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Berba, Modric, Rafa, Bale, Kane, Sonny...?

thfcsteff

thfcsteff

Vivian Woodward
This club has -to my memory- always had a marquee player. A name. A talent. Even in the dark days of GGG, there was Daveed...

It is fair to say that only one manager had a side without one yet developed a few very quickly - Poch - and some that was already bedded in with regards to Kane and his career/loan development prior to Poch's arrival. Sonny would be the biggest example of a star who was fashioned by him. Anyway, I digress...for the first time in forever, we do not have 'that' name or presence at the club. You could argue Romero is there because of that World Cup medal, but I do not see it as the same personally.

Are we at the end of several eras of Spurs having 'that' ex-factor talismanic talent? Or even two or three at once?
Is there a player out there who in fantasy land you'd break the bank for in order to fulfil the need for such a talent in our shirt? Who would that be?
 
tommysvr said:
All set for someone to step up. Kulusevski, Gray, Bergvall, Porro, Micky, Tel. Lots of potential.

We’ve usually had gaps in between the superstars whilst we wait to discover who’s next.
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That's what I'm trying to ascertain/remember/plot through my increasingly fizzy grey matter. I'm actually not sure we've always had gaps TBH, not since the Prem started; maybe that gap between Gazza being sold and Klinsmann arriving (that is you don't count Sheringham)? But even under BMJ we had Defoe, Davids for a bit (huge signing at the time, just huge), then came Berba...

The potential you're detailing are all exciting prospects for sure, and of course in the case of Pedro, VdV and Deki well-established, but do they have that X factor which makes other teams scared?
 
I know it's not an exact science or predictive for the future, but very much a pattern that when we get marquee players they're either developed over a bit of time, signed and underrated in the market (not looking like marquee players, but becoming that). Rafa the exception I guess.

Who can become that marquee, and attacking marquee, player for us of the players currently in the squad?
 
thfcsteff said:
That's what I'm trying to ascertain/remember/plot through my increasingly fizzy grey matter. I'm actually not sure we've always had gaps TBH, not since the Prem started; maybe that gap between Gazza being sold and Klinsmann arriving (that is you don't count Sheringham)? But even under BMJ we had Defoe, Davids for a bit (huge signing at the time, just huge), then came Berba...

The potential you're detailing are all exciting prospects for sure, and of course in the case of Pedro, VdV and Deki well-established, but do they have that X factor which makes other teams scared?
Click to expand...

Perhaps part of it is that they don't? Kane, van der Vaart, Bale and others were all underestimated and to some extent derided. I think the redemption arc / someone fulfilling or even outgrowing their potential suits Tottenham as a club. As opposed to buying ready made and then doing what's expected of them.
 
thfcsteff said:
This club has -to my memory- always had a marquee player. A name. A talent. Even in the dark days of GGG, there was Daveed...

It is fair to say that only one manager had a side without one yet developed a few very quickly - Poch - and some that was already bedded in with regards to Kane and his career/loan development prior to Poch's arrival. Sonny would be the biggest example of a star who was fashioned by him. Anyway, I digress...for the first time in forever, we do not have 'that' name or presence at the club. You could argue Romero is there because of that World Cup medal, but I do not see it as the same personally.

Are we at the end of several eras of Spurs having 'that' ex-factor talismanic talent? Or even two or three at once?
Is there a player out there who in fantasy land you'd break the bank for in order to fulfil the need for such a talent in our shirt? Who would that be?
Click to expand...
Hmm could this be Kulu? Odobert? Kudus? Romero or Van Der Ven? Bergvall? Time will tell. You are right. I can't see who is the image of Spurs now.
 
Good post @thfcsteff ive been thinking a similar subject myself for a while now about this squad.

TBH even though I've been critical of him, I think Romero is the closest we have - I do think he can genuinely be top quality, I just want to see it more consistently from him and less stupid/rash decisions.

But of course it's not particularly sexy to have a CB as that type of player. I must say I really think Kulu is overrated in some quarters here and won't ever reach the levels we are talking about here. He is just one of many that can have a decent game and then look poor the next one. Of course consistency is something that can change with maturity, but the type of player we are talking about usually has one or two outstanding attributes and I don't see that with him.

I would actually go a bit left field and punt with Sarr. I honestly think his physicality, and I'm seeing more and more an ability to be a goalscorer - I reckon over time he could really develop that knack and his long range shot. I could honestly see him becoming a bit Viera esque and one of the best in his field. Just a thought.....
 
I think there is a real dearth of marquee players now because the game is so “coached to death”
All the players mentioned were players who played their way so to speak
We have gone through the phase of the manager being the most important focal point
You have salah at pool …
Palmer at Chelsea
Cherki may be that man at city but haaland is the figure head now
Saka at Arsenal (that’s a low bar IMO because he hasn’t won anything of note)
United have no one today
It’s just how the game has changed IMO
 
The answer to who is missing from Spurs at the moment is prime Eriksen or Modric. Stick either of those 2 into Frank's side and it is a game changer. Guys like Kane and Sonny will always get the attention, but if you took someone like Eriksen out of Poch's team we looked half the team. We had lost an entire limb. There's a case for prime Dembele as well. No better at progressing the ball through the thirds.

Thinking back to Poch joining. We only had one superstar and that was Hugo. He was the one constantly linked with the 2 big Spanish giants and we were so concerned about losing him. 2-3 years later we had a team full of superstars. Right now, that's what needs to happen with this young squad.

What I'm happy about is not having superstars in name only. We did that with Toby, Jan, Dembele, Eriksen, Sonny and to a certain extent Kane at the end of their careers. Yes Harry banged the goals in but didn't really contribute much else over the 90. I've always been quite happy that Ange and Frank are doing it differently. Every player has to carry their workload and the sum of the parts are way more important than Jose or Conte just building systems around key players. We should remember we didn't win trophies doing that. We won a trophy with 11 honest guys grafting for their manager. Ange scored more league goals in the season after Harry took his 30 goals with him to BM. We just started to score from many different roles in the team.

So to answer Steff's original question, I'm not so bothered about not having these superstars. Like most fans, I'd like the club to get Frank a couple more 1st team level players to work with. Then we can sit back and let it play out. Chances are, we will discover some elite players in our ranks anyway.
 
06/07 Berbatov
07/08 Bale
08/09 Modric
09/10 Krancjar
10/11 van der Vaart
11/12 Kane
12/13 Dembele
13/14 Eriksen
14/15 Dele
15/16 Son
16/17 -
17/18 -
18/19 -
19/20 -
20/21 -
21/22 - (Kulusevski)
22/23 -
23/24 - (Maddison)
24/25 - (Bergvall)
25/26 - (Kudus)

Our recent history of marquee attacking players, year is the date they were bought/brought through. Brackets denote potential marquee players who haven't done it yet. So as it stands, we haven't bought one for ten years, although the future could prove otherwise.
 
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Lemonade Money said:
06/07 Berbatov
07/08 Bale
08/09 Modric
09/10 Krancjar
10/11 van der Vaart
11/12 Kane
12/13 Dembele
13/14 Eriksen
14/15 Dele
15/16 Son
16/17 -
17/18 -
18/19 -
19/20 -
20/21 -
21/22 - (Kulusevski)
22/23 -
23/24 - (Maddison)
24/25 - (Bergvall)
25/26 - (Kudus)

Our recent history of marquee players, year is the date they were bought/brought through. Brackets denote potential marquee players who haven't done it yet. So as it stands, we haven't bought one for ten years, although the future could prove otherwise.
Click to expand...

What's interesting about your list is that it doesn't include a GK or defender. It's a bit like the Ballon D'Or.

I've been so happy with Hugo, Walker, Jan, Toby, Romero, VDV etc. Equally important as those names above, but clearly there is nothing sexy about playing their position.
 
braineclipse said:
I know it's not an exact science or predictive for the future, but very much a pattern that when we get marquee players they're either developed over a bit of time, signed and underrated in the market (not looking like marquee players, but becoming that). Rafa the exception I guess.

Who can become that marquee, and attacking marquee, player for us of the players currently in the squad?
Click to expand...
I’m going with Bergvall. That guys going to be a superstar. He’ll become one of the best midfielders in the league and be the face of Spurs. His tall physique, chiseled good looks and flowing blonde hair will be dominating teams up and down the country. Oh how one can dream!
 
I'm more worried about about a mabbutt, a perryman, ardilles or mackay tbh.
That solid ever dependable presence that allows the flair player to flourish. Someone that knows the game, knows the club and knows what it takes to win.
Front players can't truly play to their potential looking over their shoulder, add any of them or Carrick to our squad and watch Kudus, kulu, tel Odobert etc flourish.
Maybe paulinha will be that man, here's hoping.
 
Due to us being just below the top rank clubs, it could be argued that once we next find ourselves in a competitive position, we need to by design or luck, land on our feet with a maverick/talisman player to bridge that gap or at least make a difference when it matters. That could well just be someone already here or most likely someone we sign and land on our feet with. (Kudus could be that). But I'm thinking a Payet, Tevez type player.
 
None of those were brought in as marquee players.
Berba and VdV were close, but all of them grew into it.
Having had Son and Kane for so long we were blessed.

Both VdV and Bergvall are on the cusp.
It might even be Kudus.
 
monkeybarry said:
None of those were brought in as marquee players.
Berba and VdV were close, but all of them grew into it.
Having had Son and Kane for so long we were blessed.

Both VdV and Bergvall are on the cusp.
It might even be Kudus.
Click to expand...
The point isn't how ready made they were, the fact is we had a steady conveyor belt of them coming through one way or another, and then nothing.
 
Muttley said:
The answer to who is missing from Spurs at the moment is prime Eriksen or Modric. Stick either of those 2 into Frank's side and it is a game changer. Guys like Kane and Sonny will always get the attention, but if you took someone like Eriksen out of Poch's team we looked half the team. We had lost an entire limb. There's a case for prime Dembele as well. No better at progressing the ball through the thirds.

Thinking back to Poch joining. We only had one superstar and that was Hugo. He was the one constantly linked with the 2 big Spanish giants and we were so concerned about losing him. 2-3 years later we had a team full of superstars. Right now, that's what needs to happen with this young squad.

What I'm happy about is not having superstars in name only. We did that with Toby, Jan, Dembele, Eriksen, Sonny and to a certain extent Kane at the end of their careers. Yes Harry banged the goals in but didn't really contribute much else over the 90. I've always been quite happy that Ange and Frank are doing it differently. Every player has to carry their workload and the sum of the parts are way more important than Jose or Conte just building systems around key players. We should remember we didn't win trophies doing that. We won a trophy with 11 honest guys grafting for their manager. Ange scored more league goals in the season after Harry took his 30 goals with him to BM. We just started to score from many different roles in the team.

So to answer Steff's original question, I'm not so bothered about not having these superstars. Like most fans, I'd like the club to get Frank a couple more 1st team level players to work with. Then we can sit back and let it play out. Chances are, we will discover some elite players in our ranks anyway.
Click to expand...

I think we all have a view as to what is missing from the team in terms of type of player and tactically.

To be clear, I was more speaking to the Totty-honoured tradition of having a great entertainer/presence in our midst...it certainly was not meant as a statement of what was 'right' or 'should be' with regards to a team, just an observation that we currently don't have a figure like that.

As for your judgement of Harry, LOL, I'll take 30 goals and 4 assists from any of our strikers right now with more gratitude than could be imagined.
 
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