Summer Transfer Wish List - 2017

[danielneeds]

Just don't get why we'd spend that kind of money - those two would surely cost about 60m ? - with neither actually being guaranteed first team starters. Who's place would either take ? In a 4231 I guess you could play Zaha in place of Lamela - assuming Lamela is done with us, but we are much better as a 342, and I don't really see where either would start in that format.

Apart from someone like Isco, who we don't even know is realistic, who could we sign that would be a guaranteed, nailed on starter right now?

 

[Monkey boy]

It's about improving the squad with young and up coming players who have the potential to be 1st teamers as we can't afford the players who would be instant 1st team players.

Sissoko

 

[scat1620]

Just don't get why we'd spend that kind of money - those two would surely cost about 60m ? - with neither actually being guaranteed first team starters. Who's place would either take ? In a 4231 I guess you could play Zaha in place of Lamela - assuming Lamela is done with us, but we are much better as a 342, and I don't really see where either would start in that format.

Agree with the sentiments about Barkley and Zaha (I too think that would be another case of us spending a boatload of money on players who will as likely as not be on the bench more time than they are on the pitch), but don't you think we'd be better off playing with 10 outfield players rather than 9?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Apart from someone like Isco, who we don't even know is realistic, who could we sign that would be a guaranteed, nailed on starter right now?

Very difficult, I acknowledge, but the point was as much about what we'd pay (fee/wages) as them starting. We could buy someone with similar attributes but better than Barclay (IMO) in Fekir for less money and wages, and it wouldn't be so much of an issue if they don't start every week for them or us.

If we are effectively swapping Lamela for Zaha I could probably, somewhat reluctantly, get onside with that as I've almost accepted that Lamela is unlikely to feature much in the future and Zaha could possibly give us something different (even if I don't share Poch's faith in his ability to turn him into the player I think he thinks he can) and has at least got speed and some raw talent and Lamela is also erratic so it's not such a crazy idea but I think Barclay would cost a fortune in fee and wages and I don't think he's as productive as Alli or as influential as Eriksen and the only way I see him playing is if we switch back to a 4231, which I don't like anywhere near as much as the 3421 we've been playing, which I think really suits our players and style.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Agree with the sentiments about Barkley and Zaha (I too think that would be another case of us spending a boatload of money on players who will as likely as not be on the bench more time than they are on the pitch), but don't you think we'd be better off playing with 10 outfield players rather than 9?

That's what it is when Kane's injured...

 

[Blake Griffin]

Apart from someone like Isco, who we don't even know is realistic, who could we sign that would be a guaranteed, nailed on starter right now?

out of interest, who does isco start ahead of?

 

[Snarfalicious]

Davies is a tough one to try and wrap my head around. The recent comments by Poch and obviously the new contract show he's going to likely be here next season. My personal view on the matter is Poch looks at him as a guy who could realistically backup Rose and Vertonghen as the LB/LWB/LCB option to streamline the squad a bit.

Unfortunately, I don't really view Davies as a great backup to either of those guys because he's not realistically going to supplant them in the starting XI (if all of them are healthy). That being said, Rose and Vertonghen don't strike me as the types that need to have that competition behind them in order for them to remain focus. Both have been absolutely superb this season and haven't really been pushed for their jobs at any point.

 

[Trix]

Apart from someone like Isco, who we don't even know is realistic, who could we sign that would be a guaranteed, nailed on starter right now?

Yep. Would cost an awful lot of money to pick up anyone that is already better than our current first choice starting 11.

 

[WiganSpur]

Just don't get why we'd spend that kind of money - those two would surely cost about 60m ? - with neither actually being guaranteed first team starters. Who's place would either take ? In a 4231 I guess you could play Zaha in place of Lamela - assuming Lamela is done with us, but we are much better as a 342, and I don't really see where either would start in that format.

This is some of what i've been suggesting.

I think both of them are pretty good players, and could be exceptional with the right coaching. For me Zaha makes sense but it's Barkley that is the one that makes me scratch my head. It just seems like we're going for him because he's talented, high profile and out of contract rather than because he offers something we don't already have.

I think if Lamela is finished, and Sissoko and GKN are possibly sold, then we definitely need someone in the attacking positions and I think Zaha would offer some flexibility. With the right coaching he could be both a wing option and a more central option imo. If he can develop some clever off the ball movement then with his explosiveness he could be a unique asset for us. It might also mean that we won't need another centre forward, with Son, Zaha and Janssen as secondary options to Kane.

With Barkley though I agree. I don't deny he's a decent player but I don't see where he fits apart from being a squad player. Let's be honest, I don't think Poch is going to drop Eriksen and especially Alli for important games and if you try to shoehorn all 3 in behind Kane then it becomes a bit stodgy and congested imo, especially when Wanyama and Dembele are going to be playing behind them.

The only thing I will say re. Barkley is that he might be useful should Eriksen miss some games, but is that enough to warrant spending £30m plus on him, especially when we have Edwards in the U21s?

 

[scat1620]

out of interest, who does isco start ahead of?

Spoiler

 

[Snarfalicious]

Our first-choice starting XI doesn't need any replacements, in my opinion. It's the bench that really needs a facelift. Our Starting XI has proven it can beat anyone on any day and it is damned good. The problem is our bench; not a surprise to anyone who's watched us this season.

Outside of Son and Winks, I would argue that our bench is typically subpar for what our aspirations are now. Wimmer, Trippier, Sissoko, GKN/Janssen/Onomah (Though I believe it's totally unfair to write these three off, unless Poch already has) have been varying degrees of lackluster this season. Lamela, if he comes back, would really help that depth a lot. I think it's been really understated just how much we have missed him this season. Even if he wasn't starting, having him off the bench to harass and press tired opponents would be really valuable.

The good news is we do have some financial assets we can offload and can utilize to put towards players that hopefully can fill these holes in the squad. My concern is that of many others, we need to buy guys that truly improve the squad and challenge for the Starting XI, not simply just make up the numbers.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

This is some of what i've been suggesting.

I think both of them are pretty good players, and could be exceptional with the right coaching. For me Zaha makes sense but it's Barkley that is the one that makes me scratch my head. It just seems like we're going for him because he's talented, high profile and out of contract rather than because he offers something we don't already have.

I think if Lamela is finished, and Sissoko and GKN are possibly sold, then we definitely need someone in the attacking positions and I think Zaha would offer some flexibility. With the right coaching he could be both a wing option and a more central option imo. If he can develop some clever off the ball movement then with his explosiveness he could be a unique asset for us. It might also mean that we won't need another centre forward, with Son, Zaha and Janssen as secondary options to Kane.

With Barkley though I agree. I don't deny he's a decent player but I don't see where he fits apart from being a squad player. Let's be honest, I don't think Poch is going to drop Eriksen and especially Alli for important games and if you try to shoehorn all 3 in behind Kane then it becomes a bit stodgy and congested imo, especially when Wanyama and Dembele are going to be playing behind them.

The only thing I will say re. Barkley is that he might be useful should Eriksen miss some games, but is that enough to warrant spending £30m plus on him, especially when we have Edwards in the U21s?

Yeah, I pretty much just elaborated in my last post and said the same. Plus, if we were going after a "Zaha" type and spending that type of money, I'd still rather we went after someone like Brandt, who is younger and has demonstrated potentially more brain at the end of his pace.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Apart from someone like Isco, who we don't even know is realistic, who could we sign that would be a guaranteed, nailed on starter right now?

You would probably have said the same last year but then we signed Wanyama for 11m. Nobody expected him to be anything other than a Dier backup but he is the only player to start every league game. Yes he was cheap because of his contract situation but the main point is that when we bought him people didn't see him as better than what we had. Go back a season and did anyone predict our 5m purchase from MK Dons becoming a starter ? I'd suggest that Kovacic could do the same if we signed him for 15m from Madrid. I'm not a scout but I dare say there are others out there who could also fit the same bill and who if we signed we wouldn't expect to be in the first 11 but by the end of the season they would be. Of course it means we aren't signing the obvious stars like Griezemann or Aubameyang but it doesn't mean there aren't players out there who could displace our starting 11, they are just not as obvious.

 

[adamsky]

Everyone realises that improving first 11 is not easy. However, people said the same last year when Wanyama came in and no one saw how he would get in ahead of Dier. We need to improve the first 16-18, then form will dictate who plays. Sissoko, Jansen, Nkoudou, Wimmer, even Son could all potentially/realistically be improved upon with players challenging for starting 11 or at the very least be game changing options from bench.

Also, it should not be underestimated how important it is to freshen up the squad, get the players excited and prevent complacency. We cannot afford to stand still whilst others improve.

 

[EJWTartanSpur]

I doubt Van Dyke (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Van_Dyke) would be much of an improvement in defense though But van Dijk, well, that may make sense.
On a serious note, I rather have Dier settle in to the 1st team by playing max amount of games than bring in a £30M CB, when Spurs have Dier and CCV who both need games to develop "properly".
As for Demeble: I don't understand why (relatively) so many on SC don't value his contribution when time and again Spurs players, oppentents and pundits say he's the best Spurs player He is certainly not an easy player to replace.

I see this mentioned a lot, but the reality is that it isn't ALWAYS the best barometer. Fellow professionals and team mates don't tend to think in terms of team tactics or the overall big picture a lot of the times. If you train or play against him, he seems impossible to get the ball off of, is strong as a bull and can and will tackle you. That's what you know and that's what you comment on. I've had the same kind of team mate or opponent in a few sports I've played in at a relatively high level.

Doesn't mean that the team mate or opponent is thinking about less obvious things like positioning, how the player fits into the team dynamic, their vision or decisive passing, end product, what spaces/positions they take up on the pitch in relation to everyone else etc.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate Dembele's gifts and what he can bring us on certain days, but those kind of comments tend to come with a very narrow focus of 1 on 1 tussles and what it's like to go against that player within those confines

 

[dondo]

Sissoko

What about him?

 

[dondo]

out of interest, who does isco start ahead of?

Dier?

 

[Gbspurs]

I really like Lanzini. Quality player, impossible to see it happening though.

MOTD player imo.

 

[Monkey boy]

What about him?

You said that we couldn't afford automatic starters yet this pile of shit cost £30 million

 

[allpaths]

MOTD player imo.

Not as good as Eriksen, but is starting to really pull the strings from a deeper position ever since payet left.
If his contract was running out and he wasn't playing for the dumb and dumber club, he'd be a very shrewd buy.