Cartilage Free Captain - Lewis Holtby To Tottenham Hotspur CompleteA 100% Serious Ridiculous Tottenham Hotspur bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48355/cartilagefree-fave.png2013-01-29T16:23:26+00:00http://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/rss/stream/36882852013-01-29T16:23:26+00:002013-01-29T16:23:26+00:00Holtby to make debut Wednesday?
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<figcaption>Alexander Hassenstein</figcaption>
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<p>We should see Lewis Holtby make his debut for Tottenham in just over 24 hours.</p> <p>While no one expects him to be thrown into the starting XI straight away, you can probably expect to see Lewis Holtby make his debut for <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/">Tottenham Hotspur</a> on Wednesday, when they face <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.flightofthecanaries.com/">Norwich City</a>. <span>Andre Villas-Boas</span> said that the new Spurs signing will be in his 18-man squad to face the Canaries, via the club's official Twitter account.</p>
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<p>Andre: "Lewis's creativity can be a way to unlock teams and defences. He's in the squad for the Norwich game" <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23COYS">#COYS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23THFC">#THFC</a></p>
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/296287490141220865">January 29, 2013</a>
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<p>Well, that was quick!</p>
<p>Hopefully we get some more detailed team news later in the day. There are rumors swirling about an injury to <span>Jermain Defoe</span>, something that hasn't been confirmed or denied either way. If he's out and <span>Clint Dempsey</span> has to play as a center forward, it's not horribly far-fetched that Holtby could be thrown straight into the squad, though it's more likely that Gylfi Sigurdsson gets a start.</p>
<p>No matter what role he plays in or how long of a run-out he gets, I'm pretty pumped to see Holtby in action tomorrow. He'll be wearing No. 23, by the way. Rumor has it he picked the number because he likes <span>David Beckham</span>. </p>
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https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2013/1/29/3928674/lewis-holtby-tottenham-hotspur-vs-norwichKim McCauley2013-01-28T15:41:52+00:002013-01-28T15:41:52+00:00Lewis Holtby Officially Joins Tottenham Hotspur
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<figcaption>Christof Koepsel</figcaption>
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<p>German midfielder Lewis Holtby has completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur from Schalke.</p> <p>In what is probably the least surprising transfer news, Tottenham Hotspur and Schalke 04 have <a href="http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/spurs/News/lewis-holtby-january-move-28012013.page">agreed to terms</a> on the immediate transfer of German midfielder Lewis Holtby. Spurs had previously agreed to a pre-contract with Holtby, who would then join in July. Now, however, he will be joining up with Spurs right away.</p>
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<p>BREAKING NEWS --> We have reached agreement with FC Schalke 04 for the immediate transfer of Lewis Holtby: <a href="http://t.co/l3G5lt9v" title="http://bit.ly/115e2CS">bit.ly/115e2CS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23THFC">#THFC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23COYS">#COYS</a></p>
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpursOfficial/status/295917110645891072">January 28, 2013</a>
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<p>According to <a href="http://www.schalke04.de/en/news/130128_holtby/page/232--86-86-.html">Schalke's official site</a>:<a href="http://www.schalke04.de/de/aktuell/news/130128_holtby/page/984--10-213-.html"><br></a></p>
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<p>"We've found the best solution for everyone involved," said general manager Horst Heldt. "Lewis had indicated to us that he would have no objections to an early move, and we have collected a decent transfer fee five months before his contract was due to expire." Heldt thanked Holtby for the commitment he has shown to the club. "He's always conducted himself in a proper manner and gave his all for Schalke right up to the final day. We wish Lewis all the best and lots of luck for the future."</p>
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<p>We can't be sure if this move came as a result of the injury to Sandro, out of Schalke's desire to get something for the player, or if this was Daniel Levy's plan all along. Personally, my money is on the latter. Regardless, Holtby comes to Tottenham and could feature as early as Wednesday.</p>
<p>The role that Holtby will play for Tottenham is up in the air. No one is sure if manager Andre Villas-Boas views Holtby as another player like Clint Dempsey and Gylfi Sigurdsson or if he thinks the German international can play a deeper playmaking role in the center of the park. All we know is that he is now officially a Tottenham Hotspur player.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2013/1/28/3924500/lewis-holtby-officially-joins-tottenham-hotspurBryan A.2013-01-28T14:47:47+00:002013-01-28T14:47:47+00:00Spurs Sign Lewis Holtby to January Transfer
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<figcaption>Alexander Hassenstein</figcaption>
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<p>The German midfielder looks set to join Tottenham Hotspur ahead of his already signed pre-contract.</p> <p>German midfielder Lewis Holtby signed a summer pre-contract with <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tottenham Hotspur</a> 24 days ago. Since then, rumors have swirled over whether the Schalke star would join Spurs in January. Tottenham Hotspur repeatedly said no, but apparently Sandro's injury proved the impetus to get this deal done now.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2269500/Lewis-Holtby-join-Tottenham-Schalke.html" target="_blank">Multiple</a> <a href="http://www.bild.de/home/2013/wintertransfer/liveticker-holtby-vor-abflug-nur-fuer-app-28287768.bild.html" target="_blank">reports</a> state that Tottenham Hotspur has signed a £1.5 million (€1.75m) transfer deal with Schalke for Holtby's immediate transfer. The midfielder is reportedly flying to London to take a physical and sign a new contract. As part of the deal, Schalke will apparently receive the revenues of a future friendly match against the Premier League club.</p>
<p>Holtby's arrival will provide a major boon to the Tottenham Hotspur attack. Holtby, 22, has earned plaudits in both leading Schalke and captaining the German U-21 side. A strong all-around player, Holtby has shown a skill to distribute from deep, as well as make great attacking runs into the box. However, it would appear that Holtby's arrival would further marginalize Gylfi Sigurdsson, who again struggled against Leeds United in Spurs' FA Cup loss on the weekend.</p>
<p>Tactically, it will be interesting to see how Holtby fills in. Most likely he would slot in at attacking midfield, battling <span>Clint Dempsey</span> (currently in his strongest form of the season) for playing time. However, Holtby has shown an ability to play deeper on the pitch, leading some to wonder if he could slot into the Spurs double pivot in the central midfield.</p>
<p>Regardless, it seems Tottenham Hotspur just got a big addition as they push for a top-4 finish in the Premier League and a strong Europe League performance.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2013/1/28/3924230/tottenham-hotspurs-rumour-sign-lewis-holtby-january-transfer-schalkeBrian Mechanick2013-01-28T01:53:36+00:002013-01-28T01:53:36+00:00Schalke, Spurs reportedly meeting on Lewis Holtby
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<figcaption>Christof Koepsel</figcaption>
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<p>Bild is reporting that Schalke are negotiating to sell Lewis Holtby to Tottenham immediately.</p> <p>Lewis Holtby may be coming to <a href="https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Tottenham Hotspur</a> this week, instead of this summer. <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/honigstein/status/295637853927518208">According to Bild</a>, Schalke sporting director Horst Heldt is in London to meet with Spurs about selling Holtby now instead of letting him leave for White Hart Lane on a free transfer after the season.</p>
<p>If various reports are to be believed, Schalke are holding out for as much as £2 million, while Spurs have yet to bid £1 million. While unconfirmed, those numbers are believable, as is this report that Heldt is in London, but if they were incorrect nobody would be floored.</p>
<p>Getting Holtby now could be what puts Tottenham into the Champions League. They are already in fourth place, a position they could hold without Holtby, but their grip on fourth is tenuous at best right now.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Spurs are still struggling to get adequate play from their attacking midfielder. <span>Clint Dempsey</span> had a rough go of it to start and while he has improved, he hasn't been good. He scored in each of his last two matches, but also missed sitters in each and gave the ball away too much. But Dempsey's play was still better than Gylfi Sigurdsson's against Leeds and at the beginning of the season, casting doubt upon a decent run of form when he played well coming off the bench for six weeks in December and January.</p>
<p>Even if Holtby has a bit of a rough transition to Spurs and the Premier League, he will be an improvement on Dempsey and Sigurdsson. That improvement could be what fires Tottenham to the Champions League.</p>
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2013/1/28/3922978/lewis-holtby-tottenham-hotspur-transfer-rumour-schalkeRyan Rosenblatt