Do we need four strikers?

This is a question I could never quite answer with a simple yes or no. Currently, we have four international strikers that cost an average of £13.25m each (based on reports). Last year Darren Bent left the club as he didn't fancy the role as the unlucky number 4 and now it seems Pav has done the same thing.


You can't blame a player for feeling unsettled sitting on the bench every week and, as a result, finds himself being thrown into the Carling Cup early rounds, especially with the World Cup next year. Any player that is happy to sit on the bench has a problem. Why would you want to waste years of a short career sitting and watching the game instead of playing anyway?


Concerning Roman's desire to leave the club, what strategy should we look for in the future? Where should this money go? Should we invest it in another forward that will result in another one of our front players sitting on the bench. Or, should we use the money to invest in a player in a different position? Maybe we should look to the youth team for a possible 4th striker, giving them their chance whenever needed.


What do you think?
Regards.

Spurs introduce social networking policy

Tottenham are set to introduce a new policy for players using 'Networking and Micro-Blogging websites'.

All players must now declare their site and give a member of Tottenham staff acecss to it.

So it looks as though Spurs have acted in light of the recent Darren Bent Twitter controversy. Although is the policy really ncessary? It's not as if it was hard to find out what was on Darren Bents' twitter.. is was all over the bloody news the next day.

Regards.

Bent reacts to Twitter posts

Bent statement: "I appreciate that transfers are seldom straightforward and are often complex. However, after a long period of waiting following my withdrawal from the plane to China, I had become incredibly frustrated by the time these things take and I posted inappropriate comments on my Twitter site.
I allowed my emotions to get in the way of my better judgement. I regret my actions and did not intend to offend Daniel Levy or anyone with the nature or the content of my posting."

Seems this free speech act that was granted so long ago doesn't apply in the world of football, but I'm sure Darren has just saved himself a fine.

Do you think he's really sorry? Somehow, I don't think he is.

Regards.

Sunderland look Bent as Spurs set to Crouch down the table

I know, the title is a bad one but the news is much worse. A bad title for bad news, it works. It seems as though the reality that Peter Crouch could be at Tottenham within days is hitting down hard. As soon as it was obvious we were in the hunt for Crouch in truth it was really only a matter of days before we had him, there was no competition. Why oh why did we appoint Redknapp as manager?

"Obviously I'm disappointed to see Peter leave, but given the severe financial restraints in place here we had no choice but to accept an offer from Tottenham," Paul Hart told the Sunday Mirror.
"I think people need to realise that Pompey have been punching above their weight and could no longer sustain the level of spending that has gone on here over the last three years."

It's a shame Peter's coming but at £10m could probably be just about worth a punt, especially in today's market. The only way this move will work is if Crouch and Defoe play week in week out, so what will happen to £15m Robbie Keane and £14m Roman Pav? We'll just have to wait and see; maybe they'll be happy sitting on the Tottenham bench. Meanwhile, Steve Bruce has confirmed that Sunderland are in talks with Darren Bent.

"Darren Bent is another one where we are trying our utmost," said Bruce in the Sunday Sun.
"We have tried all summer for Peter Crouch and Darren Bent. Talks are ongoing as we speak at a high level.
"We hope we can do something with it, but as we have just experienced last week, we can get knocked back as well.
"We have to agree a fee - obviously it isn't done yet. But we are talking."

I think it be a shame to see Bent go and I'm not afraid to say it. I believe he will be hitting his peak within the next few seasons and, should we only get around £10-12m for him, we'd rue the day we let him jump up north.

It should be an interesting season. Either that or another horrendous one.

Regards,
Ben

Tottenham's shock of the season

The inevitable has occurred. Speculation involving Tottenham has made the back pages after days in which the number of rumours in circulation could be counted on one hand; am I complaining? No. Today sees our leading striker Mr. Bent, yet again, linked with a move to the North East; a striker who's goals starved off our threat of relegation and whom we signed just two seasons ago.

I remember blogging about Darren earlier on, fighting for the lost cause that is himself staying in N17. I reminisce to the fact that I believed Bent's work ethic and goals/starts ratio was worth top dollar and felt thoroughly convinced that we should keep the former Charlton man. Now, I am not as convinced, although I am not oblivious to his scoring record which saw him top our goals chart at the end of the season. I do still believe that he can do a job at Tottenham- I mean, he wouldn't be a bad bench player would he?

The thing that pains me the most is, as far as Tottenhams' luck goes, I could see Darren turning out to be a real goal machine for the likes of Sunderland and letting an asset such as that leave and succeed would be a painful sight to us all. He'd be looking to revitalise his career and would be at his thorough best as he bids for a place in Fabio's World Cup squad; although, his playing time at Spurs would reincarnate that of Micheal Owens at Newcastle. Yeah, he wouldn't play much, and this is why Darren should leave to ensure his career doesn't tumble down a hill and plummet off a cliff.

So, I'd be not happy but satisfied if Darren left as we'd get a decent fee for the lad and it could mean more playing time for our other three present strikers; if they don't decide to leave as well.

As long as the deal does not involve Kenwyne Jones, I'm happy. The striker would prove more of a liability than Postiga was, back in the day. They were bad times.

Regards,
Ben

And its all gone quiet over here

So what happened to all these players we were set to sign? Last week, we were close to agreeing deals for Ruud, Rodriguez, Huntelaar, and Pavlyuchenko was set to leave; these reports must be true, they were written by the English press, they don't lie. I could list a whole new team of players we were set to acquire, then, nothing.

The last week has been a quiet one, how often have we said that about Tottenham? From being linked to almost a player or two a day to the point where the most activity was involving the reserves, there haven't even been the desperate rumours throwing links with our club all over the world to one-season wanderers; well, they are the more realistic ones aren't they?

Although, as a blogger, this news is inevitable devastation. I mean come on, look what I've resorted to write about- I'm sure you can understand my frustration.

But, as a Spurs fan I'm happy. No stupid rumours linking our top players with moves away, so in that sense, I'm pleased to have nothing to write about. Although, it is only a matter of time. Obviously.

The writer of the Mirror must be taking an early holiday, let's hope he loses his passport and never returns.

Regards,
Ben

Darren Bent: What more could we ask for?

DARREN BENT, at times a hero at others a villain.. I needn't remind anyone the-then-relegation-battle-Pompey home game not so long ago where 'Arry claimed 'his missus' couldv scored the chance given to Bent, at the time. But then again, everyone has their off day, don't they? Bent is our top scorer with 17 goals, 12 in the Premier league; that makes him the top English premiership scorer and is only a premiership goal behind Fernando Torres, arguably one of the worlds' greatest strikers. Now, I'm not here to highlight the typical arrogance of a Spurs fan and argue how Bent is even in the same league as Torres- let's be honest, he's not. But on the other hand, what more can Spurs fans ask for.

In reality, Spurs are a decent club that do show signs of making a real push for the Champions League, during pre-season that is. Although, this optimism usually returns to the usual moans and groans of start of season and soon enough any optimism is soon enough pessimism and reality outside of 'silly season' hits us like a rocket. Ok so we make a fair push for European football; in the last 3 seasons we have finished fifth twice, and to be honest under BMJ, we over-achieved. Now in the summer of 2007 we purchased Darren Bent- formally of Charlton Athletic after they fell into the fizzy pop league. His first season proved a frustrating one as he remained fourth choice behind the arrogant Berbatov, club captain Robbie Keane and the favourite Jermaine Defoe. He only managed to bag 8 goals in all competitions.

This season with the departure of both Berba and, disappointingly, club captain Robbie Keane, Bent was given the chance to shine. Now, even through our losing streak, Darren still scored 4 goals in 9 games, including the equaliser against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, now, anyone that scores against that horrible lot have got to be given recognition, surely? From when Redknapp took over in late October and, up until January, Darren scored 5 goals including one against Arsenal in the epic North London Draw at the Emirates, by now he'd scored in both of Spurs' biggest and most important games of the season.

Now I could go on about another 4 months bragging about how many goals Bent has scored, but to be honest, strikers are usually mainly judged on goals and Bent has a fair few of them. Since January, he has scored more goals than both Keane and Pav, and ok, Keane's passion and footballing knowledge has enabled a formidable partnership with Bent and has helped contribute with his impressive performances since arriving from Liverpool. To be fair, Darren does have his fair share of horror shows- but don't all strikers. He's managed to bag goals against United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Villa- all away from home, now, can any of our other strikers brag they have scored against ALL of these teams? In fact, have many other strikers in the league achieved this? No. They've had their moments, Pav's winner against the pool and Keane's equaliser at the Emirates, but neither have scored as frequently against the top four as has Darren Bent.

So as I come to a close, need I ask, what is wrong with Darren Bent.. are Spurs really going to be able to get their hands on a real champions league winner that will bag us 30 goals a season every season, NO! So why complain with what we've got!!

Off the point slightly but might i add that Spurs have only conceded nine league goals at White Hart Lane this season in the league, two less than any other Premier League side!! STUFF THAT IN YOUR FACT BOOK

Regards, Ben

(Picture copyright of tottenhamhotspur.com)