Jauary Spending?

[ryancuomo]

I'd be interested to see how much money Redknapp's going to have to work with? I saw an interview with him telling skysports he's going to have to find some bargains, but we've just got 51million for our ex strikers. Where has the money gone?

Fair enough there's going to be a new stadium built, but how much did we spend on our midfield over the summer? does it add up?

there's something a bit too jewish about it all and we could definately do with some more firepower, eve if darren is smashing them in.

[P UNIT 1980]

The ins and outs ballanced the books.

I think Levy has set aside 18 million for Arshavin, and wasted probably another 5 or 6 on getting rid of the imposter and his traveling circus of backroom staff.

So that is nearly 25 million tied up already!

I think he may have a few more bob to spend but Arry will have to spread the cash extreemly thinly.

Saying that if we insist on playing 1 up front and Bent keeps smashing in the goals we wont need the overhyped and overpriced Russian and could redistribute the welth elsewhere within the squad.

[mangobus24]

I have to agree with you P UNIT. What get's me is that Ramos said that we have absolutely no one up front with any abilities and that we needed a quality striker. Well, Harry seems to think differently about the striker situation and has Bent, by far, playing the best football he's played in awhile. And Pav is coming along great as well.

I still just don't see the need to bring in Arshavin and his ridiculous "I'm the greatest" BS. His whole transfer saga during the summer completely turned him out of my favor and with the current situation at Spurs looking pretty good, I really don't want him. Perhaps another striker, but just not Arshavin.

I still think we need a high class central midfielder, myself. Someone with the ability to score, but also distribute the ball to Bent, Pav, and the like.

Should be interesting either way. With Spurs climbing the table and hopefully (knock on some serious wood) mid table or above by January we might be able to aggressively pursue some decently big names.

[basskadet]

Sorry, I completely disagree. Arshavin would grace any football team and is a wonderful player. He has a completely unique style which suits him to a club like Spurs. We like to have players who are a bit different, Hoddle, Berbatov, etc.

Arshavin was in the top 23 FIFA's best players in the world this year. Anyone who says he is overrated just hasn't watched enough of him. Anyone who says we don't need him cos we already have sufficient players doesn't get that he can play several positions. Also we are trying to build a squad of players capable of breaking the top 4 & competing in the CL. We need people like Arshavin in our squad to help us achieve that. Look at Man U. They wouldn't say "Let's not get Tevez cos we've already got Rooney" or "Don't get Hargreaves cos we've already got Anderson & Carrick". They have several world class players in virtually every position ensuring whoever they play they can field the strongest possible team. That is what we ought to be striving for.

Anyone who says he is disloyal or fickle doesn't get he's played his ENTIRE career at 1 club, Zenit. He's entitled to feel a little bit let down by them in my opinion. They failed to honour a player's wishes, a player who has been their finest servant for 8 years, because, having just won the UEFA cup (again mainly because of Arshavin), Zenit wanted to show Europe what a big, wealthy club they are.

I watched Russia play Germany the other week &, altho Germany eventually won., Arshavin played them (& Ballack) off the park.

A few have raised issues with his age but he is barely 6 months older than Pavlyuchenko. At 27 we would still see a god 4 years out of him.

[mangobus24]

Yeah, maybe so bass. The problem is that I just feel the guy would be yet another Berbatov situation. He would come to Spurs, play maybe a year sulking and being pissy because he truly wants to play for one of the top 4, or for Barca or Madrid. He's said countless times that he wants to only be at a big 4 club if he does, in fact, come to England. And whenever they totally blew him off, as his price tag was ridiculously too high, did he decide, OHHH YEAH, I love Tottenham. I think that's crap and after the Berba fiasco, I'm not sure he'd represent the jersey the way he should.

In fact, I think he'd be good for only one year and then he'd want out. Harry wants to build a team that will stick around and produce, building for the future at Spurs. Do you really think Arshavin fits that mold? I just can't see it myself.

[madMARTINmarsh]

Im with mangobus on this one, I definitly dont want him playing for us even if he turns out to be a god on the pitch Il still hate him just like I did berbatoss..... hated him from the start and didnt like to see him wearing the lilly white, happy day when he left.

I feel exactly the same about arshavin or as p unit once said arse-shavin CLASSIC

[basskadet]

Arshavin has never been like that. You only suspect him of being so because he wanted a move to Barca but, when they dropped out & we came in, he said he only wanted Spurs. However, that was not a fickle decision. He chose to be with us precisely because Barca had not shown sufficient commitment while we did. He really appreciated (as did Modric, as did Pava) our clubs determination to sign to the point that he eventually said he would ONLY come to Spurs.

This is where I take slight objection to what you're saying. We are a BIG club. We are not top 4... yet but we are one of the most likely to break into that elusive club & we will only do that with players like him. He is nothing like Berbatov. You don't play 8 years for a club without some sort of loyalty. Arshavin just wants to feel wanted & he doesn't get that at Zenit anymore but he is convinced he would at Spurs.

So long as we're achieving, these players will stay. Nobody can blame them if they leave when we aren't tho. That's what makes Berba so frustrating. We win a cup & he scarpers. However, he may have realised Juande wasn't what we had all first thought. However, Berba was always wanting to leav Spurs, Arshavin publicly admits that, when he leaves Zenit, this will be his last major move & he wants to make sure he goes to the right place. If we have made him believe that that is Spurs (and I myself have no problems seeing why that might be) then I'm very happy.

Martin, I REALLY don't get where your coming from. How can you say you will hate him whatever? Even if he turns out a great player for Spurs? Why?

[thfcshady27]

to be honest i havent seen enough of the guy to comment on whether he'd be a good move or not but i dont agree with comparing him to the bulgarian.....at least this guy wants to play for his country!!!!

[CaliforniaTottenham]

Bent has been amazing the past 5-6 matches. The 4-4-1-1 has been great because it gives us a chance to have Jenas, Bently, AND Modric all in at the same time. Bent's success has really been mostly due to our Midfielders taking possession of the ball and then skillfully sliding it up to him... Huddlestone has been absolutely top class, but will his impressive form be able to last all season? And will we have to play Zokora back there with him too???

If Harry will be semi-strapped for cash, we've got to focus on the CM first. Bent is fantastic, but only as fantastic as the service he gets from the Midfield. We need someone strong who can repossess the ball and then start the play from the back.

Side note; so glad to see Huds doing so well, love that guy!

[Estet]

Good notes from basskadet.
How it is possible to speak about the player whom you plainly didn't watch? Or saw one-two of his games.
When Spurs, losing points, had problems with attack and midfield connection, many of you kept silenсe?
What we'll do when Modric get an injury or old troubles will begin suddenly?
I think Arshavin is that player who we need. Creative, fast and unique.

[welshwolfy]

get sammy from the pool... old head and he is solid!!!!! we need that sort of plyer at the mo for sure. a true leader and 1 hell of a player...

[P UNIT 1980]

Arshavin has never been like that. You only suspect him of being so because he wanted a move to Barca but, when they dropped out & we came in, he said he only wanted Spurs. However, that was not a fickle decision. He chose to be with us precisely because Barca had not shown sufficient commitment while we did. He really appreciated (as did Modric, as did Pava) our clubs determination to sign to the point that he eventually said he would ONLY come to Spurs.

This is where I take slight objection to what you're saying. We are a BIG club. We are not top 4... yet but we are one of the most likely to break into that elusive club & we will only do that with players like him. He is nothing like Berbatov. You don't play 8 years for a club without some sort of loyalty. Arshavin just wants to feel wanted & he doesn't get that at Zenit anymore but he is convinced he would at Spurs.

So long as we're achieving, these players will stay. Nobody can blame them if they leave when we aren't tho. That's what makes Berba so frustrating. We win a cup & he scarpers. However, he may have realised Juande wasn't what we had all first thought. However, Berba was always wanting to leave Spurs, Arshavin publicly admits that, when he leaves Zenit, this will be his last major move & he wants to make sure he goes to the right place. If we have made him believe that that is Spurs (and I myself have no problems seeing why that might be) then I'm very happy.

Martin, I REALLY don't get where your coming from. How can you say you will hate him whatever? Even if he turns out a great player for Spurs? Why?

He only did this because Barca NEVER actually said they wanted him. He dreamt it up and they blew him off BIG STYLE

We were desperate for a Berbatoss replacement as it was obvious he was on his toes

This is delusional..........We are at the wrong end of the league and until last month odds on favorite to get relegated. We have a large fan base and are run as a successfull business, but as one of my fellow Mods always points out "The business of a football club, is football". Bass these kind of statements are the ones that Spurs fans are ridiculed for and since the CC final we have been completely hopeless. Big clubs play in the Champions League not scrape through by the skin of their teeth to play in the Euefa Cup.

On the issue of his age and saying that he is only 6 months older than Pav, just a little reminder..........We had no strikers and he was a panic buy at the 11th hour by a desperate club. Don't get me wrong I quite like the lad and think he may do OK, but at the start of the transfer window and we were all asked to draw up a realistic wish list he wouldn't have been on anyones!!!

And how is him saying that he wants to leave Zenit "to only come to Spurs" any different to Keano saying that he wants "to go and fulfill his boyhood dream" or Berba playing link a grumpy school kid because he wants to go to Manc Utd???

I also don't hate the fella but think we can spend our money allot better.

[basskadet]

He only did this because Barca NEVER actually said they wanted him. He dreamt it up and they blew him off BIG STYLE


We were desperate for a Berbatoss replacement as it was obvious he was on his toes



This is delusional..........We are at the wrong end of the league and until last month odds on favorite to get relegated. We have a large fan base and are run as a successfull business, but as one of my fellow Mods always points out "The business of a football club, is football". Bass these kind of statements are the ones that Spurs fans are ridiculed for and since the CC final we have been completely hopeless. Big clubs play in the Champions League not scrape through by the skin of their teeth to play in the Euefa Cup.



On the issue of his age and saying that he is only 6 months older than Pav, just a little reminder..........We had no strikers and he was a panic buy at the 11th hour by a desperate club. Don't get me wrong I quite like the lad and think he may do OK, but at the start of the transfer window and we were all asked to draw up a realistic wish list he wouldn't have been on anyones!!!



And how is him saying that he wants to leave Zenit "to only come to Spurs" any different to Keano saying that he wants "to go and fulfill his boyhood dream" or Berba playing link a grumpy school kid because he wants to go to Manc Utd???


I also don't hate the fella but think we can spend our money allot better.

Barcelona bid for him & it was rejected by Zenit. They bid again but Zenit said they wanted 25mil EUROS

Barcelona make formal bid for Andrei Arshavin | Euro 2008 - Times Online

This is true but then we were after Arshavin when Martin Jol was still at the club. Also we always show determination for a player we want, like Levy personally flying to Zagreb to get Modric.


I 'm not basing my statement solely on our league position & current form. On that I completely agree with you, we are way off the top 4. However, in terms of resources, history, fanbase, etc I believe we are one of the closest to the top 4 & the only thing holding us back is getting those footballing ingredients right on the pitch. That can happen very quickly, look at Chelsea.

If players believe they are the right ingredients to get us there, they will come. Its very difficult to get all the necessary non-footballing ingredients right & we are very lucky to have them at this club. Anyway, when we do play properly, we are as good as anyone and have one of the best league records against top 4 clubs.

What I mean is, just cos Portsmouth are higher up in the league & had a better start does not mean they are a bigger club than us, obviously.


we had been after Pav all summer & Levy & Commoli flew out to Russia 3 times to speak with Pav as early as June.



Because he had been at Zenit all his life & its his boyhood club. He's upset with Zenit for setting a price & when Barca came in for him, they increased it, when Chelsea enquired, they increased it, when Barca came back Zenit increased it to around 20m Euros. Then Spurs came in & Zenit said no & increased it some more to really try & put us off. We eventually met there agreed price & Zenit refused to sell him. I think he has a right to be upset with that.



At the end of the day, if some people don't think he's right for Spurs or whatever that's fine but nobody can say he's not quality because he is one of the world's best players at the moment, fact. I try & watch as much foreign football as possible (its one of the perks of getting Setanta free as part of my TV package!) & I pay particular attention to players we are supposedly interested in. Arshavin is stunning & virtually every time I watch him he is head & shoulders above anyone else on the field, even against world-class opponents. He openly says he doesn't want to be at Zenit anymore & might not be quite as good as he was last year for them but he is still going out there & playing & still one of the best on the pitch. I just get the feeling that alot of people who say he isn't worth the money have not spent much time watching the guy. Many seem to base their opinion of him on his 'no-show'performance against Germany in the Euros but ignore the fact that he is more-or-less the sole reason Russia were in the semis in the 1st place. I watched the more recent Russia v Germany game & he definitely turned up for that one! Ballack looked totally average next to him.

Anyway, Unit, I think we're going way off topic here so maybe we ought to agree to disagree! This debate between us has been going on for months!

[P UNIT 1980]

This debate between us has been going on for months!

Has it?

Its good debate and why this forum is the best on the net.

Everyone feel free to voice your opinions on the Russian to enhance it further.

[basskadet]

Has it?

Its good debate and why this forum is the best on the net.

Everyone feel free to voice your opinions on the Russian to enhance it further.

Well sort of, we started this same discussion in the summer but you're right, I kind of exaggerated. I just meant we're kind of repeating ourselves!

Maybe we should continue it in the Andrei Arshavin thread tho, no?

I have to say tho quickly, if Keane is worth £20m & Berba £30m, surely Arshavin is worth £18m. Don't get me wrong, there's no way that Keane & Berba are worth that (neither of them were mentioned in the best in the world short-list (not that that means much)) but by forcing that amount to be paid, have we not set a precedent?