By SidYid
September 2 2006

Well this seems to have been the longest transfer window ever, as usual Tottenham have been linked with all and sundry and if all the gutter press speculation is to be believed we would have a squad 10 times the size. £30m has been spent (alot of that has been recouped) and the squad is without a doubt stronger for it.

Comolli and Jol have been talking about the left winger problem and the summer signings.....


Comolli said: "Have we improved the squad? Yes, because we have added good players in positions we wanted to strengthen and so we have increased the overall quality of the squad."

"It was what I would describe as a tight window - options were few. We knew what we wanted which made it harder because we were looking to fill a very specific brief to add further improvement. Martin and I had many discussions and the defining aspect was always that Martin felt he had the players with whom he can compete. And I’m pleased to say that we have achieved that."

"Speculation in the media was rife this window and it would appear that we have targeted half the Premiership footballers, not to mention those abroad!"

"In actual fact we had two things happen which we ideally would have liked a different outcome for - Michael (Carrick) decided that he wanted to head north and Middlesbrough felt they did not want to part with Stewart Downing."


Jol said: "Much has been made of our need for a left winger. Yes, it would have been good to have secured an out and out left footer, but we did not want to accept second best and what’s more, we didn’t need to.

"We have not had the start to the season we all would have wanted, but the support the Board has given me to put together a squad which has given us a real chance to compete at the highest level has been total."

So with the summer signings of......

Mido.
Berbatov.
Zokora.
Chimbonda.
Assou-Ekotto.
Dervite.
Malbranque.
Pekhart.

Most of which should fill us with a certain amount of optimism.
In my opinion the midfield has not changed much in the way of quality, our biggest loss being Carrick....alot has been written about Levy 'caving in' and selling Carrick but from Levy's point of view Carrick did not want to stay so well done for Levy selling a player who's heart was not at Tottenham and still getting such a huge amount of money back for a small outlay, and having the use of Carrick for a couple of seasons and helping us to 5th (or 4th?) must count for something.
I really was hoping for a last minute pounce on a huge left winger star but this did not materialise and I went to bed just after midnight slightly miffed, however it always looks rosier after a nights sleep and woke up feeling better and thankful for who we have signed (although I am still on
the fence over Malbranque).

In defence we have signed Chimbonda and Ekotto with Dervite being one for the future, it now looks like a solid back 4 as long as they all stay fit, it is absolutely essential that King gets over this injury problem and gets back in the team, (preferably as quick as the next game ...Man U )
The Chimbonda saga left me loosing the will to live during the summer but pleased its over and well done to Wigan for holding out for what they wanted (I seem to recall us doing the Same when selling Carrick) .
Defendi has left after never really getting his chance but hey! he obviously wasn’t good enough.
Lee almost went to Italian giants Roma only for him to pull out at the last moment for 'religious reasons'!) ODD!!

The forward line with Berbatov, Mido, Keane and Defoe are to me complete, only problem that may arise could be one or two of them being peeved for bench warming for too many games...who this will be remains to be seen. Again one for the future in Pekhart and hopefully Barnard will get his chance otherwise what’s the point in the academy? He did so well in the reserves last season and deserves some recognition.(In my opinion)

After all the hype and anxiety of the summer 'will they won't' they I am pleased its all over now until January.
I am disappointed with the start to the season but see no need to panic yet (mind you if we miss out on Europe this season by 6 points I may feel different at the end of the season.)

I am confident that big MJ will turn things around and get the players to gel I just hope that he can do it sooner rather than later.