Spurs 2013-14: Jermain Defoe, The Greatest European Scorer

[veritas]

This is looking like the deepest Spurs team in years.  If they can find a reliable backup centerback, they're covered everywhere.  Hopefully they can finish the season strong unlike the past couple years.
 
Also if the Coentrao rumors are correct, BAE has to be leaving, right?  They don't need 3 LB plus Vertonghen and AVB seems to love Rose.

 

[teddykgb]

I don't know if I've seen Lamela play.  Is he a striker? Attacking mid?  I'd imagine Willian will be deployed on the left.

 
He can sort of play all over the forward line.  Not an out and out striker, more of an attacking mid.  It's an imperfect comparison for a lot of reasons, but my mind drifts to El Sharawwy.  Not really a complete midfielder, but a creative player who plays ahead of the midfield and behind the striker.  Tends to get into wide areas, though, so not a classic player in the hole.
 
edit: I forgot to add, he plays on the right generally for Roma, but is left footed.  So one of those cut inside and score the goal types.

 

[URI]

It kind of sucks that we got Soldado, and Capoue in August, and are in on Willian, Lamela, and Pjanic, since most teams are set and there is no way we would be able to replace Bale if sold to Madrid.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Oh, you.

 

[URI]

That was pissy

 

[DJnVa]

No Pjanic in the Disco? http://www.football-italia.net/38595/roma-won%E2%80%99t-be-selling-pjanic
 

There is now talk that Erik Lamela and Pjanic may be on their way out, with Tottenham paired with both.  “Miralem is and will remain a Roma player,” Michele Gerbino informally told Centro Suono Sport. “He will not be sold this summer, absolutely not.”

 
 
Also, Stoke is interested in Defoe, either on loan or permanent.

 

[DJnVa]

Also:

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway has been charged with improper conduct and bringing the game into disrepute over comments about referee Mark Clattenburg after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Spurs. Holloway alleged: ‘Certain clubs get fouls and others don’t.’
 

Yes, it's awesome how the Spurs seem to get awarded a PK every other game or so.
 
Wait, what?

 

[DJnVa]

I'm a triple-threat. Back to back to back.
 
http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1657?cc=5901
 

Among the raft of intelligent, geeky and academic young football coaches, Andre Villas-Boas probably epitomises the genre more than most. He was never a professional footballer, he was an international coach by the age of 21, he made his name as a video analyst under Jose Mourinho and he admits to being fascinating by the video game "Football Manager" in his younger days.
 

 

[Merkle's Boner]

$125 million plus Coentrao?
 
http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/21/gareth-bales-transfer-from-tottenham-to-real-madrid-reportedly-done/

 

[URI]

That's £80million plus Coentrao.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Lamela to Spurs for €30m + €2.4m to Lamela
 
I hate you guys so, so much.

 

[URI]

 

[Apisith]

Let's see who you actually end up with. Willian has fallen into your lap because the Anzhi owner has gone nuts. Capoue is a B player. Soldado was a long chase. Pjanic you have also been following for a long, long time.

Lamela is the only one that doesn't come under the criteria I said, but let's see if you actually get him and let's see if he actually turns out all right.

 

[URI]

But their squads were set!  Spurs will have no options if Bale is sold!

 

[DJnVa]

Let's see who you actually end up with. Willian has fallen into your lap because the Anzhi owner has gone nuts. Capoue is a B player. Soldado was a long chase. Pjanic you have also been following for a long, long time.

Lamela is the only one that doesn't come under the criteria I said, but let's see if you actually get him and let's see if he actually turns out all right.

 

 

[PedroSpecialK]

I believe you may be mad
 
DrewDawg mad!!! He mad!!!!!!!!!
 

 

[teddykgb]

Man, Mourinho really doesn't like Juan Mata, eh?  He apparently loves attacking midfielders, but not him.
 
Crazy if Chelsea really swooped in on this deal at the last minute.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Looks like Bale's done, for all intents and purposes - just took this screenshot from here
 

 

[triniSox]

Man, Mourinho really doesn't like Juan Mata, eh?  He apparently loves attacking midfielders, but not him.
 
Crazy if Chelsea really swooped in on this deal at the last minute.

Getting rid of Mata especially to Man United would be crazy. Even benching Mata would be crazy IMO. This Chelsea pursuit doesn't make sense to me.

 

[DJnVa]

I believe you may be mad
 
DrewDawg mad!!! He mad!!!!!!!!!
 

 
Sky Sports wants you to go bet on that at skybet.com. Go ahead. We'll see.
 
EDIT: Reading on twitter (from a Sky Sports reporter) that Willian is actually at Spurs HQ in London now.
 
 
Spurs win 5-0 in Georgia today. Goals by Soldado (2), Paulinho, Rose, and Townsend, and reading that Capoue played well again.

 

[Snakebauer007]

Looks like Bale's done, for all intents and purposes - just took this screenshot from here
 

 
 
Chelsea once had a Robinho jersey for sale

 

[DJnVa]

Match report: http://www.cartilagefreecaptain.com/2013/8/22/4647652/dinamo-tbilisi-vs-spurs-2013-uefa-europa-league-final-score-result
 
 

Andros Townsend, who was the clear man of the match for Spurs, scored the opener in impressive fashion with a great individual effort. After Gylfi Sigurdsson cleared a Dinamo corner away, in the 12th minute, Kyle Naughton won the ball at the top of the penalty area and found Townsend just short of the halfway line. The Spurs winger went on to take the ball 40 yards by himself before unleashing a low drive from 20 yards that beat the Dinamo keeper easily.
 

 

[Bailey10]

Most ironic thing about this potential Chelsea hijacking is that reports say Levy would be so furious he might axe the Bale deal. Combined with rumors that Real Madrid doesn't have the liquidity to buy Bale, Spurs fans might be looking at a choice between Bale and Willian. I think we all know who most would choose.  

 

[DJnVa]

So, it appears that Willian spurned Chelsea with AVB 2 years ago, and Tottenham with AVB now?
 
I really like our squad even before adding him. I do wonder if a disgruntled Bale is what we want. Not sure what other targets are out there if Willian goes elsewhere.

 

[URI]

/makes jerkoff motion
 
I can't wait for Willian to end up at Liverpool.
 
In actual news, die Unterscharfuhrer is playing for Spurs U21 today, which is a good sign to get him on the pitch a bit.  I don't really expect Holtby to play much first team soccer this year outside of what you would expect (Cups, playing Hull Tigers), so it's good to see him get over his knock and get some burn.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

 
Sky Sports wants you to go bet on that at skybet.com. Go ahead. We'll see.
 
EDIT: Reading on twitter (from a Sky Sports reporter) that Willian is actually at Spurs HQ in London now.
 

 
:globalsox:

 

[URI]

Also, I've started really enjoying Cartiledge Free Captain, a Spurs blog hosted on SB Nation.  The review of the Tbilisi match including comparing Gyfli to pineapple on a pizza.
 
Anyway, they are saying that ProSport (a Romanian website) say Vlad Chiriches is able to come over for £6.9m after Gigi Becali got his meds in his cell.  Whereas someone like Willian or Lamela is fantastic get for Spurs, and will do much to push towards the top of the league...a player like Churches is a need, considering out centerbacks are Vertonghen, Kaboul, Dawson and Naughton.  Which to hash up an old joke...is 6 sets of knee ligaments between them.

 

[RSN Diaspora]

Not sure what other targets are out there if Willian goes elsewhere.

 
If the Beeb is to be believed, it's done. Feh.

 

[DJnVa]

 
:globalsox:

 
Okay...
 
You got me? I'll transfer over 10 internet points to your account.
 
I mean, I know I first posted the "you mad, bro" first, but this is the Spurs thread and it was in response to a post that I really didn't understand at all that seemed to be dumping on all the Spurs signings/targets because, uh, because Spurs.

 

[URI]

Vs Swansea
 

 
Bench is:  Friedel, Kaboul, Naughton, Sigurdsson, Carroll, Sandro, Defoe
 
Iago Falque was sent off to Rayo Vallecano for the year.
 
It also looks like Vlad Chiriches is coming for £8.5m this week.  Just have to be nice and cup tied first.

 

[Bailey10]

Spurs fans have 6 points through 2 games but not scoring a goal in open play proves they still need to buy more players once Bale is sold. I think Lamela coming in looks like a strong possibility but I also think they need to buy a CAM. Paulinho, Dembele, And Capoue are all capable of making charging runs from the midfield but they lack the passing and creativity to make things happen in the final 3rd.
 
Question is who is available that Spurs could buy to fill the attacking midfielder slot behind the striker. Two most obvious candidates in my mind are Pjanic and Christian Eriksen. I would personally prefer to see Eriksen in the EPL. I also think it is more likely the Spurs could get Eriksen. It would be a very hard sell to Roma fans on both Lamela and Pjanic leaving together after already parting with Osvaldo and Marquinhos.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

Hulk is the other possibility. He did great things with AVB at Porto. I have only seen him play for the BMNT, but damn he is fun to watch. 
 
 
http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-launch-30m-hulk-bid-2219002
http://hereisthecity.com/2013/08/25/tottenham-weekend-round-up-1-0-win-30m-for-hulk-and-chiriches-si/

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

No on Hulk, for me. Despite past AVB successes, he seems a very limited player. And isn't he the same as Lamela, RW, left foot?
Alan Dzagoev could be an excellent fit.
Also a vote for Eriksen - esp when you factor in what seems to be a reasonable cost.

 

[DJnVa]

We're getting a guy named Vlad from Romania?
 
Sweet.
 

 

[DJnVa]

Lamela is reportedly in London to finalize deal.

 

[URI]

Lamela is reportedly in London to finalize deal.

Keep him away from West London.

 

[DJnVa]

Getting closer: http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/transfer-analysis-fury-at-roma-as-erik-lamela--the-heir-to-francesco-totti--nears-move-to-tottenham-8787797.html
 
 
 

Much has been made of Chelsea hijacking Tottenham’s move for William from Anzhi Makhachkala. The Brazilian is a similar player to Lamela but the fundamental difference being that he is primarily a creative outlet while the 21-year-old guarantees goals – consequently a superior fit to fill the void Gareth Bale will leave once his highly anticipated transfer to Real Madrid is completed.
 

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Lamela to Spurs is official (as is Ljajić to Roma)

 

[URI]

Through to the group stage with a brace from Defoe and Holtby's first Spurs goal 3-0 (8-0 agg.)

Spurs haven't allowed a goal in 4 matches so far this year.

 

[DJnVa]

We're going to need a topic name change any day now...

 

[URI]

I have a couple queued up.

 

[DJnVa]

Do any have to do with Holtby?

 

[soxfan121]

Through to the group stage with a brace from Defoe and Holtby's first Spurs goal 3-0 (8-0 agg.)

Spurs haven't allowed a goal in 4 matches so far this year.

 
And, having watched both, y'all haven't even fielded your toughest prevention lineup yet (Paulinho-Sandro-Capoue in the triangle) except for at the tail end of the Swansea tilt. 
 
Capoue & Sandro might literally destroy some dudes knees this season. Physical seems like an understatement. 
 
And now, with Lamela, y'all can flood the field with attackers too. This is a deep, versatile team. 

 

[URI]

Vlad Chiriches is done per the teams Twitter. It's good to have another ball moving center back to cover for Vertonghen.

So our transfers in are a Brazilian, a Frenchy, a Belgian war pig, a Spaniard, and a Romanian. We pretty much have an Argentine wrapped up, and are in advanced talks to get a Dane. All paid for by a Welshman.

 

[coremiller]

The UEFA Cup draw is Anzhi, Sheriff Tiraspol, and Tromso.  Nobody especially scary from a quality standpoint now that Anzhi has sold all their best players, but some rough travel with trips to Russia, Moldova, and Norway,

 

[fletcherpost]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23899821
 
Personal terms agreed.
 
"Gareth Bale has agreed personal terms at Real Madrid ahead of his world-record move from Tottenham.
However, the Spanish giants are still in discussions over the fee for the 24-year-old forward, with a bid of £86m already submitted to Spurs."

 

[URI]

Looks like today finally locked up the 3 players we've been linked to for the better part of the week...

Vlad Chiriches for £8.5m
Erik Lamela for £29.9m
Christian Eriksen for £11.5m

Bringing the total transfer spending to £108.9m (with only £24m of that before August 1st), and with the selling of Parker, Dempsey, Chualker and Huddlestone being worth ~£24m...that leaves a transfer deficit of £84.9m.

It's hard to fathom that bringing in 7 big money singings, including breaking the teams spending record 3 times in one window (Paulinho, then Solidado, and finally Lamela) that Spurs will actually net out profit in this transfer window, not counting if they sell off surplus players (like Gyfli or Lennon). Crazy summer.

 

[URI]

 
Yes.

 

[Snakebauer007]

Looks like today finally locked up the 3 players we've been linked to for the better part of the week...

Vlad Chiriches for £8.5m
Erik Lamela for £29.9m
Christian Eriksen for £11.5m

Bringing the total transfer spending to £108.9m (with only £24m of that before August 1st), and with the selling of Parker, Dempsey, Chualker and Huddlestone being worth ~£24m...that leaves a transfer deficit of £84.9m.

It's hard to fathom that bringing in 7 big money singings, including breaking the teams spending record 3 times in one window (Paulinho, then Solidado, and finally Lamela) that Spurs will actually net out profit in this transfer window, not counting if they sell off surplus players (like Gyfli or Lennon). Crazy summer.

surely you cannot get good players in at this point in the window

 

[URI]

It's too bad all the other squads are set sadface