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CM options

Cravenspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2011
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3,680
Would not be surprised if we saw a trial of Juan in the CDM role. Kid has technical ability and is mobile enough.

But I agree that Josh back ASAP for depth. I see so much in that kid that I just want him to get a chance.
 

Cravenspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 31, 2011
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3,680
I'm not even sure Barkley is the answer to that particular question. I still see him as an option in behind the strikers, or at best in the Winks' role rather than being able to help with our issues deeper in midfield.

How is his injury prognosis incidentally? I'd still like us to sign him.

If Dembele is going to be out like this every year, I can see maybe Barkley, but with Winks in the team, Josh looking more confident, and TOB coming through, I really would rather spend 30+ on a playmaker. I still think we are weakest in our attacking options as GKN is nowhere near good enough after the likes of Coco, Son, Sissoko.
 

JayB

Well-Known Member
Aug 24, 2011
6,652
26,046
Dembele's chronic injury issues are nothing new and are only going to continue to get worse as he ages. With Poch's fitness requirements it was always going to be the case that we would need to move on from him sooner or later. Winks and Sissoko have done an admirable job so far but we could definitely use some reinforcements.

There was reporting over the summer that Poch envisioned Barkley in a box-to-box role. I can see him stepping into a similar role as Sissoko, making driving runs forward with the ball at his feet but hopefully with that bit of extra quality when he reaches the final third. The fact that he could also play further forward and slot in for Eriksen/Lamela would mean that he wouldn't necessarily be blocking Onomah or TOB from making a breakthrough, especially if Dembele or Sissoko are sold in the coming seasons. He clearly wants us or he wouldn't have turned down Chelsea on deadline day.
 

mill

Well-Known Member
May 21, 2007
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37,100
I’m not really worried about dembele cover, I’m happy enough to put faith in Winks, Onomah and tob over the next few years
 

rocklink

Well-Known Member
Aug 23, 2013
1,613
2,558
So next summer sissoko out and barkley in and in 2018, dembele out and onomah in?
 

cockerel downunder

Well-Known Member
Aug 19, 2008
922
2,208
Didn’t winks just play dm against Real Madrid ? Also dier rarely needs a rest he’s played almost every game last couple seasons. If they were both out we can go to a back 4 and Sanchez or Toby can play dm.

I think we are fine as we seem to play one holding and 2 runners this season. Sissoko, eriksen, Dele, winks can all play these roles if dembele remains out.

We don’t need 2 players for every position even when we have injuries. We have very flexible players and formations so we are unlikely to miss injured players too much, except maybe eriksen.
 

thePessimist

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2012
1,261
3,344
Can't understand people saying recalling Onomah is the answer. I'll obviously trust Poch with the right development of our young players but I've seen nothing of Onomah to suggest he's ready at this level
 

ebzrascal

Well-Known Member
Sep 13, 2009
2,635
4,670
Can't understand people saying recalling Onomah is the answer. I'll obviously trust Poch with the right development of our young players but I've seen nothing of Onomah to suggest he's ready at this level

Onomah is not going to be good enough for us!!
 

Vincent30

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
900
3,694
Not really sure what the issue is currently?

We have two CM positions and the following who can play there:

Winks
Dier
Sissoko
Dembele
Wanyama

Okay two aren't fit but this is what depth is all about, but for all Dembele's 'chronic' injuries he usually plays 75% of our league games as he has done the last 4 seasons. Ok this year he may only play 50%, but that is some solid depth in the CM area.

As for future transfers, Barkley is an option and someone like Kovacic would be great, with Dembele winding down.

The great thing about Poch is we finally have a manger who can get the best out of average players. So anyone that is in that starting 11 will do a job. This isn't considering some of the exciting young players we have coming through.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,391
If we need somebody to break up play and use the ball sensibly I think Foyth has the skill set. He looks very composed on the ball (more so than Dier IMO) and has a defensive mindset. It would be good to get him involved and we are scraping the barrel at the moment. Cup games coming up so I think it's a good opportunity.
 

alex3

tottenham till i die
Jun 17, 2011
1,836
1,439
Not really sure what the issue is currently?

We have two CM positions and the following who can play there:

Winks
Dier
Sissoko
Dembele
Wanyama

Okay two aren't fit but this is what depth is all about, but for all Dembele's 'chronic' injuries he usually plays 75% of our league games as he has done the last 4 seasons. Ok this year he may only play 50%, but that is some solid depth in the CM area.

As for future transfers, Barkley is an option and someone like Kovacic would be great, with Dembele winding down.

The great thing about Poch is we finally have a manger who can get the best out of average players. So anyone that is in that starting 11 will do a job. This isn't considering some of the exciting young players we have coming through.
I would like to see us sign one more as dier is also our cover for our back 3 someone who is different somebody like Barkley
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Not really sure what the issue is currently?

We have two CM positions and the following who can play there:

Winks
Dier
Sissoko
Dembele
Wanyama

Okay two aren't fit but this is what depth is all about, but for all Dembele's 'chronic' injuries he usually plays 75% of our league games as he has done the last 4 seasons. Ok this year he may only play 50%, but that is some solid depth in the CM area.

As for future transfers, Barkley is an option and someone like Kovacic would be great, with Dembele winding down.

The great thing about Poch is we finally have a manger who can get the best out of average players. So anyone that is in that starting 11 will do a job. This isn't considering some of the exciting young players we have coming through.

The issue is really that Dier is our 1st choice stand in at DM and CB.As soon as foyth can be trusted in PL things are a lot better.The situation is not desperate in anyway.But we Currently need a back up for dier as he can’t play every game.
 

spids

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2015
6,647
27,841
Slightly unrelated, but if we did buy Barkley in January, what chances the England team in the World Cup could be:

GK
CB------CB------CB
Trippier---------Dier-----------Rose
Winks-----Barkley
Alli
Kane
What a shame Toby, Jan and Sanchez are not English!
 

Trix

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2004
19,337
329,025
As long as we don't pick up any more injuries to either WInks or Dier in the next couple of weeks we will be fine
Slightly unrelated, but if we did buy Barkley in January, what chances the England team in the World Cup could be:

GK
CB------CB------CB
Trippier---------Dier-----------Rose
Winks-----Barkley
Alli
Kane
What a shame Toby, Jan and Sanchez are not English!

And a bigger shame that Joe Hart will be stood behind them all
 

dondo

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2006
8,603
14,091
Jan or Toby would both make excellent centre mids, iirc wenger wanted to sign jan as a cm and Toby played there vs us for Southampton.
Not that I would move either of them from defence tbh but it’s an option if we suffer any more cm injuries
 
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