Home > Football > SIX stars Spurs must dump for a Champions League place
SIX stars Spurs must dump for a Champions League place
Juande Ramos' super-professional regime has already reaped rewards with victory in the Carling Cup. But there are still some players who need to be sent to the recycling bin.
by Ed Bottomley on 24 March 2008
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Although Tottenham didn’t fulfil the lofty predictions of many a pundit that they would break into the Big Four and simultaneously bump Arsenal out of the quartet – expect the predictions of high altitude Tottenham success to continue through to next season.
Yes, Martin Jol had lifted the Tottenham side to back-to-back fifth place finishes in the League. But the soft Spurs underbelly was exposed by white knight Juande Ramos who put an end to the daily Bacchanalian feasts in the Spurs canteen and turned this squad of porky brigands, into a supremely fit unit.
However, removing the Spurs players’ flabby bellies is only the first half of what Ramos needs to do to prepare Tottenham for a permanent and sustainable top-four challenge.
The second half of what Juande needs to do is to remove the players who aren’t up to the job of challenging for fourth. A good rule of thumb should be that if a player isn’t good enough to get into the squads of the teams you aspire to challenge then he isn’t good enough for your own squad.
Comments (30)
by Tony Silver on March 24, 2008
Staring from the back: Radek Cerny Ben Alnwick & Tommy Forecast - noe of our keepers are worth keeping I'm affraid. Fullback: Assou-Ekotto (Dave), Stalteri, Gilberto. Centre Back: Kaboul, Gardner, Rocha. Midfield,: Ghaly, Boateng, Forward: Bent (£16m?????????) BUT... I'd keep Robinson (as No2), Chimbonda, Tainio (Good squad player), Lennon - will only get better under Ramos. As Greavsie once said: 'it's a funny old game!@
on March 24, 2008 on March 24, 2008
wtf - Lennon is 20 years old, remember. You are saying we should drop a player that got his first England cap at 18. Give the lad some time to develop
by Jack Rogers on March 24, 2008
Lennon must go. He has had two years to improve on his crossing and has failed to do so. He runs with the ball like a child after devouring a bag full of penny sweets and a can of Red Bull. The game against Portsmouth just about sums him up. One of the most frustrating players to watch.
by bill nicholson on March 24, 2008
paxton yid, you are obviously blind as well as a dopey dinlo. Did you go to the spurs chelsea game the other night? Obviously werent watching it. Zokora played very well, very steady against a good chelsea midfield. The single GCSE (grade e) fans at spurs let us down in that they just love slating the players. Zokora effortlessly slots in at centre back, and I would rather see him play there than micheal beckenbauer dawson (championship). Zokora can pass, tackle and run with the ball, keeps possession, great pace, proven international. He is still young. Plays in lots of positions. Thats what you are missing. As for the rest, blobbo robbo is awful. He cant jump more than a foot which isnt enough for a keeper. He has cost us for several seasons. Bye bye. The rest are all ok squad players, but Ramos has the right idea. He is dropping players after a bad game (jenas). Getting them mentally used to the standard required.
by george on March 24, 2008
Jenas should be the first to be axed..We wont make champions league with him in the side.We need a tough man in the middle of the park and then to build around him.Alves on the wing ,Diego,and Lopez in goal for starters
by Faustino Asprilla on March 24, 2008
Well done, for picking out the first three. We all know Robbo's days are numbered at Spurs. Chimbonda? Again, very astute pick that... Lee? PSV want him back, he wants to go back... erm amazing! Tainio has proven his value as a decent utility player. Utility - meaning he can play many different positions, so he can stay. Bent too. Bent showed Lennon in ten minutes what Lennon should be doing himself on Saturday - taking balls past defenders, and providing the final ball, not to mention scoring goals! Bent can stay. Overpriced, maybe? Untalented? Gimme a break. The guy just hasn't had many opportunities. He certainly should not be consigned to the dustbin. Lennon? True, he's only 20. But he should have improved on his crossing by now. Arguably it seems to have gotten worse. Whether we give him a spell in the reserves or loan him out (seriously) after we buy someone better to take his place is up for debate. It may be a year too early to sell, but certainly his place is up for grabs. I shouldn't be shocked that this site once again recycles old news... worse still, it'll be just the same up to and including the transfer window... if you want real news don't click on Sportingo, CaughtOffside etc., cos they'll only get it right one in 100 times, or you'll have heard it all before.
Lennon, Robinson, Bent and Dawson are all players who have slumped this season. Sell before their value decreases anymore as they'll all add nicely to the kitty at the moment
by Roy on March 24, 2008
I'm delighted that Juande Ramos has the benefit of such experienced advice. His cup runneth over!!. Might be an idea not to second guess him and wait and see if he can match the nous of the writer of this article. Ridiculous how much ego some people have. With all this knowledge why write on internet site. go out and acheive things. Such talent should not be denied to top level football.
by Kes Sankofa on March 24, 2008
It is perhaps fitting that the above (Paxton Yid) is so familiar with a, supposedly, "useless donkey", an ignorant jackass is certainly well qualified. Perhaps you know more about football than the man who's in charge of the first team. It's people like you that dove me away from WHL where I had worked for seven years. I wonder who would be picked from any of the names you mentioned and......you.
by Danny Mackay on March 24, 2008
this is so ill informed. no side was ever strengthened by getting rid of players. (only by bringing in better ones) So ignoring that chimbonda and robbo do indeed seem set for the door - why would we get rid of a "team of the tournament" left back in Lee (Champions League for PSV) a striker with 7 goals and only a dozen starts this season in Bent - a Midfielder with a 110% attitude who covers several positions in Teemu - and our only winger in 20 year old in Aaron Lennon.
by Piku on March 24, 2008
I wonder if the author has ever seen a Spurs match, or just has read about these players' performances and is regurgitating what others have said. To say that a player like Lennon should go is utterly the most ridiculous statement ever. Equally ludicrous were the statements that Chimbonda, Lee, Bent, or Robinson would not get into the top squads. Chimbonda was rated as the best right-back in the EPL when we bought him from Wigan for 6m, Lee was rated as the best fullback in Holland when we bought him, Darren Bent was the top British goalscorer in the EPL last season (meaning that his proce was higher partly because he is British) and Robbo has represented England for the past four years. These players may make an exit this summer, but not because they would not get into the SQUAD (meaning the top 20 or 25 players) of the top clubs. It would only be because they do not fit in with Spurs at the moment, and they will be sure to succeed wherever they go next.
by MARK the yid on March 24, 2008
We all know that the season is done and we have nothing left but to think for next season. Yes we need a good keeper and I would keep Robbo to have a battle, just like Clemence and Shilton for England. Chimbonda and Lee goodbye. Lennon is a victim of his ow sucess he was brought in as an understudy for Routledge and wasn't expected to shine for a few years so really he is ahead of schedule though crossing needs to be improved. Zokora is quality a unsung star, he needs to make more of those runs from back to front, the best in he league for doing that hardly ever loses the ball when he does it. We need a playmaker, a flair player ie Messi and we need a left winger, missed out big time on Ashley Young. Also as a 4th forward I would love to see Kitson in there, no a big time charlie but loads of goals for a shit team, he is such a Spurs nut he would run through brick walls given the chance, he deserves it.
by Simon Plested on March 24, 2008
I agree that lee and robinson has got to go! it wud be nice to get a quallty keeper in and have robinson can be understudy, but that aint gonna happen, so get rid of robinson before his value drops even more! i agree, get rid of chimbonda and lee, we dont need them! but we have to keep taino, hes a good team player, and plays well wherever he plays! i dont think we shud get rid of lennon, jus get someone in as competition! IF we cud get bentley that wud be brilliant, someone who can cross. cos the only person who can actually cross has hardly played(bale).
by sarah adams on March 24, 2008
he isnt the 1st nor will he be the last to have an off time, and most of the season he has been great. you wouldnt be saying this about ronaldo etc
zokora is a legend he puts in 100% each time and should not be axed on the other hand chimbonda has got to go he is usless.
lol u mite aswell get rid of the whole team. silver u need a back up goalkeeper and ekotto is injured!
by BOB EDMUNDS on March 24, 2008
Sorry but Jenas blows hot & cold, not consistent enough.The midfield needs a "general", a steely hard bastard.As for Robinson, sell him and he'll shine elsewhere, so be patient but definetly get another keeper. Frankly there's not much available in the UK but a dramatic bid for Carducci would be fantastic.
by lillywhite on March 24, 2008
I dont care how much tireless running Zokora does. He's still not good enough!!! This isn't a track event.
by C B on March 24, 2008
Guys, Robbo, Lee, Tainio i get and maybe even Bent ?? But to suggest that Lennon should be sold at 20 is crazy. His crossing needs to get better but he wont even begin to reach hi best for another 5 years. I certainly would rather play with Lennon than gainsty him. I like Zokora but as Lilywhite stated.. he runs all day but his passing control will nnot get us into the top 4. Jenas is coming on nicely, give him a break.
by J K on March 25, 2008
Bill Nicholson is having a laugh. Zokora was at fault for 2 of the goals we conceded against Chelsea. He can barely tackle - in fact, he's downright clumsy and gives no end of frees away in dangerous positions. He could run all day - like a headless chicken. Doesn't score, never provides any assists. We had to bypass midfield in the first half against Chelsea because the likes of Zokora and co are such poor passers. Are you telling me you didn't notice how much route one football we played? It was embarrassing. It was only in the second half when The Hudd was introduced that we actually tried to play the ball THROUGH midfield.
by [with_teeth] Jack on March 25, 2008
Why on earth would we want to deconstruct something that took over three seasons to put right? If big players go it should be out of our hands (as with Carrick and Defoe) but selling some our first team players is NOT the answer. We need to cut the amount of fringe players from the squad - Lee, Stalteri, Ghaly, Ekotto, Cerny and buy players that will actually compete with the players at our disposle. None of the players mentioned (bar Lee) should be allowed to move on.
by L P on March 25, 2008
Pascal Chimonda shouldn't go he's an experienced right back keep him just as chelsea have with cole and bridge. we need quality cover. Steed Malbranque is probably the only 1st team player without an international cap. He's our left winger but can't use his left foot show him the door. Bent should go he's not an impact player like Defoe 6 goals in 6 games WTF Ramos. As for the rest Lee. Ekotto, Cerny, Gardner, Rocha & Boateng should move on.
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