Strengthening for next season.

phil · May 7, 2010

It is fine having loyalty to the current squad but we should be looking to improve it where possible. We also need to be opportunistic where top players are out of contract.

On that basis:

GK - Backup to Gomes such as Lewis or Loach
RB - Srna is a step up on what we currently have
CB - Depends on Woodgate's fitness. Richards would provide cover
CM - Has been our achilles heel. Sissoko (Moussa of that ilk) or Diarra
Striker - Dzeko or Berbatov would be an improvement
Others - One of Cole, on a free, and covers anywhere across the midfield, Pienaar would be cheap to provide cover for Lennon, or Bellamy provides pace as a striker/wide player

ajspurs · May 7, 2010

Agree with that Phil.

Is Dzeko really a realistic target though?

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

GK - Gomes is magnificent. We just need a decent back up.
RB - Charlie and Kaboom. No need here.
LB - Find me a better LB than BAE that we could realistically sign and I'll think about it. Otherwise, leave well alone. Bale can drop back and cover if he's injured.
CB - King, Daws and Bassong are an excellent trio. We need to sign a talented young back up, to replace Woodie.
LM - Bale's now my first choice. We also have Niko and Luka. No need to sign anyone here.
RM - Lennon, of course. Despite DB's quality late season showing, he just doesn't have enough pace IMO. We need a second RM.
CM - Thud, Modric, Wilson, Sandro. 4 first choice CM's is enough (I'm guessing with Sandro, but hopefully). Our youth players are sufficient if we should have a crisis. I wouldn't object if Joe Cole arrived though.
ST - Defoe, Crouch, Pav. Good players, but when Defoe's off form we run out of options. The primary focus should be signing one very good striker. A strong goalscorer with pace and technique. This is the one area where we need to punch above our weight in the window and sign a real world class talent. We need a Shearer/Drogba/Rooney/Kanu(at his peak) type player.

To be honest, it's looking pretty fucking good!

fazza · May 7, 2010

Anyone mentioned Kevin Kuranyi yet?

BringBack_leGin · May 7, 2010

Used to like Kuranyi many a moon ago, but he never seemed to live up to early promise. He has just had a very good season though, and he's only just 28.

StartingPrice · May 7, 2010

Raxscallion said:
GK - Gomes is magnificent. We just need a decent back up.
RB - Charlie and Kaboom. No need here.
LB - Find me a better LB than BAE that we could realistically sign and I'll think about it. Otherwise, leave well alone. Bale can drop back and cover if he's injured.
CB - King, Daws and Bassong are an excellent trio. We need to sign a talented young back up, to replace Woodie.
LM - Bale's now my first choice. We also have Niko and Luka. No need to sign anyone here.
RM - Lennon, of course. Despite DB's quality late season showing, he just doesn't have enough pace IMO. We need a second RM.
CM - Thud, Modric, Wilson, Sandro. 4 first choice CM's is enough (I'm guessing with Sandro, but hopefully). Our youth players are sufficient if we should have a crisis. I wouldn't object if Joe Cole arrived though.
ST - Defoe, Crouch, Pav. Good players, but when Defoe's off form we run out of options. The primary focus should be signing one very good striker. A strong goalscorer with pace and technique. This is the one area where we need to punch above our weight in the window and sign a real world class talent. We need a Shearer/Drogba/Rooney/Kanu(at his peak) type player.

To be honest, it's looking pretty fucking good!

Not wanting to start another contentious 'best position' arguement

but you do know that Kaboul is really a central defender and not a right back? Do you really think he has it in him to be converted there permanently:shrug: Just interested in your opinion.

RE: David Bentley. Yes, he does slow things down, quite frustratingly at times, but, as I have suggested elsewhere, if we had had a Santa-Cruz type forward in the box to add some finishing to his pretty damned good crossing who would actually be bothered about his pace right now? I would rather keep him and get a forward who compliments his crossing ability in...maybe even Santa-Cruz himself. Wouldn't that add amazing options and cover to our team:shrug:

BringBack_leGin · May 7, 2010

I think Kaboul has it in him to be converted permanently to full back. Barring a poor first half v Malouda (brilliant all season) backed up by the very attacking Zhirkov from left back, he's been great since he's been playing there. Fast, strong, good going forward, great in the air and a tough tackler too. His positioning seems to have come on leaps and bounds, and he no longer dallies in dangerous areas. The guy will never be a great passer, but when he forces his way up field he's been putting in quite a few chaos causing crosses. He also combined very well with both Lennon and Bentley.

On this basis I think he can become a very good right back, if he's not already there. Bellamy, who has had a great season, was barely noticeable against us.

Having said all that, if kaboul ends up as one of our centre back options and right back continues to be occupied by Corluka while Naughton and Walker develop, I won't complain because Charlie is class and the other two are very good potentially.

As for Bentley, I'd keep him. I think he's proven himself an adept option when Lennon is out, and I'd like to think that Lennon is not going to have half season injuries every season.

I think everyone is agreed on the talented number 9.

shelfsideyid · May 7, 2010

Not sure on specifics but i'd like to see 1 or 2 Quality top drawer players. Still lacking that real proven World class type that all the real big guns in Europe have in their sides.

Is it realistic to think we could attract top, top drawer players though' ?????

BringBack_leGin · May 7, 2010

shelfsideyid said:
Not sure on specifics but i'd like to see 1 or 2 Quality top drawer players. Still lacking that real proven World class type that all the real big guns in Europe have in their sides.

Is it realistic to think we could attract top, top drawer players though' ?????

We could develop them. More than enough potential there in Bale, Lennon and Modric, while as far as I'm concerned Gomes and King are already there and everyone else in the first XI ranges from good to very good.

I agree with you though, one marquee top class player, prefebly a number 9 by my reckoning, would be the cherry on this already tasty Spurs cake.

StartingPrice · May 7, 2010

BringBack_leGin said:
We could develop them. More than enough potential there in Bale, Lennon and Modric, while as far as I'm concerned Gomes and King are already there and everyone else in the first XI ranges from good to very good.

I agree with you though, one marquee top class player, prefebly a number 9 by my reckoning, would be the cherry on this already tasty Spurs cake.

This.
First thing I said on the 'who shold we bring i debate'.
The rest, I would like to see some dead-wood trimming, but primarily, very good young squad who are developing, and not many additions needed 'immediately'.
Though, of course, we will all be berating 'Arry for not buying (if he doesn't) and we get spanked in the CL qualifying rounds (if, indeed, we don't finish 3rd).

Kendall · May 7, 2010

We don't need another right back. we have Charlie, Walker and/or Naughton will get better once settled and Kaboul for emergencies.

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

StartingPrice said:
Not wanting to start another contentious 'best position' arguement but you do know that Kaboul is really a central defender and not a right back? Do you really think he has it in him to be converted there permanently:shrug: Just interested in your opinion.

Personally, I was very unconvinced by Kaboom at CB. At RB, he's been a revelation. IMO, that's by far his best position.

StartingPrice · May 7, 2010

Raxscallion said:
Personally, I was very unconvinced by Kaboom at CB. At RB, he's been a revelation. IMO, that's by far his best position.

Like I said, I don't want to start another argument. I was intrigued in your op. and if you knew that he was officially considered to CB. Is your assessment of him based on his original stint at the Lane? 'Cos he's hardly had a look-in there since he came back.

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

StartingPrice said:
Like I said, I don't want to start another argument. I was intrigued in your op. and if you knew that he was officially considered to CB. Is your assessment of him based on his original stint at the Lane? 'Cos he's hardly had a look-in there since he came back.

Nah, it's more his mentality tbh. A CB needs a really composed demeanour. Kaboom's strong, athletic, tall - all of the right things physically - but strikes me as a bit of a loose cannon and impetuous in some ways. He can get away with that at RB, but not in the middle.

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

BringBack_leGin said:
As for Bentley, I'd keep him. I think he's proven himself an adept option when Lennon is out, and I'd like to think that Lennon is not going to have half season injuries every season.

I suppose for me it hinges on the new striker.

We need more pace in the team. If we sign a strong pacy striker, I'd be happy with DB as back up on the right.

But if we don't, I'd want to see a fast midfielder in his place.

I appreciate that we have quick FBs, plus Lennon and Bale, but we will always have injuries. We can cope with that on the left, but when Lennon's out our right hand side is slooooooooooow!

kishman · May 7, 2010

We definitely need a back-up keeper for Gomes, Cudicini is injured, somebody like Lewis from Peterborough.

I think we are fine in the RB departement, Kaboul is the future for that, centre backs, i think we are fine, left back, we could maybe do with somebody else as back=up for ekotto, i want bale to play left-mid.
Midfield i think we are fine, we don't need anymore additions IMO.
Striking departement, i think Keane should stay at Celtic, i don't think Pav is good enough, maybe sell him. I think we need a striker of top-quality like when we signed Berbatov, maybe Dzeko. Also we could do with another striker as well.

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

The transfer rumours forum's going to be a fucking scream, that's for sure!

Mr-T · May 7, 2010

I'm wondering should we try raid liverpool for any potential signings? Even though they flopped a bit this year they've still got some good players who might be tempted to jump ship.

Fan-at-ic! · May 7, 2010

i was going to say all we need is a right back, but recently kaboul has has reaaly impressed! maybe sell keane and get a young striker in

Raxscallion · May 7, 2010

Mr-T said:
I'm wondering should we try raid liverpool for any potential signings? Even though they flopped a bit this year they've still got some good players who might be tempted to jump ship.

I think Torres is the only one I'd be interested in.

I always rated Alonso, but he ain't there any more. And if he was, they wouldn't be in the position they're in imo.

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