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Charlie Austin too old for Spurs

There are plenty of reports floating about the media that Tottenham are interested in QPR striker Charlie Austin after the London clubs relegation.



At first glance they look justifiable, but on closer inspection there are question marks and the news I have heard is that we have no interest in him. It's natural for the newspapers to link us with every striker, we want to replace two of them and Charlie Austin has scored goals, an easy story to write and one which will fulfil its aim of selling newspapers, whether it has any truth to it or not.

Austin banged in 18 goals in his first season in the Premier League, a commendable effort but his age is the main problem, He'll be 26 in July, he has only had one season of Premier League experience, now clubs know him they will devise ways to stop him scoring and he'll have to overcome that. Harry Kane is in the same boat, but crucially he is only 22 in July and has time, Austin doesn't.

Spurs haven't just hit on an age of 27 and under for players by accident. When a player hits 30 his value starts to diminish in the transfer market so to buy a player with only 4 years left until he gets there he needs to proven over a number of seasons at Premier League level, rather than in the same situation as England Under-21 internationals, Kane, Danny Ings and Saido Berahino.

A football player is an asset, all four score goals, but the latter three are better commercial commodities, you can get longer service out of them and they have the potential to be worth more money by the time they reach 26 than Austin is now, or will be when he hits 30. On all counts they are a better proposition.

These factors have to be taken into account, there are plenty of players out there so simply taking an easy option might be Ok for now but has no long term benefit. We are not one of the rich clubs, we do very nicely thank-you but can't just throw money at the transfer market the way Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City can.

Anything can change in football and frequently does but for now Charlie Austin is not on our radar.


5 comments

  1. Find this article rather strange. What is said here could be the same for any striker irrelevant of his age or prem experience in terms of trams finding a way to stop them scoring. Nothing is certaon in football but one thing is for sure...english footbalk have not seen a player of Ustins ilk in a long time. He a traditional type...very strong, good with both feet, powerful and accurate shot, can shoot from distance. Look at team he was in...imagine if he had better supply and a strike partner to play with. Never had that at QPR. Joe Hart thinks he is one of the best strikers hw has seen in a long while. If he does well on his England debut spurs not even be able to get near him. Pity Kane and Austin would be leathal together! Point is...strange to say he is not on your radar with so much going for him! Lets wait and see then!
  2. Spurs logic:
    Signing a 26 year old English striker with a proven ability to score goals in the Premier League for £10 million. "No thanks, he is too old"
    Signing a 28 year old Spanish striker with no history of scoring goals in the Premier League for £26 million. "Yes please, we will have some of that!"
  3. We don't play with 2 strikers so Kane and Austin wouldn't play together, we need strikers who are technically good and have great movement. We are not a side who cross the ball so he isn't really suited to our game, a 22-year-old Austin is a better signing than a 26-year-old Austin, especialy given the stadium being build soon and a requirement not to have to change too many players when that is happening. We don't need Premier League standard, we need top 4 standard or potential top 4 standard, he isn't. Austin has scored goals for 1 season at the top level, Soldado had a proven international record and scoring record in a top league, chalk and cheese.
  4. I don't agree. Austin is a better bet than Soldado ever was.
  5. That's just hindsight talking. Hardly matters as he's going to Southampton anyway, he won't get a game fir us apart from the Europa League and Cups.