Winter Transfer Window Scouting Thread

[soflapaul]

Agree with this.

Conte will be able to improve a lot of aspects, certainly defensively, and the shape of the team with and without the ball. And I see us as a team who won't be heavily reliant on possession and dominating games.

Our biggest weakness at the minute is a lack of goals. Kane isn't scoring and is dropping much deeper anyway, therefore we need more firepower. And of course, if Kane or Son get injured our chances of top 4 are over, as no player will be able to step up.

We would be very well organised, have a good game plan yet have no real threat in attack.

A CF would also allow us to switch between 3-4-3 and 3-4-1-2 giving Conte more options.

We do desperately need CMs but I think with Skipp and Hojbjerg, you have two solid players there that allow the others to attack more freely, adding another CF boosts that significantly.

I also believe Lo Celso will start to feature and Conte will get a tune out of him.

Therefore, if we have to wait for the CM Conte really wants, we should do.

While a CF is much needed, I'd argue that the CM is a bigger need at the moment. We're mid table (10th) in conversion ratio and 20th in shots on goal. That screams that we need more shots. GLC may come good (and i think he will) but we could get a much bigger bang for our buck immediately by having that proven midfielder that understand's Conte's system. That would allow Kane-Sonny-fill in the blank to play further up the pitch. Absolutely we need a CF but imagine a fit Moussa Dembele's or Luka Modric's impact on this team vs Vlahovic's contribution. both would be great but that CM makes the players around him all the more effective. CF is second assuming Romero comes back reasonably quick.

Edit: For me, the January pick is all about getting to the 4th spot. A short term contract with a proven Conte disciple would be the best of both worlds

 

[Guntz]

Konsa - CB - Villa
Killman - Left footed CB - Wolves
Oxford - DM - Augsburg
Carvalho - AM/RWF - Fulham

That's a pretty average list of players and none of those would improve our first 11.

We need signings who can come in and make a difference now.

Not more Gil/Sarr prospects who won't come good for 2-3 seasons.

 

[curlacious]

Priority signing for me is Kessie.

 

[Timberwolf]

Priority for me:

1. CM - Proper well rounded, dominant, passing CM to complement Skipp and challenge Hojbjerg. It looks like Conte doesn't fancy Ndombele and sees Lo Celso as more of an attacker, leaving Winks as our third choice CM. Need to seriously upgrade.

2. CAM/Creative Wide Forward - Presuming we're sticking with the 3-4-3 I think we desperately need a more creative player in the 3, or as an option in the middle if we switch to a 3-5-2. Someone like Raphinha would be perfect for this. Maaaybe Conte can get Lo Celso to excel in this role, but I don't think he's quite good enough.

3. CB - I'm surprised to admit we're looking stronger than I expected at CB and Conte has worked wonders with Dier and Davies so this is lower priority in the short term. Long term we could really do with another ball playing CB, though.

4. ST - If we have a suitable buyer for Kane I would push this up to number 1 as in that case we should go all out for Vlahovic ASAP. If not, I struggle to see us bringing in a high enough quality striker (or two) in January and think we might be better off waiting until the summer. Defo need at least one new striker long term, though, and two if Kane goes.

5. RWB - An attacking RWB to push Royal.

In the next 2 windows IMO we should look to sell: Doherty, Dele, Ndombele, Rodon, Bergwijn and one of Sanchez/Tanganga, along with pinning down Lloris to a 2/3 year deal as Gollini very evidently isn't good enough.

 

[Guntz]

I just want a few players who are comfortable with the ball.

Our players always look so awkward in possession and prefer running into space.

 

[curlacious]

Priority for me:

1. CM - Proper well rounded, dominant, passing CM to complement Skipp and challenge Hojbjerg. It looks like Conte doesn't fancy Ndombele and sees Lo Celso as more of an attacker, leaving Winks as our third choice CM. Need to seriously upgrade.

2. CAM/Creative Wide Forward - Presuming we're sticking with the 3-4-3 I think we desperately need a more creative player in the 3, or as an option in the middle if we switch to a 3-5-2. Someone like Raphinha would be perfect for this. Maaaybe Conte can get Lo Celso to excel in this role, but I don't think he's quite good enough.

3. CB - I'm surprised to admit we're looking stronger than I expected at CB and Conte has worked wonders with Dier and Davies so this is lower priority in the short term. Long term we could really do with another ball playing CB, though.

4. ST - If we have a suitable buyer for Kane I would push this up to number 1 as in that case we should go all out for Vlahovic ASAP. If not, I struggle to see us bringing in a high enough quality striker (or two) in January and think we might be better off waiting until the summer. Defo need at least one new striker long term, though, and two if Kane goes.

5. RWB - An attacking RWB to push Royal.

In the next 2 windows IMO we should look to sell: Doherty, Dele, Ndombele, Rodon, Bergwijn and one of Sanchez/Tanganga, along with pinning down Lloris to a 2/3 year deal as Gollini very evidently isn't good enough.

Agree. I'd say Kessie, Raphinha, Pau Torres and, eventually, Lamptey. Vlahovic if Kane goes.

 

[dtxspurs]

Agree. I'd say Kessie, Raphinha, Pau Torres and, eventually, Lamptey. Vlahovic if Kane goes.

Is Kessie and Skipp really any different than Skipp and PEH?

 

[curlacious]

Is Kessie and Skipp really any different than Skipp and PEH?

Kessie is a far more progressive, all round player than PEH. Technically superior, better passer.

 

[topper]

Unfortunately for who?

For Spurs as we desperately need a quality CF to either play with, or instead of, Kane

 

[carpediem991]

If we could get just one signing in January, but it would be a proven top class player, what would people want?

For me it would be a top class midfield dictator, someone to add the composure to Skipp’s energy. Someone who will master the middle third horizontally while Skipp deals with the ball vertically. A Scholes to Skipp’s Keane.

The beauty being that Hojbjerg could rotate with either player and the minutes would likely be spread quite evenly between the three.

Even at his age, we could do much worse than bring back Modric with his contact situation uncertain.

If we could get one signing I would pick a goal scoring midfielder. Someone who has 10-15 goals a season in him and can also feed Kane and Son with clever passes. Like a prime Eriksen.

If we can get two its a top striker for me and like you mentioned a creative CM who brings more to the table offensively than Pierre. Hojbjerg would be decent as the 12th man in the squad, coming on with 30 minutes to go or give others a break.

Defense wise I personally think we can find solutions in the squad until summer. Wouldn't say no to a class CB or an offensive RWB though.

 

[Trix]

For Spurs as we desperately need a quality CF to either play with, or instead of, Kane

Well, we are trying.

 

[he is you know!]

With that going to 3 once Gil turns 21 in February and if we are looking at Doherty, Alli, Winks, Tanganga, Rodon all potentially leaving then we will NEED to look at HG signings to replace at least a few of them unless we're just promoting from youth.

All I was trying to say is that the critical number in squad building is the non HG limit of 17.

Gil will still be classed as under 21, this season and next. You qualify for the whole season, e.g this season if you were born on or after 1/1/2000.

It's unlikely that all those players will leave, but if they did we could bring in 4 non HG and continue to use Gil.
Not saying that this is what I'd want but it is feasible.

 

[dontcallme]

If we could get just one signing in January, but it would be a proven top class player, what would people want?

For me it would be a top class midfield dictator, someone to add the composure to Skipp’s energy.

I agree with you. Winning the midfielder battle and creating from deep would boost us no end.

But ultimately we don't get to choose which quality player will be available. Realistically I think the quality player who could be available to us is Vlahovic.

 

[Trix]

Kessie is a far more progressive, all round player than PEH. Technically superior, better passer.

Is he though? Have to admit, from what I've seen I'm not convinced.

 

[ComfortablyNumb]

Williams is a Man Utd loan player. And definitely a twat.

The kind of twat that I’d want on my side, not theirs.

 

[VoteMe4Prez]

I think the focus will be on obtaining a new CF and CM in January. As said above, If we can strengthen one more at the back I will take it but those 2 positions are prime for improvement to push on for top 4

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

In terms of the type of CM we need, imo we need someone who can control matches and dictate play from midfield. Someone who is relatively well rounded in terms of energy, mobility and defensive capability but who shines in terms of passing ability. A pass master.

They don't have to be a creative mastermind like Eriksen but they need to be very comfortable on the ball and capable of finding quick, incisive passes through the lines and really importantly someone who can hit long range passes quickly too, opening up the pitch to utilise our wing backs.

I can think of 3 players who fit the criteria I'm talking about:
Tielemans
Neves
Guimaraes

 

[Snarfalicious]

reckon as usual we will make a meal out of it

That’s the spirit. I personally feel our fans are a big reason why we are perennial losers as a club. We ooze a loser mentality. It’s wonderful!

 

[dtxspurs]

Kessie is a far more progressive, all round player than PEH. Technically superior, better passer.

From what I've seen it would be more of the same. While able to play in a pass it's not something he seems to do with regularity, similar to PEH.

 

[THOWIG]

Kessie isn't the answer. We need someone who can hold onto the ball for starters and control the tempo.