Could this be our Defensive Midfield solution??

[EZSpur]

Guys,

I read yesterday on SkySports that Stephen Appiah is now a free agent and is looking for clubs particularly in England:

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_4118426,00.html

Could he be the answer to our Defensive Midfield headache, i remember seeing him play for Ghana and he seems to win everything.

Maybe worth a punt seeing as he's a free-agent now!

(I can't be completely sure, but i think we've been linked with him before)

Thoughts??

 

[yiddotilidie]

Free agent - go fetch Levy!

 

[finch101]

I know I was shocked, he has been linked to the Arse n SPAM.

Should go in for me, he is very talented and athletic.

Cant see it though

 

[AngerManagement]

There are some more views on this subject if your interested

http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=34386

 

[EZSpur]

Thanks AM - just reading through some of the comments now.

 

[Chimbo!]

if he has sell-on value then levy will get him.

 

[Chris12345]

Would he pass a medical? Doesn't he make Anderton look like the Iron Man? Or am I thinking of a different guy?

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

There is a thread on it that AM already pointed out, but the fact remains he isn't a DM.

 

[DogsOfWar]

I'm still bemused by all this hysteria about defensive midfielders.

No-one seems to have noticed these two rather relevant facts:

1) If Ramos doesn't rate someone he sells them and brings someone else in

2) Jenas is the new vice-captain, Hudd and Zokora have both been given new contracts.

This would indicate that, as Jol did, Ramos actually rates these 3 players.
He has bought in a more creative player in Modric but seeing as he has replaced pretty much every other player in the first eleven we have to conclude that he sees these guys as the future and not the Appiah's, Diarra's and Veloso's of this world.

 

[hans]

he's 27 and a free agent? there must be reason why no one has snapped him up just yet . .. .

 

[mil1lion]

I'm still bemused by all this hysteria about defensive midfielders.

No-one seems to have noticed these two rather relevant facts:

1) If Ramos doesn't rate someone he sells them and brings someone else in

2) Jenas is the new vice-captain, Hudd and Zokora have both been given new contracts.

This would indicate that, as Jol did, Ramos actually rates these 3 players.
He has bought in a more creative player in Modric but seeing as he has replaced pretty much every other player in the first eleven we have to conclude that he sees these guys as the future and not the Appiah's, Diarra's and Veloso's of this world.

I'm more inclined to believe that, we're happy with what we have in defensive midfield at the moment. But we'll continue to look out for a top class defensive midfielder. If they become available then we'll try to sign them. But its not thought of as a crucial transfer and we will only sign a defensive midfielder if its the right player for the job.

A bit like our left midfield situation. We never really signed a natural left winger in the past few years. Maybe thats where they see Giovani's future, or at least in the short term. But they would only sign a left winger if it was someone worth signing. Otherwise, they would mcuh prefer to stick with what they have.

 

[Chris12345]

If I'm thinking of the right guy, he had a really, really bad injury and was out of the game for a couple of years? Hence the lack of contract...?

 

[DC_Boy]

hi DOW - good points

I and various others on here have already pointed out that maybe JR doesn't want a conventional DM - whatever that is anyway - because for example DMs like Carrick Makele Diarra Veloso for example are somehat different players, from my limited knowledge.

some people seem to see/want a DM as some tough tackling guy a la Roberts or Keane of old - but some of the above, at least, are nowhere near that type,

I suspect often people say 'get that DM, this DM' cos it makes them feel better, the hilarious hysteria over Veloso and the mundane reality of him v England U21 the other nght being a classic example

we often hear that we need a mid to get hold of the game 'by the scruff of the neck', but even if we know what that phrase means - it would take a good year or more likely never before Veloso took Prem games 'by the scruff of the neck' on a regular basis

yes I've only seen him once but as I can't think of any current Prem player who is capable of 'regular neck scruffing' - I'm very confident that Veloso isn't that much of a 'neck scruffer' to perform the almost impossible

The last person I remember in the Prem to even begin to match that accolade was when Roy Keane was on the prowl and in his prime

 

[danielneeds]

There are very good reasons that we won't sign Appiah. He is not a defensive midfielder, and we have better midfielders at the club already

 

[Chris12345]

yes I've only seen him once but as I can't think of any current Prem player who is capable of 'regular neck scruffing' - I'm very confident that Veloso isn't that much of a 'neck scruffer' to perform the almost impossible

The last person I remember in the Prem to even begin to match that accolade was when Roy Keane was on the prowl and in his prime

Gerrard? :shrug:

Always finding that extra bit of strength to dig Liverpool out of tight situations...

 

[DC_Boy]

Gerrard? :shrug:

Always finding that extra bit of strength to dig Liverpool out of tight situations...

Hi Chris take your point, but we've had that debate before and some people including me say no, he is often on the periphery of games for considerable periods both for pool and england - yes he is a superhuman mid player especially for pool - but does he regularly dominate games - (which scruff necking I assume means) - I'm not sure and would say no

if the 'scruff of the neck' biz means a five minute burst of dominance and excellence yep Stevie G is one of those

 

[Chris12345]

Ah, see, then our definition is different...

I'd define "Taking by the scruff of the neck" as when yeah, the teams preforming poorly, and someone steps up towards the end and puts in a superhuman performance to stop their team losing...

You can't take a game by the scruff of the neck for the entire duration of the match, otherwise it doesn't make sense...

Hence the phrase "someone needs to take this game by the scruff of the neck"...

If you catch my (rambling) drift...

 

[DC_Boy]

Ah, see, then our definition is different...

I'd define "Taking by the scruff of the neck" as when yeah, the teams preforming poorly, and someone steps up towards the end and puts in a superhuman performance to stop their team losing...

You can't take a game by the scruff of the neck for the entire duration of the match, otherwise it doesn't make sense...

Hence the phrase "someone needs to take this game by the scruff of the neck"...

If you catch my (rambling) drift...

good point Chris that makes sense to me - in that case yep gerrard is a scruff necker

I'll doubtless be quoting that definition back to some on here when they launch into their various tirades against our mids some of which include the 'neck scruffing bit' and its absence

see then if they agree it's just about a brief period of dominance/excellence and what exactly they want from our players or indeed new DM if he arrives

 

[Coyboy]

We miss the experience and aggression of Davids, but if we can get the right midfield balance, that is a tackler, ball winner and someone to break up play (Zokora, and possibly Jenas) next to one or two creative players (Modric, Bentley, Huddlestone) and at least one pacy wide player (Lennon, Bale), then that is more important than signing so and so.

 

[EZSpur]

I can only talk about what i think a DM should play like (so i'm not speaking for everyone here).
Basically when i think of a DM, i think the obvious, Keane, Viera, Gattusso, Makalele, Davids etc, someone who can control the central area, hassle the opposition into making mistakes, ultimately making them lose the ball, someone who can cover the defence AND play the ball easily to the more attacking line, but essentially someone that can WIN the ball.

I agree with DoW that Ramos probably has plans for Jenas, Hudd and Zok in this type of role, but in my opinion none of these players can do ALL of the things that i think we need - sometimes they've shown great abilities in a few of the areas, but personally i think Jenas and Hudd want to push up more and are much more attack minded, and Zok simply isn't good enough.

I'm not saying that someone like Appiah is the answer, but i was thinking that as a Free-agent option, he wouldn't be a bad addition! (having said that, i wasn't aware of all his injuries....oops!) :-o