Romelu Lukaku - Joined Everton

[spurs9]

I really want Morata, I know he is still relatively inexperienced but he just has so much quality and looks a very complete striker.
I wouldn't mind Michu assuming he's over his injury problems of last year and I think Lacazette is developing into a very interesting striker
Despite concerns over his temperament I'd be very happy with Balotelli but think we wouldn't be able to compete with other offers

I have nothing against Benteke or Lukaku as a 2nd or 3rd choice striker, I think they offer strengths in their game we could use at times, Benteke for his aerial power and general strength, Lukaku for me looks a much better threat as a wide striker than a central striker, but both now come with too big a premium, no doubt neither would be happy being 2nd/3rd choice yet I don't think they have enough guile, intelligence and vision in their game to really find or carve openings against teams that defend deep.

I think Lacazette would be a good signing (for LWF) but don't think he can play loan striker. He could develop into a great wing forward though. He usually played upfront as part of a 2 (usually with Gomis) and I think he played 3 times on his own and Lyon lost all 3.

Michu has too many question marks over his injuries for my liking, plus, I think he is better suited to the support striker role.

Balotelli, ability wise would be great, but could be a time bomb waiting to go off but worth the risk IMO. Saying that it looks like he could be off to the scum.

Morata is a player I'm not totally convinced with. He has a good goal to min ratio, but he is always coming on against tired (and usually mentally defeated) defenders and being supplied by the likes of Bale, Isco, Di Maria, Modric etc. 5 of his 8 goals have been the last goal in 5-0 for 4-0 wins, which is the easiest time to score.

I think Lukaku has more skill/dribbling ability than is given credit, he creates chances, has strength, pace wins headers and he is only 21. I agree he should be 2nd choice but I would say the same about all of the players above.

 

[Barry Mead]

I think Lacazette would be a good signing (for LWF) but don't think he can play loan striker. He could develop into a great wing forward though. He usually played upfront as part of a 2 (usually with Gomis) and I think he played 3 times on his own and Lyon lost all 3.

Michu has too many question marks over his injuries for my liking, plus, I think he is better suited to the support striker role.

Balotelli, ability wise would be great, but could be a time bomb waiting to go off but worth the risk IMO. Saying that it looks like he could be off to the scum.

Morata is a player I'm not totally convinced with. He has a good goal to min ratio, but he is always coming on against tired (and usually mentally defeated) defenders and being supplied by the likes of Bale, Isco, Di Maria, Modric etc. 5 of his 8 goals have been the last goal in 5-0 for 4-0 wins, which is the easiest time to score.

I think Lukaku has more skill/dribbling ability than is given credit, he creates chances, has strength, pace wins headers and he is only 21. I agree he should be 2nd choice but I would say the same about all of the players above.

I think in many ways you are right about Lacazette but I can see a player a bit like Suarez there and one that will always be buzzing around, worrying defenders, looking for opportunities and as such a constant threat. I wouldn't say Suarez is the ideal as a lone striker but I'd take him ahead of a lot of lets say more ideally suited lone strikers because of his ability to constantly worry defences and score goals. Can Lacazette become close to theplayer Suarez is? Well I used to watch Suarez a lot in his Ajax days he has a certain type of temperament, drive and desire and maybe Lacazette lacks that in his game and I doubt he'd bite that many opponents but he does look like he can be a constant pain in the arse for defences

Michu actually for me started to look more consistent as a striker than an am. In his last season in Spain he had a very good year goal wise but he was inconsistent and he had never gotten too many goals previously, but when he switched to a prime striker role he found a consistency maybe freed from the shackles of trying to create. You are right there are question marks over his ability to repeat that goal scoring but his skill on the ball and vision and intelligence would suggest to me that assuming his injury issues are behind him he can continue to prove he can be the quality player we saw in his first season

Balo will be a risk but I think he seems to be maturing and I think having now played for his club and maybe finding some of the racism disappointing he might be more inclined to settle at a club where that isn't an issue and where he no longer harbours that desire to be playing for his "team"

You can argue about Morata looking good in a great team but he looks good because he fits so well with players. It's strange that top proven strikers like Villa, Ibra and to a lesser degree in terms of proven but potential Sanchez never really showed that well at Barca. They did OK but never maxed out. I just think Morata links well, interchanges well, is composed, skilful, intelligent, physically he's tall and as he plays more he is learning to use his strength. I think playing a couple of seasons regularly in a decent team he will become a really world class striker
Lukaku as I said I think is better playing as a wide striker, I don't think he has the same composure he uses pace and strength. Decent player no doubt but I don't see a new Drogba

 

[itsameeAntonio]

I think in many ways you are right about Lacazette but I can see a player a bit like Suarez there and one that will always be buzzing around, worrying defenders, looking for opportunities and as such a constant threat. I wouldn't say Suarez is the ideal as a lone striker but I'd take him ahead of a lot of lets say more ideally suited lone strikers because of his ability to constantly worry defences and score goals. Can Lacazette become close to theplayer Suarez is? Well I used to watch Suarez a lot in his Ajax days he has a certain type of temperament, drive and desire and maybe Lacazette lacks that in his game and I doubt he'd bite that many opponents but he does look like he can be a constant pain in the arse for defences

Michu actually for me started to look more consistent as a striker than an am. In his last season in Spain he had a very good year goal wise but he was inconsistent and he had never gotten too many goals previously, but when he switched to a prime striker role he found a consistency maybe freed from the shackles of trying to create. You are right there are question marks over his ability to repeat that goal scoring but his skill on the ball and vision and intelligence would suggest to me that assuming his injury issues are behind him he can continue to prove he can be the quality player we saw in his first season

Balo will be a risk but I think he seems to be maturing and I think having now played for his club and maybe finding some of the racism disappointing he might be more inclined to settle at a club where that isn't an issue and where he no longer harbours that desire to be playing for his "team"

You can argue about Morata looking good in a great team but he looks good because he fits so well with players. It's strange that top proven strikers like Villa, Ibra and to a lesser degree in terms of proven but potential Sanchez never really showed that well at Barca. They did OK but never maxed out. I just think Morata links well, interchanges well, is composed, skilful, intelligent, physically he's tall and as he plays more he is learning to use his strength. I think playing a couple of seasons regularly in a decent team he will become a really world class striker
Lukaku as I said I think is better playing as a wide striker, I don't think he has the same composure he uses pace and strength. Decent player no doubt but I don't see a new Drogba

Lukaku as a wide forward, you must be joking LOLOLOLOL!!!

 

[Barry Mead]

Lukaku as a wide forward, you must be joking LOLOLOLOL!!!

Your laugh seems to have developed a bit of a stutter there, however if I was joking I wouldn't have said it. I think if he did move to a bigger club he wouldn't find it so easy to use his pace centrally to get the run on defences and he'd get that bit more space wider and would find more success cutting in.
He's OK playing more centrally at the likes of WBA and Everton but I think he'd struggle more if he stepped up. That said I think he looked better last season when he played from wider

 

[8Gazza]

It doesn't seem like he has the touch and technique to play wide..

 

[Barry Mead]

It doesn't seem like he has the touch and technique to play wide..

No but he does have good pace and strength and looks better running on goal than receiving a ball static

 

[wiggo24]

No but he does have good pace and strength and looks better running on goal than receiving a ball static

IIRC he played very well at the end of last season as a RW, with Naismith in the middle for Everton.

 

[Barry Mead]

IIRC he played very well at the end of last season as a RW, with Naismith in the middle for Everton.

Yeah that's what I thought too

 

[allatsea]

No but he does have good pace and strength and looks better running on goal than receiving a ball static

Darren Bent by another name ?

 

[itsameeAntonio]

Anyone who gets into double figures playing the lone striker at clubs like WBA and Everton will score plenty of goals up top for a big club. A guy the size of lukaku would be wasted out wide.

 

[Barry Mead]

Anyone who gets into double figures playing the lone striker at clubs like WBA and Everton will score plenty of goals up top for a big club. A guy the size of lukaku would be wasted out wide.

Doesn't necessarily work that way though does it, invariably top clubs face clubs looking to be far more defensive, pulling players behind the ball and defending deep. Strikers find they don't have the time or space they are used to and don't get the goals. Bent managed to score plenty of goals at places like Charlton and Sunderland but struggled when he played for us. Players need more skill, more guile and more composure. Lukaku if a big club were to sign him would imo be far better off finding a bit more space out wide and using his pace and strength to run in on goal than be stuck in the middle as a lone striker

 

[itsameeAntonio]

Doesn't necessarily work that way though does it, invariably top clubs face clubs looking to be far more defensive, pulling players behind the ball and defending deep. Strikers find they don't have the time or space they are used to and don't get the goals. Bent managed to score plenty of goals at places like Charlton and Sunderland but struggled when he played for us. Players need more skill, more guile and more composure. Lukaku if a big club were to sign him would imo be far better off finding a bit more space out wide and using his pace and strength to run in on goal than be stuck in the middle as a lone striker

And that Barry is why you aren't a football manager

 

[Barry Mead]

And that Barry is why you aren't a football manager

And you are Tommy? my apologies I didn't realise

 

[THFCSPURS19]

The Telegraph:

Tottenham are also interested in taking back Steven Caulker from relegated Cardiff and have considered Chelsea left-back Ryan Bertrand.

Spurs are prepared to sell striker Roberto Soldado and remain keen on Romelu Lukaku.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Lukaku, a LB and CB and I'm good. Think we can get by at LW with what we got. I don't think it's realistic to hope for 4 starting caliber players this window and I view the other 3 a more important moving forward.

 

[Barry Mead]

Lukaku, a LB and CB and I'm good. Think we can get by at LW with what we got. I don't think it's realistic to hope for 4 starting caliber players this window and I view the other 3 a more important moving forward.

Really? if I could only fill three positions it would be playmaker, LW and LB. All about opinions of course, although I do think we'll add more than three players of starting level calibre

 

[DaSpurs]

Lukaku, a LB and CB and I'm good. Think we can get by at LW with what we got. I don't think it's realistic to hope for 4 starting caliber players this window and I view the other 3 a more important moving forward.

I find it very surprising to see anyone, much less posters I view as sensible such as yourself, content with our midfield moving forward. I also don't think it's likely to create a top four team in this window, but I'd like to see us build on our project, and I think that starts with some very necessary changes in midfield. We have talent there, but are entirely too unbalanced and frankly looked poor in the middle third battle even against some of the weakest sides in the league.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I find it very surprising to see anyone, much less posters I view as sensible such as yourself, content with our midfield moving forward. I also don't think it's likely to create a top four team in this window, but I'd like to see us build on our project, and I think that starts with some very necessary changes in midfield. We have talent there, but are entirely too unbalanced and frankly looked poor in the middle third battle even against some of the weakest sides in the league.

The midfield being able to recycle the ball and keep the attack ticking over is going to be a concern with the current group (although Capoue can operate in that type of 'win the ball back and distribute to the flanks and through the channels role effectively').

My biggest concerns at this time are the defense. Setting tactics aside, last season was riddled with individual error after individual error. Tactics need to be sorted, but in my opinion that needs to come with a slight overhaul of the backline. In a perfect world we see guys like Garay and a legitimate upgrade at LB come in. That's going to cost a lot of money and if we are only selling deadweight this summer, I would imagine that will take away a large chunk from the transfer funds.

As for striker, I'm all for giving Soldado another chance and selling Adebayor and bringing in Batshuayi as our primary backup. Others won't be so willing and I think Levy will try to make a splash for a big attacking talent such as Lukaku.

Should all that happen, we are talking a limited amount of funds remaining (realistically). Perhaps we could find a diamond in the rough like Banega, maybe Poch loves Carroll or maybe our scouting department, presumably led by Broomfield, can locate others players on the cusp of being ready for a big step up but with reasonable price tags.

 

[DaSpurs]

The midfield being able to recycle the ball and keep the attack ticking over is going to be a concern with the current group (although Capoue can operate in that type of 'win the ball back and distribute to the flanks and through the channels role effectively').

My biggest concerns at this time are the defense. Setting tactics aside, last season was riddled with individual error after individual error. Tactics need to be sorted, but in my opinion that needs to come with a slight overhaul of the backline. In a perfect world we see guys like Garay and a legitimate upgrade at LB come in. That's going to cost a lot of money and if we are only selling deadweight this summer, I would imagine that will take away a large chunk from the transfer funds.

As for striker, I'm all for giving Soldado another chance and selling Adebayor and bringing in Batshuayi as our primary backup. Others won't be so willing and I think Levy will try to make a splash for a big attacking talent such as Lukaku.

Should all that happen, we are talking a limited amount of funds remaining (realistically). Perhaps we could find a diamond in the rough like Banega, maybe Poch loves Carroll or maybe our scouting department, presumably led by Broomfield, can locate others players on the cusp of being ready for a big step up but with reasonable price tags.

I think a lot of those errors in defense were exacerbated by our problems in midfield. For instance, while Rose is a poor passer as is, it didn't help he never had a genuine left winger in front of him and he didn't have much pace in the central midfielders most often presenting to him to complete the triangle. You'll note many of our problems were caused by Rose surrendering the ball in scenarios such as this, and the opposition easily countering behind Rose and forcing our centerback to defend awkwardly or even foul to stop the play.

Our possession is just too poor in midfield to establish any sort of efficiency, and as such it massively exposed the back line. I do agree with you that some changes are in order in that department, but I think we also need some changes in midfield personnel and philosophy.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

I think Lacazette would be a good signing (for LWF) but don't think he can play loan striker. He could develop into a great wing forward though. He usually played upfront as part of a 2 (usually with Gomis) and I think he played 3 times on his own and Lyon lost all 3.

Michu has too many question marks over his injuries for my liking, plus, I think he is better suited to the support striker role.

Balotelli, ability wise would be great, but could be a time bomb waiting to go off but worth the risk IMO. Saying that it looks like he could be off to the scum.

Morata is a player I'm not totally convinced with. He has a good goal to min ratio, but he is always coming on against tired (and usually mentally defeated) defenders and being supplied by the likes of Bale, Isco, Di Maria, Modric etc. 5 of his 8 goals have been the last goal in 5-0 for 4-0 wins, which is the easiest time to score.

I think Lukaku has more skill/dribbling ability than is given credit, he creates chances, has strength, pace wins headers and he is only 21. I agree he should be 2nd choice but I would say the same about all of the players above.

So your're saying Lukaku and Balotelli would be 2nd choice strikers at Spurs? I may have read your post wrong but theres no way either of those 2 wouldnt get in our team as 1st choice.