Vital Spurs Debate Section

Looking For Tottenham’s Needle In The Haystack.

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Finding the right players guaranteed to take Spurs forward in its quest for glory isn’t easy for many reasons. It’s the same for all clubs. Does a potential target have the right attitude, temperament, discipline, skill level, experience, etc, etc. Even if a target ticks all the boxes there is no guarantee the move will prove successful for the player or the club.

The club has its own process for targeting new players. And we all have different opinions on that process. But what about supporters? How do they do it, and what do they base it on? The outstanding players of world football are obvious; Modric, Bale, Ronaldo, Kane, Janssen, etc, are well known and would compliment any club. But they’re all out of the question.

Other players, well known for their consistent performances, may be impossible targets due to the price required to acquire them unless the club that is interested is a ‘money club’. The task of seeking new players is every clubs’ job (and problem), and not a task required from supporters.

But, of course, supporters have their own ideas about who their club should target. Now, unless I’ve seen a player consistently I feel I don’t have a realistic idea of how he would suit Tottenham. Like all Tottenham supporters, I watch the PL and have an idea about many players who turn out for other clubs. But even then I may only watch them three or four times each season. I have no idea about European players because I don’t watch them on a regular basis. And the key words to me are, ‘on a regular basis’.

Even in the Premier League, it is not as easy as it should be. I could watch a player who has three or four great performances but won’t know if he is he playing out of his skin for those few games …. never to replicate those performances, or is as good as he looks. I’d have no way of knowing. Sissoko played well before leaving Newcastle and it looked promising. Personally I don’t mind him but, in hindsight, was it a good move. What would Newcastle supporters, who watched him every week, think about him leaving?

Alternatively, I could watch a player have a couple of complete ‘shockers’ and dismiss him completely. But how would I know if this was his usual performance or, if he was not quite fit or was just out of form for a couple of games (which happens to every player). Again, I’d have no way of knowing. Bale was criticised by Madrid supporters for quite a while before being accepted.

Let’s face it, it’s not unusual for supporters to be divided over a player that is already part of the club, let alone someone who has never worn the shirt! I know many supporters enjoy all the speculation and engage in researching the attributes (or otherwise) of potential transfer targets. For them, it’s an interesting way to pass the time and they have a much stronger take on the possibilities because of it but most, do not. I’m one of the ‘do nots’ and admit it. I also realise that I could be wasting my time by researching players who the club actually have no interest in. But I will have a very strong opinion on every player when hindsight kicks in.

If I wanted more information on a ‘target’ I could do a ‘Danny Rose’ or I could read countless (often conflicting) opinions of a players worth on various websites. Would that do any good or would it make me even more confused? I don’t need to be more confused at my age. Or I could just wait and see how it all turns out. As I realise I will rarely have the knowledge of most players on Spurs’ radar (as bandied around by the media or supporters), I take the latter course. I’ll let the club deal with it all, and just wait. After all …. it is what it is.

The question to VS posters is …. do you enjoy all the TW speculation and how much do you really know about potential transfer targets? Fun, ain’t it?

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