Team Whispers: Who should Spurs sign in January?

[Japhet]

As much as people loath them, Liverpool have been very clever in stealing a march on other clubs by signing players very early. I'm not sure it's a practise that will give Our Dear Leader the horn but I think we're going to start seeing a lot more of it and that is maybe what Poch is hinting at, that we have to be similarly clever. Personally, I think it's a smart way of doing it but wether it's something we ever do regularly is very much to be seen. The ball is in Levy's court on that one. The way clubs conduct transfers seems to be changing. Can he?

Pochettino is always very diplomatic when talking about our transfer activity but he occasionally lets his guard slip and reveals an undercurrent of frustration. He never criticises Levy but on the other hand you just know how hamstrung he feels by the bargain basement deals Levy hangs on for in the summer. The hyper inflation in the market could well be a factor in evening out value in the January market as well. We can dream I guess.

 

[Deleted member 27995]

I'd take a punt this Malcom story has been leaked as someone with a deeper set of pockets is interested, always helps to sweeten the pot to get the most out of it.

 

[The Swellhead Spur]

From all the highlight packages I'm not that impressed tbh, but we do have a new scout that specialises in French football no? Steve Hitchen I'm sure he is

 

[Trix]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

 

[Hotspur88]

Malcom looks a good player off a few YouTube clips but we all know how that works out.

He does seem to possess the ability to take his man on and break the line though which we massively miss. I don't know how many more transfer windows it's going to take to fill that void the fans have been harping on about for years. We need a couple of these players and it would complete us in my opinion.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Pochettino is always very diplomatic when talking about our transfer activity but he occasionally lets his guard slip and reveals an undercurrent of frustration. He never criticises Levy but on the other hand you just know how hamstrung he feels by the bargain basement deals Levy hangs on for in the summer. The hyper inflation in the market could well be a factor in evening out value in the January market as well. We can dream I guess.

I think this is very important. Pochettino does put pressure on Levy through the media when he wants to.

 

[For the love of Spurs]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

Doesn’t sound good hope we have a back up plan.

 

[rocklink]

Doesn’t sound good hope we have a back up plan.

Backup plan is to play sissoko regularly

 

[BPR_U16]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

tend to agree - but if a nominal fee could be agreed we should be interested

 

[Hengy1]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

Typical. It’s amazing we’d lose out on what seemed Poch number 1 target because he didn’t get back training 20 days earlier.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Backup plan is to play sissoko regularly

Funny because it's true

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

I hope we invest in another CM; I know Victor is returning but we're only an injury away from struggling again

 

[Trix]

Nothing has changed afaik from what I posted at the beginning of the month. We have our targets but they are long term targets, if they come this month then that is a bonus, because price and availability is always different in January than it is in the Summer. It certainly won't be the case that just because Barkley looks less likely and he was possible in this window, that we will try and get someone else now instead.

 

[worcestersauce]

Re Barkley. Originally we were under the impression he would be back in training end of November early December due to a couple of setbacks it took longer. We wanted to be sure he was fully fit before signing him which means the Summer now. Barkley is desperate to go to the WC and knows he needs to play in order to do so, and that means moving now. Put those two together and that means it's very unlikely to be to us.

Do you really think we'd shy away from a player we want because he's a month off being match fit? We will do a medical(again) to cover any underlying long term problems of course but I don't see even Levy saying no no no we want you ready in January, February is too late for us why don't you toddle off to Chelsea or someone.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We won't sign Malcom, but if he is a target, it's good to know that we still recognise we need a player like him.

 

[Trix]

Do you really think we'd shy away from a player we want because he's a month off being match fit? We will do a medical(again) to cover any underlying long term problems of course but I don't see even Levy saying no no no we want you ready in January, February is too late for us why don't you toddle off to Chelsea or someone.

No I don't, I do think we'd be extremely cautious as to just whether that player would be able to get back to the player he was pre injury though. Medicals are extremely important, but all the scans in the world won't tell you the extent of the damage an injury might have had on a players game. Only time will do that Lets not forget it was a major surgery, and we do not have the funds available, to take any more of a gamble than is necessary on big money signings.

 

[Hengy1]

No I don't, I do think we'd be extremely cautious as to just whether that player would be able to get back to the player he was pre injury though. Medicals are extremely important, but all the scans in the world won't tell you the extent of the damage an injury might have had on a players game. Only time will do that Lets not forget it was a major surgery, and we do not have the funds available, to take any more of a gamble than is necessary on big money signings.

Would it be a big gamble with the price he should be available with 6 months left?

Anyway it is what it is and something which is pretty normal for us to miss out on our targets

 

[SpursDave88]

Watch Barkley go to Chelsea for a pittance and be fantastic for them.

 

[worcestersauce]

No I don't, I do think we'd be extremely cautious as to just whether that player would be able to get back to the player he was pre injury though. Medicals are extremely important, but all the scans in the world won't tell you the extent of the damage an injury might have had on a players game. Only time will do that Lets not forget it was a major surgery, and we do not have the funds available, to take any more of a gamble than is necessary on big money signings.

I don't know what the surgery was to be honest but my understanding is that it wouldn't be a big money signing.
I would also question how often does an injury end a player's career, with very few exceptions it is a bit of an urban football myth isn't it?

 

[coys200]

The most sensible think for Barkley is stay at Everton secure World Cup place and leave in summer.