EuroSpurs – CSKA @ Khimki Arena

Since Monaco pulled off a heist in Wembley on Match Day 1, Tottenham have bounced back emphatically in domestic action. The uncharacteristic defensive lapses that marred the Monaco tie have been absent since, and a Heung Min Son inspired Spurs attack has been on stellar form in recent weeks. Now Spurs face a massive challenge – The trip to Moscow to face CSKA. So, what should we expect from Tuesday’s tie?

What to expect from CSKA?

Performing against heavyweight English opposition has been something of a specialty for CSKA Moscow in recent years. In 2014, the Russian side recorded a draw and a 2-1 win in their two ties against Manchester City, while last year, Man United could only manage a draw in their trip to Russia. When the draw was made for Group E, taking a point back to London after a trip to the Khimki Arena would have been seen as a moderate success, but after dropping crucial points on Match Day 1, this game suddenly becomes much more valuable to Tottenham.

Domestically CSKA have been performing typically well. Unbeaten in their 8 league games so far this season, their only recent loss came in the Russian Cup last week (A 2-1 loss to FC Yenisey).

The Russian Champions pride themselves on being tough to break down, starting with the national goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev in the sticks. CSKA are particularly dangerous from set pieces where 6’8 target man Lacina Traore has hit form. The Ivorian giant has accounted for 3 goals in his 7 appearances this season, and will provide a major threat for Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Aside from the target man, Finnish midfielder Roman Eremenko has impressed this season, and has also contributed 3 goals thus far. Keep an eye also on the right wing where ex Man United winger Zoran Tosic is capable of causing problems.

Key Man: Alan Dzagoev

When the draw for Group E was made, we discussed Alan Dzagoev at length, and wondered how the Russian maestro has not yet earned his blockbuster move?

The 26-year old has been the lynchpin for both club and country since 2008, and seems to have slipped through the cracks of every transfer window since then. Peak Dzagoev hype came after Euro 2012, where the then 22-year old midfielder finished as joint top scorer. His form on the international stage has not reached such lofty heights since, but his playmaking ability has continued to be prominent to the success of CSKA and the Russian national side.

Playing in a deep midfield role this year, the playmaker has notched two assists in his 6 games, and has enjoyed a pass success rate of 85%. Dzagoev likely to be joined at midfield by defensive workhorse Pontus Wernbloom, who has been in immaculate form so far this year. If Tottenham are to succeed in getting something from this tie, winning this essential midfield battle will be paramount.

What about Tottenham?

As mentioned above, this tie now has extra weight for Pochettino and co., after Spurs unexpectedly fell to Monaco on Day 1. To add even more difficulty, to an already tricky task, Spurs travel to Russia without the injured Harry Kane, or the athletic power-quarter of Moussa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko, Eric Dier and Danny Rose.

This game now becomes a serious test of Tottenham’s depth, but thankfully, numerous players have been knocking on the first XI door in recent weeks. Heung Min Son has been lighting it up across the front of midfield, and Pochettino will be hoping his goalscoring form and European experience  come to play in the Khimki Arena. Meanwhile, creative duo Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen have also been enjoying a hot streak, and we expect the pair to join Heung Min Son in our attacking midfield trio. Up front, Vincent Janssen will be hoping to add to last week’s league cup goal, as he continues to prove his worth in Harry Kane’s absence.

The defence appears to pick itself, with Ben Davies covering for the injured Danny Rose, however with Dembele and Dier sidelined, the spotlight will be shone on Wanyama and Dele Alli, who will go toe-to-toe with CSKA’s most impressive unit.

With the squad’s depth being soaked up in the starting XI, Spurs are somewhat limited when looking to the bench. Tonight could prove to be a great opportunity for new man George Kevin N’Koudou to enter the fray and show his talent on the big stage.

In Summary, Tottenham face a big challenge on their visit to Moscow. The long trip and lengthy injury list put Spurs in a hole, but on the flip side, Spurs currently have a selection of players in red hot form. Tottenham may enter the tie as underdogs, but if the defence can withstand the direct threat of Moscow and get the ball to the quartet of Lamela, Eriksen, Son and Alli all operating in midfield, then Tottenham will certainly create chances.

With my optimistic hat on, I’m predicting a 2-1 Tottenham win, with goals from Son and Lamela. Come on You Spurs!

 

End-Game: EPL Round-Up for Gameweek 4

Well… that was a fun welcome back from the international week?

Tottenham Hotspur looked rejuvenated as they put Stoke City to the sword on Saturday. Heung Min Son, Dele Alli and Harry Kane all got in on the scoring action in the 4-nil rout, while Hugo Lloris returned to contribute to another sturdy defensive display against a potentially dangerous Stoke City side. So as we take a brief recess from football before a long-awaited Champions League tie Wednesday, let’s talk about some conclusions from the weekend’s action.

The Tottenham Report

Rising Son

Expecting a good day at the office for Heung Min Son! And Sissoko to impress in the Dembele role replacing Big Vic in 2nd half! #COYS #THFC

— Think Spurs (@ThinkSpurs) September 10, 2016

Forgive me for the shameless self-promotion, but I knew our Korean wonder would come good. I picked Son of as one of my list of Spurs players ready to make a leap to the next level in the coming season, after a stop-start begin to his life at White Hart Lane. I must admit, I feared for my prediction when I saw big bids come in for the wide attacker towards the end of the window, but it appears that Pochettino and Levy share my belief that Son can still be a big factor in this Tottenham team.

Son’s preparation for the new season was somewhat hampered due to South Korea’s participation in the Olympic Games, however Son sent out a firm statement of intent last week regarding his determination to succeed at Tottenham, when he stepped back from international duty last week in order to gain some momentum at Spurs. Pochettino rewarded his sacrifice with a starting place on Saturday and Heung Min Son did everything he could to repay that faith.

Son represents a great weapon for the Tottenham attack as he provides aspects of the game that our other attacking midfielders don’t. While he may not have the guile of Eriksen or Lamela, Son provides dangerous pace, and an acute eye for goal. Son’s presence in the team put extra pressure on the Stoke team last week, taking attention from Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, who thrived as a result. Enjoying ample possession throughout the game, Eriksen was able to tee Son up for two goals on his first start of the season – the first, a poacher’s finish from 10 yards, and the second, a curling beauty over the keeper into the top corner. Let’s hope to see more of the same from Son in the coming weeks.

Fresh Start

The international week is often seen as a curse at the beginning of a new campaign. Momentum is often lost, and the dreaded international injury is always on the cards. And yes, while Tottenham fans around the globe did wince as news landed that Danny Rose picked up an injury, it seems that for the most part, the international break provided a refreshing siesta for some of Tottenham’s stars.

After wrapping up a much maligned contract situation, Christian Eriksen continued a good week by scoring the winning goal for Denmark in the World Cup qualifiers. The Dane carried his stellar form back to England, as he excelled for Tottenham, looking like the Christian Eriksen of old, racking up two assists to cap off a classy display.

Harry Kane and Dele Alli were also involved in action during Big Sam’s England debut, however both players looked more energised this weekend than they have all season so far. Alli was a menacing presence throughout the match, causing problems for Stoke through the middle of midfield. He almost got his name on the scoresheet twice in the first half through two good chances, but eventually finished off a lethal counterattacking move in the second half to put Spurs three goals to the good. Harry Kane on the other hand opened his account for the new season, by notching his 50^th goal in a mere 90 games… The One Season Wonder strikes again!

It feels weird scoring this early in the @premierleague season! 🤔😉 #COYS #BPL

— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 10, 2016

Nice Problems for Poch

A lot can change in two weeks in the world of football.

Facing into the end of the transfer window, there was a feeling among many Spurs fans that the squad was thin and light of options. Three new signings, almost two weeks of a break, and one big win have flipped that theory on its head, as Pochettino faces into his maiden Tottenham Champions League tie with a serious selection headache.

Erik Lamela’s good form in the early part of the season was rewarded with an international call-up to join up with Argentina’s all-star attacking cast. As Lamela would only be returning shortly before Saturday’s fixture, it was decided that Pochettino would rest his Argentinean dynamo, and it was assumed that new man Moussa Sissoko would show us all what he could do on the wing. However, it was Heung-Min Son who got the start and took the opportunity with both hands, while Moussa Sissoko was limited to a cameo appearance in the second half on his first day in White. With Lamela also impressing after his introduction, and Alli and Eriksen stealing the show, one wonders what way Pochettino will line-up against Monaco.

Add to this, the long-awaited return of powerhouse Moussa Dembele, and Tottenham’s best XI becomes anyone’s bet.

And… The Rest of the League

• Pep Guardiola reaffirmed his position at the top of the list of José Mourinho’s least favourite people (Just ahead of Eva Carneiro), by continuing his dominance over José-managed sides. However, With Claudio Bravo looking shaky at best in the Manchester Derby, will Pep live to regret his ruthless dropping of Joe Hart?
• Arsenal used up a major get-out-of-jail card on Saturday after somehow snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat against the Saints. The result was certainly referee-aided, and we Spurs fans must hope those two points aren’t important at the end of the year.
• More of the same from Liverpool this week – a ruthless attacking display, peppered occasionally with hapless defending. Their butchering of Leicester does however put a better gloss on our recent draw against the Merseysiders – particularly to our defence which held strong against an impressive attack.

Agree with the conclusions? Let me know in the comments or via Twitter @ThinkSpurs.

Tottenham Hotspur Power Rankings

There’s one thing that seems to appeal to us Sports fans – Lists. They’re so neat and definite. It’s as if seeing things in a ranked, ordered fashion is like seeing a jigsaw fit together.

So, as International week starves us of club action, I’ve decided to look at the Spurs panel, and with the early part of the season in mind, compile the first ‘Tottenham Hotspur Power Rankings’

The key concept of the Power Rankings will be the following question – How important is this player to Tottenham’s success?

The player’s quality over the past few years will of course be taken into account, but as this list is likely to change regularly, current form, and current team situation will also be prominent factors.

Last note: I’ll be using the 22 man squad currently listed on the official Tottenham Hotspur website, so that means young players like Harry Winks or Josh Onomah who are yet to get regular senior game time are excluded.

So, without further adieu…

1. Toby Alderweireld
   Tottenham currently boast a wealth of talent in the first team, and while a handful of players could have a fair claim to the top spot in the power rankings, I think many fans would agree that Toby Alderweireld is the current ‘Most Valuable Player’.
   In the days pre-Toby, Tottenham floundered at the back as the likes of Federico Fazio or Younes Kaboul partnered the often disinterested Jan Vertonghen. The addition of the classy Belgian has since turned Spurs into one of the league’s meanest defences (fewest goals conceded in 2015/16). As Kane searches for his scoring touch, and Lloris and Dembele remain sidelined, Toby Alderweireld has been a leading light for Spurs this year as he continued last year’s stellar form by shutting down attacking threats of all types so far this season. As such, he tops the early season Tottenham Power Rankings.

2. Moussa Dembele
   They say that absence makes the heart grow stronger, and this is certainly the case with Moussa Dembele. Dembele established himself as the heartbeat of the Tottenham team last year, dominating games from central midfield. With the dynamic midfielder currently serving a lengthy suspension, Tottenham appear like a ship without a rudder, urgently need of someone to provide direction.
   With Dembele at central midfield, Tottenham went on a lengthy unbeaten streak last term, and Tottenham’s late season collapse also coincided with the Belgian’s absence due to the start of his suspension. With the current side crying out for a player of Dembele’s ability in the opening games of 2016/17, you can expect to see Dembele high up this list for quite a while.

3. Harry Kane
   While he may be trumped by Alderweireld and Dembele in terms of importance to the team at this very time of writing, there’s little doubt that Harry Kane is the face of this Tottenham team. The local lad who came out of nowhere to become a star within two years. The fact that he’s already a vice-captain speaks volumes about the respect he holds within the dressing room.
   However, as he is still struggling to find freshness after a whirlwind last 12 months, Kane finds himself at third position in the Power Rankings. The much needed addition of Vincent Janssen also means that a loss of Kane for game would not be the catastrophe it would have been last season, but his all-round game keeps him high up this list.

4. Danny Rose
   Arguably the biggest beneficiary of the Pochettino regime has been winger-turned-fullback Danny Rose. Rose always possessed the tools and skills to be a productive player, but lacked the consistency and tactical awareness. Pochettino famously promised Rose in his first season, that if he listened to him, he would make him an English international. Fast forward and we see that Pochettino has made good on his promise, as Rose now finds himself as one of the league’s premier left backs.
   For Tottenham, Rose’s job goes far beyond defending. In a Tottenham team severely lacking pace, Rose’s ability to overlap at speed and provide pace has been a crucial part of the Spurs attack this season.

5. Hugo Lloris
   Every Spurs fan knows the world class quality of Hugo Lloris, and he is another player who could lay claim to the Power Rankings top spot. Yet, in his absence due to a hamstring injury, fans have been reassured by the safe hands of Michel Vorm. Hugo remains the absolute number one, but having a safety net called ‘Michel Vorm’ in reserve can let Spurs fans rest a little easier.

6. Erik Lamela
   After a very rocky start to his career in white, Lamela’s star has continued to rise in the last 12 months as he has reinvented his game under Mauricio Pochettino. Gone is the lightweight, inconsistent winger we saw in Year 1, and in his place is a super-fit, hard-working playmaker, who is the epitome of Pochettino’s high press philosophy.
   Many assumed Lamela would be the man to make way for Moussa Sissoko in the First XI, but I’ll be very surprised if Mauricio Pochettino decides to drop one of his on-field lieutenants.

7. Eric Dier
   Another player reinvented under Poch is holding midfielder Eric Dier, who is now not only a key component of the Tottenham side, but one of the first names of the teamsheet for England. Dier’s work is not flashy, and rarely makes the headlines, but having a player of Dier’s quality minding the house is what allows flair players like Alli, Eriksen or Lamela the space and time to create.
   Dier finds himself at (the very respectable) 7^th place in the Power Rankings, purely due to the addition of fellow protector Victor Wanyama who provides another option for Spurs at the base of midfield.

8. Kyle Walker
   Much like Danny Rose, Walker has flourished in the past few seasons. Having seen off the challenge of Kieran Trippier at Tottenham, Walker’s impressive club form has also seen him force his way ahead of Nathaniel Clyne on the England charts in recent months.
   Much like Rose, Walker is essential in providing width and pace for the current Spurs team.

9. Jan Vertonghen
   Having found life difficult with a range of sub-par defensive partners over the past few years, the steady presence of Toby Alderweireld has finally brought out the best in Jan Vertonghen.
   Much like his compatriot, Jan is a smooth tackler, a quick mover and an even quicker thinker. The Belgian duo were the EPL’s finest central defensive pairing last year, and this year’s showing has been a continuation of that good form. Keeping a consistent is key to most successful defences, so Jan’s position in the Power Rankings top 10 is justified.

10. Christian Eriksen
    In the days before Pochettino or Harry Kane, Eriksen may well have been top of this list, with two or three empty spaces behind him to emphasise his importance. As Tottenham struggled to find their identity in the days of Tim Sherwood or AVB, it was often Eriksen who produced a moment of magic to save the day.
    However, in the current progressive Tottenham unit, as most of the team continue to move forward, Eriksen appears to be standing still. Contract negotiations may be affecting his focus, resulting in sub-standard performances this season. However, a winning goal for Denmark in last night’s World Cup qualifiers will hopefully reignite his confidence before he returns to the Lane.

11. Dele Alli
    After going from child prodigy to International Golden Boy in the blink of an eye, I couldn’t blame Dele Alli for being tired. Alli looked like he had no fuel left in the tank during England’s European Championship campaign this summer, and he looked similarly jaded during Tottenham’s first league game this season – lacking that spark that sets him apart from the rest.
    Pochettino wisely rested Alli against Crystal Palace, and he looked more prominent in the Liverpool tie. Alli shone again after coming off the bench on international duty, so don’t be surprised if Alli gets the odd day off this campaign, as keeping him from burning out will be crucial to his continued development.

12. Victor Wanyama
    Quickly becoming a fan favourite is new boy Victor Wanyama, who impressed with his powerful displays in his first three Tottenham outings. In a side without Moussa Dembele, the box-to-box midfield role was handed to Wanyama who productively popped up all over the pitch on his first three outings, including for a crucial winning goal versus Crystal Palace on Match Day 2.
    However, with Dembele’s comeback on the horizon, and with Eric Dier still the frontrunner in the holding midfield position, Wanyama may have to be content with a rotation role in the coming weeks.

13. Michel Vorm
    With goalkeeper injuries being so rare, an injury to a keeper often causes panic within a camp. Tottenham are fortunate to have an understudy of Vorm’s quality in the ranks. Vorm was rock solid in his first two outings, and stole the show against Liverpool with some point blank saves. While Lloris remains the number 1, Vorm has pushed himself relatively high up the Power Rankings with his eye-catching displays.

14. Vincent Janssen
    After crying out for an entire season, Spurs fans were finally rewarded with some Harry Kane back-up, and it has arrived in the form of Dutch hitman Vincent Janssen.
    Janssen ripped it up last year in the Eredivisie with a van-Nistelrooy-esque 27 goals, and while he has yet to hit the net in Tottenham colours, his all round play has inspired many promising reviews from the Tottenham faithful. Bought primarily as a back-up, the 22 year old has already forced Pochettino to consider other ideas, as Tottenham started with out-and-out strikers against Crystal Palace for the first time in the Pochettino era.

15. Moussa Sissoko
    So where does the man of the hour fall in the Power Rankings? He is still very much an unknown commodity, as nobody seems to know what to expect from the powerful Frenchman, yet given the obvious faith the coaching staff must have in him (as the £30million price tag would suggest) he finds himself quite high up the Power Rankings.
    Coming off some impressive international performances, Sissoko will most likely make his full debut for Tottenham this weekend against Stoke, as Dembele remains suspended, and as Erik Lamela is expected to be rested following a late trip back from international duty. All eyes on Moussa, as a handful of promising displays could see him shoot up these ranks.

16. Kevin Wimmer
    The young Austrian impressed last season in Jan Vertonghen’s absence last year, but finds himself stuck firmly behind the Belgian duo at the moment. Make no mistake though, if anything should happen to Jan or Toby, Wimmer would find himself becoming an integral player very suddenly, given the relative lack of depth at the centre back position.

17. Ben Davies
    Davies comes in off the back of a promising European campaign with the Welsh. Davies has almost always delivered the goods when called upon for Tottenham, yet he is unfortunate to find himself behind the league’s in-form fullback in Danny Rose.
    However, as Tottenham’s schedule heats up between league, cup and European action, expect Davies to see significant game time.

18. Heung-Min Son
    The South Korean attacker has shown glimpses of his ability at Tottenham, but is yet to find that patch of consistent good form. Most fans were glad to see Spurs turn down big bids for the winger late in the transfer window, as he provides important attacking depth, and as the season progresses, Son possesses the pace and goalscoring threat to become one of Spurs most important players. However, until he is given the requisite opportunity, he will remain in the back end of the Power Rankings.

19. Kieran Trippier
    Much like Ben Davies, Kieran Trippier hasn’t put a foot wrong, but finds himself firmly as the number 2 in the depth chart at Right Back. Should hope to impress in some upcoming cup appearances.

20. George Kevin N’Koudou
    The lightning quick winger could prove to be a lethal weapon for Tottenham’s attack, yet until we see the young Frenchman in action, he’ll be unable to shoot up the Power Rankings.

21. Tom Carroll
    Having seen some of his teammates in similar positions, such as Nabil Bentaleb or Ryan Mason, leave the club over the summer, Tom Carroll must wonder if he has been left in limbo.
    The technically gifted centre midfielder has been a regular in Tottenham squads over the past 12 months, but the additions of Wanyama and Sissoko, and the emergence of Onomah and Winks have pushed him down the depth chart, and one wonders whether he will be given the chance to prove he has a future at White Hart Lane?

22. Pau Lopez
    We have every reason to believe that the young Spaniard is a fine goalkeeping prospect, but the fact of the matter is, it would take a disaster or a miracle before we see him rise up the Power Rankings.

Agree with the Power Rankings? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for reading!

The Ones Who Got Away: Tottenham’s Transfer Tragedies

Every club has countless tales of highs and lows, but few can match Tottenham Hotspur in terms of Transfer Window drama. Many Tottenham fans have been subjected to more emotionally taxing transfer windows in the past 10 years than the average straight-thinking football fan should have in a lifetime. 

For every one great move for a Rafael van der Vaart or a Hugo Lloris, there are countless other potential deals that were dashed after hopes had been raised. Tottenham have seen more falls at the final hurdle than a wet day at Cheltenham, and with this year’s transfer window nearing its conclusion I want to use this article to have a quick look at some of the ones that got away…

Joao Moutinho

First linked to Spurs: 2012
Where is he now? AS Monaco

Minutes. That was the difference. Minutes

In the late hours of the Summer 2012 transfer window, Andre Villas-Boas wanted to stamp his own mark on the Tottenham team. With Luka Modric gone to Real Madrid, and van der Vaart moved on to Hamburg, Tottenham’s midfield was bereft of creativity and AVB turned to his countryman Joao Moutinho to provide the solution.

Spurs fans rightly mourned the loss of their two prestigious playmakers but Moutinho seemed the perfect candidate to replace them. Having excelled for Porto and Portugal in the same deep-lying playmaker role that Modric enjoyed in Tottenham, the then 25-year old seemed destined to prosper at White Hart Lane.

However, as is often the case with these tales, the transfer fee became the sticking point. Despite having raked in over £50million from the sales of Modric, van der Vaart and Niko Krancjar among others, Daniel Levy refused to pay over the odds for the Portuguese maestro. In the end, Levy’s hard-nosed negotiations seemed to be a stroke of genius as Sky Sports announced that a £22million fee had been agreed just before the transfer deadline shut. Unfortunately, all the haggling meant there was insufficient time left to push through the mandatory paperwork, and the hopes of completing the Moutinho move vanished. Hopes of a deal at a later stage were dashed in May the following year, when AS Monaco splashed out €70million to Porto for a double deal including Joao Moutinho and his teammate James Rodriguez.

Tottenham have since rebuilt and the current midfield looks as healthy as it’s been in a decade, but what about Moutinho himself? His club career at Monaco has been modest at best, where they are perennial second-fiddle to PSG in Ligue Un. On the international stage though, Moutinho was an essential cog in the Portugal team that achieved EURO glory in the 2016  European championship.

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar

First linked: 2008
Where is he now? Schalke

Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is probably a name many Tottenham fans relate to even more than a some of the strikers who have actually played for the club.

In 2008, KJH was the latest shiney new striker to come out of the Ajax system. After being the leading scorer in the Euro u21 Championship in 2006, and leading the scoring charts in the Eredivisie in 2006 and 2008, comparisons the the likes of Ruud van Nistelrooy, and links to big clubs inevitably followed.

Tottenham were one of many clubs said to be interested, and fans were excited at the prospect of seeing the young Dutchman link up with fellow new signing Roman Pavluychenko. Alas, In Decemeber 2008, Spanish giants Real Madrid agreed a deal of €20million to take Huntelaar to the Bernabeu. However, Huntelaar’s time at Madrid wasn’t as successful as either party had hoped. In the following summer, after just half a season, rumour of a move surfaced, and Tottenham again were linked to the striker. As the likes of Man United cooled their interest, it seemed a move to Tottenham was imminent, until AC Milan swooped at the last second to sign the striker in August 2009.

Just a year later, KJH packed his bags again, and moved on to Schalke in Germany, where he finally seemed to settle. Between 2010 and 2014, The Dutchman hit 91 goals in 139 games, and as Spurs hierarchy began to lose faith in Roberto Soldado, the link Tottenham Hotspur surfaced once more. In summer 2014, Spurs were chasing fellow dutchman Michel Vorm when the KJH rumour was heard. At that point, Vorm was expected to arrive on loan, while KJH was supposed to finally seal a transfer to White Hart Lane. While this particular double deal never materialised in the end, it did give rise to one of the best transfer headlines of that year:

“Vorm is temporary, Klaas is permanent”

Romelu Lukaku

First linked: 2010
Where is he now? Everton

Rewind back six years to the Summer of 2010. Spain had just won the World Cup, Harry Redknapp was a genius, and Spurs apparently had a bid rejected for a Belgian wonderkid called Romelu Lukaku.

Then only 17, Lukaku was attracting admiring glances from all over Europe for his impressive displays for Anderlecht. Despite being little more than a kid, on the pitch Lukaku was already making full grown men look small. At 6’3 and almost 90kg, Lukaku looked more like an NFL Linebacker than a 17 year old striker. Add in the fact he had just hit 15 goals in 33 games in the Belgian league and we suddenly seemed to be looking at a younger clone of Didier Drogba. Anderlecht rejected advances from some of Europe’s elite for two further years, as the player was content to grow in his home country.

In April 2011, it was alleged that Spurs had jumped to the front of the queue to sign the Belgian starlet, only for Chelsea to hijack the move when the window opened, signing the striker for a reported £18million.

Despite hitting 17 goals in 35 Premier League games while on loan at West Brom in 2013, or netting 15 in 31 for Everton the following year, Lukaku failed to convince Chelsea manager José Mourinho that he could lead the line at Stamford Bridge. As a result, Lukaku was allowed to leave the club. Despite fresh links to a move to Tottenham at this point, Lukaku instead returned to Everton, where he had become a fan-favourite the previous season.

At just 23 years old, Lukaku has scored an incredible 119 goals in his 278 professional games. With 60 of those goals coming in his 149 Premier League appearances, he can now legitimately be considered not just a hot prospect, but one of the finest strikers in football. Now believed to have a pricetag of £60million, he appears to be well outside Tottenham’s budget. I’m sure there are many scouts at Tottenham who wonder what could have been.

Eden Hazard

First linked: 2012
Where is he now? Chelsea

“Maybe I’ll go to Tottenham, it’s a great English club. I said I would go to England.”
– Eden Hazard, February 2012

Early 2012 was a great time to be a Spurs fan. Gareth Bale and Luka Modric had grown into bonafide superstars, a new cult hero had arrived in Rafa van der Vaart and Harry Redknapp was orchestrating an unlikely title push. Tottenham’s bright young team looked set to be a Champions League participant the following season, and as a result, became a very attractive destination for Europe’s hot prospects. Yes, in February 2012, things seemed rosey in White Hart Lane, but, as is often the case, Chelsea came along to ruin everything.

Harry Redknapp’s flirtation with the vacant England job caused Tottenham’s momentum to stumble in the second half of the season. Yet as the season drew to a close, Tottenham cemented their place in the top 4, at the expense of a Chelsea team that had floundered in the league under Andre Villas Boas. Tottenham’s recruitment department were already looking into upgrading the squad ahead of the upcoming Champions League campaign by chasing down a deal for ‘The Belgian Messi’ Eden Hazard. Hazard himself had attracted interest from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but Hazard wanted first team football assured, and felt a Premier League side, who would play in the Champions League, was the logical next step in his development, before an inevitable move to one of the Spanish heavyweights. His father added more weight to this theory with the following quote:

“Yes, there is interest from Spurs, and no, there’s no offer. The priority for Eden is one thing: games. Opportunities. It might be better to join a club just below the biggest.” 

While this could be viewed as an insult to Spurs, very few at Tottenham cared. They were getting one of Europe’s brightest prospects, and even if he did leave for sunnier shores in 3 or 4 years, it would only be for a very hefty price-tag.

And then Chelsea won the Champions League.

It will never fail to amaze me how it happened. Villas Boas got the chop after he lost the dressing room, and the side were trailing 3-1 to Napoli in the Champions League round of 16. Through a bizarre twist of fate, they somehow made their way to the final, where a late Didier Drogba equaliser in normal time, and a missed Arjen Robben penalty in extra-time handed them the most unlikely of victories. The downside? Only 4 Premier League teams could be allowed contest the following years competition, and with the winners entitled to automatic re-entry, that meant 4th placed Tottenham Hotspur lost out.

Once Champions League aspirations vanished, Hazard’s interest in a move to the Lane evaporated. As if to rub salt in Tottenham’s wounds, who else but Chelsea then waltzed in to pick-up the Belgian winger instead.

Four years on, Hazard is Chelsea’s centrepiece, having been Premier League player of the year in 2014. It’s hard not to wonder what could have been, had Arjen Robben been more accurate from the penalty spot in May of 2012…

Leandro Damiao

First linked: Shortly after the Big Bang
Where is he now? ???

*WARNING: Fight Club Spoilers ahead*

You really didn’t think I’d write a whole article on Tottenham’s most tragic transfer tales and not mention Leandro Damiao did you?

In the Brad Pitt/Ed Norton classic film that is ‘Fight Club’, the main character is in turmoil. His one dimensional life is missing something.

The answer to all his problems arrives when he meets the maverick that is: Tyler Durden.

Super cool, uber-confident, care-free. Durden is the epitome of everything the main protagonist is looking for. The twist? Tyler Durden doesn’t exist. He’s merely a fantasized figment of his imagination, based on everything he wants to be.

My theory? Leandro Damiao is Tottenham Hotspur’s Tyler Durden. Does he even really exist?

United had Rooney. Chelsea had Drogba. Arsenal had RVP. Even Liverpool went from Fernando Torres to Luis Suarez and yet try as they might, Tottenham Hotspur just could not find that elusive star striker. Every great club had to have one, yet despite countless moves for strikers from Roman Pavluychenko and Darren Bent to Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch, Tottenham just couldn’t find that one 20-goal a season guy, whose name all fans would want on the back of their jersey. Enter: Leandro Damiao

In 2011, Damiao shot to prominence after hitting 14 goals in 28 games for Internacional in Brazil. 6’2, lean and strong, fast and fit, and with a neat eye for goal – he was perfect! Hype grew further after Damiao earned his first Brazil call-up in March of that year. In June 2011, Tottenham were said to have an £11million bid rejected for the striker, yet during that summer, it was said that his next move was to be to either Tottenham or Inter Milan. As it conspired, no move for Damiao materialised from either European club, and he continued to ply his trade in Brazil.

Even as Tottenham changed managers in 2012, new Head coach Andre Villas Boas was still said to be keen on the Brazilian hitman, and a move was said to be in the pipeline for that entire summer as Tottenham desperately chased a striker. Instead, a move for Emmanuel Adebayor was clinched instead, and the mythical Brazilian stayed at Internacional.

As the experiments with the likes of Adebayor and Roberto Soldado were trialed and failed, Leandro Damiao was constantly linked to a move to White Hart Lane during Andre Villas Boas tenure as manager.

Then, in 2014, a tall mobile number 9 with a shrewd eye for goal finally did appear on the same – His name though was not Leandro Damiao, and instead it was Harry Kane who was leading the line at Tottenham Hotspur.

Since that time, Kane has gone from strength to strength and has just come off his second straight +20 goal season. Damiao meanwhile has faded out of relevance. His last appearance for the Brazilian national side was back in 2013, and now at 27, he finds himself on loan at Flamengo, a distant thought from the White Hart Lane faithful.

For a further (fictional) look into what has happened Leandro Damiao since, I highly recommend this excellent piece from the Cartilage Free Captain Tottenham blog titled ‘The Cautionary Tale of Leandro Damiao‘

I hope you enjoyed reading! Thanks – @ThinkSpurs

 

Winning Strategy? Potential Tottenham Tactics in 2016

The beauty of sport is in its uncertainty.

Despite the fact that hundreds or even thousands of people could reasonably call themselves ‘football experts’ nobody can ever predict for sure the outcome of a game. This is why those few schemers, who get it right more often than not, rise to the top of the managerial game.

But even the likes of Carlo Ancelloti or Sir Alex Ferguson are aware that there is no single winning formula, and that even successful teams must adapt or get left behind. While this adaptation may often come in the form of new staff or players, it may also be a change in formation.

Mauricio Pochettino’s promising start to his Tottenham tenure has been built on a balanced 4-2-3-1 formation. This Tottenham side currently boasts a very effective lone striker, a solid holding midfielder, a pair of attacking full backs, a selection of playmakers and a sweeper keeper, which all helped carve out a successful 2015/16 campaign. However, the 4-2-3-1 is not perfect. Spurs often play with an attacking midfield trio of Eriksen, Alli and Lamela. All three are more natural playing through the middle, and those positioned out wide tend to cut inside regularly. As a result, in many games, Tottenham’s play becomes narrow, and devoid of pace, and the team struggles to break down stiff defences. This is only one flaw, and one which only presented itself in a handful of games last season. Yet as we all know, a handful of games can be the difference between 1^st and 5^th, with this year set up to be the most competitive season in years.

Recently as I was reading popular Spurs fan site ShelfsideSpurs.com, an interesting point was made regarding recent league winners in Europe’s top divisions, and the formation they regularly deployed on their way to victory. Leicester City played an old-fashioned, effective 4-4-2, while Bayern Munich played an aggressive 4-1-4-1 midfield-heavy formation in Germany. Barcelona, PSG and PSV all found success using 4-3-3, and Juventus maintained their recent hot streak by staying true to the Italian-style 3-5-2.

I considered the possibility of Pochettino trying some of the above tactics with the Tottenham squad, to assess the success we could have:

Traditional: 4-4-2

For a long while now, I’ve thought that the English national team needlessly overcomplicate things. Instead of playing to the strengths of the industrious players they boast, the English FA seem intent of mimicking what the Italians, the Spaniards and the Germans are doing, and the result is shoving square pegs into round-tiki-taka-shaped holes.

Leicester City played a classical, intensive, direct style of play last year that would suit the majority of the English players down to the ground. This style couldn’t be said to be Claudio Ranieri’s ‘Philosophy’, instead, he did the wise thing, and played to the strengths of the players he had… and we’re all aware how that turned out.

So, for occasions where Pochettino may consider throwing caution to the wind, and aggressively chase goals, here’s how 4-4-2 might fit Tottenham.

No change to the back five which served Spurs so well last year, and nor is there much need for one, after conceding the (joint) fewest league goals in 2016. In the centre of midfield Spurs are spoilt for options. For rougher affairs, a duo of Wanyama, Dembele or Dier could be used to dictate, while on other occasions the likes of Bentaleb, Alli or even Eriksen on occasion could be used to instigate attacks from deep. Up front, the scoring load on Kane could be halved by having Vincent Janssen alongside him to occupy defences. However, out wide the questions begin to come. The obvious candidates for the two wides positions would be (In order) Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Chadli, N’Jie/N’Koudou. Lamela and Eriksen are two of the finest creative maestros in the league, however neither is a natural winger, and having them as two, old-fashioned sideline-hugging wingers may limit their production. Beyond those, Nacer Chadli doesn’t possess the required pace, while Heung Min Son is more suited to a central role also. Whether Spurs use a 4-4-2 at all this season may come down to whether either (or both) of N’Jie or N’Koudou are at the club this season. Both are lightning fast attackers who could spread an opposition defence out with their speed and create space through the middle for our natural playmakers. The question is, does Pochettino have faith in N’Jie, or will the deal for N’Koudou soon be sealed?

 

Forza Italia: 3-5-2.

Juventus have budged their way into the top table of European football over the past few years. A hatful of Serie A titles and a Champions League final appearance in the past few has put this Juventus side on a pedestal above their Italian rivals. Despite having a change in manager during this successful spell, Juventus generally stay loyal to the classic Italian-style 3-5-2 formation. This style is built on – a rock solid back-three/goalkeeper combination, a pair of marauding wing-backs, a set of three dynamic do-it-all midfielders, and a potent pair of attackers. This is how I’ve adapted this idea to Spurs:

I don’t think any team in the world could boast a better defensive quartet than Buffon, Chiellini, Barzagli and Bonucci, however with Lloris, Alderweireld and Vertonghen on the books, Spurs come closer than most. Add to that the evolved Eric Dier, who could just about continue his role as protector of the defence and you’ve got a solid foundation. Danny Rose and Kyle Walker are the ideal candidates for the attacking wing-back roles, who will provide the width for the team.

Meanwhile, Spurs should be spoilt for choice in the middle. Any pair of Wanyama, Dembele, Alli or Bentaleb could make up the engine room, while Lamela or Eriksen could slot in to provide the playmaking. The real strength of this formation is that it allows Spurs to use Kane and Janssen in tandem, rather than instead of each other. Maybe this is one for Pochettino to consider!

Pep Talk: 4-3-3

The 4-3-3 formation may not have been invented by Pep Guardiola during his all-conquering reign at Barcelona. However, it could be said that it was perfected there. And while Pep’s job in Catalonia was a hell of a lot easier than the one he has inherited in Manchester due to the wealth of talent in the Nou Camp, the well balanced 4-3-3 formation must also take some credit.

Much like the previous two formations presented, the 4-3-3 relies on a solid centre of defence, with a pair of dynamic full-backs who are as much wingers as defenders. The presence of Busquets at the base of midfield allowed the conductors Xavi and Iniesta to orchestrate the game from the middle of the park. Meanwhile, the front three was an interchanging attacking blur, that kept defences guessing for 90 minutes. Okay yes it helps when the front three is spear-headed by a certain Leo Messi, but that’s beside the point…

The first major difference in the Spurs team arrives at midfield. Eric Dier would hopefully continue to excel in that role in the holding midfield position, to allow those ahead of him to pull the strings. Either of Dembele or Alli could occupy one of the other midfield spots to provide a box-to-box dynamic presence, but beside them, key to a successful 4-3-3 would be the deep-lying presence of Christian Eriksen.

We’re all aware of Eriksen’s crucial goal-getting ability when placed further up the pitch, but in an era where possession seems to be more and more valuable, the teams with the midfield maestro seem to rise to the top. Pirlo in Italy, Iniesta or Xavi at Barcelona, Modric or Kroos at Madrid – In Christian Eriksen, Spurs have a talent potentially on par with those listed above. If Tottenham could bring him deeper into midfield to get him on the ball as often as possible, it could provide a serious new dimension to the play.

Up front, the line would be led by Harry Kane who is the ideal point of the attack. Erik Lamela has sometimes struggled when confined to the wing, but a more free role in an attacking trio, which would allow him more space and the ability to interchange positions, should bring the best out of the creative Argentinean. On the other side, this would be the natural position for Heung-Min Son to excel. With pace, technique and a proven eye-for goal, 4-3-3 may bring the best from Tottenham’s Korean star.

So, whether or not Pochettino heeds my tactical offerings, I’ve certainly enjoyed writing them and I hope you did too! If you’ve any thoughts, I’d be happy to hear in the comments!

Thanks for reading!