The Daily ITK Discussion Thread - 27th June 2013

[Spurger King]

Yeah, I think with our midfield depth the 4-3-3 is actually a realistic option moving forward. Paulinho/Dembele, Sandro/Livermore or Parker (I wish we would sell both and buy a younger guy to be honest) and Holtby/Carroll all share similar characteristics in one way or another and it gives us 6 options we could feel comfortable starting which is title-challenging depth. Obviously the problem continues to be up top for us.

Should we land Villa, we'd have 2 guys who can play LW (Siggy making up the other) and on the right possibly Bale and Townsend with Lennon maybe becoming more of substitute that can give us some pace off the bench. Depending on how AVB rates him, I do believe Bale and Townsend are perfect for the RW role, more so than Lennon.

I do agree the creativity was an issue, and as you mentioned, movement is key. I do think Adebayor could be our realistic #9 given our other true line leading transfer targets are either over-priced or going to be spoken for by other clubs shortly.

I think we could do worse than Villa, Adebayor and Bale up top. I'd obviously like to see a younger #9 or at least someone who can mix it up and bring a more consistent performance to such a pivotal position. But, having Villa and his goal-scoring record at LW, it may ease the burden on needing Adebayor to put together a 20+ goal season. One thing's for damned sure, we can't have anything near a repeat of his last season.

It's also why I really do wish we would add a legitimate #9. Thinking of all the goals between, for example, a Villa, Bale and Soldado front line is incredible. All are match-winners in and of themselves, but when you put them together, with the type of muscle/depth we'd have from midfield, we really could be a fantastic side.

It does make me wonder if I'm suffering from 'typical Spurs player' syndrome. Y'know...players like Gazza, Ginola, Berbatov, Modric, and VDV.

All of them were magicians that could be trusted to produce a moment of brilliance at least once a game. Maybe that's a redundant historical cliche I should move away from, but I can't help feeling that we need more intelligence in our team. Siggy and Holtby have both shown signs of being imaginative, but I still think we need someone in midfield that has a bit of imagination. Paulinho still seems like an upgrade on Dembele that doubles as a backup if Dembele or Sandro get injured.

Brilliant in terms of our squad strength, but not necessarily addressing what we're lacking.

 

[Snarfalicious]

It does make me wonder if I'm suffering from 'typical Spurs player' syndrome. Y'know...players like Gazza, Ginola, Berbatov, Modric, and VDV.

All of them were magicians that could be trusted to produce a moment of brilliance at least once a game. Maybe that's a redundant historical cliche I should move away from, but I can't help feeling that we need more intelligence in our team. Siggy and Holtby have both shown signs of being imaginative, but I still think we need someone in midfield that has a bit of imagination. Paulinho still seems like an upgrade on Dembele that doubles as a backup if Dembele or Sandro get injured.

Brilliant in terms of our squad strength, but not necessarily addressing what we're lacking.

Yeah, I totally agree. The type of player that just does the things you see from the "birds eye view" shots of the pitch, that you want to happen, that most players can't make happen, but they do.

Everyone knows I love Holtby. I also rate Carroll very highly. The pass he made to Defoe against Maribor for what I believe was Defoe's 2nd goal was just brilliant. How the ball fell to him and he played it first time right to Defoe, perfectly weighted, teeing him up while playing him in on goal.

It's one of the reasons why I mentioned the groups of two in my previous post. I view Holtby/Carroll as those players who can keep the attack ticking over, can play the long ball, but they have that extra bit of creativity so when the direct style of play isn't working, the incisive passing and creative flicks can put defenses on their back heels enough for our quick attacking front to get in behind or in advantageous positions. It's just really important to keep in mind how young these players are.

Thinking of when we saw the best out of those players you mentioned for us, I think all apart from Gazza were a fair bit older than Holtby/Carroll are. While some players have the vision at a young age, some do need time to really have the game slow down around them to bring out their best. Holtby and Carroll are still very new the EPL style and I truly believe they can become the creative forces in our squad from midfield.

 

[Mouse!]

Yeah, I totally agree. The type of player that just does the things you see from the "birds eye view" shots of the pitch, that you want to happen, that most players can't make happen, but they do.

Everyone knows I love Holtby. I also rate Carroll very highly. The pass he made to Defoe against Maribor for what I believe was Defoe's 2nd goal was just brilliant. How the ball fell to him and he played it first time right to Defoe, perfectly weighted, teeing him up while playing him in on goal.

It's one of the reasons why I mentioned the groups of two in my previous post. I view Holtby/Carroll as those players who can keep the attack ticking over, can play the long ball, but they have that extra bit of creativity so when the direct style of play isn't working, the incisive passing and creative flicks can put defenses on their back heels enough for our quick attacking front to get in behind or in advantageous positions. It's just really important to keep in mind how young these players are.

Thinking of when we saw the best out of those players you mentioned for us, I think all apart from Gazza were a fair bit older than Holtby/Carroll are. While some players have the vision at a young age, some do need time to really have the game slow down around them to bring out their best. Holtby and Carroll are still very new the EPL style and I truly believe they can become the creative forces in our squad from midfield.

Was it Carroll who threaded the ball through to Bale for the goal against Lazio away which was wrongly ruled offside?

Think it was because I remember being more annoyed that Carroll wouldn't get the assist than I was that Bale didn't get the goal.

 

[Spurger King]

Yeah, I totally agree. The type of player that just does the things you see from the "birds eye view" shots of the pitch, that you want to happen, that most players can't make happen, but they do.

Everyone knows I love Holtby. I also rate Carroll very highly. The pass he made to Defoe against Maribor for what I believe was Defoe's 2nd goal was just brilliant. How the ball fell to him and he played it first time right to Defoe, perfectly weighted, teeing him up while playing him in on goal.

It's one of the reasons why I mentioned the groups of two in my previous post. I view Holtby/Carroll as those players who can keep the attack ticking over, can play the long ball, but they have that extra bit of creativity so when the direct style of play isn't working, the incisive passing and creative flicks can put defenses on their back heels enough for our quick attacking front to get in behind or in advantageous positions. It's just really important to keep in mind how young these players are.

Thinking of when we saw the best out of those players you mentioned for us, I think all apart from Gazza were a fair bit older than Holtby/Carroll are. While some players have the vision at a young age, some do need time to really have the game slow down around them to bring out their best. Holtby and Carroll are still very new the EPL style and I truly believe they can become the creative forces in our squad from midfield.

I rate Holtby highly too. It's hard to quantify hypotheticals, but the amount of clever passes Holtby made that were let down by poor forward movement was pretty high after he joined. Lots of quick balls forward that anticipated better movement. It sounds like an excuse (though I'm sure not to you Snarf), but he made a lot of intelligent passes that looked poor because of the poor movement of our forwards.

I'll be blunt. As much as I think Paulinho will strengthen our squad, I'd prefer a 'Moutinho' type to play alongside Sandro, Dembele/Paulinho. A midfield of Sandro, Paulinho, and Dembele seems strong but unimaginative.

 

[spurs9]

I rate Holtby highly too. It's hard to quantify hypotheticals, but the amount of clever passes Holtby made that were let down by poor forward movement was pretty high after he joined. Lots of quick balls forward that anticipated better movement. It sounds like an excuse (though I'm sure not to you Snarf), but he made a lot of intelligent passes that looked poor because of the poor movement of our forwards.

I'll be blunt. As much as I think Paulinho will strengthen our squad, I'd prefer a 'Moutinho' type to play alongside Sandro, Dembele/Paulinho. A midfield of Sandro, Paulinho, and Dembele seems strong but unimaginative.

The way I see it, last season we were missing the below, in no particular order, and ignoring the defense for a second:

1. A CM that can keep the ball in tight spaces (like Modric used to do).
2. More/Better movement in Midfield.
3. More/Better Movement in the final 3rd.
4. Someone to play that killer ball that not all players see is an option.
5. A striker that is a great finisher.
6. A striker that has intelligent movement.
7. Someone who can whip in a good corner/good cross from a free kick.
8. Another player that can attack crosses well.
9. A player that can run with the ball at the opposition defense to create more space for the others.
10. A wide forward who can contribute goals & assists
11. A wide forward who can create space for others with either intelligent movement of by running at the defense with the ball.

IMO, from the little I have seen from Paulinho, he can add 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9 to our game.
I think Villa would add either 5 & 6 or 10 & 11 depending on if he is played as a wide forward or striker as well as 3 and possibly 9 in either position.
I also think Bernard would be a great signing as he would add 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and possibly 7.

These 3 signing would take us to the next level. If we could get another striker with 5, 6 & 3, that would be spectacular.

 

[dazzayid75]

I'm 20+ stone and I can provide a better number 3 than what we had last season.

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

I'm 20+ stone and I can provide a better number 3 than what we had last season.

Tom, is that you?

 

[jushin3]

The best through/final ball at the club imo is Gylfi. Just gotta find a way to get him more time on the ball in the final third.

 

[spurs9]

The best through/final ball at the club imo is Gylfi. Just gotta find a way to get him more time on the ball in the final third.

And attackers with decent movement to pass to. I also think Holtby can excel at this if we allow him to.

 

[danielneeds]

That's a really good point. I think a lot of posters think he will want to come here just to be a #9. And while I think it's just as good of an assumption as any, I do think Villa is a player who is well aware of his age, knows this is going to be his last shot at a big role in a World Cup side, and will do whatever he needs to ensure he gets that role.

He's old enough and experienced enough to play there for Spain if he is playing No 9 for his club. Really, I can't see him stepping down a level to us to play left wing. Also, he'll know that he won't want to be scampering up and down the wing in his 30s, he'll want to be using his experience in the box and making canny runs.

 

[ajspurs]

The best through/final ball at the club imo is Gylfi. Just gotta find a way to get him more time on the ball in the final third.

Yep, has to start with him being central though.