Have we got a deep enough squad?

[SpartanSpur]

You are absolutely right. I reserved the right to be in despair that another window doesn't go by when our 2 year old squad hasn't had the slightest sprinkle of competition or cover in key areas.

But I also reserve the right to have an objective opinion on whether the current business model (constraints and all) is reasonable or not.

I respect that. Just don't project ridiculous arguments onto me in future please.

I have never suggested the owners are siphoning money out of the club, or that Lewis has any obligation to contribute any of his immense personal wealth to the cause. I do however believe budgets for on pitch activities have been heavily restricted in favour of the capital projects that greatly increase the value of the club (who coincidentally are owned by an investment company). I believe ENIC has never been interested in doing more than the bare minimum in respect of the squad in the last few seasons, now that their end game has got in sight. I also believe Levy does care about the club despite all of this, but he still has his instructions to follow too.

As a fan my opinion is that the above sucks, for want of a better word. I just hope the foundations laid at least sustain our seat in the top 6 of English football going forward, and if indeed the plan is to sell, it is done so quickly.

 

[dtxspurs]

Its easy to say we've got our top 3 scorers out and blame the game on that, but IMO its more than that. Our backup striker is a joke compared to our competition. Our midfield is in such dire need of strengthening that the whole thing just snow balls. We can carry the midfield sometimes due to how good our attackers are, but when our first group attackers are out it compounds the midfield issue further. That defense was plenty good enough to withhold CP, the midfield and attack was a joke for a CL club.

 

[archiewasking]

Is our squad deep enough? One I think may have a degree, they can all read. Some even do it recreationally.

 

[OldBoy68]

I have never suggested the owners are siphoning money out of the club

For the record, you did not. The point was more for the wider audience who seem to think that the transfer policy, the stadium and Poch's cup team selection are somehow 3 different threads.

 

[yido_number1]

If we dropped Wanyama (who will never get fit again IMHO), Llorente, Janssen and Noudou and replaced with players of better quality and fitness we will be deep enough. Until then we are just slightly short in times of injury crisis like now.

 

[Japhet]

Its easy to say we've got our top 3 scorers out and blame the game on that, but IMO its more than that. Our backup striker is a joke compared to our competition. Our midfield is in such dire need of strengthening that the whole thing just snow balls. We can carry the midfield sometimes due to how good our attackers are, but when our first group attackers are out it compounds the midfield issue further. That defense was plenty good enough to withhold CP, the midfield and attack was a joke for a CL club.

Tough on Llorente who hardly gets a minute on the pitch. He looks rusty as hell which is no surprise. Add to that, we won't get a quality back up under the terms that Llorente is getting, and I doubt Kane will be happy giving up many minutes tbh.

 

[dtxspurs]

Tough on Llorente who hardly gets a minute on the pitch. He looks rusty as hell which is no surprise. Add to that, we won't get a quality back up under the terms that Llorente is getting, and I doubt Kane will be happy giving up many minutes tbh.

Every other team we are competing against in the league has a better backup striker than we do. City, Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool, Chelsea. All better. Fucking Bournemouth have better options off the bench than we do. Thats a tired excuse, IMO.

 

[OldBoy68]

Every other team we are competing against in the league has a better backup striker than we do. City, Arsenal, ManU, Liverpool, Chelsea. All better. Fucking Bournemouth have better options off the bench than we do. Thats a tired excuse, IMO.

Maybe. But get a better one that is happy to sit on the bench unless we play minor-league opposition and can then fill in at a minutes notice when it absolutely has to count.

Good luck with that.

 

[dtxspurs]

Maybe. But get a better one that is happy to sit on the bench unless we play minor-league opposition and can then fill in at a minutes notice when it absolutely has to count.

Good luck with that.

Once again, everyone else has figured it out so why can't we? Just more excuses IMO.

 

[wrd]

You're dead right but this ain't FM.
Hard to shift injured players yet maintain sufficient cover in the most injurious position (I don't know that's true, but my argument is a bit weak without it )
Sissoko has been a plaster over the gaping wound imo. Love Winks, want Skipp to succeed and Big Vic to come back stronger than ever. But these are mostly maybe's and that's where I agree with you.

Why do people throw the FM bullshit out? completely undermines your point and makes it look like you have to belittle peoples knowledge to validate your point. We knew all summer that Dembele couldn't cope with demands of the prem, that Wanyama was crocked, that Winks wasn't over injury issues. Dembele and Wanyama could have been shifted in the summer as they were both fit then. We could have have foresight not to renew Vorm until we had the numbers in that we needed. Even still all of this is irrelevant, whether we could do something about it or not the point remains our midfield is a shambles, even if there was no solution to it (which there was) It is still a shambles.

 

[OldBoy68]

Once again, everyone else has figured it out so why can't we? Just more excuses IMO.

So you're suggestion is what? There's a few happy people here, of which you aren't one. What should we do?

 

[dtxspurs]

So you're suggestion is what? There's a few happy people here, of which you aren't one. What should we do?

Buy a more capable backup striker... isn't that obvious as to what I'm saying?

 

[OldBoy68]

Why do people throw the FM bullshit out? completely undermines your point and makes it look like you have to belittle peoples knowledge to validate your point. We knew all summer that Dembele couldn't cope with demands of the prem, that Wanyama was crocked, that Winks wasn't over injury issues. Dembele and Wanyama could have been shifted in the summer as they were both fit then. We could have have foresight not to renew Vorm until we had the numbers in that we needed. Even still all of this is irrelevant, whether we could do something about it or not the point remains our midfield is a shambles, even if there was no solution to it (which there was) It is still a shambles.

Because FM is an anology for the desire that we all have to put everything right by clicking some buttons. It's that simple right?

Sign this guy, sign that guy - this guy is shit, this guy is awesome - change it today, change it tomorrow.

I throw it out as a metaphor

 

[OldBoy68]

Buy a more capable backup striker... isn't that obvious as to what I'm saying?

I totally agree with. You go find one that is good enough that is happy to sit on the bench. Actually I think Mane would but it would cost 300K a week.

 

[wrd]

Because FM is an anology for the desire that we all have to put everything right by clicking some buttons. It's that simple right?

Sign this guy, sign that guy - this guy is shit, this guy is awesome - change it today, change it tomorrow.

I throw it out as a metaphor

I think what amazes me is that it's simple enough for every other club in the world other than us.

 

[OldBoy68]

It's simple enough for every other club in the world other than us.

Then the problem is you mate because it isn't

 

[wrd]

I totally agree with. You go find one that is good enough that is happy to sit on the bench. Actually I think Mane would but it would cost 300K a week.

Again how comes every other club is able to find a serviceable striker who is willing to rotate other than us, why is it one rule for spurs and another for us? and before the "we have Harry Kane" nonsense, it's a managers responsibility to pick a team and even if Harry wants to play every game Poch has to make the decisions to say you need to be rested to keep you fresh for the season. There's also examples of young cheap strikers such as Maja being available, there's also examples of players like Janne-fiete Arp who idolise Kane and I imagine would be more than happy to come and learn from him. There's also examples of us having the best defence in the league and then going out and finding Sanchez and Foyth who clearly were happy to come in and learn despite the fact there were better players in that position.

 

[Shadydan]

Its easy to say we've got our top 3 scorers out and blame the game on that, but IMO its more than that. Our backup striker is a joke compared to our competition. Our midfield is in such dire need of strengthening that the whole thing just snow balls. We can carry the midfield sometimes due to how good our attackers are, but when our first group attackers are out it compounds the midfield issue further. That defense was plenty good enough to withhold CP, the midfield and attack was a joke for a CL club.

Our backup striker is 3rd choice behind Son so it's non comparable with other teams, it's like Arsenal fans complaining about Welbeck being their main striker when Lacazette and Aubamayeng are both injured and saying they have a weak front line.

 

[dtxspurs]

Our backup striker is 3rd choice behind Son so it's non comparable with other teams, it's like Arsenal fans complaining about Welbeck being their main striker when Lacazette and Aubamayeng are both injured and saying they have a weak front line.

Its robbing Peter to pay Paul. I'm not a fan of pulling a starter in one position to be a backup in another position. Thats not real depth, thats just a player being versatile.

 

[OldBoy68]

I don't think its that hard to understand the problem. It's just very hard to find the solution.

If HK gets some serious competition we increase the chance of him leaving - no matter if we bring in a top man to replace him - that man has to sit on the bench on let's say 200K a week (don't believe what you read, players come for starting places and money on a sliding scale) and that guy is in everyone's fucking ears every day in training. You think Pock wants that? That is the sub text to the "Squad is good enough"