First 11 unbeaten

[Neon_Knight_]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but our best eleven has gone the entire season unbeaten, in all competitions. Every time we've lost, we have either been resting multiple players (cups) or have had injuries/suspensions to key players (league).

For me, this highlights the fact that we need to focus on adding strength in depth, rather than signing world class players.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Of course upgrading a starting player and keeping the current player as back-up wouldn't be the worst way to add depth!

 

[Danfunkel]

This summer is crucial. We need more quality.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but our best eleven has gone the entire season unbeaten, in all competitions. Every time we've lost, we have either been resting multiple players (cups) or have had injuries/suspensions to key players (league).

For me, this highlights the fact that we need to focus on adding strength in depth, rather than signing world class players.

Hey!!

We are a DISGRACE and we are all ASHAMED with this club. Stop with your positive vibes.

 

[NeverRed]

For the sake of clarity, you're referring to which 11 players?

 

[not_tenth-again]

This summer is crucial. We need more quality.

When hasn't a summer been crucial? I don't see this one as any more crucial than the last few we've had.

What I will say is that a couple of players marked their card yesterday and probably made the off season decisions easier...

 

[Danfunkel]

When hasn't a summer been crucial? I don't see this one as any more crucial than the last few we've had.

What I will say is that a couple of players marked their card yesterday and probably made the off season decisions easier...

For me, as its the last at the Lane, we need to get it right and get us firing on all cylinders when we play away at Wembley (or wherever it will be) It will be a tough season, so as soon as we get to work improving, the better. Plus we have to get the CL right next season as well. Should be aiming at least for the QF's again.

 

[razzmaster]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but our best eleven has gone the entire season unbeaten, in all competitions. Every time we've lost, we have either been resting multiple players (cups) or have had injuries/suspensions to key players (league).

For me, this highlights the fact that we need to focus on adding strength in depth, rather than signing world class players.

I think the key thing next season is to be able to rotate more effectively and to do that Poch needs players he can trust.

For me, 1 or 2 changes each game is better than playing the same XI consistently and then making wholesale changes that we saw this season. So for example in home games against weaker sides, play Trippier instead of Walker and drop Alli into midfield alongside Dembele. This would enable us to play an extra attacker as well.

In certain games I would play Wimmer ahead of Verts as I think he deals better with physicality.

If we can sign Lacazette or similar we can rest Kane and not see a huge drop in quality or we can field both to give us more threat going forward.

Pritchard should be given a chance in Eriksen's position in some matches and let's see how Bentaleb does alongside Dier as he won't have as much defensive burden and could thrive.

By taking this kind of approach, we probably need about 18 genuine first team options and the remaining squad places can be filled with either youngsters or players such as Son or Njie who still have a lot to prove.

I also think we need to invest in a top quality young goalkeeper to challenge and eventually succeed Hugo as the drop in quality when Vorm plays is massive.

Despite yesterday I still think we only need minor tweaks and we will be challenging again but Poch has to be more flexible for certain games.

 

[hughy]

For the sake of clarity, you're referring to which 11 players?

Lloris, Rose, Toby, Jan, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane

I assume. No idea how many games they played as an 11 though. 5 or 6 max?!

 

[eddiebailey]

Of course upgrading a starting player and keeping the current player as back-up wouldn't be the worst way to add depth!

Actually that is a terrible way of increasing strength in depth. Last thing you need is out of favour ex-first team players sulking their way through cup games while militating for a transfer. For your back-ups you want players on their way up not on their way down.

 

[Stamford]

They need to be pushed though. We need players to come in that are better than Eriksen/Walker for example

 

[eddiev14]

Wahaaaay! Let's take this and Dele Alli's goal of the season award and put them in the trophy cabinet!

Seriously though, you're right.

It just goes to highlight what we all knew. Squad nowhere near as good as the first XI.

 

[ginola99]

Can someone please post the games or at least, the number of games our starting XI went without defeat?

But also, how many draws were there?

I posted this on GG and I think it covers the same period.

From September 13th (Sunderland away) til 18th April (Stoke away) in the our form was:
P30 W19 D8 L3 F61 A21 GD 40+ PTS 65

 

[hellava_tough]

This thread will make more sense if we test the OP's concept to every other team in the PL

But I certainly agree we need more quality in the squad...and quality that has mental strength and wants to win!

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Wahaaaay! Let's take this and Dele Alli's goal of the season award and put them in the trophy cabinet!

Seriously though, you're right.

It just goes to highlight what we all knew. Squad nowhere near as good as the first XI.

Don't forget Kane's golden boot!

 

[JerryGarcia]

Of course upgrading a starting player and keeping the current player as back-up wouldn't be the worst way to add depth!

I don't mind if Poch is ruthless this summer but we're on the right track. As gutting as the last few weeks have been we just need to keep going and let Poch do whatever he wants. Hopefully we can find the right balance of new signings and promotion of youth but there are a handfull of players who've not done enough when called upon this season for one reason or another.

 

[Spursidol]

Not sure if it has already been mentioned, but our best eleven has gone the entire season unbeaten, in all competitions. Every time we've lost, we have either been resting multiple players (cups) or have had injuries/suspensions to key players (league).

For me, this highlights the fact that we need to focus on adding strength in depth, rather than signing world class players.

Playing the same team throughout the season - over 60 games if we are reasonably successful in the cups/Europe - is simply not physically possible, particularly playing a high intensity game which is fundamental to Poch's tactics.

So one thing Poch needs to do better is to rotate players in and out of the squad, both to rest players and to ensure players not in that first team get used to both that style of play and also are match fit when called upon.....as we will get suspensions and injuries as well as a need to rest players.

But what are the stats to back up your statement - what was the starting X1 and what matches (including dates) were they unbeaten ?

A settled team know each others games and are more likely to be successful - but as I say rotation is necessary as its not possible to keep the same X1 throughout a 60 game season.

 

[NeverRed]

... But what are the stats to back up your statement - what was the starting X1 and what matches (including dates) were they unbeaten?

OP marked someone else's post as 'winner', who had wrote:

Lloris, Rose, Toby, Jan, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane

 

[Spursidol]

OP marked someone else's post as winner who wrote:

Lloris, Rose, Toby, Jan, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane

Thanks,

Just looking at this, I suspect that the number of matches for which OP is correct is a relatively small number of matches, given that Vertonghen was out for a while and Dembele only played the full 90 minutes in 20 matches or so and Rose played about equal minutes with Davies in the first half of the season
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Tottenham_Hotspur_Minutes_2015-16.html

So OP may be correct but its a fact based upon too few matches. Do you remember how many matches Bale played before a side with him in won ? Obviously meant Bale was a rubbish player who wouldn't ever amount to anything

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Thanks,

Just looking at this, I suspect that the number of matches for which OP is correct is a relatively small number of matches, given that Vertonghen was out for a while and Dembele only played the full 90 minutes in 20 matches or so and Rose played about equal minutes with Davies in the first half of the season
http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Tottenham_Hotspur_Minutes_2015-16.html

So OP may be correct but its a fact based upon too few matches. Do you remember how many matches Bale played before a side with him in won ? Obviously meant Bale was a rubbish player who wouldn't ever amount to anything

I simply looked at the BBC Sport match reports for every game that we lost, to see the starting lineups. The most telling part was which players were missing when we lost...midfielders. If we don;t have the defensive shield of Dier or the thrust of Alli and Demebele, we are vulnerable. That's no big surprise though, as we all know that Wimmer, Trippier and Davies generally slotted in well, and Kane wasn't rotated for league games.

I don't have time to trawl through all of the fixtures now, but I know we had our 'best' eleven on in our recent thumpings of Man Utd and Stoke.

Lloris, Rose, Toby, Jan, Walker, Dier, Dembele, Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Kane