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Sturridge – The key

3 min read
by The Fighting Cock
So, the worst kept secret for decades is finally confirmed – the AVB has landed at WHL. Debates rage on and on amongst Tottenham fans, pundits, ex-professionals or just about any man on the street willing to voice their opinion. Will he be a catastrophic flop of Chelsea-like proportions, or will he be The One…the […]

So, the worst kept secret for decades is finally confirmed – the AVB has landed at WHL.

Debates rage on and on amongst Tottenham fans, pundits, ex-professionals or just about any man on the street willing to voice their opinion. Will he be a catastrophic flop of Chelsea-like proportions, or will he be The One…the golden boy we have all dreamt of, capable of transforming an already more than able squad into title contenders.

We were arguably that last season anyway – the turning point probably being the unfortunate late defeat away to Manchester City when Defoe could have won it for us after a ‘triffic’ fightback from 2 goals down. Whether or not you choose to believe that ‘Arry’s England links were the cause of our following decline, or ‘Arry’s court case, or his sometimes head-scratchingly confusing tactics (we all know the Villa game being the classic example) is irrelevant; we WERE title contenders and we blew it for one reason or another, or probably a collection of reasons.

Redknapp is undoubtedly going to be a difficult act to follow. Love him or loathe him you cannot take away the fact that he delivered 2 4th place finishes which only a few seasons ago looked way beyond the club, such was the vice-like grip on the top 4 places by Manchester United, Liverpool, Woolwich and Chelsea.

[linequote]Sturridge was one of few players to actually flourish under AVB during his ill-fated stint at Stamford Bridge.[/linequote]

Can AVB improve on this? Well, the jury is well and truly out and a verdict will not be forthcoming until the season gets underway. What happens between now and that point is where we achingly sit in eager anticipation, will he buy {insert any of about 20 reported targets}, will he sell {insert any of about 5 reported deadweights}. We all hope for Vertonghen, maybe even Moutinho, but there is one name that stands head and shoulders above the rest, Daniel Sturridge, and I’ll tell you why.

Sturridge was one of few players to actually flourish under AVB during his ill-fated stint at Stamford Bridge. An impressive strike rate saw many fantasy football managers scrambling to transfer the bargain priced striker into their teams, and for good reason – he was not only scoring but being touted as an excellent contender to lead England’s Euro 2012 attack in the absence of Rooney from the 1st 2 group games. We all know that didn’t come to fruition, as AVB departed and with it Sturridge’s best run in a Chelsea shirt came to a stuttering halt as old favourites like Drogba and Kalou re-emerged. He ended the season back down the pecking order once again, a sadly wasted talent for both club and country.

The decision to move him on from Manchester City in the first place often confused me; the youngster had looked very impressive during early City outings and there has even been recent talk of him returning to City. I would be very disappointed if that were to happen – any player moving to City must seriously question the amount of playing time they are likely to get. In Sturridge’s case, I fear not a lot.

Spurs strike force is currently embarrassing, with only Defoe as a recognised quality attacker. Whether or not we actually return for Adebayor is becoming ever more doubtful as each day passes; also, would you be willing to take a pay cut of the size being mentioned? Unlikely isn’t it? Sturridge’s wages would be far less in comparison, and he can play the lone striker, or in either wider attacking positions in the formation AVB prefers to employ.

[linequote]Spurs strike force is currently embarrassing, with only Defoe as a recognised quality attacker.[/linequote]

With everybody sitting in the wings waiting for AVB to fail miserably he will clearly need all the support he can get, and by signing a player from the club where he failed so terribly, and for the player to be willing to come to work for him again would shoot all those doubters firmly in the foot. If he was such a bad coach why would Sturridge even consider linking up with him again?

A signing of this magnitude makes perfect sense to me, for so many reasons. Levy, get your chequebook out…but maybe wait for the medics to give the all-clear – just as I finish this article I hear that Sturridge has suspected viral meningitis…well now, isn’t that what being a Spurs supporter is all about!

[author name=”Marshy” tag=”Marshy[/linequote]

All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.

7 Comments

  1. davspurs
    05/07/2012 @ 2:18 pm

    I wanted Sturridge when Chelsi was after the Rat Boy plus Bertram and 20 mill bit the the spoilt one ABV told me in a Russian voice nosky. This could be our Team Walker Vertonghan Dawson Lennon Siggy Parker Hudds Bale Sturridge ABY Defoe

    • spurs
      05/07/2012 @ 3:09 pm

      I see how a 0-3-5-3 formation could work!!!

      Hmmmm….

    • jamie
      05/07/2012 @ 9:33 pm

      nice to see someone mention defoe! our best goal scorer yet hardly used. underestimated as far as im concerned, him and sturridge would work a peach

  2. Simple
    05/07/2012 @ 2:53 pm

    What no keeper…………….

  3. Simples
    05/07/2012 @ 3:05 pm

    No Bale either lol, not to mention the formation. Should be more like LLoris, Walker, Vertongen, Kaboul, Ekotto, Lennon, parker, Sigurdsson, Bale, VanDerVaart, Sturridge.

  4. spurs guvnor
    05/07/2012 @ 3:57 pm

    Sturridge aint good enough.

  5. henryp0p
    05/07/2012 @ 7:09 pm

    Agree with you on your reasoning for why we should sign him, solid article.

    I reckon this is a deal that could seriously happen because if you look at the amount of players that Chelsea have signed who play a somewhat similar attacking/ winger/ striker role then you can see that they have way too many for one squad.

    Marin, Hazard, Mata, De Bruyne, Lukaku, Torres and others.

    Don’t think there is much place for him at the Bridge, my only worry about him playing for Spurs is that his attitude can stink at times.

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