sell on value. Also, he will be able to be eased into the PL as we have experience of Ade. Llorente would of course supersede Ade and command the starting position, which I think would have caused problems.
Just all my hunches anyway…
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:44 pm
the boss speaking the lingo has to have some sway with brasil/portuguese players for sure not sure what will happen but we also do have a link with internacional but the brasilians are not exactly poor these days and the world cup is coming soon too
hope we get him though,obviously
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Habib Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Well Llorente’s agent said Llorente will probably come to EPL and that a team in London and Manchester is interested. With Aguero now coming back after international break it seems we are the only ones in the running?!?!
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:58 pm
what about the goons and chavs,they both have a few quid
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:14 pm
the goons never spend any cash, aunty wanger has said hes already replaced the rapist with plod oldski and the froggie, and they think that that tool fringpong is good enough to replace song, hopefully they will try it, deluded bellends….
LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:40 pm
I know, I posted that story above, but apparently that bloke isn’t his agent, just some berk talking bollocks! Bookies have him nailed on for Juve still, although our own odds have been shortening.
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BrizzleSpur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I would love Damiao at Spurs. But there’s still a Modric shaped hole in midfield and I think thats where the money will be going next.
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:51 pm
I woul get Dembele, or play balenado there and get Johnson to play on the left, or sumfink like that
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Anthony Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:03 pm
Dembele was excellent against us last season and is a real talent. Think he would be great if we could get him but he may want to stay at Fulham knowing he is guaranteed first team football every week. Johnson would be good and give options for cover/competition on both wings but he is inconsistent. He might flourish under AVB , he is certainly talented but needs to be more effective, more regularly .
kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:07 pm
i’d prefer to see balenado right on the highline of the oppo nutbag myself,but hey aslong as he is performing we will be doing well
LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:32 pm
I’m pretty sure (hopeful? Delusional?) that we are still in for another striker. I even believe that if Damiao or AN Other comes, Defoe will be shipped out. Damiao fits the one up top formation and with him and Ade, Defoe would be marginalized again, which isn’t a great position for player nor club seeing as he’s 29.
I would guess 10m would be enough for Defoe from Sunderland or Villa or whoever. So that’s more money for Damiao / AN Other.
All the ITK bellends still seem to think that Moutinho is Modric’s replacement. We’ll see on that one. But I’d certainly be happy with Ade, Dam, Mout!
If you think of it in finance terms, so far this Summer we’ve basically broken even – the sales of Kranjcar, Corluka and Bassong will easily have covered Vertoghen and Gylfi. So we sell Modric for 35m, possibly Daws for 10m, hopefully Jenas for a sausage roll and Bentley for a cup-a-soup, and we have 45m, which is enough to get in Dam and Moutinho I believe.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:33 pm
Oh, plus the 10m for Defoe, meaning a potential 55m ‘warchest’ at least.
August 21st, 2012 at 4:43 pm
Finally Ade is ours!
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:46 pm
Ade done by the sounds of it, hopefully another, would love johnson also, and a couple more, love it coys
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:48 pm
I’m back, da da I’m back da da I’m back.
getup offa that thang and start to score goals forus getup offa that thang and start to score goals forus
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Translate button, nice one!! never used it before
great stuff , leandro eh? if this all comes off all those cretin slating DL will be eating a large bowl of dicks very soon, COYFCS
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:52 pm
I would like to shake Daws hand if I met him.
will always remember the smile on his face coming out the tunnel as we were about to demolish the goons 5-1 in the carling cup semi final.
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 4:56 pm
pop down to loftus road then
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:57 pm
Getting Ade back is brilliant. If we can now get Damaio in as well that would be fantastic. With Ade definitely in it makes it less likely that Llorente would join as he would surely see himself as number one striker. Damaio could be seen as sharing the lone striker role with Ade especiallynas we want to make a proper effort in all competitions? Other inward moves… Still think Moutinho for Modders would be brilliant if we can get him at the right price or Sahin would also be a good option. Fryers will no doub eventually get sorted by tribunal which would leave a new keeper as the next priority so Lloris, Butland or Cesar ?
Having said all that this is Spurs and DL so expect the unexpected !!! Literally anything can happen and possibly nothing but with all the outgoings AVB has to be backed surely.
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kojac Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:13 pm
people like daimo and llorente would be playing anywhere along the front 3 i hope,as that’s the way we will play not that i think/know they will be coming
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:59 pm
If these deals happen , we can all listen to the spastics saying”where would we be if we didnt give everyone a 3 point head start” Yanited lost, and they will probably have 15 points more than us by the end of the season, we took a good side to the barcodes, got unlucky imo, we can hopefully buttfuck the gooners twice and finish above them, im fairly happy
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August 21st, 2012 at 5:04 pm
All this talk about 4 centre backs is wrong – we have 5.
Kaboom, Gallas, Vert, Caulker and finally Daws. AVB has obviously decided that Daws is the one to go.
Makes me think that Carvallo may be coming in as part of the Modric deal – experienced head for when Gallas is injured.
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`rich g Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:10 pm
possible
, i want caulker in the squad and getting games, of the four, daws is easily the biggest hoofer and has an uncanny knack of trying to snap his legs everytime he gets a bit of form going
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Anthony Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:13 pm
That is a very good shout . Carvalho as a back up, experienced mentor might be useful especially in the Europa League. Obviously he is past his best but still has vast experience to,pass onto the younger guys like Caulker , Naughton, Walker even Kaboom. We shall see.
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PeterTheStoreyTeller Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:46 pm
Smith
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August 21st, 2012 at 5:38 pm
According to the BBC, we paid £5 million for Ade and City will continue to pay a large proportion of his wages as we are not breaking our pay structure for him.
Not a bad bit of business, let’s hope he is fit for the weekend.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Yup, they will pay him the extra 70k on his 170k a week wages. That’s preferable to them than giving him the balance in a lump sum – around 7.2m – which would be standard practice in any other transfer (usually the difference in wages wouldn’t be so high, but that’s City’s fault for paying people too much).
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August 21st, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Delighted Ade has signed. Unfortunately the vibe from AVB is that will be it in the striker department, which means if Ade gets injured we’re back to square one. Hope they are just playing their cards close to the vest though and they have another striker lined up. Next up….. a modric shaped hole that needs to be filled.
COYS!
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:48 pm
Don’t believe it. Defoe – as much as I personally rate him (even though he is one-dimensional) – can’t do the lone striker thing. Plus Levy I’m sure would be overjoyed to cash in on him at 29. 1+1 equals – they are still looking for another and Defoe can go on and score his goals elsewhere if they pull it off.
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Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 5:56 pm
Maybe, but i just can’t see AVB going back on his word and selling defoe after telling him that we wanted to keep him. Defoe is a good player, but i agree, he just can’t play the lone role, and i don’t think he’d be happy as third choice.
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LLL Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:00 pm
We don’t know exactly what he told Defoe. All he said was that he’d had a conversation with him and his agent. My guess would be they wanted to know what the deal was, AVB probably told him, we are in for this one and that one, if we get both then we won’t keep you, you can leave to play, if we only get one then you will be our 2nd striker and thus play a fair amount.
Astro Spur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 6:09 pm
True, sounds plausible. Guess we’re going to find out soon enough, as things finally seem to have started moving. Wouldn’t have minded Daws staying, but if we get the reported £10 mil for him and reinvest, it would be a good deal.
Alspur Reply:
August 21st, 2012 at 8:17 pm
Don’t forget, AVB doesn’t exactly favour the lone striker – he favours a central striker and a wide striker…
JD might be able to do that, coming in from the left… which would be Bale goes right and both have the chance to come inside and shoot on their stronger feet… not going to please many on here, but it’s an option…
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August 21st, 2012 at 5:46 pm
According to some tweets we are in for some fella called Willian from Shaktar, apparently he is a Brazilian attacking midfielder and his contract is up this year?
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August 21st, 2012 at 6:16 pm
Sky sports are reporting that Q.P.R. have offered £5.5 mil for Dawson. Fuck that, i’d keep him for that. Nothing less than £8 mil for me!
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August 21st, 2012 at 6:30 pm
I can see the logic behind thinning the squad down. We’ve been running the club with three players for each position for too long – without a proper reserve team and only limited rotation. Trouble is we always seem to lose the best squad players and fail to dislodge the ones that don’t contribute -s’pose this must be the same at most clubs/ businesses.
Feel that cutting Dawson (if true) is one too many.Ledley is going to be a big loss and Bassong was never going to get a fair run. Khumalo’s in Greece for the forseeable (though suspect he’s only being retained as a figurehead for the South African connections).Which’d leave us with Kaboul, Gallas,Caulkner and Vertonghen – Don’t reckon Gallas has got a full season in him. Why not loan Daws to QPR until January to get his fitness back.Fryers maybe able to cover – but what’s happened to him, is he training with the club? What’s the delay with the tribunal? We need him for cover for Benoit. The two Kyle’s are well signed up for the future, with Smithy as back up.
The announcement of Fryers should release Danny Rose on loan as he needs a stretch of games to bring his confidence back (again suggest to only loan until January). Would be good if Butland is joining next season.
With Parker out, Modric going, Pienaar and Krancjar leaving we are now well down on our uppers in midfield. Sandro will be a key man but Jenas, Huddlestone or Livermore put together wouldn’t fill Luka’s boots and his replacement better be a top class one.Hudd looks like he’s burnt his boats which reminds me of an old Queen Mary comment. I still think Livermore is a good honest player who is a bit out of his depth but learning very quickly. Jenas gets a bad press from his own supporters and deserves better.
Sigmurdsson and VanDerVaart might be an interesting competition for the AM role.
Was disappointed to find out 4-3-3 means playing two wide men up front. Think that we have cover for Bale and Lennon with Townsend.
Bentley and DosSantos should be released/ sold off quickly.
Good to see Adebayor has finally settled into our paystructure? DeFoe is a top striker and reckon anyone who wants him to leave is a couple of pork pies short of a picnic. Although it might cause some selection problems I think we do need another forward as Harry Kane is still in development and should be out on loan to a better club than Millwall- do we really plan to play one up in all games League, FA and Europa Cup – how predictable.
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August 21st, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Just had a horrible thought. QPR are looking for a big strong leader at the back while we are looking for a midfield general playmaker / link up man who can use his head when under pressure, twitter around the pitch and get us out of jail in tight situations.
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August 21st, 2012 at 10:05 pm
It seems like a horridly short sighted sale:
1) Gallas is not for our team for much longer. Who is the backup or the backup’s backup?
2) Are we THAT 100% certain that Vert is better than Dawson who was the one constant defender in our CL qualifying season?
Both point to Dawson as being massively valuable to us.
Regarding the hoof- is AVB THAT bad a coach that he cant teach a defender how to lay it off. We know Sir Twitchalot was that bad at coaching but surely AVB could instruct Dawson what to do?
Finally; if two of our 3 defenders (Caulker, Vert, Kaboom) get injured next season, who are we replacing them with? Gallas is already past it IMHO and I cant see him sticking around past the end of this season. So what happens next season?
Dawson can be infuriating with the hoofs and last ditch tackles but he IS an accomplished defender. £10m will not buy us a replacement.
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Benspur Reply:
August 22nd, 2012 at 1:11 am
After SOOO many seasons where we run out of bodies at the back I hope we are covered…that is all.
Welcome home Ade.
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August 22nd, 2012 at 7:47 am
Sad to see Dawson go, he always gave 100%. What’s pissing me off is journalists reporting that we made him captain for the season. Where in fact AVB gave him the captains armband during preseason, but always said he wouldn’t name a captain until the ned of the transfer window! But why let facts get in the way of spicing up a story hey!
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August 22nd, 2012 at 9:09 am
this is a big mistake letting dawson go, one of our best edge of the box defenders,i know he hasnt got the pace to play the high line but you cant play that high line in every match all the time at some point you will have to change to a deeper line,,might aswell say goodbye to parker and any other hardworking player.
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August 22nd, 2012 at 1:50 pm
It’s not suprising that we get so many injuries in Central Defence. The amount of elbowing, shirt-tugging, greco-roman wrestling sh*t that goes unpunished at corners and freekicks by referees and assistants is ridiculous. At the start of the season there is usually a purge on a particular kind of offence and it should be this one – all the way down to Sunday Football & kids leagues.
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