Tottenham’s Defence?

The jury was out on Tottenham defence last season. After conceding quite a few goals but not scoring enough during that season, lead them to end up with a goal difference of +4, the worst in the top 6.

With Kaboul’s contract with a year to expiry (30.06.2015 Transfermarkt); Dawson apparently moving to Hull, that leaves us with just two centre backs Chiriches and Vertonghen. The targets we can count out straight away the expensive signings such as Lovren, he is not worth the reported 15m bid that Liverpool have offered but secondly levy wouldn’t pay that much for a defender.

So who are the potential centre back that we need?

Salvatore Bocchetti 27 Spartak Moscow

A defender who can play left back and defensive midfield. He is also a very strong passer who likes to pass out from the back having a pass success rate of 85.3. Tactically he is very strong and aware and his tackling is excellent. Probable transfer value 12.75mil

Davide Astori 26 Cagliari

Very strong passer, he is very good when it comes to aerial duels. But what i like about him most is his organisation on setplayes. Pass success 84.2. transfer value 7 million

Micah Richards 26 Manchester City

So underrated but also has been plagued with fitness issues and injuries (Sounds like Ledley). On his day Richards can be a handful for attackers. Micah can play CB and RB he is also very powerful and strong on the ball, but also has strong leadership abilities. Micah also has won quite a few medals and that can only benefit our players someone who has been there and done it. He plays with calmness on the ball and plays a lot of short passes. He is strong on set plays in an attacking sense but also defensive. Sky sports reported 19/5/14 “Pablo Zabaleta have restricted Richards’ first-team opportunities, with just 10 appearances this season, and City may well be prepared to accept a lower fee for the 25-year-old defender with any deal likely to include add-ons based on appearances”.

Could we strike a deal like we did with Ade to get Micah on the cheap? Transfer value 8mill.
Toby Alderweireld 25

He wasn’t happy with the amount of games he started with Atletico Madrid saying

“The coach continues to choose the same starting XI, so I will keep fighting for a place,” the 24-year-old said. “I do not think it is my fault [not to be playing often].
“I cannot feel 100 percent happy when I’m not playing and I feel like I deserve to play more. I’ll do what I can in training and in the games I do play, but we are doing fantastically well.”

Since then Neil Moxley for the Sunday People has said that Tottenham have plotted the transfer . Saying defender has been recommended to Mauricio Pochettino by his scouts as Tottenham’s new boss seeks to revamp his squad.

At Ajax Toby was solid with Jan having a very good partnership, this could be a good move as both have a good rapport together playing in the centre. To by others long accurate long balls but can play the ball out the back. He is also a good threat on set players due to his height.

Other options?

Virgil van DIjk 22 Celtic

Scored 5 goals last season n 38 matches for a ball playing cb his passing is poor his completion was 78.4 . He also lacks concentration and uses his pace as a backup to recover the ball. 6mill transfer

Veltman 21 Ajax Highly rated with Ajax and had been linked with moves to Tottenham in the best, He is very similar to alderweireld , Last season he scored 2 goals and 2 assists. Very good passer of the ball and comfortable passing the ball from the back pass completion of 89.2 8mill

Academy options

Milos Veljkovic is strong, composed and technically sound, 18 years old and sherwood prompted him to our 1st team earning him 2 appearances, Will Tottenham do a king? Promote him next season and let him be paired with Jan or Vlad ? I think not but long term he is a great prospect and hopefully we see him in Europa League.

Zeki Fryers good passing and concentration. Very good tackler standing and on the slide. Maybe not ready to start yet, but hopefully a long term player.

If we can sort the defensive positions we will have a good season too many seasons have we had cb who have made individual mistakes and when you review the season you can tell that has cost us in games but also the table.

Dawson: From what i read on twitter a lot of fans do not want Dawson because he cannot fit Pochettino system but also because he lacks pace. But they hate his long inaccurate longballs.

Kaboul: Injured far too much lacks pace but his biggest downfall is his concentration

Summary: Tottenham need a defender who can match Jan but also complement his playing style. Who has pace to track back , Has the concentration and awareness to play the highline. Also not to be beaten by pace like Dawson did against a lot of the top teams.