Article by Sean WalshIf I went back about 18 months and told you that Daniel Levy would willingly fork out £100million on transfers, you’d say I was as deluded as some supporters about 5 miles down the road. But this long-lived dream in fact became a reality, and thanks to Gareth Bale’s record transfer to the Spanish capital, Tottenham brought in 7 players of high quality. Almost 5 months into the season, how have these signings fared? Well…
Paulinho - £17million from SC Corinthians - Midfielder
The player that the Bronze Ball at the Confederations Cup. The player that Brazil had missed for so long. The player that reportedly ignored late interest from Real Madrid to see through a move to N17. The player that still has a lot to prove. We start with our first summer signing, Paulinho.
Tottenham fans all over the world were punching the air with joy when this transfer was eventually confirmed, and they had every reason to. Paulinho had shot to world fame thanks to some world class performances at the Confederations Cup, including a stunning individual and team display in the final against world champions Spain. But where has this player gone?
In his first few matches, Paulinho showed a real hunger to win the ball and do something useful with it, making intelligent runs into the opposition box, including a traditionally Samba-like finish in the dying embers of the game at Cardiff City. But since then, Paulinho’s let himself go. Wayward shots, unconverted passes, lack of bravery- the Brazilian has let his standards slip way below what we should be expecting. A gutless performance in the drubbing by Manchester City didn’t help his cause, either, with his replacement Mousa Dembele outshining him in every way.
This is one player that needs to display why we paid a then-club record fee.
Nacer Chadli - £7million from FC Twente - Winger
One transfer that caught many off-guard was the signing of Belgian inside forward Nacer Chadli. With the team away in Hong Kong, it seemed Daniel Levy and Franco Baldini would take a break after the long, drawn out negotiations for Paulinho. But if anything, signing the Brazilian sparked a spree, and Chadli was the next name on AVB’s extensive transfer target list.
A lot of people didn’t know anything about Nacer Chadli, but here’s a fact; he’s already scored 2 goals against us. The Belgian bagged Twente’s consolation at White Hart Lane, and scored a remarkable free-kick in Enschede, both games in the Champions League. He certainly stood out against the robust figures of Tom Huddlestone, Wilson Palacios and Alan Hutton, and despite standing at 6ft 2, Chadli is a player best known for what he does on the floor.
Many have been disappointed that we haven’t seen much of that talent yet, but with the early season form of Gylfi Sigurdsson and recent injuries, games have been hard to come by for Chadli. I can’t have been the only one watching the North London derby screaming my head off when he brilliantly beat Bacary Sagna, before producing an Aaron Lennon-esque cross. Fans calling him ‘NASA Chadli’ after his woeful performance against Tromso didn’t really build any bridges for him, either…
A frustrating start for Nacer Chadli. But let’s not be hasty, the man keeps Dries Mertens and Kevin Mirallas out of the Belgium first 11- the talent is there.
Roberto Soldado - £26million from Valencia CF - Striker
Ever since the dreaded departure of Dimitar Berbatov, Spurs have been crying out for a world-class number 9 to grace the turf at White Hart Lane again. Some have tried, but ultimately all have failed. The most we’d get is one good season and a dire second, with Emmanuel Adebayor being the latest culprit. But on one sunny morning in early August, we received the news we’d all been waiting for. Or so we thought…
There’s no doubting Roberto Soldado is a top class striker; not just anyone starts for Spain. But in my opinion, Soldado’s come to Spurs in the wrong era.
Cast your minds back to the Harry Redknapp era- Fast, flowing attacking football, shot after shot, total domination in all areas, except up front. Our biggest flaw was the lack of a quality striker up top, and we were punished for it. Our lack of clinical finishing saw us dumped out of the Champions League (come on, we deserved something from that 2nd leg against Real Madrid), and kept us from re-qualifying for Europe’s premier club competition. We needed someone who could finish, and Jermain Defoe had an injury-hit season. If only we had a certain Spaniard…
Soldado’s come into a team that keeps the ball for long periods and waits for the right moment to strike. Unfortunately for ol’ Bobby Soldier, the players around him lack the confidence to make these runs and play these passes, and in my opinion, it will keep him from scoring 20+ goals for us this season if something doesn’t change.
I like Soldado, but we needed a striker who can make goals for himself and doesn’t rely on people around him. And sadly for Daniel Levy, that’s £26million he probably won’t be seeing again…
Etienne Capoue - £9million from Toulouse - Midfielder
Beast 2.0, or as most people call him Etienne Capoue, started his Tottenham career in style. On his debut as a substitute against Crystal Palace, Capoue made the most interceptions out of any other team that game-week. He played 20 minutes. The good reviews don’t stop there. A very comfortable performance alongside Paulinho and Mousa Dembele vs. Swansea City showed Tottenham fans the real depth we have in midfield, looking like a calmer version of Sandro, but possessing a greater passing range.
An injury against Arsenal has seen Capoue sidelined for a lot of the season so far, with the return of Sandro further extending that spell out. If first impressions are anything to go by though, the future looks bright for Etienne Capoue at White Hart Lane.
Vlad Chiriches - £8.5million from Steaua Bucharest - Defender
If you didn’t know anything about Nacer Chadli, then I doubt you’d have heard a lot about ‘Vlad the Impaler’.
The first of Tottenham’s three final signings on Friday the 30th of August, Chiriches has looked like a smart piece of business by Franco Baldini. A Romanian plying his trade in the country of his birth, Vlad Chiriches seems like a diamond in the rough, producing some brilliant performances in lilywhite.
With a record of only 1 goal against in 6 games for Spurs, Chiriches has impressed the White Hart Lane folk. Holding a great tackle, tremendous hunger and Samba flair all in his armoury, Vlad has been arguably the best of Tottenham’s summer signings. Despite the return of Younes Kaboul, many have called for Chiriches to continue starting for Tottenham, and looks set to be a starter for years to come.
Erik Lamela - £30million from AS Roma - Winger
So we come to the man who comes from ancient Rome (to take the Welshman’s throne). The most expensive signing in the history of Tottenham Hotspur FC- Erik Lamela.
Football Manager fans will tell you how Erik Lamela will be one of the best players in the world someday, and at the tender age of 21, the Argentinian could follow in the footsteps of Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles in becoming a Spurs icon.
‘Coco’ was wanted by Barcelona before he had even reached puberty (on a side note, look up Erik Lamela as kid, and tell me he shouldn’t win a prize for his transformation through puberty), akin to a deal that saw Lionel Messi join the Spanish giants.
About 4 months into his Tottenham career, however, Erik Lamela looks like he needs more time. And although a lot of us expected this when he joined, we could really use a player with his potential at a time like this. Glimpses of greatness against Sheriff Tiraspol and Hull City have been the only window into what world-beater Erik Lamela could be. But come on, you try moving to a country where you don’t know anyone, you can’t speak the language, and the weather is more confusing than Chelsea’s decision to sack Roberto Di Matteo. When Lamela is inevitably brought on as a sub, he plays his heart out, challenging for every ball, running from box-to-box, and trying to prove his worth. Over time, he will. Over time.
Christian Eriksen - £11.5million from Ajax - Midfielder
Our final summer signing is a Dane who was wanted by Europe’s top clubs, and looks set to take over the throne the great Michael Laudraup has left for a long, long time. Last on the list is Christian Eriksen(-sen-sen).
The Eriksen deal rounded off a great day for Spurs fans, and was well hidden by Baldini, Levy and AVB. With only a year left on his not-so-lucrative Ajax contract, it’s a wonder why the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester City who had all expressed interest in previous years didn’t follow through this time around. But here he is at Tottenham Hotspur.
Eriksen’s debut was one any player would be proud of, with a performance that oozed class, screamed technique, and showed potential - Christian tore Norwich to shreds. Sadly, however, he hasn’t really followed up with this display, with the closest to this being bit-part performances against Cardiff and Newcastle, and only a great hit against Tromso as any other consolation. Apart from that, Eriksen’s had the same problem as Mesut Ozil at Arsenal- they disappear. When the going gets tough, Eriksen slips under the radar and you’s hardly notice he’s playing, and he needs to realise it’s not Ajax against PEC Zwolle or FC Utrecht anymore; it’s Tottenham Hotspur against Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United etc.
Eriksen’s young age combined with top level performances in the UEFA Champions League means he could be a player that becomes as loved as the other Ajax youth products to ply their trade at the club Bill made.
Over £100million worth of talent- was it worth it?
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Yes it was worth and once settled and comfortable with there team mates will show it too. The futures bright it's lillywhite . COYS
ReplyDeleteI feel that played in the right team formation and in the right places then yes . I would however have liked to have seen someone come in who could play the modric role .A player who can caqrry the ball and has a killer pass something we do not have . Dawson must go at the end of the season as he is getting worse or if he stays he does not play against better teams . We do not have a dangerous striker like that guy that murdered us last week and it is something we must look to get if we are going to get anywhere .
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