We have a better squad for playing Pochettino's system, that's for sure. There are still holes in the squad and we do look short in two areas. It was never likely that we would address all of the squad's flaws in one window unfortunately. If Levy had pulled off a DM and forward signing to compliment all of the others, the squad would look perfect. But it was always going to be a massive ask to achieve perfection in one window. There's been a significant shake-up in playing staff and the squad does look younger, leaner, quicker and better suited to a fast, aggressive pressing game.
Our Squad 2015/16
- Thread starter Spursidol
- Start date
We have a better squad for playing Pochettino's system, that's for sure. There are still holes in the squad and we do look short in two areas. It was never likely that we would address all of the squad's flaws in one window unfortunately. If Levy had pulled off a DM and forward signing to compliment all of the others, the squad would look perfect. But it was always going to be a massive ask to achieve perfection in one window. There's been a significant shake-up in playing staff and the squad does look younger, leaner, quicker and better suited to a fast, aggressive pressing game.
Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
- 14,914
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We don't know that yet. We can assume it, but we don't know it.
Besides, Pochettino was hired because he believed in the talent of the squad we had and wanted to work with them. I guess that was only lies, and I'm exhausted from seeing yet another reshape of the squad. It's almost like the last twelve months hold no value we can benefit from today, starting from scratch, learning the systems, accepting loosing points to break in a squad, shape a style of play. I'm just not a person who enjoys taking constant steps sideways.
Well we keep finishing 5th and we don't have the resources to compete with those 4th and above so you better learn to cope with sideways steps
Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
- 14,914
- 26,616
No we don't "keep doing it", and it won't happen this season.
wrd
Well-Known Member
- Aug 22, 2014
- 13,603
- 58,005
Not sure if this is the thread to do it but this is my outlook on things,
Overall I'm not in full meltdown mode as some others as I believe we have strengthened enough to compete. The way I see it is our first choice 11 will eventually be be:
Lloris, Trippier, Alder, Vert, Rose, Dier, Bentaleb, Eriksen Son(RW) Chadli(LW) Kane (With how dembele has been playing I can see him taking a starting spot from Chadli thus freeing chadli to be our reserve striker.)
How I see it is that we have strength in depth going forward, We now have Lamela, Dembele, N'jie, Pritchard, Townsend, Alli, Mason to choose from. People worrying about Kane being only forward I really don't see that being the case, Chadli can play uptop in the league cup if we want a tall strong CF but we also have N'jie who can play uptop and we now have the ability to go 4-4-2 with Son pushing up with Kane and bringing on Lamela/dembele/townsend on the wing or pushing eriksen out wide if we don't replace a midfielder and have eriksen drop deeper.
The thing with Berahino is he would of been a great option but we have added the attributes he will bring i.e pace and finishing in Son and N'jie but obviously the more options the better.
My biggest concern is Dier, I think he will be a really great DM, He is strong in the tackle but can also pass and has athleticism but if he gets injured then what? We should have a different dm in-case he isn't working so we can change it up.
Overall I'm not in full meltdown mode as some others as I believe we have strengthened enough to compete. The way I see it is our first choice 11 will eventually be be:
Lloris, Trippier, Alder, Vert, Rose, Dier, Bentaleb, Eriksen Son(RW) Chadli(LW) Kane (With how dembele has been playing I can see him taking a starting spot from Chadli thus freeing chadli to be our reserve striker.)
How I see it is that we have strength in depth going forward, We now have Lamela, Dembele, N'jie, Pritchard, Townsend, Alli, Mason to choose from. People worrying about Kane being only forward I really don't see that being the case, Chadli can play uptop in the league cup if we want a tall strong CF but we also have N'jie who can play uptop and we now have the ability to go 4-4-2 with Son pushing up with Kane and bringing on Lamela/dembele/townsend on the wing or pushing eriksen out wide if we don't replace a midfielder and have eriksen drop deeper.
The thing with Berahino is he would of been a great option but we have added the attributes he will bring i.e pace and finishing in Son and N'jie but obviously the more options the better.
My biggest concern is Dier, I think he will be a really great DM, He is strong in the tackle but can also pass and has athleticism but if he gets injured then what? We should have a different dm in-case he isn't working so we can change it up.
Locotoro
Prince of Zamunda
- Sep 2, 2004
- 9,412
- 14,103
I really don't understand the doom and gloom around here.
At the start of the summer if you would say that we would clear the deadwood (almost entirely), retain our key players and bring in 5 players to improve the squad, one (possibly 2) of which go straight into the first team, 99% of Spurs fans would have taken that in a heart beat.
Are we missing a DM? Yes we are, but we finished 5th without one last season and given Dier's very competent performances in the last 2 matches I'm not overly worried that he can't improve in the role.
Are we missing a back up striker? Yes, but we hardly had one last season with the performances of Soldado and the absence of Ade. Fortunately we have Son, N'jie and Chadli all capable of playing the role.
There will always be areas of the team that need improvement, that is the nature of the game. We have 3 months to get the most out of the squad and hope by January we can look at other players to bring in to help.
At the start of the summer if you would say that we would clear the deadwood (almost entirely), retain our key players and bring in 5 players to improve the squad, one (possibly 2) of which go straight into the first team, 99% of Spurs fans would have taken that in a heart beat.
Are we missing a DM? Yes we are, but we finished 5th without one last season and given Dier's very competent performances in the last 2 matches I'm not overly worried that he can't improve in the role.
Are we missing a back up striker? Yes, but we hardly had one last season with the performances of Soldado and the absence of Ade. Fortunately we have Son, N'jie and Chadli all capable of playing the role.
There will always be areas of the team that need improvement, that is the nature of the game. We have 3 months to get the most out of the squad and hope by January we can look at other players to bring in to help.
We do in recent seasons and can you tell me the lottery numbers?
Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
- 14,914
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You probably feel you have a point that is valid, but the answer is no.
However, I accurately predicted the league winners the two last seasons, and I did say constantly for a year that we'd finish 5th last season.
Spursidol
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2007
- 12,636
- 15,834
- Thread starter
- #329
Thought it would be useful to look at the squad we have from the point of PL/EL registration:
GK - Hugo Lloris, Michel Vorm
RB - Kyle Walker (A), Kieran Tripper (A)
LB - Danny Rose (C), Ben Davies (A)
CB's - Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin Wimmer, Federico Fazio
CM's - Ryan Mason ( C), Mousa Dembélé, Tom Carroll ( C),
AM's - Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend ( C) Alex Pritchard (C)
Strikers - Heung-min Son, Harry Kane ( C), Clinton Njie, Emmanuel Adebayor
Total 22 (over the age of 21), with 6 cub trained players and 3 players trained by clubs affiliated to FA or WFA and 13 overseas trained players. NB I've included Adebayor - as why not if we have squad room ? Can Poch make him work for his wages, that's another question, if he can why not get him to Azerbaijan !
Under 21's include Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier, Milos Veljkvic, Harry Winks, Josha Onomah, Dele Alli
(nb I think Dier and Alli require registration a part of the main squad under UEFA rules as they have not been at Spurs long enough so 24 I total in the main squad under UEFA rules)
GK - Hugo Lloris, Michel Vorm
RB - Kyle Walker (A), Kieran Tripper (A)
LB - Danny Rose (C), Ben Davies (A)
CB's - Jan Vertonghen, Toby Alderweireld, Kevin Wimmer, Federico Fazio
CM's - Ryan Mason ( C), Mousa Dembélé, Tom Carroll ( C),
AM's - Christian Eriksen, Nacer Chadli, Erik Lamela, Andros Townsend ( C) Alex Pritchard (C)
Strikers - Heung-min Son, Harry Kane ( C), Clinton Njie, Emmanuel Adebayor
Total 22 (over the age of 21), with 6 cub trained players and 3 players trained by clubs affiliated to FA or WFA and 13 overseas trained players. NB I've included Adebayor - as why not if we have squad room ? Can Poch make him work for his wages, that's another question, if he can why not get him to Azerbaijan !
Under 21's include Nabil Bentaleb, Eric Dier, Milos Veljkvic, Harry Winks, Josha Onomah, Dele Alli
(nb I think Dier and Alli require registration a part of the main squad under UEFA rules as they have not been at Spurs long enough so 24 I total in the main squad under UEFA rules)
slartibartfast
Grunge baby forever
- Oct 21, 2012
- 18,320
- 33,955
Pretty sure if you'd said we'll be going into the season with ONE out and out striker 99% of Spurs fans would have said thats a fkin disaster.
The 1% that didn't must be bloody stupid lol
Locotoro
Prince of Zamunda
- Sep 2, 2004
- 9,412
- 14,103
Pretty sure if you'd said we'll be going into the season with ONE out and out striker 99% of Spurs fans would have said thats a fkin disaster.
The 1% that didn't must be bloody stupid lol
I'm looking at the situation and asking how many of the problems did we solve. If you look back at the Transfer thread at the begining of the summer this is the priority people were talking about:
- New first choice CB to partner Vertonghen - Done
- Adequate competition for Walker - Done
- More Wide Forwards capable of playing FC - Done (twice)
- Back up FC - Aside from WFs not done
- Clearing out all the squad players that do not form part of our future and opening up the space for the youth players - Done
- Experienced DM? - not done
- Bringing in a creative AM - Done
- Improved back up for CB - Done
It was only when we resolved all the other glaring problems did people start saying we still need this or that.
GetSpurredOn
Well-Known Member
- Jun 18, 2006
- 5,022
- 8,922
If we move to 433/4312, some games it could be 433 with three forwards, other games it could be 4312, with one of the forwards slightly withdrawn/free to roam as a no10 like Eriksen. CM 3 with a deeper player shielding the Defence, then the other two given more dynamism, pressing forward. The likes of Carroll and Mason may be better suited to this. Bentaleb can play either role really.
GK - Lloris, Vorm (McGee)
RB - Walker, Trippier (Walker-Peters)
LB - Rose, Davies (Ogilvie)
RCB - Alderweireld, Fazio (Carter-Vickers)
LCB - Vertonghen, Wimmer
DM - Dier, Bentaleb (Velkjovic)
RCM - Mason, Alli (Winks)
LCM - Carroll, Dembele
AM/No10 - Eriksen, Pritchard, Lamela (Onomah)
WF - Chadli, Son, Njie, Townsend
CF - Kane (Adebayor?/Coulthirst?)
24 players, 11 homegrown. Room for Adebayor if he can be rehabbed mentally, and reintegrated (we know he plays well when playing for a contract, and he needs to put himself in the shop window to earn a move in Jan/Summer), and then used for Europa and Cup games to give Kane a break. Failing that, Coulthirst maybe, once his loan runs out in October.
GK - Lloris, Vorm (McGee)
RB - Walker, Trippier (Walker-Peters)
LB - Rose, Davies (Ogilvie)
RCB - Alderweireld, Fazio (Carter-Vickers)
LCB - Vertonghen, Wimmer
DM - Dier, Bentaleb (Velkjovic)
RCM - Mason, Alli (Winks)
LCM - Carroll, Dembele
AM/No10 - Eriksen, Pritchard, Lamela (Onomah)
WF - Chadli, Son, Njie, Townsend
CF - Kane (Adebayor?/Coulthirst?)
24 players, 11 homegrown. Room for Adebayor if he can be rehabbed mentally, and reintegrated (we know he plays well when playing for a contract, and he needs to put himself in the shop window to earn a move in Jan/Summer), and then used for Europa and Cup games to give Kane a break. Failing that, Coulthirst maybe, once his loan runs out in October.
jedimonkey
COYS!
- Jan 28, 2011
- 1,849
- 4,230
Just a quick note. U21 players don't count towards the squad and Ade will be in it any way because we have space in the squad and if you have players on your books eligible for the squad you have to name them. Only way we wouldn't name him is if we already had 17 foreign players in the squad.
Spursidol
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2007
- 12,636
- 15,834
- Thread starter
- #334
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2016/clubs/club=1652/squad/index.html
No Adebayor in the EL squad, otherwise, the post above is correct including Dier and Alli being named in the main squad.
U21's do not need to be named until day before the match so plenty of time for those to be included
Everlasting Seconds
Well-Known Member
- Jan 9, 2014
- 14,914
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I suppose looking back over the summer, I'm actually a slight bit unhappy with the gross numbers, and what they represent.
As I wrote several times, this window was one in which a net zero was actually desirable, having so many players the head coach didn't want to work with. Before the window started, I expected to sell for 45-70 millions, and buy for the same amount.
We ended up toward the lower end of that range. When we had in front of us another big reshaping of the squad, I would have hoped that we had achieved even a bit more. 2-3 more sales, funding 1-2 more players. That would have balanced the squad more in terms of players the head coach want, and possibly in terms of unquestionably having strengthened.
As it is, I feel just a tad too much was left undone. At the end of the day, I think the squad is not stronger than last season. Only a bit different.
As I wrote several times, this window was one in which a net zero was actually desirable, having so many players the head coach didn't want to work with. Before the window started, I expected to sell for 45-70 millions, and buy for the same amount.
We ended up toward the lower end of that range. When we had in front of us another big reshaping of the squad, I would have hoped that we had achieved even a bit more. 2-3 more sales, funding 1-2 more players. That would have balanced the squad more in terms of players the head coach want, and possibly in terms of unquestionably having strengthened.
As it is, I feel just a tad too much was left undone. At the end of the day, I think the squad is not stronger than last season. Only a bit different.
THFCSPURS19
The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
- Jan 6, 2013
- 37,894
- 130,530
No Adebayor in the PL squad. Brutal.
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/premier-league-squad-list-030915/
http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/premier-league-squad-list-030915/
LexingtonSpurs
Well-Known Member
- Aug 27, 2013
- 13,456
- 39,042
I continue to be fascinated with the squad this season.
I think Poch as some interesting decisions ahead, particularly in the AM3
GK
Lloris - obvious starter, and now likely starter in Europa
Vorm - Starts in League and FA cups?
RB
Walker - seems to have a hold on the starting spot
Trippier - Europa/Cup
CB
Alderwiereld - League starter
Vertonghen - League starter
Wimmer - Europa/Cups
Fazio - not sure here, maybe he starts in Cups? Maybe he is just a squad player who fills in for injuries
LB
Davies - not entirely clear of role, but looks to have a piece of the starting role in League games
Rose - not sure if he has been carrying a knock, or has been bumped to Europa/Cups - good competition either way
CM2
Dier - Has a firm hold on one spot - plays more defensively.
Mason - seems to have jumped ahead of Bentaleb for the more offensive CM role in League games
Bentaleb - when healthy, I expect he would take Dier's role as the more defensive CM in Europa/Cup games.
Carroll - I assumed he would be in for the 10 role, but it looks like he and Alli have swapped positions
Winks - Injury replacement right now, but continues to develop
AM3
Son - settling in well, also looks to be in the mix as Kane's back-up
Eriksen - With his injury its harder to judge, but I expect he is still nailed on to one of the AM3 spots in League games
Alli - this is the first real question mark - has he done enough to be in the lineup with Son/Eriksen, or is he a starter on Europa/Cup teams, and filling in due to injury? For the moment, I think he is behind Chadli, but may not be for long.
Chadli - I think his spot is under pressure from Alli. He will have to step up in the next few games to hold off Alli.
Lamela - he has his work cut out for him trying to unseat a starter in League games, the ability to play all 3 positions helps, but he has to show more consistency. Good option to have on the bench though.
Dembele - a real enigma, whose injury came at the worst time for him. I see him as an option only for games where we think we need to hold up the ball more - and then he would be a bench option, or injury fill in.
Clinton - will probably take a while to settle, will have plenty of chances in Europa/Cup games, and provides a strong option on the bench. Presumably he will back up Son and Kane.
Townsend - needs to show more in Europa/Cup games.
Pritchard - currently injured, but will have to prove himself on Europa/Cup team to really even see the bench in league games.
The AM3 positions have some of the best competition. Alli is still young, so I think he still has to prove himself, but he feels a lot like Kane last year, where soon it will be impossible to keep him out of the lineup. That would seem to leave Eriksen, Chadli, Lamela, and Dembele fighting for 1 spot, and I think when healthy, Eriksen gets the nod. It also means we will have some fantastic options on the bench. But with 9 players fighting for 3 spots, several players are not going to get the playing time the want - even in Europa/Cup games. A loan for Pritchard may not be popular, but it may be in his, and the club's, best interest, at least in the short-term.
S
Kane - will play through the rough patches. Backed up by Son, and others.
I think Poch as some interesting decisions ahead, particularly in the AM3
GK
Lloris - obvious starter, and now likely starter in Europa
Vorm - Starts in League and FA cups?
RB
Walker - seems to have a hold on the starting spot
Trippier - Europa/Cup
CB
Alderwiereld - League starter
Vertonghen - League starter
Wimmer - Europa/Cups
Fazio - not sure here, maybe he starts in Cups? Maybe he is just a squad player who fills in for injuries
LB
Davies - not entirely clear of role, but looks to have a piece of the starting role in League games
Rose - not sure if he has been carrying a knock, or has been bumped to Europa/Cups - good competition either way
CM2
Dier - Has a firm hold on one spot - plays more defensively.
Mason - seems to have jumped ahead of Bentaleb for the more offensive CM role in League games
Bentaleb - when healthy, I expect he would take Dier's role as the more defensive CM in Europa/Cup games.
Carroll - I assumed he would be in for the 10 role, but it looks like he and Alli have swapped positions
Winks - Injury replacement right now, but continues to develop
AM3
Son - settling in well, also looks to be in the mix as Kane's back-up
Eriksen - With his injury its harder to judge, but I expect he is still nailed on to one of the AM3 spots in League games
Alli - this is the first real question mark - has he done enough to be in the lineup with Son/Eriksen, or is he a starter on Europa/Cup teams, and filling in due to injury? For the moment, I think he is behind Chadli, but may not be for long.
Chadli - I think his spot is under pressure from Alli. He will have to step up in the next few games to hold off Alli.
Lamela - he has his work cut out for him trying to unseat a starter in League games, the ability to play all 3 positions helps, but he has to show more consistency. Good option to have on the bench though.
Dembele - a real enigma, whose injury came at the worst time for him. I see him as an option only for games where we think we need to hold up the ball more - and then he would be a bench option, or injury fill in.
Clinton - will probably take a while to settle, will have plenty of chances in Europa/Cup games, and provides a strong option on the bench. Presumably he will back up Son and Kane.
Townsend - needs to show more in Europa/Cup games.
Pritchard - currently injured, but will have to prove himself on Europa/Cup team to really even see the bench in league games.
The AM3 positions have some of the best competition. Alli is still young, so I think he still has to prove himself, but he feels a lot like Kane last year, where soon it will be impossible to keep him out of the lineup. That would seem to leave Eriksen, Chadli, Lamela, and Dembele fighting for 1 spot, and I think when healthy, Eriksen gets the nod. It also means we will have some fantastic options on the bench. But with 9 players fighting for 3 spots, several players are not going to get the playing time the want - even in Europa/Cup games. A loan for Pritchard may not be popular, but it may be in his, and the club's, best interest, at least in the short-term.
S
Kane - will play through the rough patches. Backed up by Son, and others.
onthetwo
Well-Known Member
- May 19, 2006
- 4,585
- 3,407
i was wondering to myself last night, along the lines of the squad quality, whether Poch would think the squad he has now is better than the one he left behind at Soton? Sure, hes made more money himself, and maybe one could argue that our players are harder to poach than those from Soton given wages, prestige of a London club etc, but from a footballing point of view i find it hard to argue that our squad has the potential to break into the Top echelons of the PL any time soon?
