The Mail Bag
Pienaar to Spurs?
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I've seen an increasing amount of FM type / tabloid shite gossip recently about Pienaar going to Spurs this summer. With him still to sign a contract and the World Cup starting soon, I guess this type of stuff may continue into the summer.
Whilst for me I'd prefer to keep him rather than receive a reasonable transfer fee, as I think he'd be hard to replace for the amount of money we'd get with him having only 12 months left on his contract. I also think it would be bad move for him and for us to sell one of our better players to a direct rival would seem mad.
The rumour did get me thinking about some of Spurs fringe players though and I started to wonder about the merits of swapping Pienaar for both Keane and Bentley. This could help solve two problem areas and we also have Bily to play on the left (if he comes good).
If the worst happens and he does leave then what would people find acceptable?
Kev Lacey, Posted 18/04/2010 at 14:17:05
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We need a strong chairman and manager to tell 'Arry and whoever else comes calling (cos they will!), to get to fuck.
If we lost Pienaar but gained Bentley, Keane and signed one other creative midfielder (K P Boateng would probably be cheap) I think I'd get over it.
I guess what I'm saying is that an increase in squad size and quality would make it acceptable, which is what ended up happening, eventually, with the Lescott sale.
We are in for a very long summer is my guess. We had better get used to this kind of thing — best bulk-buy your salt supplies.
In top form we'd destroy Spurs (we should have beaten them with half a team earlier in the season) the same way we'd outclass Villa and City (proven by our performances this season — although Villa were let off the hook... again). The only way we can stay ahead of these teams (we really should be this year) is by keeping hold of our quality midfielders, such as Arteta and Pienaar.
All depends on his World Cup really. Spurs already have Modric who plays the same role Pienaar does for us. And Modric is better than Pienaar. He is a world class player already and younger.
Crouch & Keane are not good enough for EFC. And Bentley won't be going anywhere before he gets in the Spurs first team!
We should really try everything we can to keep Pienaar but he is not as vital as Arteta.
I have also heard the Pienaar is chasing £60k per week which would make him our top earner; don't be surprised if he moves on with him not signing a contract yet.
Got to ask though, Why the talk of taking Crouch on TW? This would make us one dimensional and hoof ball merchants, I thought we had moved on from there.
Players in for me would be Donovan, N'Zogbia from Wigan if Pienaar goes.
The most important thing for me is, get it sorted quick. We have a luxury problem of about dozen players neither of us would want to lose. But we will survive losing Pienaar, maybe even benefit as so often in the past... everyone speaks of attackers, but we really need to add proper quality to the defence (goalkeeper, right back, central defender to give Jags and Heitinga proper back-up or even competition).
I don't fancy a team with Howard or Distin as regulars to win trophies or challenge for top 4, and on a similar level of ambition, it's naive to think Seamus Coleman is a definitive and safe long term solution to our right back position (he MIGHT be, but again we need competition and back-up with Neville likely approaching his last season as a regular).
But moving back to my original point, we can deal with losing Pienaar. What we cannot deal with is an ongoing, draining saga for months like Lescott last season. It might have won us a few extra millions (and possibly even some points on motivation vs specifically City), but all in all, I think the whole deal upset us to the tune of four to six points, points that would have us just about home dry for 6th and in serious contention for fourth yet.
'Arry is much more likely to contact Moyes directly if he thinks he has a chance of getting Pienaar, there won't be any Gary Cook/Mark Hughes type of shenanegans and if it results in Steven going, it will be for a realistic fee and time to find a replacement.
I would not be surprised if he left but I hope he stays.
Heitinga, Pienaar, Fellaini, Arteta, Baines, Jags, Rodwell are our key players we really have to keep. If any of the others were sold, as long as we can bring quality in, I'm happy. For example, Osman & Vaughan out; Donovan in. Yak out; Bent in. Howard out; Hart in.
Remember Lescott out (who I didn't want to lose); Distin, Bily and Heitinga in = a better team.
I'm hoping he was the for N'Somnia and/or the King Louis look alike!
I hope this doesn't happen. I have no reason to disbelieve this rumour as I met Pienaar's agent at last years' semi-final and he made no secret that he would move Pienaar on if the right deal for him comes along for him.
I know its easy to say but I would give him what he wants, he's worth it. That's the problem, he knows he's worth it as well and other clubs will be willing to pay him what he wants. At his age right now this is probably going to be his biggest earning contract of his career so you can't blame him for wanting the best that he can get.
Remember what we were like when he and Arteta were not in the team. That's right — just about devoid of all creativity. These are qualitities we just can't afford to lose if we are to progress.
If Pienaar is stalling on his contract (we're not going to pay him £60k a week - it'd break our pay structure and kill us financially - Arteta, Yakubu, Jags, etc warrant at least parity with him) and we did receive a £14M offer, I'd probably take it with just one year left on his contract.
If the income from selling Pienaar allowed us to keep our squad together and bring in a pacy right winger, then why not. Donovan is a fairly good player, not technically great, but his pace is by far his greatest attribute and it's no coincidence that with this extra dimension to the side we had our best run of form this season.
I think for his actual level of ability, Donovan's probably overpriced, but he is effective and has a top attitude, so I'd welcome him back. Hopefully Moyes can find someone similar and cheaper..... I think that could make the difference between another decent season (like the last three, not counting this one...) and a serious tilt at a CL spot.
Eff Off Paul! My cousin's sister's friend's best mate's dog's brother said that you were talking out of your backside.
I believe Moyes will forego the transfer kitty (if scrooge makes any available)to increase key players wages.
Pienaar gives us the energy and workrate that is lacking in other departments and will not be easy to replace.
By now Moyes should be able to gauge whether a player wants to stay or go. If he wants to go then accept it and do the deal fast and early so that we have time to prepare correctly for the new season without the "Lescott" scenario hanging over us again.
I personally would love to keep Pianaar even if it involves paying him more money. He has proven this season just how important he is to our development and progress.
Also, Heitinga was reported when we signed him as being on £60-65k a week at Atletico, but paying far less tax than in Britain.
Could we entice Benfica for Aimar?
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1 Posted 18/04/2010 at 21:33:26
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Keane, Bentley and 'Arry's unpaid tax might do it.... Triffic.