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The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 31st January

Nick-TopSpursMan

Nick-TopSpursMan

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2005
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HildoSpur said:
I'd guess a top winger is still very high on our wish list.
Click to expand...

You’d certainly hope so, in which case Baena as a potential AM option would be very exciting.

I just struggle to see us having the funds or time to sign Werner, a top winger, an AM, 6, LB, LCB and RB. That’s way too much work to do.
 
HildoSpur

HildoSpur

Likes Erik Lamela, deal with it.
Oct 1, 2005
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Nick-TopSpursMan said:
You’d certainly hope so, in which case Baena as a potential AM option would be very exciting.

I just struggle to see us having the funds or time to sign Werner, a top winger, an AM, 6, LB, LCB and RB. That’s way too much work to do.
Click to expand...
I'd guess the majority of the work is already being worked on for our top targets. Initial contact, discussions with agent, player, families, etc.
 
A

Albertbarich

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2020
5,211
19,767
Nick-TopSpursMan said:
You’d certainly hope so, in which case Baena as a potential AM option would be very exciting.

I just struggle to see us having the funds or time to sign Werner, a top winger, an AM, 6, LB, LCB and RB. That’s way too much work to do.
Click to expand...
Unless we shift Gio and Gil for this lad which makes it a free hit and a save on wages. I know that sort of swap is unrealistic but I could see plenty of Spanish takers for them.
 
felmani26

felmani26

SC Supporter
Jan 1, 2008
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Nick-TopSpursMan said:
You’d certainly hope so, in which case Baena as a potential AM option would be very exciting.

I just struggle to see us having the funds or time to sign Werner, a top winger, an AM, 6, LB, LCB and RB. That’s way too much work to do.
Click to expand...
You'd imagine there will be hybrid roles such as Calafiori who can deputise down the left flank as well as predominantly LCB and then Archie Gray who i'd rather deploy back as a 6 who can also fill in ably at RB.
 
V

Viking78

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Aug 21, 2013
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Watched a quick clip of Taha Ali who is Swedish. He's an exceptionally good dribbler. Doesn't appear to have amazing end product but that could be because team mates don't put away the chances etc
 
Mediocrates

Mediocrates

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Mar 2, 2013
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Baena looks very reminiscent of Mata. A lovely player for sure, but doesn’t look at all suited to one of the wide positions in our system. Curious.
 
fecka

fecka

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Jun 24, 2013
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As a Swede I'm struggling to see who the Swedish striker would be if not Isak or Gyökeres. The only one who comes to mind is Gustaf Nilsson who's a bit like a Swedish Peter Crouch.
Would definitely be interesting to know lol
 
jpascavitz

jpascavitz

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Aug 8, 2019
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Viking78 said:
Watched a quick clip of Taha Ali who is Swedish. He's an exceptionally good dribbler. Doesn't appear to have amazing end product but that could be because team mates don't put away the chances etc
Click to expand...
fecka said:
As a Swede I'm struggling to see who the Swedish striker would be if not Isak or Gyökeres. The only one who comes to mind is Gustaf Nilsson who's a bit like a Swedish Peter Crouch.
Would definitely be interesting to know lol
Click to expand...

Yes, last night that's the only name I could come across as well. There were a few others, as Viking mentioned Ali. I also came across a few decent in the winger/forward category but WLB mentions striker pretty specifically.

I don't know anything about Nilsson but he has 3 goals in his first 4 caps for the national team, Kulusevski assisted his goal in the match against Albania. Over the past three club seasons he's had 39 goals and 9 assists in 116 matches. He's a bit of a late bloomer and plays in the Belgian league, which could fit the other clues WLB said.
 
fecka

fecka

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Jun 24, 2013
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jpascavitz said:
Yes, last night that's the only name I could come across as well. There were a few others, as Viking mentioned Ali. I also came across a few decent in the winger/forward category but WLB mentions striker pretty specifically.

I don't know anything about Nilsson but he has 3 goals in his first 4 caps for the national team, Kulusevski assisted his goal in the match against Albania. Over the past three club seasons he's had 39 goals and 9 assists in 116 matches. He's a bit of a late bloomer and plays in the Belgian league, which could fit the other clues WLB said.
Click to expand...
From the few matches I've seen and what I've heard, I'm not sure Taha Ali will ever be better than Allsvenskan level, certainly not Premier League. I don't watch an excessive amount of Allsvenskan however as there's no local team for me to follow there.

Nilsson's been improving a lot and I can't say I've seen any of his games in the Belgian league, but I struggle to see how he'd suddenly be good enough for us. Did ok in the NT games last time around showing good movement for the goal against Albania and as you say he's scored 3 in the last 4. If it's really Nilsson I need to watch him a bit more as I can't quite wrap my head around the why from what I currently know.
 
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jpascavitz

jpascavitz

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Aug 8, 2019
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fecka said:
From the few matches I've seen and what I've heard, I'm not sure Taha Ali will ever be better than Allsvenskan level, certainly not Premier League. I don't watch an excessive amount of Allsvenskan however as there's no local team for me to follow there.

Nilsson's been improving a lot and I can't say I've seen any of his games in the Belgian league, but I struggle to see how he'd suddenly be good enough for us. Did ok in the NT games last time around showing good movement for the goal against Albania and as you say he's scored 3 in the last 4. If it's really Nilsson I need to watch him a bit more as I can't quite wrap my head around the why from what I currently know.
Click to expand...

Agreed, I just don't know enough about him. Although it's interesting to see he plays at Union Saint-Gilloise because that is the club Boniface was at last season. He actually has similar goal involvement stats to Boniface, who was on fire in the bundesliga this season before picking up an injury.

WLB does mention the data aspect, so maybe our team is on to something there. My only argument would be Boniface also has good dribbling stats for a ST.
 
fecka

fecka

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Jun 24, 2013
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jpascavitz said:
Agreed, I just don't know enough about him. Although it's interesting to see he plays at Union Saint-Gilloise because that is the club Boniface was at last season. He actually has similar goal involvement stats to Boniface, who was on fire in the bundesliga this season before picking up an injury.

WLB does mention the data aspect, so maybe our team is on to something there. My only argument would be Boniface also has good dribbling stats for a ST.
Click to expand...
He was a lot more involved in build-up play than I thought he would be against Albania and impressed me with good close control and passing. Just struggle to wrap my head around us being interested in a 26-year-old who didn't even score 1 in 2 in the German 3rd division two seasons ago. If it clicks it clicks, sure, but yeah.

I'd be more inclined to believe it could be Sebastian Nanasi or Anthony Elanga but neither are strikers.
 
aliyid

aliyid

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Dec 28, 2004
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Nine while nine said:
It is a curse of mine that I overly analyse this sort of thing, but...


There is a winger in Spain, who is renowned for being a devout Christian (a winger divine),

Who holds a Spanish passport (although doesn't play for them)

And who, I kid you not, has the tattoo of an eagle (the things I know, eh?)


And if one assumes that 'realm' is used by WLB to mean 'Real M' (i.e. Real Madrid), then all the evidence points to a player who has been linked to several clubs in the Premier League in recent weeks and, indeed, was linked to us last summer (admittedly in an article that garnered 39 funny ratings from the sensible folk of SC)...

https://spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?threads/tottenham-‘table’-£86m-bid-for-brazil-international-rodrygo.154163/


I'm not saying that WLB has said we're in for Rodrygo, but I am saying that one can draw that conclusion from what he has written (at least until he says I'm chatting bollocks).
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I don't care if it's not right, I love this kind of unpicking of the clues, top work @Nine while nine and @What Lies Beneath all the signs of a great cryptic
 
npearl4spurs

npearl4spurs

Believing Member
Sep 9, 2014
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If Baena is more of a central player but Williams is also on the list, maybe it refers to what Ange thinks is priority. I think it has been mentioned quite rightly on a number of Spurs podcasts that it doesn’t seem Ange is quite happy with how the midfield is composed right now. In my mind I think Ange sees that as a bigger problem than having a superstar LW for his system…more concerned with dominating the center of the park and creating chances that way.
They are both areas that need addressing but I think Ange will want to be aggressive in turning over this midfield into the perfect one for him
 
V

Viking78

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2013
194
429
fecka said:
From the few matches I've seen and what I've heard, I'm not sure Taha Ali will ever be better than Allsvenskan level, certainly not Premier League. I don't watch an excessive amount of Allsvenskan however as there's no local team for me to follow there.

Nilsson's been improving a lot and I can't say I've seen any of his games in the Belgian league, but I struggle to see how he'd suddenly be good enough for us. Did ok in the NT games last time around showing good movement for the goal against Albania and as you say he's scored 3 in the last 4. If it's really Nilsson I need to watch him a bit more as I can't quite wrap my head around the why from what I currently know.
Click to expand...
His stats aren't great but his dribbling at speed is amazing. Admittedly that's from highlights reel so he could squander the ball a fair bit.
 
V

Viking78

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2013
194
429
Dukanovic was linked back in December/January. He's a versatile forward that can play across the front. Strong and pacey with a good shot.

Sonko is another young talent. Was signed by Gent and wears no.9. He was touted as a sensation but hasn't set the Belgian league alight just yet.
 
Dunc2610

Dunc2610

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2008
1,604
4,017
Nick-TopSpursMan said:
Spot on. Baena doesn’t make any sense whatsoever as a wide player in our system. He’s an AM, he’d be more of an Odegaard type CM for us with the way we play. Does all of his best work in central areas and is a creative midfielder.

If we want Baena or Barrenetxea as a winger it doesn’t bode well for us in that area imo.
Click to expand...
He's versatile, that's the key, and perhaps Ange likes Werner/Son/Solomon/Kulu as his wing options and wants someone who can fill gaps (well) across the midfield/wings.
 
P

purplemonkey

Well-Known Member
Jan 20, 2006
84
422
Williot Swedberg fits some but not all of the cryptic. “In shadows cast, whispers rise” could allude to discussions that took place following the Bergvall deal. Both players share the same agent - Nordic Sky - and Swedberg plays for Celta Vigo, nicknamed Os Celestes, which translates to the Sky Blues.

Now Swedberg appears to be an AM not a striker (by the same token Baena isn’t a winger, so maybe that particular reference should be taken with a pinch of salt) but it is noteworthy that he has scored 3 goals in 10 La Liga appearances, all off the bench, and two of them were last minute winners. Without his goals Celta would be firmly in the relegation zone. He also secured his move to La Liga off the back of 5 goals in 5 games for Hammarby which reportedly generated interest from Barca and Utd at the time. He seems like a talent that would be in demand.
 
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