Is this our strongest ever PL team...?

[TH1239]

I've said this for the last two weeks, but this squad, as currently constituted, will push Manchester City and Chelsea for top honors this campaign. People here who haven't seen Chadli play will be surprised by how talented he is. If he can stay healthy, he will score at least 10 goals, and will become an absolute favorite on here. If Bale stays, and Arsenal do not bring in Suarez, there is absolutely no way in hell they'd finish above us.

Take a look at our current second team, by the way:

Friedal​

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Naughton Dawson Chiriches(?) Rose​

​

Parker​

Holtby Sigurdsson​

​

Townsend Adebayor (Defoe) Lennon​

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That team would probably finish in the top 8, by itself! We've never had that kind of depth. I actually hope we keep Adebayor and Parker, if we can.​

​

 

[Lufti]

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.

BAE and Walker were much better then, and King was better than Verts but he barely played

 

[ShelfSide18]

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!

I really dislike the 'bottlling it' label being applied to last season. In each of the last 7 EPL games we gained points (through equalisers / winners) by scoring late goals in the last 10 minutes. We may have had a lead over Arsenal, they just hit an incredible run of form, unprecedented really. Never have I seen a Spurs side show so much courage and mental strength last season.

I don't think the title is really realistic talk, although this is the best chance an outsider has had in years, but one thing I'm sure that won't let us down is our mental strength, and credit to AVB for helping create that.

 

[Spurger King]

Nope.

I'd say the strongest I've seen was:

Friedel​

Walker__Kaboul__King__Benny​

Modric__Sandro/Parker​

Lennon____VDV____Bale​

Adebayor​

​

When that team clicked it was phenomenal. Ade was brilliant in that first season, and we had the genius of Modric, VDV, and Bale. King (when he played) was untouchable, and Parker put in one of the best seasons of his career. Teams hadn't worked out how to deal with Walker at that point, and the speed of Lennon and Bale on the wings made us pretty much the best counter attacking team in the league. We had much better strength in depth as well.​

​

Amazing to think that when we line up against Palace it's quite possible that Kyle Walker will be the only one of those players in the team.​

 

[ShelfSide18]

Nope.

I'd say the strongest I've seen was:

Friedel​

Walker__Kaboul__King__Benny​

Modric__Sandro/Parker​

Lennon____VDV____Bale​

Adebayor​

​

When that team clicked it was phenomenal. Ade was brilliant in that first season, and we had the genius of Modric, VDV, and Bale. King (when he played) was untouchable, and Parker put in one of the best seasons of his career. Teams hadn't worked out how to deal with Walker at that point, and the speed of Lennon and Bale on the wings made us pretty much the best counter attacking team in the league.

Amazing to think that when we line up against Palace it's quite possible that Kyle Walker will be the only one of those players in the team.

The thing is, I agree that at times that team was beautiful, Modric pulling the strings, VDV just being sexy VDV - but sometimes that side wasn't capable of standing up to a stiff breeze, such was the ease at which some teams got at us. Redknapp didn't get the best out of that bunch of players at all, they probably should have run City and United a lot closer that season, but poor coaching, team selection and tactics led to us throwing away 3rd when we should have breezed it.

I do wish AVB had that side.

 

[mpickard2087]

The thing is, I agree that at times that team was beautiful, Modric pulling the strings, VDV just being sexy VDV - but sometimes that side wasn't capable of standing up to a stiff breeze, such was the ease at which some teams got at us. Redknapp didn't get the best out of that bunch of players at all, they probably should have run City and United a lot closer that season, but poor coaching, team selection and tactics led to us throwing away 3rd when we should have breezed it.

I do wish AVB had that side.

Spot on, I tried to say about a million times that Harry wasn't getting 100% out of the talented resources available. What that team could have done... Wasted opportunity.

 

[Spurger King]

The thing is, I agree that at times that team was beautiful, Modric pulling the strings, VDV just being sexy VDV - but sometimes that side wasn't capable of standing up to a stiff breeze, such was the ease at which some teams got at us. Redknapp didn't get the best out of that bunch of players at all, they probably should have run City and United a lot closer that season, but poor coaching, team selection and tactics led to us throwing away 3rd when we should have breezed it.

I do wish AVB had that side.

I don't disagree, but it's still the best Spurs team I've seen in 23 years as a fan. It was better than the team we had last season, which seemed to be the opposite of what you described. Not easy to break down, but pretty ugly football that lacked any form of creativity. I'll be honest, Bale was the only shining light in a mind-numbingly boring team last season, and if he goes I'm not sure all the huffing and puffing of Paulinho, Sandro, and Dembele will amount to much.

Thank god we've got Soldado though. And maybe...just maybe, Chadli will turn out to be a gem.

 

[CowInAComa]

Nope.

I'd say the strongest I've seen was:

Friedel​

Walker__Kaboul__King__Benny​

Modric__Sandro/Parker​

Lennon____VDV____Bale​

Adebayor​

​

When that team clicked it was phenomenal. Ade was brilliant in that first season, and we had the genius of Modric, VDV, and Bale. King (when he played) was untouchable, and Parker put in one of the best seasons of his career. Teams hadn't worked out how to deal with Walker at that point, and the speed of Lennon and Bale on the wings made us pretty much the best counter attacking team in the league. We had much better strength in depth as well.

Amazing to think that when we line up against Palace it's quite possible that Kyle Walker will be the only one of those players in the team.

Great players, shame about the manager.

I expect this seasons side to be the best yet.

 

[vegassd]

I think Harry's team was nicer to watch but our current setup (if Bale stays) looks like it could be incredibly effective. We don't need to win matches by 3 or 4 goals.... we just need to win them.

If Bale, Soldado, Ade, Defoe and Chadli can net 65 goals between them that would almost match our entire total for last season! I've no doubt that if Sandro can stay fit, and with the addition of Paulinho we can hope to concede fewer as well.

I've been trying to ban thoughts of challenging for the top 2 places because I don't think we really have that X-factor yet, but it's amazing how close we were to City in 2nd last year. Same goals for, 12 extra goals conceded, 6 points back.

 

[Shea]

if we keep Bale yes

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

I think that one time where we fielded four wingers in midfield with Ruel Fox in centre midfield back in the day... that was definitely stronger.

HA HA!

No. This is the business, right now! All depends on keeping Bale (or who we sign to replace, and strengthen elsewhere).

Although I would pick Benny ahead of Rose, personally.

But realistically we could do with strengthening the two full back positions. They are our weaknesses now.

 

[Spurger King]

I think Harry's team was nicer to watch but our current setup (if Bale stays) looks like it could be incredibly effective. We don't need to win matches by 3 or 4 goals.... we just need to win them.

If Bale, Soldado, Ade, Defoe and Chadli can net 65 goals between them that would almost match our entire total for last season! I've no doubt that if Sandro can stay fit, and with the addition of Paulinho we can hope to concede fewer as well.

I've been trying to ban thoughts of challenging for the top 2 places because I don't think we really have that X-factor yet, but it's amazing how close we were to City in 2nd last year. Same goals for, 12 extra goals conceded, 6 points back.

Well that's the key to the team next season. Soldado is superb at taking his opportunities, so provided we can give him some service we'll always have a chance of scoring. Once we're in front we'll have a team built to shut down the game. I'm expecting a lot of 1-0 wins next season.

 

[Reece]

friedel

walker
kaboul
king
ekotto

lennon
parker/sandro
modric
bale

vdv

ade

that was our best team, i can't believe we didn't finish at least 3rd.

This.

Friedel when he had an ounce more agility in him, Ledley King, Modric, VDV, Adebayor on form, Bale on the left. Gutted about that season.

Our defence is a tad weak and i'm not convinced we'll be any better this season.

 

[mil1lion]

Its a bit early to put Chadli in there. Lets see how he does first. Lennon has competition now but I would still class him as first team winger. We look a more balanced side when he plays.

I would put Ekotto ahead of Rose too, although Rose has potential we need to see more of him at left back at our level.

Its a strong squad for sure. We still lack the creativity we had with Modric and VDV though. It looks a more powerful side I'll say that much.

 

[SugarRay]

Our current midfield options remind me a bit of the powerhouse goon midfield of Vieria and Petit. So completely suited to the English game were those two bastards, that it was painful to watch at times. Sandro and Dembele with Paulinho thrown in gives us athleticism, ability, drive and power. I'm really excited to see those three on the pitch together.
The opposition will not enjoy playing against them one bit.

As mil1ion says, it does lack a little creativity.

 

[Spurger King]

Its a bit early to put Chadli in there. Lets see how he does first. Lennon has competition now but I would still class him as first team winger. We look a more balanced side when he plays.

I would put Ekotto ahead of Rose too, although Rose has potential we need to see more of him at left back at our level.

Its a strong squad for sure. We still lack the creativity we had with Modric and VDV though. It looks a more powerful side I'll say that much.

AVB's definitely following Mourinho's old Chelsea model. Therefore I'm not expecting free-flowing, beautiful football. I can live with that if we get even a fraction of the success that chav team had.

 

[CowInAComa]

Its better than this side thats for sure (opening game 10 years ago).

Keller
Carr
Gardner
Bunjevcevic
Doherty
Taricco
Davies
Ricketts
Redknapp
Postiga
Keane


I was just sick a bit in my mouth looking at this list

 

[mil1lion]

AVB's definitely following Mourinho's old Chelsea model. Therefore I'm not expecting free-flowing, beautiful football. I can live with that if we get even a fraction of the success that chav team had.

There will be a more direct approach with reliance on pace going forward. Instead of taking a minute to set up a goal we might only take 10 seconds. It will still be exciting to watch with more precision than guile. More Real Madrid than Barcelona.

As you say, as long as we're successful it's all good. We have some truly exciting players though and those central midfielders will come up with the odd trick and carve open a defence from time to time.

 

[sim0n]

what about the first game of the season with injuries? will the starting 11 look like this?

Lloris​

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Walker Dawson INJ (Chiriches?) BAE​

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Holtby Paulinho Dembele​

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Bale Soldado Chadli​

imagine when Verts, Sandro, and Kaboul are ready

 

[Lilbaz]

Can anyone explain what we mean by creativity?

Quick short passing?
Little flicks?
Dribbling?
Insightful through balls?
something else?

Which ones are our current team lacking?