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Archie Gray

metalgear said:
i expect Gray to take over from Bissouma in a couple of years
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I would like to play him there in EUFA games etc. Rather than playing him as a RB or LB... Get him accustomed to being in the role, so when it does happen, he is gonna be completely comfortable and unphased. Just another game.
 
SkipRat said:
I would like to play him there in EUFA games etc. Rather than playing him as a RB or LB... Get him accustomed to being in the role, so when it does happen, he is gonna be completely comfortable and unphased. Just another game.
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We tried him there once and he was poor; I'm sure it is on the radar of the coaching team, to ease him into that role... when he is ready
 
Bullet said:
We tried him there once and he was poor; I'm sure it is on the radar of the coaching team, to ease him into that role... when he is ready
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Hope so. But we need to give him more than one go though.

The lad is going to be something special.
 
Finney Is Back said:
A friend of mine played against Teddy Sherringham in a pre season friendly. Said he couldn't believe how Teddy got to the ball ahead of him every single time and had often laid it off and moved to receive the return before he'd even had time to adjust to him controlling the ball. He said it was all the more galling seeing as he was trying his very hardest and Teddy was playing at about 50% (as all seasoned pros do in pre-season). My friend was a big Arsenal fan so really wanted to give Teddy a few digs but said he wasn't even able to do that.

Another friend played against Ray Wilkins when Wilkins was playing in the PL for QPR at the real back end of his career. He said the same thing, that he couldn't get near Wilkins, who seemed to be thinking 1 step ahead of him for the whole game.... and this was somebody who had played against people like David Rocastle and Paul Merson and had no problem at all.

Positional sense, good control (with both feet) and speed of thought can sometimes be extremely underrated in football.

I can't help but think that we woudn't benefit from such a player at the base of our midfield at present. Somebody experienced, getting toward the back end of their career but who never really relied on having pace. Not sure who is out there that fits the bill but having an experienced player around 30-31 in this position who has been at a few truly big clubs and experienced winning some trophies at those big clubs would be good for our young team I think.
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I’ve played with a few ex pros and against some and the way their brain works is light years ahead
It’s ingrained with the constant training and experience
 
Bedfordspurs said:
I’ve played with a few ex pros and against some and the way their brain works is light years ahead
It’s ingrained with the constant training and experience
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The funniest story I've heard was from a top level pro who decided he wanted to continue playing (didn't matter level/money) past his ability to compete at absolute top level, so dropped to lower leagues

Biggest issue? he kept passing to nowhere because the other (still pros) players just weren't reading the game the same way, didn't know how to anticipate at an elite level.
 
Finney Is Back said:
A friend of mine played against Teddy Sherringham in a pre season friendly. Said he couldn't believe how Teddy got to the ball ahead of him every single time and had often laid it off and moved to receive the return before he'd even had time to adjust to him controlling the ball. He said it was all the more galling seeing as he was trying his very hardest and Teddy was playing at about 50% (as all seasoned pros do in pre-season). My friend was a big Arsenal fan so really wanted to give Teddy a few digs but said he wasn't even able to do that.

Another friend played against Ray Wilkins when Wilkins was playing in the PL for QPR at the real back end of his career. He said the same thing, that he couldn't get near Wilkins, who seemed to be thinking 1 step ahead of him for the whole game.... and this was somebody who had played against people like David Rocastle and Paul Merson and had no problem at all.

Positional sense, good control (with both feet) and speed of thought can sometimes be extremely underrated in football.

I can't help but think that we woudn't benefit from such a player at the base of our midfield at present. Somebody experienced, getting toward the back end of their career but who never really relied on having pace. Not sure who is out there that fits the bill but having an experienced player around 30-31 in this position who has been at a few truly big clubs and experienced winning some trophies at those big clubs would be good for our young team I think.
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We need a Sandro again, that is who we are missing. Wanyama is another one I remember.

We miss a beast, a proper beast that protected the defense and just broke everything down for the opposition. We haven't had that player for years.
 
SkipRat said:
We need a Sandro again, that is who we are missing. Wanyama is another one I remember.

We miss a beast, a proper beast that protected the defense and just broke everything down for the opposition. We haven't had that player for years.
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Such a pity that injuries blighted Sandro’s career and he had to retire early but at least he’s still a Tottenham fan.

www.instagram.com

Sandro on Instagram: "You are on fire @dejan.k10. Well done Boys @spursofficial. COYS."

8,200 likes, 52 comments - sandroraniere on October 19, 2024: "You are on fire @dejan.k10. Well done Boys @spursofficial. COYS.".
www.instagram.com www.instagram.com
 
SkipRat said:
We need a Sandro again, that is who we are missing. Wanyama is another one I remember.

We miss a beast, a proper beast that protected the defense and just broke everything down for the opposition. We haven't had that player for years.
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Palcios would be the own for me
He did the leg work so well before his brother died
 
SkipRat said:
I would like to play him there in EUFA games etc. Rather than playing him as a RB or LB... Get him accustomed to being in the role, so when it does happen, he is gonna be completely comfortable and unphased. Just another game.
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So would I (in some of them).... The Europa League is a trophy that we should be looking to win so we need to balance development with ensuring that we quality well.
 
SkipRat said:
We need a Sandro again, that is who we are missing. Wanyama is another one I remember.

We miss a beast, a proper beast that protected the defense and just broke everything down for the opposition. We haven't had that player for years.
Click to expand...
I'd take an old, experienced pro with great positioning and good passing ahead of a real beast to be honest.
 
Players that I think would be absolutely transformational for us would be: Kimmich or Zubamendi.... Though sadly I don't think we would be able to attract either of them. If I were our recruitment department though I'd do everything I could to get one of them.

Options that might be more gettable could be Hakan Çalhanoğlu from Inter or Robert Andrich from Leverkusen.

Bringing ex Liverpool player Fabhino back from the Saudi league could also prove a good move (though I'm assuming ridiculous wages attracted him there). Another very good old pro languishing in Saudi is Marcelo Brozovic (same story re: finances though I'm sure).

Younger options that are ready now but could really blossom further in future would be Youssouf Fofana from Monaco, Jerdy Schouten from PSV, Samuele Ricci from Torino, Raphael Onyedika from Brugge or Arthur Vermeeren from RB Leipzig. Though I would instead rather go for an older head and let Gray develop.
 
Bullet said:
We tried him there once and he was poor; I'm sure it is on the radar of the coaching team, to ease him into that role... when he is ready
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He's been very poor defensively in the fullback roles also, if the plan is to ease him in, he's not been getting an easy ride in the FB roles.
 
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