All posts by h79snht.top

It feels as if a small lifetime has passed in the respective quests of both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, to find a solution to their stadium capacity woes. Both clubs have endured relatively painful legislative sagas as they’ve sought to develop a blueprint to maximize matchday revenue; no doubt spurred on by having to sit back and watch their fiercest rivals turn their own home grounds into Premier League cash cows.

But as Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre announced plans to renege on building a new stadium in favour of redeveloping Anfield, there have been some in the white half of North London, that have been left scratching their heads. Both clubs have been entrenched in the financial mire of getting stadia projects, estimated to cost in the region of £300-£400milion plus, off the ground and bricks and mortar finally lay.

Yet all of a sudden, Liverpool appear to have saved themselves half the financial burden, with a more modest redevelopment of Anfield harnessing a price tag of around £150million. It’s a development that will bring The Red’s a similar number of seats as what the new White Hart Lane will. The difference being, Spurs are still looking to tie up a private funding package for the development during the worst economic downturn in recent memory – for over double the money.

This has led some to ask the question as to why Spurs can’t go down a similar route? If Liverpool can shave off half the money needed to increase the capacity, then why can’t Spurs? Although it’s a fair question to ask – and at one point in the last decade, a highly relevant one too – the fact is that it just isn’t as simple as knocking up a new stand at White Hart Lane. Each case must be judged on it’s own merits and although there are similarities between Spurs and Liverpool’s stadia headaches, there are huge differences to.

None more so, than the fact Spurs are edging oh so close to the  finishing line of getting their expansive Northumberland Development Project off the ground.

But first of all, we’ll look at the scope that Tottenham Hotspur could have, theoretically, if they chose to dispose with their grand new stadium plans and push on with a Liverpool style redevelopment.

It’s important to note that while Spurs’ new plans are by technicality, a redevelopment, it is in essence, a completely new stadium in an almost identical, yet slightly altered footprint

With a very haphazard and cautious estimate of the current White Hart Lane, you could probably make a case that three of it’s four stands, would have the capacity for some kind of redevelopment. On the premise that the bulk of the NDP is set to be built on the industrial area to the back of Paxton Road, you could safely assume that the North Stand has plenty of room for elaborate development. The West Stand on the High Road has a fair area of space behind it, incorporating a small car park, which you would have thought would offer room for some form of expansion.

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Perhaps ultimately, the only stand that couldn’t be developed would be the South Stand. Indeed, towards the end of the Alan Sugar reign, Spurs were granted preliminary planning permission to redevelop the East Stand, in a move that would have increased capacity to 44,000. It is maybe only the South Stand that would face some severe issues, given the proximity to houses down Park Lane – an issue that Liverpool have similarly faced with housing down Lothair Road behind their main stand.

But for Spurs, it isn’t as black as white as just knocking down the stands one by one and starting again. With Liverpool, although we are yet to see stonewall architectural plans, the crux is that they already have boast a capacity of 45,276. As Ayre said, they don’t need to be paying £300million to increase stadium capacity by 15,000. Spurs are looking to expand by near on 20,000 with potentially the scope for a little bit more. The grander the size, the harder it becomes.

Because although an estimated £400million for the NDP may seem an astonishing figure, for the price it could cost the club redeveloping White Hart Lane stand-by-stand, it makes no sense to not go through with it.

For example, by choosing to resurrect the Worcester Avenue plans, Tottenham would have to kiss goodbye to the matchday revenue that the 10,691 capacity stand brings every week, during the duration of the works. If we go with a very general bracket of 12-18 months construction time at a time, the club would have to live with a huge loss in revenue while paying out for the works; of which you couldn’t guarantee would be covered by a lucrative naming rights deal.

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The beauty of the NDP is that Spurs can stay in White Hart Lane, for the majority of the works, ensuring they don’t suffer a loss in revenue as they would do by redeveloping the stands individually. Plus when they do move in to their new home (which will be three-quarters built around the old ground) it will still , in theory, offer a greater matchday revenue than what they receive at the moment, while the old White Hart Lane is demolished.

Furthermore, the issue of finance would be a real issue. Phase one of the NDP, which encompasses the construction of a huge supermarket development, is under way, and the proceeds of what they will receive from the incumbents (Sainsbury’s), will go straight towards paying for the new ground. Furthermore, the club’s income will be boosted by the sale of housing and commercial space in phase three of the development, which will again, help fund the stadium. None of this would be possible if Spurs went down the Liverpool route- let alone the potential lack of scope to develop the all important hospitality space.

The notion of redeveloping White Hart Lane in its current guise is a romantic one, but while it may work for Liverpool, it simply won’t work for Tottenham. It may seem like just another acronym, but the Northumberland Development Project means so much more both the area and the prospect of financing, than just a shiny new stadium.

Give me your opinion on Spurs, White Hart Lane the NDP and more, on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and tell me what you think about the long term future of Tottenham. 

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny may return to first-team action for the club’s Premier League clash with Fulham on Saturday.

The stopper has been side-lined with an ankle injury since mid-September, but is believed to be close to reaching full fitness.

It is thought that he could play a small part for the Gunners’ U-21 side, who are in action against West Ham on Friday, and if he comes through unscathed will challenge Vito Mannone for the spot between the sticks.

Arsene Wenger said that if the Polish international can prove he is fit he will play:

“Wojciech is No 1.” He is quoted by SkySports.

“When he is fully fit, I will make the decision who to play.”

The 22-year-old was impressive for the North Londoners last season, producing a series of fine performances which helped the team achieve third place and Champions League qualification.

The Pole has been sorely missed so far this term, with Wenger having to call upon rookie stopper Mannone.

The Italian has performed admirably, but his lack of experience has been, at times, exposed by the opposition.

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Szczesny joined the club from Legia Warsaw in 2006 and earned his spot in the first-team following a successful loan spell with Brentford.

He has now made over 50 appearances for the Emirates Stadium side and earned 12 caps for Poland.

The conveyor belt of young talent produced by Arsenal football club seems to be everlasting and at a continually high standard. Arsene Wenger’s transfer phobia is well known, with the french gaffer preferring to nurture youngsters and bring them through to the Gunners first team.

The most obvious current example is Jack Wilshere, but Wenger has also brought in the likes of Theo Walcott from other clubs and given them a chance to shine at top level, using the training and coaches resources available to the London club.

It seems almost every season Arsenal have a new youngster on their books who could go on to great things. Well here’s five young and budding Arsenal starlets who are set to have an impact on their club and the Premier League next season.

Click on Francis Coquelin to unveil the 5

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With further insinuations that Tottenham’s Gareth Bale could soon be set for a move to Real Madrid, for a huge £56million fee, it raises an interesting question that no doubt many a fan have had on football manager – is it time to cash in?

The first question that needs answering is whether the Welsh winger is actually worth such a large transfer fee. Well, I guess you’re worth whatever someone is willing to pay for you, but from an analytical perspective, does Bale rightly warrant his apparent price-tag?

In my opinion, he probably does. It’s no secret the rapid progression Bale has made since arriving at White Hart Lane from Southampton back in 2007. Originally considered a defender who can take free-kicks, the 23 year old has developed into one of the most fearsome attacking-minded players in the Premier League, having adapted his exceptional technique from dead-ball situations into his all round play, not to mention his sudden and dramatic increase in pace a few seasons ago which added a whole new dimension to his game.

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Not only has he been racking up the goals from out wide, with his record improving year-upon-year, but the fact Bale is the complete package makes him a more valuable prospect than some of his counter-parts that are vastly limited in comparison when it comes to defending. The underlying characteristic to his game however, which underpins all of the Welshman’s other abilities, is his incredible engine. Bale constantly moves with play up and down the left flank, and is Tottenham’s most profitable outlet when counter-attacking. Furthermore, at full speed the left winger appears almost impossible to dispossess without fouling – apart from luring him into a theatrical dive.

But, if £56million is a fair valuation for player already considered the best left-sided attacker in the Premier League despite the fact he is still a few years short of entering into his peak capability as a footballer, should Tottenham sell, hold out for more, or do whatever they can to hang onto him?

Considering some of the more recent transfers, and the Premier League’s lusting addiction to money, Spurs should really be bleeding Real Madrid dry on this deal. The La Liga champions have only recently pinched the club’s most talented player in Luka Modric, and although Spurs have spent the most part of the money wisely, a team challenging for a top four place will always miss the presence of such a high-quality footballer.

Furthermore, consider some of the recent transfer deals. In the past, £20million plus fees were privy to the world’s elite, with a few big-money signings that turned out be stinkers. But with the influx of foreign owners and the continuing growth in wealth of World Football, rank and file squad members can still dictate a fee of £20million or more. Joleon Lescott is a classic example. Similarly, youngsters that have done nothing to prove themselves apart from a string of half decent performances, such as Adam Johnson, Jordan Henderson and Andy Carroll (anyone else notice that they’re all English?), have cost their new clubs an arm and a leg.

Therefore, considering the nature of the English transfer market, as well as the fact Bale has already proven his capability, having played in the Premier League for six years and has also featured in the Champions League where he ran riot against Maicon –an experienced World Cup winner and regarded as one of the best full-backs of his generation – the Spurs board should be looking for more than £56million for a player who will undoubtedly be successful at the Bernebeu, with little risk of failure.

Then again, £56million would be a more than useful transfer kitty for Andre Villas-Boas, and could be enough to finally allow Tottenham to make a serious bid towards challenging for the title, although they still have a long way to go before they will become consistently competitive for league positions with Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United. AVB has installed a new philosophy on his Spurs team, but bringing Jaoa Moutinho to the club would finally give him an on-pitch general to marshall those around him into performing in the style AVB is attempting to bring to White Hart Lane.

Similarly, the sale of Modric allowed for the arrival of Moussa Dembele and Hugo Lloris, who will undoubtedly be a big part of the club’s future, in which they hope to move forward and up the table. Future arrivals acquired by the Bale fund could also solidify the team’s weaker areas for years to come.

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However, Gareth Bale’s departure would leave a huge hole in the team and a big share of his transfer fee would surely go towards replacing him, which would be no easy feat considering his performances and tactical importance to the first team. And furthermore, Tottenham aren’t in dire need of cash. Daniel Levy is rumoured to be providing AVB £20million in January to bring in some new recruits, with the most likely targets being reportedly being Willian or Moutinho. So perhaps, if Spurs can push on this season and get into the top four, adding some higher quality players to their squad, the pull from the Bernebeu would be somewhat blunted.

Then again, it is hard to believe Gareth Bale would be willing to spend his entire career at White Hart Lane. At some point, he will outgrow the club unless they rapidly progress in terms of resources and getting into the Champions League. Maybe this summer will be the perfect opportunity to say goodbye. It would be a transfer hugely unpopular with the fans, but the long-term benefits give Spurs more of a chance of becoming a title-challengers than simply keeping their winger as the driving force behind their team. In a few years, Bale may appear to be worth a lot more than £56million, but whether the club will manage to keep him for that long remains to be seen.

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Andre Villas-Boas is facing going into the north London derby this Saturday missing some key regulars from the Tottenham Hotspur first team.

It is doubtful whether Jermain Defoe, Moussa Dembele, Kyle Walker and Aaron Lennon will be fit enough to play in the Premier League clash at Arsenal this weekend.

Moussa Dembele will definitely not be able to play a part in the match, with Villas-Boas confirming the midfielder has not recovered sufficiently from an injury to his hip. He has carried a knock since October, but aggravated the issue when playing for Belgium.

It is expected that Tom Huddlestone will replace the Belgian and team up in the centre of midfield with Sandro.

“Dembele will not be back for this game. There is a 50 per cent chance he will be ready to play Lazio on Thursday. At the moment surgery is out of the question – hopefully,” Villas-Boas said.

Walker, Defoe and Lennon all face late fitness tests after having to withdraw from last night’s international friendly between England and Sweden as they are all suffering from hamstring strains.

However, the Tottenham boss is hopeful they will be sufficiently fit for Saturday.

“They haven’t trained with the team yet. They trained separately on Wednesday in a recovery session away from the team,” he added.

“We have to see how they return; see if there is any disturbance. Lennon had a scan on Wednesday and it’s fine on his hamstring. We have to wait and see. They have had quite enough time to rest and recover.”

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Tottenham are also still trying to cope with existing long-term problems with Younes Kaboul, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Scott Parker.

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England manager Roy Hodgson has refused to confirm whether or not Rio Ferdinand remains in his future plans.

The Manchester United defender withdrew from the Three Lions’ squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro, citing a personal training regime as a major factor in his decision.

However, it has since emerged that the 34-year-old will be travelling to the Middle East to partake in media coverage of England’s fixture against San Marino.

Ferdinand defended his actions, stating that the arrangement will take place during pre-assigned down time, but it has been suggested that his decision has all but ended his chances of winning another international cap.

Hodgson refused to suggest that this was the case, but told Sky Sports he will “wait and see” if the centre-back will be in his future plans.

When asked about his decision to pull out of the squad, the England manager responded:

“The fact is I was disappointed when he couldn’t accept our invitation.

“What he actually does now and how he operates in the coming couple of weeks, that’s his business and his club’s business. I’m only interested in the players I’ve got here. That’s where I prefer to have my focus.”

Hodgson then went on to state that Michael Carrick will not be used as a centre-back in Ferdinand’s absence:

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“I’d be loath to start using someone like Michael Carrick, it would be enormously harsh on the four centre-halves we’ve got here.”

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Now that October has hit us in the face like a cold, unrelenting shovel we can finally put to bed any hopes of an ‘Indian summer’ and instead reflect on an intriguing past few months in the football calendar.

The transfer window perhaps lacked the glamour and unforeseen bombshells of its previous incarnations but there were still plenty of deals to admire. The ever-increasing financial restrictions of a climate ravaged by recession and Michel Platini mean premium transfers were at a minimum (if you ignore PSG) and instead an onus was placed on securing influential talent on a tight budget.

Now that those summer arrivals have had time to settle into their new surroundings, it’s perhaps an appropriate time to highlight those who deserve a special mention.

Click on Moussa Dembele to reveal the top ten summer transfer coups

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Join me on twitter @theunusedsub 

Liverpool are preparing a bid for Dutch international striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after it was revealed the Schalke 04 striker may be available for a bargain £6m.

According to the Sunday People, Brendon Rodgers is planning to take advantage of his current contract dispute with the German club to try and bring the clinical striker to Anfield.

Rodgers has earmarked Huntelaar as the perfect solution to their present lack of firepower with only Luis Suarez, the only fit, recognised, centre-forward at the club.  However Liverpool may face strong competition for his signature from a whole host of rival Premier League clubs with Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea all also reportedly interested in his services.

Reports suggest that the 29-year-old would prefer to join a club heading for the Champions League and given their slow start it seems unlikely that Liverpool will be joining the European elite next season. Although he is eager to experience playing in the Premier League and has recently confirmed he will join a club that has a ‘right feeling’ about it.

The Netherlands striker already has an bulging CV after spending time at Ajax, Real Madrid and AC Milan before making the move to the Bundesliga. While he struggled to find form at both Milan and Madrid, his record in Germany has been excellent with 71 goals for club and country since the beginning of the 2010/11 season.

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He will get another chance to impress watching Premier League scouts when Schalke entertain Arsenal on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

The news of David Moyes being appointed Manchester United boss undoubtedly broke the hearts of many an Everton fan, and even distant admirers of the Merseyside club, including myself. Rather than it being a simple case of a team losing their manager, the Scot’s decision to depart for Old Trafford had a sense of inevitability to it, as if the huge efforts on Moyes’ part over the years to get the Toffees constantly performing beyond their means and make them regular attendees of the Premier League’s top six, would one day come back to bite the club, with the fatal flaw being that the United gaffer-to-be was always destined for a higher calling.

It could well be the end of the Toffees as we know it without Moyes at the helm. Furthermore, the team, now without a manager until Bill Kenwright completes the difficult task of deciding on an adequate replacement, are an open target for the coming transfer window, with many big clubs throughout Europe holding a vested interest in the future of Everton’s key players.

The most bitter of blows will be if the outgoing Goodison boss decides to take his two talismanic forces with him to Manchester; Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini. The former is coming to the end of the season of his life, recording five goals and five assists in the Premier League, in addition to being the division’s most creative player according to OPTA, but at the age of 28, the move to a big club will be now or never, whilst the latter’s career, the focus of this article, is set to hit full swing over the next few years.

The Belgian afro-bearer has undoubted ability – but is it the level of quality required at Old Trafford? Will Fellaini have the same effect on a big team that he currently has on the Toffees? And at a club like United, where all aspects of a new signing are considered; does his personality present a level of risk? Essentially, does Fellaini tick all the boxes for United?

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As previously mentioned, the boy certainly has skills. For a player whose traditional role is in defensive midfield, a return of 11 goals and five assists in 30 appearances is sensational, even if Fellaini has been deployed as a supporting striker for the majority of the season. The Belgium international’s height and power will ensure that the end product from set pieces will always be there, yet the majority of his successful efforts on goal have not been via his aerial ability, but rather the use of his surprisingly cultured feet – often not needing to be given the opportunity twice to shoot from the edge of the box when given space, and often not wasting his chance to find the bottom corner.

Furthermore, Fellaini’s chest control alone is a unique skill in itself that even if you took away the rest of his game, would still make him an effective force in the Premier League. During the first game of the season, rather fittingly against Manchester United, the Evertonian was out-jumping Nemanja Vidic, not to provide flick-ons with his head, but use his torso to bring the ball under his control, and went on to score the winning goal in a 1-0 contest. It’s not the first time Fellaini’s presence has put some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs to the sword, and his consistent performances in important games bodes well for his potential future at Old Trafford.

Furthermore, out of Chelsea, City and United, you’d argue the Red Devils’ need for Fellaini is greatest. Whilst I believe all clubs would consider the prospect of signing the Belgium international, there has been a soft underbelly in United’s midfield for years, and despite his admirers, the vacuum of a physical presence in the middle of the park has not been filled by the over-rated Tom Cleverley.

Sir Alex Ferguson was reportedly a huge fan of Lars Bender, a hard-working, technically gifted German international, but it could do David Moyes the world of good to deviate from his predecessor’s trail of thought and use the coming transfer window to stamp his own vision upon the roster at Old Trafford, by bringing in a player of good quality and utility that he is already well acquainted with.

Yet bringing Fellaini into the United midfield would require him to fulfil a far more subtle and less glamorous role than his current one at Everton. Whereas the 25 year old’s stock has risen following his first half of the season flurry of goals, undoubtedly a determining factor regarding the interest of the big clubs, he would be utilised much more defensively should he move to Old Trafford in the summer.

He’s certainly capable of doing the job and has all the attributes required in his locker -physicality, strength, height, reading of the game, ability to pass and get stuck in – but without the goals he provides from the forward role, is his apparent price tag, quoted by the papers of between £25million and £30million, justified? There may well be other targets out there, such as Victor Wanyama and Lars Bender, whose fees are far more cost-effective considering they can undertake the same tasks required in United’s midfield.

But it does provide Moyes with a sure-fire plan B. Wayne Rooney’s surprising transfer request, which may be u-turned following the appointment of the England man’s former boss from his Everton days, does leave a vacancy in attacking midfield. The role will most likely be given to Shinji Kagawa, giving the Japan international the opportunity to shine that he’s been waiting for, but Fellaini would be an effective stand-in when required to do so. Furthermore, the United gaffer will undoubtedly have some testing fixtures during his first campaign, and throwing the Belgian up front for the final minutes could well be the difference between a draw and a victory, between success and failure.

If Ferguson were still in charge however, you get the feeling that the potential transfer would be far less certain. The Belgian’s abilities are of a high enough standard, and furthermore, since his arrival on Merseyside in 2008, there has been a natural progression and improvement to his game, and due to his experience in the Premier League, you’d assume it could only extrapolate further upon moving to a bigger stage and playing regularly in Europe. But if there’s one thing Fergie could never stand for, it’s a questionable attitude, which is the biggest doubt cast over Fellaini’s head.

His three match suspension following a haunting display of ill-discipline against Stoke essentially cut the lanky midfielder’s season in two, being a much less prolific element during the latter half of the Toffees’ campaign. More alarmingly than his form however, is the danger Fellaini posed upon his future, by committing three acts that could have justified a straight red card had the referee seen him lash out with his fists at Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth in off the ball incidents.

Similarly, his showing against Wigan in the FA Cup was an embarrassment to the footballing profession. Finding themselves 3-0 down at half time after a very poor display, the Toffees needed their best players, mainly Fellaini, to really up their game if they were to get anything out of the match. Yet the Belgian was lacklustre, lazy, selfish and seemingly not bothered, often operating at jogging speed and unwilling to get himself involved in the match, to the horror of the Everton faithful. He may be able to get away with such childishness at Goodison Park, but should he pull the same sort of stunts in a United shirt, the criticism from the fans and the media would be quick, harsh and condemning, and would furthermore reflect badly upon the new manager.

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I previously mentioned that an advantage to signing Fellaini would be that it would give Moyes the opportunity to step out of Fergie’s shadow and create his own path early in the next transfer window, but the Scot should still consider what his predecessor would do. The Belgium international is a fantastic talent and has already proved himself in the Premier League, but the former Everton boss must remember that he is paying for a defensive midfielder rather than an attacking midfielder, and furthermore, Fellaini’s temperament is a far cry from the standard currently set at Old Trafford.

On the surface, Fellaini appears to be the ideal fit, but scratch away and the cracks begin to develop. Considering it could well be Moyes’ first transfer as the official United gaffer, it’s success or failure will send out a message regarding whether the Scot has what it takes to manage at such an illustrious club, or if his talents will always be best suited a niche market of overachievement with limited resources.

The last thing Moyes needs is Fellaini to let him down, and judging by some of his controversial displays in an Everton jersey, showing his childishness and ill-discipline, that could well be the case. Furthermore, I’m sure United fans would not be too happy to go back to the days of losing a key midfielder to red cards and suspensions for all their big games, in echoes of the career of Roy Keane.

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When a player manages to break into the Barclays Premier League under the provisions of any suspecting radar, it feels as if we are often very quick to douse them in a blaze of uncertainty. Today’s modern age dictates that every next big thing is usually well publicized within the realms of the footballing community- be it through the column inches of a dedicated blog or the YouTube montages of a fan boy’s creation.

This isn’t to say that Moussa Dembele’s talents have never been clear for all to see, but such is his ability, it feels truly remarkable that it’s taken till the age of 25 for him to really burst into public consciousness. But it’s not how you get there, more as long as you do. And make no mistake, Tottenham Hotspur have picked up one hell of a player in the Belgian.

The final game of last season’s Premier League calendar saw White Hart Lane encompassed in one of the more bizarre atmosphere’s you’re ever likely to witness in N17. Supporters were paying as much attention to the select few who had brought in personal radios, as they were to what was going on in the field of play, such was the situation regarding Champions League qualification.

But in between seeking out the West Brom v Arsenal score and hopelessly trying to attain any form of mobile phone signal, fans were left aghast as the authoritative number 30 from the other team, began running their midfield amok.

Spurs ran out 2-0 winner on the day, but all that left Spurs’ hallowed old ground that day were in no doubt as to who the best player on the pitch was – not that too many particularly cared. Fulham’s number 30 danced around the edge of Spurs’ penalty area at times, playing cute little balls through at angle, attracting the ball like a magnet and causing Harry Redknapp’s team all sorts of problems. Moussa Dembele’s performance may have been a surprise for some of the home fans but for the away support, it was simply another day in the life of the talented Belgian.

The beginning of this season saw Dembele continue from where left off from that day at White Hart Lane but this time, no one was under any illusions as to what he was capable of. Yet no one seemed able to stop him. After pulling the strings in Fulham’s devastating opening day 5-0 win over Norwich City, he then put in another virtuoso display at the Theatre of Dreams, causing Manchester United all sorts of problems as Martin Jol’s side succumbed to an unfortunate 3-2 defeat. By now, Dembele wasn’t so much hot property but a transfer market supernova- moves to both United and also Real Madrid were widely touted in the gossip columns.

But it was Andre Villas-Boas’ side who managed to capture his signature and Dembele signed for Spurs in a deal worth near on £15million. Most supporters have been pleased as punch with the 25-year-old’s acquisition, but there are a small minority who remain unconvinced. After all, if Dembele was so good, why has it taken him this long to get such a high-profile transfer? The boots of Luka Modric’s are massive ones to fill and although he isn’t a direct replacement, fans are well within their right to have the odd reservation. But the truth is that Dembele has always had the talent; it’s just that finding the right way to channel it has taken a little longer.

His goal scoring record might suggest that it was hardly ever rocket science, but Moussa Dembele was originally something of a conventional striker during his beginnings back in the Netherlands. Indeed. When Mark Hughes snapped him up from AZ Alkmaar in the August of 2010, the talk was that The Cottagers has signed another frontman or ‘attacking option’. Sparky said at the time:

“Moussa is strong and quick and will add another dimension.”

You were hardly expecting the Shakespearian but Hughes was being rather basic in his assessment of Dembele to say the least.

The Belgian’s career has gone from strength to strength in the last few years and it’s no coincidence that it’s prospered as he’s worked his way deeper down the pitch. During Alkmaar’s 2009-10 Eredivisie winning season, Dembele chipped in with an impressive 10 goals in 23 games but that represents something of an anomaly during his career. He is, as Spurs fans saw first hand against Norwich on Saturday, capable of putting the ball in the back of the net, but it isn’t primarily where his strengths lie.

His talents are far, far more influential in the engine room of a team, more centrally in midfield. His technical ability and close control are as good as any but he perhaps lacks a little bit of quicksilver to really make a case as a regular forward. This isn’t to say he couldn’t do a great job there, but he needs to be playing deeper- especially in this Tottenham Hotspur side.

As no one is under any illusions to how much the side are crying out for an injection of creativity within the heart of the team. Luka Modric is an outstanding footballer and as we are perhaps already seeing at Real Madrid, perhaps one of the best in the business at what he does. A player like that is in some respects, always going to be irreplaceable. But that doesn’t mean that Dembele can’t have as big an influence as the mercurial Croatian.

He has that similar ability to redistribute as Modric but perhaps in an alternate way. Maybe he doesn’t have the outstanding agility or metronome like quality as the Croatian does, but he certainly has a far more imposing physique and an authoritative level of power that Modric lacked. The combination of technical excellence and physicality is a rare one, but Dembele has it. No one is saying he is necessarily a better footballer than Spurs’ old number 14. But he has the ability to be just as important.

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And that is all that matters for Andre Villas-Boas and Tottenham Hotspur. Like his journey to the top, Dembele’s game is cut from a different cloth from many of his peers. He is as equally unique as he is exquisite and there can be no doubt that he has the skill in his locker to perform the deep lying role that the Portuguese wishes him to play. The challenge now for him is to come into an under-pressure side and produce the goods from the off.

And if Dembele the man is anything like Dembele the footballer, then expect him to take it all in his strider. Harder tests will lay ahead but the stage is set for him to finally kick-start his new team’s season into life.

How do you feel about Moussa Dembele’s White Hart Lane prospects this season? An inspired purchase or do you remain unconvinced? Let me know how you see it all playing out on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus and bat me all your Spurs chat. 

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