Our Squad Qaulity

[Gutter Boy]

Given only deadwood will be shipped out in the near future, I think the following is what the squad needs to be complete:

1: Creative CM with good work rate that can dicatate the game from deep.
Targets in ranked order: Moutinho, Isco and Clasie (the dutch playmaker from Feyenoord)

2: An upgrade on Sigurdsson and Dempsey for the extremely vital role as the player in the hole. Would be ideal if he has pace, so he can be utilised on either wing as a like for like cover for Lennon and Bale.
Targets in ranked order: Willian, Ben Arfa (if possible). Haven't seen enough of Mertens, Draxler or Maher to know if they fit the bill.

3: A striker who can play as a lone striker and compete with Adebayor and Defoe.
Targets in ranked order: Llorente, Leandro, Lewandowski, Demba Ba.

Defensively I think we're sorted. I know there's only BAE for the left back position, but Vertonghen, Naughton and Bale against lesser teams can fill in.

The january transfer window has proven difficult over the past, but these positions are IMO what need to be strengthended in the current squad, before it is realistic to consider challenging the top teams.

IMO, bringing in Moutinho (say) would mean him and Dembele sharing the #8 and #10 positions (with Sandro anchoring the trio). It would also complete our move from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, thus making the need for a specialist second/in-the-hole striker disappear.

Willian's and out-and-out left winger from what I've seen - I've never heard of him playing in the middle.

 

[Rossi22]

agree with quality but still some gaps needs to be addressed, though it has been a big improvement over last season.

what do you think our priorities are in Jan:
1. creative CM
2. backup RB
3. backup LB
4. LM: bring back Rose?

Bringing these in would mean shipping out permanently some that we still have on the books e.g. Dawson, a couple of keepers etc.

What happens to Naughton if you bring in a backup LB and RB?

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Does anyone rate Chelsea squad then because when I saw their bench yesterday I wasn't fearful at all. There first 11 was missing 1 player and IMO Cahill is better than Terry anyway

The bench had lampard who is finally on his way out although still effective, azpicualleta who I have never heard of (may be great but who knows), Bertrand who has shown nothing so far IMO and I would not put ahead if Naughton, Romeu (Dos Santos Mk2 a great hope that Barca didn't bother keeping although obviously a different style of player), Moses who is decent but not much better than that so far in his career and Sturridge their only other sticker along with Torres.

For a squad that cost £250m plus that isn't great IMO and they don't have any major players injured as far as I'm aware.

If we had Kaboom, bale, Benny, Parker and Dembele fit and available our squad IMO would be stronger than theirs by some way. Will be interesting for them if they do get any injuries to key players and then play some decent teams.

We have shown that we don't have cover for Dembele and its similar to not having cover for Luca. The problem is how do you keep a top drawer creative midfielder on the bench as cover?

But look at our squad again and it's much stronger than I think a lot of us give it credit for.

We need Dempsey and Siggy to find a role somewhere in the squad cos for me yesterday there were a waste of a shirt. They went backwards and lost the ball numerous times and just offered so little. I wold rather see the squad used more and would have bought in Townsend and Ade at the start of the 2nd half.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

IMO, bringing in Moutinho (say) would mean him and Dembele sharing the #8 and #10 positions (with Sandro anchoring the trio). It would also complete our move from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, thus making the need for a specialist second/in-the-hole striker disappear.

Willian's and out-and-out left winger from what I've seen - I've never heard of him playing in the middle.

That is what other sides have a first 3 that is quality and you can afford to lose one of them and bring in cover. Having a clear 2 players in how roles leaves you weak if you lose 50% of the drive from the middle.

moutinho in the first 11 ahead if Dempsey or soggy would work massively better and we would just move people forward

 

[Rorschach]

Dempsey had a poor game yesterday but in the previous game where he played in the hole he was decent enough, although he didn't seem to get much credit for it. He's a good player but not a top class, and in my opinion it's our relative weakness in this position that separates us from the top teams in the PL.

For me we need a super star number 10. We had one and let him leave for Germany. Mistake.

I wonder could we use our special relationship with Madrid to pry an aging superstar from their ranks and resurrect his failing career in Klinsmanesque fashion.

 

[Gutter Boy]

Dempsey had a poor game yesterday but in the previous game where he played in the hole he was decent enough, although he didn't seem to get much credit for it. He's a good player but not a top class, and in my opinion it's our relative weakness in this position that separates us from the top teams in the PL.

For me we need a super star number 10. We had one and let him leave for Germany. Mistake.

I wonder could we use our special relationship with Madrid to pry an aging superstar from their ranks and resurrect his failing career in Klinsmanesque fashion.

Don't think they really have any that I can think of - Mourinho tends to keep trim squads. Carvalho is the obvious one that would be available (wrong position for us though).

I guess Sahin is the player of theirs we could go for if he has a good season at Liverpool.

 

[jts1882]

He's thinking of Kaka, I believe.

 

[punk_is_back`]

Does anyone rate Chelsea squad then because when I saw their bench yesterday I wasn't fearful at all. There first 11 was missing 1 player and IMO Cahill is better than Terry anyway

The bench had lampard who is finally on his way out although still effective, azpicualleta who I have never heard of (may be great but who knows), Bertrand who has shown nothing so far IMO and I would not put ahead if Naughton, Romeu (Dos Santos Mk2 a great hope that Barca didn't bother keeping although obviously a different style of player), Moses who is decent but not much better than that so far in his career and Sturridge their only other sticker along with Torres.

For a squad that cost £250m plus that isn't great IMO and they don't have any major players injured as far as I'm aware.

If we had Kaboom, bale, Benny, Parker and Dembele fit and available our squad IMO would be stronger than theirs by some way. Will be interesting for them if they do get any injuries to key players and then play some decent teams.

We have shown that we don't have cover for Dembele and its similar to not having cover for Luca. The problem is how do you keep a top drawer creative midfielder on the bench as cover?

But look at our squad again and it's much stronger than I think a lot of us give it credit for.

We need Dempsey and Siggy to find a role somewhere in the squad cos for me yesterday there were a waste of a shirt. They went backwards and lost the ball numerous times and just offered so little. I wold rather see the squad used more and would have bought in Townsend and Ade at the start of the 2nd half.

When both teams are fully fit their central defence and central midfield are possibly the only space where we can say that our players are equal if not better than theirs. However when it comes to the attacking midfield only Bale is in the class of Hazard, Mata, Oscar etc. Torres has been on bad form for a while, but he does a lot of donkey work and allows their attack to flourish with his athleticism and hold up play.

 

[Gutter Boy]

He's thinking of Kaka, I believe.

Ok - I'd forgotten about him.

Not sure he'd be able to cope with the pace of this league, especially AVB's high-tempo pressing game.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

When both teams are fully fit their central defence and central midfield are possibly the only space where we can say that our players are equal if not better than theirs. However when it comes to the attacking midfield only Bale is in the class of Hazard, Mata, Oscar etc. Torres has been on bad form for a while, but he does a lot of donkey work and allows their attack to flourish with his athleticism and hold up play.

Not gonna disagree but I think the hype behind hazard and Oscar so far is way beyond justified. Neither player looks remotely beat to justifying their transfer fee and Hazard looks to me like joe cole mark 2 in more than just appearance. Oscar looks really light weight too.

Prior to Mata stepping up yesterday and he was class Lennon was IMO bette than all 3 and look who he had to play with in Drmpsey and Siggy....

But beyond their first 3 players in those positions their options ain't that great IMO but we could also do with strengthening ours there too

They don't have mcuh defensive cover at all an alma or Zero forward cover

 

[SteveAWOL]

agree with quality but still some gaps needs to be addressed, though it has been a big improvement over last season.

what do you think our priorities are in Jan:
1. creative CM
2. backup RB
3. backup LB
4. LM: bring back Rose?

Bringing these in would mean shipping out permanently some that we still have on the books e.g. Dawson, a couple of keepers etc.

1) Moutinho or someone of that calibre to link up play in the way that Mata did for Chelsea yesterday.
2) A quality winger who can compete for a starting place with Bale / Lennon. As whenever either of them are out we have to play someone like Dempsey out of position, maybe Townsend / Falque will be able to fill that role some day but clearly AVB doesn't think they are ready for the big games yet.

I think that we have enough cover in defence as Naughton can cover at LB/RB plus Kaboul can also play RB and Vertonghen as LB.

 

[GrimsbyYid]

A winger and a striker are the absolute neccessities. Like they have been for a long time. Without Bale or Lennon we have nothing, Townsend looks decent but unproven and I wouldn't make him so prominent yet. The fact Falque is getting in the squad shows everything. Dempsey and Sigg being moved there also shows how slight we are.

And the middle for similar reasons, I really really dont rate Livermore in the slightest, and Sigg and Dempsey are looking beyond average, so someone in the middle and we'd be infinitely stronger.

We'll probably be saying the same thing in February though....

 

[Gutter Boy]

1) Moutinho or someone of that calibre to link up play in the way that Mata did for Chelsea yesterday.
2) A quality winger who can compete for a starting place with Bale / Lennon. As whenever either of them are out we have to play someone like Dempsey out of position, maybe Townsend / Falque will be able to fill that role some day but clearly AVB doesn't think they are ready for the big games yet.

I think that we have enough cover in defence as Naughton can cover at LB/RB plus Kaboul can also play RB and Vertonghen as LB.

How is Dempsey out of position when he played all last season on the left?

 

[punk_is_back`]

Not gonna disagree but I think the hype behind hazard and Oscar so far is way beyond justified. Neither player looks remotely beat to justifying their transfer fee and Hazard looks to me like joe cole mark 2 in more than just appearance. Oscar looks really light weight too.

Prior to Mata stepping up yesterday and he was class Lennon was IMO bette than all 3 and look who he had to play with in Drmpsey and Siggy....

But beyond their first 3 players in those positions their options ain't that great IMO but we could also do with strengthening ours there too

They don't have mcuh defensive cover at all an alma or Zero forward cover

With the ball Lennon was Mata's equal. Lennons strengths are his work rate defensively and his offensive ability on the ball, However what the other 3 have over him is excellent off the ball movement in attack. Lennon's game has improved vastly this season and he has shown that the is back to having the sort of skill he had when moniz was a coach.

 

[Simon_B]

IMO, bringing in Moutinho (say) would mean him and Dembele sharing the #8 and #10 positions (with Sandro anchoring the trio). It would also complete our move from 4-2-3-1 to 4-3-3, thus making the need for a specialist second/in-the-hole striker disappear.

Willian's and out-and-out left winger from what I've seen - I've never heard of him playing in the middle.

I agree that you could push Dembele further forward and revert to a 4-3-3, but I don't think Bale and Lennon are suited to plays as wide forwards in a 4-3-3.

Regarding Willian he has definately played there in the past, although with the emergence of Mkhitaryan you are right, that he has been used mostly cutting in from the left.

With a Creative MC, a skilled and pacey AMC/Winger and a striker I genuinely believe the squad would be complete. So close but yet so far.

 

[SteveAWOL]

How is Dempsey out of position when he played all last season on the left?

Well he lined on the left of midfield for Fulham last season but Dempsey tended to drift inside. He doesn't have the pace to stretch play so when he starts on the left for us it requires a slight change in the system which AVB has yet to quite perfect judging by Dempsey' disappointing performances for us so far this season. Perhaps AVB will find a way to re-jig the team in order to get the best out of Clint, or perhaps he will end up being this season' Pienaar.

 

[Hotspur]

I agree that you could push Dembele further forward and revert to a 4-3-3, but I don't think Bale and Lennon are suited to plays as wide forwards in a 4-3-3.

Regarding Willian he has definately played there in the past, although with the emergence of Mkhitaryan you are right, that he has been used mostly cutting in from the left.

With a Creative MC, a skilled and pacey AMC/Winger and a striker I genuinely believe the squad would be complete. So close but yet so far.

What about the defence? We need a RB, LB and a CB. Walker and Ekotto not good enough, Dawson ditto and Gallas is obviously past it.

 

[billyiddo]

^ Kaboul Vertonghen and Caulker are 3 good CB's to be choosing from imo

Ekotto, who is by no means perfect is still a decent player and not someone we are in drastic need of replacing. i also think with Naughton being here it will allow Walker some much needed time out of the first team and some motivation/time to work on his performances

 

[Simon_B]

What about the defence? We need a RB, LB and a CB. Walker and Ekotto not good enough, Dawson ditto and Gallas is obviously past it.

I agree that Gallas is no longer the same player he used to be, but in Vertonghen, Kaboul and Caulker I believe we are well sorted. Getting a 4th (or 5th) central defender should IMO not be a higher priority than getting in players to form the spine of our attacking play. Walker's not playing well at the moment, but he's still very young and hopefully more experience and getting some confidence back will make him look like the player he used to.

Ekotto is maybe slightly overrated by Spurs fans in general, but apart from Cole and Baines, I don't think theres a better left back in the league. The left back position is often a team's achilles heel, and I think we could do a lot worse than Ekotto.

 

[awesome dawson]

I think we all when we heard the team news that we were up against it on Saturday.

Fact is their strength shone through and key players had good games. In terms of key players, we had more out than in.

We can't expect Huddlestone, Gylfi and Dempsey to deliver against Mata, Hazard and Ramires.