EmperorKabir
SC's Resident Legend
- Dec 8, 2004
- 5,278
- 846
So instead of just throwing down an XI and saying 'who's your best?' I'm going to give reasons for each one:
---------Lloris
Walker--Kaboul Vertonghen--Rose
-------Capoue/Sandro---------
Lennon/Townsend-------------Eriksen
---------Paulinho
-----------Lamela
-------Soldado
Lloris: Possibly one of the best keepers in the world. Friedel is a very good keeper in fairness to him but Hugo gets the nod.
Walker: I fear he had an early peak and may just be a 'one good season' player but if he gets his head down, there is no reason why he can't train a bit of diligence back into himself and bring back his sharper days. The alternatives are Naughton etc... good players but not at the level we are aiming.
Kaboul and Verts: Possibly one of the best centreback partnerships in Europe. Don't get me wrong, there are better players about but this is seriously strong. Dawson I think is good but perhaps a shade behind these two. In practice, all three will be rotated in a triangle. We are (thankfully) a squad now and not just an XI which is true sign of a great team.
Rose: Perhaps a little raw but did well at Sunderland on loan. He needs to step up a gear but thankfully is young enough to do so. Spurs may become a 'we want the finished package NOW' side sooner rather than later, so this may be upgraded in January or Summer... we are giving him his chance and fairly so.
Capoue and or Sandro: I hope the new boy uses his injury time to bulk up a bit. Truly a phenomenal player and a shame about his injury. His only weakness is strength, but if he bulks up at least a little during his month or so off, he could truly eventually become world class. A seriously exciting player. He and Sandro can be rotated in a subtle manner depending on the opposition, and in some cases played together to really calmly hold off players (think Man United away etc).
Lennon/Townsend: Great competition for each other and again in practice, these two pacey players can be rotated and can really give it their all and then get a rest while the other plays. They could really benefit from each other in this way. Lennon needs to stay sharp and keep working, and young Andros needs to stay a good scholar of the game and learn to really balance out pace, strength and skill evenly for regular premier league level football. These two could surprise a lot of spectators in how their game improves over the season if they stick at it and keep their heads down. Lennon might not but let's hope so. Note also they could perhaps be used on both wings when Eriksen/Chadli etc need a rest or to create quick play.
Eriksen: Don't know much about him bar he is a left sided mid, but usually centrally... being touted as our best signing of the Summer... let's see how he does.
Paulinho: You can see the talent is there but he is initially having a real struggle with the premier league style. Give him a few games to throw in a few calmer long passes and confidence with skill against defenders and he should realistically 'come good'.
Lamella: Considered an attacking midfielder but for me, my personal signing of the summer. Some of the stuff he has done for Roma is frankly unbelievable and attackers moving from Italy to the premier league usually do OK. It's unbelievable he is only 21. He is the key to linking midfield with striking, and if the wingers are there for support, we may see some goalfests where he is involved.
Soldado: Clearly a finisher and perhaps not a lot more, but that doesn't mean he's a luxury. Finishers always need pairing off with deep sitting strikers, which is why he potentially could work really well with Lamella.
I've dismissed a few others, (Chadli in particular who hasn't had the best start and seems too tall to be a winger but let's hope I'm wrong) and ultimately we are now a squad and not half a team or just a team. I'm 26 and this is the first time I remember us really having a squad (apart from left back!) Good things will come of this in the long run campaign. I've even left out people like Dembele, who, don't get me wrong, I think is class. It just shows the depth of our squad.... I worry it's too midfield focused but it should do the job.
COYS!!
---------Lloris
Walker--Kaboul Vertonghen--Rose
-------Capoue/Sandro---------
Lennon/Townsend-------------Eriksen
---------Paulinho
-----------Lamela
-------Soldado
Lloris: Possibly one of the best keepers in the world. Friedel is a very good keeper in fairness to him but Hugo gets the nod.
Walker: I fear he had an early peak and may just be a 'one good season' player but if he gets his head down, there is no reason why he can't train a bit of diligence back into himself and bring back his sharper days. The alternatives are Naughton etc... good players but not at the level we are aiming.
Kaboul and Verts: Possibly one of the best centreback partnerships in Europe. Don't get me wrong, there are better players about but this is seriously strong. Dawson I think is good but perhaps a shade behind these two. In practice, all three will be rotated in a triangle. We are (thankfully) a squad now and not just an XI which is true sign of a great team.
Rose: Perhaps a little raw but did well at Sunderland on loan. He needs to step up a gear but thankfully is young enough to do so. Spurs may become a 'we want the finished package NOW' side sooner rather than later, so this may be upgraded in January or Summer... we are giving him his chance and fairly so.
Capoue and or Sandro: I hope the new boy uses his injury time to bulk up a bit. Truly a phenomenal player and a shame about his injury. His only weakness is strength, but if he bulks up at least a little during his month or so off, he could truly eventually become world class. A seriously exciting player. He and Sandro can be rotated in a subtle manner depending on the opposition, and in some cases played together to really calmly hold off players (think Man United away etc).
Lennon/Townsend: Great competition for each other and again in practice, these two pacey players can be rotated and can really give it their all and then get a rest while the other plays. They could really benefit from each other in this way. Lennon needs to stay sharp and keep working, and young Andros needs to stay a good scholar of the game and learn to really balance out pace, strength and skill evenly for regular premier league level football. These two could surprise a lot of spectators in how their game improves over the season if they stick at it and keep their heads down. Lennon might not but let's hope so. Note also they could perhaps be used on both wings when Eriksen/Chadli etc need a rest or to create quick play.
Eriksen: Don't know much about him bar he is a left sided mid, but usually centrally... being touted as our best signing of the Summer... let's see how he does.
Paulinho: You can see the talent is there but he is initially having a real struggle with the premier league style. Give him a few games to throw in a few calmer long passes and confidence with skill against defenders and he should realistically 'come good'.
Lamella: Considered an attacking midfielder but for me, my personal signing of the summer. Some of the stuff he has done for Roma is frankly unbelievable and attackers moving from Italy to the premier league usually do OK. It's unbelievable he is only 21. He is the key to linking midfield with striking, and if the wingers are there for support, we may see some goalfests where he is involved.
Soldado: Clearly a finisher and perhaps not a lot more, but that doesn't mean he's a luxury. Finishers always need pairing off with deep sitting strikers, which is why he potentially could work really well with Lamella.
I've dismissed a few others, (Chadli in particular who hasn't had the best start and seems too tall to be a winger but let's hope I'm wrong) and ultimately we are now a squad and not half a team or just a team. I'm 26 and this is the first time I remember us really having a squad (apart from left back!) Good things will come of this in the long run campaign. I've even left out people like Dembele, who, don't get me wrong, I think is class. It just shows the depth of our squad.... I worry it's too midfield focused but it should do the job.
COYS!!
