Players still to come back any better ?

[HotspurFC1950]

Individualy a lot of our players have about the same level of ability but they're still well above average Premier League players and it's the ammount of them that gives us strength in depth. If we sell too many of them we'll find ourselves struggling to put out a decent side in the cups which happened under Redknapp at times and that would be a step back.

What we need to do is gradually keep improving the squad but make sure we don't weaken ourselves in the short term. It's probably going to take a while to do it the right way on our budget so patience and understanding from our fans is going to be vital. We're not City or Chelsea who can go and sign 3 or 4 world class players in one swoop, we need to be clever so the investment in youth and the new stadium are a good start.

I don't think we should be selling. We need the depth. My post is about whether the players not involved at Spam are any better than those that played barring a two or three.

Maybe we can let a couple go but we need the remainder.

 

[SteveH]

If Jan stays

Walker

Davies

Kane

Rose

 

[chinaman]

The only time Dembele will try to make a pass is when he's out of gas dribbling from one sideline to the other.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I don't think we should be selling. We need the depth. My post is about whether the players not involved at Spam are any better than those that played barring a two or three.

Maybe we can let a couple go but we need the remainder.

Yeah I didn't mean you wanted them sold, that part was aimed at those who do. What I meant in reply to you was that apart from the players you mentioned they are at about the same level as the rest of the squad (but that's not a bad thing imo).

 

[HotspurFC1950]

Yeah I didn't mean you wanted them sold, that part was aimed at those who do. What I meant in reply to you was that apart from the players you mentioned they are at about the same level as the rest of the squad (but that's not a bad thing imo).

Ok

 

[HotspurFC1950]

To be honest Vertonghan is a first choice player but I just wish he had a more positive demeanour.

 

[neogenisis]

Anyone else notice Stewart Downing seems to hibernate the entire season waiting for the 2 games against us? insipid unless he is playing against us.

 

[Syn_13]

Anyone else notice Stewart Downing seems to hibernate the entire season waiting for the 2 games against us? insipid unless he is playing against us.

It's because we're very susceptible down the flanks. Every time I watch us the most common ways for teams to score against us is getting the ball to their wide men and exposing the space our full backs leave.

 

[Black]

Dembele first choice lol

Only person I would really say is chadli who could make a difference

Dembele first choice lmao

 

[Bulletspur]

Some postulating that it was to do with the physicality of Fat Sam's team, i hope they're right but not with any real belief.

the fluidity in passing and movement that was carried through pre-season with the likes of Soldado, Lamela, Holtby all linking up nicely and in sync was just not there yesterday, now whether that was down to the players that came in or tiredness i don't know, but i think Poch will continue to try different combinations in midfield/attack in the coming weeks before being fully aware of who is capable of playing his way.

Because none of these were on the pitch together?

 

[Håkon Brevig]

IMO is dembele, Sandro and paulinho our 3 best midfielders. Have a feeling that people have forgotten heier skills, just bevares them haven't figurer in per season. Ecxited to see what effect Poch can have no them.. I also believe that Chadli will fit Poch way of playing, anyway he is Much better than Townsend.

Soldado>>>Kane

So yes, they will be an upgrade!

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Anyone else notice Stewart Downing seems to hibernate the entire season waiting for the 2 games against us? insipid unless he is playing against us.

Or he gets made to look shit by every full back he plays against until he comes up against Danny Rose

 

[ackie]

Or he gets made to look shit by every full back he plays against until he comes up against Danny Rose

Hell...C.Cole was made to look good against our defense

 

[parklane1]

We have a lot of good players to come in and i fully expect them to do so.

 

[JonnySpurs]

I can see no reason for Dembele to be a first choice none at all but I don't pick the team of course.

Dembele does not provide any threat and he is a sideways player not willing to take responsibility.

When passing he tends to be conservative but he goes past people better than anyone else in our squad so I don't agree that he's a sideways player and I don't agree that there is no reason to start him. He also tackles back superbly.

I'm shocked at how easily our fans have written him off. He was undroppable at one stage at this club and we couldn't win a game without him in the starting 11.

I wanna see what he can do in Pochettino's team.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

So now people think Bentaleb should be starting IX? What happened to Sandro/Holtby/Dembele/Paulinho etc being better than him? It's interesting how people's opinions change after a few World Cup games and months of not seeing players in competitive games.

Based on fitness and form, Bentaleb probably should have started yesterday, but I can't see us getting anywhere close to CL qualification with him regularly starting games. Decent squad rotation player and a good prospect for the future, but definitely doesn't bring the quality we lack in CM.

 

[lol]

rose-vert-kaboul-dier for me. dier did a much better job bombing up and down for me imo

capoue holtby eriksen as the middle 3 is what I'm looking forward to as well

 

[noggen]

IMO is dembele, Sandro and paulinho our 3 best midfielders. Have a feeling that people have forgotten heier skills, just bevares them haven't figurer in per season. Ecxited to see what effect Poch can have no them.. I also believe that Chadli will fit Poch way of playing, anyway he is Much better than Townsend.

Soldado>>>Kane

So yes, they will be an upgrade!

I recommend you to turn off your Norwegian auto-correction

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I still believe our best central pairing is Dembele and Sandro, neither of whom played. However, Sandro was fit and didn't even make the bench so it's a question of who you'd pair with Capoue (who seems to be first choice). I'd wager that if Dembele is coached into being able to match his obvious physical and technical gifts with the brain to match, he'll be one hell of a player and improve our centre whoever he's paired with... Most probably Capoue. He's got a hell of a shot when he wants, is a great dribbler and is strong as an ox, so he doesn't waste passes either. If he can be coached into using those gifts to turn defence into attack quickly then he'll improve us more than any other. As for the others, Vertonghen will obviously improve us in defence as he's better than both the current incarnation of Kaboul (though I still have faith) and far more proven than Dier is at present. Walker at right back is clearly going to make us better, and Davies has to dislodge Rose who has started well. Going forward, I think Soldado in for either Ade or Lennon would make us more creative, or equally Paulinho or Chadli in for Lennon would give us more goal threat. Yes, in answer to the OP, there are many options who would improve yesterday's line up.

 

[dondo]

I'd again venture to say Vertonghan and Dier as first choice centre backs.

We still need some of the players that didn't feature at Spam as back up and Cup players but to replace any of those who played yesterday as first choices not so sure.

Going by yesterday dier looked far more solid in defence than Kaboul. Kabouls injuries seem to have taken their toll on him, he looks a shadow of the player he was 2 years ago