The Charles Blondin Conundrum

The 2013-14 season is already the most important season for Tottenham Hotspur Football Club since the last most important season. As a football club, we are on the threshold of joining the cream of Europe. We have delivered a world class training facility and we will hopefully see the first signs of an iconic vision emerge from behind the hoardings of the Northumberland Development Project. One could argue that we have even finally been accepted by Sky and the other media outlets by expanding their previously untouchable “Top Four.”

The most impressive thing is though that we’ve done it the right way. We haven’t smashed the front door down like an early morning Police raid carried out by the money men at Manchester City or Chelsea. Nor have we been able to rely on a recent history like Manchester United or Liverpool. We instead have a glorious past, but unfortunately that is now in the dim and distant past.

Tottenham have been forced to work other channels and huge credit must go to Daniel Levy and ENIC for the way our club has moved forward in the last few years. It’s been small steps, but they have for the most part been in a forward direction since ENIC took over. The club looks to have most things in place, or in motion to take the club forward off of the pitch.

On the pitch, things are looking pretty good. We have a coach that has earned the belief and the faith from most supporters, despite some scepticism in his appointment when Harry Redknapp was sacked.

Unless your name is Adrian Durham or Jamie Redknapp, it appears to have been the right appointment. It was a big gamble by Levy to appoint AVB, but on this season’s evidence it has been one that has worked. Now Levy must support his gamble and back AVB in the transfer market.

This is where I can’t help but picture visions of Levy as a tightrope walker considering making his first step onto that rope, blindfolded, with no balance pole, in a hurricane, whilst wearing stilts.

[linequote]It was a big gamble by Levy to appoint AVB, but on this season’s evidence it has been one that has worked.[/linequote]

Looking at the squad, with some sensible additions and obvious pruning we should be able to bolster the depth of the squad to take us to the next level. But with transfers, the getting it right is the hardest part of all.

If it goes we face more than just losing the vitally important Gareth Bale. Several “senior” members of the squad could be gone at the end of next season. Players like Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen and Mousa Dembele could all be pulling a Luka and demanding a seat at a top table, somewhere else.

It’s no secret that we need two top quality strikers as a priority, but who will come without Champion’s League football?

Hopefully someone like Alvaro Negredo would relish the chance to play in the Premier League, jumping from a mid table Spanish side to a team with real prospects for the future.

There is also everyone’s favourite tired and rehashed rumour, Leandro Damiao. We know Levy is not going to spend £30-40m on one player, so is a gamble on someone like him an option?

However we have a history of gambling at high prices, one more go can’t hurt? Can it?

One of the areas we need to improve on is the penetrating ball into the box from a central areas, that threaded killer pass which goal hungry strikers feed on. Tom Carroll looks have this ability, but he’s not ready yet. Joao Moutinho would be the dream but we’ve failed twice before with him so we need to move on elsewhere.

Believe me when I say this, Carroll will be a better player than Jack Wilshere in a couple of years, but he is in need of a loan to another ball playing Premier League side next season, a Swansea, Southampton or Aston Villa to aid his progression.

[linequote]One of the areas we need to improve on is the penetrating ball into the box from a central areas, that threaded killer pass which goal hungry strikers feed on.[/linequote]

Hopefully Carroll’s development over the next few years means that we don’t have to break the bank, and instead can opt for a short term quick fix. Someone with less resale value than Levy normally likes to buy, a player who has run his course at his club or is approaching the end of his contract.

With returning loanees like Andros Townsend and Danny Rose, there is cover in other areas that would normally need attention. Sensible loans for players like Zeki Fryers and Alex Pritchard would give us options for the 2014-15 season if Townsend and Rose don’t make the breakthrough.

A couple of strikers and a ball player midfielder would cost in the region of £40m. We also need some cover in goal for Hugo as Gomes will be gone and Jordan Archer and Lawrence Vigouroux aren’t ready yet. With Scott Parker seemingly off the pace, possibly another mobile defensive midfielder, someone like Morgan Schneiderlin at Southampton, would be a decent acquisition.

The money for this overhaul can be raised from players sales and clearing the wage bill. Players like Heurelho Gomes, David Bentley, William Gallas, Parker, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone (regrettably) and Emmanuel Adebayor, will either command a decent fee, or are paid decent salary. Removing them from our squad will make way for future in comings.

This is going to be one hell of a gamble and an incredible balancing act. To raise funds for the iconic stadium and spending on a team that deserves to grace that arena, Levy will need to summon up the spirit of Charles Blondin.

Personally I feel now is the time to take that gamble. We are on the verge of a potentially great era for our club. As Spurs fans we have seen our history in black and white, heard the stories, this could be one for us to savour. An era that our children’s children will look upon and it will evoke images of glory.

Over to you, Charles. Deliver.

Come on you Spurs.

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