Originally Posted by
Spuds
Indeed it is me in a nutshell, posting my opinion directed towards Alex and laughing at any potential upset coursed by a few letters on an internet forum.
You drew to Bremen did you not? Away from home too? That single game would have matured a number of players, all it takes is one game away from the norm and you get a small taster of what it's like. Then you can prepare yourself for the rest of the journey. Preparation is key in this game, as proven by your recent form because of "injuries", 'Arry should have prepared for them in the summer. Roberto Mancini, a man of European experience, has purchased a few players allowing us to have a strong first and second team when all fit aswell as an 'alright' third team who with a mixture of first team players (let's not forgot that a whole starting 11 wont be injured), should be capable of defeating the likes of West Ham in the league. I can honestly say if we played our first team aswell as Helan and Boyata or Mee and Boyata or Guidetti and Mee (you get the idea), that we'd win considering it's only a sprinkle of third team players.
It's what makes a strong team, look at Real Madrid, Kaka in the reserves for a bit. Look at Chelsea, Kakuta sprinkled in with the first team. Look at Arsenal, a third team with a lot of talent. You're failures have been down to incompetent management. Everyone knew that if you got into the Champions League you would need more defenders and strikers. What do you buy? A Dutch midfielder, who is good, but wont slot into your defence when needed in times such as now. I would also like to add that the 'three' points looks a lot bigger when you realise we've played Liverpool and Chelsea already.
What is your style of play then? Why do you have a player who doesn't gel with the team? Surely this is down to more lacklustre management? You complain you have no funds to purchase players to fit the way you go about your games, why not sell Crouch and purchase someone who does fit in all the time? You signed Pavlyuchenko for around £14,000,000, correct? You could have purchased Gignac for a million more. Keane is past it, once again, why not sell and add to the Crouch funds even if it is a million or two? Screams to me that it's down to poor management who underestimated the strain of the Champions League, and you're only three or so games in for crying out loud.
Indeed it is obvious that King and Woodgate are injury stricken and pretty much dead so why not sell them, flog for two million each. You've now got Dawson, Gallas and Kaboul. Use the money you spent on a Dutch midfielder who plays the same game as Modric and the lad from Pompey on a centre back then you can match him up with a youth defender like Manchester City would with Mee and Boyata, Manchester United would with Smalling and Evans etc.
If Fabianho was your top target why didn't you have a plan B and C? Gignac moved for around £15,000,000. Huntelaar for around £12,000,000 and Asamoah Gyan for around the same. All quality strikers and out of those surely one would suit your style (whatever that is). You spunked £8,000,000 on a midfielder you don't really need and could have put that towards a nice shiny striker or defender. Newcastle proved how to play the market, look at Ben Arfa. Could deal for them, if he's good sign him up after the loan if not tell them you wont be engaging the clause. Easy enough. If Newcastle and Sunderland can pull off deals such as Ben Arfa and Gyan I'm sure Tottenham are capable of Huntelaar and Gignac if they're willing to splash £8,000,000 on a midfielder.
Typical me? You really should stop going back to that same old point, it's rather boring now. Arf.