World Football Transfers: Tottenham, Antonio Pedroza and Risks of Buying Early

You may wonder (and with all due reason) who the heck is Antonio Pedroza. Most soccer fans will tell you "Antonio who?"

Well for those who may not know, Pedroza is Tottenham's newest forward from this summer transfer window, but many fans are scratching their heads. Spurs fans were and probably still will be expecting big names at White Hart Lane like Diego Forlan, Emmanuel Adebayor or Didier Drogba.

The Spurs however have opted to take another road and buy a young unknown.

It isn't coincidence that after Javier Hernandez' magnificent season with Manchester United, Tottenham decides to buy a very cheap Mexican player. This purchase however can prove to be risky.

The Spurs, as well as the English media, are expecting another "Chicharito."

The Daily Mirror puts as a headline, "Tottenham agree deal for their own Chicharito."

Pedroza however is just 20, and if the Spurs as well as any team in the world wants to have success in developing their own players, they must take their time. Most especially, they must give their players some time. Not everyone scores 20-plus goals in their first season.

Pedroza can't be blamed for having played in such a dull team as Jaguares, but if Harry Redknapp chose this guy, it definitely has to mean that he has the potential to make it big at Tottenham.

Managers however, always hope that they will develop the next superstar and often take one of two roads: accelerate the player's process and expect that he will make an impact in his first appearances, or delay his moment to the point where he has lost his touch.

There are certainly coaches like sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger who know what their youngsters are prepared to do, but in this case, it's Redknapp.

The board still might have re-considered the petition for Pedroza when they saw Giovani dos Santos dribble the Americans at will and score an impressive goal at the Gold Cup final.

Pedroza probably won't follow dos Santos' steps, but the precedent exists and some changes are needed in order to avoid a situation like this one.

The board also has to be perfectly synchronized with the manager when it comes to transfers. Sure, players like Pedroza may cost almost nothing to the club, but if the Spurs then sign Forlan and Drogba, there will be no time for the youngster.

The player eventually leaves, and the Spurs could just as easily thrown their couple thousands of euros into the trash can. The manager has to assure that he will give Pedroza time somehow.

Pedroza might be the starting forward for Tottenham tomorrow, but for that to happen, lots of people apart from the player have to be on their feet. The manager and board have to guide him through the adaptation process.

I truly hope he makes it. It would be good to see him run through a path full of the normal obstacles and beat every single one. It's finally him who plays.