There Is Only One Sinnacle

For my latest article we are going to play pretend. Sinnacle will pretend to take over Tottenham and what I would do if given power to run this club. Now I’m not going to say outlandish things like that Messi kid is pretty good I’ll go out and sign him. I’m going to attempt to set realistic goals and player value figures. The beauty of it is that everyone has an opinion so feel free to add yours on who would you keep, sell or buy.

Basic Ground Rules

1. Going to set an reasonable transfer budget of 20 million pounds.
2. Any money gained by selling current players will be added on to the budget.
3. Since winter transfers are an awful time to attempt a team make over these transfers would take place in the summer transfer window. Basically pretend Sinnacle is taking over Tottenham at the end of this season.

Below we start let’s look over the current roster.

Goalie – Heurelho Gomes

Gomes is having a horrid time finding his form in England. He put Tottenham behind the 8 ball early when he spilled a ball against Aston Villa which lead to a goal and even yesterday against Wisla Krakow Gomes was woefully out of position when he was chipped over for Wisla Krakow only goal.

The problem lies in the fact that Tottenham paid PSV £7.8 million for Gomes services. With his current form you’ll be lucky to get half that fee. Gomes does have talent so we’ll give him another year before deciding to cut him loose.

Verdict – Roll the dice and pray he reverts to the form he displayed at PSV.

Defenders

Alan Hutton – Out of all the players Tottenham purchased in the winter 2008 transfer window Hutton has the most upside of the bunch. Still young at 23 Hutton has experience in playing at big games for Rangers and did feature in Tottenham winning Carling cup final. Despite Alan Hutton being injured he should be a featured right back for many years to come.

Verdict Hutton stays, coming up to the prime of his career and a future building block of this franchise.

Gareth Bale – Another defender who Ledley King must of rubbed off on as he spent most of 2007-2008 injured. In the 2007 summer transfer window Tottenham won the race to sign the Welsh prodigy from Southampton. Fast forward to tonight Tottenham are still waiting for Bale to play an extended run of games injury free. At 19 and with a deadly left foot on set plays Tottenham are still waiting for this investment to pay off.

Verdict – 19 year old players with his talent don’t come along often. Then again one could of said the same thing at one time about Wayne Routledge. Wouldn’t look to sell him but if reported interest from Liverpool materializes would consider selling him for José Bosingwa type money.

Chris Gunter – Has only featured in three games for Tottenham so it’s tough to judge Gunter at this point in time. Another 19 year Welshman who has an impressive 7 caps already to his name.

Verdict Tottenham paid 3 million pounds to Cardiff for his services. He should get an extended look before making any decisions so he stays as well.

Michael DawsonIt boils down with this regarding Michael Dawson. He is one of many Tottenham players whose potential hasn’t translated itself on the pitch consistently. Despite his age Dawson seems to be regressing at Tottenham. Would be best for both player and team to move on as Dawson could use a fresh start.

Verdict Will actively look to sell Dawson. Transfer fee sought for Dawson is four-five million pounds

Vedran Ćorluka Poor Corluka who figured he was leaving a mess in Manchester City to find himself in the same situation at Tottenham. He did settle nicely to the English game during his first year at Manchester City and in the right environment this 22 year old could turn into a top defender.

Verdict Another keeper as the upside of rolling the dice with a player of Corluka talents is better then selling him and being hard pressed to recoup the 8 million pound fee given to Manchester City.

Ledley King What is there to say about King that hasn’t already been said? He is a talented defender when healthy but he is never healthy. His health issues will most likely not improve as he gets older either.

Verdict A true tell sign of a change in culture is getting rid of the old captain but sinnacle likes to reward loyalty. King is not an every game centre back at this stage, he will either have to accept being the 3rd choice centre back and if he says no then look to move him on.

Benoît Assou-Ekotto He previously lost his place in the Tottenham set up to Lee Young-Pyo that is enough for me.

Verdict Ship him back to France or anywhere else that will pony for 2 million pounds for the 24 year old.

Jonathan Woodgate With all the injures to the Tottenham back line somehow Woodgate has managed to stay injury free. Obvious highlite of his time at Tottenham is scoring the winning goal in Tottenham 2-1 extra time defeat of Chelsea in the Carling cup final.

Verdict At 28 he should have another two to three years left in him. Can he stay injury free is the problem but if so will be a first choice centre back.

Ricardo Rocha Always found it foolish that Tottenham signed Rocha as a centre back then never played him there in 2007.

Verdict Not cut up for the English game. Been on the transfer market for 6 months with no offers. Either cut him loose on a free transfer or send him out on loan.

Paul Stalteri For a Canadian Stalteri has had a great career in Europe winning titles in Germany and being a serviceable role player during Martin Jol time in charge.

Verdict Another player anyone can have but no firm offers. Same boat as Rocha either cut loose or ring up Fulham to see if they want him on loan again.

Now we move on to the midfield

Didier Zokora – Holding midfielder for a team that has trouble keeping clean sheets.

Verdict – Another player that will be sent on his way. At 27 Zokora has some good years left and could help out a few teams. Expected transfer fee 3 million pounds (if you haven’t noticed tried to set the transfers fees low instead of over valuing them)

David Bentley – Bentley may not think Blackburn was so bad after a rocky start to this season. At Blackburn the offense flowed through him. With Tottenham they are several players who can create from the midfield.

Verdict At 15 million pounds you are pretty much married to Bentley for at least another couple of years. (i.e See Darren Bent)

Tom Huddlestone- He has everything to be a top class defensive midfield in English football. He is built for the part Huddlestone seems to make one mistake every game that ends up creating a chance for the other team.

Verdict Just can’t give up on that kind of potential just yet. While teams like Everton have been interested it would take a 10-12 million pound offer for me to even blink.

Aaron Lennon I remember watching the Portugal-England World Cup game thinking that Lennon was the only player on the field for England that could cause Portugal troubles. Two years later I’m still waiting for that kid with Theo Walcott speed to put it all together.

Verdict Lennon is still only 21 and selling him at this point could come back to haunt me a few years down the road.

Jermaine Jenas He’s been given 100 games to become a leader in the midfield. When Tottenham purchased Jenas from Newcastle a lot was expected but Jenas has never quite lived up to the hype. Jenas is another player where a change of scenery would do some good.

Verdict- Victim of the numbers game in the Tottenham midfield. Will look to move him on for about 8 million pounds.

Gilberto- In Gilberto’s first appearance for Tottenham he cost them the game against PSV in an UEFA Cup tie. Been a bust from day one.

Verdict – Release him on a free transfer

Luka Modrić Read David Bentley, same applies to Modric who is still adjusting to Tottenham and life in England.

Giovani Dos Santos Why Giovani left Barcelona for Tottenham I’ll never know but with foreign players once shouldn’t judge too harsh after only one year. It’s a big adjustment from life in Spain to the English game.

Verdict Still only 19 and another player whose upside can’t be given up on so quick.

Jamie O’Hara – Believe it’s important to feature players from the youth set up. It makes players currently in the youth squad continue to work hard with the belief that they too can crack the top team

Verdict – Bottom line is I’m a fan of O’Hara. His work rate is top notch with a nice skill set.

Kevin-Prince Boateng Going straight to the verdict here and say that Boateng will be hard pressed to crack this Tottenham midfield anytime soon. Actively look to sell him at a fee of 2 million pounds.

Hossam Ghaly If this was a garage sale I’d hang Ghaly out front with a sign that says no offer will be refused.

Verdict Will keep fingers cross and hope that at least one team ponies up a million pounds where I’ll then cut my losses.

Roman Pavlyuchenko – Going to keep my hopes up and believe that Tottenham fans will not expect Pavlyuchenko to replace Keane or Dimitar Berbatov and just appreciate him for his talents. Pavlyuchenko isn’t a typically EPL striker who can create his own chances and beat his man but play the ball to his feet or head in the box and he can find the back of the net.

Verdict He stays

Darren Bent – He is not a number one striker but not a bad one either. Just about the worst thing that could of happen to him was that transfer fee as it raised expectations for Bent to make the jump and become an elite striker.

Verdict – Another player who transfer fee means that Tottenham are married to him for a little while longer. At only 24 Bent can turn into the 20 goal man Tottenham envisioned when purchased from Charlton.

Now To Recap

Will Look To Sell

Michael Dawson 5 million pounds
Benoît Assou-Ekotto 2 million pounds
Didier Zokora 3 million pounds
Jermaine Jenas 8 million pounds
Kevin-Prince Boateng 2 million pounds
Hossam Ghaly 1 million pounds

Which will bring in 21 million pounds on top of the 20 million pounds given already to make signings. For all you math majors at there the new transfer budget is now 41 million pounds.

With those above players removed below is the current Tottenham setup

Goalie

Heurelho Gomes
César Sánchez

Defeners

Alan Hutton
Gareth Bale
Chris Gunter
Vedran Ćorluka
Ledley King
Jonathan Woodgate

Midfielders

David Bentley
Tom Huddlestone
Aaron Lennon
Luka Modrić
Giovani dos Santos
Jamie O’Hara

Forwards

Roman Pavlyuchenko
Darren Bent

Players I would now target

David Wheater – Middlesbrough The main concern is shoring up the back line and at only 21 years old and while not capped by England has already received a call up to the senior side. With Wheater and Woodgate being the preferred first choice partnership having previously played together at Middlesbrough is considered an bonus.

Look for Wheater to command a 10-12 million pound transfer fee for Middlesbrough to sell him. Just going to say 11 million to even out the math. Would look to Christopher Samba as a backup option.

Raul Meireles – Porto While Tottenham have a variety of creative/attacking midfield players I’d want that one pitbull who will chase every loose ball and is a total team player. In a perfect world would want Gennaro Gattuso who fits the role to a tee and while he previously has played for Rangers thus used to the British game it would be a long shot that Tottenham could convince him to leave A.C Milan. Now we decided to turn our eyes to Meireles who is a younger version of Gattuso and a team first player that has no trouble sacrificing his game for the good of the team.

Expected transfer fee to acquire Meireles’s services 8 million pounds. Back up option would be Porto team mate Lucho González who would be a more expensive transfer but just couldn’t convince himself that Gonzalez would make the jump.

With only two strikers Tottenham need another two strikers to make up the numbers so with that….

Michael Owen – Newcastle He is not going to resign with Newcastle now the question remains even if Tottenham can and will throw money at Owen will it be enough? Arsenal loves a bargain so they may end up being interested however don’t see any of the other big four English teams making a move which leaves Owen looking to Europe at that point. Gut feeling is that it would be 50/50 at best but Owen would be the number one transfer target. Owen would come as a free transfer.

Amr Zaki – Wigan/Zamalek Not 100% on his loan agreement with Wigan but Zaki has already started to make nosies about playing for a team with a bigger profile. Enter Tottenham and pray that a team with a bigger profile than Spurs doesn’t also enter the race. May change my mind by the end of this season but Zaki has quickly adapted to the English game with a keen eye for goal and a body built for English football. Expected transfer fee needed to obtain Zaki services would be 15 million pounds. Other options Óscar Cardozo/Benfica or Vágner Love/CSKA Moscow

Out of the 41 million pound transfer budget 34 million have been spent with 7 million left over in case I screw up and need to make a move in the winter transfer period.

Final Tottenham Squad

Goalies

Heurelho Gomes
César Sánchez

Defenders

Alan Hutton
Gareth Bale
Chris Gunter
Vedran Ćorluka
Ledley King
Jonathan Woodgate
David Wheater

Midfielders

David Bentley
Tom Huddlestone
Aaron Lennon
Luka Modrić
Giovani dos Santos
Jamie O’Hara
Raul Meireles

Fowards

Roman Pavlyuchenko
Darren Bent
Michael Owen
Amr Zaki

This entry was posted on Friday, October 3rd, 2008 at 6:10 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.