Strengths+Weaknesses of our squad??

[ultimateloner]

The optimism some of you hold is amazing. Just face it. We are losing our strikers and although we have injected some much needed creativity, we are going to lose alot of goals. Moreover i don't see any addition to our fragile defence.

 

[lukespurs7]

O yea knew i forgot someone. So Gilberto too. That gives us a few more options as Bale and Gilberto can also play LM also meaning O'Hara can cover CM aswell as LM

I like the comparision to the rest of the league in terms of each of our positions. IMO compared to what we need say 10/10 is capeable of winning the league, 5/10 is a top10 finish and 1/10 is relegation quality here is my opinion:

GK's-8/10
RB's-7.5/10
CB's-7/10-as King is a risk and Dawson isn't quite there yet.
LB's-8/10
Overall our defence is pretty damn good now just need King to stay fit or/and another CB and then no complaints.

RM's:6/10 Currently not fantastic add Bentley to that and this number would move to 8 or 9
CM's:7/10 Improved but still not incredible, will see how Jenas and Zokora and Hudd do and how Modric settles in.
LM's:7/10 Assuming Gio is a LM then we have decent options there both for 1st 11 and reserves. Add Capel to that and it moves to an 8 or 9
Overall midfield has improved a decent amount but still could do with 1 if not 2 wingers of high quality and MABYE another CM if Jenas,Zokora or Hudd don't step up. But not too shabby for now.Add one more quality midfielder to the mix and i'd be very satisfied with the strength of our midfield.

ST's:9/10Who knows?? Based on what we currently have we have 2 world class and 1 top quality and 1 with great potentiol, couldn't ask for more. However This number will obviously change if Keaneo or Berby or both left and it would depend on who we brought in. If We say sold Keane and brought in Villa This would turn to 10/10. Can't really analyse it as who knows what will happen with our strikers.

Overall we have a top quality squad, Gomes,Modric and Gio look to be astute signings, hopefully they live up to the hype. Add to that Hutton,Woodgate and Gunter Who we only just signed in January, our defence and midfield is now much improved from the start of the 07/08 season.

Still need mabye a CB and also 1 top quality midfielder then nothing else is really urgent we could then have no excuses of weakness in ANY AREAS EXCEPT if Keaneo or Berby were to leave, assuming the best and for some miracle they BOTH stayed, we signed a CB and Bentley we would then have quality for the 1st 11 and back-up in every position and a squad with potentiol like no other and IMO as strong as Liverpool or Arsenal, not quite as world class as Chelsea or Man.U being realisitc.

But we'd be way way ahead of Everton,Villa and our other challengers IMO.

views?

Am I being a typical spurs fan and over-rating our squad or with these new signings and mabye 2 others in CB and on the wing would we or would we not have one hell of a squad!!!!!!!!


ST's:

 

[Mullers]

Center of midfield is still a problem area for me. By far and away the most talented midfielder we have is Modric but he can't be expected to play every game, if he doesn't play there then we will lack creativity. We need more options.If we get another creative player who can play CM and other positions that will give us a lot more options. We could always play Modric on the left or further forward. We need a right sided player to provide better service. I'd be happy with SWP if Bentley is to expensive. One or two more defensive midfielders. At least one experienced center back. Also I'm not entirely happy with the left back area. I don't want to see O'hara playing there again because he isn't a left back. Bale is young, can't be expected to play every game, very good going forward not sure abut defensively yet. Gilberto is stop gap solution, he is 32 so he isn't long term. BAE, I'm not sure whether he is going or staying.

If we can only improve one area of the team then is must be CM, I hope the powers that be get cracking and bring these players we need in, I hate last minute transfers!

 

[jonnyrotten]

Main weaknesses: lack of experience and no good DM

 

[bryanabutler]

Buy. L Gonzalez, Albelda 17mil D/M/F sorted

 

[lukespurs7]

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na seriously mate you're well funny!

 

[Bingy]

As has been 'muted' in recent days....we may not be ready to part with Keano or Berby, just yet...or at least not both! What about Berbatov + Villa as I new partnership....post Keane? Maybe maybe not? It could be dynamic for next season....! Whatever is happening transfer wise I sincerely hope that we have seen to it that our 'traditional' weaknesses are well and truly resolved. However, it is VERY close to 'party time' and the squad is not too far advanced on where we were this time last season, and in fact may be greatly weaker, if we are to believe the proposed sales to Manure etc?
Why is it always like this at THFC.....year in year out? Always has been...always will be? Maybe it will yield fruit THIS year? COYS!

 

[lukespurs7]

As has been 'muted' in recent days....we may not be ready to part with Keano or Berby, just yet...or at least not both! What about Berbatov + Villa as I new partnership....post Keane? Maybe maybe not? It could be dynamic for next season....! Whatever is happening transfer wise I sincerely hope that we have seen to it that our 'traditional' weaknesses are well and truly resolved. However, it is VERY close to 'party time' and the squad is not too far advanced on where we were this time last season, and in fact may be greatly weaker, if we are to believe the proposed sales to Manure etc?
Why is it always like this at THFC.....year in year out? Always has been...always will be? Maybe it will yield fruit THIS year? COYS!

WHAT?? How is our squad weaker?
Gomes is better than Robbo.
Modric is better than any CM we have/had.
Dos Santos should fairly easily get into our 1st 11.

Then we've sold many players who weren't good enough.
IF and it's only an IF we sell Keane or/and Berby then you can argue it may be slightly weaker however we are hardly likely to sell then without a replacement or 2 lined up of at least similar quality, added to that 3 new players of high quality we will have a much improved squad. Also a trimmed squad where all players are wanted by Ramos and can all compete for certain positions.

We are still weak in CB and mabye on the wing but overall we have improved our squad to a good level and depending on the striker situation we could go into this season with a massively improved squad.

chin up yer!

 

[walworthyid]

We need a defensive mid with experience or we will be in the same boat as last season when we are under pressure.

It is also difficult to make comparisons until we know what formation we will be playing. If we are still going to play a conventional 4-4-2, we are still struggling in the centre of the park. It was in fact Martin Jol that said a couple of years ago that 4-4-2 is finished at the top level of football and that more fluid formations are the future. Is it that Ramos didn't want to tinker too much and that is why we have played a 4-4-2 since he arrived?

Lastly there is the big question of Berbs and Keane's futures and how this wil affect the way we play. If we change to a 4-2-3-1 or similar we will be less reliant on the strikers to score, it is also the case that if we play that system there will only be room for Keane or Berbs.

The players we have bought this summer and the players we have enquired about/bid for seem to suggest that we will be going with a fluid system that will allow Dos Santos for example to play as an inside forward or supporting striker/attacking mid and will enable Modric to play centrally but without the burden of getting back all of the time or staying deep.

Are we better off? If we change formation, then yes we are. If we stay with 4-4-2, then no we are not becuase we will be losing at least 1 of our strikers, we still don't know about Ledley and have yet to buy a defensive mid.

Only time will tell I guess, but there is not much of that left.

 

[DC_Boy]

I'd like us to keep some of th e players who played v Millwall - eg Rocha Steed and at least one of Lee/Stalteri

If the '4 amigos' think the cash is more important fair enough - but our squad ATM is looking too thin to make any serious challenge for 4th spot

We'll know a lot more by next week - but with once again an injury-prone defence - with a back up keeper in alnwick who I'm not sure about - may be good - may not be - I need to actually see him play for us before I can judge

with a mid still lacking a top class DM and an attack about to lose its two best strikers? Things aren't looking too bright

ATM it's looking like anything between 6th and 15th for me this season - and if I had to guess as it stands I'd go 9th

Incidentally, this is not my 'official prediction' - that won't come till the first game's played after the window closes

 

[alextheyid]

i think our midfield is strong..as mentioned though..a bentley-esque character would be awesome..also an in form aaron lennon...our fit back four is amazing..gomes is a proven keeper...its our strikeforce that is in limbo though...

 

[DC_Boy]

guess what our fit back four isn't fit - and guess what it's no surprise

if we kicked off against Boro on Sat Hutton it seems wouldn't be playing - and AFAIK (which isn't very far) there are doubts about King & Bale

Yes they may be being rested - but also yes they may not e ready to be risked in games yet - and that effectively means not fit to play

I will bet 100 virtual cash at evens that not once in august will we see a starting line up of Hutton King Woodgate & Bale - friendlies or the real thing -
for me that's not our back 4 - it's just a possibility that may not happen much

 

[clouds121]

what about gilberto he should be ahead of o'hara,
the lad trys hard but is just too one footed and wants to play centre midfeild and you need 2 good feet for that position. should take an offer from someone for him and anyone who says he is good enough is just biased and dont kno anything about football.

 

[Spurminator]

Lets take a realistic view of our squad and the wholesale changes being made to it,

1. Both of our first team strikers are possibly leaving
2. The defence of Bale, King Woodgate and Hutton have in my mind not played together, all of them have had injuries last season and the King situation does not look promising. Also Woodgate was fairly injury free most of the season however I dont think this will last. We need quality cover in defence.
3. Our midfield has no depth, we cannot rely on Jenas Huddlestone, Zokora and Lennon to provide a consistent performance. The signing of Modric is a great signing, Dos Santos seems promising however his age is a concern to rely on as a first teamer. We do not have the depth in midfield to aim for a top table finish.
4. We have no cover for our goalkeeper, not highly important but an injury and we would be left short there too.

I am actually not too thrilled about the forthcoming season unless Ramos has improved the ability of a lot of our youngsters especially in midfield. Also the fact there have been many changes and possibly more changes to the squad I cannot see us mounting a challenge to the top four. Also if Berbatov and Keane do leave I think there is a risk of players adapting to the league and settling in. We need more depth in midfield and to be honest if there aren't more signings forthcoming I can't se us progressing this year.

Sorry for the pessimism, just feel too many changes and sales of our top players will have an effect this year.