Loading ...Aug 26 2008
Roman Pavlyuchenko to Join Tottenham
I wrote a recap of the particulars for American Soccer Reader. You can see it here. The only detail left is how much Tottenham paid for their new striker. The figures I have seen to this point are £14 million to £16 million with no sources reliable enough to quote. At this point, it looks like it does not matter. Roman Pavlyuchenko is moving from Spartak Moscow to Tottenham with a significant ripple effect.
In watching Tottenham’s first two Premier League matches, I’ve been shocked by now poorly their offense has performed. They have scored two goals, but they have been unable to generate anything resembling an “attack.” While David Bentley has actually looked pretty good, especially having assumed a more attacking posture on the left side, fellow summer acquisitions Luka Modric and Geovani Dos Santos have failed to contribute. Modric showed some flashes at the end of the Sunderland match, but he has been a non-factor for most of the first two weeks. Dos Santos did not start in Round 2 though did provide a small burst coming off the bench. Both of these players should be making more significant contributions.
But the biggest problem with Tottenham’s absence has been the absence of Dimitar Berbatov, and that’s why this Pavlyuchenko acquisition is so significant. In the twenty minutes Berbatov played against Middlesbrough, Tottenham’s attack actually looked dangerous. Their smaller, quicker players were able to run off of this skilled target man. As Middlesbrough’s defense were preoccupied with Berbatov, Modric and Dos Santos could create havoc. Darren Bent played five or eight meters behind and was able to use his athleticism in the open spaces to create opportunities. Though Pavlyuchenko is not as skilled as Berbatov, he can fill this role, and he may make up for his deficiencies in technical skill with a little more grit.
In this sense, Pavlyuchenko may be a better acquisition, right now, than Andrei Arshavin. Tottenham could still get Arshavin, especially if they now sell Berbatov to Manchester United, but without that target man to be on the end of Bentley’s service and create more space of Dos Santos, Modric, and Bent, this offense is not going to work. Adding Arshavin without having a traditional number nine would make Tottenham better, more peskier, but that ceiling may have been pretty low. Now, were Spurs to get the Russian Prince, they may actually salvage this season.
There would be, however, two problems. First, Spurs defense would still be a huge issue. They’ve already given up four goals to two teams who are not expected to be high scoring squads. Second, if you think Pavyluchenko and Arshavin are going to come to the Premiership and remain healthy, motivated, and in shape, I’m not going to disagree with you as much as argue over probabilities. If that’s their striking tandem, it’s a good thing that have Bent and Dos Santos.
Ultimately, I like this move for Arshavin. I wonder how Pavlyuchenko will adjust to the Premier League, but if I could get him for £12 to £14 million, I would take the chance. Tottenham’s only paying a little more, so I can’t argue. For a team that has quickly lost its way, a move like this could get them back on track.
Links
Pavlyuchenko says he’s joining Spurs
Spurs ‘agree fee’ for Pavlyuchenko
Pavlyuchenko ’set for Spurs move’
Russia’s Pavlyuchenko says he is joining Spurs
Pavlyuchenko: “I’m joining Tottenham”
Pavlyuchenko - I’m off to Spurs
Pavlyuchenko Confirms He Is Joining Spurs
Pavlyuchenko primed for Spurs move
Russia’s Pavlyuchenko says he’s joining Spurs
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