World class striker will go a long way in seeing Tottenham succeed
Enlisted by the BBC to work as part of their World Cup punditry team, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp will undoubtedly be making the most of this time spent in South Africa this summer. In addition to providing his expert insight, Redknapp will be running the rule over several transfer prospects turning out for their national sides. The likes of Luis Suarez and Luis Fabiano have been mooted as targets for the Lilywhites, with fans eager for the club to secure the signing of a ‘marquee’ player. The news that Robbie Keane has been allowed to leave White Hart Lane indicates that Redknapp sees his side’s strikeforce as an area that requires reform in time for Champions League football next season. Is this an area that Redknapp needs to strengthen and rebuild?
With England’s World Cup squad featuring two of Spurs’ centre-forwards, one would argue that Redknapp could instead dedicate his attention to rebuilding other parts of his team. Last season, the five recognised forwards on Spurs’ books (Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch, Roman Pavlyuchenko, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Robbie Keane) managed to rack up 58 goals between them, a respectable and healthy total. In addition to this, 15 other players managed to score for the White Hart Lane side last season, meaning that the club had an impressive 20 different scorers during 2009/10. Such statistics would suggest that the club’s strikeforce is more than capable of making the step-up to top-level European football next season.
However, the above statistics mask some of Spurs’ attacking deficiencies. Defoe, Spurs’ top Premier League goal scorer with 18 goals last season, managed just six league goals in the second half of the season, a figure not good enough for a side that will be competing on more than one front next season. Defoe’s preferred strike-partner, Peter Crouch, managed just eight league goals in 38 Premier League appearances, attaining a pitiful strike rate of 1 goal in every 4.75 games. Spurs’ rivals Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all have at least one prolific forward each, in the form of Carlos Tevez, Wayne Rooney, Didier Drogba and Fernando Torres respectively, and it is clear that Spurs’ lack a marksman of comparable quality.
Harry Redknapp has achieved minor miracles in his time at White Hart Lane, and has managed to build one of the strongest squads in the Premier League. However, making the step-up to Champions League football will be his biggest challenge yet, and it remains to be seen whether or not his squad will be able to succeed at Europe’s highest level. Securing the services of an undoubtedly world-class forward would surely go a long way towards being able to do so.
Does Harry need to rebuild his strikeforce? Who would you like to see playing up front at WHL next season?
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We are still only guaranteed 2 games in the “Champions League” next season. Reforming our whole side with the CL in mind seems foolish, especially if we end up paying hand over fist for these players. Sure, if Keane is gone we need a replacement, but we also need a player who will fit into our team’s strategy, whether we play a 4-5-1, 4-4-2 or some variation of a 4-3-3 in Europe. A world class striker in Tevez or Torres (injury prone) didn’t get L’Pool or City into the CL. You almost disprove your entire post with right there. What if this player gets injured? A lot of good it will have done us in that case.
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Will, if Keane goes and I hope he does will have someone in the squad already to fill his boots!! Giovani Dos Santos who can play anywhere from the half way line.. Yes we could do with a “marquee” signing who will score 20+ league goals, and another CB. The future’s bright the Lilywhite!!!
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I think the majority concensus among Spurs fans is that the team needs a dominating No. 9 David bentley, for one, would have looked a hell of a lot better playing with one.
Secondly, Mr Redknapp filled out areas of the squad that needed filing out…but he did, in fact, inherit a lot of very good players, that the much (and sometimes rightly) maligned Damien Comolli brought to the club. What ‘Arry did was to get those players enjoying their football and functioning as a team.
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While we did score a few goals last season, if you take the 19 we scored in 3 games, it doesnt look so good. We failed to score on a number of occasions and failed to win games we dominated, on top of that we were soft against united in particular. The signing of Sandro will hopefully help with the steeliness of the midfield, but we do need more bite up front. I think we are pretty strong everywhere else.
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Dezko!
Simple
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it all depends who we let go really, i can see Hutton, Keane, Jenas, O’hara, maybe even Pavy & Bentley aswell leaving, if that is the case these players will all need replacing, whether its with the likes of Rose or Naughton/walker being promoted from within or we go and buy some players, a good squad will be essential, definately need to bring in a few more players with Champs league experience, all 3 are gettin on a little but if we sign 2 of Bellamy J.Cole & Eidur i will be happy, we already have Sandro coming in but whether he is going to be ready straight away after only just finishing the brazilian Cope D’liberatores (dont know how to spell it!) thats the big question, depending on Woodgate & Kings injury situation another CB could be a priority (Kajaer has been mentioned alot and looked pretty sharp at the WC) that then leaves us with a stiker to take us to the next level, if Harry wants a bit of experience we and we can get him for the right price we should go for Forlan he looks a real special player and would relish another chance in the league where he flopped so spectacularly, if he wants someone a bit younger then i really am stumped! no1 really stands out, Suarez looks a decent prospect but could he cut it in the Prem? Huntalaar has been mentioned but he has kind of fizzled out recently and considering Citeh are trying to buy every single player in the world i think it could be difficult to attract the type of player Harry wants, fingers crossed Harry has a joker up his sleeve! in Harry we trust, COYS!!!!!
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Dzeko- need a world class striker and he fits the bill perfectly- he can lead the line and scores goals.
Kjaer- young, potentially world class centre back to provide cover for, and eventually replace king.
Turan/Marin/Elia- a pacy, quality, left-winger so that Bale can drop to left back.
Sell Pavlyuchenko, Jenas, Keane, Hutton, O’Hara.
This could leave us playing 4-5-1:
———————Gomes——————-
Corluka—Dawson—King/Kjaer—Bale
—————-Palacios—Sandro———-
Lennon————–Modric——NEW LW
————————Dzeko—————–
with Defoe, Krancjar, Huddlestone, Crouch etc to come and help if necessary
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