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Ramos on right lines
Graham Roberts runs the rule over a new-look Spurs ahead of the Feyenoord Tournament.
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Comments (47)
Lar Murphy (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I think its sad to see robbie and some of the others go but we did get good money in for the most of them, some were only going to be squad players and would have only been further down to picking order, also i'm sure there are still a few players to be offloaded yet. If we invested wisely we should be able to have a much better team for the coming years, Ramos will have his own ideas and different systems to Jol so a change in players was needed, we got some very good players in January and this window. We still need another Centre back to cover King/Woodgate if injured, Dunne would have been great, was glad to see Dawson get a new contact, last season he was poor by the high standards he set the 2 previous seasons, the new season and some newly added coinfidences should see him get back to his old self. Think we need a good holding player possible Albelda, he has bags of experience and cheap, Hudd also should be a far bettter player with the new fitness levels, hopefully we will start to see his true quality this year, he has the potental to be great and he could learn much from from a player like Albelda. If we could get Capel in that would give us a great selection of young wingers, Lennon, Dos Santos, Bentley, Capel, what team wouldn't like to have 4 young hungry guys pushing hard to make the team every week. Think we should try keep Bertatov till christmas, if we are going well he may stay, if not i'm sure loads of CL sides wouldn't mind him being free to play in that competition, could have a bit of a bidding war, with United, Barcelona, Milan, Real, etc. Playing with Arshavin hopefully might change his mind, Bent is also flying at the moment, maybe he will be our star this year, all in all the future looks great under Senoir Ramos
Posted 22:59 31st July 2008
Jamie Bryant (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I am a big spurs fan and i am really looking forward to next season we have a great young team which i think on its day could better any of the top 4 if we can get rid off berbatov so we dont having him sulking alll season and bring in the likes of arshavin Pavlyuchenko and milito and maybe few more we can defintly contend for the top 4 i think ramos and gus are both very intelligent men and will one day lead us to the top come on you spurs
Posted 22:43 31st July 2008
Nick Gulan (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
If Berbatov stays, where exactly does Juande place him on the pitch? All of the new additions, both finalized and purported, suggest Spurs will be playing with a single striker up front and a player in the hole (Arshavin?). Playing the solitary striker role requires bags of energy and commitment, qualities the skilled Bugarian lacks. I think Bent should be given a real go. He could really excel with the fine service of Modric, Bentley et al. Take the 25 million for Berbatov, invest in a centre-half for cover, bring in Stewart Downing so Bale can return to left-back, and pick up Milito on the cheap (firesale at Zaragoza). Make me forget about Robbie. Come on you Spurs!
Posted 20:58 31st July 2008
James Boyman (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
a great article there graham roberts calls it as he see's it and gets it pretty spot in my opinion. I think with the likes of keane and berbatov gone the " Ramos Revolution" can start quickly and efficiently. However i do think we need two new strikers an anchor man in midfield, a back up goalkeeper and a backup to woodgate and king other than dawson. i think bywater as a backup goalkeeper might work but my first impression is that it's just crazy! we signed alnwick what about him? as for the anchor man in midfield we need someone who can boss the midfield and who can win a ball in the middle of the park, someone like edgar davids did in his day or gravesen a few years ago at everton. As for strikers, we've been heavily linked with arshavin and pavlychenko. I think Arshavin is massively overrated and Pavlychenko, granted he did ok for his club and scores two goals against a very avergae if not poor england squad but was poor at the Euro's this summer. None the less i think we will sign both of them. ideally i would sign klass-Huntelaar from ajax or sanata cruz from blackburn and then the cliche small man pairing of someone like podolski from bayen munich or david villa from Valencia. however i do think bentley is a great signing, he's everything lennon isnt, he can beat a man, cross a ball beautifully and score goals. i think next season spurs' first XI should be this: GOMES HUTTON WOODGATE KING BALE BENTLEY JENAS HUDDLESTON MODRIC DOS SANTOS BENT COYS!!!!!!!
Posted 20:55 31st July 2008
Michael Badu (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Mark Norris is right about the midfield. Dos Santos might play but Bostock won't. The talk of playing with one up front is something I like. With all that technical ability and attacking talent in the midfield, you don't need a 20 goal a season man up front. What you need is someone who's strong enough to hold the ball up and good in the air (like Drogba). I like Bent as a professional, but I'm not sure he's up to it. Berbatov is not needed with this 'one up front' formation. Sell him to united, get 30 million and be done with it. The best thing is that the formation will force spurs to keep the ball when they play (unlike the last two seasons). I'm not sure Jenas and Zokora are up to it (i'd sell Zokora and maybe Jenas too). I'm not bothered about Keane going. He's been a good player for us, good luck to him, but I think we've relied on his too much. It'd be good to get rid of Jenas, Zokora and Tarabt and sign Arshavin, the other Russian striker, Veloso and Capel. Then we'd be complete
Posted 20:52 31st July 2008
Keith Hammond (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I think people will be surprised by Bent. He loves to play up front as a lone striker. Spurs didn't play like that last season and that is why Bent didn't do well. They played one up front against Pompey, after Ramos had made a few changes, last season. Bent was the lone striker and he tore their defence apart. He is the type of striker who could well suit Ramos's style of play. 8 goals in three pre season friendlies is a good strike rate even if the opposition is not that great!
Posted 20:41 31st July 2008
Robert Mawdsley (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Graham Roberts has nothing but pure lilly white blood running through his veins, he has got Spurs summed up perfectly, he never has a bad word to say about the team and is always constructive with his view, What a great article, most people are tipping spurs for relegation now Keanes gone and Bebatov spreading his wings but I think the new formation of 4-5-1 Bent will blossom, the quality in midfield now is fantastic so Bent will get the service, he is already firing on all cylinders in pre season with 7 goals in two games, Spurs will be more solid and with their new fitness they are going to surprise allot of teams, stroll on the start of the new season.
Posted 20:25 31st July 2008
Tunde Osolake (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I think this season it will become a top five not a top four in the Premiership. Hopefully we can nick 4th spot of the gooners, due to their over reliance on young players and not liking to play away in the north west in feb/mar! Looking at ramos's history, we will be one of the fittest clubs in the prem. With the players with signed also one of the most creative. I think we should sign, Sante cruz, Arshavin, Pavluchenko, Albelda and Joe lewis the young Posh goalie as an understudy to Gomez. My only main concern is defensive midfield. Currently we have seven attacking midfielders and zokora!! Looking back to the Euro's Holland and Portugal were great going forward but Spain won because of the pivotal role Senna played in shielding their defence. If you examine Ramos's background, he's beaten Barca and Madrid at the height of their powers on 10 % of their budget. Freddie Kanoute is sitting in his villa in spain with 5 trophies on his mantlepiece!! Enough said. Happy days are ahead for the Spurs! Keep the faith...
Posted 20:00 31st July 2008
Chris (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I think it is silly even thinking about predicting what will happen next season for variety of different reasons. Firstly we don't know how the new signings will gel and also how they will cope with the pace and physical demands of the Premiership. On top of this, we have no idea what new faces will come in before the season and how they will fit in. In all honesty though, if we can bring in a top quality defensive midfielder with experience, a left winger and at least one new striker, I can see us having a great season. COYS!!!
Posted 19:59 31st July 2008
Elton Edwards (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Graham Roberts is spot on. We have a great team this season, but I believe Dos Santos is ready to play. He kept Iniesta on the bench at Barcelona last season and is seen in many circles as the next Ronaldinho. If he progresses the way we hope, what a bargain he will be at £4mil! A new striker, preferably Villa or the young spanish boy Acuna, plus a left winger - either Sevilla's Diego Capel or Bayern Leverkusen's Tranquillo Barnetta - and we'll be top 7 this season and with more additions in the winter and next summer, we will take a top 4 spot, hopefully off Arse(nal)
Posted 19:36 31st July 2008
Stephen Scully (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
First of all Robbie thanks for six wonderful years, some nice goals, a couple of bad misses :) and more than anything else for always giving it your all. I think Spurs will have a great start to the season this year. Last year everyone was expecting the world from us and that inflated alot of egos. I have seen and read all the interviews with the new batch of players and i must say i am impressed! I think we could be alot like Arsenal were last year. I don't mean well be topping the table but i think we will surprise alot of people. Everyone is writing us off already and i think that will spur us on. Berbatov has to go though. I love the man but he wines too much and thinks he is better than everyone else on the team and even THFC itself. Bye bye berby :) Bring in Ardshavin. He is hungary to prove himself and establish himself as a top top class player. Players to watch this year excluding the new arrivals will be Bale and strangely enough Bent. He had a terrible season last year and i was far from a fan but i think that will change this year. He is still young and really has a point to prove. 7 goals in 2 games shows he is ready to step up and start repaying his transfer fee with goals! Team v boro. The back 5 pick themselves Gomes Bale, King, Woodgate, Hutton Midfield Santos left wing providing the arrival of Ardshavin. Center will be modric and Jenas. Ya they are simular but they will be given the chance to prove their worth together and rightly so. Bentley wide right. Forwards Bent and Ardshavin. We will also change our formation alot this year. Ramos and poyet know their stuff. Sometimes Lennon will get the nod and when he does it will be on the left and i think Santos will play behind Ardshavin. Bale might get the nod for the left wing at times too with gilberto slotting in at left back. Bring back the glory days!!! Come on u Spurs!!! Top 4 and silverware (UEFA Cup)
Posted 19:25 31st July 2008
Stuart Armstrong (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I believe that Ramos is building a very strong squad in a short space of time and that, provided it all gels quick enough, we'll be a real contender for 5th spot this year, with an aim to breaking the top four up in the next couple of seasons. I honestly believe that we now have a better squad than the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal, both of which have found finances hard to come by of late. If our boys keep their cool and our fans keep faith in the new staff I think we'll soon be challenging for major honours. Also, I think it was poor form of Mark Norris to criticise Darren Bent's ability. He has shown over the last few seasons that he can do it in the premiership and I think that, given half a chance, he'll bag around 20 goals for us this year. I would, however, like to see another proven goalscorer arriving, given Berbatov is almost certain to leave. Young Pekhart might just do as a backup to Bent, Dos Santos and whomever else we happen to have up there come the start of the season.
Posted 19:16 31st July 2008
Cris Sabater (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Good article. Knowing how Juande Ramos played with sevilla i think there is a good possibilty that he will look to play 4-2-3-1 he has been bringing in the players to do this. They will play attractive football mainly playing on the ground think of F.C. Barcelona. Defending wise in the centre spurs are a little weak, i can see injuries causing problems again especially with King. But i think Spurs need to concentrate on ball retention as i think this will be the key to success for them next season. They have the players and as long as they can buy one or two top quality strikers then they are in business! If they can do this and they gell, then a top four position may not be beyond them!
Posted 19:09 31st July 2008
Naz Kinsella (Manchester United fan) says...
I really hope Spurs get in the top 4 but maybe their lack of defensive depth will be the problem, especially with a few injury prone defenders there. I think they'll have improved on their attack even from last season with Berbatov and Keane. Great work from Ramos and the board. I just wish they wouldn't come up with conspiracy theories about United and to a lesser extent Liverpool.
Posted 18:45 31st July 2008
Luke Brystead (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
C.O.Y.S! im dead happy to see al these new arrivals at tottenham, it seems for the first time in a long time we have started to replace with some real quality.. i loved mr roberts interview, very honest, i dont expect too much from this season at all, im pleased to see that bent has scored a few goals pre-season, i wish he would play the game he is best at, which is running off the back 4 and smashing the ball home, he would score so many more goals and im sure juande will pick up on that! as for bentley, im over the moon, people have compared him to beckham and i honestly feel he is already growing to be a better player! modric is superb and can turn a game with one pass, and all the other new arrivals have so much in store, bring in a new striker and lets enjoy! good times ahead....
Posted 18:18 31st July 2008
Steve Taylor (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
Tottenham can improve after a very poor league campaign last time out. I only get to away games living in Scotland, but they looked a very average side, but now with all these changes hopefully we will improve although I think it may take another season to challenge the top four. Just hope we have another cup run to keep the supporters happy.
Posted 18:16 31st July 2008
Chris Porter says...
I agree with a lot of Graham's comments and Messrs Levy and Ramos are building Sevilla Mark Two at the Lane. The fact that Berbatov has hardly had a kick in pre season indicates that his heart and mind are elsewhere. Bentley will be a great acquisition, as he has a "Graham Roberts" mentality that will galvanise the team. I don't think that Arshavin is needed now and tip that Dos Santos will be the fans' hero next season. He's a precocious talent who reminds me of Lionel Messi. Modric will pull the strings in central midfield and we should persevere with Huddlestone as the defensive midfielder who has a wonderful range of long passing in either foot. The fact that Darren Bent has scored seven goals in two games highlights the creativity we now have and I would be content with David Villa or Pavluchenko as the final piece of the jigsaw. For those that think Spurs are doing an Arsenal through foreign imports, we still have thirteen Brits in the first team squad.
Posted 18:02 31st July 2008
Graeme Clark (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
I agree with Graham Roberts and also Ron Miller. When players are discontented they should be allowed to leave but only under the careful supervision of the people in power and in charge of the purse strings - the chairman and the manager. Keane and Berbatov do not have their hearts at White Hart Lane but it seems that Bentley - amongst others - does. He impresses me as a player who wants to acheive something special with his career and not just make a hatfull of money. I just hope that Modric, Dos Santos and the two Russians (if we can get them) have the same attitude as then we may be on the way to something really special. My only concern at the moment is that we are buying in quality up front or at least in the attacking midfield area but relying on existing men (the exception to this is Gomes) to stop the opposition. If King and Woodgate are fit and with Dawson as cover we have three of the best English centre halves around, but they along with Bale and Hutton all seem to have injury concerns. If they all develop problems we could be in severe trouble. Going forward has never been our problem, it has always been stopping the opposition and I think we do need a seriously good experience central holding midfield player - a Makele or Gattuso for example. We brought in Davids to play that role afew seasons ago but he was already on his way out but we need someone like him with his knowledge to pass on to the younger players.
Posted 17:52 31st July 2008
John Boy (Tottenham Hotspur fan) says...
As a Spurs fan I will be sad to see the back of Berba and was equally upset after Keane left however after a few days refelection I have come to realise that last season, even when those two were firing on all cylinders we were still not good enough. Also their egos were/ are too big and we do not want players moaning if they have to be substituted for the good of the team. Let them go, good luck to them but Spurs are now moving on to bigger and better things. Ramos' signings excite me greatly and as long as the our defence do not leak goals like last season I think we will suprise many this year and truly start to close that gap between ourselves and the top four. Bale and Hutton being fit will also add another attacking dimension to our play and our midfield, if they all click will be awesome. I cant wait!!!!!
Posted 17:26 31st July 2008
Kenny Kenny (Arsenal fan) says...
The signings are interesting but you cannot play all together. Ramos is a very good coach who loves to gamble a lot with his substitutions. i don't see any improvement from your previous season. spurs can put up a fight this season but for you lot to say you break in the top four is a joke.i don't see any improvement from your previous season. i think spurs will struggle more without robbie keane. he's such a clever player.your best shot at the top four was the 2005 season. and you blew it, i don't think you'd ever have that opportunity again except the likes of arsenal, liverpool chelsea and man utd sell all their best players or play their B team against your first team. don't forget you have centre backs in king and woodgate that are prone to injuries, also berbatov is a lazy player despite being a great player. your midfield hsn't got the sort of creativity as you think. anyway i wish luck.
Posted 17:24 31st July 2008