Sky saying Stambouli is still considering us. I don't think it's personal terms holding things up, I think it's a matter of whether or not he fancies it and wants to take a risk on us. I could be wrong though, but that's my opinion on what I think the hold up is.
I think that's the common view though I guess the better his personal terms become the more likely he might feel he can risk joining us !!
What risk is there really? He's not exactly an inform Spurs player playing week in week out. If he comes here and does well and we stay up, he's set for a good career at Watford, or potentially being sold to club with a bigger reputation. If we get relegated, there's a chance that he could go to Spain or Italy through the club connections.
I suppose the biggest step is a player actually admitting to himself his previous move was a bad one. Coming to the EPL would have been a big step for him after playing all his football in France. Joking apart, Spurs are a reasonably big club with a famous heritage. He would have been determined to have proved himself there. To move after just a season is an admission of failure. He has to get over those sentiments before seeing the wood from the trees and realising, as Cude says, that coming to us could be a great move to get his career back on track. He'll play more, he will be appreciated with us, he will grow and develop and with age on his side he may still use us as a stepping stone for bigger things.
If he's honest with himself...his career can only go up if he leaves Spuds...he's going no where fast. I reckon he's waiting to hear from Capoue as to what it's like. I was talking to a Spurs season ticket holder and the reason him, Capoue and Adebayor were frozen out was because they ganged up on some of the younger players (including Harry Kane) and wanted guarantees that they would play instead of the others, instead the French speakers were frozen out. (apparently). He did say Stambouli is technically excellent and better than Capoue and he would prefer to keep Stambouli.
His fault for dragging his feet then. We've got on with our business and signed other players in the meantime so I think you're right, he's no longer guaranteed a start now. Amazing the difference a month can make. What I really like is that it seems we're not being held to ransom. Take Gino's stance re Santon...if a player isn't all that keen, we're just moving on to someone else who can do the job (in Santon's case, Holebas).
The story with Stambouli is that the manager wanted Schneiderlin but Levy signed him instead..Poch never got over that and gave him much chance. He won the league title in France and was made vice captain aged 22 so I'm sure he's of good character, a lovely technical player and I hope he comes to us. Competition for places will be important over a long season and I think having him, Cap, Watson and Behrami as our four players who can fill those two defensive midfield positions would be great. Nobody is guaranteed a place btw!
Of course, competition for places is vital. We're ambitiously going after a certain quality of player which is great, the more the merrier. I guess a minor concern is that type of player will be signing on the expectation of being a starter at little old Watford. As per Dyergate, there's the potential for disruption when there is inevitably not enough room in the team for four DMs. Not my job to keep them happy, thankfully. Good luck QSF!
Stambouli started four games in the PL last season so every hope he'll better that if he joins us! The way Capoue and Behrami collect yellow cards too...!
Lloris - "A boy like Benji Stambouli, for example, has to succeed, he has the talent, the head on the shoulders, is a hard worker." #thfc Lloris - "He will come out better. I love these kind of players who give everything for the team. He's really a good guy." #thfc When the French captain says this about a fellow player, you have to take notice. Loris tweeted this a month ago about Stambouli.
Not sure where they got that story from but it's certainly the first i've heard of it, and don't think it's right: the story goes that Kaboul, Ade, Capoue and Lennon spoke on behalf of the squad to request easier training, and the rest of the squad rebelled, leaving the four of them out in the cold. Stambouli has been in and around the team unlike the others, so don't think he was involved.
I had a good read up about Stambouli and I either saw that reference there or on their equivalent of Vital Watford I think!
Feel free to be brave and post over on SC. We're pretty friendly as long as you don't support Arsenal. Or Chelsea. Or West Ham. Or Liverpool. Or...well, okay we're sometimes friendly.
Ben Stambouli-bouli-bouli-bouli And your mate Capoue, Your mate Capoue To the tune of "Ging-gang-gooly"
Imagine it'll be Monday or Tuesday. Wednesday is pretty much a day of depression as it's midweek. Thursday - Well it's a Thursday, nothing ever happens on a Thursday. Friday - That's POETS day.
I imagine after Holebas the club will be extra careful only to release news once the player is photographed in London Colney holding a shirt
Stambouli: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVkJbvv3pHg For the lyrical possibilities alone, we need him.
Tbf Capoue was announced... Guessing Stambouli wasn't as far along as thought. You've also very clearly left me out saying I'm not itk and have no idea if true.
