Player Watch: Clément Lenglet

[N'Obody]

The only issue for me is I don't think our defence is elite. We haven't strengthened to a necessary level at CB (yet).

I know our defence did well under Conte last season, but on an individual quality basis it's still lacking and over the course of a season I do feel Davies and to a lesser extent Dier will make mistakes that the likes of City and Liverpool's back line won't.

Lenglet is a welcome addition, we will have to see if he is first choice over Davies.

For me, going into this summer, LCB, CM, AM, RWB and LWB were the positions we badly needed to upgrade. And we also needed another attacker for depth, and personally I wanted an upgrade on Dier but I understand others might disagree on that one.

LWB - Perisic
CM - Bissouma
Attacker - Richarlison

Undoubted quality in those positions now adding depth.

RWB will likely be Spence, but not sure that's an upgrade.
LCB - Lenglet, unsure yet how much of an upgrade that is on Davies.

We still need an AM and I still think we need a top CB to come in. I think otherwise our defence will be found a bit lacking this season in those tight games. CB is so important.

If we sign a top CB, Lenglet can cover both LCB and CCB.

I agree with you, but at the same time we need to realise that Conte is a great coach. He elevates players to another level. So the level we see our players at the moment aren't their peak. I believe the players have another level they can go up.

Conte is the perfect Moneyball coach. Brings out the individual elite level in the players he coaches.

But i do agree we still need another CB and a CM and I think we are good for the next season.

It's time to believe and trust the process.

 

[mil1lion]

The only issue for me is I don't think our defence is elite. We haven't strengthened to a necessary level at CB (yet).

I know our defence did well under Conte last season, but on an individual quality basis it's still lacking and over the course of a season I do feel Davies and to a lesser extent Dier will make mistakes that the likes of City and Liverpool's back line won't.

Lenglet is a welcome addition, we will have to see if he is first choice over Davies.

For me, going into this summer, LCB, CM, AM, RWB and LWB were the positions we badly needed to upgrade. And we also needed another attacker for depth, and personally I wanted an upgrade on Dier but I understand others might disagree on that one.

LWB - Perisic
CM - Bissouma
Attacker - Richarlison

Undoubted quality in those positions now adding depth.

RWB will likely be Spence, but not sure that's an upgrade.
LCB - Lenglet, unsure yet how much of an upgrade that is on Davies.

We still need an AM and I still think we need a top CB to come in. I think otherwise our defence will be found a bit lacking this season in those tight games. CB is so important.

If we sign a top CB, Lenglet can cover both LCB and CCB.

Our defence is quality because of the way Conte drills them, its the quality in depth that is lacking. As long as we have natural replacements we'll be fine. Sanchez did well coming in for Romero and Lenglet will add competition for Davies. We just need someone for the Dier role. If we can upgrade then great but not many available to do that. I'd love us to go big on de Ligt for example but not sure what his wages are like. Not many teams have more than 1 top stand out centre back though. City have Diaz, Liverpool have VVD and we have Romero (Chelsea had Rudiger).

 

[spids]

Our defence is quality because of the way Conte drills them, its the quality in depth that is lacking. As long as we have natural replacements we'll be fine. Sanchez did well coming in for Romero and Lenglet will add competition for Davies. We just need someone for the Dier role. If we can upgrade then great but not many available to do that. I'd love us to go big on de Ligt for example but not sure what his wages are like. Not many teams have more than 1 top stand out centre back though. City have Diaz, Liverpool have VVD and we have Romero (Chelsea had Rudiger).

As you say, it is the system and coaching that makes a defence good. A good example is Chelsea - Under Fat Frank they let in a lot of goals. Tuchel came in and turned them into a very mean defence, same personnel just a different system and coaching. Look at the difference in Dier and Davies the last 10 games - incredibly tight defence. This was helped by familiarity with COnte's system plus having a better shield in CM (with Bentancur and Højbjerg forming a formidable partnership). Our weakness in defence has been:

1. When one of our first choice CBs were unavailable (or even two at once which was the case when we got beaten multiple times by Chelsea in January) we do not have back ups suited to the Conte system (Sanchez deputised well at the end of the season but is not comfortable enough on the ball).

2. Aerially we are weak, especially from set pieces. That is being addressed by all our new signings being big (Bentancur, Kulusevski, Perisic, Bissouma, Richarlison, Lenglet - all six footers), and we're also bringing in a set piece specialist coach.

I will be more than happy if our first choice back 3 remains Romero, Dier, Davies, as long as we do not have to rely on Tanganga, Rodon, and Sanchez as the back ups when we have injuries and suspensions because they are not good enough on the ball.

 

[mil1lion]

As you say, it is the system and coaching that makes a defence good. A good example is Chelsea - Under Fat Frank they let in a lot of goals. Tuchel came in and turned them into a very mean defence, same personnel just a different system and coaching. Look at the difference in Dier and Davies the last 10 games - incredibly tight defence. This was helped by familiarity with COnte's system plus having a better shield in CM (with Bentancur and Højbjerg forming a formidable partnership). Our weakness in defence has been:

1. When one of our first choice CBs were unavailable (or even two at once which was the case when we got beaten multiple times by Chelsea in January) we do not have back ups suited to the Conte system (Sanchez deputised well at the end of the season but is not comfortable enough on the ball).

2. Aerially we are weak, especially from set pieces. That is being addressed by all our new signings being big (Bentancur, Kulusevski, Perisic, Bissouma, Richarlison, Lenglet - all six footers), and we're also bringing in a set piece specialist coach.

I will be more than happy if our first choice back 3 remains Romero, Dier, Davies, as long as we do not have to rely on Tanganga, Rodon, and Sanchez as the back ups when we have injuries and suspensions because they are not good enough on the ball.

I think Sanchez can and will stay because we will likely just replace Rodon and Tanganga. But with Lenglet adding another who is good on the ball it wont be a major issue with Sanchez playing. It's also going to help having quality midfielders for him to pass into with Bentancur and Bissouma now.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Good to hear Conte allows the players to sleep after CL matches!

 

[Basil Brush]

I only have a simple message on this deal.

If Antonio is happy, I am happy.

 

[Dakes]

Good that he chose to speak with Hugo who shared with him the pros and cons of Spurs and London as opposed to Tanguy who would’ve shared with him the pros and cons of playing football instead.

 

[buttons]

He hasn’t travelled with the squad but assume the intention would be he’ll join up as soon as he can?

 

[Yiddo100]

He hasn’t travelled with the squad but assume the intention would be he’ll join up as soon as he can?

I don’t think so, they’re only there for a week I believe so think he’ll stay in London.

 

[Yid-ol]

He hasn’t travelled with the squad but assume the intention would be he’ll join up as soon as he can?

Wouldn't have had paperwork sorted to travel, so probably will join up once they are back

 

[chrissivad]

He hasn’t travelled with the squad but assume the intention would be he’ll join up as soon as he can?

We are probably only out there for a week.
By the time he gets a visa and then traveling out, it might not be worth it.

Give him a few days to move over and then start training before the squad arrive back

 

[kremlyn]

Seems like a humble and polite young man. Bodes well.

 

[buttons]

I don’t think so, they’re only there for a week I believe so think he’ll stay in London.

Wouldn't have had paperwork sorted to travel, so probably will join up once they are back

We are probably only out there for a week.
By the time he gets a visa and then traveling out, it might not be worth it.

Give him a few days to move over and then start training before the squad arrive back

Thanks all, assumed we were on a longer tour!

 

[gavspur]

Nice to hear him asking a couple of questions. We, as supporters, forget the upheaval these guys go through to move clubs. Family, houses, schools, Doctors, etc etc etc. Plus, he probably had a nice house in Barcelona, with a nice pool. Not that you can’t have a nice house with a pool here, but the weather is a bit different - apart from today, obv.

 

[Aphex]

 

[curlacious]

Pretty sure he actually said "Also, with three defenders, he can give us more than to play with four at the back"

 

[ChaoticBeaver]

Another quality signing

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

Feeling about optimistic for Lenglet, despite not seeing much of him outside of the obligatory YT compilation. Those long passes and his silky control look magic. If he can adapt to the league, I think he could be a huge upgrade on Davies (who I like also, but I think is already at his peak and perhaps even over-performing at times).

 

[Basil Brush]

Feeling very optimistic for Lenglet, despite not seeing much of him outside of the obligatory YT compilation. Those long passes and his silky control look magic. If he can adapt to the league, I think he could be a huge upgrade on Davies (who I like also, but I think is already at his peak and perhaps even over-performing at times).

"Huge upgrade on Davies" seems very unfair.

 

[AtoubaToothpaste]

"Huge upgrade on Davies" seems very unfair.

I was talking in terms of his ability to pass. Davies has a lot of great qualities, but he's never been a particularly great progressive passer.