Player Watch - Djed Spence - Genoa

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I think Molina is an interesting option. Very productive in the final third although he's not explosive.

He looks a pretty good player but yeah he lacks the explosiveness and also lacks the physicality, height and strength that Spence would bring I think.

 

[k1cks77]

I am really happy with the business we have done so far but Conte is a very hard man to please and at the end of the day, we still haven't addressed the two starting 11 positions which were the most urgent going in to this window, LCB and RWB.

If we get them in for the tour then that's fine but if we don't, I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear talk that Conte isn't too happy.

Ben davies was probably one of our top 5 best players last season, and lets not forget that as a rwb doherty was only second to trent in the premier league and when he was finally given a chance to show what he could do in that position with a run of games he was doing very well, so much so there was some panic that we could blow top 4 when his injury hit, (although that was admittedly more due to the fear of Emerson coming in). My point is yes we are looking to upgrade there, but its not like we have complete duds in those positions, so lets not panic yet, there is a long way to go. lets also use common sense, yes we are pushing for spence but clearly boro are messing us around, we simply can’t be held to ransom over this as it sets a terrible precedent, its bloody djed spence we are going for, not de bruyne where you pay well over the odds!

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Maybe Conte has had a close look at Tanganga and has thought, with him being HG too, that he can understudy Doherty.

Nah

 

[SambaSpurs]

Yes way.

In terms of giving us someone who fits most of the key base attributes criteria of a top wingback:

Fast
Tall and Powerful
Strong Dribbler, capable of beating players on the run or from a standing start
Quick Feet
Consistently driving forward at high intensity

There are quite a few players out there for wing back who struggle to beat a man on the outside, just like Doherty and Emerson. We need someone who can burst past their man on the outside down the flanks, which Spence is probably the best at, along with Frimpong.

He has the height, pace and the strength to become dominant down the flank too, which hardly any of the available options have.

Did you watch Tanganga’s games at RB? He cannot create, he does no possess quick feet and did not beat, or even attempt to beat a player because he’s not a strong dribbler. He nearly always passed backwards or sideways when he received the ball.

This is not to knock Tanganga. I think he has great potential as a CB but needs more game time to realise it. Would be like playing a young Ledley at RWB.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

I really like Frimpong by the way, he's an excellent talent who I'd be happy with. I think the main downside with him against Spence is the lack of power and physicality but he's proven himself at a good level and is very explosive.

Not sure how he is doing after a pretty serious injury though.

On the power thing, if you look at our likely starting 11 going in to this season, every single player is going to be over 6ft. The height and power is clearly something Conte looks for, which is another reason I think he would prioritise Spence over some of the other WB options.

 

[luRRka]

Did you watch Tanganga’s games at RB? He cannot create, he does no possess quick feet and did not beat, or even attempt to beat a player because he’s not a strong dribbler. He nearly always passed backwards or sideways when he received the ball.

This is not to knock Tanganga. I think he has great potential as a CB but needs more game time to realise it. Would be like playing a young Ledley at RWB.

He's talking about spence

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

Did you watch Tanganga’s games at RB? He cannot create, he does no possess quick feet and did not beat, or even attempt to beat a player because he’s not a strong dribbler. He nearly always passed backwards or sideways when he received the ball.

This is not to knock Tanganga. I think he has great potential as a CB but needs more game time to realise it. Would be like playing a young Ledley at RWB.

I was talking about Spence in my post. I completely agree with you that Tanganga can't play wing back.

 

[Clark28]

What is Spence's end product like?

A lot of the footage I've seen of him shows him beating a player, nearing the box, then it cuts to the next highlight.

Makes me think nothing came of the attack or that the pass was intercepted

 

[YB123]

Game of poker. Nobody is going to pay over £20m for him. Roma, Forest and Brentford who were closely linked have all purchased in that department.
Gibson is playing this terribly. Potentially leaving himself with a player who the fans dont want and wont participate, also not allowing Wilder to strengthen significantly.
If we move on and he goes elsewhere on the cheap, he will be ridiculed.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

What is Spence's end product like?

A lot of the footage I've seen of him shows him beating a player, nearing the box, then it cuts to the next highlight.

Makes me think nothing came of the attack or that the pass was intercepted

Definitely needs improving, like most 21 year olds in fairness. But he did also create quite a few chances that were missed by strikers etc.

He is by no means the finished article and there were some games I was unsure of him but on the whole he has the raw attributes we need to be moulded by Conte and he seems to have that drive too.

If an elite option like Hakimi was available we should go for him instead but as it stands, there simply aren't any real quality, established options on the market.

 

[SambaSpurs]

I was talking about Spence in my post. I completely agree with you that Tanganga can't play wing back.

Apologies, think I quoted the wrong post

 

[WiganSpur]

I really like Frimpong by the way, he's an excellent talent who I'd be happy with. I think the main downside with him against Spence is the lack of power and physicality but he's proven himself at a good level and is very explosive.

Not sure how he is doing after a pretty serious injury though.

On the power thing, if you look at our likely starting 11 going in to this season, every single player is going to be over 6ft. The height and power is clearly something Conte looks for, which is another reason I think he would prioritise Spence over some of the other WB options.

I think the height aspect is more of a bonus at this point but yeah taking height out of the equation my preferences would be Dodo, Frimpong or possibly a gamble on Lamptey if it's doable. Porro and Molina are interesting but slightly different profiles. Dumfries has the height and power but not sure he has the craft.

 

[Inq]

Move on to other targets. Let Gibson f*ck up their own window. Seems like an idiot.

 

[paulcumpstone]

Personally would much sooner bring kwp back.

 

[bungle4]

If you have ever followed Conte's career, it doesn't take much working out to know he will be fuming.

It also doesn't seem to take much to jump to definitive conclusions about things we clearly can't know. Following his career as closely as you like won't tell you what he's thinking right now.

This isn't aimed at any particular poster but so many people seem to getting edgy after a couple of slight hold ups in an otherwise brilliant window so far. People even saying he could walk just seems ridiculous to me.

The club have clearly shown intent and well reasoned choices in the transfer market since Conte joined, probably more than most were expecting so far.

Now suddenly people are expecting us topay over the odds/break wage structure and generally set a dangerous precedent moving forward. It may only be a couple of million here, a few % extra sell on clause here but it all adds up and takes away from the impressive work we're doing. As soon as we show willing to pay a 'spurs tax' on one player, our hand is weakened in any future transfer negotiation.

Surely Levy/ENIC/Paratici have earned a bit of trust from the fans and Conte by now?

Trust the great ITK we've been getting, the club is in a great place financially and we're finally looking at round pegs, even if a couple of them prove to be trickier transfers to get over the line.

I'm loving every second right now, I feel like I've waited 30 years as a Spurs fan to see us start acting like this in every facet of the club. I can't see what better project there is in world football right now so I'm not going to fret about Conte being upset at there being a couple of empty seats in the first flight out to Korea.

 

[Freddie]

Personally would much sooner bring kwp back.

I think we should have kept him and utilised him a lot better when he was ours. Would have have been excellent cover for both sides. Not sure he's good enough to pay big money for now. Spence has a much higher ceiling

 

[KILLA_SIN]

What is Spence's end product like?

A lot of the footage I've seen of him shows him beating a player, nearing the box, then it cuts to the next highlight.

Makes me think nothing came of the attack or that the pass was intercepted

Not great

 

[spurmin]

Definitely needs improving, like most 21 year olds in fairness. But he did also create quite a few chances that were missed by strikers etc.

He is by no means the finished article and there were some games I was unsure of him but on the whole he has the raw attributes we need to be moulded by Conte and he seems to have that drive too.

If an elite option like Hakimi was available we should go for him instead but as it stands, there simply aren't any real quality, established options on the market.

If he signs he won’t be first choice anyway. Rotation.

 

[bungle4]

Not great

It definitely needs work but there was also a lot of poor finishing in the games I saw last season. With his pace on the break, I could see him going across goal to Son/LWB or cutting back to Kane and others arriving as they try and catch up with the break.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

I think we should have kept him and utilised him a lot better when he was ours. Would have have been excellent cover for both sides. Not sure he's good enough to pay big money for now. Spence has a much higher ceiling

'Spence has a much higher ceiling' not so sure - its all a bit of a guess with him - he was struggling at Boro so much they allowed him out on loan and brought in a non league player to replace him - he obviously had a good season and did alright in a couple of cup games but he is effectively a bit of a punt - KWP has been pretty decent in the Premier League at Southampton and made an England squad I believe - I think its a bit of stretch at the moment to say Spence has a higher ceiling until at least until we have seen him at the top level certainly KWP was wasted by Spurs and would very easily have fitted into this side and would quite possibly improved in it