Tottenham getting ‘friendly’ with £5m Man City defender: Could Juande finally get his guy?
by offsidetrap on May 31st, 2008 29 commentsWhen the dust finally settles over at White Hart Lane, Tottenham manger Juande Ramos might want to think about sending a note to Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni, thanking him for scheduling a friendly against Colombia at Craven Cottage.
The Guardian is reporting that £5m Manchester City defender Richard Dunne made good use of the Ireland friendly by taking time out to host talks with Tottenham about becoming Jonathan Woodgate’s new best friend.
Dunne flew into London with the Republic of Ireland squad yesterday, played in the friendly against Colombia at Craven Cottage last night and is expected to have further talks with Spurs today.
Juande Ramos, the manager, has been unconvinced by Michael Dawson and Younes Kaboul, his young central defenders, and the concerns over Ledley King’s fitness are well documented. Ramos signed Jonathan Woodgate for £8m from Middlesbrough in January but wants a tough and experienced partner for him and Dunne fits the profile. (Guardian)
For a Tottenham team that is missing one critical defensive piece, Dunne looks to be the man they’ve been looking for this summer.
Do Tottenham supporters feel like Dunne is the piece that finally shores up a shoddy back line, or would Juande be better off looking elsewhere for a central defender?
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spursman4life - May 31st, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Duunne would make an excellent pairing with Woodgate or or any centre half playing in woodgate’s stead. He will also provide the leadership the team lacks, and compliment a fine english speaking back for which should aid the developement of a strong cohesive unit.
sean - May 31st, 2008 at 2:02 pm
yes! yes! yes! dunne would fit in perfectly!!
Noel Hamiltoon - May 31st, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Dunne is a class act, he turned his career around uunder KK @ man city and has not looked back since and i think that he has been man citys player of the year for the last 3 seasons.
He will be welcomed with open arms @ the lane and by the way wath about this for a team,
Kameni,
bale,
Woodgate,
Dunne,
Hutton,
Modric,
Arshavin,
jenas,
Keane,
Berbatov,
Dos Santos
anyone getting hard?
u dirty boy LOL
dave morris - May 31st, 2008 at 2:10 pm
The signing of Dunne will also allow Ledley King to move into the defensive holding role in midfield. Don’t think he’s as “unfit” as everyone makes out. The signing will kill two birds with one stone.
Mark - May 31st, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Ooooooh Yeh, very hard, Mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Anonymous - May 31st, 2008 at 2:20 pm
im liking the all british back for youve got Mr. Wales LB Mr. England CB Mr Ireland CB Mr. Scotland RB LOL
JD - May 31st, 2008 at 2:21 pm
DUNNE IS THE MAN AND WHILE YOU ARE AT IT SPURS MAKE HIM CAPTAIN , ALSO GET MILNER AND CONVERT HIM INTO A RIGHT HALF MIDFIELDER HE HAS ENERGY TO BURN AND THEN SOME , THIS LAD IS JUST 22 AND I CAN SEE HIM IN THE ALAN MULLERY MOULD , IF HE WAS CONVERTED TO THIS ROLE HE WOULD BE A MODERN DAY BARRY OF VILLA AND FOR ONLY HALF WHAT VILLA ARE LOOKING . THE STRIKER FOR ME WOULD BE KLAAS JAN HUNTELAAR A NEW NISTLEROOY IF EVER THERE WAS ONE , BALE CAN BE OUR NEW SIGNING AT LEFT HALF MIDFIELD , STEELE OF BARNSLEY WAS THE GUY TO BUY WHEN HE WAS AVAIABLE BUT GIVE ROBINSON ANOTHER KICK UP THE CRUTCH TELL HIM TO KISS AND MAKE UP WITH RAMOS AND GET ON WITH BECOMING THE UK`S NUMBER 1 AGAIN HE`S BETTER THAN CALAMITY JAMES ON HIS DAY !!!!!! VAN DER VAART WOULD BE GREAT , OF ALL THE GREAT SIGNINGS WE EVER BROUGHT TO W H L KLINSMAN , GINOLA , PETERS , OSSIE , GAZZA , WADDLE , LINAKER , AND GREAVES INCLUDED DON`T YOU THINK SPURS ? ITS TIME TO LIGHT UP THE LANE AGAIN WITH A WONDER PLAYER IE THE ONE AND ONLY “RONALDHINO” REGARDLESS TO THE MONEY , WE THOUGHT WE COULD NEVER AFFORD THOSE PAST PLAYERS I JUST MENTIONED BUT WE DID AND THUS WE WERE THE GREATEST BIGGER THAN MAN UTD IN THOSE TIMES PITY WE DID NOT HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO KEEP THE MERRY GO ROUND GOING LIKE WHAT LIVERPOOL AND NOW MAN UTD ARE DOING WE ARE A SLEEPING GIANT THAT NEEDS RESURRACTED AGAIN , THE GOLDEN YEARS THAT YOUR PRESENT SO CALLED STARS AT WHL WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO BRING AGAIN IT TAKES WORLD CLASS PLAYERS TO BRING SUCCESS NOT A FEW SILLY BURGERS WHO THINK THEY ARE GOOD LIKE O`HARA , LEE , KABOUL , BOATENG , ZOKORA , JENAS , CHIMBONDA , GARDNER , STALTERI , GHALY , TAINIO , THESE GUYS WILL NEVER REACH THOSE HEIGHTS THAT THE 1960`S AND 1970`S PLAYERS REACHED WHEN WE WERE WINNING EUROPEAN , DOMESTIC , AND WORLD CLUB SILVERWARE .
Mexican Spur - May 31st, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Noel Hamiliton’s ”11″ fits into the 6 & 5 FIFA scheme too.
Nice one Noel.
Mexican Spur - May 31st, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Know a bit about Dos Sanots actually. Was born in the city where I now live.
Has ALWAYS been a cut above the rest. Dynamite turn of pace and very, very skillful on the ball. Good crosser. Might make Berba think twice about disappearing?
Jack - May 31st, 2008 at 2:40 pm
Dunne would be a great addition. The rest is just pipe dreams fed by the media.
Mexican Spur - May 31st, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Oh and btw … This could be important: a mate of mine was his English teacher at primary and secondary school. He attended a bilingual school in Monterrey, Mexico so wouldn’t start from scratch in the dressing room!!!
mike - May 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
JD i like your enthusiasm but 4 me i would like 2 see a more mobile defender than dunne dont get me wrong hes great in the air and strong but i have seen him been turned 4 pace quite a lot in hes career i would like us 2 get diaz just as strong more mobile and a cheaper option.
JimB - May 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Looks as though Dunne will now sign for Pompey. They are apparently offering far higher wages than Spurs and they can guarantee him a first team place. At Spurs, Dunne would only be back up to King and Woodgate.
Shame. He would have been a good addition to the squad. There may now be some truth in the Coloccini to Spurs rumour.
And dave morris – please, no! I don’t want Ledley in centre midfield. His best position, by far, is at centre back. Let’s play our best players in their best positions, eh? And let’s buy a specialist, top quality player for the central midfield holding role. If we could get someone like Veloso from Sporting (tough, because he’s much in demand), that would be the ideal solution and I would genuinely start to believe that a top four challenge is possible.
stoney - May 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Me so horny.
Tommo - May 31st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I’ve rated Dunne for a few years and he’s now at the perfect age for a centre back. Would be a huge signing as it would surely spell the end of our defensive frailties. Will be gutted if we miss out on him to Pompey so come on Spurs and make him an offer he cannot refuse!
JimB - May 31st, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Jack – I understand your desire not to get carried away but dos Santos is a very realistic target.
1. We should never underestimate the esteem in which Juande Ramos is held by Spanish based players. His Sevilla team was truly outstanding.
2. Dos Santos wants to leave Barca because he cannot see himself breaking into the first team and because he has been on the end of some poor treatment by Barca fans.
3. He is also unproven at senior level, having had an indifferent first season. There are very few clubs in Europe who can or will risk the kind of money that Spurs are offering for a 19 year old like GDS. Inter are perhaps one such team but they present the same problems that he had at Barca – namely that it will be difficult to establish himself in the first team.
mark gray - May 31st, 2008 at 3:05 pm
am not convinced that dunn is any better than other center backs we have!!
MEL - May 31st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
THE SOONER WE SIGN THESE PLAYERS THE BETTER COS OTHER CLUBS ARE INTERESTED IN THEM .
peter - May 31st, 2008 at 3:12 pm
thank you very much he would give us some steel at the back so we can chalange top4 it so hot here in cyprus i just going to have a ozo and ice and dream of better tims
Tony. - May 31st, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Is it me? Or do I detect a deafening silence from supporters when it comes to challenging the apparent removal of Daws from the back-line? When he plays next to Ledley he is top draw….and I wouldn’t mind a quid for every time I’ve heard a commentator say “cleared by Dawson”….He’s young, really enthusiastic and he’s getting better! Let’s keep him!
Tony – Costa del Crime.
zulkifly hairi osman - May 31st, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Yes I agree with Dave Moris..King is better as a holding midfielder cos he played in this position vs Argentina a few years back ( correct if I’m wrong ) and he played very well…if I’m not wrong,Ledley first played for spurs as a midfielder…so Dunne will be a great addition cos Dawson is like Rio Ferdinand…soft and sometimes clumsy…and if Ramos get what he wants,spurs will challenge Man.u,Chelsea,Arsenal and Liverpool for a top 4 place next season.
Michael Ayandokun - May 31st, 2008 at 6:13 pm
Its a shame Juande dosen´t read these posts.
Aaron - May 31st, 2008 at 6:25 pm
hahaha dawson is nothing like rio ferdinand you prat,ferdinand is twice the player of him.and dunne,as good as he is,isn’t good enough for a top 4 centre back and if we’re pushing for that then thats what we need.
lets see, vidic,ferdinand,toure,gallas,terry,carvalio,woodgate,king…..dunne – no im afraid he isnt in the same league as these defenders
Peter Ruse - May 31st, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Dunn will be a great partner for Woodgate, Dawson & Kaboul and with a possible Ferdinand, this will make them all fight for a position.
If like last Jan 08 one wants to go as it happened with Defoe then that’s the time to see who fits in at WHL. There is still the chance one could be needed in the full back position or in mid field.
I would like to to see Huddleston stay he is getting better all the time & his long passing through mid field is a quality none of the other players have.
Berbartov I think we would be better taking the cash. If he goes to Man U or Chelsea he may not be able to avoid the tackles and a six month lay off, they will replace him and he’ll end up in a rocking chair.
The main worry is to many players not blending and new players expecting to play each week as happened last year. Another quality coach as Man U should be considered. Ramos could then let the other coach worry about the players wants and don’t wants.
Robbie Keane, cheers mate your our new Mr Spurs.
Scorpion - May 31st, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Dunne to Pompey? You’re either having a laugh or you are a Pompey fan. They are a blimp on the screen of success. 2 years from now struggling to stay up. We are on the up and attracting players like Modric. Dunne is ours and I welcome him as an important addition to our team. Unlike some of you he knows he will play most games because Leds is crocked; only available for little runs before he breaks down again.
Greekos - May 31st, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Dunne would be an excellent signing for us and I really hope he goes throu. Unlike all these foreign signings he wouldnt need to adjust to the EPL. Just his understanding with Woody or Ledley and our full backs all of which speak English would settle the defense nicely. I think the only issue would be playing time. Ledders has never taken this much time off before and will be available for far more of next season than we have been led to believe by the doubters. And be realistic Pompey could pip us to him as they have Europe like us but can guarantee him week in week out football. Come on Levy close the deal already!!!!
R41NBD its in the blood - May 31st, 2008 at 8:49 pm
dunne would be a great signing but lets be honest he wont fancy fighting 4 a starting place with the world cup looming. hope we dont get rid of daws, not the best of seasons but hes had no real partner for any time.hope we land the mexican kid, hopfully him and modric will convince berba that the grass aint greener and give us another season. if not fxxk him!
CCCracker - June 1st, 2008 at 6:02 am
According to the latest reports, Ramos is likely to be the new ManCity manager. All the signing that were going to Tottenham are now on their way to City. Dunne is staying there.
brett - June 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Quality if we can secure Dunne and get our hands on Bentley too oh yes