Our Squad 2015/16

[Spursidol]

Been away for a week, so just catching up.

Spurs v MLS AllStars

Injured - Lloris, Mason, Pritchard,
Resting after International Duty - Lamela,

Vorm (McGee, 63); Walker (Trippier, 46), Alderweireld (Fazio, 63), Vertonghen (Wimmer, 46), Davies (Rose, 63); Bentaleb (Carroll, 46), Dier (Winks, 63); Chadli (Yedlin, 63), Eriksen (Alli, 46), Dembele (Onomah, 63); Kane (Coulthirst, 77).

Squad being used pretty much as expected in this game. A few comments :

- Dier being used as a DM, as he seemed to be in the 'behind closed doors' matches
- Townsend not used, injured ?
- RW covered by Chadli and Yedlin (first seen as RW in a Spurs shirt ?) in absence of Lamela and Townsend
- Carroll still with squad.
- Still no sign of Fredericks, injured or in process of being sold
- Onomah & Winks getting more minutes with squad, as is McGee as 3rd GK
- Coulthirst continues as striker, at least pending signing of a striker.
- Great shame not to have seen Oduwa and Veljkovic involved, but a 22 man squad without them, so difficult to argue in some respects.
- No sign of any of the expected departing players (now Adebayor, Soldado and Lennon), but no real surprise there

 

[Crash]

Very disappointed we haven't signed a striker yet. Even with the Ade situation we've sold a number of players so surely MP would have wanted to bed in a striker early on. We're still heavily relying on Kane

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Very disappointed we haven't signed a striker yet. Even with the Ade situation we've sold a number of players so surely MP would have wanted to bed in a striker early on. We're still heavily relying on Kane

It's not about whether or not we have a striker yet.
It's about whether or not we get the best fitting striker in.

 

[YiddoTom90]

was hoping we would get a cdm and striker by now, even a fast winger, doesn't feel me with joy that we are relatively the same from last season, pray we don't panic buy

 

[Spursidol]

OP updated for Chirches leaving.

Just the 3 in OP forecast as 'Spurs definitely want these to leave' - Adebayor, Soldado and Lennon. Of course there is still all of August to go yet to sell these 3 and IMO Spurs have done well to move 6 out already, so no need to panic yet. I'm sure the club would like the 2 strikers out as they are probably the most highly paid of the original 9.

Would be nice to get the striker and experienced CM in asap, but not time to panic yet.

 

[Mr Pink]

Not a bad article this:

http://www.football365.com/faves/9932047/F365-Says

 

[Spursidol]

Not a bad article this:

http://www.football365.com/faves/9932047/F365-Says

Pretty good article - will it sort out those who think the glass is half empty to those who think its half full though ?

 

[Spursidol]

Mason and Lloris travelling to the Audi Cup is great news.

Hopefully available for the weekend ?

 

[scat1620]

[continued from a conversation beginning to veer off-topic in the ITK thread]

I know that the ITK is giving the sense that everything's bubbling along away from the public gaze so I'll place some faith in that, but I just wish we could have it confirmed by the official site that Soldado and Adebayor are gone and that we've replaced them with someone who might actually stand a chance of playing/scoring for us. I get that it's not much different from most of last season as Soldado and Adebayor were so dire/absent that we effectively just did have the one proper striker in 14/15, but I can't stop worrying that our luck with Kane's fitness/form can't last forever. Come on Spurs, let's get this done, rather than nearly done!

Chadli scored 11 goals playing from ALM last season, that's more than Berahino if you take his penalties off. Eriksen got 10 and maybe Lamela could improve on his 2 and I'm damn sure Pritchard can chip in with goals. And as you say, Ade and Soldado were so insipid that even if we played Coltihurst or Harrison they couldn't give us less.

No need to panic, at worse we'll be on par with last year's 5th finishing group.

Agree with the general point that our AM's (well, Chadli and Eriksen, at least) provided a very healthy goal return last season, better than we've had in that position (with the exception of Bale) for a long time. And I too hope that Lamela can step up his goalscoring this year. [As an aside, I think he really needs to - as this will be the 3rd year of his 5 year deal, and he needs to really come of age this season if he wants us to offer him a generous new contract next summer, when he'll be at that classic 2 years left 'extend or sell' crossroads. I'm optimistic that he can, but he's not a newbie any more and he really needs to take his game to that next level in 15/16 if he's not to become one of those nearly-made-it players for us.]

Also agree that Coulthirst/Harrison wouldn't give us any less than Soldado/Adebayor did last term, but equally I can't lie and say that the thought of Kane getting a bad injury doesn't leave me in a cold sweat. We have our other key/important players, but I can't think of any other position in the squad where the drop in quality between our first choice and our squad options is so dramatic as it is in the striker position.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

[continued from a conversation beginning to veer off-topic in the ITK thread]





Agree with the general point that our AM's (well, Chadli and Eriksen, at least) provided a very healthy goal return last season, better than we've had in that position (with the exception of Bale) for a long time. And I too hope that Lamela can step up his goalscoring this year. [As an aside, I think he really needs to - as this will be the 3rd year of his 5 year deal, and he needs to really come of age this season if he wants us to offer him a generous new contract next summer, when he'll be at that classic 2 years left 'extend or sell' crossroads. I'm optimistic that he can, but he's not a newbie any more and he really needs to take his game to that next level in 15/16 if he's not to become one of those nearly-made-it players for us.]

Also agree that Coulthirst/Harrison wouldn't give us any less than Soldado/Adebayor did last term, but equally I can't lie and say that the thought of Kane getting a bad injury doesn't leave me in a cold sweat. We have our other key/important players, but I can't think of any other position in the squad where the drop in quality between our first choice and our squad options is so dramatic as it is in the striker position.

But the drop from Kane to Chadli playing as a striker in his place actually isn't so frightening. Chadli has many similar qualities actually, good strength, will drift wide and deep, reasonable technique, can be frustrating at times but is a decent finisher (he also got something like 19 in his last dutch season).

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Why do people say this? A goal is a goal. Taking penalties, as any pro will tell you is a skill in itself. You can argue its a one off, unchallenged kick from 12 yards but so were some of Kanes last season, and does that make a tap in any less of an achievement? A striker scores a tap in and its "goalscoring instinct" but having the ability and nerve to take a penalty and its "just a penalty". Its a ridiculous argument against a player.

What about taking off Eriksens free-kicks?

Sorry for going off topic but ive seen this so many times when talking about Berahino and its nonsense.

I've answered this question elsewhere. Of course penalties are a skill and require good technique and temperament. The point is that maybe Chadli would like to take penalties but doesn't get the opportunity, and if your comparing him with another player who does get that opportunity to have a free pop at goal 5 or 6 times as season you have to make that caveat. It does give one player an advantage over the other, and all finishing requires good technique and composure, but scoring regular goals require a lot of other skills too.

 

[Spursidol]

[continued from a conversation beginning to veer off-topic in the ITK thread]





Agree with the general point that our AM's (well, Chadli and Eriksen, at least) provided a very healthy goal return last season, better than we've had in that position (with the exception of Bale) for a long time. And I too hope that Lamela can step up his goalscoring this year. [As an aside, I think he really needs to - as this will be the 3rd year of his 5 year deal, and he needs to really come of age this season if he wants us to offer him a generous new contract next summer, when he'll be at that classic 2 years left 'extend or sell' crossroads. I'm optimistic that he can, but he's not a newbie any more and he really needs to take his game to that next level in 15/16 if he's not to become one of those nearly-made-it players for us.]

Also agree that Coulthirst/Harrison wouldn't give us any less than Soldado/Adebayor did last term, but equally I can't lie and say that the thought of Kane getting a bad injury doesn't leave me in a cold sweat. We have our other key/important players, but I can't think of any other position in the squad where the drop in quality between our first choice and our squad options is so dramatic as it is in the striker position.

IMO the introduction of Pritchard to the squad could make a reasonable difference.

Last season Eriksen looked knackered, particularly in the 2nd half of the season as he was played so much. I'm hoping that playing Pritchard in say 20 of the almost 60 matches (assuming its similar to last season) will see Eriksen fully rested when playing so that his goals and assists will be likely more plus I think Pritchard will chip in with ,maybe 6-10 goals/assists if he starts say 20 matches.

Lamela - agreed he should improve but I'm not counting on that atm.

I am hoping that we do not need to rely on Chadli as back up striker(despite BC's eloquent views), as ITK says we will be buying one or even 2 strikers. If we do need to play Chadli in place of a striker, I'm hoping Poch plays more of a 460 formation (quite possibly including Chadli), ie where all the AM's take it in turn to go upfront as I think that will be more effective than Chadli being striker. In those circumstances I'd like to include Oduwa as a possible AM as he offers a different goal threat than the other AM's we have - but Poch hasn't shown any enthusiasm for that idea in pre-season.

 

[Spursidol]

I've answered this question elsewhere. Of course penalties are a skill and require good technique and temperament. The point is that maybe Chadli would like to take penalties but doesn't get the opportunity, and if your comparing him with another player who does get that opportunity to have a free pop at goal 5 or 6 times as season you have to make that caveat. It does give one player an advantage over the other, and all finishing requires good technique and composure, but scoring regular goals require a lot of other skills too.

The other point to make on this is that Spurs have several decent penalty takers already - Townsend for example is surprisingly good at scoring penalties and don't think he missed any he took last season.

If Berahino joins, its not likely that Spurs will be awarded more penalties, so in turn any penalties which Berahino scored last season will not result in an increase in goals to Spurs next season.

Whoever we sign as striker, we are hoping to add more goals from open play from that player to Spurs, any penalties scored by that new players are likely to be a redistribution of penalties scored by say Townsend last season to the new player so it doesn't improve Spurs goals scored total.

That's why its valid to separate penalties from goals scored from open play.

 

[Lilbaz]

The other point to make on this is that Spurs have several decent penalty takers already - Townsend for example is surprisingly good at scoring penalties and don't think he missed any he took last season.

If Berahino joins, its not likely that Spurs will be awarded more penalties, so in turn any penalties which Berahino scored last season will not result in an increase in goals to Spurs next season.

Whoever we sign as striker, we are hoping to add more goals from open play from that player to Spurs, any penalties scored by that new players are likely to be a redistribution of penalties scored by say Townsend last season to the new player so it doesn't improve Spurs goals scored total.

That's why its valid to separate penalties from goals scored from open play.

Take penalties away he gets more goals than Lamela and townsend put together and can play in their position.

 

[Doomchicken]

Take penalties away he gets more goals than Lamela and townsend put together and can play in their position.

He's not really a right winger though. More of a striker or left winger.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Take penalties away he gets more goals than Lamela and townsend put together and can play in their position.

He didn't score goals from their position though, and he gets less assists than the part of them put together, which is pretty hard to do.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

He didn't score goals from their position though, and he gets less assists than the part of them put together, which is pretty hard to do.

Lamela's arguably our most creative player, so your comment is harsh.

 

[Lilbaz]

He's not really a right winger though. More of a striker or left winger.

He has played there on numerous times though.

 

[Lilbaz]

He didn't score goals from their position though, and he gets less assists than the part of them put together, which is pretty hard to do.

Yes he has.Last season in the premiership he played 3 games at rw and scored 2 goals.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Lamela's arguably our most creative player, so your comment is harsh.

Fair point. He created less than Townsend. Hard to do.