Are you happy with our squad?

[Francis Gibbs]

The defensive replacements look ok but can't be sure how they will adapt to PL. But yet again failed to address the glaring hole of added creativity and pace in the final third. Expect a lot more frustrating days especially at Wembley.

 

[nicdic]

I think United and City certainly have the edge and are far less reliant than we are on one player (Eriksen).

I'm also not including Lamela in our list at the moment as I think it remains to be seen what sort of role he'll be able to play this season.

We're certainly not far off though.

I think you judge our squad too harshly, and others too favourably.

 

[spurs9]

Creative Attackers (midfielders) you would expect to change a game or make things happen
Eriksen,Alli,Son,(Winks at a push), Lamela if he's ever going to play again in our colours. (thats 5 in the first team squad) 1 of which is super quick.

Maybe if given time they may prove a force : N'koudou,Edwards,Oakley Booth,Sissoko 9 Potentially if we were counting unproven quantities

is that enough for a top team?

If we compare our creative force to most of our rivals?

Liverpool have Salah,Mane,Coutinho (if he stays),Firmino,Lallana,Wjandulum (6 first team players without including Woodburn & Markovic).4 of who are super quick.

United have Pogba,Mkhitaryan,Rashford,Lingaard,Martial,Herrera,Mata. (7 gamechangers or creative players) 3 of which are super quick.

City have Bernadro Silva,Silva,Sterling,Sane,De Bruyne,Gundogan,Yaya. (7 Creative Players) 2 of which are super quick.

Chelsea have Hazard,Willian,Pedro,Fabregas (4 creative players 5 if you add Musonda) 3 of which are super quick.

Arsenal have Walcott,Ozil,Sanchez,Iwobi,Ramsey,WIlshire? (6 at a push) 3 of which are super quick again.

As you can above each and every team has something that we do not have a minium almost of pacey creative sparks, although it would have been nice to have one more at least I guess it was not meant to be, so overall if you compare the squad with that of all our rivals ask yourself these questions?

Yet we created more chances than anyone else in the PL last season, and have created the 2nd most so far this season, so maybe you are over estimating our opposition options and under estimating ours?

 

[agrdavidsfan]

Yet we created more chances than anyone else in the PL last season, and have created the 2nd most so far this season, so maybe you are over estimating our opposition options and under estimating ours?

Exactly the point i was trying to get at, we as fans are always likely to over hype opposition players im glad you quoted it .

We are forgetting our team are pretty god damn good and we have only strengthened it.

 

[spurs9]

I think United and City certainly have the edge and are far less reliant than we are on one player (Eriksen).

I'm also not including Lamela in our list at the moment as I think it remains to be seen what sort of role he'll be able to play this season.

We're certainly not far off though.

That's not true though. We created more than City last season (and so far this season) but De Bruyne creates a higher % of his teams chances than Eriksen does.

 

[spurs9]

Exactly the point i was trying to get at, we as fans are always likely to over hype opposition players im glad you quoted it .

We are forgetting our team are pretty god damn good and we have only strengthened it.

Sorry mate, misunderstood your post.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Ha, I have my reservations about Dier the midfielder too but indications are that with two new centre backs that's where he'll be, so I tried to be as true to our manager's thoughts as possible.

I agree about needing that 8, I too am not completely convinced about Winks there and do worry about a Dembele being a bit on the wane. I'd have liked Gomes a lot. Other than that, I'm happy with what I see, definitely the strongest squad I can remember us having. Yes, upgrading on Sissoko/ Nkoudou would've been nice but the flip side is that Edwards has a half decent chance of breaking through.

I think, importantly, we have the personnel for 4231, 343, 352 and 433, Aurier. Our target man depth is amazing, especially with Janssen rejecting a Brighton, and for us to sign one centre back as our record signing and another who has only played a handful of games in South America, I have to trust that Pochettino specifically identified them and will trust them more than Wimmer and CCV.

All in all, we should be fine but for the worst injury crisis, we have options and flexibility and we've kept our key players while upgrading our depth. No bad at all I say.

There are merits in all of those formations but I think just playing the "Aurier" on his own formation might leave us exposed in the middle and left?

Apart from an 8, The player I also really wanted was Sessegnon, I think he would have added something we don't already have, pace with a bit of brain, and I think he's got massive potential and will only get better and better.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Is this actually true?

I haven't done a full on breakdown of the other teams so was interested. I've not included the players I think play predominantly in central midfield rather than attacking positions, and only included first team options. I'd say we stack up pretty favourably to be honest.

Spurs
Kane, Llorente, Janssen
Eriksen, Alli, Son, Lamela, Sissoko, N'Koudou

United
Lukaku, Ibrahimovic, Rashford
Mkhitaryan, Mata, Martial, Lingard

City
Aguero, Jesus
D. Silva, B. Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Sané

Chelsea
Morata, Batshuayi, Costa
Willian, Pedro, Hazard, Kenedy

Liverpool
Firmino, Sturridge, Solanke, Ings
Mané, Salah, Coutinho, Lallana

Arsenal
Lacazete, Giroud, Wellbeck
Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott, Iwobi

I wouldn't say anybody bar City had a better set than us for the front 3/4 positions.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

There are merits in all of those formations but I think just playing the "Aurier" on his own formation might leave us exposed in the middle and left?

Apart from an 8, The player I also really wanted was Sessegnon, I think he would have added something we don't already have, pace with a bit of brain, and I think he's got massive potential and will only get better and better.

Sessegnon or similar would have been great but not the end of the world.

Totally agree on the 8, let's see what Winks is made of I guess!

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think you judge our squad too harshly, and others too favourably.

Maybe you're right about my view of other teams, although City and United have looked fairly potent so far.

In terms of our attacking options though I think the concerns are valid.

In Kane and Llorente (and maybe Janssen) we have great options at centre forward. In Alli and Eriksen we have fantastic attacking options through the middle.

Other than that we are a bit light for me.

Lamela is practically an unknown quantity at this stage. Son is great on his day but is inconsistent. Sissoko is currently a waste of a squad space and there's no sign of any improvement. N'Koudou doesn't seem to have impressed anyone and his lack of game time over Sissoko suggests he's not got what we thought he had when we signed him. People will also mention Edwards, but he hasn't even played in cup games for us yet so who knows how he'll step up.

It's far from the disaster that the perpetual doom-mongers like @Francis Gibbs suggest it is. But I just don't see it as being at the same level as a couple of teams and like others I think we are an injury to Eriksen away from really lacking creativity.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Sessegnon or similar would have been great but not the end of the world.

Totally agree on the 8, let's see what Winks is made of I guess!

Winks is due a big season I think. Would love to see him given more game time alongside Wanyama or Dier this season.

 

[DJS]

Satisfied with the signings made. All make sense.

Not bothered about some pace merchant that virtually everyone has droned on and on about all summer.

I am concerned though that we haven't got any alternative to Eriksen and the role he plays. I think that's what fans should be worried about. If he is out for any significant period of time I think we're in quite a bit of trouble.

Whilst I agree it would be a big worry as he is an excellent player, I'm pretty sure one of the games at tail end of last season when we tonked someone he was rested and Son and Dele played with Kane (yes I know Son was shit against Burnley but historically he needs some games to get back in groove and his arm is in a cast).

Also we could try 3-5-2 with Llorente or Janssen alongside Kane.

 

[dontcallme]

I'm mostly happy with the squad.

Good cover in goal and defensive positions and a new striker.

With Lamela injured and Son on his way back from injury I feel we are a player light in the attacking mid position. Never know though, N'Koudou might come good and all will be well.

 

[Shadydan]

Maybe you're right about my view of other teams, although City and United have looked fairly potent so far.

In terms of our attacking options though I think the concerns are valid.

In Kane and Llorente (and maybe Janssen) we have great options at centre forward. In Alli and Eriksen we have fantastic attacking options through the middle.

Other than that we are a bit light for me.

Lamela is practically an unknown quantity at this stage. Son is great on his day but is inconsistent. Sissoko is currently a waste of a squad space and there's no sign of any improvement. N'Koudou doesn't seem to have impressed anyone and his lack of game time over Sissoko suggests he's not got what we thought he had when we signed him. People will also mention Edwards, but he hasn't even played in cup games for us yet so who knows how he'll step up.

It's far from the disaster that the perpetual doom-mongers like @Francis Gibbs suggest it is. But I just don't see it as being at the same level as a couple of teams and like others I think we are an injury to Eriksen away from really lacking creativity.

Son scored 20 goals (all comps) last season and won player of the month twice, can't believe you're having doubts over him.

Really nothing wrong with our forwards, it may not be as sexy as City or United's but last season showed that we can score an abundance of goals and we've actually improved in that respect as well.

 

[Black]

I'm not happy with that squad at all no real improvements for a team that finished second last year.

Defence is Ian the only strong part of our squad possibly the strikers too.

Really expect better considering we finished second I feel like our main rivals this season have gone out and done serious business and we just happy with what we have.

Just like what rose was saying it doesn't install confidence

 

[talkshowhost86]

Son scored 20 goals (all comps) last season and won player of the month twice, can't believe you're having doubts over him.

Really nothing wrong with our forwards, it may not be as sexy as City or United's but last season showed that we can score an abundance of goals and we've actually improved in that respect as well.

It's true he's very prolific and I'm not saying he's a bad player at all. In fact this 'pace' that everyone was obsessed with is largely covered when he's playing.

But he's not the player who's going to suddenly unlock a team with a killer pass like Eriksen, or by going past players, and that's where I think we do lack options.

Kane, Alli and Son are all primarily finishers. I'm just concerned how much they'll have to finish if anything happens to Eriksen (and assuming Lamela continues with his injury issues).

As I've said elsewhere it's far from a calamity, and as you said last season showed how potent our attack can be when it gets going. I just think there are a couple of teams with more options than us, and I think that will be telling in a title race that we are already behind in.

 

[Coyboy]

Is this actually true?

I haven't done a full on breakdown of the other teams so was interested. I've not included the players I think play predominantly in central midfield rather than attacking positions, and only included first team options. I'd say we stack up pretty favourably to be honest.

Spurs
Kane, Llorente, Janssen
Eriksen, Alli, Son, Lamela, Sissoko, N'Koudou

United
Lukaku, Ibrahimovic, Rashford
Mkhitaryan, Mata, Martial, Lingard

City
Aguero, Jesus
D. Silva, B. Silva, Sterling, De Bruyne, Sané

Chelsea
Morata, Batshuayi, Costa
Willian, Pedro, Hazard, Kenedy

Liverpool
Firmino, Sturridge, Solanke, Ings
Mané, Salah, Coutinho, Lallana

Arsenal
Lacazete, Giroud, Wellbeck
Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott, Iwobi

I think out of that only City are stronger.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I think out of that only City are stronger.

Great minds Jez!

Thank fuck they're always a Kompany injury was from haemorrhaging goals!

 

[Coyboy]

Maybe you're right about my view of other teams, although City and United have looked fairly potent so far.

In terms of our attacking options though I think the concerns are valid.

In Kane and Llorente (and maybe Janssen) we have great options at centre forward. In Alli and Eriksen we have fantastic attacking options through the middle.

Other than that we are a bit light for me.

Lamela is practically an unknown quantity at this stage. Son is great on his day but is inconsistent. Sissoko is currently a waste of a squad space and there's no sign of any improvement. N'Koudou doesn't seem to have impressed anyone and his lack of game time over Sissoko suggests he's not got what we thought he had when we signed him. People will also mention Edwards, but he hasn't even played in cup games for us yet so who knows how he'll step up.

It's far from the disaster that the perpetual doom-mongers like @Francis Gibbs suggest it is. But I just don't see it as being at the same level as a couple of teams and like others I think we are an injury to Eriksen away from really lacking creativity.

So far? 3 games? In terms of United that was against West Ham, Swansea and as I understand struggled a bit against Leicester. City struggled for a long while against all of the teams they played so I don’t see how either are suddenly ahead of us. City on paper have a better team but that’s only on paper which they can guarantee with their unlimited funds but they have not yet proved they have a coherent team to do better than us over 38 games.

Son is not inconsistent. That's ridiculous.

 

[nicdic]

Maybe you're right about my view of other teams, although City and United have looked fairly potent so far.

In terms of our attacking options though I think the concerns are valid.

In Kane and Llorente (and maybe Janssen) we have great options at centre forward. In Alli and Eriksen we have fantastic attacking options through the middle.

Other than that we are a bit light for me.

Lamela is practically an unknown quantity at this stage. Son is great on his day but is inconsistent. Sissoko is currently a waste of a squad space and there's no sign of any improvement. N'Koudou doesn't seem to have impressed anyone and his lack of game time over Sissoko suggests he's not got what we thought he had when we signed him. People will also mention Edwards, but he hasn't even played in cup games for us yet so who knows how he'll step up.

It's far from the disaster that the perpetual doom-mongers like @Francis Gibbs suggest it is. But I just don't see it as being at the same level as a couple of teams and like others I think we are an injury to Eriksen away from really lacking creativity.

City's potency has equated to five goals in three games against newly promoted Brighton, Everton, and Bournemouth.

As exciting (fast) as Sane and Sterling are, neither are as productive as Alli, Eriksen, Son.

United have scored goals for fun, but Newcastle but three past West Ham, and Swansea look poor.