Harry Kane

[soflapaul]

I think a lot of people are imagining what a Mourinho/Nuno/Conte team looks like without Kane and are projecting that onto what the team will look like this season without Kane. I think we need to give Ange a chance before we start predicting doomsday scenarios about how much we're going to struggle to replace Kane's goals.

Bingo. What the pre-season showed is that the systems that Jose, Nuno and Antonio had played to the coaches instincts and not to the player's strengths. Ange showed in just one pre-season and three pre-season games that these mongrels are far more capable if they have some self belief and play in a system that caters to their strengths. to be honest, i am pretty sure it is a weak mentality team and that's why Ange was able to turn it around so quickly since he is taking all the mentality on himself. Last year's team would have competed for CL with better tactics and mindset in place. We may not have gotten there with that defense but bossing around Barcelona wihtout Harry (and Barca is still a very good team) shows the potential.

What is clear is that there is one position above all others that will leverage every other position. CB. The club needs to do whatever it takes to bring in 1-2 CB who can play in Ange's system. Upgrading/adding on in the other positions is helpful, esp CF with Harry leaving, but CB is by far the weakest link we have now. Bring that in and we are likly playing in Europa next year and possibly even CL. What will kill us is defensive vulnerability on the far post on the counter. Man City will likely demolish us as will a few others, but we'll be in track meets most games and a strong, capable backline will go a long, long way.

 

[mil1lion]

@mil1lion - see @Dave1882 reply

Yeah not sure Levy would care about that

 

[kd2000]

The longer it takes to sign someone, anyone, the higher the resentment and discontent grows. Is Levy, that blinkered and uncaring to not give two shits to a toxic atmosphere on the first home game of the season?

 

[Thenewcat]

I've heard it all before. SCBC were a fabulously run football club, as were Swansea before them and no doubt loads of others as well.

Brighton have had a good couple of seasons, but let's see how they do over the next couple of seasons first. They have gambled well with signings over the last few years and made obscene amounts of money, it'll be interesting to see if they can use that to genuinely elevate themselves.

The fact that they may not remain successful doesn’t mean they aren’t better run than us. They aren’t even one of the biggest 20 clubs in the country, just being in the PL is a sign of being well run. Being above us is exceptional, and it’s because they a clear plan and stick to it

 

[HedgieSpur]

I did
And hoped
And got disappointed again

It’s the hope that kills us everytime mate

 

[KingNick]

Son captains his country and has stuck with us through thick and thin.

Bissouma needs to focus on performing consistently first without the additional pressure of captaincy.

Son has just as much to do in terms of rediscovering his form. He has not been good in pre-season and based on that should arguably not even be starting given how Solomon and Perisic have looked.

 

[Johnny J]

Son is surely in line for captain, but I'd make Bissouma VC. That dude is a total boss.

 

[Donki]

He’s still in his house

 

[PCozzie]

If this is now the New Captain Thread, then I'd go with Club Captain: Son, Team Captain: Bissouma. I want a skipper on the pitch who's chest out, dictating play, and being constantly involved. Son's not that player on the pitch and has a tendency when we're having a bad game of being a bit periferal. He is however an excellent face for the club, and club captaincy would reward his loyalty and longevity with us (he also seems very happy to stick around).

 

[mil1lion]

Son is surely in line for captain, but I'd make Bissouma VC. That dude is a total boss.

Yeah or Bentancur. Those 3 for me are going to be captain material.

 

[djhotspur]

He’s still in his house

?

 

[WiganSpur]

The players on the transfer list are worth at least £50m combined. And players like Sessegnon and Gil who are injured are players we can shift in January and we could easily generate another £30m.

No reason we shouldn't be spending another £150m or so this window.

 

[luRRka]

Interesting that everywhere initially reported at £85m rising to ~£100m. Was that a Bayern thing or just bad/old information?

I'd guess they heard 100m-120m and assumed it was euros as that would be 86-103.

 

[Guntz]

Son has just as much to do in terms of rediscovering his form. He has not been good in pre-season and based on that should arguably not even be starting given how Solomon and Perisic have looked.

He was playing with an injury last season which would explain the drop-off.

I just don't see how you can give the captaincy to Bissouma over him when he's only been here a year and hasn't performed consistently yet.

I'm a huge fan of Biss too btw.

 

[mattstev2000]

It won't get said much in here but kudos to Levy.

100-120m quid for a 30 year old with one year left on his contract who doesn't want to be here and we don't have to see him in another PL team.

Good work I say.

Now full steam ahead with him undoing all that good work by spending it on garbage.

 

[Donki]

?

He’s still in his house of 12.11pm, he’s not even at the airport yet. He has been told it will be BM who will tell him he can travel, not us. Very odd.

 

[dagraham]

Or sign him in January?

Well yeah, I just meant get in early, rather than wait until Jan to make a bid.

 

[cjbyid]

?

He was meant to fly at 12:15pm but sky are saying he's still in his home in London.

 

[PCozzie]

He’s still in his house

And we go live to the Kane household; what are you seeing @Donki ?

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Tbh at this point I just hope we hear something soon about our targets. I know the news will be flooded with Kane regardless but I just want us to be getting on with things and start looking forwards rather then backwards.