What now?

[DEFchenkOE]

I seriously think we don't need anymore players and that this is probably the most complete squad we've had for a long time going into the start of the season.

gk - we are fine.

rb - We have so many right backs it's untrue

cb - we're now covered

Lb - BAE and Bale are two excellent options

rm - we have Lennon, Benley, Giovani and Naughton

cm - I believe we don't need anymore central midfielders, Palacios,JJ, O'Hara, Huddlestone, and then the youngsters Livermore and Bostock is enough.

Lm - We don't need a left winger, we have Modric, Gio, Rose, Bale and Lennon that can all play there.

st - Strikers we have more than what we need.

Let's give those a chance, we don't need anymore at all, we shouldn't overload the squad and should give our current youngsters a chance to be backup. We're not in europe so our squad doesn't need to be so big, I already think it's a bit too big actually. It's may be a problem keeping everyone happy.

I do think we need to put faith in some of the younger players, what is the point in buying a left winger now to sit on the bench? It's clear that lm is Modric's position, and unless other players are sold then there is no need to buy anymore.

I don't have the facts on this but I bet we have more first team players than all the other teams that we'll be competing with for the top half, and that by no means guarantees anything. But the other teams are more likely to field a settled team whereas because we have so many options there is more temptation to chop and change all the time whenever we lose one game. This most definitely can have a negative effect on us. I think it's been our problem for a while.

 

[THOWIG]

Obviously it depends on who stays and who goes, but for me we must sign a back up or an alternative for Palacios as if he gets injured or suspended then we are in trouble. An experienced choice would be Frings or Senna, an impossible choice would be L.Diarra or younger options include Vertonghen, Topal or Mendes Da Silva. On a side note I can't believe Wigan are signing Diame for 3.5 mil and we are being quoted inflated prices for Sissoko, but anyway.
Do we need a replacement for Jenas? I'm not a fan, but I know many are. There are some fantastic options out there though like Defour, Kacar, Rakitic, Martinez etc....

 

[Kendall]

If we could've upgraded Jenas with a Premiership proven central midfielder (like Barry) then I'd be 100% happy. But I don't want us to start buying CMs for buyings sake and end up with another Zokora or Boateng.

More than happy to give Jenas and Palacios the start of the season, now they have such a good understanding.

I would think Liverpool will look like this:

Gomes

Hutton Corluka King Assou-Ekotto

Lennon Jenas Palacios Modric

Crouch Keane​

With Bassong coming in for Hutton and Corluka moving to the right for Hull.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Obviously it depends on who stays and who goes, but for me we must sign a back up or an alternative for Palacios as if he gets injured or suspended then we are in trouble. An experienced choice would be Frings or Senna, an impossible choice would be L.Diarra or younger options include Vertonghen, Topal or Mendes Da Silva. On a side note I can't believe Wigan are signing Diame for 3.5 mil and we are being quoted inflated prices for Sissoko, but anyway.
Do we need a replacement for Jenas? I'm not a fan, but I know many are. There are some fantastic options out there though like Defour, Kacar, Rakitic, Martinez etc....

How many of those players will want to come in as a backup for Palacios at a team like ours? My guess is none.

As for replacing JJ, maybe you don't think he's a good player but alongside Palacios he can do very well for us. If Palacios gets injured then if anything JJ can do his defensive role, I think he's more than capable of doing that. My only concern would be playing Huddlestone in a 2 man midfield. But other than that we're fine unless some players are sold.

 

[Kendall]

This is why I'd get rid of Huddlestone, both for Spurs and for him.

I can't see him being in a 2 man midfield, either replacing JJ or Wilson. I don't think he has a clearly defined position for our style/setup. Much like people saying Bent didn't suit our system, I don't think Hudd does either. Say if Sunderland played a 4-5-1 with Huddlestone lobbing balls over to Bent - it would be a good setup.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Yea definitely agree about that, he'd also be perfect for a team like Everton or Aston Villa who usually play 4-5-1/4-3-3. I think it would be a big shame to see him go but unless we were to change our system which I don't think we're going to do then he's going to struggle to establish himself in the first team. Maybe at the moment if Palacios gets injured HR would prefer to play someone like O'Hara or Livermore purely because they are just much more mobile. I'm not saying that in technique they are anywhere near Hudds level but i'm not confident at all in the prospect of playing Hudd as the dm in a 4-4-2. Opposition midfielders can almost just walk past him.

 

[THOWIG]

How many of those players will want to come in as a backup for Palacios at a team like ours? My guess is none.

As for replacing JJ, maybe you don't think he's a good player but alongside Palacios he can do very well for us. If Palacios gets injured then if anything JJ can do his defensive role, I think he's more than capable of doing that. My only concern would be playing Huddlestone in a 2 man midfield. But other than that we're fine unless some players are sold.

I don't know of any player that is signed on the basis of being a back up unless they are really young and have to develop, but I think you know that. What we/you need is alternatives. First elevens don't exist anymore not even Barcelona have a first eleven they change and adapt, but they have a system. Redknapp stated that he tried to resign Diarra, but Real weren't interested. This suggests though that he wants the option of having two defensive minded midfielders as an alternative or one on the bench for different games.
If we don't have another defensive minded option it would concern me.

Out of the players I named who would want to join us? I would say most except possibly Frings as he is settled likewise Senna and Real I doubt would sell Diarra, but it's all hypothetical.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I don't know of any player that is signed on the basis of being a back up unless they are really young and have to develop, but I think you know that. What we/you need is alternatives. First elevens don't exist anymore not even Barcelona have a first eleven they change and adapt, but they have a system. Redknapp stated that he tried to resign Diarra, but Real weren't interested. This suggests though that he wants the option of having two defensive minded midfielders as an alternative or one on the bench for different games.
If we don't have another defensive minded option it would concern me.

Out of the players I named who would want to join us? I would say most except possibly Frings as he is settled likewise Senna and Real I doubt would sell Diarra, but it's all hypothetical.

On the subject of Barca, last season at least they most definitely did have a first choice 11. Yes they have players that can come into their defined system but it was obvious what the first choice was if everyone was fit.

We won't be able to sign Senna, Diarra or Frings, if we could then yes it would give us more options but as I mentioned I think could destabilise the team a bit as they would be demanding to start. I'm not against us signing these type of players but I think that right now as it stands our squad is fine, UNLESS Palacios picked up a long term injury. If I take into account that he's likely to be suspended for a few games then I'd be happy for O'Hara to fill in. I remember we played Arsenal away a couple seasons ago with O'Hara in central midfield. Think it was his debut, he showed that he's more than capable if played centrally imo.

 

[Coyboy]

Th problem is that our strikers our crap. It was our biggest weakness last season. I don't rate any of them that much apart from Keane, who of course had a real dip in form last season. I'd happily see any of them upgraded, and Pav seems the most likely. Negredo in for Pav would be excellent business.

Come on Dan...

 

[THOWIG]

It is widely known that Barcelona play to a system that is adaptable and can be more defensive depending on the opposition. First elevens don't exist anymore.

Anyway this is a Spurs thread. Lets give O'Hara the opportunity to show us what he can achieve then and we shall see. I agree that he is more naturally suited to playing centrally. I think Redknapp likes him as well.

 

[spurdownunder]

Joe Cole

 

[alfiespurs]

Joe Cole

Never going to happen ! evern Harry stated in his conference, he does not know where that came from. I would like to get a CM of Lee Catermole coming in or this young lad Sissoko .. Then the doors are shut ! :grin::grin::grin:

 

[ShadyAftermath2k]

Surely it's better to have a more cultured DM, like a Carrick, to compliment Palacios' destroyer play? Two mobile pressers is the same as we've had since Carrick left (i.e. Zok-JJ, JJ-WP). While it just about works defensively, it limits us offensively - ensuring that all our play goes over the top or out wide. We need a Pirlo/Carrick/Petit to Palacios' Gattuso/Hargreaves/Vieria.

Th problem is that our strikers our crap. It was our biggest weakness last season. I don't rate any of them that much apart from Keane, who of course had a real dip in form last season. I'd happily see any of them upgraded, and Pav seems the most likely. Negredo in for Pav would be excellent business.

If we could get a Carrick type player, then fantastic, but we need another Palacios as well. Because let's face it, he won't be playing every game, so we need a replacement and if he has the range of passing that Carrick has, even better.

As for the strikers situation, strikers are there to score goals. Keane scores goals, Defoe scores goals, Crouch scores goals, Pav has scored goals last season, vital ones like the Liverpool game. They do their job, just fine and if they've got a bit of skill, like Keano all the better. Negredo is unproven in the Premiership and would be a huge risk, Pav will come good this season. He's settled in now and he scored what, 14 goals last season, not a bad return.

We can't keep chopping and changing, we need to stablise for once. If that means giving up the "superstar" players and replacing them with lesser names, that actually do the job, then so be it.

 

[kishman]

What now? Our squad is ready to challenge for the title.:grin:

 

[THOWIG]

If we say that Jenas and Palacios is our first choice central midfield pairing then I can see why Redknapp is targeting Sissoko as he has an all round game. Personally I would love us to move for Kacar of Hertha Berlin as I think he's a potential star and fulfills a numer of roles.
Another one albeit slightly senior would be Bodmer of Lyon. He would be ideal.

 

[Banjo]

With the way we finished last year, I was fairly happy with the squad and not too concerned if we bought in the summer or not. Arry had us on the right track and we were a club with possibilities.

The signings in and departures out have strengthened the squad though, so we are now in an even better position and should certainly be looking top 6.

We do probably still have cash to spend, but there is no point spending it just for spending sake. We now need to take stock of what we have, and play the first couple of matches to see how it blends together.

There are still a number of big time players who have to find homes before the window shuts on this WC season - and believe there are still a number of clubs who will go out and spend big time (Chelski for one I think and despite SAF saying no still expect Manure to spend again).

What would life be like a Spurs if we didn't have the famous last day tranasfer scenario? However, if we have bought as well as I believe we have, we can hopefully save the cash for the January window when we identify what we really want for the push to top 4 because if we are close it will add to our pulling power.

Agree with the taking stock thing before the end of the window and looking to maybe spend in January if needed. I know some are disappointed that we haven't bought players like Hunts but that quality would have to be enticed to WHL with the prospect of Europe and a good chance to do well. I feel we need to establish a current track record before we can hope for getting that quality of player. Maybe we should start saving now?

 

[Green Valley]

If we could've upgraded Jenas with a Premiership proven central midfielder (like Barry) then I'd be 100% happy. But I don't want us to start buying CMs for buyings sake and end up with another Zokora or Boateng.

More than happy to give Jenas and Palacios the start of the season, now they have such a good understanding.

I would think Liverpool will look like this:

Gomes

Hutton Corluka King Assou-Ekotto

Lennon Jenas Palacios Modric

Crouch Keane​

With Bassong coming in for Hutton and Corluka moving to the right for Hull.

Why Keane?

 

[Stoof]

Let them play together for more than 5 minutes before judging them!

Nah, sod that.

Let's get on their backs straight away.

Let's hope that with a relatively stable core to our side we can actually kick on and gel as a team. It's the one thing that we need ... a bit of stability.

Now that we've got adequate centre half cover I'm really quite happy with our first team. Maybe we could do with some form of Palacios cover but I reckon that's just me being greedy.

 

[Dan Ashcroft]

If we could get a Carrick type player, then fantastic, but we need another Palacios as well. Because let's face it, he won't be playing every game, so we need a replacement and if he has the range of passing that Carrick has, even better.

As for the strikers situation, strikers are there to score goals. Keane scores goals, Defoe scores goals, Crouch scores goals, Pav has scored goals last season, vital ones like the Liverpool game. They do their job, just fine and if they've got a bit of skill, like Keano all the better. Negredo is unproven in the Premiership and would be a huge risk, Pav will come good this season. He's settled in now and he scored what, 14 goals last season, not a bad return.

We can't keep chopping and changing, we need to stablise for once. If that means giving up the "superstar" players and replacing them with lesser names, that actually do the job, then so be it.

Jenas? He's a different style of presser, but is one. He and Carrick made a good and well balanced partnership.

 

[OpenHeartZoo]

If we say that Jenas and Palacios is our first choice central midfield pairing then I can see why Redknapp is targeting Sissoko as he has an all round game. Personally I would love us to move for Kacar of Hertha Berlin as I think he's a potential star and fulfills a numer of roles.
Another one albeit slightly senior would be Bodmer of Lyon. He would be ideal.

Seconded, and surprised we're never linked, not even when Comolli was about. As soon as we lost out on Barry he seemed like one of the more obvious alternatives that we'd have a chance of getting. A decent all round midfielder, good on and off the ball, 6ft3, mobile, not super quick but probably quicker than Barry, and a good age at 25. Probably gettable for the same price or less than what they're asking for Sissoko. Not going to happen though....