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To dare is too dear - Tottenham continue to impress but transfer window proves top-four finish is priority for now
For the first time in 11 seasons Spurs have turned a profit through player deals – is this a sign of their lack of ambition for a side on the brink of challenging for the title?
06-Feb-2012 3:24:54 PM
Getty Images
COMMENT
By Jay Jaffa
They could have signed Loic Remy and Milos Krasic of course, but Tottenham chose to simply refresh their squad and opt for the safety of a Champions League finish with their January transfer dealings.
Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen – two experienced Premier League players – summoned little fanfare on arrival at the club and certainly contrasted considerably to last year's summer deadline day transfer of Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart.
Premier League managers continue to lament the existence of the transfer window but for club outsiders it offers a crucial insight into the appetite of the boardroom. In Daniel Levy's case – it was lacking.
Tottenham have enjoyed a splendid season so far, highlighted by their proximity to league leaders Manchester City, but just as fans old enough to remember the 1961 triumph began to dream of another top-flight title, the owners baulked.
There was talk of Remy swapping Marseille for north London and although a reported £17 million bid was submitted, he remained in France. Milos Krasic, the talented Serbian winger, burnt his bridges at Juventus but the offer of a loan move did not tempt him to White Hart Lane.
Could it be that Spurs are still not attractive enough a proposition for talented foreign footballers? I would argue against that.
They are comfortably in third position and some would suggest this should be the minimum finish to their league campaign. There has been widespread acclaim for the style of football the team play and they have players the envy of most of the league.
Harry Redknapp has not only spoken of his side's chances in the Premier League but also forcibly of his desire to win a second FA Cup: "You want to win the cup - that's our ambition this year."
But with the club's motto 'To dare is to do' [Audere est Facere] acting as a stick to beat the management with, Spurs opted for sensibility in a window that included the characteristic last minute brinkmanship expected of Levy.
An ageing, goal-shy, striker and an even older, injury-racked, centre-back winged their way into Tottenham. It was hardly the coup fans hoped for and definitely put an end to anybody entertaining thoughts of a title win.
The problem appears to lie with the uncertainty surrounding the mid-term future of the club. The board are engaged in plans to redevelop the area and construct a new stadium – by no means a cheap affair, no matter the government support it is likely to receive.
Redknapp's future appears murkier than ever. The result of his court case could change matters but it is widely expected that given his age and current high profile, Redknapp will become Fabio Capello's successor following the European Championships.
If, as certain reports suggest, Jose Mourinho has been sounded out for the Tottenham job, then perhaps Redknapp's exit has been accepted by the boardroom.
Given this scenario a massive outlay in January would be foolish if the players signed were not to the taste of the new manager. You only need to look at past Levy investments such as the £15m spent on David Bentley to understand this perspective.
A top-four finish would have been Levy's pre-season briefing to Redknapp and at just over the halfway stage, the club are on track to achieve this.
The nominal fee for Saha and the free transfer of Nelsen - and youngster Iago Falque for that matter - befit the current climate at Tottenham, but that does not mean it won't disappoint the club's followers.
There will be despondent faces at White Hart Lane but the reality of the situation appears to have dictated Tottenham's transfer movements. It is worth casting a glance at their rivals' activity as well to show that it is a league wide concern.
Spurs travel to Anfield on Monday night to face Liverpool, who chose not to make a noteworthy signing in January. Of the current top four, only Chelsea significantly spent money – snapping up former Spurs target Gary Cahill for £7m from Bolton.
Sir Alex Ferguson chose to bring the effervescent Paul Scholes back from retirement, Arsenal were reunited with Thierry Henry and Roberto Mancini tempted an old favourite, David Pizarro, to Manchester City.
The top teams seem content with their squads and although Redknapp relieved a few players from their bench duties, sending Steven Pienaar, Vedran Corluka and Sebastian Bassong out on loan, the club received good money for Roman Pavlyuchenko and replaced him with the more mobile Saha – potentially good business.
Naturally though, the opportunity to press for a Premier League title may well be blown by the summer. If Redknapp departs, what then for Levy? Back to square one? Or is his masterplan enough to lure one of the world's best managers to Tottenham?
For now, Tottenham need to keep up the momentum and secure a result at Liverpool on Monday. There are tricky fixtures ahead and the pessimists would fear the shallow depth to Redknapp's squad could be exposed in the next couple of months.
Though it may irk football fans, the modern game is about more than just the glory. It is a business in itself and Levy would snap your hand off if guaranteed a top-four finish right now.
The planning required for significant January signings never materialised and realistically a title challenge has come a year too soon. If the squad is kept together and added to in the summer, who knows where Spurs will end up.
One thing's for certain, with Champions League qualification all but secured, it will be a lot more busy in June.
By Jay Jaffa
They could have signed Loic Remy and Milos Krasic of course, but Tottenham chose to simply refresh their squad and opt for the safety of a Champions League finish with their January transfer dealings.
Louis Saha and Ryan Nelsen – two experienced Premier League players – summoned little fanfare on arrival at the club and certainly contrasted considerably to last year's summer deadline day transfer of Real Madrid's Rafael van der Vaart.
Premier League managers continue to lament the existence of the transfer window but for club outsiders it offers a crucial insight into the appetite of the boardroom. In Daniel Levy's case – it was lacking.
Tottenham have enjoyed a splendid season so far, highlighted by their proximity to league leaders Manchester City, but just as fans old enough to remember the 1961 triumph began to dream of another top-flight title, the owners baulked.
There was talk of Remy swapping Marseille for north London and although a reported £17 million bid was submitted, he remained in France. Milos Krasic, the talented Serbian winger, burnt his bridges at Juventus but the offer of a loan move did not tempt him to White Hart Lane.
Could it be that Spurs are still not attractive enough a proposition for talented foreign footballers? I would argue against that.
They are comfortably in third position and some would suggest this should be the minimum finish to their league campaign. There has been widespread acclaim for the style of football the team play and they have players the envy of most of the league.
Harry Redknapp has not only spoken of his side's chances in the Premier League but also forcibly of his desire to win a second FA Cup: "You want to win the cup - that's our ambition this year."
But with the club's motto 'To dare is to do' [Audere est Facere] acting as a stick to beat the management with, Spurs opted for sensibility in a window that included the characteristic last minute brinkmanship expected of Levy.
| LOUIS SAHA & RYAN NELSEN |
 |
 |
| France |
COUNTRY |
New Zealand |
| 33 | AGE | 34 |
| Striker |
POSITION |
Defender |
| 311 | PL APPS | 172 |
| 109 |
PL GOALS |
8 |
| 19 |
INT'L CAPS |
45 |
| 4 |
INT'L GOALS |
6 |
An ageing, goal-shy, striker and an even older, injury-racked, centre-back winged their way into Tottenham. It was hardly the coup fans hoped for and definitely put an end to anybody entertaining thoughts of a title win.
The problem appears to lie with the uncertainty surrounding the mid-term future of the club. The board are engaged in plans to redevelop the area and construct a new stadium – by no means a cheap affair, no matter the government support it is likely to receive.
Redknapp's future appears murkier than ever. The result of his court case could change matters but it is widely expected that given his age and current high profile, Redknapp will become Fabio Capello's successor following the European Championships.
If, as certain reports suggest, Jose Mourinho has been sounded out for the Tottenham job, then perhaps Redknapp's exit has been accepted by the boardroom.
Given this scenario a massive outlay in January would be foolish if the players signed were not to the taste of the new manager. You only need to look at past Levy investments such as the £15m spent on David Bentley to understand this perspective.
A top-four finish would have been Levy's pre-season briefing to Redknapp and at just over the halfway stage, the club are on track to achieve this.
The nominal fee for Saha and the free transfer of Nelsen - and youngster Iago Falque for that matter - befit the current climate at Tottenham, but that does not mean it won't disappoint the club's followers.
There will be despondent faces at White Hart Lane but the reality of the situation appears to have dictated Tottenham's transfer movements. It is worth casting a glance at their rivals' activity as well to show that it is a league wide concern.
Spurs travel to Anfield on Monday night to face Liverpool, who chose not to make a noteworthy signing in January. Of the current top four, only Chelsea significantly spent money – snapping up former Spurs target Gary Cahill for £7m from Bolton.
Sir Alex Ferguson chose to bring the effervescent Paul Scholes back from retirement, Arsenal were reunited with Thierry Henry and Roberto Mancini tempted an old favourite, David Pizarro, to Manchester City.
The top teams seem content with their squads and although Redknapp relieved a few players from their bench duties, sending Steven Pienaar, Vedran Corluka and Sebastian Bassong out on loan, the club received good money for Roman Pavlyuchenko and replaced him with the more mobile Saha – potentially good business.
Know how | Saha and Nelsen provide experience rather than star quality
Naturally though, the opportunity to press for a Premier League title may well be blown by the summer. If Redknapp departs, what then for Levy? Back to square one? Or is his masterplan enough to lure one of the world's best managers to Tottenham?
For now, Tottenham need to keep up the momentum and secure a result at Liverpool on Monday. There are tricky fixtures ahead and the pessimists would fear the shallow depth to Redknapp's squad could be exposed in the next couple of months.
Though it may irk football fans, the modern game is about more than just the glory. It is a business in itself and Levy would snap your hand off if guaranteed a top-four finish right now.
The planning required for significant January signings never materialised and realistically a title challenge has come a year too soon. If the squad is kept together and added to in the summer, who knows where Spurs will end up.
One thing's for certain, with Champions League qualification all but secured, it will be a lot more busy in June.
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