Pre-Season 2023/24

[mil1lion]

Does this mean Kane will stay as he's now won a trophy

A Tiger Cup with Spurs is bigger than a Bundesliga title with Bayern

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

He thinks that because he actually is a LB. Everyone in the world knows Ben the GOAT Davies is a LB. It’s just that he’s so goated that he can do a job as a left sided CB in a back 3. Even with our lack of games this season I’m expecting Davies to get a lot of mins at LB.

Even if Davies is the LB - I am expecting Udogie to get the vast majority of starts...

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

A Tiger Cup with Spurs is bigger than a Bundesliga title with Bayern

And, Kane has already won a trophy in Germany...

 

[E17yid]

Even if Davies is the LB - I am expecting Udogie to get the vast majority of starts...

You’re probably right but I wouldn’t put my house on it.

 

[Buggsy61]

Enjoyed it tonight and just got back to the hotel, and already chugging cans of Tiger beer to rehydrate- only took 1/2 hour to get back on the excellent Singapore MRT.
Seemed to be less UK citizen Spurs fans there tonight, although 25k people attended in total. This is probably due to the fact that there are lots of ex pat Spurs fans retired and living in places like Pattaya in Thailand. Some of the guys I met up with on Sunday were certainly of that ilk and were real Essex, looking like they used to rob banks for a living .
Think we all know what needs to be done with the squad, especially in defence, so thats been kicked to death already, but if we can get a couple of quality defenders in I think we will be fine. Udogie looks a good prospect and seems to have a bit of fire in his belly, so this is probably the last nail in the coffin of Sessegnon's career with us.
Attended the Ledley King Q & A session before the game and he comes over really well, and is very clear and candid, so quite enjoyed that.
The stadium here in Singapore was very good and puts that carbuncle in Bangkok to shame. Don't think I have ever seen such a poorly designed and built stadium as the one on Sunday -certainly in recent times. Suspect that a lot of the budget to build it was creamed off by 'the big people' as the Thais like to call them.

 

[WiganSpur]

If Soloman is doing well in this system (not watching) then it also gives me high hopes for Gil. Similar size of player with good technique and dribbling. It's going to be really interesting to see how Ange shapes this squad. He could play Son up top if Kane leaves, he could move Kulusevski into the midfield 3 with the options we have out wide. Lots of good options in midfield and attack. Just need to sort this defence out which is such a major concern.

Similarly to Ndombele and Lo Celso, I think Bryan and Perisic are competing for that final wide player slot. If Bryan is back fit for Shakhtar and does well in that game and in Barcelona, I think that'll mean Perisic is moved on. We can't have 7 forwards in a season with no European football.

 

[Timberwolf]

There are still a lot of player decisions the club have to take in the next couple of weeks - outside of Kane.

Some players definitely seem like they are on the outs: Rodon, Sanchez, Spence. Injuries to Ndombele and Bryan have probably not helped their case - they need to show something in training.

Decisions on Hojbjerg and a few other players will be interesting. I think Hojbjerg goes for good value. I think Perisic could find a role here. If Ange really thinks Davies is a LB - I would sell Reguilon and let Davies back up Udogie.

Yeah lots of decisions.

Think I would 100% sell Sanchez, Rodon and then one of Regi/Davies and Dier/Tanganga. Likely PEH too unless Bissouma's injury is bad.

Don't think there's room for both Lo Celso and Ndombele in the squad and with Ange's quotes it looks like Lo Celso will be preferred, so probably another loan for Tanguy (or a measly fee if we can find a buyer).

Jury's out on Gil but on today's showing I'd rather keep Perisic around and try to get some money for Gil this summer. I think Solomon has essentially taken Gil's position in the squad and Perisic has so much more end product.

Get loans for Devine, Scarlett and either sell or loan Spence based on his attitude and showing over the remainder of pre-season (maybe keep but something tells me he's not going to be in Ange's thoughts).

I think that rounds out to a pretty well balanced ~23 man squad if we add a couple of CBs and then replace Kane with another forward if he leaves.

 

[cjbyid]

Bissouma is okay according to Ange too.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

Don't think there's room for both Lo Celso and Ndombele in the squad and with Ange's quotes it looks like Lo Celso will be preferred, so probably another loan for Tanguy (or a measly fee if we can find a buyer).

I wonder if we would keep Ndombele until January - cover until Bentancur returns.

But, otherwise, I agree - reluctantly. I was hoping to see Ndombele claim a spot, but with the emergence of Sarr, that spot might not be available.

 

[WiganSpur]

Emerson is really suited to that inverted role. He'll be able to press well and snuff out a lot of counters, and he won't have to take many players on there, just keep the passing simple. Until we have some competent CBs, him and Bissouma need to play to give us extra protection.

 

[Timberwolf]

I wonder if we would keep Ndombele until January - cover until Bentancur returns.

But, otherwise, I agree - reluctantly. I was hoping to see Ndombele claim a spot, but with the emergence of Sarr, that spot might not be available.

Yeah I was also hoping for an Ndombele renaissance but just don't see how we can justify keeping him AND Lo Celso. And at the very least Lo Celso will run for the team and can last a full 90. Ndombele would, at best, be a bit part player whereas I think Lo Celso could become a regular starter if Ange is willing to play both him and Maddison together.

 

[WiganSpur]

Yeah I was also hoping for an Ndombele renaissance but just don't see how we can justify keeping him AND Lo Celso. And at the very least Lo Celso will run for the team and can last a full 90. Ndombele would, at best, be a bit part player whereas I think Lo Celso could become a regular starter if Ange is willing to play both him and Maddison together.

It won't half be painful if Tanguy plays over the next 2 and smashes it out of the park. Although I suppose we might be able to get away with 7 CMs until January when Rodrigo is back - so we might just be able to kick the can down the road.

 

[Timberwolf]

Emerson is really suited to that inverted role. He'll be able to press well and snuff out a lot of counters, and he won't have to take many players on there, just keep the passing simple. Until we have some competent CBs, him and Bissouma need to play to give us extra protection.

Yeah there was a moment in the second half where the Sailors (lol) made a rare foray forward and Royal intelligently read the play, settled into a covering position in the middle of the box and snuffed out the attempted through-ball that could've led to a good chance.

I have zero confidence that Porro would've done the same in those circumstances.

Off-the-ball Royal's just so much better and we'll need that desperately in the PL when the opposition attackers are elite and ruthless. Plus he's just a natural fit for that inverted role in general.

 

[parj]

What the hell has happened to Emerson? Such a changed player, so confident on the ball and brilliant 1st touches

Nothing happened to him. He always had that ability in Spain. We just played the wrong way for him to show it. It's the same for a lot of our players.

 

[jezz]

He has however proved to be one of the best midfielders in the league with Brighton and he struggled with injuries last year. Lo Celso has proved very little in the Premier League to date.

I think Lo Celso has been very good when not injured.

 

[mil1lion]

Similarly to Ndombele and Lo Celso, I think Bryan and Perisic are competing for that final wide player slot. If Bryan is back fit for Shakhtar and does well in that game and in Barcelona, I think that'll mean Perisic is moved on. We can't have 7 forwards in a season with no European football.

Yeah 6 would be enough although if Kane is sold we would be covered. I would definitely get another centre forward though if that happens. With Perisic in his final year maybe loan Gil again especially with Son getting older too. Although Devine and Scarlett could be good for next year.

 

[WiganSpur]

Yeah there was a moment in the second half where the Sailors (lol) made a rare foray forward and Royal intelligently read the play, settled into a covering position in the middle of the box and snuffed out the attempted through-ball that could've led to a good chance.

I have zero confidence that Porro would've done the same in those circumstances.

Off-the-ball Royal's just so much better and we'll need that desperately in the PL when the opposition attackers are elite and ruthless. Plus he's just a natural fit for that inverted role in general.

Honestly i'm not convinced by Porro as a right back at all. Would quite like Ange to give Spence a shot. He's just come here I know but whisper it quietly he's a talented player who just might not be the right fit for what we need right now. I'm not sure if it's even possible to sell him this window though.

 

[mightyspur]

@Archibald&Crooks is going to have to review his match bets with this news!

 

[mark87]

 

[Timberwolf]

I think Lo Celso has been very good when not injured.

He had a very good 10 game spell under Jose but that aside he was pretty up and down - missed a lot of crucial chances in big games and was generally quite inconsistent.

I think a lot of that was down to the style of play, the lack of a natural position for him in the system and lots of niggling injuries.

I never thought he deserved the level of vitriol he got from certain parts of the fan-base.