Leandro Damiao Is Still Really Good & Still Not Playing For Spurs

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Feb 15, 2012 11:00 AM GMT in Rubbish

That's not a white Spurs shirt Leandro is wearing

Remember Leandro Damiao? Of course you do. He's that really good, 22-year-old striker who plays for Internacional. He also happens to be a transfer target of Tottenham, but for reasons that nobody can quite explain, he still does not play for Spurs.

While Leandro isn't playing for Tottenham, he spends his time playing in Brazil and last week, that meant playing for Internacional in the Copa Libertadores. Guess what? He played really well and there is video evidence of it so grab a tissue box and get ready for the sobbing. Video after the jump.

Done sobbing? Okay, let's break this down one thing at a time:

He is wearing a red shirt, which means he is not playing for Tottenham,
He assists on the first goal by holding off a defender and using a great first touch to set up the one-two.
He almost scores a goal with a beautiful curled shot towards the upper corner, but the goalkeeper made a fine save
He is involved in pretty much every Internacional foray forward.
His shot forces the save that turns into a rebound for Internacional's second goal
He is wearing a red shirt, which means he is not playing for Tottenham

What we have here is an exceptional young player playing exceptionally and doing it at a position where Spurs need help AND for a club that Spurs have a partnership with. Also, if you didn't notice, he is wearing a red shirt in these highlights, which means he is not playing for Tottenham. If that is the case six months from now then things might get a little murder-y.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Something strange is going on here

with the video over the text :cP

I don't even know what to put in here knowing Steve can just change it anytime he wants (the jerk) :cP also something about trolling CFC and WAGNH

by Sabrina Dessipe on Feb 15, 2012 12:19 PM GMT reply actions

Same for me.

I’m running Chrome, though.

Moderator and Poet Laureate at Cartilage Free Captain
General Secretary of the CFC Commentariat Committee
Tottenham Hotspur & Indiana Hoosiers
Follow @dustingm

by Uncle Menno on Feb 15, 2012 1:47 PM GMT up reply actions

me too

do you think that’s it?

I don't even know what to put in here knowing Steve can just change it anytime he wants (the jerk) :cP also something about trolling CFC and WAGNH

by Sabrina Dessipe on Feb 15, 2012 1:50 PM GMT up reply actions

I'm using Opera and there's the same problem.

by CrestOfAWave on Feb 15, 2012 1:55 PM GMT up reply actions

I'm not sure how this post got so incredibly effed up

But it’s fixed now

SB Nation's World Soccer Editor, manager of Cartilage Free Captain, contributor to Acme Packing Company.

by Kevin McCauley on Feb 15, 2012 2:10 PM GMT reply actions

Kevin to the rescue

I don't even know what to put in here knowing Steve can just change it anytime he wants (the jerk) :cP also something about trolling CFC and WAGNH

by Sabrina Dessipe on Feb 15, 2012 2:17 PM GMT up reply actions

nice highlights

I like Damiao and I think he would be a great signing, but with the team’s performance this year it is not critical to rush into an over-priced deal. If Damiao can be signed for a number that makes sense then great, otherwise we have seen that Redknapp and Levy can be resourceful in finding alternative solutions.

by DW19 on Feb 15, 2012 2:11 PM GMT via mobile reply actions

Honestly

At some point a team needs to make that one game changing signing. I don’t think its Hazard for us (I also think he can be gotten for ~20mm). If we have to pay ~30mm for Damiao, pull that trigger yesterday.

It still boggles the mind that we paid 14mm for PUCK FAV. Ugh

In O'Ventbrel We Trust
ALL GLORY TO THFC
VICK-VICK-VICKADELPHIA
I believe in MAGIC
Sold my Soul to the Devils

by NJoverNY on Feb 15, 2012 3:03 PM GMT up reply actions

I am 100%

sure that so long as DL is chairman at Spurs there is no chance that they would pay ~30mil for Damiao. I doubt Spurs would be willing to go for more than 18mil – too much of a risk.

As for the point about game changing signing I disagree, the club at the moment is competing with the likes of City, Chelsea and United by utilising intelligent, shrewd, value-for-money signings that other teams have overlooked because either a) our scouting network is vastly superior or b) the players are considered out of favour, disruptive or unfashionable.

The last ‘game changing’ signings we made we’re Bent and Bentley (we need to sign someone for more than 16mil if only to remove Bentley from our record signing slot). Look at other team’s game changing signings, you want Andy Carrol or Fernando Torres playing for Spurs? The problem with these signings is the potential success hugely outweighed by the potential for failure. Stick with what we’re doing, because it’s working.

by Luke Winston on Feb 15, 2012 3:22 PM GMT up reply actions

I think at the end of the day

Leandro will go for between 15 and 20. The fees for players always get exaggerated by the media. As good as he is, he’s unproven in Europe so clubs aren’t going to risk 30 million which would make him one of the most expensive players ever. He’s not the next Ronaldo so I don’t see that happening.

by ChadUESSpurs on Feb 15, 2012 3:32 PM GMT up reply actions

To be honest, as much as I profess us to have arrived to any scum or man u fan that i encounter

I think we are playing above our true level right now. I’m not saying we get a torres or carroll type, but I do think that we need to get a bit out of our comfort level to truly reach the level of Man U/Chelsea/City. It appears I’m a little off with 30mm (see others’ posts below), but we might have to go around 20mm or a bit more.

If any of Bale, Modric, Ade or Kaboul had a serious, long-term injury, how would you feel about our chances?

In O'Ventbrel We Trust
ALL GLORY TO THFC
VICK-VICK-VICKADELPHIA
I believe in MAGIC
Sold my Soul to the Devils

by NJoverNY on Feb 15, 2012 4:38 PM GMT up reply actions

I agree,

We’re certainly over performing compared to Tottenham’s previous trends (the moments of brilliance and potential overshadowed by a tendency to implode) however, if you take a look at the squad compared to the others in the top 6 I think our position is about right. It’s hard as a Spurs fan not to expect to suddenly have the carpet swept from under you but pundits have been commenting on how strong our squad is for a couple of years now. And don’t forget some of the United teams that have won the league in the past few years have, on paper at least, looked relatively weak. There is definitely an intangible ‘sum is greater than it’s parts’ effect present in football.

That’s not to say I wouldn’t love it is Spurs went out tomorrow and dropped 30 million on Rossi or Leandro or Llorente. The gloating and smug satisfaction would be worth it alone. Plus it would be awesome to watch CFC self-destruct in an orgasm of ecstasy lol. But I don’t think they’re necessary to make the next step from outside contenders to cementing our credentials as serious threats for the title.

What we do need is a replacement for Ade when he leaves and a bit of extra cover on our bench. A lot of that could come from simply having a couple of players back from injury. Or if a right sided player is brought in simply having Defoe/Saha/VdV and Lennon/Alternative player should be enough to change a game that isn’t going our way. I just would like not to see another game like the Monday at Anfield where we need a change and our bench consists of 4 players who have never made a first team appearance and another who has 20 mins under his belt.

Your final point actually highlights something pretty interesting. Out of those 4 players you mention, an injury to Kaboul would have me the least concerned. I never thought I’d see the day when I didn’t think Spurs were thin at the back. Bale and Modric I’d be seriously worried, Ade would be concerning but I think the squad would manage without him.

by Luke Winston on Feb 15, 2012 7:20 PM GMT up reply actions

No wild swings for the fences

Big money signings are ok under 2 circumstances:

1) The player is a sure thing (eg Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney, Nasri, etc)
2) The club can afford the fee

The financial risk should be measured against the likely return on the pitch. Damiao for 18M is would be a good signing. Damiao for 30M would be a questionable signing for Spurs, but a perfectly fine signing for ManCity or RealMadrid(risk is less for them due to their huge budgets).

I’d rather make several smaller bets (each one could be less likely to work out) than take one huge bet. Of course best case scenario would be to buy at a reasonable price.

by DW19 on Feb 15, 2012 7:54 PM GMT via mobile up reply actions

Are there examples? That is, can we point to one player (not manager) in ManU’s history, or Read Madrid’s, or Man City’s, that fundamentally changed the club? I’m not saying I disagree; I honestly don’t know.

Is Johann Cruyff (sp?) an example?

by The Sleeper's Sleep on Feb 15, 2012 4:00 PM GMT up reply actions