Is this our strongest ever PL team...?

[matthew.absurdum]

The current weakest link of our team is LB and the bench depth of CB

 

[talkshowhost86]

If that was our first XI then it would be our strongest XI for many many years. Not looking too shabby in terms of the squad either. If we are going 4-3-3 and assume two players for each position.

GK: Lloris, Friedel
RB: Walker, Naughton
LB: Rose, BAE, Fryers
CB: Vertonghen, Kaboul, Dawson, ?
CM: Sandro, Paulinho, Dembele, Holtby, Parker, Carroll, Hudd, Livermore
WF: Bale, Lennon, Townsend, Chadli, Dempsey, Sigurdsson
CF: Soldado, Adebayor, Defoe

Looking at that, I'd say we're almost there.

We need a centre back obviously, and if we sell Parker, Hudd and Livermore then I think we'll need one more in midfield (preferably a creative type). You could argue that we could get someone better as an option at WF, and if Defoe or Adebayor go we'd need another striker.

But generally that looks pretty strong.

If Bale leaves then it could cause a change in focus, but as it stands...I'm pretty optimistic.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I just look at a potential middle 3 of Dembele / Sandro / Paulinho and just think, fuck I'd hate to be up against that. As I said above, perhaps not the most aesthetic, and may run into trouble against the bus parkers who have no intention of a midfield battle, but that is about as competitive a CM you could assemble. I just hope against the bus parkers, Sig / Holtby / Carroll are used effectively.

 

[Daddy_Cool]

I believe it is by far our best squad yet. I think with a couple more additions we might actually mount a serious title challenge.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I just look at a potential middle 3 of Dembele / Sandro / Paulinho and just think, fuck I'd hate to be up against that. As I said above, perhaps not the most aesthetic, and may run into trouble against the bus parkers who have no intention of a midfield battle, but that is about as competitive a CM you could assemble. I just hope against the bus parkers, Sig / Holtby / Carroll are used effectively.

Pfft...Soldado eats buses for breakfast

 

[Seth]

LB, CB and a young and hungry striker and we can win the league

 

[panoma]

In my lifetime thats the strongest Spurs side i have ever seen.

And dam that Liverpool side looks so weak

 

[edgey]

With Bale + another attacking option and a CB/LB.... YES!!!

 

[mpickard2087]

Not for me, yet. I have a few issues...

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Defence still has question marks. Walker needs to buck up his ideas after last season. Left back is the real problem area, Rose is unproven, Ekotto is solid but has been exposed with no winger ahead of him.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Kaboul and Sandro, there is no way we can know how quickly they will get back up to speed, or if there will be further setbacks.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

The central midfield trio is not one that I have any faith in breaking down the brick walls we will face, especially at home.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Apart from that... Looks promising

 

[ItsBoris]

Add Ljajic and Coentrao to our current squad and we win the league IMO. Even without them this I our strongest squad in at least 20 years.

 

[Grapo2001]

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We have a very good squad now, however lack the mental strength to win the league. We seem to bottle 4th place most seasons, even when we have a good healthy head start at the turn of the year!

 

[Francis Gibbs]

its strong for sure but still need a very strong lb

 

[Mullers]

Our squad will be even stronger than that imo. Not done yet.

I really hope you're right but I've got a feeling that we are going to mess up somewhere.

 

[ShelfSide18]

Not for me, yet. I have a few issues...

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Defence still has question marks. Walker needs to buck up his ideas after last season. Left back is the real problem area, Rose is unproven, Ekotto is solid but has been exposed with no winger ahead of him.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Kaboul and Sandro, there is no way we can know how quickly they will get back up to speed, or if there will be further setbacks.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

The central midfield trio is not one that I have any faith in breaking down the brick walls we will face, especially at home.

Still lack creativity/brains/nous.

Apart from that... Looks promising

Agree with that despite not quite in such a negative way.

We may not be able to pick the lock, but we'll just blow the house down instead!

 

[talkshowhost86]

Lets not get ahead of ourselves. We have a very good squad now, however lack the mental strength to win the league. We seem to bottle 4th place most seasons, even when we have a good healthy head start at the turn of the year!

That's the spirit!

 

[yid23]

IMO If we dont make it top three this year we will never make it.

 

[Mullers]

On paper we look strong, stronger than Arsenal, but Arsenal have that belief instilled in the whole club. It doesn't matter what personal we get it's going to be hard to topple them. Bit concerned about where the creativity is going to come from also, I think Dembele could find himself being subbed quiet a bit if things aren't going are way.

 

[shaqTHFC]

Between this team and Harry's 2011/12 team imo

Lloris​

Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Ekotto​

Paulinho Sandro Dembele​

Bale Soldado Chadli​

​

vs​

​

Friedel​

Walker Kaboul King Ekotto​

Lennon Parker Modric Bale​

VDV​

Adebayor​

​

To judge properly we'd have to see our current first xi in action but on paper there isn't much between those two teams imo.​

 

[biscuitbeck]

Between this team and Harry's 2011/12 team imo

Lloris​

Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Ekotto​

Paulinho Sandro Dembele​

Bale Soldado Chadli​

​

vs​

​

Friedel​

Walker Kaboul King Ekotto​

Lennon Parker Modric Bale​

VDV​

Adebayor​

​

To judge properly we'd have to see our current first xi in action but on paper there isn't much between those two teams imo.​

Let's do it player by player:

Friedel < Lloris
Walker then = Walker now
Kaboul then > Kaboul now (at least atm)
King then >/= Vertonghen
BAE then > BAE now
Lennon = Chadli
Parker < Sandro
Modric > Dembele
Bale then < Bale now
Paulinho and VdV are so different
Soldado and Adebayor? Who knows. But Adebayor 2011-12 was extremely good.

It's close. I would say we have better strength in depth now and obviously we currently have the Bale factor, if he stays.

 

[Lufti]

We have got a really strong squad, just need to improve in terms of a bit of cover, especially defensively. In terms of more forward players, if it were up to me (which obviously it's not) I'd be looking at Honda who is nearly out of contract and could go for about £4m, as well as Shaqiri who is surely a bit disillusioned with life at Bayern following their signings.