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Can these FIVE players turn Spurs into a Champions League side?
David Villa, David James, Daniel Alves, Morten Gamst Pedersen and Diego Capel have all been linked with Juande Ramos' side. Would their presence lift Spurs into the top four?
by Carl Hoddle on 18 February 2008
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Here we are just days away from what should be a great occasion as Spurs take on Chelsea in the Carling Cup final.
Things are looking rosy under Juande Ramos and no doubt many fellow fans are confident that next season may see us breaking into the elite top four.
But if we are short of such a leap then how short are we? And what players do we need to bring in to make that jump? Here are five players linked with a move to the club.
David Villa – Scores goals for fun. La Liga isn’t an easy place to be prolific but the Valencia man regularly finds himself at the top end of the scoring charts. The 26-year-old is at the top of his game right now and he has made noises about his intention to move to the Premier League. And with his side struggling in mid-table it seems inevitable he will leave the Mestalla.
David James – Could be a very intelligent signing. He is super fit for his age and seems to have shed his 'Calamity James' reputation. Obviously not a long-term solution to the goalkeeping problem but would prove to be a very good acquisition.
Daniel Alves – Pricey, but world class. If I was Daniel Levy I would put my money where my mouth is. Alves is the kind of player we need to persuade to join the club if we want to prove to the world we are a top-four side and not just UEFA Cup hopefuls.
Morten Gamst Pedersen – He may be a little off the boil this season but the wide man can still do a good job. The 26-year-old has been less of an assist machine this time around, so maybe he will be cheaper than last summer?
Diego Capel – The youngster is a hot prospect and apparently Arsenal are also in for the 20-year-old midfielder. Again, like Alves, the fact that he plays for Ramos’ former employers Seville may give us the upper hand.
Comments (32)
by sparksyid sparksyid on February 18, 2008
Right basically although i appreciate alves is a quality player i cant see where he would fit in he is an attacking RB an we have jus bought hutton, villa yes i personally think if berba goes we need to jus take a fat cash sum an bring in Villa & Huntelaar basically the only other real signing i see we need would be Diego from Werder i think he will come as well, Bale will be fit to play LM next season and will be the nuts mark my words!
by The chosen Yid on February 18, 2008
The answer is NO! how many players have come over from Spain with fantastic reputations and ended up leaving flops? if you cant think of any, then allow me to name just a few; Reyes, Morientes, Luque, half the liverpool squad, etc. Yes there are a few successes, i.e Torres and Fabregas, but lets be honest, there is never any guarantee that a player will succeed from abroad, so to predict a Champions league place with these players on board would be a bit stupid!
by Jose Bosh on February 18, 2008
We won't be signing all of those players. Villa would only be if Berbs left, would cost over £20m James won't leave Pompey, he has an emotional connection with Harry. Alves, no. Will go to one of the top clubs in the champions league. MGP, left footed, but not really top class. Capel, looks top class prospect and supposedly has a £8.5m realease clause, probably the one mostly likely.
by Ant Mason on February 18, 2008
It's the same sadness of stepping up a level sad to see Jol go but Ramos is obviously a league above. Villa Obvious quality and probably at the expense of Keano unless Berba's off David James - Improvement but I would expect to be buying someone slightly younger but proven at the top level. I would imagine he would jump at the chance of being a Spur. Alves- Quality again but I would think this would be more of a worry to Lennon than Hutton, Lennons ability to deliver the final pass is the weakness. Pedersen. Having bought Gilberto and Gunter I'm expecting Bale to be the winger and would prefer him to Pedersen. Capel. Don't know enough about him, I would expect to see a quality midfield and goalkeeping signing in the summer prior to any other signings.
by Essexian76 on February 18, 2008
and goalscoring isn't problem,it's solidity in defence and in midfield we lacked earlier this season.If any goalkeeper was as exposed as Robinson, inevitable errors would occur sooner or later, but James isnt the answer, just as prone to screw up at some stage
by Jeffo thewhite on February 18, 2008
Id rather lose Berbs than Keano, at least you know Keano loves the club and will ALWAYS give 110%
I have not yet heard anyone bring this point up yet, but I feel Villa is a class act but isnt as suited to the English game as he is the Spanish, he is to lightweight and wont get as much time on the ball over here. 20-30mill is a hell of a gamble and not one I think we can afford to take! Id be surprised if Blackburn would sell Pedersen and as for Diego, I have seen clips of him Scoring Goals and making wonderfull runs, but have'nt seen any clues as to what his all round midfield play is like and I fear he could end up being just another Illie Dimitrescu or Jose Domingez for those who can remember!
by Stan Ly on February 18, 2008
I think with a bit of luck we could have got there already. When you look at 4th spot this season we should be kicking ourselves. For me its another quality centre back and Diego/Riquleme (dodgy spelling there lads!!) to give us a bit more midfeld flair. If we can't get Diego I would make Riquleme and offer he can resist. Hey this management lark is a piece of pish!!
by Rikard Vestre on February 18, 2008
As a norwegian I have followed Morten Gamst Pedersen for a long time, in fact all his career. I cannot believe why all these Spurs-fans talk about him. He had a good spell one season in England. For his national team he has been rubbish, in fact the worst players the last three years. Stop dreaming about him, he is a nightmare compare to Malbranque and Bale.
From what i have seen Diego is pretty good, but maybe we should have a look at the Barca reject Deco? We dont need James or Alves. Whats happening with Robbo anyway? he is still world class just in a rut i think. shame we didnt convince riquelme.
by Joe Yid on February 18, 2008
Alves-why buy another right back? Hutton is more than capable. Gamst-No thanks, as stated above, Capel is gonna thrice the player! James-flavour of the month, too old.We will buy another keeper but not a 37 yr old. Villa-Could happen I guess, but he is too small to be a direct replacement for Berbs if he goes.Lazy journalism in play I think. I reckon we only need 3 players to become a Champs League side...Capel-who will be class...Jarque-best defender in La Liga this season....and a quality centre midfielder(leave that upto someone else!)
by barry spur on February 18, 2008
i dont think signing villa would make sense seeing as we have no problem in attack. id like us to give pekhart the opportunity 2 challenge bent as the back up strikers. but IF berba leaves id rather have huntelaar than villa as u always need a bigger striker to partner keano. we need a creative midfielder for defs, maybe deco if he'd come. would also like to see van der vaart and a holding midfielder also like carrick or hargreaves. forget james too, its all media hype, throughout his career hes had good spells but ppl forget the mistakes he's made THIS season
by PAUL THWAITES on February 18, 2008
right for those who are on the fence with diego dont be he is world class and will make one hell of a difference diego capel is also class and will cover left sided midfield i think we then need daniel jarque centre half we cant rely on king im sorry but we cant if he's fit he plays then all we need i believe is a goalkeeper my choice the cameroon goalkeeper Edris Kameni and if bera goes klauss jan huntlaar woulb be the next best thing david villa could only replace keane as i dont think villa and keane could play together
by Mike on February 18, 2008
Not 1 would make us a top 5 club. We need a top class keeper, centre back and defensive midfielder. A replacement for Bent. A left winger (Capel would be great but alone wouldn't make us top 4 material) and an attacking midfielder. These 5 would make us top 5 IMO. Almeria, Jarque, Poulsen, Capel and Diego Milito. In fact, with Ramos in charge we could do a Sevilla and shock everyone with a title race.
by simon watson on February 18, 2008
Mate non of those players play for top teams therefore they aint good enough for us. Valencia have D. Villa and they stuck in 10th, his only got 7 league goals this season. Blackburn have Morten Gamst Pedersen and they stuck in 10th, no where near would class, The 2 Sevilla boys are stuck down in 6 and both well over rated! And i aint even going to talk about Calamity James!!!! So out of all these players not one of them are playing for champ league position, or even got through to the last 16 of the champ league! We need to be going for world class proven experience players that have been there and done it. Aim for bigger and better players than these 5 were the 11th riches club in the world!!!!!
by A P on February 18, 2008
to become a CL side. we need to make mabye 2 signings (GK,CDM) and thats it the rest deppeneds on the Coach. And how the players fit into his system!
by Sundeez Sondeland on February 19, 2008
Rikard Vestre wrote "For his national team he has been rubbish, in fact the worst players the last three years." As a Norwegian, I can say that this is absolutely true. Gamst is very slow, his corner kicks are poor, his passing is poor, he can't beat his marker. Please, please don't sign Morten Gamst Pedersen. Sondeland, Spurs-supporter since 1994.
by A H on February 19, 2008
Whilst I like Villa, Alvez & Capel I'm not sure how we would fit them all in.Forget the other 2 Robinson & Malbranque are better.I think some of you are a bit premature about Berbs leaving -not if we win a cup and requalify for Europe imo, also I haven't given up on Bent -true he hasn't done much but he has been injured - should have some chance to show if he's worth anything between now and the end of the season.We also have Bale to come back & Gilberto to fit in. So I reckon splash ou on maybe and exceptional midfielder and possibly a goal keeper this summer.Maybe another centre half if King does not recover but I'm not giving up on him either.