What would our plans be with this boy? Straight in the first team or?
Always a gamble to buy these young players, would much rather some proven quality for the amount of money this boy would cost.
We can't register him till next summer anyway IIRC (as he is a non-EU minor or something), so season loan back to Dinamo.
Croatia are now part of the EU
Ive read there's a two year buffer period or something. I'm sure there's a reason we can't sign him properly till he's 18
(next summer).
in all honesty, if we can keep him, i'd say keep him. If you're good enough you're old enough and the kid clearly has ability, for that sort of money he should be knocking on our bench/first team if he's that good. He has something about him that really excites me and I'd love to see him in our team.
AVB hasn't really shown that he's happy to blood and trust youngsters - better to keep him somewhere where he'll develop rather than stagnate on our bench
@AlexHoliga: There's a rule for another two years or so treating Croatians as still 'foreign' (non-EU) in the UK. Can't get work permit.
Seems like things have been happening this weekend. He also says the following:
Spurs fans, you should be happy to know that with Alen you get his younger brother Dino - who is also a very talented footballer.
...Young Dino Halilovic, Alen's brother, is one of the best players in Dinamo U15s who recently won the Nike Premier Cup at Old Trafford.
Like Carroll, Caulker, Rose ????
Those are people who prove my point rather than dis-prove it!
Caulker last season was massively under-used and there were a number of times, particularly in the cups, where Vertonghen was flogged to death whilst Caulker just sat on the bench. Similarly with Dembele - massively over-played and I dont think its a coincidence that his performances tailed off alarmingly from Jan/Feb...Carroll could have been given more game time, again particularly in teh cups
re Rose, I dont think he's really playing now because AVB sees him as first choice for the season - more than with the shortage at CB, Vert was needed there and he hasnt been able to buy a first choice yet. Benny is gone so is irrelevant
Caulker: Was good at Swansea, didnt rate him at all playing for us last season. Dont have the mobility, and it looked like he doesnt read the game well. AVB dont play players just for them being young.
Dembele: Yes, he played way too much last year. But we had Parker out till Christmas, and Sandro from Christmas till now. Hudd was getting back to match fitness, and I think it would be madness to put young Carroll as a starter.
Rose: You could be right, but he is playing isnt he? Lets see what happens in the next two weeks before we make any conclusions.