gbnine
16-03-2008, 10:40
Juande Ramos said recently that if the present squad wanted to stay at Tottenham, they had to show their strengths in the next three weeks. Since then, they have as usual, been typically unpredictable. They lost 0-1 at home to PSV Eindhoven, and then they beat West Ham 4-0, before showing some strength and grit in Holland by beating the Dutch champions over 90 minutes only to lose in a penalty shoot-out.
Ramos, though, demands greater consistency and we could see some big changes in the Tottenham squad this summer. It's possible that because Wednesday night in effect ended Tottenham's season, Ramos will dismantle the side and one of those that could go is Dimitar Berbatov.
Berbatov is 27 and it's unlikely that he'll want another season in the Uefa Cup and is more likely to want an opportunity to play in the Champions League. It's no secret that Sir Alex Ferguson is an admirer and Manchester United could be the ones to wrestle the Bulgarian away from White Hart Lane.
Another likely to leave is Paul Robinson. Tottenham have not hidden their interest in other goalkeepers. At the moment Carlos Kameni from Espanyol looks destined for The Lane. Robinson was going through a bad patch and Ramos dropped the goal keeper for several games in favour of Radek Cerny. Robinson won't want to sit on the bench again if a new keeper arrives at a time when he is attempting to reclaim his England place.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Darren Bent leave also. But how much of the money they paid for him will they be able to get back? Bent has failed to get anywhere near the form he showed at Ipswich and Charlton. Having said that, in time Ramos and Poyet might just bring him back to his best. We'll have to wait and see.
I think Pascal Chimbonda will be shown the door too. His favoured right-back position has been filled with the arrival of Alan Hutton, who, along with Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate could be the foundation of Ramos's squad next season.
It is rumored that several Spanish players may arrive in the summer, probably due to the fact Ramos is Spanish himself. According to some newspaper reports in recent weeks, Damien Comolli has looked at players such as defenders Daniel Jarque (Espanyol) and Cata Diaz (Getafe), midfielder Esteban Granero (Real Madrid) and striker Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza).
Despite being knocked out of Europe there is still self-belief within the dressing room. Maybe winning the Carling Cup will go down as a positive and next year Spurs can come back a stronger and better team.
Ramos, though, demands greater consistency and we could see some big changes in the Tottenham squad this summer. It's possible that because Wednesday night in effect ended Tottenham's season, Ramos will dismantle the side and one of those that could go is Dimitar Berbatov.
Berbatov is 27 and it's unlikely that he'll want another season in the Uefa Cup and is more likely to want an opportunity to play in the Champions League. It's no secret that Sir Alex Ferguson is an admirer and Manchester United could be the ones to wrestle the Bulgarian away from White Hart Lane.
Another likely to leave is Paul Robinson. Tottenham have not hidden their interest in other goalkeepers. At the moment Carlos Kameni from Espanyol looks destined for The Lane. Robinson was going through a bad patch and Ramos dropped the goal keeper for several games in favour of Radek Cerny. Robinson won't want to sit on the bench again if a new keeper arrives at a time when he is attempting to reclaim his England place.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Darren Bent leave also. But how much of the money they paid for him will they be able to get back? Bent has failed to get anywhere near the form he showed at Ipswich and Charlton. Having said that, in time Ramos and Poyet might just bring him back to his best. We'll have to wait and see.
I think Pascal Chimbonda will be shown the door too. His favoured right-back position has been filled with the arrival of Alan Hutton, who, along with Robbie Keane, Jermaine Jenas, Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate could be the foundation of Ramos's squad next season.
It is rumored that several Spanish players may arrive in the summer, probably due to the fact Ramos is Spanish himself. According to some newspaper reports in recent weeks, Damien Comolli has looked at players such as defenders Daniel Jarque (Espanyol) and Cata Diaz (Getafe), midfielder Esteban Granero (Real Madrid) and striker Diego Milito (Real Zaragoza).
Despite being knocked out of Europe there is still self-belief within the dressing room. Maybe winning the Carling Cup will go down as a positive and next year Spurs can come back a stronger and better team.