It’s taken all summer but Tottenham finally have their striker. Well, one of them if reports are to be believed. The transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor has been one the most drawn out and longest of the summer so far. But one week before the end of the transfer window, he looks likely to be in the squad for Tottenham’s home game against West Brom tomorrow.
And, boy, do Spurs need him. The striker’s ability to play upfront on his own, his ability - and willingness - to pull out wide and run the channels was integral to Tottenham last season. It caused problems for defenders, pulling them out of position, and creating space for Gareth Bale and Rafael Van der Vaart.
With Villas-Boas looking to deploy a similar system in a 4-2-3-1 or his favoured 4-3-3, Adebayor will once again be the man for the job. And Tottenham fans will hope he can continue on from his productive season at the club. His 17 goals and 12 assists catapulted Tottenham up to the higher echelons of the table and nearly cemented Champions League football. His brilliant form kept Jermain Defoe out the team who takes to a lone striker role as David Cameron does to travelling on the tube - among the ‘commoners’.
One caveat - mostly shot at Tottenham fans from their North London neighbours - is that Adebayor is ok for a loan but once it’s a permanent transfer the Adebayor of old starts to rear it’s ugly, disruptive head. I’d like to try and contradict this ‘myth’ as it were, as it’s not indicative of every club he has played at. He left on bad terms at Arsenal and the fans are still angry, and at Man City, Mancini just didn’t like him.
Adebayor has already alluded to finding a new lease of life and love for football at Tottenham and they found their way into his heart. The tragic Togo bus shooting is probably the main reason to shoot down this myth, however. After witnessing several team mates shot dead, he has said to have a whole new perspective on life and football.
The fact that Adebayor is not a new signing but knows the players, knows the training ground and knows the club is a massive plus point. It will enable him - again - to hit the ground running and after an unlucky defeat to Newcastle on the opening day of the season it will be a much needed boost. As I have already mentioned his ability to play upfront was what was missing last week. An outlet upfront; someone who could hold the ball up and wait for the midfield runners to join the action.
If fit, hopefully Villas-Boas decides to start him tomorrow. Harsh on Defoe, yes. But Defoe just isn’t suited to the lone role and another season playing second-fiddle to Adebayor looks on the cards.
This won’t be the end of the summer signings as Villas-Boas, Daniel Levy and Tottenham fans alike know where they need strengthening, but this was a very important signing. And a very good signing. How Levy managed to get him for a reported £5 million, get Adebayor to take a wage cut and get Man City to give him a large leaving fee is anyone’s guess. But he did.
He certainly looked happy as he was unveiled on the official site, joking around with Villas-Boas who ran to get a stool in order to be taller than the striker for the obligatory ‘holding the shirt’ photo. His interview outlined his intention to do well for Spurs and he also took to twitter saying he’s, “hungry to score…Get ready.”
Villas-Boas is happy, Tottenham fans are happy and Adebayor is happy. Let’s hope Tottenham stay happy.
Written by William Hold
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