26 Mar 2011 08:50:00<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\nBy Jamie Dunn<\/a><\/p>\nIt was a summer full of optimism for Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>. Having finished in fourth and secured a place in the Champions League<\/a> qualifying rounds, Harry Redknapp<\/a> proclaimed his side were only two or three players of the highest calibre away from being able to challenge for the very top honours in football.<\/p>\nHeading towards the new year, it looked as though Redknapp might be right, as Spurs enjoyed an exceptional festive period and managed to stay with the leaders of the pack, while Chelsea looked to have fallen away.<\/p>\n
A lot has happened in the space of a few short months, however, and after failing to add some much needed firepower to their squad in January, Tottenham now look like having only fourth place to play for, though their excellent Champions League run continues. <\/p>\n
IN:<\/strong> Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), William Gallas (unattached), Sandro (Internacional), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow, loan), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United)<\/p>\nOUT:<\/strong> Adel Taarabt (QPR), Dorian Dervite (Villarreal), Giovani Dos Santos (Racing Santander, loan), Robbie Keane (West Ham, loan), Jamie O’Hara (Wolves, loan), David Bentley (Birmingham City, loan), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa, loan), Bongani Khumalo (Preston, loan), Kyle Naughton (Leicester City, loan), Jon Obika, Harry Kane, Paul-Jose M’Poku, Jake Livermore, Steven Caulker, Andros Townsend, Danny Rose (all various multiple loan deals)<\/p>\nRafael van der Vaart: A- <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/6947497c114701_hp.jpg.jpg\")
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From:<\/strong> Real Madrid<\/p>\nFee:<\/strong> \u00a38m<\/p>\nPosition:<\/strong> Midfield\/Forward<\/p>\nAppearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 26\/12<\/p>\nSpurs pulled off one of the coups of the season in securing the services of Van der Vaart just two hours before the summer transfer window closed, seizing on the breakdown of the Dutch playmaker’s move to Bayern Munich. Eager to play, Van der Vaart left Madrid and exploded into life at White Hart Lane, scoring goals and playing a crucial part in Tottenham’s progression to the knockout stage of the Champions League in their debut season. Injuries have limited the former Ajax man’s contribution at points and he has been more subdued since the turn of the year, but without his performances in the absence of a prolific goalscorer, Spurs might be considerably lower in the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
William Gallas: B<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/0d087d24117568_hp.jpg.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
From:<\/strong> Unattached<\/p>\nFee:<\/strong> Free
Position:<\/strong> Defender
Appearances\/Goals: <\/strong>28\/0<\/p>\nTo say the announcement of the potential signing of the former Arsenal defender was met with a mixed reception by Spurs fans would perhaps be kind, but Harry Redknapp saw the acquisition of Gallas, 33, as a ‘no-brainer’ and snapped him up for nothing. The Frenchman’s previous allegiances to the Gunners and Chelsea were soon forgotte as he turned in a handful of stellar performances – even donning the captain’s armband in the absence of the permanently injured Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate – culminating in a goal-line clearance against AC Milan that helped Spurs through to a quarter-final meeting with Real Madrid, becoming the unlikeliest of heroes in the process.<\/p>\n
Sandro: B-<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/b92a0300115295_hp.jpg.jpg\")
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<\/strong>
From: Internacional
<\/strong>
Fee:<\/strong> \u00a39m<\/p>\nPosition:<\/strong> Midfielder<\/p>\nAppearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 16\/0<\/strong><\/p>\nA relative unknown in English footballing circles, the transfer of Sandro to Tottenham was actually announced towards the end of last season, but the player did not arrive in north London until the end of Internacional’s Copa Libertadores campaign. The wait to see Sandro perhaps heaped an unfair burden of expectation on the young Brazilian, and thus some fans were left underwhelmed upon his arrival. After adjusting to life in England though, Sandro has started to excel, and his finest performances to date came in the first and seconds legs against AC Milan. Will face competition for his place now Tom Huddlestone is returning to fitness, but there is plenty more to come from the promising young midfielder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nSteven Pienaar: C+<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nFrom: Everton<\/strong><\/p>\nFee:<\/strong> \u00a33m<\/p>\nPosition:<\/strong> Midfielder<\/p>\nAppearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 8\/0<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\nWith the South African’s Everton contract set to expire in the summer, Redknapp moved quickly to sign Pienaar in January, beating off competition from Chelsea and tying the former Toffees’ star to a four-year deal. Pienaar is yet to replicate his best Everton form as he looks to find his role in an already packed Tottenham midfield, but he has adjusted to life in London with ease and could become an important player in the coming years.<\/p>\n
Others<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n
Stipe Pletikosa: N\/A <\/strong><\/p>\nCroatian international goalkeeper joined on a season-long loan from Spartak Moscow, but has been behind Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini in the pecking order, making just one first team appearance in the Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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Bongani Khumalo: N\/A<\/strong>Signed from club partners Supersport United in January after a trial, but the South Africa defender is yet to make his debut and has joined Championship strugglers Preston North End on loan until the end of the season.<\/div>\n
Final Grade: B<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/569f6942125338_hp.jpg.jpg\")
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Not for the want of trying, but it could be what Harry Redknapp didn’t manage to do in the transfer market rather than what he did that could define Tottenham’s season. The signings of Van der Vaart, Gallas, Sandro and Pienaar have undoubtedly proved to be intelligent, astute ones, but the lack of a 20-goals-a-season man is looking like it could prove costly for Spurs.<\/p>\nThe recent defeat to Blackpool and draw with West Ham are prime examples, as Tottenham created chance after chance but could not find the net – Roman Pavlyuchenko’s stoppage time strike at Bloomfield Road aside. Perhaps Luis Suarez, Giuseppe Rossi, Sergio Aguero or Fernando Llorente might have made the difference.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the likes of Van der Vaart and of course existing squad members Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, Spurs are still very much in the hunt for fourth place, but their main competition, Manchester City, used their significant financial clout to bolster their strikeforce this season, signing Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko. How Redknapp must wish he could have done the same.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Follow Jamie Dunn on ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/714b1c6993900.jpg\")
<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/03\/6947497c114701_hp.jpg-150x150.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n By Jamie Dunn<\/a><\/p>\n It was a summer full of optimism for Tottenham Hotspur<\/a>. Having finished in fourth and secured a place in the Champions League<\/a> qualifying rounds, Harry Redknapp<\/a> proclaimed his side were only two or three players of the highest calibre away from being able to challenge for the very top honours in football.<\/p>\n Heading towards the new year, it looked as though Redknapp might be right, as Spurs enjoyed an exceptional festive period and managed to stay with the leaders of the pack, while Chelsea looked to have fallen away.<\/p>\n A lot has happened in the space of a few short months, however, and after failing to add some much needed firepower to their squad in January, Tottenham now look like having only fourth place to play for, though their excellent Champions League run continues. <\/p>\n IN:<\/strong> Rafael van der Vaart (Real Madrid), William Gallas (unattached), Sandro (Internacional), Steven Pienaar (Everton), Stipe Pletikosa (Spartak Moscow, loan), Bongani Khumalo (Supersport United)<\/p>\n OUT:<\/strong> Adel Taarabt (QPR), Dorian Dervite (Villarreal), Giovani Dos Santos (Racing Santander, loan), Robbie Keane (West Ham, loan), Jamie O’Hara (Wolves, loan), David Bentley (Birmingham City, loan), Kyle Walker (Aston Villa, loan), Bongani Khumalo (Preston, loan), Kyle Naughton (Leicester City, loan), Jon Obika, Harry Kane, Paul-Jose M’Poku, Jake Livermore, Steven Caulker, Andros Townsend, Danny Rose (all various multiple loan deals)<\/p>\n From:<\/strong> Real Madrid<\/p>\n Fee:<\/strong> \u00a38m<\/p>\n Position:<\/strong> Midfield\/Forward<\/p>\n Appearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 26\/12<\/p>\n Spurs pulled off one of the coups of the season in securing the services of Van der Vaart just two hours before the summer transfer window closed, seizing on the breakdown of the Dutch playmaker’s move to Bayern Munich. Eager to play, Van der Vaart left Madrid and exploded into life at White Hart Lane, scoring goals and playing a crucial part in Tottenham’s progression to the knockout stage of the Champions League in their debut season. Injuries have limited the former Ajax man’s contribution at points and he has been more subdued since the turn of the year, but without his performances in the absence of a prolific goalscorer, Spurs might be considerably lower in the table.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n From:<\/strong> Unattached<\/p>\n Fee:<\/strong> Free To say the announcement of the potential signing of the former Arsenal defender was met with a mixed reception by Spurs fans would perhaps be kind, but Harry Redknapp saw the acquisition of Gallas, 33, as a ‘no-brainer’ and snapped him up for nothing. The Frenchman’s previous allegiances to the Gunners and Chelsea were soon forgotte as he turned in a handful of stellar performances – even donning the captain’s armband in the absence of the permanently injured Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate – culminating in a goal-line clearance against AC Milan that helped Spurs through to a quarter-final meeting with Real Madrid, becoming the unlikeliest of heroes in the process.<\/p>\n <\/strong> Position:<\/strong> Midfielder<\/p>\n Appearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 16\/0<\/strong><\/p>\n A relative unknown in English footballing circles, the transfer of Sandro to Tottenham was actually announced towards the end of last season, but the player did not arrive in north London until the end of Internacional’s Copa Libertadores campaign. The wait to see Sandro perhaps heaped an unfair burden of expectation on the young Brazilian, and thus some fans were left underwhelmed upon his arrival. After adjusting to life in England though, Sandro has started to excel, and his finest performances to date came in the first and seconds legs against AC Milan. Will face competition for his place now Tom Huddlestone is returning to fitness, but there is plenty more to come from the promising young midfielder.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Steven Pienaar: C+<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n From: Everton<\/strong><\/p>\n Fee:<\/strong> \u00a33m<\/p>\n Position:<\/strong> Midfielder<\/p>\n Appearances\/Goals:<\/strong> 8\/0<\/p>\n With the South African’s Everton contract set to expire in the summer, Redknapp moved quickly to sign Pienaar in January, beating off competition from Chelsea and tying the former Toffees’ star to a four-year deal. Pienaar is yet to replicate his best Everton form as he looks to find his role in an already packed Tottenham midfield, but he has adjusted to life in London with ease and could become an important player in the coming years.<\/p>\n Croatian international goalkeeper joined on a season-long loan from Spartak Moscow, but has been behind Heurelho Gomes and Carlo Cudicini in the pecking order, making just one first team appearance in the Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n The recent defeat to Blackpool and draw with West Ham are prime examples, as Tottenham created chance after chance but could not find the net – Roman Pavlyuchenko’s stoppage time strike at Bloomfield Road aside. Perhaps Luis Suarez, Giuseppe Rossi, Sergio Aguero or Fernando Llorente might have made the difference.<\/p>\n Thanks to the likes of Van der Vaart and of course existing squad members Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, Spurs are still very much in the hunt for fourth place, but their main competition, Manchester City, used their significant financial clout to bolster their strikeforce this season, signing Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko. How Redknapp must wish he could have done the same.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Follow Jamie Dunn on <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
William Gallas: B<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Position:<\/strong> Defender
Appearances\/Goals: <\/strong>28\/0<\/p>\n
Sandro: B-<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
From: Internacional
<\/strong>
Fee:<\/strong> \u00a39m<\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/strong><\/p>\n
Others<\/strong><\/span> <\/p>\n
Stipe Pletikosa: N\/A <\/strong><\/p>\n
Final Grade: B<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p>\n