You’re always venturing down a questionable alley when you start querying the future of a player who has had as successful a debut season at Tottenham as Rafael van der Vaart has had this year. It’s my opinion however, that for the sake of balance, Rafael van der Vaart is one player who Tottenham can afford to lose this summer. Those of a temperamental mind, feel free to unload on me in the comments section, because really, I’m asking for it. For the more open minded amongst us, please read on and see if you agree.
As far as I can determine, Tottenham’s two major objectives this summer will be as follows: Keep hold of Luka Modric and Gareth Bale whilst addressing the striker situation at the club. Depending on your opinion of Heurelho Gomes you may also believe that Spurs need to bring in a goalkeeper, but that is somewhat beside the point.
If you were to ask Spurs fans which two players were most vital to any future success I’m sure they’d first answer ‘Luka Modric’ and then ‘Gareth Bale’.
I understand that Rafael van der Vaart is a class above your average midfielder, but does that make him indispensible? I would argue that over the last couple of months his stature and standing at the club has had negative consequences. Harry Redknapp’s desperate attempt to accommodate Van der Vaart into Tottenham’s starting eleven has often proved costly.
He simply doesn’t fit into a 4-4-2, which is far and away Tottenham’s most productive formation. He’s neither a striker nor a winger and simply hasn’t looked as effective in those positions as he can be in the middle of the park. Moving Van der Vaart around the pitch has not only affected his performances, but those of his team.
Whilst Tottenham’s impotent striking force must take the blame for most of their sides’ failures this term, Van der Vaart’s situation hasn’t helped. Tottenham have one of the strongest midfields in the Premier League, with or without Van der Vaart. Given that his presence creates such a headache would now be such a bad time to cash-in?
Next season could see Tottenham struggle even harder to find a place for him in the team and find a formation that incorporates all their top players. If Van der Vaart’s form continues to decline, so too will his transfer value. At the moment he’ll command a hefty transfer fee, but if things were to continue along these lines for another season, who knows what he’ll be worth?
When you consider that Spurs desperately need funds to invest in a world class striker, the time may be right to move Van der Vaart on for the right price. A quality striker playing in a formation that suits Tottenham could be just what the North London side require if they are to achieve Champion’s League football once more by the end of next season.
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Not too fussed either way. He can be a great player on his day and would be brilliant in a formation that suits him, but personally i prefer us with Bale on the left and Lennon on the right in a 442.
Lennon is still in my eyes our most exciting player when we can get him to run at the full back, something he doesn’t do as much these days. He was superb in the first half of last season, his crossing was quality, which made him unplayable; but has since gone back a bit.
The most important thing is getting 2 new strikers, some-one lively quick and creative (a bit like the old Keane), and an all round striker with power, pace, and great work-rate. We need to take a punt on some youngsters, no point in my eyes trying to compete with City’s ridiculous spending. It’s the wages as much as anything which will mean we won’t get some of these players. We’re going to have to do what we did with Berbatov, find a player for £12mill who will improve.
I agree with his impact on the team. With a quality CF it would be ideal to rotate VDV and Defoe but VDV won’t want to be on the bench so cash him in I say.
No VDV would also mean 442 allowing Lennon to play, and play well like he has done this season!
I totally agree that Van Der Vaart isn’t productive as the winger or striker, his niche is definitely playing in the hole just behind the strikers. Rather than sell him though I’d like to see Spurs try playing a 3-5-2.
I don’t see any world class wing backs in their line-up, therefore why not try three strong centre backs, two holding midfielders (Sandro & Huddlestone), two wingers (Bale & Lennon), 1 attacking midfielder or free role (Van Der Vaart) and two stikers.
I refrained from deciding on the centre backs and strikers as I feel money would need to be spent in these areas. Tottenham have been an exciting team to watch this season and it would be nice to see that continue with an attacking formation.
Modric???
I’d switch between him and Van Der Vaart. Modric is a great player, but I can VDV can be more creative in that area.
Rafa is a great acquisition to the squad and keeping him at Spurs would be first prize for me BUT he playing him the way Harry has done have upset the balance of the team dynamics very badly.Harry imvho has looked at the quality of the player rather than at a best fit option for the player in our team.I agree completely that a fit Aaron Lennon is a wonderful attacking option for the team and one does get the feeling that Lennon and the strikers have been badly prejudiced by Harry’s insistence to play Rafa in the starting eleven at all costs.
HR played a lone striker for virtually the entire season and when he did bring himself to play 2 strikers, he dropped Lennon to play Rafa meaning that the Lennon supply line to the strikers was cut because Rafa is not able to get in behind defenders like Aaron…the little rocket has been even more effective than Bale in the later half of the season when he did get the opportunity to play.
Everyone says that our strikers is shite but when did they ever get a decent run in a 4-4-2 formation??? The answer is not at all!!! Only 1 game here and there but no decent run for them to get any sharpness in front of goal.
Our failure to score is down to Harry selecting the team the way that he did…plain and simple!!
I totally agree, VDV was great during the first half of the season. Things just did not go down the way it was supposed to. I felt that he was to domineering and wanted to be the centre of attraction. The Spurs team 2009/2010 season was built on team work and everybody bringing their part. I honestly don’t think he lacks in ability but rather attitude.
Yep – everyone has finally worked out what I wrote back in November after the euphoria at the Emirates. http://www.comeonspurs.com/columns/10110316.php
He doesn’t fit into the side, he has been the death of Defoe’s confidence and thus his form. And now we have the stats from a season to prove it. Last season Crouch/Defoe = 37goals. This season Crouch/VDV = 18 goals. He’d fit right in at Chelsea, but at Spurs he has to go.
All this chat about spurs over achieving has peeeed me right off about Harry.
Think he needs to look at the results and realise while doing well once again against the bigger sides this season we have failed against the poorer sides. The bottom 3 teams in the lge wigan, west Ham and Blackpool have amounted to 3pts in total for the teams, the top 3 sides in the lge, spurs have taken 6pts from them sides, and if you take away Gomes Blunders in the games agst chelsea it could have been sooooo much more.
Basically the bottomline is, we have had trouble breaking sides down, something the likes of arsenal, united and chelsea havent had a problem doing. The squad we got we are just as good, the likes of Sir Alex Fergueson would have got spurs finishing 4th this season, our performances agst the big sides suggest we are amongst them, but agst the lower sides, the unbalanced nature of our football and the accomdating of the undroppable stars has led to harry frantically trying to cover his back. Give him the England job, he be ideal at fitting house hold names in to the top and following the media hype. We could have another 4yrs of gerrard and Lampardbeing accomodated in the national side!!!
Be nice to have a strong manager who plays the team rather then who is well known!!
I agree completely with the article. VdV out!
We cant afford to spend with no champs league, we have to be smart and look and say we have 50 squad members even the youngsters, Bostock, Townsend, Parrett, Rose, Naughton will fetch a few million each.
You have to get rid of Woody, Bassong doesnt play, Hutton will go thats 3 gone in defence will Walker returning from his loan.
Midfield, Krancjar wants out sell either Jenas or Palacios, Giovani and O’Hara will fetch 5mil each at least.
Up top Keane will go and so will Pav
I would sell anyone who underperforms or who we could get money for which is why VanDer Vaart and Defoe should both go, VDV 20m and Defoe 15m god knows how much all those will bring in.
Sign players who they can get for cheap and would be an improvement, Demba Ba at West Ham, Charlie Adam Blackpool, Dembele at Fulham, Given at Man City, Adebayor, not one of those players would cost more than 10 million but will improve us massively.
All this Benzema, Aguero crap is winding me up
I think a lot of people forget VDV has played the best part of 2 years with no break, having played last year through to the WC final.
This is his first season in the prem and he’s been our top scorer, shortlisted for player of the year…. and scored 3 against the scum!
With a well earned rest, and a proper pre season he will be a star next year.
COYS!