da leao：
da pinup bet： 1) New Striker
The return of Defoe has been a boost, but it remains that a striker of the highest quality is what is really needed to push Spurs onto the next level. With them successfully navigating their way into the last 16 of the Champions League and still in with a great chance of being there next year, they should have the pull to bring in this kind of player. Only the transfer fee and, more likely, wage demands could be a problem. Ideally Carlos Tevez’s recent spat will lead to him leaving Manchester City, but his ex-girlfriend will only be happy for his daughters to move to North London. Whilst City being desperate to sell will accept a reasonable bid for his services and he will also be prepared to sign a contract on less than a third of his previous wages. But somehow I can’t see Santa pulling that one off.
2) A sturdier defence
A statistic that I am sure most Tottenham fans are getting tired of being regurgitated time and time again is that they haven’t kept a clean sheet since the opening day of the season. It is certainly an annoying statistic and one that needs to be put right sooner rather than later. It gives opponents too much of a lift, allowing them to go into game believing they are guaranteed to get at least one goal, and leaves the team facing an uphill struggle to win the game. It is not helped though by the fact that Jonathan Woodgate has been out all season, accompanied for large parts already by Ledley King and Michael Dawson.
3) More midfielders and defenders out of the sickroom
That leads nicely on to no3, which is simply that more players need to return to match fitness particularly central midfielders and defenders. Long term absentees Woodgate, King and Tom Huddlestone have been joined recently by Kranjcar, Jenas, Rafael Van der Vaart and Kaboul. And with Gallas also missing the last game against Chelsea the defence was down to its bare bones with, I believe 6th choice centre back Bassong accompanying Dawson in the heart of defence. Whilst central midfield is equally currently stretched to the limit with Modric, Palacios and Sandro the only recognised central midfielders’ available going into the busy Christmas period.
4) A trimming of the largest squad in the Premier League
Despite this glut of injuries there is still affair bit of deadwood at the club draining the wage bill, especially if a new striker is going to be bought in. I see no need to hold on to the likes of Robbie Keane, both Kyles (although Walker is on loan at the moment) or Jamie O’Hara. Whereas if rumours that Pienaar could be arriving then that would open the door for Bentley or Kranjcar to exit, my preference being the former.
5) A winnable draw in the Champions League last 16 while Arsenal draw Barcelona again
After a tremendous effort to top the group with the current European Champions, Spurs would love a draw that represents a very manageable root into the quarter finals. Whilst to really emphasise the importance of topping the group, witness the other side of North London pull out the Catalan giants again. FC Copenhagen is the draw of choice while teams to avoid are Valencia and AC Milan, who may not have hit top form just yet but rest assured are a team of quality and could be a much sterner outfit in a couple of months time. Asides from that there are still teams with real European pedigree in the second pot, but Spurs should be confident particularly with the second leg at White Hart Lane.
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