What do we need?

[AngerManagement]

Ok so we all have our opinions of the transfer window that just went by some good players in and some really quality out. I am sure most were left wanting a little more, especially with the last min failed attempt to sign JM.

Anyway, after 4-5 games now I think we as fans are well placed to form our opinions of the new squad and its potential (What we like and where we need to improve etc)

With speculation suggesting we are looking to appoint a transfer specialist to sort out the missing pieces in our squad, what area's would you look to improve and which players would you try to sign if Mr Levy charged you with this role for the next two windows?

Where do you think we need to sign players and who do you think we COULD sign in those areas? (no players out of our reach that would end with us chasing our tails)

Would you sell or loan any of our current squad? if so what are the fee's you would realistically accept? and what sort of budget would you be asking the chairman for to make the signings you think we need in Jan to push us back in to the CL?

 

[Snarfalicious]

Buy guys like Aubameyang and Isco for the future, upside, and depth. I wish we had room for Victor Wanyama because I think he would be fantastic as one of the holding 2, he's big, he moves well, and he seems to do just about everything well. Sell Dawson if he really has no place here, and Kaboul is on schedule to return.

It may help us immediately (Mostly dependent on Isco), but it would definitely help build cohesiveness going into the season next year rather than waiting for a summer transfer to happen and have these young guys - Auba/Isco - playing catch up into a new season.

Of course, all this depends on not getting shafted due to the overpriced fees that seem to reign supreme in January.

 

[Montasura]

We still need to be looking in the striker department for the immediate future. Other than that we could do with looking for upgrades or longer term replacements for Lennon and Benny. And then some younger players to add a little more depth to cover injuries etc.

 

[Blake Griffin]

a pure ball playing cm and some craft in the final third. so basically luka and rafa

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Need ASAP
- Moutinho or another scurrying quick recycling ballplayer (as an alternative perhaps we could go for Sahin next summer if he does well at Liverpool)
- Backup for Ade - another big #9 who is also a finisher (Leandro or someone in his mould)
- Young left back cover (I'm assuming Zeki Fryers will be arriving in Jan)

Need longer term
- A young #2 GK (assuming this will be Friedel and Cudicini's last season)
- A young 4th choice CB (assuming Gallas will retire and Dawson will be sold - Lascalles perhaps)

Don't need
- Jenas, Bentley, Gomes, Defoe, Rose, Khumalo

 

[AngerManagement]

Buy guys like Aubameyang and Isco for the future, upside, and depth. I wish we had room for Victor Wanyama because I think he would be fantastic as one of the holding 2, he's big, he moves well, and he seems to do just about everything well. Sell Dawson if he really has no place here, and Kaboul is on schedule to return.

It may help us immediately (Mostly dependent on Isco), but it would definitely help build cohesiveness going into the season next year rather than waiting for a summer transfer to happen and have these young guys - Auba/Isco - playing catch up into a new season.

Of course, all this depends on not getting shafted due to the overpriced fees that seem to reign supreme in January.

I think Isco is going to prove to be one of them players we should have pulled the trigger on when we first were interested in him

Much like Leandro and Oscar etc

I think Isco is going to have raised his profile after his CL exploits and we will find him either out of our price range or being wanted by bigger fish we cannot compete with

 

[tobi]

Intelligent footballers, preferably those that play in the final third of the pitch.

 

[Snarfalicious]

I think Isco is going to prove to be one of them players we should have pulled the trigger on when we first were interested in him

Much like Leandro and Oscar etc

I think Isco is going to have raised his profile after his CL exploits and we will find him either out of our price range or being wanted by bigger fish we cannot compete with

I do believe it's been stated he has a buyout clause. Perhaps we do what we did with Dembele and get him while the getting's good. Unfortunately, you're probably right, but I do believe Isco is the type of talent this squad needs to build around.

 

[Mr-T]

Cocaine and prostitutes

 

[thinktank]

Cocaine and prostitutes

And maybe a few midgets and a ferris wheel.

 

[StartingPrice]

And maybe a few midgets and a ferris wheel.

After giving Mr-T a <WINNER> this, really deserves a <DOUBLE WINNER>, but there isn't one, so...tough

Anyway, back in the real World - I kinda agree with AM, but I'm struggling to commit to anything in particular, because:

1) There were rumours that Leandro will be coming in January.
2) My calculations have been thrown by AVBs handing of Defoe. Is he psyching him up out of necessity, prior to selling in the Summer when we have a replacement? Or does he really see a long-term role for him? As I said, elsewhere, we all moan and groan at JD (well, most of us do), but maybe he has never been isntructed to be any different and will benefit from some direct guidance from AVB & co.

So that makes me totally usure on how our frontline will be come January, anyway.

3) As most agreed, on here, in the Summer, maybe we would be as well not looking for a direct Modric replacement, but, instead, going for a completely different set-up from midfield. By that reasoning, maybe Dembele is the answer, and we should be loking for cover/competition for him. But it is too early to say, as it may pan out like that, or it may pan out exactly the opposite and leave us sscreaming for Moutinho.
4) Can't make mind up on Sigs - maybe a bit of confidence and a few games with Adebayor will show us a completely different player.
5) Not sure the extent to which Townsend, and, to a lesser degree, Falque can successfully cover Bale/Lennon.
6) Have to wait to see what Thudd is like when match fit before we will know if AVB can make genuine use of him, or is just using him as cover because he is here, until he can replace him in the squad.

So, again, for midfield, I think we will have a better idea of what we need come January.

7) We don't know if Danny Rose has gone to Sunderland as a prelude to a sale, or if it is to see how he copes as with Walker, Caulker, Naughton etc.
8) Is Freyers done or not?

So it is hard to say whether we need another full-back or not. I was always of the school that Danny Rose looked reasonable there, as well.

9) Some folk may be looking at Daws like a dead-man walking, whereas AVB has said he will give him an chance to show he can for into the system.

So, again, I don' think anything will be clear until we see how this pans out and we get Kaboul back..

On top of that, Mr Levy really isn't just paying lip-service to the youth set-up, so, again, a lot will depend on how much we feel like we can rely on/have genuine prospects coming through, before deciding to buy. What about Ryan Mason, for instance - we have loaned Kane out and put Mason about the first team.

Obviously, if we can get genuine talent, like Isco, in I am not against that - but I would prefer to see how our team is performing and our squad standing up, come December, and whether we have agreements for players to come in or not, before saying who I think we need.

 

[vegassd]

Fryers signed for Standard Liege. Didn't he?

Selling Dawson seems lke a bad choice because Gallas is surely coming to the end of his time at Spurs. A LB would be good, and certainly some cover for our current wide men. They would have to be players better suited to a 433 style rather than a classic English flying winger though I reckon.

Slightly crazy thought - but if we don't make the CL this season and Bale kicks up any kind of fuss about it then he might be an option to be sold. Personally I would prefer he stays for a bunch of reasons, but he hasn't seemed to be his usual beastly self so far this season and it might be that the huge fee we could get for him could be spent on more AVB-style players.

Will totally depend on the manager, because until we have everybody fit I'm not sure that any of us really know what style of play he wants.

 

[StartingPrice]

Fryers signed for Standard Liege. Didn't he?

Selling Dawson seems lke a bad choice because Gallas is surely coming to the end of his time at Spurs. A LB would be good, and certainly some cover for our current wide men. They would have to be players better suited to a 433 style rather than a classic English flying winger though I reckon.

Slightly crazy thought - but if we don't make the CL this season and Bale kicks up any kind of fuss about it then he might be an option to be sold. Personally I would prefer he stays for a bunch of reasons, but he hasn't seemed to be his usual beastly self so far this season and it might be that the huge fee we could get for him could be spent on more AVB-style players.

Will totally depend on the manager, because until we have everybody fit I'm not sure that any of us really know what style of play he wants.

Fryers has gone to Standard Liege...but the implication is that it is a manner of subterfuge in order for us to avoid going to a tribunal with United (I think Liege are a club who are in our thrall, thanks to the mesmerism of Dan Levy ).

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

2) My calculations have been thrown by AVBs handing of Defoe. Is he psyching him up out of necessity, prior to selling in the Summer when we have a replacement? Or does he really see a long-term role for him? As I said, elsewhere, we all moan and groan at JD (well, most of us do), but maybe he has never been isntructed to be any different and will benefit from some direct guidance from AVB & co.

5) Not sure the extent to which Townsend, and, to a lesser degree, Falque can successfully cover Bale/Lennon.

2) Not sure Defoe can have a long term role when he's in his 30s now. For that reason alone Levy will cash in sooner, rather than later, even if he does have an Indian summer to his career.

5) Remember Dempsey's primary position is as an inside forward, so is cover/competition for Bale and Lennon as well as Townsend. Andre hasn't traditionally used two wingers before, so Dempsey actually suits his system better.

Fryers signed for Standard Liege. Didn't he?

The feeling is we've done a deal with Liege to take him for 6 months, so we didn't have to pay the £6m compensation.

 

[lillywhites61]

Fryers signed for Standard Liege. Didn't he?

Selling Dawson seems lke a bad choice because Gallas is surely coming to the end of his time at Spurs. A LB would be good, and certainly some cover for our current wide men. They would have to be players better suited to a 433 style rather than a classic English flying winger though I reckon.

Slightly crazy thought - but if we don't make the CL this season and Bale kicks up any kind of fuss about it then he might be an option to be sold. Personally I would prefer he stays for a bunch of reasons, but he hasn't seemed to be his usual beastly self so far this season and it might be that the huge fee we could get for him could be spent on more AVB-style players.

Will totally depend on the manager, because until we have everybody fit I'm not sure that any of us really know what style of play he wants.

I think Bale is an AVB type player, he is like a Hulk from the left. At the moment who has he got to supply to as in height strength etc. when Ade is back I think he will start to show what he is about again, as he will have a target man and he will have a player to pass to and receive from with good hold up play.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

I think Bale is an AVB type player, he is like a Hulk from the left. At the moment who has he got to supply to as in height strength etc. when Ade is back I think he will start to show what he is about again, as he will have a target man and he will have a player to pass to and receive from with good hold up play.

No sure.

Hulk is left footed and cuts in from the right. He's also reasonably prolific..

Bale has never looked promising on the right and never looks like becoming that prolific. I think Bale is by far the better player, but to me he'll always be a winger who goes round the outside, rather than an inverted inside forward.

 

[StartingPrice]

2) Not sure Defoe can have a long term role when he's in his 30s now. For that reason alone Levy will cash in sooner, rather than later, even if he does have an Indian summer to his career.

5) Remember Dempsey's primary position is as an inside forward, so is cover/competition for Bale and Lennon as well as Townsend. Andre hasn't traditionally used two wingers before, so Dempsey actually suits his system better.




The feeling is we've done a deal with Liege to take him for 6 months, so we didn't have to pay the £6m compensation.

Defoe's 29. I'm hypothesising. I was amazed that we didn't sell him...instead, we offered him a new contract. That could very easily have been to get a better price for him when he is moved on. But, we aren't in training every day, we aren't inside AVBs head. Maybe he sees the value of having an out-and-out goal-getter in the squad, and is showing some genuine man-management (and could even genuinely rate JD and see scope to instruct him to becoming a better player). My personal opinion is that we can do better, and younger - but I am discounting nothing, which was the puspose of the post and saying I would wait to see how things panned out for a few months.

I agree about Dempsey, but I was discussing Townsend and Falque specifically as they are far from certain to even be here come January, and a lot depends on whether they are kept as cover or loaned out, whereas I am fully aware that Dempsey is envisaged as first team/squad (and what his best positions are)

 

[chinaman]

A sugar dad.

 

[TheGreenLily]

For someone to set light to the The Sun newspaper (or all of child phone hacking scumbags international offices) offices and printing press.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

Defoe's 29. I'm hypothesising. I was amazed that we didn't sell him...instead, we offered him a new contract. That could very easily have been to get a better price for him when he is moved on. But, we aren't in training every day, we aren't inside AVBs head. Maybe he sees the value of having an out-and-out goal-getter in the squad, and is showing some genuine man-management (and could even genuinely rate JD and see scope to instruct him to becoming a better player). My personal opinion is that we can do better, and younger - but I am discounting nothing, which was the puspose of the post and saying I would wait to see how things panned out for a few months.

I agree about Dempsey, but I was disuccing Townsend and Falque specifically as they are far from certain to even be here come January, and a lot depends on whether they are kept as cover or loaned out, whereas I am fully aware that Dempsey is envisaged as first team/squad (and his best positions)

30 next week

I think AVB is just showing his quality by squeezing the very best out of what he has available to him. Especially after watching him against a decent defence like Lazio, he surely realises he's not up to the job. I think Defoe is as much of a dead man walking in the medium term as Dawson and Friedel.