The future of Spurs (or who we should we sign)

By Sunshine
April 14 2005

Accurately second guessing what Arnesen is going to be up to in this summer’s transfer market is an impossible task. If there’s one thing I’m prepared to bet on, that is that at least half the players we end up signing will be complete surprises.  

Hands up who thought we’d have brought in Mido, Naybet, Pamarot, Cerny, Edman or Ziegler?

The players who ended up leaving the club, however, were much more predictable. Anderton, Poyet, Carr, Ziege, Doherty, etc.

So, it is with that in mind that I once again indulge myself in the ins/outs exercise which I carry out periodically to photograph my current thinking both about players who could do a job for us, those I’d like to see carry on their careers at Spurs and those I think could/should leave the club.

Jol and Arnesen want a good team spirit in the dressing room (which rules out a move for Bowyer and those of his ilk) and Keane’s recent tantrums, allied to his perceived worth in the transfer market, mean that he might just be upping stumps in two or three months’ time.

With the likes of Defoe, Kanouté and Mido in the squad, it would be reasonable to expect Arnesen to draft in a 4th choice striker who wouldn’t be too upset at not figuring in the manager’s first team plans every week. Chances are it will not be an African, otherwise the African Cup of Nations in 2006 could see us left with just Defoe and some kids from the reserves in attack. I can’t even begin to imagine who Arnesen could be looking to bring in, but it probably won’t be anyone who’ll cost more than a couple of million pounds.

Next on the agenda is Davies. The Welshman still enjoys a good reputation on the footballing scene and Everton are known to go all weak at the knees at the mere thoughts of his floppy hair gracing Goodison Park in a blue shirt. As far as I’m concerned, if the money’s right, they can have him. I’m tired of waiting for him to become the player we all thought he’d turn out to be when we first set eyes on him around four years ago.

A years or so older than Davies, but infinitely more high profile, is Australian Harry Kewell. Kewell simply hasn’t settled at Liverpool and his injury problems, together with an inability to impress the new manager, have impeded him regaining any sort of form in a red shirt and lead some to believe that he’ll be available this coming summer for a knock down price. I saw enough of Kewell at his peak up North to see what he’s capable of and I’d take a gamble on resurrecting his career, if he modifies his wage demands, that is. Kewell can play on either wing, so he’d be ideal from that point of view.

With both Kewell and Ziegler both able to do a job on the left in the absence of Reid, a back up player for Kewell on the right (for that is where I’d play Kewell predominantly) is required and the smart money is on one of the worst kept secrets in the Premiership: Routledge. The unfinished article this kid might be, he also has undoubted talent and working alongside the likes of Kewell and Reid in training can only improve him as a player and aid his development.

With Mendes not figuring highly in Jol’s plans (or so it would seem to the neutral observer) given the form(?!) of carrick and the highly rated Finnish midfielder Tainio joining the ranks in July, our tactical Portuguese playmaker could be at the end of his English experience.

All midfields need at least four quality components vying for the two berths and whilst it’s true that we have Brown on our books, the likeable dynamo shouldn’t be anything more than a back up to those four, if we’re interested in re-joining the elite band of clubs at the top of the Premiership, that is. Since Parker has been mentioned as someone who will possibly be available come the warmer months, he’s the type of competitor that I’d like Arnesen to entice to The Lane. For a Spurs fan used to the joke midfields of the recent past, can you imagine discussing with your mates which central midfield pairing we should opt for in our next match out of the likes of Davis, Tainio, Carrick and Parker? Pinch me, I think I’m dreaming.

Central defence should see the return of Davenport and the emergence of Dawson, a player tipped by many to be a future England player. In the meantime, Naybet can take next season to finish the task he was bought to carry out and that is to tighten up and organise the defence, whilst sharing his experience and knowledge of the game with the younger players at the club. All this leaves perennial underperformer Gardner in a bit of a pickle. I don’t think Gardner will ever make it at Spurs, but I do think he could do a job for a lesser side, say a newly promoted outfit. The man I’d keep as back up to the group of four centre backs (King and the three mentioned earlier) battling for the two starting slots would be Pamarot. He can play in the middle or on the right. He’s also as honest, if limited, as the day is long and I’d keep him in the squad, much like I would with Brown.

Over on the right, Kelly and Ifil simply aren’t enough to let me sleep comfortably at night. Both are still developing their games and whilst that’s happening, I’d draft in a proven performer. You already know by now that I’m going to name Seitaridis, the Greek Euro 2004-winning full back, don’t you? I can’t express how highly I rate the young lad. He has everything, including pace and awareness, a true great in the making and might just be available for about twice what Porto paid for him ten months ago, especially if we could dangle the ‘Mendes’ carrot in front of the suits of the Portuguese club in part exchange.


The wheeling and dealing would go something like this:

Out

- Keane - £5.5m (Everton, Birmingham, Newcastle, Celtic, etc?)
- Davies - £4.5m (Everton?)
- Mendes – £2m (Porto?)
- Gardner - £2m (Wigan, Southampton, Ipswich?)

Total out: £14m


In

- 4th Striker - £2m
- Kewell - £2.5m
- Routledge - £1.5m
- Parker - £5m
- Tainio – Bosman Free
- Seitaridis - £4m

Total in: £15m



So, it’s the 13th of April 2005 and my line up for next season would look something like:


-------------- Defoe ------ Kanouté --------------
---------- (4th striker) ---- (Mido) ---------------


Reid -------- Davis ------- Carrick ------ Kewell
(Ziegler) – (Parker) --- (Tainio) – (Routledge)


Edman -------- King ------- Naybet – Seitaridis
(Atouba) – (Davenport) - (Dawson) –- (Kelly)


--------------------- Robinson ---------------------
---------------------- (Cerny) ----------------------


Other back up players: Fulop, Pamarot, Ifil, Brown, Yeates…even Marney, perhaps.

If anything, said team is a bit lightweight in midfield, which would probably result in certain games seeing two of Davis, Parker and Tainio making the line up in order to give us some extra steel and allow us the 'luxury' of fielding the likes of Kewell without putting too much pressure on the defence.

Seitaridis' pace and dynamic qualities would make him a perfect full back to play alongside Naybet and behind Kewell. The Greek has the class and ability to dominate the flank almost on his own.

On home soil, I think that side has the potential to take most opposition apart.

I’d be happy with that squad....I know many will raise question marks over selling Keane and Davies, perhaps even about not giving Gardner enough of an opportunity to establish himself (?!)…and I know Kewell isn’t wanted by quite a few people, that Routledge hasn’t convince, that Kelly should be first choice right back and that Kanouté is a lazy bones, but variety (of opinion, in this instance) is the spice of life…so you can have yours…and I can have mine. So ner.

Bookmark or share this story with: