Tottenham Hotspur have made either one of the best signings of the year, or one of their worst.
Only time will be the appropriate judge.
Today the Spurs have completed the signing of England defender Jonathan Woodgate from Middlesbrough.
Ever since his first call-up with Leeds United in 1998, Woodgate has proven to be a game-changing defender.
He has garnered a reputation for being unflappable and having a keen nose for the ball. Unfortunately, he has rarely showcased these talents, due to various injuries that have plagued him throughout his career.
While Woodgate's health has been questioned throughout his career, his ability has not. This is most notably evident in his 2004 transfer to Real Madrid, while he was still out with a thigh injury. He soon regained his health and played true to form, winning over the fans, but not the critics.
Woodgate returned back home to Middlesbrough on a loan in 2006, and the deal was made permanent in April 2007. Since his return to England he has been playing injury-free football, even collecting the Prince’s Trust North East Player of the Year award in 2007.
This is coach Juande Ramos’ first major signing with his new club, and it could ultimately determine his tenure there. If Woodgate remains healthy and plays at the level he is capable of, Ramos will have secured his position for the time being.
However, if Woodgate relapses into the injury-prone player of his past, then he will be just another big name talent the Spurs lured to White Hart Lane only to disappoint. If such is the case, then Ramos may find himself in hot water for taking such a gamble.
Personally, I hope the signing works out for the Spurs. After a dismal start to the campaign they’re making a surge, winning five of their last eight games, with two of those losses coming from Chelsea and Arsenal—nothing to be ashamed of.
And as much as I have enjoyed watching the Gunners defeat the Spurs these last eight years, last Wednesday’s thrashing shows that Tottenham is back on the upswing and hopefully will produce a more thrilling North London Derby.
10 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Aron Glatzer about 1 year ago
Excellent start Ryan, this analysis reads quite well.
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rob stewardson about 1 year ago
The shortening of Tottenham Hotspur is Spurs not the Spurs.
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Andrew McNair about 1 year ago
Spurs are also set to unveil Rangers, Alan Hutton in a 9 million pound move later today (source Daily Record). Whats your opinion on Hutton, Ryan?
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Ryan Droege about 1 year ago
I think it is another potentially great signing for Spurs, assuming he doesn't turn out the same way van Bronckhorst did for Arsenal. He's fully recovered from that broken leg two years ago, and his call up to the Scotland squad is based solely on his merit. It could be argued that he's one of the catalysts to Rangers recent European victories, and it'll be interesting to see how far Rangers makes it in the UEFA Cup now that he's gone.
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Matt S about 1 year ago
Woodgate is a very good defender and if Spurs can keep him fit then he and they will both do well. If they can keep King fit as well then they could do very well indeed.
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Sheikh Zakaria about 1 year ago
Woodgate has shown his class at Real, tho he endured the baptism of fire in his debut game...an own goal and a sending off!!!
Hope he does the job for spurs..
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Kelwyn Warlow about 1 year ago
Very Good Article Ryan, very interesting, as a lifetime spurs fan, I too was interested in how ramos would keep woodgate fit, but it seems as tho he is working his magic, doesn't it?, I think that we will find Woodgate to be a very good buy indeed, as will Alan Hutton be, I am Very excited about the future, roll on the carling cup final!
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Ben Nandy about 1 year ago
thanks for the edits to my piece...
i swung by to look at yours, even though i don't know anything about soccer.
great writer though. please edit my pieces anytime.
Umm.. Go Gunners! (?)
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Ben Nandy about 1 year ago
please feel free to review my article.
unfamiliar with the system, or maybe just stupid, i accidentally posted the article... and i can't seem to get into it to edit it.
so it's on there, with a few spelling errors... example. i spelled nicolay davydenko wrong.
i also have some giant paragraphs.
take er easy.
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Eric Selley about 1 year ago
Not a huge soccer fan but I do know some stuff. This is a good read, with great analysis. Keep up the good work.
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