Just heard a rumour....

[luke45]

From someone i know, who spoke to a local football agent before, who he see's regularly.

Make of it what you will, and don't shoot the messenger, but according to him we are close to tieing up a deal for Hamburg Left-Back Timothy Atouba formerly of Spurs....

I'm not saying it's true, could be a load of tripe, just what i was told....

[PONTAFCE]

Ill give you the benefit and if it comes off karma allday

[georgeberrysafro]

Anyone know if he's any good?

[lordb]

looked good @ Spurs.

[FullerMagic]

There was an interesting discussion between Danny Kelly and Martin Jol (his manager at Hamburg, and previously at Tottenham) on Talksport over the weekend.

They were both giggling about his defending and the way he tries to dribble out of his own area every time he gets possession.

Doesn't seem very Pulis-esque.

[One-Two]

could be plausible. if it comes off i'll defo karma you.

[coggy]

Found this but beginning of July:



footylatest.com/news/news.php?extend.1124

Hamburg and Cameroon defender Timothy Atouba is aware of interest from other clubs, but seems to waiting to see if he will figure in new coach Martin Jol's vision for next season before accepting any offers.

He says that he is happy at Hamburg, but doesn't dismiss the possibility of a move to Celtic if Jol decides he is not part of his plans.

"My priority is not to transfer. My priority is Hamburg" he told reporters. "My family is happy here and I want to give everything for this club."

"Celtic is a great team with a great history and I played there a few years ago for Basle and they have a great stadium, but I am concentrating on the start of the season with Hamburg.

"I have had a lot of offers, but the Celtic one is not concrete.

"If it became concrete and was good for both side - HSV and for me - then the time may come to leave."

Jol originally sold Atouba to Hamburg, which may be why Atouba in unsure of his future. He had trouble getting into Jol's Tottenham team, behind Erik Edman, and may think he may have the same problem this time around.

A Hamburg spokesman said just the other day: "If Celtic want to make suitable offer, maybe we can talk."

So now it looks like it is up to Gordon Strachan. It is thought Hamburg will accept any offer over £2million for Atouba.

[606Stokie]

Take him and a good left back... But can we get a right back as well..

Karma if it comes off

[luke45]

heres his wiki:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timoth%C3%A9e_Atouba

[Cupid Stunt]

Let's hope it comes off, we really do need a full back. Can't see it happening though!

[jezzascfc]

Didn't he start quite a few games for Spurs on the left of midfield and not at full back?

I agree he appears from my memory of seeing him play a little bit too "cavalier" as a full back for Tone's tastes. He would fit the bill as a midfielder though - he can defend a bit, but is big, strong and fast and can take a man on.

[coggy]

Yes he started playing midfield / winger i think and then moved to defence for spurs

[bigb35]

cant be that bad

[bogus]

In the games that I saw, he played really well for Cameroon in the AC of N.

[FullerMagic]

I think he was viewed as a bit of an eccentric liability at full-back at Spurs.

Full of stepovers, tricks and trying to beat men in his own penalty area.

[walrus]

I think he's agood player and I'd take him any day.

Plus he's built like a tank, we're fast building a team with huge aerial presence;

Shawcross
Cort
Kitson
Sidibe
Olofinjana
Zigic?
Atouba?

[monsoonmoon]

I'd be very surprised by this one should it come off. As a few have said, he's a very flamboyant player who has a tendancy to make things tricky for himself. That said, he's strong, powerful, athletic and can put a decent ball in.

Reminds me a bit of Eboue at Arsenal but Atouba spends more time on his feet than his arse.

[FullerMagic]

hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/happy-happy-joy-joy.html

For some crazy reason, SPL champions Celtic are willing to throw away offer £2M (€2.5M) for Atouba, who was been described in these pages as worthless, petulant, a cancer, and dead wood. Sounds good, where do we sign? The problem is that the present offer is verbal. I can’t wait ’til we get it in writing, and according to the story, it’s just a matter of time. Hopefully, club management won’t express their utter glee at getting an offer and get the offer rescinded. The best news? Seems there was some competition for Atouba’s “services” with Wigan. Hah! Oh, and the €2.5M transfer fee? It’s just about what we paid to Mainz for Mohamed Zidan, so we won’t end up losing money on that deal either. As loyal reader Ajax Matt pointed out, it’s like getting a wart removed and getting paid for it. Who cares about the details, it’s gone. The transfer season is already looking up!

[monsoonmoon]

Just read through his Wiki also and his 'salute' of the crowd is a very interesting point. Perhaps explains the soured view though?

[stokeuk474]

First time I saw him was when he was playing for Basle in the Champions League, before he went to Spurs. Looked a decent player, strong, pretty quick and direct, but i'm pretty sure he was playing left side of midfield for them, and getting forward quite a lot. I think he'd do well for us there, but not at left back.

[Premiership Titanic Captain]

He is a left winger predominantly I believe. He can play left-back, but just gets laughed at for his comical errors. I think Spurs fans were glad to see him go and by the sounds of it, Hamburg fans will be also.

He could do a job though and wouldn't cost a whole lot. He's better than what we have.

[georgeberrysafro]

From Wiki

'Atouba caused controversy after several rash challenges led to goals against his German club in the Champions League. After receiving some jeering from a disgruntled crowd he reacted by raising his middle finger to them, and asking to be substituted, having been substituted he repeated his actions and then received a red card.[2]'

I can see why that Hamburg post rates him like a wart now.

He certainly would be an improvement on the left ahead of Cresswell without a doubt. Defensively it seems like he needs cover and d**ks around a bit too much, something Pulis doesn't like. so left wing makes sense, he fits the mold in being 6'3

2 Million? Still only 26.

[Cityfullergoals]

Aug 5, 2008 13:43:03 GMT FullerMagic said:

I think he was viewed as a bit of an eccentric liability at full-back at Spurs.

Full of stepovers, tricks and trying to beat men in his own penalty area.

Bit like Chimbonda and Gareth Bale then ;D

Make for good entertainment though

[ben88]

i hope not, he's a wanker

[auricle]

Atouba? I hope not!

[ben88]

i seem to remember him getting booed in the UEFA cup by his fans because he pulled out of 2 challenges which led to 2 goals conceded, then when he was subbed, turned to every corner of the ground and saluted the fans with a middle finger

[fezgandy]

Hes wank

[Deleted]

Aug 5, 2008 16:33:15 GMT ben88 said:

i seem to remember him getting booed in the UEFA cup by his fans because he pulled out of 2 challenges which led to 2 goals conceded, then when he was subbed, turned to every corner of the ground and saluted the fans with a middle finger

If thats true - stoke stay WELL clear please

[Beardy200]

Don't rule him out altogether fellas - look at this ......

[Beardy200]

Nobody can tell me they wouldn't want to see some of those tricks down at the Brit??
OK ... he'd give you a few heart attacks along the way but looks like he could play wide left aswell ... and personally who wouldn't want to give a stadium of germans the bird ... where do i sign up???????