Best window ever

[Springerding]

Gotta love chaps like you who turn up twice a year with stuff like this...

I read every day but dont feel the need to say a lot or crave attention/likeness from internet forums ..

never listen to the man who speaks a lot as he likes the sound of his own voice and craves attention, instead, listen to the man who says little as what he says is worth hearing.

 

[Spurger King]

The annoying thing is that this really was a couple of signings away from being a great window. I'm not even talking about Berahino or Witsel.

Central midfield is clearly an area that Pochettino wants to strengthen. Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ribiot, McCarthy, Bender, Kramer, Witsel - all players we apparently at least sounded out. Cabaye and Song would have undoubtedly strengthened our midfield (even if some fans might question how well suited they might have been). Even Cambiasso at 35 would have been a good addition.

I know Dier has put in a couple of decent performances, but I'm still not convinced he's the answer to our DM position - certainly not as the only DM option. I don't rate Bentaleb or Mason that highly (at this stage of their careers), so an experienced and/or more accomplished player alongside them would have made the world of difference.

I admire the club for going after Berahino, but he wasn't worth that money and we should have looked for more realistic options. Not world-beaters, but players that would be happy to play a sub role, or fill in for Kane when he's rested/injured. People might say we don't need 'filler', but we do need actual strikers as options. Crazy to think we couldn't find one single striker that fitted the bill at an affordable price. Or maybe 'incompetent' is a better word for it.

I think Trippier, Wimmer, and Alderweireld look like good signings that have improved our defensive depth and quality. Alli could be a special player for us, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Pritchard (not a new signing but feels a bit like one). No idea about N'jie, but he seems fast and with an eye for goal - certainly the sort of opportunist signing I appreciate. Excited to see how that turns out. Son is the star signing of our transfer window - he'll make a big difference and an even bigger impression on the way we play. Hard to call this a total disaster when we bring a player like him in.

However here we are without addressing our most important positions. All teams need back-up options if they have one striker. Not sure Chadli and two other attacking midfielders fit the bill at all. And the most important position in the whole team (in my humble opinion) - central midfield - has been depleted instead of strengthened.

We're now left hoping that Alli instantly adapts to the Prem and proves to be quality, and that N'jie is a capable alternative as a striker. A huge lack of experience throughout the club also leaves us hoping that the mental frailties we saw at Old Trafford, against Stoke, and at Leicester, were blips rather than telling indications of a fragile youth team.

Not a terrible window, but when it comes to addressing the key areas it was pretty woeful. If the Berahino's and Witsel's of this world are too expensive, make sure you bring in the Austin's and Cabaye's at the very least.

These deficiencies leave us incredibly vulnerable in pivotal areas, and I suspect they will ultimately cost us a top six status and our current manager.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

I read every day but dont feel the need to say a lot or crave attention/likeness from internet forums ..

never listen to the man who speaks a lot as he likes the sound of his own voice and craves attention, instead, listen to the man who says little as what he says is worth hearing.

Well done in proving the fallacy of your own words.

 

[Xeeleeyid]

I'm nitpicking here but this is a personal bugbear of mine. A striker doesn't score for a few games and suddenly he's "out of form". Doesn't matter how he plays, he's shite now. Not a personal attack at you, just something that seems to come around all the time in the media.

Kane's still been one of our best players so far even if he hasn't scored, he's clearly not out of form.

Yeah if anything I think he's improving as a player really becoming that world class player that can make the whole team tick. Dropping deep and playing some stunning passes and interplay off Eriksen, Chadli, Dembele this season.

In fact our performances in general so far this season have been a lot more cohesive and fluid, but we haven't had a good run results wise.

United was unlucky, Stoke and Leicester we got punished for stupid lapses but I thought we played well in all 3 games. Everton on another day we would have smashed them 5 or 6 nil it was ridiculous the amount of clear chances we created. Its coming in general, for us and KANE..

 

[SpursManChris]

for me this is the best, irrespective of a lack of a new DM and despite our business not being completed before the season starts. With a DM, lamela, Ade and Lennon gone ( not because I necessarily want them all gone) poch has his team he can build success with . Exciting times I'm guessing we won't see the best of this new side for a couple of months really hope poch can make it work with his system. COYS

Still the best window ever?

 

[Ironskullll]

I'm genuinely puzzled by Levy and co - none of the common explanations of how and why the window has worked out this way seem to me to make complete sense. Oh well. Kevin Nolan, anyone?

 

[Ossie85]

WTF is this??

Shipping out players is not a positive thing if you are not bringing a replacement. Selling Soldado would've been good if we brought another striker to replace him. But we didn't. And now we have 1 striker. 4 competitions with a single striker. Not even a League Two team is in that situation. The same goes for the DM. I would've preferred to keep Stambouli and Soldado instead of this.

 

[striebs]

This was a pooey window to be sure .

We are going to have to throw the cheque book at it in January to guarantee PL survival .

 

[jurgen]

I am rather happy with everyone we have bought - can't wait to see Son - N'Jie sounds exciting but we need to bear in mind he will probably be raw as hell. But the yawning arse chasm that is the two positions we failed to strengthen puts a massive downer on it all. Especially with how positive most of the other clubs below us have been, meaning its gonna be a hard old season.

 

[DubSpurs]

I am rather happy with everyone we have bought - can't wait to see Son - N'Jie sounds exciting but we need to bear in mind he will probably be raw as hell. But the yawning arse chasm that is the two positions we failed to strengthen puts a massive downer on it all. Especially with how positive most of the other clubs below us have been, meaning its gonna be a hard old season.

Perfect example of polishing a turd.

 

[Tom Pops]

I've seen a lot of people say they're glad we're not getting Berahino - I can understand people not wanting him however that still doesn't hide the fact that we needed another striker.

Who are we going to play up front in the Europa League if we don't want to burn out Kane? Yes we've got Son and N'Jie but they're not natural strikers.

I am really looking forward to seeing Son and N'Jie but I'm just disappointed that we have once again been left with 1 fit striker.

 

[jonnyp]

Nothing surprises me about our transfer business anymore. It's quite ridiculous.

 

[glacierSpurs]

thinking positively, I think maybe Poch and Mitchell really have specifics to the type of players they want.. maybe.. just so specific that their scope was so narrow, and backups were far too shallow..

I know the last few names propping up towards the end of the window might threw the above reasoning wrong, as they were signs of desperation.. but maybe they are contingencies of Levy?? maybe Levy still looking for bargains with resale values and thought they might be good backups to what Poch had/had in mind? not entirely impossible as Harry once said Levy actually sounded to him about certain players if they could be what he wanted...

or maybe Poch thinks our youngsters can really make it.. if so I would really wish to see them given the role as prominently as possible like how Mason and Kane turned out last season.. Alli and Pritchard this year deserved the shout out definitely..

 

[IMissTheWaddler]

I miss you already Bobby Soldier

 

[robhumphreys]

This was a pooey window to be sure .

We are going to have to throw the cheque book at it in January to guarantee PL survival .

I can't see a relegation problem but can see a mid table finish. That will cost Poch his job and mean we lose our best players next year. The man responsible for the problem will still be chairman when he really should go after this window

 

[BTN1]

I've posted this elsewhere but think it may fit best here

Key business this summer:
Keeping lloris, rose, verts, Kane
Finding verts a reliable partner
Bringing in some much needed pace up top
Getting rid of most of the toxic deadwood
Ok we missed out on a striker because levy got levyied
But we have Chadli a proven PL goal scorer to fill in it take the pressure off Kane
And a number of players can fill in DM if needed
We are in much better shape this year than last
And you know what I think with this cohesive group we could prove a few people wrong

 

[voxy28]

I've posted this elsewhere but think it may fit best here

We are in much better shape this year than last
And you know what I think with this cohesive group we could prove a few people wrong

As far as I am concern, this is Poch team and I would judge him base on this season. His reactions to what goes on the pitch will speak for himself. The lack of experience for CM and cover for CF will come back to haunt us.

I am not sure if we are better shape but I am sure we wont smell top 4 and probably linger at mid table. The key here is all other teams had strengthened.... and they are no longer easy to beat. Crystal Palace, Leicester, Stoke, Swansea, West Spam, Aston Villa, WBA........

We have 3 points for 4 games..... many positives as well as negatives. I am not sure we had fixed the most critical part, CM and CF though Son is now push to that role.

 

[robhumphreys]

I've posted this elsewhere but think it may fit best here

Key business this summer:
Keeping lloris, rose, verts, Kane
Finding verts a reliable partner
Bringing in some much needed pace up top
Getting rid of most of the toxic deadwood
Ok we missed out on a striker because levy got levyied
But we have Chadli a proven PL goal scorer to fill in it take the pressure off Kane
And a number of players can fill in DM if needed
We are in much better shape this year than last
And you know what I think with this cohesive group we could prove a few people wrong

I really hope your right but just can't see it.

 

[Metalhead]

thinking positively, I think maybe Poch and Mitchell really have specifics to the type of players they want.. maybe.. just so specific that their scope was so narrow, and backups were far too shallow..

I know the last few names propping up towards the end of the window might threw the above reasoning wrong, as they were signs of desperation.. but maybe they are contingencies of Levy?? maybe Levy still looking for bargains with resale values and thought they might be good backups to what Poch had/had in mind? not entirely impossible as Harry once said Levy actually sounded to him about certain players if they could be what he wanted...

or maybe Poch thinks our youngsters can really make it.. if so I would really wish to see them given the role as prominently as possible like how Mason and Kane turned out last season.. Alli and Pritchard this year deserved the shout out definitely..

My thoughts are definitely going along the lines of there being a rigid transfer policy whereby if we couldn't get any of a small number of targets then we weren't getting anyone at all.

 

[Syn_13]

The annoying thing is that this really was a couple of signings away from being a great window. I'm not even talking about Berahino or Witsel.

Central midfield is clearly an area that Pochettino wants to strengthen. Schneiderlin, Wanyama, Ribiot, McCarthy, Bender, Kramer, Witsel - all players we apparently at least sounded out. Cabaye and Song would have undoubtedly strengthened our midfield (even if some fans might question how well suited they might have been). Even Cambiasso at 35 would have been a good addition.

I know Dier has put in a couple of decent performances, but I'm still not convinced he's the answer to our DM position - certainly not as the only DM option. I don't rate Bentaleb or Mason that highly (at this stage of their careers), so an experienced and/or more accomplished player alongside them would have made the world of difference.

I admire the club for going after Berahino, but he wasn't worth that money and we should have looked for more realistic options. Not world-beaters, but players that would be happy to play a sub role, or fill in for Kane when he's rested/injured. People might say we don't need 'filler', but we do need actual strikers as options. Crazy to think we couldn't find one single striker that fitted the bill at an affordable price. Or maybe 'incompetent' is a better word for it.

I think Trippier, Wimmer, and Alderweireld look like good signings that have improved our defensive depth and quality. Alli could be a special player for us, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of Pritchard (not a new signing but feels a bit like one). No idea about N'jie, but he seems fast and with an eye for goal - certainly the sort of opportunist signing I appreciate. Excited to see how that turns out. Son is the star signing of our transfer window - he'll make a big difference and an even bigger impression on the way we play. Hard to call this a total disaster when we bring a player like him in.

However here we are without addressing our most important positions. All teams need back-up options if they have one striker. Not sure Chadli and two other attacking midfielders fit the bill at all. And the most important position in the whole team (in my humble opinion) - central midfield - has been depleted instead of strengthened.

We're now left hoping that Alli instantly adapts to the Prem and proves to be quality, and that N'jie is a capable alternative as a striker. A huge lack of experience throughout the club also leaves us hoping that the mental frailties we saw at Old Trafford, against Stoke, and at Leicester, were blips rather than telling indications of a fragile youth team.

Not a terrible window, but when it comes to addressing the key areas it was pretty woeful. If the Berahino's and Witsel's of this world are too expensive, make sure you bring in the Austin's and Cabaye's at the very least.

These deficiencies leave us incredibly vulnerable in pivotal areas, and I suspect they will ultimately cost us a top six status and our current manager.

Couldn't agree more. We have a good squad, but not a great one. Poch says he's happy with the team and I hope that's just PR guff because I'd like to imagine that he can see our weaknesses and isn't oblivious to the fact that we need a bit more to compete.