With the dubious news that Ramos has left these shores for his home country it seems as though all the big cheeses have now thrown their weight behind the efforts to cherry pick from a certain Catalan club. This bodes the question: Why oh why oh why are Tottenham Hotspur dicking around with Samuel Eto'o?I have been a Spurs fan man and boy, and the one thing that experience tells me is that I'll eat my god damned hat if I see the Barca "hotshot" in a Spurs shirt next season. The same goes for that monkey-man Deco.
I have so many issues with this situation I barely know where to begin. Only an idiot would claim that either of these players would not grace the lily white, but the notion of these transfers is so far-fetched that one of only two options can be true: a) it's all a load of bollocks or b) we are planning on paying an obscenely disproportionate amount of money for players whose best years are questionably behind them.
Are either of these players about to accept a season without Champions League football at this stage of their careers? I doubt it. Does Daniel Levy seem like the kind of man to throw over £100,000 a week at a player in direct contravention of his own carefully crafted wage structure? Not in my experience. Is blowing the inevitable Berbatov windfall on one player in a moment of madness the best thing for the club? Never in a million years.
Eto'o is a decent player and a world star, and if we could pick him up for £15m and £80k a week I'd say that was good business (I'd also recommend an umbrella as protection from all that flying pig shit) but £25m for a 27 year old who is a striker in the "clinical finisher" mould, rather than the "tricky playmaker" mould is idiocy. We spanked £17m on one of those a year ago and he has yet to be given a fair crack of the whip.
Deco is an even more ludicrous sentiment as the inconsistent playmaker is the wrong side of 30 and will also be looking to be compensated for "lowering himself" - fuck it, while they're out there they should come back with Ronaldinho as well. Ooooh, hang on - the thought of all three of them toying with the goons next year is mildly arousing, just try not to think about the affect it will have on ticket prices...
In my opinion our £25m would be better spent on a respectable offer for young Marcelo Moreno (10 in 14 in his league, 8 in 10 in the Copa Libertadores and 2 in 4 for his country) with enough left over to buy some consistency on the wings OR an experienced international centre half OR a world class keeper.
I am the first person to say that what Spurs DON'T need is another slew of £5m-£8m squad players. But by the same token a team who fail to progress in a sub-standard European competition and are incapable of finishing in the top half of their own division do not need a £25m superstar. Players like these are what the European heavy-weights need in order to take them from third in their league to champions, from the Champions League quarter finals to the finals, they are the missing part of the jigsaw for a team that is nearly there. Spurs would be better off with 2 more signings in the vein of Luka Modric rather than one of the calibre of Eto'o.
Bearing in mind we have already done £17m on Modric and look to be about to shell £5m for that Eagles wonderkid, the mind can only boggle at what this summer's warchest must be. I can't help thinking it would be a mistake to hand it all to Barcelona for a player who will undoubtedly pine for better things, bitch if he isn't playing and lose a third of his value before the ink is even dry on the contract.
34 comments:
Agree with most of what you say:
Not quite sure that your designation of Eto'o as having his best days 'arguably' behind him is correct. Traditional wisdom is that a striker is going into his best years atn 27 (prior to that he has 'room to improve'). The whole Berbatov thing is based on the fact that he is 27 and 'going into his best years' which is why heeee-is agent (yeah right) is so vocal about his 'need' to play Champs league, like, now. Eto'o is also 27 - so it is illogical to claim that one is going into his prime and the other has his best years behind him.
Other than that, yup, I have said myself that I see little point inspending all of the money we get for Berbs (assuming he goes) on another forward the same age, who is also going to want Champs League football (not to mention the wage bill). And I still think Darren bent should be given a chance - 8 goals from the bench ain't so bad, and his direct style is going to be suited much better with a much more creative midfield (cf Luca modric).
And on that point, what is the idea behind signing a play-maker like Modric, and then another one the age of Deco (and wants Champs Leau...blah, blah, blah) - this one I consider to be 'paper-talk'.
Ronaldhino - someone is 'avin' a larf with that one. If he goes anywhere it will be Chelsea.
Daneil Levy cannot win can he ?When he spend money, the fans get worried. Are we out of budget. If he don't spend, he shows lack of ambition.
Spurs a midtable team that should not buy players of E'to calibre ? Wait a minute, please review your logic. So how can we get out of this visious circle of midtable without players of that calibre?
You must be one of the spurs fans who will accept that Wenger is getting the next Zidane as they are in the "right stage of development".
You also suggested that we should not spend on 5~8 mil players. To give you the benefit of the doubt. You are suggesting we get players in the range of 10~20mil, at the right age.
What next, hoping for the best, maybe another Berbatov will fall into the bag?
Don't be silly, Levy is betting big on next season.A do or die season where we hope we can catch Liverpool and Arsenal on and off filed problems to our advantage.
It's not our problem where the money will come from. It's Levy problem.You can put your faith in him at least he can get the finances right for Spurs.
"I am the first person to say that what Spurs DON'T need is another slew of £5m-£8m squad players..."
no you're not. everyone says that.
what we need are the RIGHT players. then it doesn't matter how much they cost.
"it doesn't matter what they cost" - Leeds said that, so did blackburn.... both got relegated fucking quickly afterwards.... Mid table mediocrity for 10 seasons is better than champs league for one and then champ ship for 5...
I agree with some of your comments particularly those around breaking the wage structure and buying more 10-15 million pound players to balance the team and spread the budget.
But attempting to push the idea that his "best days are behind him" at 27 is quite laughable.
Despite injury and playing in a team with problems he scored 16 goals in 18 league games.
If that's a player past his prime then you might as well mothball Keane and tell Ronnie to retire!
Clearly unhappy with the problems of racism in Spain and now the fans on his back imagine what he could do with a fresh challange and motivation?
You're simply following comments from chip wrapper hacks and blog comments instead of sticking to the facts.
Will he sign for us? Probably not but let's be realistic instead of trying to cover our disappointment with excuses.
Maybe only an idiot would think there are only an A) or B) solution...
Maybe it's C)...Levy and Ramos may like all these reports of us signing Eto while they are really in Spain doing business for someone else.
They have more nouse than you seem to give them credit for.
They already proved that when they had Modric sitting in the stands when NOBODY had even had him on there radar!
That's how business is supposed to be done....they probably welcome all the guuter lornos and idiot blogs like this one spouting on as they can keep doing what they need to be doing.
Would'nt mind betting the next signing is another Midfielder or winger that has hardley been mentioned.
Bring on the Ramos Revolution!!!
COYS
Who exactly has been saying Levy is in Barcelona specifically?
Barcelona are not the only club in that region anyway, even if he is out there.
Espanyol are their near neighbours and we have been linked with more of their players over recent months than that of Barca.
As for Eto'o not being an ideal buy...quite simply, he would become the best striker in the entire league if he came to the Prem.
His game is suited to the lightning pace of the Premier League.
Of course, no way will we buy him but you should take his linking to our club with a pinch of salt.
It's media nonsense.
Not sold on Eto'o on his current form. If we are going to spend big, I would rather have David Villa.
Even more sensible (and cheaper) Stuttgart's Mario Gomez. 6ft 2, fast strong and scores loads of goals. Also, players seem to do well adjusting from the physical Bundes league to Premiership.
I am hoping there is all this Barca smokescreen is to enable the Gomez deal to go through quietly (like Modric)
I think that Levy should search the field more for talent that wont cost Millions and will require paying huge wages. Latin America is a breading ground of quality world class football players that would cost a fraction of what Barca want for Eto, and would no where near require paying stupid wages. I have no doubt that Eto would be a class act at the Lane, but Eto is the kind of player that breaks football teams banks and then leads to the breaking for a club.
Spend more money and time searching the guide and concentrate on Latin America, and you will find players that will make Eto and Berby a thing of the past.
johnsprunteto is one of the best strikers in the world, i currently live in barcelona and have watched him afew times. his work rate is briliant chasing down defenders and the keeper, unlike berba and his ability to score out of nowhere is second to none. he also creats more than people think.
however will we get him, i dont think so!
but at 27 million it is a good deal bearing in mind berba will leave for a similar price. what would u rather a 15 million striker like ashton or forlandand and two very average 6 million players who will end up as squad players and not taking us to another level.
now is a chance to push on eto signals intent to europe which is priceless and maby guttuso will come and a gk, and on paper a title chanlenging team?! not but camps league deffinatly. so im saying spend net 15 more million and we can really push on.
Good to see that a lot of passion has gone into this article but next time please put some thought into it. In a way I agree with your ideas behind squad players. We need people to slot into the first now. Forget youngsters for 1 season and focus on getting the first team right. Then we can start to think about filling the rest of the squad. I think if we sell the dead wood hanging around the club even on the cheap we can get about £50 mill. With Berba in there as well then we have plenty of money to spend. Etoo is a lovely target and far fetched enough that the tabloids would have a field day, which they are. I used to think that Tottenham were serious about signing Etoo but the more I think about it the more it makes sense that this is all a smokescreen. Like magic with slight of hand. Everyone is looking one way whilst what is really happening is elsewhere. Ramos is clearly very clever and Levy isnt an idiot either. Etoo isnt going to be in a Tottenham shirt next season but a few other people are.
we have been down this road before with defoe while iam not putting defoe in the same bracket as eto robbie If we are going to break in to the top four cartel we are going to sneak in with a sprinkling of our young stars and players like berby was on the fringe of being great but need a dose of spurs attacking tradition to bring them on for our feeder club utd. players like santa cruz pinichi i think thats is name he plays for roma i think perkhart should be upgraded to the seniors and danny rose we could have the answers on our doorstep we need the same players playing for weeks not one week then change a top goaly has let us down for 3 seasons so forget a quick fix to get in the champions league it wont happen and we will have players like berbey winging to go utd an others build a class of stars within and emerging stars look at santa he got a sack full of goals for 4 million and any way we scored 102 goals in all comps last year we need a vandasar in goals
I agree! We should buy D'Alessandro, whom people have seemed to forgot that he was one of the main reasons Portsmouth didnt get relgated 2 seasons ago. I am still shocked that noe one has bought him!! 2nd i think we should get Andrey Arshavin...
I think Bale will be a BIG player for us next season to if he can keep fit. We def need a good holding player someone like Makoun would be great... I thikn we should try and swap lennon for valencia plus a few million would be good business.
COYS!
Maybe we're not after Eto'o at all, could be we're after another Barca player and in the intresets of good relations with the Spanish giants we're just doing them a favor by starting a price war over their want away player. Memo from Barca to Spurs, 'Mr Levy, thank you for starting a bidding war for our player Mr Eto'o, we are now assured maximum monies for the player, we can assure you we will not go public with your purchase of Mr Dos Santos untill it is finalised, yours sincerley Barcelona FC'. ...and another player arrives at the lane without the media even getting a sniff of the deal!
Get Richard Dunne!!! We really should start to worry about the goals going in. We have players there to score, just look at this season 102 goals!! Richard Dunne may not be the Catalan man you want, he may not have the long hair blowing in the North London wind, what he has got is bags of premiership experience and that is exactly what we need at the back for next season. STOP THE GOALS GOING IN like the top 4, then go get your Eto'o's pml
£5-8m for squad players!
Man that makes me not only feel old, but that the years are passing very quickly.
Points of order:
The "best years behind them" comment was primarily aimed at Deco, granted it didn't read that way and I conceed that Eto'o is now in his prime. However, realistically how many good years does he have in him - 3, maybe 4?
Next: Do you people who think we should buy Eto'o really believe that what this squad needs is a £25m striker? Don't you think there are other areas that could do with that calibre of player a little bit more desperately?
Lastly: You people that think Eto'o is a smoke screen, maybe you're right - but just remember the Rivaldo debacle.
It always amazes me when people get uptight about how much this player cost us or how we paid too much for that player. What the fu*ks the money got to do with it? It's not our money. who cares if Darren Bent cost 17 million or 7 and six pence? It's totally irrelevant. It's - not - our - money!
Spurs will spend in the region of 60 million on players this close season. Maybe not net after selling off quite a few of this squad, but they will shell out that much. Why? Because they can afford to. Spurs will get in the region of £70 million quid prize money from the Premier League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League cup this season. Add to that their income from other revenue streams and you have £100 million+ income (the fifth highest in the league). They are rolling in the stuff. And I hope they do as well - £62 quid it cost me to sit in the West Stand and watch Liverpool take the pi** out of us. We were sh*t!
Guillem Balague (Rafa Benitez's biographer, journalist and general Spanish football expert) reckons the best striker in Spain over the last two years is Diego Milito and that Spurs will buy him for around £15 million. They should get that deal done, offload wantaway Berba and then focus on the four or five other players we need (2 goalies, 1David Bentley and 1 centreback at least) in my humble opinion.
Harry H.
Intentions for Spurs...
from what i see we don't need the likes of Eto or a 25 million pund striker, all we need is someone that costs around the same as Berba did and will bag us goals.
all that striker needs to do is score the same amount has berba has done for us.
WE NEED TO BUILD DEFENCE!
here's a fact for you - SPURS SCORED MORE GOALS THAN CHELSKI DID DURING 2007/2008 (66 (46 at home, 20 away)) Chelski managed 65 (36 Home, 29 away) but our goal difference of +5 compered to their +39 was pitiful!
football basis - don't concede and score at the other end. from wings (give steed credit)to attacking midfielder forwards we don't have a problem - we score more than the 2nd placed team.
at the back is where the problem lies - we conceded 1 less goal than Birmingham, and look where they are playing now!
Levy will spend wisely, a couple of strong Center Halves to give us defensive options, and a class keeper. that's it (plus obviously a striker to replace Berba) and if we stop leaking golas then the CL can be within grasp.
someone above said, Ramos and Levy aren't stupid, they know, they sat and watched all those games aswell!
good article. i agree with all of it. althouth eto still has some fuel in the tank thats for sure. i think we have still to see some more improvement rom him. having said that he isnt worth breaking our wage structure over 100K when the 2nd highest will be 60K. our problem isnt scoring goals anyway. we need another centre back......goalkeeper and possible a left winger and if berbs goes a stricker.
Didn't we offer Rsol around £80K p/w befrore he went to the scum? Surely we can afford £100K a week for Eto'o now. That was years ago, and I think the club's economy is better now..
I totally agree with you. I've always thought Eto'o was a great striker, but the last part of this season he's been crap. Spend the money on a midfielder and a back-up striker for Darren Bent, because he will become a hit.
Rumour on the inside circuit is that we are in fact very very close to signing Dos Santos. Eto's agent actually said, "I don't know if Tottenham were talking to Barca but about Eto definitely No." not word for word but pretty much. I can see us signing Milito, Dos Santos, Kameni and Moreno plus 1/2 others. We definitely need a strong tackling midfielder who simply breaks down play, a makelele/scholes/hargreaves/mascherano type player who simply tackles and passes. Lets enjoy the Summer and keep our fingers crossed for next season! COYS!
We really don't have to worry about debt. Levy/ Lewis won't spend money they haven't got....that's more Chelsea/ United's style than ours (£1.5b in debt between them....I'd feel sick if Spurs were ever in that position).
One day Spurs will challenge the top four so one day they'll have to pay top four wages. Why can't that one day be right now? We don't HAVE to pay the guy £100,00 after tax...we could pay it in bonuses. Terry Henry earned £10m in his last season at that filthy horribly hole up the road, and that was all in carefully structured bonuses.
And for the record, Eto'o will score goals anywhere and will do so for a few years yet. He's as lethal as Vieri in his prime. Goals, goals, goals....
I dont know about eto- not sure he would suit our style of play to be honest- maybe we should be going after Arshavin instead....
also- theres one point nobody has mentioned on here yet....
£27 mil for a player whos gonna go AWOL for the african nations cup?
i mean its ok for Zok as we have cover but we dont really have the strikers to be able to let Eto'o go for that amount of time?
Was Alan Sugar stark raving mad when he signed Jurgen Klinsmann? No he wasn't. If Levy feels he can pull this off then he has try, that the sort of chairman I want at Spurs. Stop being a prat
completely agree with everything you say..... but also agree with a lot you haven't said such as the currrent size of our squad and the amount we need to off load which would substatially free up a great deal of wage budget. However, would eto'o not be more hassle than he is worth? already demanding extreme wage demands i dont feel he would be anymore commited as berbatov is right now...he sounds like a drogba wobbly thrower in the making. also why does no one ever talk about the fact we haven'yt had a left sided midfielder since ginola and why on earth dont we pursue this? i could see us going without a striker? i would much prefer a gk, cb and a lm over a striker any day!!
We all know strikers are the glamour boys of modern football and attract the highest prices and wages. But, like great boxers, the real champions are those that can defend themselves.
The teams that consistently distinguish themselves in the Prem are those with the strongest defense.
If the Spurs have really got this amount of money to spend, Then get out there right now and buy a top of the range goalie, a surefooted central defender and a quality holding mid fielder (Not seen since Carrick left)
That whole shopping list will come to the same price as Eto'o.
every year just about season ticket time Spurs claim to be signing and big time superstar yes every year bar none and all the(short memory)spurs fans go crazy Spurs will never spend 100 grand on one player per week they cannot afford it (stadium 2 small)why don't they try for once to come up with one decent hard working team and just go one better than Mr Jol did and we would be happy and leave fantasy football to Chelsea.
The person Spurs need to get rid of is Camolli. He hasn't made a decent contribution to the club in a very long while. He has brought in nothing but dead wood and half rate players. Let Ramos pick who 'he' wants and let Levy and him talk to the agents.
i totally agree with everything in this article. Etoo is over-rated...thats why Real Madrid and Juve both got rid of him and why he has had only one top season for Barca. Diego Forlan anyone?
We need to buy quality not big names
agree with james. Camolli has done nothing. The only good player he got wa berbatov. The ones to flop are many. Kaboul, boateng(havent seen a lot of him) and many more.
We need a lot more better players to come. Get people who are proven players. Might cost a bit more but still we need the best players to come to our club.
I have it on good authority that we are getting Henry and Deco in swap deal with Berbatov. Oh yes. Keep the faith and watch us win the prem next season.
Don't pay big money for players who already have a world class repritation....our best player have been young cheap players from lesser clubs who have little pressure on them such aaron lennon and carrick....they cost around 2 mil a piece...Modrics a good signin...no point gettin another forward as we already got four amazin forwards....although it would be nice to see moreno in a spurs shirt....we are goood at goin forward and scorin goals as team but we we are also good at lettin them in at the wrong side...if i was levi now i would be lookin at a strong defensive holding player at the center of the park....where we have been missin all season since carrick left...and a good goal keeper...maybe with a good experence of the game.
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