Centre Back Options

[onthetwo]

We need a leader, an organizer type player. None of our CBs play that role. Neither Dawson or Kaboul have ever looked particularly assured when not playing alongside Ledley King, Vertonghen is brilliant technically but doesnt seem up for the task when the going gets tough. Vlad is tidy on the ball, and on his day looks a brilliant CB, but he strikes me as more of a partner to a leader, rather than a leader.

I think an older more experienced CB is the answer. Pace isnt as key to a high line as its made out to be. Positioning is. I think someone like Vlaar who demonstrated brilliant leadership in the world cup could organise our defence into a solid unit.

We need the new Naybet, basically.

 

[RamonVega'sShinners]

Agree with a lot of this. I personally think Chiriches will be class and want us to keep him but I don't think him and Vertonghen are ideally suited to play alongside each other. I think you need a strong, physical aerially dominant type next to either of them. I'm a big Dawson fan as a bloke, I've met him a couple of times and he was top class. But he is no longer of the required standard. Kaboul doesn't look the player he was and can't be relied on to stay fit. I personally think that this is the only signing we need this summer, I'm going to give the rest of the squad the benefit of the doubt and let mp work with them to improve them.

With that in mind it could be the missing piece, get this one signing right and we will be defensively solid and hope our numerous attacking options click we'll be looking good so they should take time to identify the right man and go all out for him in my opinion.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Do you think that either is better than the Kaboul of 2011-12?

Vlaar may edge Dawson, although I'm still a way from being convinced that he'd be that much of an upgrade; Davies, on what I saw of him last season, is definitely a good deal better—we were strongly linked with him in 2007, and some people thought he would be a better bet than Kaboul.

And it's an upgrade on Kaboul that we need if he isn't going to get back to what he was, or at least someone of the quality we saw from him in 2011-12. Assuming everyone's fit, Dawson will be third choice at best, more likely fourth, so if we decide that it's, 'Thanks, Mikey, but we need to move on' we should be looking at replacing him with a promising youngster, not an established player who is of pretty much the same standard—and I cannot see Vlaar or (God help us!) Shawcross coming to play second fiddle if everything's OK with Younes.

If there was some certainty over Kaboul, and we didn't have these constant suggestions that Vlad might be off, life would be a great deal easier.

If we had Kaboul of 2011-12 this would be a complete non-issue. Kaboul of 11-12 would be pretty much the ideal partner for Vertonghen but we can't rely at all on having him even close. Davies and Vlaar aren't a patch on the player Kaboul was but they might very likely plug a hole in our current squad (although I don't think either is quite what we are after).

 

[GetSpurredOn]

Personally with a full preseason I'm hoping Kaboul can get some form and fitness back. I think the key thing is to maintain depth of RCB and LCB on their natural sides. Pochettino's tactics seem to encourage the CB's to drift a bit wider, with the DM dropping deeper slightly, to cover the fullbacks getting forward. For this, I think having them on their natural side is critical.
Kaboul and Chiriches (definitely worth keeping as I think he's gonna be class) for RCB I'm happy with, and ITK suggesting Lascalles is incoming, is ideal as backup for RCB, taking over from Kaboul in a season or so.
So, LCB needs addressing, someone to naturally cover or compete with Vertonghen, with Fryers developing in the background. I liked the sound of Moreno as an option, but maybe his broken leg had put paid to that. So do we wait, or go for another option like Rojo?

 

[SpurSince57]

Agree with a lot of this. I personally think Chiriches will be class and want us to keep him but I don't think him and Vertonghen are ideally suited to play alongside each other. I think you need a strong, physical aerially dominant type next to either of them. I'm a big Dawson fan as a bloke, I've met him a couple of times and he was top class. But he is no longer of the required standard. Kaboul doesn't look the player he was and can't be relied on to stay fit. I personally think that this is the only signing we need this summer, I'm going to give the rest of the squad the benefit of the doubt and let mp work with them to improve them.

With that in mind it could be the missing piece, get this one signing right and we will be defensively solid and hope our numerous attacking options click we'll be looking good so they should take time to identify the right man and go all out for him in my opinion.

I thought Vertonghen was much better in the air than in 2012-13, although his all-round game deteriorated. The stats on Squawka seem to bear this out. Vlad's a different matter, and I actually became less convinced by him as the season went on.

Capoue and (hopefully) Schneiderlin will provide much better protection than we had last season, so I'll go out on a limb and suggest that we may wait until January rather than sign someone who's not really what we want or need. Remember that our GA column was hugely distorted by half-a-dozen embarrassing thumpings—30 goals in just seven games. Considering that we had to use Dawson in a system which exposed his weaknesses (and he still figured in 13 of our 14 clean sheets) and that Jan was stuck at LB, Vlad was finding his feet and Kaboul really struggling for form and fitness, 21 in 31 is actually pretty impressive. Things may not be as desperate as they seem.

 

[RamonVega'sShinners]

Hmmm yeah I see your point but those 7 games did happen and it's against the top teams we need that bit of leadership and class that I know Dawson can't provide and am unsure Kaboul can provide. I haven't seen the stats in the air but don't forget Vertonghen played a lot of games at lb where you would expect him to win aerial battles against smaller wingers. Also hope we don't buy ms, especially before poch has had a good look at dembele and paulinho. Saints don't need the money and we'd pay way over the odds, he is a good player though don't get me wrong.

 

[murichej]

Does anyone know what is the situation between Poch and Kaboul now? Are they "okay"?

 

[Dharmabum]

Contrary to what many on this board believe: neither Florence Nightingale nor Gandalf are part of Spurs' medical staff. Kabull has been out for almost 2 years and, bare a miracle, will never regain full fitness. He could still be a decent player but too risky IMO.
Chiriches I think is a (much) better fit for La Liga or Seri A or the Bundesliga (I may be wrong).
Spurs would need 1 or 2 new CB who's "ready" to start in the EPL and 1-2 prospects.

Starters(Howedes)
(Nastisic)
Ogbonna
Victor Ruiz
Inigo Martinez
Doria
Rojo
Papadopoulos
Virgil de Dijk
Mustafi

Prospects
Eric Dier
Dragovic
Tah
Lascelles

 

[Dharmabum]

Have anyone seen how Tiago Ilori did last season?
With Liverpool having bought Sakho and Lovren I can't see him getting much playing time at Liverpool. But then again he only played 9 games the whole season at Granada, which may show he's not all that after all.
At 190 cm and said to be faster than Ronaldo, one would believe he could be turned into a top class CB. But then again, if only speed and sized counted then Jamaica could easily turn into a world power (football wise) and Walker and Lennon would be world class footballers.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Vertonghen, Kaboul, Chiriches, Curtis Davies/Ryan Shawcross/etc, Lascelles/Veljkovic (one of them out on loan) would be good enough.

 

[double0]

I like Chiriches he is great on the ball pretty quick reads the game superbly ie intercept well plus he can be doggish

Vertonghen worries me greatly his like the Berbatov of defenders...is he really bothered I wonder.

Kaboul can't be trusted to be fit imho

Dawson.. great bloke but no way should he be first choice.

Fryers...I might be wrong but I see potential in him as a CB.

We need to get the next CB signing right however

.........................Lloris

Walker(C) Chiriches Vertonghen Davies


Looks on paper ok
















Then I have nightmares of those beatings we took last season.

 

[Tottenham_God]

I like Chiriches he is great on the ball pretty quick reads the game superbly ie intercept well plus he can be doggish

Vertonghen worries me greatly his like the Berbatov of defenders...is he really bothered I wonder.

Kaboul can't be trusted to be fit imho

Dawson.. great bloke but no way should he be first choice.

Fryers...I might be wrong but I see potential in him as a CB.

We need to get the next CB signing right however

.........................Lloris

Walker(C) Chiriches Vertonghen Davies


Looks on paper ok
















Then I have nightmares of those beatings we took last season.

Walker captain?

 

[beats1]

Kostas Manolas - 23, 6'2, Olympiakos

Very highly rated CB who impressed alongside Sokratis at the World Cup.

Going to Valencia it seems

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Does anyone know what is the situation between Poch and Kaboul now? Are they "okay"?

I didn't realise they had a problem?

 

[SpurSince57]

I didn't realise they had a problem?

Kaboul did one of his, "Hey guys, I'm really a Number 9!" forays into the opposition half during one of the US games and Mo was unimpressed, especially when Kaboul seemed to tell him there was nothing to worry about. Doubt it was that big a deal.

 

[Spursidol]

I'd agree we probably need a new CB and possibly 2 if Kaboul is not likely to come back to the same standard as he was 2 years ago. But that's a lot of uncertainty.

However looking at our current CB position it looks like :

Vertonghen - will sign a new contract. He's as good as we are likely to get
Kaboul - Still a question mark for fans as to whether he will get back to form
Chirches - minor injuries in 1st year, but if fit in the 2nd year should be far more accustomed to PL
Dawson - Not right for a high line defence - but actually played the most of the CB's last season

Veljkovic - Newcomer on the block. I'm not suggesting he'll play much PL football, but if he plays in a number of EL and domestic cups he could relieve a load off the other ?CB's
Fryers - On the basis of the US Tour (a small sample of 2nd rate games), I'sd suggest Veljkovic has moved ahead of Fryers, but the same argument applies, Fryers could take some load off the other CB's

So I think our options are greater than last season, and if the club feels that Kaboul is getting back to his best the CB may be less of an imperative, as I could certainly live with Dawson as a 4th choice.

But if there are doubts over Kaboul's fitness, and Chirches probably needs to raise his game above last season, then I'd certainly welcome an experienced CB.

A much higher priority position to upgrade than any midfield or forward position where our options are already better.

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial ·
We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Sporting Lisbon for the transfer of Eric Dier, subject to a medical.

Good signing, he made 11 starts for Sporting Lisbon and 16 appearances in to tal. With luck he's be able to make at least 20 starts in the next season - and with Spurs playing 50-60 games next seasin that means 100-120 CB position starts, so thsat's well enough to merit 4th position CB

Delighted with his arrival - with Falque going earlier today for a simailar amount it almost seems like a swap from a positon we have lots of players to a player in a position where we have to few, which is great - but actually Dier has so far looked a great prospect as a youth player and so much more to look forward to - and even a Dier/Veljkovic partnership as our top CB's in 2 years time, it really could happen.

Diier can also cover DM and RB...if he has spare time ! .

 

[chinaman]

Good business by Levy, or Franco?

 

[beats1]

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial ·
We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Sporting Lisbon for the transfer of Eric Dier, subject to a medical.

Good signing, he made 11 starts for Sporting Lisbon and 16 appearances in to tal. With luck he's be able to make at least 20 starts in the next season - and with Spurs playing 50-60 games next seasin that means 100-120 CB position starts, so thsat's well enough to merit 4th position CB

Delighted with his arrival - with Falque going earlier today for a simailar amount it almost seems like a swap from a positon we have lots of players to a player in a position where we have to few, which is great - but actually Dier has so far looked a great prospect as a youth player and so much more to look forward to - and even a Dier/Veljkovic partnership as our top CB's in 2 years time, it really could happen.

Diier can also cover DM and RB...if he has spare time ! .

I hope this doesnt mean we aren't signing Lascelles. The story going round here was that he was thought he was going off and said his goodbyes before the bid was turned down.

It seemed from what I heard he was keen to come.

As I mentioned before the Kuwaitis/club have been taken to court 3 times for not paying their debts. Though last week the financial situation seemed to change when they announced the world most expensive stadium sponsorship deal for £50m a season for 10 years

 

[Spursidol]

I hope this doesnt mean we aren't signing Lascelles. The story going round here was that he was thought he was going off and said his goodbyes before the bid was turned down.

It seemed from what I heard he was keen to come.

As I mentioned before the Kuwaitis/club have been taken to court 3 times for not paying their debts. Though last week the financial situation seemed to change when they announced the world most expensive stadium sponsorship deal for £50m a season for 10 years

I would guess that we are not going to sign Lascalles - and I hear (not sure how true it is) that we had agreed a deal with Notts Forest - but then they changed the goalposts - and Spurs have moved into Dier

.

 

[ButchCassidy]

I would guess that we are not going to sign Lascalles - and I hear (not sure how true it is) that we had agreed a deal with Notts Forest - but then they changed the goalposts - and Spurs have moved into Dier

.

I wouldn't mind buying Lascelles and loaning him out, either straight back to Forest or to a bottom prem side. That way going forward we'd have three fantastic youth CH prospects in Dier, Veljkovic, and Lascelles (four if you count Vlad as youth) and it will become much easier for us to replace Dawson moving on / Kaboul's injuries worsening / Verts being sold.