Chimbo out…

By: Gary | July 28th, 2008

Pascal Chimbonda became the second Spurs man to leave north London for a switch to Sunderland this summer.

And Roy Keane’s next Tottenham capture highlights everything that is stopping us from becoming a force to challenge the ‘Top Four’ – a lack of quality squad depth.

Maybe I am naive to believe we are a big enough club to keep two top right-backs on the books in Alan Hutton and Chimbonda.

Maybe we have not achieved enough in recent times to keep a quality deputy happy.

But the exit of Chimbo shows our inability to keep hold of competent players who do not start week-in-week-out.

I cannot blame such players for seeking first team football elsewhere. But I also cannot help but feel that unless we start to keep hold of the best squad players around we will always struggle to break into the elite ‘Big Four’. I say this because the way things are going while the United’s and Liverpool’s of this world can afford to rest their top players and still grind out points away from home, we do not stand a hope in hell of collecting three points away from White Hart Lane unless all our first team players are on show.

This post is meant as no disrespect to players such Chris Gunter but the gap in class from himself and Hutton is simply too great for us to compete. Whereas the back-up of players such as Chimbonda would add healthy competition to our squad.

If the Scot is to get injured next season, we will face a big battle to get by with an inexperienced deputy stepping up to the fore.

Whereas it is players like Chimbonda who if we could persuade to remain at the club as back-up, we would start to really progress.

Maybe you have to achieve Champions League football before you are graced with such a luxury but it does not make it any less frustrating.

A whole host of Premiership teams are capable of beating any of the top four on their day and even competing with them from month-to-month in the points department, but over the course of a marathon season a lack of squad depth stops ides such as ourselves overcoming the gulf.

Maybe Chimbo is not the finest example, with his attitude still far from the desirable. In fact it stinks in my opinion. But he is a very good full-back nonetheless. And solid squad players are invaluable.

Although the Frenchman’s exit may not directly affect our first team plans, how long will it be until we are wishing a player like Chimbonda was available for selection.

It is all very well having a quality first eleven but neglecting the depth of our squad could cost us dearly.

Rant over, Bye Chimbo..