Is a back up/rotation striker now our only real priority for January?

[spurs9]

In Jan I'd like to see:
Embolo in
Andrija Zivkovic signed on a pre-contract

Fazio out
Townsend out
Carroll out

 

[allpaths]

we need to bring in a stop gap that can help right away a negredo or mandzukic in on loan would be ideal.
then we can go after long term targets like a werner or embolo in the summer.
We dont need to sign a cb, we need to making a path for ccv to get into the first team. So despite being a train wreck keep Fazio until the summer, fine CCV a good championship loan were he plays a lot and can potential set himself up to be the fourth cb next year.
And we sell Carroll and Townsend for the good of our sanity and their careers.

 

[bubble07]

We need to look at signing a striker pn loan for 6 monyhs who is going to the euros but is down the pecking order at their current club

All we need is a centre forward and ship out townsend Carroll Fazio

 

[talkshowhost86]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

 

[Hoops]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

We would miss a good range of passing with Bentaleb IMO. Toby and Jan are good on the ball, so is Dier. It starts of many of our attacks. Bentaleb cant do that, although he is good defensively.

 

[Blake Griffin]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

wasn't dembele motm the only time he's played there this season, vs liverpool?

 

[Spursidol]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

Think any side would miss Dier if he was injured.

However we only really need a true DM in about 8 matches in the PL - we don't need one against the 15 PL sides who come to WHL and sit back, and we don't necessarily need one when we go against those 15 sides away. Dier's range of passing makes him a good DM for us, however if he were absent we'd do ok with some combination of Mason, Bentaleb, Dembele and Alli (in no particular order) and Carroll and Winks and Onomah, but of course I'd prefer to always have the option to play Dier.

I'd be more concerned at the moment if we lost Vertonghen or Alderweireld to injury or suspension as Wimmer has only played 2 games for us so far (and Fazio - who's he ?), and with Veljkovic seemingly out of the picture that would leave us with the choice of recalling Ball from his loan at Rangers (if that were possible) or starting '18 in December' Carter-Vickers in a few matches - or playing Ben Davies as a CB.....or moving Dier from DM back to CB.

Not sure I'd want to buy a CB either - too many good youngsters coming through.

More cover for Kane (to add to Son and Cameron who to me are both better as WF/AM's than strikers - although both can play striker and Chadli who has the physique to be a striker but doesn't seem to be) is a must for me.

 

[bceej]

Think any side would miss Dier if he was injured.

However we only really need a true DM in about 8 matches in the PL - we don't need one against the 15 PL sides who come to WHL and sit back, and we don't necessarily need one when we go against those 15 sides away. Dier's range of passing makes him a good DM for us, however if he were absent we'd do ok with some combination of Mason, Bentaleb, Dembele and Alli (in no particular order) and Carroll and Winks and Onomah, but of course I'd prefer to always have the option to play Dier.

I'd be more concerned at the moment if we lost Vertonghen or Alderweireld to injury or suspension as Wimmer has only played 2 games for us so far (and Fazio - who's he ?), and with Veljkovic seemingly out of the picture that would leave us with the choice of recalling Ball from his loan at Rangers (if that were possible) or starting '18 in December' Carter-Vickers in a few matches - or playing Ben Davies as a CB.....or moving Dier from DM back to CB.

Not sure I'd want to buy a CB either - too many good youngsters coming through.

More cover for Kane (to add to Son and Cameron who to me are both better as WF/AM's than strikers - although both can play striker and Chadli who has the physique to be a striker but doesn't seem to be) is a must for me.

Think it has been mentioned but I think Mandzukic would have suited us down to the ground. Dybala and Morata are playing more than him at Juve, though think he has been sidelined by injury. Still - would be a near like for like plus excellent experience.

Would be great to pluck a non top flight player to develop beside Kane though, a bit left field like Jason Cummings at Hibs or Zach Clough at Bolton. I'm probably getting a bit carried away with Vardy's exploits but still.

 

[Lilbaz]

Are you not aware that Levy clearly stated on the official website that the stadium WOULD NOT AFFECT SPENDING ON TRANSFERS. I can't believe some people are so out of touch.

Net spend for the last 6 years has been around £0. So no it wont effect spending as we have a £0 budget and get our money from selling players.

So what is your point?

 

[Dharmabum]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

First of all, you will not able to get an back-up to Dier who "could do the same job". Unless you pay 25-30M; and even then you cannot be sure. He is one of the top DM in the EPL this season. There is a reason why players accept to be back-ups: because they know they are not better.
Bentaleb is still (far) too young to be written off as a quality DM and when played there he was not exactly poorly either. As for Dembele, he had a MOTM performance vs Liverpool not long ago! I am happy with both as DM back ups (well an injury free Bentaleb that is).

 

[steve]

First of all, you will not able to get an back-up to Dier who "could do the same job". Unless you pay 25-30M; and even then you cannot be sure. He is one of the top DM in the EPL this season. There is a reason why players accept to be back-ups: because they know they are not better.
Bentaleb is still (far) too young to be written off as a quality DM and when played there he was not exactly poorly either. As for Dembele, he had a MOTM performance vs Liverpool not long ago! I am happy with both as DM back ups (well an injury free Bentaleb that is).

Agree with this. As good as Dier has become this season (and he's grown a lot especially receiving the ball) he's not the only reason we've been more solid defensively. Aside from Toby coming in and doing well with Jan we've had the front 5 mostly working their balls off and defending from the front in a way that Bentaleb and Mason didn't get the benefit from last season. Kane, Eriksen, Lamela, Son, Dembele, Alli, Mason have made the Poch philosophy work really well this season. Mason and Bentalab had to put up with a lot of half arsed bollocks from the likes of Chad and Townsend last year that Dier thankfully has not been exposed to.

Whilst none of Mason, Bents or Dembele may possess Diers natural penchant for defending and covering I think the idea we'd be up shit creek without him is wide of the mark.

 

[steve]

And Walker too has been fit and increasingly consistent this season helping us too

 

[Matrix]

I think Dier has looked far more accomplished in this side in that position then Bentaleb. It's no secret that our upturn in form coincides with Dele Ali forming a good understanding with Dier. Under no circumstances should Bentaleb play the Defensive role as he it often found wanting. He has too many "walker" moments and to have one of those as defensive midfield is suicidal as proven in a few matches. He really needs a defensive guy next to him that has a defenders mindset of dropping back etc.
So for me another DM, and if we do get an injury to a defender Dier can step back in that gap and new DM can step into Diers roll.
Also definitely need another striker.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I think Dier has looked far more accomplished in this side in that position then Bentaleb. It's no secret that our upturn in form coincides with Dele Ali forming a good understanding with Dier. Under no circumstances should Bentaleb play the Defensive role as he it often found wanting. He has too many "walker" moments and to have one of those as defensive midfield is suicidal as proven in a few matches. He really needs a defensive guy next to him that has a defenders mindset of dropping back etc.
So for me another DM, and if we do get an injury to a defender Dier can step back in that gap and new DM can step into Diers roll.
Also definitely need another striker.

I have to say, that as someone who prefers Dier and Alli - don't underestimate the coaching that Poch and his team have done.

Dier and Alli are good - but they also have benefited from improved play from everyone around them (And they have helped everyone around them play better). If Mason and Bentaleb had to step in - they have better AMs tracking back defensively, they have better organization in the defensive line behind them.

We may be better with Dier/Alli, but don't confuse that with we would be poor without them.

First priority is a back-up striker for Kane. After that, you have to consider who you would cut from the squad. If you bring in a DM - then you have to sell one of Mason, Bentaleb, or Dembele - because we would be left with 6 players for 2 spots, and not enough games to keep everyone happy and integrated into the system. I don't think we are selling any of our CMs - so I don't think we are bringing in any new CMs in January.

 

[CJMurray]

I think Dier has looked far more accomplished in this side in that position then Bentaleb. It's no secret that our upturn in form coincides with Dele Ali forming a good understanding with Dier. Under no circumstances should Bentaleb play the Defensive role as he it often found wanting. He has too many "walker" moments and to have one of those as defensive midfield is suicidal as proven in a few matches. He really needs a defensive guy next to him that has a defenders mindset of dropping back etc.
So for me another DM, and if we do get an injury to a defender Dier can step back in that gap and new DM can step into Diers roll.
Also definitely need another striker.

'Under no circumstances should Bentaleb play the Defensive role as he it often found wanting'.

Nah, that's a ridiculous overreaction to a couple of sloppy passes. 18 year old Bentaleb played as the DM away at Benfica in this team:

Friedel
Naughton Sandro Fryers Rose
Bentaleb Sigurdsson
Lennon Chadli Townsend
Soldado
​

I mean look at the fucking state of that team. Lazy fuckers everywhere. Bentaleb was unreal in that game and has been in many more since then so why shouldn't he play there? We've finally got our team pressing and working properly all over the pitch and have a settled back four. Something Bentaleb's never had the chance to play in. He's a fucking fantastic footballer and could more than do the job for us in DM.

Yes, he's been a bit sloppy on the ball occasionally but now he's finally been punished for that I assume it's something that will be worked on.

 

[alexis]

The two positions where we really look vulnerable to an injury are upfront and in defensive midfield.

The lack of backup for Kane is an obvious issue, and hopefully one that we are looking to address in January.

As for defensive midfield, although we have plenty of central midfielders, I just don't think any of them could do the same job as Dier if he got injured. Mason and Alli aren't defensive midfielders, and Bentaleb and Dembele have both failed to impress when playing in that position.

Finding Dier for that role has made a huge difference to our season, and I'd be very worried about what would happen without him.

Doesn't winks play there

 

[alexis]

Striker and Boufal please

 

[voxy28]

I hope we make a big splash on Embolo...

 

[kcmei]

Boufal + pato

 

[rocklink]

Pato cant handle pochetinno's training session