Football

^this

sol campbell he's def not gay

How can you possibly know that? And who cares?

The mighty spurs, being linked to all sorts, lewis holtby, bright young english player, plying his trade in germany, an attacking midfielder, probably one for the future, but his dad supports everton, so who knows.
We do need an attacking forward thinking midfielder, but probably need one whose pretty much there already, if we're looking to push on. I'm sure he's not going to want to come to the premiership to warm the bench or get loaned out to villa/stoke/wigan, etc..
though this article feels he'll be a great fit, wherever we ask him to play. Think we're looking for versatility in our midfielders/attackers, so they can interchange positions and provide cover for injuries, poor runs of form.
http://www.teamtalk.com/tottenham-hotspur/8378266/Holtby-would-fit-into-AVB-s-ethos-at-Spurs
Maybe he's an option in case we don't get Willian or Eriksen from Ajax, or Moutinho. But he does fit into the young player mould that we've been following, get 'em young, and cheapish, let them develop, they grow with the club and fingers crossed when we get the new stadium pay them the wages that they'll demand, or if the stadium is still not available, and the revenue isn't materialising sell them on.

Also we've been linked to David Villa, who would definitely be an upgrade on defoe and adebayor, even though he's 31. Llorente looks like he's bound for Juve, we've bought Zeki Fryers, ex Man U youth product from Standard Liege, a left back to give cover for BAE, but wonder what's going to happen with Danny Rose whose impressed alot at Sunderland, and when his loan spell ends, deserves a chance to challenge BAE for a starting spot, we'd have a strong, quick pair of fullbacks with either Naughton/Walker on the right and BAE/Rose on the left.

Quite enjoying us being linked with some quality players who will upgrade the squad, rather than the 'Arry retreads and known quantities, nice to see that AVB scouting network being put to good use.

So what do Alan Hansen and Gary Linekar think about all that Corney?

The mighty spurs, being linked to all sorts, lewis holtby, bright young english player, plying his trade in germany, an attacking midfielder, probably one for the future, but his dad supports everton, so who knows.

We do need an attacking forward thinking midfielder, but probably need one whose pretty much there already, if we're looking to push on.

Probably one for the future, yet already one of Shalke's best players and playing regular Champions League football...

One for the future, ie, when he is crocked or otherwise over the hill

Prole, I'm probably doing him a disservice, by holding his age against him, there's still plenty of room to improve from 22. Look at Siggurdson, whose taken a while to settle, and we'd be asking Holtby, I think, to possibly be the attacking fulcrum through which all things flow.. Will he be able to handle the pressure/weight of expectation?

And as you say if he's one of Schalke's best players and enjoying Champions League football, he's not coming to Spurs to warm the bench, or get loaned out, he's going to want to play, and play early.

Probably one for the future, yet already one of Shalke's best players and playing regular Champions League football...

Nail on head.

Pretty much every English club has been linked with him. Schalke don't need to sell him but if they do they'll hold out for a lot of cash > £10m just to start talking.

Jaw, I think he's already decided to leave, his contract is up, so he's available for free/pre contract agreements, etc..

Not exactly. He and Huntelaar wanted Heycknes to be fired, they refused to sign new deals until he went. Huntelaar has now signed a new deal so it isn't a done deal that Holtby will leave either.

Also we've been linked to David Villa

Likewise Ar$enal. Can't see it. Too old, wages too high.

BBill if you get two/three years of the old Villa, he would be worth it, could probably compromise on the wages, and you'd/we'd get a proven goalscorer, who will definitely get you 15-20 goals a season in the league alone. He can link play, hold the ball, lead the line, will score from the edge of the box, inside the six yard box, toe pokes, screamers and headers.

He'd be an upgrade for either of us, would you rather him or theo leading the line?

Wasn't aware of that Corny, still, he'd want to play, he's played top league football for 4 seasons so he's not going to come if he's not got prospect of a regular first team football.

Like prole said, contract talks are still ongoing but he's in a very strong position to negotiate.

I'd take Villa over Ba.

Corny I'm shocked you clearly don't read Raphael Honigstein's german football blog on the Guardian. Essential reading for non-plastics.

Jaw, but it's been shown with the Spain squad, that Villa and Torres don't gel together, as much as they try, Villa always gets the nod, despite all the hard work that Torres does.

Prole, I try to read Honigstein, and the englishman with the italian name's italian football blog, but I'm not that attached to German football, and spend more time on Sid Lowe's one. But I will rectify that immediately. Got to love newspaper apps on smartphones.

He'd be an upgrade for either of us, would you rather him or theo leading the line?

Theo can't lead the line, that's for sure! I'd rather have Adebayor back, than Villa, tbh.

Corney: sponsored by carlsberg. Probably.

hedging my bets Chalfie, hedging my bets.

I'd take Villa over Ba.

well you have Ba now...

The financial constraints on David Moyes's attempts to lead Everton into the Champions League have been underlined in the club's latest set of accounts that show a net loss of £9.1m for 2011–12 and wages rising to 75% of turnover.

Everton's loss increased by approximately £4m on 2010-11 and overall debt rose from £44.9m to £46m, despite the sales of Mikel Arteta, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Diniyar Bilyaletdinov, James Vaughan and Jermaine Beckford.

oooofff

and as much as I gave props to Joe Cole for heading to France and playing for Lille, he needs a good slap for taking the money and running to West Ham, apologies to the Happy Hammers but thats a backwards step, go back to France, play Champions League/Europa League football and experience football abroad again, expand the horizons. Heading back to your first club whilst kind of romantic isn't going to make you a better footballer..

CB - why would it be that Villa gets the nod ahead of Torres? Surely not because he's a better striker?

Torres is shite and has been shite for a very long time this aticle sums it up quite nicely.

He's been utter crap since 2009-2010 and Chelsea made the mistake in buying him on ridiculous wages and an extortionate transfer fee. The only good thing that has come out of it is seeing Liverpool piss it up the wall so spectacularly.

I see talk of Livermore heading out the door.. Corny have the guardian given you food for thought on that?

31 year old David Villa. Returning from a broken leg. Still IMO worth a punt to most top teams as long as wages aren't too mental.