After yesterdays game...is Morgan Schneiderlin someone we need

[Spursidol]

If we sell the players who Poch doesn't seem to be playing much (Capoue, Paulhino, Dembele - and possibly Stambouli) we are left with Mason, Bentaleb plus returning off loan Alli and Carroll.

Its reasonable to assume that in their second real PL season that there will be improvement in Mason and Bentaleb - - and possibly Carroll, with the risk that Alli will take a little time to adjust to the PL.. And in addition we have Winks and Onomah coming through.

Its pretty clear that the team as a whole is short of 'leaders' so there is certainly a logic in bringing in a more experienced player as a CM - but whether Schneiderlin is the man its not clear at £25m, prefer to bring in one or two AM's to help ball retention and goal scoring or one or two better CM's to reduce the leaking goals might be better use of funds..

If there is a good mdfield player who we could take on loan for a year I'd prefer that - bringing Bentaleb, Mason, Alli and the rest up a level whilst using bigger moey to reinforce the team sounds a better option. I'd love Carrick or Cabaye on a season loan (or even 2 years) if available.

 

[iluvsteffenfreund]

I've said all along that while he is certainly a good player, anything over 15m and we are getting ripped off.

There are players in every team that play that role. Personally I don't see what makes him that different from Bentaleb and I'd rather let him grow as a player.

I believe that with Bentaleb, Mason, Stambouli, Dembele, and now Alli (+maybe Capoue/Paulinho), the DM/CM spots are the least of our concerns, we are at the very least solid there, if unspectacular. I think signing two quality wingers and maybe another CB is a far more necessary transfer.

So poch believes his bestbtwo are mason and bentaleb. Are u happy to go with that next year. Ill tell you now we wont make top four if tjats the case. So we most certainly do need someone to play with nabil next season. Without doubt

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

If we sell the players who Poch doesn't seem to be playing much (Capoue, Paulhino, Dembele - and possibly Stambouli) we are left with Mason, Bentaleb plus returning off loan Alli and Carroll.

Its reasonable to assume that in their second real PL season that there will be improvement in Mason and Bentaleb - - and possibly Carroll, with the risk that Alli will take a little time to adjust to the PL.. And in addition we have Winks and Onomah coming through.

Its pretty clear that the team as a whole is short of 'leaders' so there is certainly a logic in bringing in a more experienced player as a CM - but whether Schneiderlin is the man its not clear at £25m, prefer to bring in one or two AM's to help ball retention and goal scoring or one or two better CM's to reduce the leaking goals might be better use of funds..

If there is a good mdfield player who we could take on loan for a year I'd prefer that - bringing Bentaleb, Mason, Alli and the rest up a level whilst using bigger moey to reinforce the team sounds a better option. I'd love Carrick or Cabaye on a season loan (or even 2 years) if available.

That's excessively optimistic. All of those young players will simply not reach the standard we'd like, and it is even possible that all of them won't be with us already next season.

 

[Spursidol]

So poch believes his bestbtwo are mason and bentaleb. Are u happy to go with that next year. Ill tell you now we wont make top four if tjats the case. So we most certainly do need someone to play with nabil next season. Without doubt

The fact that Mason and Bentaleb stood up very well to Schneiderlein yesterday (and many people were saying that they were on top in CM during the match) , should tell you that your comments are a little over the top.

The question is whether we need to add to the decent options we have in CM.

 

[Spursidol]

That's excessively optimistic. All of those young players will simply not reach the standard we'd like, and it is even possible than all of them won't be with us already next season.

Not at all, there are 6 players listed (assuming that all of Capoue, Debele, Paulhiino and Stambouli are sold - which is unlikely) and its likely that most will develop albeit not overnight - that's why I'm suggesting an experienced CM on loan

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Not at all, there are 6 players listed (assuming that all of Capoue, Debele, Paulhiino and Stambouli are sold - which is unlikely) and its likely that most will develop albeit not overnight - that's why I'm suggesting an experienced CM on loan

It's far more likely that a few will become really really good PL players, and most will become quite forgettable.

 

[tooey]

The fact that Mason and Bentaleb stood up very well to Schneiderlein yesterday (and many people were saying that they were on top in CM during the match) , should tell you that your comments are a little over the top.

The question is whether we need to add to the decent options we have in CM.

Bentaleb run's the show and more often than not has to work his bollocks off even harder due to Mason's inability to weight a pass correctly or mark a man. We definitely need an upgrade on Mason whilst I would happily retain Mason as a squad option.

 

[King of Otters]

I know he's definitely not shit, but the fact that @Mr Pink spent the summer obsessing over him kind of makes me think that he must be.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

So poch believes his bestbtwo are mason and bentaleb. Are u happy to go with that next year. Ill tell you now we wont make top four if tjats the case. So we most certainly do need someone to play with nabil next season. Without doubt

We won't make Top 4 regardless of who is in midfield.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Bentaleb run's the show and more often than not has to work his bollocks off even harder due to Mason's inability to weight a pass correctly or mark a man. We definitely need an upgrade on Mason whilst I would happily retain Mason as a squad option.

He is exactly a reliable marker him self.

 

[DaSpurs]

We won't make Top 4 regardless of who is in midfield.

Most likely not, you're right, but I think we have a decent chance as long as we actually manage to establish some balance (bring in pace and dynamism). As you may have noted, I've never been on the optimism train and was even rolling my eyes when people were singing top four after the Arsenal win, but right now with the foundation and team core we've put in place I think we'll stand a decent chance as long as we add those missing parts and establish that balance.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

We are leaking goals like there is no tomorrow due in part to a lack of a competent DM and you are saying the position is the least of our concerns?

Their defensive mid is Wanyama, not Schneiderlin.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

He got beasted by Bentaleb yesterday.

The priority should be switching to 4-3-3 with a dedicated DM, not pointlessly changing the personnel yet again to try to fix a fundamentally broken system.

Yes, exactly. The 4-3-3 would also get the best out of Eriksen by letting him play how he did at Ajax (as well as one or two times this season when he coincidentally played the best he did all season). Furthermore, it doesn't limit playing time for Mason/Bentaleb/Alli/etc because they can all play in a 3 man CM.

Unfortunately I think Poch is much like AVB in his stubbornness and unwillingness to change his system.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Most likely not, you're right, but I think we have a decent chance as long as we actually manage to establish some balance (bring in pace and dynamism). As you may have noted, I've never been on the optimism train and was even rolling my eyes when people were singing top four after the Arsenal win, but right now with the foundation and team core we've put in place I think we'll stand a decent chance as long as we add those missing parts and establish that balance.

I've never denied that we won't have a decent chance, I just don't think we'll actually achieve it next season. However, for me, it is quite important that we at least put in a strong challenge next season (as opposed to the weak challenge we've put in this season).

 

[muppetman]

I am hoping that we are thinking slightly longer term and Benji will be our Schneiderlin next season.

 

[jezz]

Because there is more than substantial evidence pointing to other areas of the pitch as the reason why we're being exposed. It is not as simple as "conceding lots of goals, therefore our defensive line is bad and it's the fault of having no dedicated DM."

I would say that's a massive reason why we're conceding goals.
The midfield 2 are weak in that area.
A DM would help enormously in that area.

 

[JohannTHFC]

I am hoping that we are thinking slightly longer term and Benji will be our Schneiderlin next season.

He's clearly not in our plans for next season and nobody has seen anything to suggest that he will even be half the player Schneiderlin is.

 

[THOWIG]

Can we sign Mascherano.

 

[Shadydan]

Their defensive mid is Wanyama, not Schneiderlin.

And Schneiderlin, they play in a double pivot.

 

[muppetman]

He's clearly not in our plans for next season and nobody has seen anything to suggest that he will even be half the player Schneiderlin is.

Clearly not in our plans? This is ITK? There have been a few mentions that he is doing some sort of fitness regime involving long runs at an even pace - that would suggest to me that he isn't considered fit enough or is perhaps returning from an injury. It could of course be some sort of punishment and he is on his way out the door. I'm not ITK.

I think we as a fanbase are way to short term in our thinking. If a player doesn't arrive and make an instant impact then he must be shit and we need to get rid. As I say, perhaps we are looking slightly longer term and believe that he is the answer to our prayers - I guess the Summer window will show either way.