Etienne Capoue - Done

[monkeynick]

From that scout nation video he looks two footed and seems to have a knack of popping up in space. On the flip side he looks a little lumbering, will be interesting to see how he copes with the PL pace.

 

[EastLondonYid]

From that scout nation video he looks two footed and seems to have a knack of popping up in space. On the flip side he looks a little lumbering, will be interesting to see how he copes with the PL pace.

After Caulker...he will look like Shergar.

 

[ajspurs]

From that scout nation video he looks two footed and seems to have a knack of popping up in space. On the flip side he looks a little lumbering, will be interesting to see how he copes with the PL pace.

I haven't seen that particular video but I've seen others and I thought the same, that he looked a bit lumbering. He actually looks more like a CB that can play as a DM as apposed to the other way round. I've never actually watched him in a match though so I can't really say what he's like with any confidence.

 

[Sweech]

Watch spurs sign Luiz Gustavo as well, just cuz.

 

[spivmaster]

Watch spurs sign Luiz Gustavo as well, just cuz.

At that point I'd have to wonder if AVB was assembling a football squad or a death squad

 

[TottenhamMattSpur]

I like the idea of a streamlined versatile squad with quality all over. It also gives the younger players a realistic chance of being involved on matchdays. Players like Vejkovic, Bentaleb, Carroll and Ceballos will be on the bench a lot more in my opinion.

Thats got to be better than a sulky 30k a week player

I've actually seen a few Spurs players contracts (and other clubs players for that matter) because of my job.
The kids will be on a lot lot less than that.
Not willing to divulge any more in public.

 

[Sandro30]

I've actually seen a few Spurs players contracts (and other clubs players for that matter) because of my job.
The kids will be on a lot lot less than that.
Not willing to divulge any more in public.

Hence why he said they're a better option than players like Huddlestone on 30k a week...

 

[jambreck]

This drive for versatility in squad players also pts to a smaller squad going forward. Of established first-teamers anyway. It's a good thing. A slightly smaller group is easier to drill and fewer possible combinations will hopefully allow a fairly easy transition of players in and out of the side when needed over time. Less disruption etc. It also pts to a possibility that maybe not this season but sooner than later some of the more promising youngsters will be relied upon here and there in certain comps instead of calling up the half dozen "first teamers" we presumably store in a broom cupboard somewhere for months on end.

A smaller squad of more versatile players also frees up more money for wages. Which means that we can afford to pay our players more. Which, in turn, means being able to sign a higher quality of player.

 

[SonicSarr]

A smaller squad of more versatile players also frees up more money for wages. Which means that we can afford to pay our players more. Which, in turn, means being able to sign a higher quality of player.

That's why we became so obsessed with shipping Jenas, Bentley etc.

Squad is shaping up very nicely. A little more creativity wouldn't go amiss but the fact we've not really addressed that just adds to my belief that Bale is staying. Didn't know much about Capoue but he looks an improvement on Parker/Livermore for starters and replaces Caulker.

 

[freeeki]

I haven't been this excited since we signed Oyvind Leonhardsen.

 

[Twizzle]

where will this guy play ?

he wont get a midfield gig ahead of Sandro, Paulinho, Bale or Dembele and if he is a Siggy and Holtby fringe type player then he is surely been signed for depth, cups and Europa early games perhaps

assuming Hudd and Parker are off he's probably back up for Sandro and also has utility value

 

[Sandro30]

where will this guy play ?

he wont get a midfield gig ahead of Sandro, Paulinho, Bale or Dembele and if he is a Siggy and Holtby fringe type player then he is surely been signed for depth, cups and Europa early games perhaps

assuming Hudd and Parker are off he's probably back up for Sandro and also has utility value

It's called injuries, suspensions and squad rotation.

 

[tom4s]

where will this guy play ?

he wont get a midfield gig ahead of Sandro, Paulinho, Bale or Dembele and if he is a Siggy and Holtby fringe type player then he is surely been signed for depth, cups and Europa early games perhaps

assuming Hudd and Parker are off he's probably back up for Sandro and also has utility value

He will be cover/rotate. In a midfield three i think he will be preferred over paulinho in the holding midfielder slot when Sandro is out for example.

 

[Bware]

Interesting stats from the whoscored article on this player (apologies if they are posted before). You can see why this may be an important signing for us.

"His height also helps to exert a sense of dominance in the midfield, and the 25-year old uses his 6'2" frame to great effect. Only the giant Sané brothers won more aerial duels than Capoue (118) in Ligue 1 last season, and an aerial success rate of 74.7% is better than the majority of centre-backs.

His aerial expertise also comes in handy when it comes to defending set pieces. Indeed, only 16 players made more headed clearances in Ligue 1 last season than Capoue (109), though all of those made the majority of their appearances in defence."

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/ev1jr...-Suitors-Must-Act-Fast-in-the-Race-for-Capoue

 

[ross the saint]

where will this guy play ?

he wont get a midfield gig ahead of Sandro, Paulinho, Bale or Dembele and if he is a Siggy and Holtby fringe type player then he is surely been signed for depth, cups and Europa early games perhaps

assuming Hudd and Parker are off he's probably back up for Sandro and also has utility value

Clearly going to be backup for Sandro, but also could fill any one of the midfield three spaces, and cover the defense.

We will see more rotation I think in the midfield 3.

And against the touger teams, when we might want to have two of the midfield three sitting deep, will play alongside Sandro, with a Dembele/Paulinho type playing slightly more advanced.

I think he looks exciting. I know you can't prove anything with stats, but not having seen anything of him apart from the highlights reel, his tackles/game stats make it look like he is more of a deep-lying playmaker/box-to-box type than a 'spoiler' to protect the back four.

But from what I've seen, I'm very excited about this potential signing.

 

[$hoguN]

If we can get Capoue we will actually have a player with the mythical characteristics that certain posters believe Huddlestone has.

Capoue is excellent at shielding the ball and breaking up play, he has great vision, a great range of passing and can dictate games.

The squad we are building is very exciting. Our midfield will be able to dominate teams and we now have a great striker capable of capitalising on the chances we create. I don't know if I am scared or excited, this just doesn't feel like the Spurs I know; too bad Bale is too much of a f**ktard to realise what he could be part of.

 

[Japhet]

Interesting stats from the whoscored article on this player (apologies if they are posted before). You can see why this may be an important signing for us.

"His height also helps to exert a sense of dominance in the midfield, and the 25-year old uses his 6'2" frame to great effect. Only the giant Sané brothers won more aerial duels than Capoue (118) in Ligue 1 last season, and an aerial success rate of 74.7% is better than the majority of centre-backs.

His aerial expertise also comes in handy when it comes to defending set pieces. Indeed, only 16 players made more headed clearances in Ligue 1 last season than Capoue (109), though all of those made the majority of their appearances in defence."

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/ev1jr...-Suitors-Must-Act-Fast-in-the-Race-for-Capoue

Don't really like stats much. 67.9% of the time I think they're a load of bollocks. However, those ones look pretty good.

 

[Sweech]

where will this guy play ?

he wont get a midfield gig ahead of Sandro, Paulinho, Bale or Dembele and if he is a Siggy and Holtby fringe type player then he is surely been signed for depth, cups and Europa early games perhaps

assuming Hudd and Parker are off he's probably back up for Sandro and also has utility value

Do 11 guys always get the most playing time (with a clear drop off?)?

Or do most teams (AVB especially) tend to use a rotation?

Rhetorical of course.

Not to mention he's cover for our possibly most injury prone player. Plus cover for an injury prone position (CB).

I think he juuuust might see quite a lot of playing time.

 

[Dazza86]

That's why we became so obsessed with shipping Jenas, Bentley etc.

Squad is shaping up very nicely. A little more creativity wouldn't go amiss but the fact we've not really addressed that just adds to my belief that Bale is staying. Didn't know much about Capoue but he looks an improvement on Parker/Livermore for starters and replaces Caulker.

After watching the videos, I think he looks more like someone who could replace Parker, Huddlestone and Livermore in the squad rather than Caulker. He's got a touch of Dembele about him, the way he ghosts past players and he looks great at interceptions as well, but not really a CB.

If we sign him, I'd expect the above midfield 3 to be sold and a different CB to be brought it to replace Caulker.

 

[felmani26]

Interesting stats from the whoscored article on this player (apologies if they are posted before). You can see why this may be an important signing for us.

"His height also helps to exert a sense of dominance in the midfield, and the 25-year old uses his 6'2" frame to great effect. Only the giant Sané brothers won more aerial duels than Capoue (118) in Ligue 1 last season, and an aerial success rate of 74.7% is better than the majority of centre-backs.

His aerial expertise also comes in handy when it comes to defending set pieces. Indeed, only 16 players made more headed clearances in Ligue 1 last season than Capoue (109), though all of those made the majority of their appearances in defence."

http://www.whoscored.com/Blog/ev1jr...-Suitors-Must-Act-Fast-in-the-Race-for-Capoue

A good point in terms of how his aerial prowess will help us out both in attacking situations and defending set pieces but that being said, I hope this switch to zonal marking isn't permanent as we've looked dreadful standing around like statues and not even having men on the posts - this has to be rectified.