Jim Duggan's TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR site

Why we don’t need Ugo Ehiogu

There has been much talk of Ugo Ehiogu coming to the Lane over the weekend, with Gooner George confirming the interest today. This would be utter madness – a spiteful last act to waste some money.

Some Spurs supporters have concurred with the evil goon by saying things like “I think Ehiogu is one of the best defenders in the country.  There was a big correlation between Villa's poor defensive record and Ehiogu's injuries last season. Can't believe he never gets called up?”

What utter utter nonsense! Is that the same "can't believe he has n't been called up" we were told about Thatcher? Uncapped £8m defenders are not good business! - unless you're Middlesboro

Just how many Central defenders do we need at the club? Even if the great Sol man decides to better himself elsewhere, we have a competent premiership player in Perry, two very promising U-21 defenders in Luke Young and Ledley King, who have both looked comfortable in the Premiership. Vega may not be the greatest, but is an international and prepared for a role as a squad player. Even the awful Thatcher has played at centre back for the Tottenham feeder club in South London.

There is also a trio of untested youngster Alton Thelwell, Anthony Gardner and Gary Doherty who will just be pushed further down the pecking order and out of the club if we buy Ehiogu. We did the same mistake with Jamie Clapham, who was offloaded (and replaced by a pub team player like Trammenzani) before he was given a chance and now is a credible premiership class left back

So that Sol, Perry, Young, King, Vega Thatcher (with promising Thelwell and Gardner and possibly Doherty) That's enough for me thanks - and I've not even mentioned the new Euro laws that mean he could move for nothing at the end of the season!!