Spurs sitting pretty after the transfer window
4 min read
Where do we stand at the end of the Summer Transfer Window and why has it been a good one?
Rome was not built in a day and Tottenham will not be built in one transfer window. The defence was an area of great concern and we have started to address it. In have come Michel Vorm, Eric Dier, Federico Fazio, Ben Davies and DeAndre Yedlin.
We have strengthened in front of them bringing in Benjamin Stambouli who Pochettino regards as an upgrade of Sandro for the type of player he wants in that position.
There are targets we still want but have been unable to secure yet. At this stage we can be expected to return for them in January again, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jay Rodriguez (both Southampton) and possibly Hector Moreno (Espanyol).
The squad is being rebuilt, reshaped from the back. The other areas that need strengthening will be looked at in future windows. It is important to note Pochettino has a hand in valuing our targets and how much we should pay for them, he doesn't simply say I want that player, pay whatever to get him. Spurs are not in that financial position.
A key element of this window has been to position ourselves for next summers transfer window. Whereas before we have been unable to buy early before we have sold, next summer we don't have that problem. This is the squad at the moment.
The Tottenham squad then gets split into two and have to be dealt with separately. There is the home grown squad and the non-home grown squad. It is the non-home grown squad that stops us simply going out and buying more non-home grown players like Balotelli for instance.
We can only name 17 non-home grown players over the age of 21 in our 25 man Premier League Squad. We can not use any others unless they are 21 or under. Currently we have 18 players but Bongani Khumalo doesn't figure in 1st XI squads so effectively we have the maximum 17.
Understanding we have the maximum, fans can begin to appreciate why Sandro and Lewis Holtby have left. If we had been able to transfer BAE one may have stayed but they were on a list of non-home grown players Pochettino was happy to let go and someone had to leave.
Pochettino, Levy and Baldini agree player values, both our own and those we are after but if nobody is willing to pay our valuations then we can't move them. The player may not want to move or may not want a drop in wages, we may not want to release a player until we have a replacement lined up. There are many reasons why a player can't be sold.
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We were unable to move Chiriches, Kaboul and Soldado partly because nobody would pay our valuations and partly because of other player sales. There may well have been a stop gap element if we are waiting for Hector Moreno to recover from a broken leg.
Kaboul can leave on a free next summer, which he can arrange in January, unless we offer him a new contract, which given his performances is unlikely.
Non-Home Grown but under 21 so not included in 17 man Premier League Squad list.
For us to bring in the targets the fans would want means other taking some of these players off our hands. However in future we have addressed that problem this window.
Looking forward Benoit Assou-Ekotto is in the last year of his contract, that will reduce the non-home grown squad to 16 next summer. Brad Friedel will surely then not be offered a new playing contract, that would reduce it to 15. Younes Kaboul is in the last year of his contract, his departure will reduce it to 14.
That would free up 3 non-home grown places next summer so we could do early business without having to sell anyone first, that is assuming Hamburg do buy Lewis Holtby.
We have strengthened in certain areas and are now in a very strong position for the opening of the transfer window next summer, something I was particularly keen we addressed so we don't end up in the having to sell before we can buy position again.
All in all it's been a good window.
Rome was not built in a day and Tottenham will not be built in one transfer window. The defence was an area of great concern and we have started to address it. In have come Michel Vorm, Eric Dier, Federico Fazio, Ben Davies and DeAndre Yedlin.
We have strengthened in front of them bringing in Benjamin Stambouli who Pochettino regards as an upgrade of Sandro for the type of player he wants in that position.
There are targets we still want but have been unable to secure yet. At this stage we can be expected to return for them in January again, Morgan Schneiderlin, Jay Rodriguez (both Southampton) and possibly Hector Moreno (Espanyol).
The squad is being rebuilt, reshaped from the back. The other areas that need strengthening will be looked at in future windows. It is important to note Pochettino has a hand in valuing our targets and how much we should pay for them, he doesn't simply say I want that player, pay whatever to get him. Spurs are not in that financial position.
A key element of this window has been to position ourselves for next summers transfer window. Whereas before we have been unable to buy early before we have sold, next summer we don't have that problem. This is the squad at the moment.
Tottenham Hotspur Squad
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The Tottenham squad then gets split into two and have to be dealt with separately. There is the home grown squad and the non-home grown squad. It is the non-home grown squad that stops us simply going out and buying more non-home grown players like Balotelli for instance.
We can only name 17 non-home grown players over the age of 21 in our 25 man Premier League Squad. We can not use any others unless they are 21 or under. Currently we have 18 players but Bongani Khumalo doesn't figure in 1st XI squads so effectively we have the maximum 17.
Understanding we have the maximum, fans can begin to appreciate why Sandro and Lewis Holtby have left. If we had been able to transfer BAE one may have stayed but they were on a list of non-home grown players Pochettino was happy to let go and someone had to leave.
Pochettino, Levy and Baldini agree player values, both our own and those we are after but if nobody is willing to pay our valuations then we can't move them. The player may not want to move or may not want a drop in wages, we may not want to release a player until we have a replacement lined up. There are many reasons why a player can't be sold.
Recent Articles:
Spurs outclassed
Tottenham by Carragher & THBN
19yo Dominic Ball gets England call
Former Spurs coach Chris Ramsey with England U17's
Fredericks to learn defensive positioning at Middlesbrough
We were unable to move Chiriches, Kaboul and Soldado partly because nobody would pay our valuations and partly because of other player sales. There may well have been a stop gap element if we are waiting for Hector Moreno to recover from a broken leg.
Kaboul can leave on a free next summer, which he can arrange in January, unless we offer him a new contract, which given his performances is unlikely.
Non-Home Grown Squad
| 1 |  | GK | Hugo Lloris |
| 4 | | DF | Younès Kaboul |
| 5 |  | DF | Jan Vertonghen |
| 6 |  | DF | Vlad Chiricheș |
| 8 |  | MF | Paulinho |
| 9 |  | FW | Roberto Soldado |
| 10 |  | FW | Emmanuel Adebayor |
| 11 |  | MF | Érik Lamela |
| 13 |  | GK | Michel Vorm |
| 19 | | MF | Mousa Dembélé |
| 20 | | MF | Benjamin Stambouli |
| 21 | | DF | Federico Fazio |
| 22 | | MF | Nacer Chadli |
| 23 |  | MF | Christian Eriksen |
| 24 |  | GK | Brad Friedel |
| 29 | | MF | Étienne Capoue |
| 32 |  | DF | Benoît Assou-Ekotto |
Non-Home Grown but under 21 so not included in 17 man Premier League Squad list.
| 42 |  | MF | Nabil Bentaleb |
For us to bring in the targets the fans would want means other taking some of these players off our hands. However in future we have addressed that problem this window.
Looking forward Benoit Assou-Ekotto is in the last year of his contract, that will reduce the non-home grown squad to 16 next summer. Brad Friedel will surely then not be offered a new playing contract, that would reduce it to 15. Younes Kaboul is in the last year of his contract, his departure will reduce it to 14.
That would free up 3 non-home grown places next summer so we could do early business without having to sell anyone first, that is assuming Hamburg do buy Lewis Holtby.
We have strengthened in certain areas and are now in a very strong position for the opening of the transfer window next summer, something I was particularly keen we addressed so we don't end up in the having to sell before we can buy position again.
All in all it's been a good window.
4 comments
By paying off BAE, we would receive the benefit of both opening up a non-homegrown space and having BAE out of the dressing room.
I'm not trying to say that Bennie is a bad person, but he and everyone else know that he will never again play as a Spur. Then, Bennie could move on with his life.
Levy could probably setup a side agreement with Bennie that allows us to make a fee if we kind find an acceptable club for him. We could also add a clause that during the remaining period of his contract, we have an option to bring him back in (probably would need to add a little more dough for that).
He is free and nobody wants him or he is just being awkward.