Complete Our Squad: 3 Players

[nicdic]

So I see our current first team squad as:

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier, Yedlin
LB: Rose, Davies
CB: Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dier, Wimmer, Fazio, Chiriches
CM: Mason, Bentaleb, Dembele, Carroll
AM: Eriksen, Pritchard, Alli
WF: Chadli, Lamela, Townsend, Lennon
CF: Kane, Adebayor, Soldado

There are obviously additional yoofs who may get the odd game, but the above are the ones who would make the core squad.

The ones in bold are those that I expect us to try and sell (or in the case of Yedlin loan out) and if we do that it leaves us with only 20 players, which seems a bit light.

If we did get rid of all of those players then I'd say we need at least one CM, a striker, and a wide player, but we could potentially do with two more CMs, as I remain unconvinced by both Dembele and Mason in a midfield 2.

So whilst it seems like we've done a lot already (and we have) I still think there's quite a bit to do.

I doubt anyone will match the players we actually get, but for me I'd go:

McCarthy, Berahino, Werner/Njie and then another central midfielder. Possibly Rabiot.

Never sure how much weight you can give to the friendlies, but both Dembele and Carroll have played in the advanced three rather than in the two.

If you went by the friendlies I think things look much more like this...

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier, Yedlin
LB: Rose, Davies
CB: Vertonghen, Fazio, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Dier
CM: Bentaleb, Mason, Alli, Winks
AM: Eriksen, Dembele, Onomah, Carroll
WF: Chadli, Lamela, Townsend, Pritchard
CF: Kane, Soldado, Coulthirst

I've left out Adebayor, Chiriches, and Lennon as they clearly aren't being involved.

 

[Japhet]

McCarthy. Gomis. Bolasie

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

 

[talkshowhost86]

Never sure how much weight you can give to the friendlies, but both Dembele and Carroll have played in the advanced three rather than in the two.

If you went by the friendlies I think things look much more like this...

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier, Yedlin
LB: Rose, Davies
CB: Vertonghen, Fazio, Alderweireld, Wimmer, Dier
CM: Bentaleb, Mason, Alli, Winks
AM: Eriksen, Dembele, Onomah, Carroll
WF: Chadli, Lamela, Townsend, Pritchard
CF: Kane, Soldado, Coulthirst

I've left out Adebayor, Chiriches, and Lennon as they clearly aren't being involved.

Carroll I think will be gone come the end of the window, but yes Dembele is quite versatile. I don't think Winks or Coulthirst will be used very much in the first team squad this season. Onomah is the one who looks most ready to step up, but I'd still be surprised to see him play more than the odd League Cup/Europa group stage game.

Either way, I don't think that changes our need to bring in up to 4 players.

 

[nicdic]

Carroll I think will be gone come the end of the window, but yes Dembele is quite versatile. I don't think Winks or Coulthirst will be used very much in the first team squad this season. Onomah is the one who looks most ready to step up, but I'd still be surprised to see him play more than the odd League Cup/Europa group stage game.

Either way, I don't think that changes our need to bring in up to 4 players.

I expect that Chiriches, Lennon, and Adebayor will go. I think Carroll probably will too.

We need a striker to replace Adebayor. If this guy can also play the wing that would benefit us.

I don't think we necessarily need a central midfielder. Mason, Bentaleb, Dembele, Alli, Winks should be enough options. If we intend to use Dembele further forward though it might make sense to bring in another CM. Even then I think I'd be keener for Winks and Onomah to have more opportunities to get game time and stick where we are.

I only see us going for three players if someone else outside of those players get sold. If Soldado goes we'll need to replace him (unless Coulthirst is going to step up). If Townsend goes we'd maybe need another winger, etc.

One definitely needed (ST/WF), possibly a CM though I'm much less convinced of the need here. And then any others if we sell further players.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I expect that Chiriches, Lennon, and Adebayor will go. I think Carroll probably will too.

We need a striker to replace Adebayor. If this guy can also play the wing that would benefit us.

I don't think we necessarily need a central midfielder. Mason, Bentaleb, Dembele, Alli, Winks should be enough options. If we intend to use Dembele further forward though it might make sense to bring in another CM. Even then I think I'd be keener for Winks and Onomah to have more opportunities to get game time and stick where we are.

I only see us going for three players if someone else outside of those players get sold. If Soldado goes we'll need to replace him (unless Coulthirst is going to step up). If Townsend goes we'd maybe need another winger, etc.

One definitely needed (ST/WF), possibly a CM though I'm much less convinced of the need here. And then any others if we sell further players.

We'll have to agree to disagree on central midfield.

For me it remains the most important role for us to sort out this season. Mason and Bentaleb is an okay partnership, but if put under any sort of pressure it crumbled last year and we need someone with a bit of defensive composure in there fairly desperately (and this is something Poch clearly feels as well).

I agree that if we keep Soldado and Townsend then we probably only need one more attacking player. But I think we'll try and sell both.

 

[nicdic]

We'll have to agree to disagree on central midfield.

For me it remains the most important role for us to sort out this season. Mason and Bentaleb is an okay partnership, but if put under any sort of pressure it crumbled last year and we need someone with a bit of defensive composure in there fairly desperately (and this is something Poch clearly feels as well).

I agree that if we keep Soldado and Townsend then we probably only need one more attacking player. But I think we'll try and sell both.

I think we'll probably do as you say, I'm just not super desperate for it.

Have you read the article in "Stats insight into Spurs defending"? Implies that actually our midfield two was strong, and the issues we had were perhaps more to do with our back four, and potentially our front four.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think we'll probably do as you say, I'm just not super desperate for it.

Have you read the article in "Stats insight into Spurs defending"? Implies that actually our midfield two was strong, and the issues we had were perhaps more to do with our back four, and potentially our front four.

I did read that and really wasn't sold on it in terms of us not needing a midfielder or 2. Just purely on watching our games it was clear that we were too open in the middle, and whilst that could be helped by our front 4 working harder, and whilst there were obviously problems with our defence, I don't think that means our midfield two weren't to blame.

I don't really remember many, if any, games last season where we controlled the game from the middle and we need to get that sorted as soon as possible.

Personally I'd consider going 4-3-3, but as Poch won't do that, for me we need a midfielder who can play in a midfield 2 better than Mason can. That's why we've been looking at the likes of Schneiderlin and McCarthy.

 

[nicdic]

I did read that and really wasn't sold on it in terms of us not needing a midfielder or 2. Just purely on watching our games it was clear that we were too open in the middle, and whilst that could be helped by our front 4 working harder, and whilst there were obviously problems with our defence, I don't think that means our midfield two weren't to blame.

I don't really remember many, if any, games last season where we controlled the game from the middle and we need to get that sorted as soon as possible.

Personally I'd consider going 4-3-3, but as Poch won't do that, for me we need a midfielder who can play in a midfield 2 better than Mason can. That's why we've been looking at the likes of Schneiderlin and McCarthy.

Agree to disagree

 

[not_tenth-again]

Kramer, Werner, Embolo

..... and then when reality kicked in I came up with Cambiasso, Moses & Berahino

Oh well.

 

[Japhet]

Krychowiak
Yarmolenko
Slimani

 

[only1waddle]

Illaramendi
Werner
Berahino

 

[GetSpurredOn]

WF/CF needed regardless
Berahino
DM/CM if anyone any good is possible
McCarthy
2nd CF if Soldado goes
Austin (last day special)

 

[double0]

Berahino
Martial/N'jie/Moses
Batshuayi


I think we're ok (now) for options in defence and imo well covered for in midfield.

 

[SugarRay]

Berahino
Rabiot
WF with searing pace

Both would be cracking buys. Berahino is underrated, his record stands up against anyone else of his age we have been linked with ( much better than Werner's and even Martial's but then Saido is English so not as exciting )
Rabiot is going to be pure class.
I'm still reluctant to say we need to spend huge on a wide player as I have high hopes for Pritchard but we do really need some pace. Berahino could provide this if we got him I guess.

 

[Barry Mead]

You think we need to make four signings? Two CMs and two wing forward/striker options?

I think if we are going to play two central mids only rather than three then I think we need two CM's better than Mason and Bentaleb for sure. Do we need two more strikers? well I'm assuming both Ade and Bobby will be gone, if Bobby stays no, but if he leaves well then certainly. We could make do with two but then we'd need no injuries to either and limited attacking options as a lone striker has to get through a lot of work so that you'd be looking more at a second striker to replace a tiring first striker rather than changing to a two man striker option. Of course we could play Chadli as a third striker but then we would need another attacking option. I'm hoping both Alli and Pritchard can step up this season, but it is a big step so it would be a gamble to assume either will at this stage, it might take them a season to find their feet
I'm also not seeing any strengthening of players with strong drive and desire, last year too many games there was a lack of character and leadership and so far I'm not aware that any of the players added have that quality, I really don't know about Wimmer mind, hopefully he can add a bit, but then he may need a bit of time to settle and adjust

 

[Huddlebone]

Huntelaar
Thauvin
Kramer

 

[ilikeost]

DM: James Franco
FW: Hermann Göring
Wildcard: Thomas Jefferson

 

[PMS]

Sadio B Navas Cambiasso

 

[nicdic]

I think if we are going to play two central mids only rather than three then I think we need two CM's better than Mason and Bentaleb for sure. Do we need two more strikers? well I'm assuming both Ade and Bobby will be gone, if Bobby stays no, but if he leaves well then certainly. We could make do with two but then we'd need no injuries to either and limited attacking options as a lone striker has to get through a lot of work so that you'd be looking more at a second striker to replace a tiring first striker rather than changing to a two man striker option. Of course we could play Chadli as a third striker but then we would need another attacking option. I'm hoping both Alli and Pritchard can step up this season, but it is a big step so it would be a gamble to assume either will at this stage, it might take them a season to find their feet
I'm also not seeing any strengthening of players with strong drive and desire, last year too many games there was a lack of character and leadership and so far I'm not aware that any of the players added have that quality, I really don't know about Wimmer mind, hopefully he can add a bit, but then he may need a bit of time to settle and adjust

You want to bring in two ahead of Mason and Bentaleb? Block chances for Alli and to a lesser extent Winks? Seems pretty certain we'd play a two.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I think we'll probably do as you say, I'm just not super desperate for it.

Have you read the article in "Stats insight into Spurs defending"? Implies that actually our midfield two was strong, and the issues we had were perhaps more to do with our back four, and potentially our front four.

Yeh I'm not sure it does say that. Seems to suggest to me that our high line and lack of width result in a lack of space to play through our midfield. We were exposed by long balls which I think is likely caused by poor organization and lack of cover for defence when fullbacks have bombed on.