Spursidol
Well-Known Member
- Sep 15, 2007
- 12,636
- 15,834
Its that time of the year for a squad analysis to focus minds in the transfer window on who we might need.
Goalkeepers (3)
Hugo Lloris, Brad Friedel, Heurelho Gomes
Whilst Freidal remains a good goalkeeper despite his age, I imagine that if we see a decent goalkeeper at a bargain price, we will buy him as our no 2 – but not sure we will consider this as a necessity this summer. Gomes has another year on his contract, but be nice oif we could sell him for a fee in the summer. The best youth prospect, Jordan Archer, is probably at least 2 years away from being considered a first team goalkeeper – next stop for him is a League 1 or Championship loan – so if we don’t buy this summer it becomes a necessity next summer.
Centre Backs (4)
Younes Kaboul, Michael Dawson, Steven Caulker, Jan Vertonghen(William Gallas – end
of contract)
Cannot see any changes here, unless either we decide to upgrade on Michael Dawson or Younis
Kaboul does not come back from injury as good.
Full backs (5)
Kyle Walker, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kyle Naughton, Danny Rose, Adam Smith
It seems likely that AVB wants to change LB, in which case the question becomes whether Rose iis considered good enough (IMO he’s probably proved he is a candidate in his Sunderlandloan) or whether AVB wants to buy a new LB – either way expect BAE to move on. Youngster Zeki Fryers is a long way from first team consideration.
At RB, it’s a question as to whether AVB is confident enough in Adam Smith (who has played only 1 PL game) to deputise for Kyle Walker (and indeed at LB) to allow Kyle Naughton to be sold. If not, hopefully we see Adam Smith on a PL loan to complete his education.
Centre Midfield (8)
Moussa Dembele, Sandro, Tom Huddlestone, Lewis Holtby, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Scott Parker, Jake Livermore, Tom Carroll
Lots of players, even for a 433, so I think a minor sort out is due. IMO Huddlestone is possibly still not cutting it against top sides so may well go, but can we get a better back up to Dembele or do we keep both Huddlestone and Carroll as cover with Carroll being given more chances to show he can be the main man in time.
With Sandro, Scott Parker and probably Lewis Holtby covering the anchor position, I can see Jake Livermore moving on – particularly with youngster Massimo Luongo not being far away from the first team (I’d like to think he was involved in the first team pre-season).
Lastly I wonder if we are keeping Sigurdsson to be the AM in a 4231, so as to give several tactical options.
Winger/wide (3)
Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Andros Townsend,(David Bentley – end of contract)
Cannot see any changes here, even if Bale moves to the centre.
Forwards (4)
Jermain Defoe, Emanuel Adebayor, Clint Dempsey, Harry Kane, (Other – Jonathan Obika)
Where do we start ? Ideally we sell Defoe for £7m - £10m with another younger decent striker capable of leading the line (and preferably also able to be a right sided or left sided forward) comes in.
Adebayor must be a conundrum for management – but I’m not sure we can sell him after one year, nor how many buyers there are and how many better strikers we can realistically buy, so I think he will stay. But I imagine he will be closely watched in pre-season to ensure he starts the season fit and in-form – unlike the season just gone 2012/13.
Dempsey is not a technically gifted player but clearly has an eye for goal and the assist and is tenacious to get them. I think he will stay as a squad player coming on as a left sided or right sided forward because of the goals and assists he brings – but if we can upgrade at the right price we will.
I think Kane will get another PL loan – in which case we may get another striker (preferably capable of playing wide right or left) either permanently or on loan.
Other striking options such as Shaq Coulthirst (18), Souleymane Coulibally (18) are too young whilst the inexperienced Cameron Lancaster is an unknown after injury and cannot see Jonathan Obika being an option.
Total Players = 27 (includes Carroll and Kane who will count as u 21’s)
Squad above includes : Club Trained (minimum 4) – Caulker, Rose, Smith, Livermore, Lennon, Bale, Townsend, plus u21’s Carroll, Kane excluding Obika
Other Association Trained (including club trained, minimum 8) - Dawson, Walker, Naughton, Sigurdsson, Parker, Defoe, Huddlestone
Conclusion
Don’t expect a major squad overhaul – the core of the squad for next season is in place.
Do expect a striker upgrade or two
Intriguing to see how the left full back situation evolves and a slight shake up in central midfield.
Do expect an opportunistic player purchase or two and maybe a youngster or two.
Goalkeepers (3)
Hugo Lloris, Brad Friedel, Heurelho Gomes
Whilst Freidal remains a good goalkeeper despite his age, I imagine that if we see a decent goalkeeper at a bargain price, we will buy him as our no 2 – but not sure we will consider this as a necessity this summer. Gomes has another year on his contract, but be nice oif we could sell him for a fee in the summer. The best youth prospect, Jordan Archer, is probably at least 2 years away from being considered a first team goalkeeper – next stop for him is a League 1 or Championship loan – so if we don’t buy this summer it becomes a necessity next summer.
Centre Backs (4)
Younes Kaboul, Michael Dawson, Steven Caulker, Jan Vertonghen
Cannot see any changes here, unless either we decide to upgrade on Michael Dawson or Younis
Kaboul does not come back from injury as good.
Full backs (5)
Kyle Walker, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kyle Naughton, Danny Rose, Adam Smith
It seems likely that AVB wants to change LB, in which case the question becomes whether Rose iis considered good enough (IMO he’s probably proved he is a candidate in his Sunderlandloan) or whether AVB wants to buy a new LB – either way expect BAE to move on. Youngster Zeki Fryers is a long way from first team consideration.
At RB, it’s a question as to whether AVB is confident enough in Adam Smith (who has played only 1 PL game) to deputise for Kyle Walker (and indeed at LB) to allow Kyle Naughton to be sold. If not, hopefully we see Adam Smith on a PL loan to complete his education.
Centre Midfield (8)
Moussa Dembele, Sandro, Tom Huddlestone, Lewis Holtby, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Scott Parker, Jake Livermore, Tom Carroll
Lots of players, even for a 433, so I think a minor sort out is due. IMO Huddlestone is possibly still not cutting it against top sides so may well go, but can we get a better back up to Dembele or do we keep both Huddlestone and Carroll as cover with Carroll being given more chances to show he can be the main man in time.
With Sandro, Scott Parker and probably Lewis Holtby covering the anchor position, I can see Jake Livermore moving on – particularly with youngster Massimo Luongo not being far away from the first team (I’d like to think he was involved in the first team pre-season).
Lastly I wonder if we are keeping Sigurdsson to be the AM in a 4231, so as to give several tactical options.
Winger/wide (3)
Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Andros Townsend,
Cannot see any changes here, even if Bale moves to the centre.
Forwards (4)
Jermain Defoe, Emanuel Adebayor, Clint Dempsey, Harry Kane, (Other – Jonathan Obika)
Where do we start ? Ideally we sell Defoe for £7m - £10m with another younger decent striker capable of leading the line (and preferably also able to be a right sided or left sided forward) comes in.
Adebayor must be a conundrum for management – but I’m not sure we can sell him after one year, nor how many buyers there are and how many better strikers we can realistically buy, so I think he will stay. But I imagine he will be closely watched in pre-season to ensure he starts the season fit and in-form – unlike the season just gone 2012/13.
Dempsey is not a technically gifted player but clearly has an eye for goal and the assist and is tenacious to get them. I think he will stay as a squad player coming on as a left sided or right sided forward because of the goals and assists he brings – but if we can upgrade at the right price we will.
I think Kane will get another PL loan – in which case we may get another striker (preferably capable of playing wide right or left) either permanently or on loan.
Other striking options such as Shaq Coulthirst (18), Souleymane Coulibally (18) are too young whilst the inexperienced Cameron Lancaster is an unknown after injury and cannot see Jonathan Obika being an option.
Total Players = 27 (includes Carroll and Kane who will count as u 21’s)
Squad above includes : Club Trained (minimum 4) – Caulker, Rose, Smith, Livermore, Lennon, Bale, Townsend, plus u21’s Carroll, Kane excluding Obika
Other Association Trained (including club trained, minimum 8) - Dawson, Walker, Naughton, Sigurdsson, Parker, Defoe, Huddlestone
Conclusion
Don’t expect a major squad overhaul – the core of the squad for next season is in place.
Do expect a striker upgrade or two
Intriguing to see how the left full back situation evolves and a slight shake up in central midfield.
Do expect an opportunistic player purchase or two and maybe a youngster or two.
