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Upgrading the Team

SpurMeUp

SpurMeUp

David Ginola
Last two summers we've upgraded the squad more than the first team. With Moura to come through we don't need more squad players - arguably less, to make room for new signings and youth players to get some opportunities.

Which positions can we upgrade in the first 11? Not an easy question for us or the club to answer.
 
I would target a world class midfielder who has the potential to dictate games, and a promising young goal scorer who can play across the front 4 positions.

I'd consider playing Eriksen deeper in midfield, with him able to ghost into areas around the box to finish (with Dier/Wanyama sitting). So much harder to track Eriksen when he's coming from deep. I also like Alli playing wide. A bit like Salah does - Alli will find more space running in from the wing. He can also see more from there, and again its harder to pick him up arriving from wide. Alli can also use his dribbling skill to get down the wing and stretch play when teams sit deep.

Moura and Son could cover Kane if we need, but adding one more young promising goal scorer would be ideal. If we did I would sell Lamela (with a heavy heart), Sissoko (get anything we can for him now), GKN and Janssen if anyone's interested in them; and plough the money back into just two players - a midfielder and natural goal scorer. With the TV cash and a few sales we should have what £50-100m to spend?
 
I would not go for upgrades but punts for the future, strikers like Barrow and Arp would be good.

I like Lemar in France think he would do well for us, Liverpool seem to have other intentions now and Arsenal are not in the champs league.

I would go for Tah, Diawara, Kovacic, Lemar and one of Barrow or Arp.
 
Here's the issue. The most obvious position to actually upgrade the first eleven is at right back. Trippier's good, and there's really nothing wrong with him against 90% of wingers.

But he will get *roasted* and left for dead by the other 10%.

So, RB is the spot we can immediately upgrade on.

However, we're looking at a summer where we're going to lose both Alderweireld *and* (probably) Rose. To lose Trippier on top of that would be losing *three* first-choice players from the defence in the same window.

Plus, once we do lose Trippier, we have to make a decision - do we keep faith with one of our own in KWP, or do we let him loose and sign another RB? Aurier isn't leaving so soon after arriving, I think, so if we buy another RB, I think KWP's gone.

So it's a complicated situation in that sense.

Other than that, central midfield. That's a bit easier, and I think it will be addressed.
 
Key area's for me are central midfield and another person of quality in the forward line that can change games consistently with the squad we have today. Not that we will or could, but we'd be set if we could bring Modric and Bale home.
 
Huddy said:
Key area's for me are central midfield and another person of quality in the forward line that can change games consistently with the squad we have today. Not that we will or could, but we'd be set if we could bring Modric and Bale home.
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I agree, we've seen this season with 3 of the top 4 having average defences yet still able to collect points through their attacking play (yeah not United), apart from a couple of games we've dominated teams but failed to turn that domination into goals. Creativity and goal scoring need to be improved.
 
DubaiSpur said:
Here's the issue. The most obvious position to actually upgrade the first eleven is at right back. Trippier's good, and there's really nothing wrong with him against 90% of wingers.

But he will get *roasted* and left for dead by the other 10%.

So, RB is the spot we can immediately upgrade on.

However, we're looking at a summer where we're going to lose both Alderweireld *and* (probably) Rose. To lose Trippier on top of that would be losing *three* first-choice players from the defence in the same window.

Plus, once we do lose Trippier, we have to make a decision - do we keep faith with one of our own in KWP, or do we let him loose and sign another RB? Aurier isn't leaving so soon after arriving, I think, so if we buy another RB, I think KWP's gone.

So it's a complicated situation in that sense.

Other than that, central midfield. That's a bit easier, and I think it will be addressed.
Click to expand...

We changed 3 of our back 4 last summer with minimal consequence

Walker-Alder-Verts-Rose became Trippier-Sanchez-Verts-Davies
 
galeforce said:
CM, we need what Dembele does on a good day, every day.
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I really think we can improve on him.

As much of a joy it is to watch him, someone quicker of thought who will get the ball forward faster would be transformative in this side.

I think its been notable that whenever Eriksen has dropped deep this season we look a different team.
 
Huddy said:
Key area's for me are central midfield and another person of quality in the forward line that can change games consistently with the squad we have today. Not that we will or could, but we'd be set if we could bring Modric and Bale home.
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I would dread/like to see the wage cost for those two. Then the cost of increasing the current squad accordingly.
Let alone the transfer fees.....
 
Gutter Boy said:
We changed 3 of our back 4 last summer with minimal consequence

Walker-Alder-Verts-Rose became Trippier-Sanchez-Verts-Davies
Click to expand...

It was our defense that cost us in the cups wasn't it? Not always the backline but probably the team shape and organisation more.

For cup games and later in the season we need to develop an alternative way of playing - sitting back in a compact shape and breaking. When cup sides who are losing against us throw caution to the wind our press is undermined. Our midfield pushes up to press, but they are tiring as its late in the game, and the opposing team pass around the press, and have a free run at the retreating backline. There is so much space for them.

In every cup defeat this season we were in the lead in the final half of the tie, I think? And in all 3 games this above occured I think. We need to add sitting back in a defensive formation to our armoury imo.
 
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We coped well with so much change in our back line tbf and it's to the credit of everyone involved however i would imagine we'd have had a better season had we not changed so much there - id say that's a good sign for our squad depth but also that we lack a little bit of quality there. A replacement for Alderwiereld to play alongside Sanchez and Vertonghen and a replacement for Rose and his particular style of play if he isn't to remain would be my first suggestions for first XI strengthening.

A replacement/competition for Dembele, would be next, not like-for-like but a Modric-esque playmaker (yes yes Winks i know but not yet for me) and then a player like Zaha to compete with Son for the goal scoring WF/CF cover

3 or 4 players there, at the same level of Sanchez and we'd be in bloody great shape in the first XI and for most areas with regards to squad depth.
 
billyiddo said:
We coped well with so much change in our back line tbf and it's to the credit of everyone involved however i would imagine we'd have had a better season had we not changed so much there - id say that's a good sign for our squad depth but also that we lack a little bit of quality there. A replacement for Alderwiereld to play alongside Sanchez and Vertonghen and a replacement for Rose and his particular style of play if he isn't to remain would be my first suggestions for first XI strengthening.

A replacement/competition for Dembele, would be next, not like-for-like but a Modric-esque playmaker (yes yes Winks i know but not yet for me) and then a player like Zaha to compete with Son for the goal scoring WF/CF cover

3 or 4 players there, at the same level of Sanchez and we'd be in bloody great shape in the first XI and for most areas with regards to squad depth.
Click to expand...
Cant think of anything more than that we need tbh, add a little more quality to the first XI is all that can be asked....
 
billyiddo said:
We coped well with so much change in our back line tbf and it's to the credit of everyone involved however i would imagine we'd have had a better season had we not changed so much there - id say that's a good sign for our squad depth but also that we lack a little bit of quality there. A replacement for Alderwiereld to play alongside Sanchez and Vertonghen and a replacement for Rose and his particular style of play if he isn't to remain would be my first suggestions for first XI strengthening.

A replacement/competition for Dembele, would be next, not like-for-like but a Modric-esque playmaker (yes yes Winks i know but not yet for me) and then a player like Zaha to compete with Son for the goal scoring WF/CF cover

3 or 4 players there, at the same level of Sanchez and we'd be in bloody great shape in the first XI and for most areas with regards to squad depth.
Click to expand...

I think our defence was undone more by the complete lack of CM protection than anything else.

Otherwise Id agree.
 
Gutter Boy said:
We changed 3 of our back 4 last summer with minimal consequence

Walker-Alder-Verts-Rose became Trippier-Sanchez-Verts-Davies
Click to expand...

Apart from Tripps and Davies had already largely replaced Walker and Rose by the end of last season
 
Danishfurniturelover said:
I would not go for upgrades but punts for the future, strikers like Barrow and Arp would be good.

I like Lemar in France think he would do well for us, Liverpool seem to have other intentions now and Arsenal are not in the champs league.

I would go for Tah, Diawara, Kovacic, Lemar and one of Barrow or Arp.
Click to expand...

Whose Barrow?
 
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