Spurs January Transfer Business

Article by Jimmie Lyden

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The January transfer window is always an interesting time of the season for any club. Teams worry that their players who are performing well will be snapped up by other clubs and they will urgently need to search for a replacement whereas other teams are focused on bringing in reinforcements to cope with the busy schedule and to give some players a much deserved rest after Christmas. For Spurs, every transfer window leads to multiple rumours about influxes of players from across the world and also the never ending rumour mill about who will be departing N17 this month. Thankfully, we still have the same manager so it won’t provide an opportunity yet for Poch to start a full scale rebuilding of the squad to suit his tactics and preferred formations although there are some players out there that would undoubtedly boost our prospects of a top four finish....and also some dead wood that needs to be cut away before it drags us down the table. With the latter statement in mind, here is a full squad evaluation of who deserves to stay at White Hart Lane and who should be sold to make room for higher quality talent.

Goalkeepers

Hugo Lloris – In my opinion, Hugo is undoubtedly one of the top five keepers in world football and I know many Spurs fans (myself included) would need many fingers on their hands to count the amount of times he has saved us 3 points with some truly outstanding goalkeeping. His recently signed contract meant all Spurs fans could breathe a sigh of relief but I still worry about his long term prospects at the club if we fail to deliver Champions League football this season. I am sure he will stay with us until the end of the season as he is now our (rightful) captain and there is no question Daniel Levy would sanction a release halfway through the season but I fear for the summer ahead if we do not secure a top four place (or win the Europa League) as it could see fans favourite Hugo depart the Lane, most likely for his native France and the riches of PSG. However, another brilliant season so far from the French national keeper and unquestionably he is a player all Spurs fans would love to see stay at the club this January. Verdict: Stay

Michel Vorm – An interesting signing by Pochettino in the summer which led to my questioning of Lloris being at Tottenham next season. Michel Vorm is a quality keeper and definitely could be number one choice at many Premiership clubs so the only reason I could imagine for him being happy to warm the bench at Spurs is the thought of being the established first choice if Hugo does leave. He has looked impressive in the cup games he has played in and gives us strength in depth and excellent competition for Lloris in goal. Verdict: Stay

Brad Friedel – A final swansong season for one of the Premier League’s best ever goalkeepers will be spent as third choice, given the calibre of the two men in front of him and Brad being a healthy age of 43. He is mostly focused on his ambassador work with the club now but he is always a useful man to have around if we are ever struck by injury to one or both of our keepers. Verdict: Stay

Defenders

Kyle Walker – Only recently back in the side after a lengthy injury lay off but definitely looking sharper and more like the player that excelled during the 2011-12 season where he won PFA Young Player of the Year. He never really looked comfortable playing under AVB but he seems to be eager to work with Poch and he is definitely the best right back we have at the club (not saying much at the minute admittedly). If he can work on his defensive game as well as keeping aspects of his cavalier attacking approach, he should easily be able to prove to us Spurs fans that he was not just a one season wonder. Verdict: Stay

Danny Rose – An intriguing battle has developed between Danny Rose and Ben Davies to be Spurs first choice left back and it appears Poch prefers Rose over Davies at the moment, perhaps due to his more explosive attacking qualities. He has played 6 more games than Davies and has looked a more all round defensive player this season, instead of the liability he could be last season due to his poor positioning and occasional lack of concentration. The main criticism that I would level at all Spurs defenders is the need to pitch in with more goals but at the moment, Rose is playing well and deserves his spot in the team. Verdict: Stay

Younes Kaboul: A minor fall from grace for the Frenchman over the course of the season so far. Originally a starting defender and was named as Spurs captain by Poch, however recently he has failed to break back into the team and dislodge either Fazio or Vertonghen and rumours of a move to Besiktas continue to circulate (even though supposedly Spurs have rejected a bid from the Turkish side). I have honestly never been fully convinced by Kaboul and he has often flattered to deceive, putting in the occasional fantastic performance followed by games where he looks a complete liability. Spurs fans know he has a mistake or two in his locker, perhaps why we flogged him to Portsmouth when we first signed him back in 2007. Would not be a great loss if he left this January. Verdict: Sell

Jan Vertonghen: Looked like the most miserable man in North London at the end of last season under Tim Sherwood’s brief reign and it looked a near certainty he would be leaving in the summer. However, after a disappointing World Cup for Belgium, Jan stayed after being assured by Poch he would be in his plans. Despite a slow start, his partnership with Fazio has formed a decent defence that celebrated only one loss in fifteen games together and he is another player that is beginning to look like his former self. My Dad insists that Jan would be better utilised as a holding midfielder due to his attacking tendencies and sometimes questionable defensive play but “Super Jan” is always popular with the Spurs fans and would definitely be one to keep this transfer window. Verdict: Stay

Vlad Chiriches – One of the “Magnificent Seven” brought in by AVB in the summer of 2013 with the money acquired from the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. Sadly (and he isn’t the only one of them), it simply hasn’t worked out for Vlad in North London. He has unquestionable talent and is remarkably composed on the ball for a defender but he is just too risky to have in the team, since his concentration goes wandering and he loses the ball in key areas of the pitch. One final attempt at salvaging his Spurs career by using him as a makeshift full back didn’t really work out and Roma have been rumoured to be interested in taking him to Italy for a while. It may only end up being a loan deal but it would be a surprise to me if the Romanian was still pulling on a Spurs shirt when February comes around. Verdict: Sell

Eric Dier – I think all Spurs fans were stunned when Eric Dier scored the last minute winner against West Ham on the opening day of the season and followed that up with a header the week after against QPR which led to premature England call up talks and the fact we had the next John Terry on our books. Thankfully for all, the hype has calmed down over the last few months and Eric is continuing his development with Spurs out of the limelight. Considering he was playing in an unfamiliar RB role originally, he coped superbly with the pressure and the amusing fact is he is currently still our highest scoring defender this season with those 2 goals previously mentioned. Still got a lot to learn but definitely one for the future... probably sooner rather than later with Pochettino’s willingness to give youngsters a run in the first team. Verdict: Stay

Kyle Naughton: One player who has never really looked fully comfortable in a Spurs shirt if I have to be brutally honest, “Knaughts” has often tried hard to become a Spurs regular but just doesn’t have the required quality to be a consistent performer, and he certainly isn’t the type of player you think about when you want to be a top four team. He impressed during a loan spell at Norwich a few seasons ago and I think a move to a lower Premier league team will be the best outcome for all concerned, Leicester and Swansea are the names most often linked. Verdict: Sell

Federico Fazio: We only signed him this summer so it would be a tad premature to be calling for his exit but the big Argentinean looked so far out of his depth in the opening few games, acquiring multiple red cards and turning slower than a oil tanker which led many Spurs fans doubting his quality. Credit to both Fazio and Pochettino for persisting though, he has formed a good partnership with Vertonghen and looks a lot more comfortable now as he has adapted to the Premiership impressively, although his lack of pace is going to be exploited by players like Aguero or Sanchez. Useful at defending set pieces and he is always an aerial threat so hopefully he will be able to provide a few goals from set pieces as well. Verdict: Stay

Benoit Assou-Ekotto – A sad end to a Spurs career for a former fans favourite but Benny is unlikely to ever play for the club again so it would be in the best interests to offload him as quickly as possible, especially since he is still earning £40K a week for being nowhere near the first team. Verdict: Sell

Ben Davies: Another summer arrival that has yielded mixed opinions from the Spurs faithful. Many thought he would be established as the first choice left back by now considering his impressive form for Swansea coupled with Danny Rose’s previous inconsistencies. Nevertheless, Rose has upped his game and Davies is facing a real fight to become a regular starter for Spurs. He is still only 21 and has looked talented whenever I have seen him play so it is not a major concern for anyone; he just needs to show the mentality of a top player to fight his way into the starting 11 after having a relatively easy ride at Swansea. Verdict: Stay

Midfielders/Wingers

Aaron Lennon – It looks like the time is up for our longest serving player after almost 10 years at the Lane. Even the most diehard Spurs fan will agree that Lennon no longer offers the threat he used to when he was terrorising defenders in his prime under Martin Jol and Harry Redknapp and it may be the best for the club and for Lennon himself if he leaves, considering the increased competition and the fact his career is stagnating at Spurs now. He is still 27 so should be in the prime years of his career so there will be no shortage of takers should he move this month, Hull City and a reunion with Huddlestone and Livermore would be my bet. Verdict: Sell

Paulinho – Words cannot even describe how disappointed I am with the way Paulinho’s Spurs career has played out over the past 18 months. I was genuinely so excited when we signed him after watching his dynamic performances in the 2013 Confederations Cup and I thought we were getting a real winner. It is lamentable how he has failed to adapt to the English game and a move back to Brazil and familiar surroundings could reignite his faltering career, unless he decides to try his luck elsewhere in Europe, with Serie A giants Juventus and Inter Milan expressing interest. Verdict: Sell

Erik Lamela – The Enigmatic Argentinean continues to polarize opinions amongst all Spurs fans, not least in my own head. On the one hand, he clearly has irrepressible talent that comes out in bursts, such as his unforgettable Rabona goal and his excellent winner against Burnley but his inconsistencies still remain and cause me to question whether he can adapt his style of play to suit Poch’s high tempo, pass and move system. He seems to slow down play whenever he gets the ball (unusual for a winger gifted with electric pace) and this brings any fast flowing move to a halt, hence why he struggles to make an impact against the big teams. Still a player we should keep around this January but I still have to question whether we could have got more for our £30 million. Verdict: Stay

Andros Townsend – Not quite hit the dizzying heights before he got injured last season but looked sharp against Chelsea and offers more of a direct threat than Lamela or Chadli. His determination to shoot whenever he gets the slightest bit of space is still annoying at times but Poch seems to have worked on him and I still have a strong fondness for Andros and believe he can still be an excellent player for us this season. Verdict: Stay

Mousa Dembele – When Les Ferdinand admitted that they had told Mousa that he would be the next Spurs player to go to Real Madrid, it struck a chord with me on how much he has failed to deliver on his enormous potential ever since he was signed back in 2012. One of the most talented players I have ever seen on the ball in a Spurs shirt but Mousa has always been held back by his own mentality, players like Luka Modric and Gareth Bale thrived on being the cornerstone of Spurs teams of the past but Mousa seems to be reluctant to have that burden, even though he could carry it quite easily. If he can’t secure a starting place this season, he could depart in the summer rather than this January which will leave us all wondering what might have been. Verdict: Stay

Nacer Chadli – Arguably the most improved player from the “Magnificent Seven” and possibly in the whole squad (disregarding Harry Kane) from last season. I remember saying in a previous article early last year that we should keep faith with Nacer as he does have talent and I was relieved to hear we rejected a bid for him in the summer to keep him at the Lane. 9 goals from 24 appearances in all competitions is a fine return so far and he is the second top scorer behind Kane in the squad. Offers hope that signings who struggle at the start can redeem themselves if given enough time and opportunities to adapt. Verdict: Stay

Christian Eriksen – Just recently been voted Danish Footballer of the Year for the second year in a row and it is no surprise given his performances for Spurs over the period he has been with us. Has the tendency to sometimes go quiet in games and I remember Poch often substituting him first in the first 10 or so games of the season but Christian has shown the determined streak of a top professional and has established him as a lynchpin of our midfield. There would be uproar amongst Spurs fans and I know I would be at the head of the queue of complaints if we let Christian leave this January or anytime soon, given his influence on the pitch. Verdict: Stay

Benjamin Stambouli – It is a rarity when Spurs sign a player that I haven’t heard of before and I must admit I was not familiar with Stambouli when the news came out we had signed him so I was not sure what to expect. I have been impressed with his tenacity and his defensive side of the game is strong from what I have seen so far. Less sure about his attacking qualities but he was signed as a defensive midfielder so if he plays more games and shows the same level of performance he has done previously, hopefully it will have saved a great deal of money after missing out on Morgan Schneiderlin. Verdict: Stay

Etienne Capoue – Half the time I forget Capoue is a Spurs player so that should tell you a lot about his performances for us over the last season and a half. Originally he looked a good player but seems to be quite injury prone which is a serious drawback, perhaps a useful squad member but I’m uncertain about his ability to force himself into the first team picture and make himself a permanent regular. It wouldn’t be bad if he stayed but I don’t think too many fans would shed a tear if he departed N17 this month. Verdict: Undecided

Ryan Mason – Made an instant impact with an explosive goal against Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup and has kicked on impressively from there to become a fixture in the first team side when many thought he would be consigned to the many academy prospects that never quite broke into the first team picture (John Bostock, Jon Obika etc). However, his determination to fight for his Spurs career gets him my approval to stay, he just needs to add more goals since he has yet to score in the Premiership for us and I remember a few gilt edged chances he has passed up. Definitely a memorable season for him so far though. Verdict: Stay

Nabil Bentaleb – Unfairly made a scapegoat and poster boy for the Tim Sherwood regime by many fans but credit to Nabil, he has shown he deserves his slot in the Spurs team by showing a good range of passing and impressive composure for such a young man. It has been a whirlwind 12 months for the French born Algerian international from making his Spurs debut to representing his country in their surprising run to the last 16 of the World Cup and he should enjoy his moment. Currently unavailable for Spurs as he is representing Algeria at the African Cup of Nations but personally I hope he returns sooner rather than later. Verdict: Stay

Forwards

Roberto Soldado – Spurs fans aren’t renowned for their patience, with players, managers or chairmen but we have all shown remarkable support to Soldado given his lack of return in front of goal. Credit to Bobby, he admitted he was “undeserving” of the consistent support of the Spurs fans and he is a genuinely likeable guy and we all want him to succeed. Nonetheless, it would be looking at him with rose tinted glasses if I described his spell at Spurs so far as anything but disastrous. We finally thought we had the goalgetter we needed to become a top four outfit but it just hasn’t worked for Soldado at Spurs as we all dreamed it would. His link up play and first touch are both excellent but goals are what a striker is judged on and he still hasn’t supplied after 18 months...we may have to cut our losses on this one. Verdict: Undecided

Emmanuel Adebayor – Rarely used under AVB, Revitalised under Sherwood and currently Redundant under Pochettino. Ade seems unable to maintain a level of consistency with performance and attitude that his talent deserves and I think he could be on his way out of the club this month. The fact we have had to weigh so much on Harry Kane as a crutch proves Ade and Soldado haven’t been supplying the goods this season, despite Ade being given the vice-captaincy by Poch near the start of the season. I’ll remember the good times fondly but maybe it’s time for Ade to continue his trend of not staying at one club for too long. Verdict: Sell

Harry Kane – Where would we be without him this season? I could eulogise for days about the brilliant season he’s had and how much he has been imperative to us being anywhere near the top 4 this season but I think it’s been done multiple times by Sky Sports News, Match of the Day and nearly anywhere else where Tottenham are mentioned. Harry loves the club so no fear of him leaving, I’m just concerned with him burning out and getting a serious injury. He seems to be handling himself well at the minute though and would love to see him reach 30+ goals in all competitions by the end of the season. Verdict: Stay (PLEASE)

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