Realistic expectations for 2020-21?

[yankspurs]

We’re less than a month from an absurdly busy start to the season and still need 2-3 signings. We have to sell to buy and we cant sell anyone. Doesn't even seem like Rose or CCV have any takers. Honestly, this is shaping up to be the same window as every other one, only worse because Foyth is no longer U21 so we now have 0 spots left for foreign players. English players are either unrealistic due to fees or Jose’s put a kabosh on them. Same shit different year

 

[SecretLemonadeDrinker]

We always do our business late & this season looks no different with the window ending after the season starts, vital we start the season well & fill in the gaps in the squad that are glaringly obvious. Rivals making good additions before the season starts doesn't help matters.

This again....

Thus far in the window, we've completed at least as many incoming first team transfers as any of our rivals for top four.

Sure, we're hearing about other transfers that they're likely to make. But we're also hearing about other transfers that we're likely to make. Why assume that all our rivals are going to complete all those potential deals imminently while simultaneously assuming that we won't complete any of our potential deals until after the season starts? We've repeatedly heard from numerous itks that things are different this summer because Jose is pragmatic and has given Levy a realistic list of options.

Which means that Levy can have no excuses if he leaves things to the last minute again. But can we not wait to see whether or not that happens again before having a moan about it? Pretty please.

 

[JCRD]

I think our expectation swill be determined by the next two or three weeks of transfer activity.

I like Auriee but think if we are intending to get in someone else to replace him then that needs to be done soon. The striker bit is second on the list.

If we can get stuff done then I'd like to think we will battle for third.

If Chelsea get a defender in then I'd be slightly concerned. I think arsenal are looking good given they're addressing their defence.

Europa league will affect us massively too I think. If we can get through to the last 32 without using too much of our first teamers then that would be a huge bonus.

 

[Matt spurs]

We have a good core of a squad, unbalanced for sure but definitely some quality, if we sort out a right back and a decent back up for H I’m hoping for a top 4 finish and a cup

 

[dirtyh]

we'll win the prem with hart top scorer with 60 goals

seriously tho, given how tough the league is, i think we'll do really well in EL, possibly with a good chance of winning it as jose will take it extremely seriously. as for the league, probably anywhere from 4-6, the financial dopers already have the top positions nailed on as usual.

 

[thebenjamin]

I think we'll end up prioritising EL like josé did at United. If Chelsea complete the signings of Havertz, Chilwell and Thiago Silva you'd have to say top 3 in the league is gone before we've even started.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

José was brought in to win trophies. Not to build a project or steward the club well but purely to win a trophy. I think anything short of top 6 plus one trophy is falling short of expectations

Good mentality. COYS.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Based on the current squad top 6. Resolve the TN situation and strengthen at RB, CB, LB, AM, S then top 4.

 

[pedrodelawasp]

Based on the current squad top 6. Resolve the TN situation and strengthen at RB, CB, LB, AM, S then top 4.

I'd be utterly amazed if we were to make five more signings, even if Ndombele was to leave for a fee equal to what was paid.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Top 4 challenge no trophies

 

[dtxspurs]

Based on the current squad top 6. Resolve the TN situation and strengthen at RB, CB, LB, AM, S then top 4.

So then no chance based of that last sentence haha

 

[TEESSIDE1]

So then no chance based of that last sentence haha

Yep and going by the most recent ITK our plans once again appear to be in chaos.

 

[Saoirse]

Yep and going by the most recent ITK our plans once again appear to be in chaos.

I don't think 'chaos' is fair, it's just the way the transfer window is, especially right now. It was never likely to be a big summer for anyone except the oil clubs with so much damage and uncertainty, and that's what we've seen so far. Hopefully we get lucky, find buyers for Ndombele and Aurier, and go from there. But if not, we'll have to work with what we've got - and luckily, for all our faults, what we've got is a strong team who ended last season well and only a year ago were Champions League finalists, with one of the best manager's in the game who's never failed to win a trophy.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I don't think 'chaos' is fair, it's just the way the transfer window is, especially right now. It was never likely to be a big summer for anyone except the oil clubs with so much damage and uncertainty, and that's what we've seen so far. Hopefully we get lucky, find buyers for Ndombele and Aurier, and go from there. But if not, we'll have to work with what we've got - and luckily, for all our faults, what we've got is a strong team who ended last season well and only a year ago were Champions League finalists, with one of the best manager's in the game who's never failed to win a trophy.

It is - Aurier looks like he was gone but now Milan appear time have backed off and we’re hearing that his replacement is dependant on selling him.

Ndombele wasn’t for sale but he is now and we also shift him to buy, what’s changed? We had funds to buy our targets but now we don’t.

There’s glaring holes in the squad and our rivals are either on another planet or have significantly strengthened. We’ll be lucky to get top 6 without investing in the squad.

 

[pedrodelawasp]

I know it'd be silly to read too much in to it, but it's fun to speculate anyway:

Jose set us up with three CBs to start against Ipswich, then had Gedson and Sessegnon as wing backs. Could it be the case that he's thinking of implementing that sort of system more regularly, taking some of the onus off of having out-and-out full backs in the side?

-----------------Kane
------Son -------------------Alli
Sess ----Højbjerg ---Lo Celso ---Gedson
------Davies ---Toby ---Sanchez
-----------------Lloris

The above, ostensibly 3-4-2-1 can easily be transitioned to a 4-2-3-1 when defending.

There'd also be the option against sides who'd be expected to sit in deep to play full-on wingers rather than wing-backs:

-----------------Kane
-------Alli ---------------Lo Celso
Son ----Højbjerg ---Winks ---Bergwijn
------Davies ---Toby ---Sanchez
-----------------Lloris

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

So you are saying that on the basis of bringing in Hart and Hoijberg and being linked with Doherty & C.Wilson, this has you believing we will break back into the top 4....?

Wow.... can only imagine what you think we would achieve if we had signed Ziyech & Werner and were close to signing Havertz, T.Silva & Chilwell.

Probably already been said, but all of the first paragraph are settled, experienced premier League players

Of the second, only chilwell is comfortable in the pl.

So expecting havertz and ziychek (lightweight creative players) to tear it up in the pl next season is optimistic.

Werner looks more suited but still not guaranteed. For the future Chelsea will be stronger but next season not so much.

Ziychek for willan (not a clear upgrade)
Havertz for Pedro (of course an upgrade but maybe not next season)

Which leaves Werner which could be a great buy, but again next season might be too soon.

We don't need future projects, we have enough of those, we need players for now and all though our signings (projected signings) are not too glamorous they could be more important in the short term.

So yes, I think those signings could push us ahead of Chelsea next season.

Optimistic, perhaps but I would say it would be more optimistic to say that those Chelsea signings will be an immediate hit in the pl.

 

[N17paradise]

If Tottenham announced they were signing in this window .......Harry Kane, Son, le Celso, the press would be saying... with those players Tottenham have a chance of winning the prem. Slightly exaggerated but you get my drift.

 

[synththfc]

If Tottenham announced they were signing in this window .......Harry Kane, Son, le Celso, the press would be saying... with those players Tottenham have a chance of winning the prem. Slightly exaggerated but you get my drift.

We've had those players for many years (excluding Lo Celso). We haven't come within 22 points of the title since 2017 WITH those players. We need to strengthen, just as other clubs are currently doing, and we are on a 1 in 1 out mentality. It's not good enough and we will get left behind if we don't fix up.

 

[N17paradise]

We've had those players for many years (excluding Lo Celso). We haven't come within 22 points of the title since 2017 WITH those players. We need to strengthen, just as other clubs are currently doing, and we are on a 1 in 1 out mentality. It's not good enough and we will get left behind if we don't fix up.

I agree....what I am trying to say, it's all about PERCEPTION based on the calibre of player.

 

[SecretLemonadeDrinker]

We've had those players for many years (excluding Lo Celso). We haven't come within 22 points of the title since 2017 WITH those players. We need to strengthen, just as other clubs are currently doing, and we are on a 1 in 1 out mentality. It's not good enough and we will get left behind if we don't fix up.

The only clubs to have strengthened more than us thus far this transfer window are Chelsea and Man City.

Funny, that.