Are We Ready?

[Dr Know]

When we ended our poor run last season with some good football that got us into the top half, I thought "no changes" we got a good squad and we didn't need more players, however we had some injuries and it made me realise that the "no changes" statement was a bit premature from me. I think we have bought for the positions we need but I still feel we need 1 more player, a CM to partner/cover Palacios. I think Harry has done well in the transfer market both in Jan and now, the only criticism I would have is the returns of Chimbo and Keane. Chimbo so far has done nothing good or bad and I just don't see the point of him. Keane I feel has lost some of his "Spursness" and to me he just seems like he don't want to be here. It could be guilt because he left us right after saying that he will never leave and signing a new contract who knows.

 

[DJS]

I think we're looking good going into the new season.

Granted I would have preferred Negrado over Crouch, but at the same time I can't fault Crouch (and much preferred him over Huntelaar).

Hopefully this should keep Pav on his toes and we have some good well-balanced competition up front now.

Our midfield four of - Lennon, Jenas, Palacios, Modric - looks good to me although bit concerned Harry may be daft and seel Jenas.

Also, we probably need another central player as cover although O'Hara could do a job (not really convinced by Hudd, sorry fans of him!).

Defense should be okay once Dawson and Woody are back, Bassong is a good aquisition and hopefully King will be available to partner him and failing that Corkula can move into the centre as Naughton sounds a very good prospect (haven't managed to catch too much of him yet) and will probably take the spot regardless in the near future.

In goal we look very strong as Gomes seems to have found his groove and Cudicini is very strong backup.

 

[Green Valley]

Keane isnt going to get a look in this season with the form of Defoe. So hopefully swap him and Bentley for Ashley Young

 

[alamo]

I like the dynamic Jenas/Palacios CM pairing but think we could do with a third top player to push for a place in that position

 

[talkshowhost86]

I was tempted to vote for both 'just 1 more a cm' and 'just 1 more a lm' purely for the mathmatical chaos that it would cause.

But I agree with the original post. We need a CM who can come in for Palacios or JJ if they get injured/suspended as our current replacements don't really cut it for me.

On the left I think Modric will stay out there and I think Bale offers good enough cover so unless that changes I think we're fine.

 

[Dr Know]

We all talk about "taking a gamble" on players (Sissoko) but in truth because JJ has been so inconsistent, are we not taking a gamble on him? We don't know if he will continue his form with Palacios or if he will revert to the "odd good game" player that he has been previously. I think we need a CM to replace JJ maybe not right away but get the player in now to play with or cover JJ until he is settled and then flog JJ.
I know some of you will come out with the "JJ bashing" comments but really how many chances are we going to give him? There is no room for sentiments if we looking to make the top 6 or break into the top 4, the problem is we keep saying we can't find an upgrade to JJ but how will we know if we don't give a player a chance.

I know nothing about Sissoko but used him as a reference because he is the only player (CM) who we are supposed to be after but I'd be happy to see/hear Harry looking at a CM

 

[scat1620]

I voted that we need one more CM. IMO, we desperately need someone who can step in and do the job Palacios does for the time when Wilson is suspended or injured (and those times will most definitely happen at some point or other), because I don't think that ANY of our other midfielders are capable of performing the same sort of role with any competence.

A hard, busy, tough-tackling CM to cover for Palacios, and I'd say we're all set.

 

[mil1lion]

I think we've been ready since the end of January really. Although a few players would have added better depth and balance. Not a lot has really changed. We have Crouch, Naughton and Bassong in and Bent and Zokora out now. But mostly our team is set. Not that 1 or 2 additions wouldn't come in handy (left back cover and centre mifield or left midfield). But i'm happy with what we have.

 

[Garm]

Good to go!

 

[jonnyp]

We need an upgrade on Jenas. That's all really.

 

[chkthfc82]

I thought we were ready last season and we only got 2 points from 8 games don't you know!!

 

[SlickMongoose]

We can say just one more this, or we need to upgrade on that position, forever.

Fuck it. Ready to go.

 

[AngerManagement]

I thought we were ready last season and we only got 2 points from 8 games don't you know!!

You thought we were ready going into last season after we lost Keane, Berbatov and replaced them with Campbell on loan and Pav?

IF we had managed to sign Arshavin and Milito we would have been good to go, more so if we had already swooped for Palacios...but as things started last season we were anything but ready.

Modric needed time to settle and we lost all cohesion and stability with the mass sale of half our squad players (who were largely not replaced hense all the buy backs)

 

[Kendall]

1 more player - van der Vaart please.

 

[camaj]

Are we ready? No. In pre-season we looked shakey whenever we had to defend and I don't think woody or King will help. We need a solid midfield and I can only see that happening when JJ is finally dropped and Palacios and Modric start in CM.

We need a LM but there's no reason why Bale or Lennon couldn't fill that role, no need to buy someone.

 

[Son_Of]

i think the squad is good enough now. although we're not ready with woody+daws injured at same time

 

[ginol@14]

We need an upgrade on Jenas. That's all really.

definatly the only major change needed
if we can get in a natural left winger too than great but a quality cm partner for palacios is top of the list

 

[double0]

Were ready. Should be in for a good season because we don't have the distraction of the Europa cup.

Bassong for me was an important buy which has balanced the squad perfectly. I was really worried about cover at left back, in case of injury to Assou-Ekotto. Although both players play for Cameroon and both may be away for ACN we can also put O'Hara there.

Jenas and Palacios as a midfield pairing is good with Modric Huddlestone O'Hara to back up those positions if any are injured or out of form.

 

[sundancer]

Feel that we still need a CM player, Hudd and O'Hara are not good enough.

 

[lukespurs7]

we can always be improving but for stability sake i really don't want to see us bring anyone else in until january at the earliest and even then only players we really have to because we are a club who are constantly changing our playing staff and manager,we now have a very strong squad in all areas lets keep these players and let them develop as a team.If we are being fussy yes we could get an out and out LM but then move Modric to CM and are we too light-weight,yes we could mabye upgrade Jenas but don't think many CM's better than him will come to us especially while we aren't in europe,otherwise we are pretty much covered in most areas the only thing I would like would mabye be a BACK-UP LM say Duff if he was happy to do that and this wouldn't disrupt the balance of the squad,anything else NO,lets keep some stability.