Lewis Holtby from Rumour to Done Deal

[aws_young]

Three cheers for Villas-Boas!

"Schalke made Lewis a very good offer, we know that," Marcus Noack told Goal.com. "But this decision is not against Schalke.

"We had a lot of offers from every top league in Europe. If you look at the whole package, then Tottenham was the best choice.

"Andre Villas-Boas is especially convincing. This is a top coach. The decision to leave Schalke and join Tottenham came in mid-December. And it was very hard for us to choose.

He continued: "The agreement says: [in the] summer. If a winter move was possible, I can't say right now, because we didn't talk about that."

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...oas-key-to-holtbys-decision-to-join-tottenham

 

[ItsBoris]

Great signing, I don't see why it should stop us from getting Moutinho though. All it means is that Huddlestone and Livermore should be sold this window, while Carroll should be sent out on loan next summer but maybe kept for cover until Holtby arrives.

Then we would have 6 very capable midfielders, 2 for each position basically - Sandro, Parker, Dembele, Moutinho, Sigurdsson, Holtby/Carroll. If we make it back into the Champions league next season, or want to attempt to win the FA cup and Europa league we are going to need that kind of depth in the squad.

 

[SandroRedknapp]

Three cheers for Villas-Boas!



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...oas-key-to-holtbys-decision-to-join-tottenham

backs up a lot of what Olderyid said

 

[ItsBoris]

Three cheers for Villas-Boas!



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...oas-key-to-holtbys-decision-to-join-tottenham

It makes me wonder how different AVB is in person compared to his tv interviews which is pretty much all I get to see of him. The guy seems very good at convincing players to join him, iirc that is almost exactly what Juan Mata said, when we were trying to get him but he chose Chelsea instead. Even the trigger-happy Russian was reluctant to sack him by all accounts, when he didn't seem to have such reservations over Ancelotti or Di Matteo. Idk maybe AVB is a more charming guy that we get to see.

 

[Berglad]

It makes me wonder how different AVB is in person compared to his tv interviews which is pretty much all I get to see of him. The guy seems very good at convincing players to join him, iirc that is almost exactly what Juan Mata said, when we were trying to get him but he chose Chelsea instead. Even the trigger-happy Russian was reluctant to sack him by all accounts, when he didn't seem to have such reservations over Ancelotti or Di Matteo. Idk maybe AVB is a more charming guy that we get to see.

if AVB was key in convincing Holtby, it seems likely that Moutinho could still be on the cards too.

 

[Spurger King]

if AVB was key in convincing Holtby, it seems likely that Moutinho could still be on the cards too.

I don't think there's any issue between Moutinho and AVB. I'm sure Moutinho is more than happy to join up with AVB....it's all down to how much Levy is prepared to pay.

 

[Berglad]

I don't think there's any issue between Moutinho and AVB. I'm sure Moutinho is more than happy to join up with AVB....it's all down to how much Levy is prepared to pay.

I mean it's unlikely that AVB would have pushed for Holtby if it might be at the expense of signing Moutinho (though who knows what indications Levy gave him)

 

[ItsBoris]

Three cheers for Villas-Boas!



http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892...oas-key-to-holtbys-decision-to-join-tottenham

Here is the Mata quote I was talking about:

"‘Fernando Torres helped influence my decision but speaking directly with Andre Villas-Boas was the decisive factor. (Specifically) he explained how his style will be based on a 4-3-3 and how important I will be to his plans."

 

[Spurger King]

I mean it's unlikely that AVB would have pushed for Holtby if it might be at the expense of signing Moutinho (though who knows what indications Levy gave him)

Ah ok I get you. It's possible I guess, as Holtby would play further forward, and Moutinho would play more central. I just can't see a midfield of Sandro, Dembele, Holtby, and Moutinho all starting, and I doubt any of them would be happy being on the bench.

 

[parklane1]

Good signing for me, well done AVB and Levy.

 

[Berglad]

Ah ok I get you. It's possible I guess, as Holtby would play further forward, and Moutinho would play more central. I just can't see a midfield of Sandro, Dembele, Holtby, and Moutinho all starting, and I doubt any of them would be happy being on the bench.

Yeah, I'd imagine that next season if Moutinho happened we'd be normally running 3 of those 4 (+ Carroll and Sig filling out the squad?) in a 4-3-3 and would have sold 2-3 of Parker/Livermore/Hudd.

 

[Dan Yeats]

Ah ok I get you. It's possible I guess, as Holtby would play further forward, and Moutinho would play more central. I just can't see a midfield of Sandro, Dembele, Holtby, and Moutinho all starting, and I doubt any of them would be happy being on the bench.

The reality though, is that there are always injuries, fatigue, and suspensions.

Now if a player can only play RW (for eg) then that may not be enough to keep them happy, as if Aaron's fit and on fire then they may not get a look-in for months at a time. But if they're able to slot in anywhere across midfield, then they're likely to get plenty of playing time even if they're not the absolute #1 pick in a fully fit and available squad.

Early days, but the squad AVB's crafting seems to me to be based to some extent on this thinking. You've got a DM plus 4 playmaking or attacking roles. If your creative and attacking midfielders are versatile, then keeping 5 or 6 of them happy becomes very plausible.

 

[ItsBoris]

Ah ok I get you. It's possible I guess, as Holtby would play further forward, and Moutinho would play more central. I just can't see a midfield of Sandro, Dembele, Holtby, and Moutinho all starting, and I doubt any of them would be happy being on the bench.

Horses for courses I guess, we need a strong squad, but possibly Dembele or Holtby could start in a wider position? Idk how we would squeeze them all in but I'm guessing that AVB still wants to sign Moutinho and that he would have a plan in mind were that to happen.

 

[Spurger King]

The reality though, is that there are always injuries, fatigue, and suspensions.

Now if a player can only play RW (for eg) then that may not be enough to keep them happy, as if Aaron's fit and on fire then they may not get a look-in for months at a time. But if they're able to slot in anywhere across midfield, then they're likely to get plenty of playing time even if they're not the absolute #1 pick in a fully fit and available squad.

Early days, but the squad AVB's crafting seems to me to be based to some extent on this thinking. You've got a DM plus 4 playmaking or attacking roles. If your creative and attacking midfielders are versatile, then keeping 5 or 6 of them happy becomes very plausible.

There is definitely a lot of versatility in the squad. Vertonghen able to play CB/LB/DM; Kaboul CB/RB; Dembele can play pretty much anywhere in midfield including behind the striker; Dempsey and Sig both capable of playing wide or as attacking midfielders.

It's that level of flexibility that creates a fluid, stable team capable of being re-arranged to accommodate injuries. Holtby is apparently going to add to that due to his ability to play behind the striker, as a central midfielder, a DM, and a wide forward (I think). Moutinho can also play anywhere in midfield.

The problem is keeping them all happy. I'm not sure you can rely on injuries providing them with the playing time they need...especially when players like Moutinho would fully expect to start every game.

I really hope I'm wrong though as I would Keegan love it if we signed Moutinho.

 

[Dan Yeats]

There is definitely a lot of versatility in the squad. Vertonghen able to play CB/LB/DM; Kaboul CB/RB; Dembele can play pretty much anywhere in midfield including behind the striker; Dempsey and Sig both capable of playing wide or as attacking midfielders.

It's that level of flexibility that creates a fluid, stable team capable of being re-arranged to accommodate injuries. Holtby is apparently going to add to that due to his ability to play behind the striker, as a central midfielder, a DM, and a wide forward (I think). Moutinho can also play anywhere in midfield.

The problem is keeping them all happy. I'm not sure you can rely on injuries providing them with the playing time they need...especially when players like Moutinho would fully expect to start every game.

I really hope I'm wrong though as I would Keegan love it if we signed Moutinho.

I disagree. If (in simplistic land) you have five or six midfielders who can all play LW, RW, CM, or AM, then it's highly unlikely that having a single (or even two) "spare" will cause any problems in not getting enough playing time. Think about our availabilities over this season - Dembele out for a while, Parker yet to play, Bale now suspended, Lennon having played non-stop and perhaps needing a break soon, etc... I know it's never quite that simple as players aren't mere sets of attributes a la champ man, but you see the principle? I think it's workable, and I'm starting to suspect that's what AVB is aiming at.

The number of competitions you're in is a factor as well of course. Success keeps players happy, not just in having them more tolerant of fighting for a place (although this is certainly true - many players would be less pissed being on the bench for Man U than they would for West Ham), but also in providing them with more opportunities to do so.

 

[alamo]

But Holtby is FREE and he is young.

That was the exact line I used on dating sites

 

[buttons]

Great signing and great work by all concerned.

Just had a flash back to the last German U21 we bought...KPB!!

 

[hughy]

Great signing and great work by all concerned.

Just had a flash back to the last German U21 we bought...KPB!!

And how good he actually became?

 

[buttons]

And how good he actually became?

Yeah, it is difficult to believe its the same player we had!

 

[Flashspur]

No shit Sherlock! Holtby on a free!!??? Christ, I saw this kid play last season in a couple of games when I was in Germany and was extremely impressed. He just stood out and seemed to be everywhere. A very dynamic passer and reminded me a lot of Modric but more direct. Cant help think that we have a prize here.