Summer Transfer Strategy

[90291Spur]

At least two really good players OVER THE AGE OF 25. The brain is still in an adolescent state until 25 and we need a couple more people who have fully developed brains to cope with the stresses and pressures of being a top, top team.

 

[DubaiSpur]

I'm not sure I want Alli anywhere other than right in the centre of the park.... Whether that is in the number 10 role or dropped into Dembele's role. If Eriksen went (and I neither want or think he will) then I would want a left sided attacking midfielder to replace him.

He doesn't actually stay in position that much, though. Starting positions aren't really applicable to our attacking midfield three - Alli goes wide to chase through balls quite a lot, and at other times comes inside from a wide position (see his goal against Everton for an example of that). Eriksen or Lamela correspondingly move into the middle or go outside.

 

[Finney Is Back]

1. 3 or 4 players. In order a Centre Forward, a Holding Midfielder, an Attacking Midfielder and if there’s anything left in the pot after that and somebody worth buying comes along then a Dembele clone.

2. Michy Batshuayi, or Sebastien Haller for CF. Wanyama for the holding midfield role, any of Sofiane Boufal, Nabil Fekir or Yunus Mali for the attacking midfield role. Dembele clone.... I'm not sure I can think of one to be honest?.... but if we bring in one of the three above AM's or a proper centre forward then we could potentially drop Alli back to Dembele's role and allow Kane or one of the three above to play as the number 10.

3. Fazio, Carrol (although I guess he might be out of contract), Yedlin (sell while Sunderland are likely to pay good money for him) Chadli (doesn’t fit Pochettino’s system)

4. If the offer was good enough then I wouldn’t mind any of Vorm, Mason, Trippier or Davies going. As I think all could be replaced as squad players without too much fuss. I also think that Cameron Carter Vickers, Kyle Walker Peters, Josh Onomah and Harry Winks need loans next season. IMO under 21 football will not do them much good and I'd rather be competitive in the cups than use them as a finishing school for our young players.

 

[Finney Is Back]

He doesn't actually stay in position that much, though. Starting positions aren't really applicable to our attacking midfield three - Alli goes wide to chase through balls quite a lot, and at other times comes inside from a wide position (see his goal against Everton for an example of that). Eriksen or Lamela correspondingly move into the middle or go outside.

It's more about the defensive play than attacking. While they do indeed all interchange when attacking - it is Lamela who gets back to help Walker and Eriksen to help Rose. I'm not sure that Alli has that same sort of defensive desire that Eriksen and Lamela have.

 

[DubaiSpur]

It's more about the defensive play than attacking. While they do indeed all interchange when attacking - it is Lamela who gets back to help Walker and Eriksen to help Rose. I'm not sure that Alli has that same sort of defensive desire that Eriksen and Lamela have.

Hmm. Fair enough, hadn't considered that.

 

[The_Midlands_Yid]

I think we all agree on the positions we need to strengthen. The thing that's more important is who do we lose? We need a good sized squad to compete in all competitions but the flip side is, honestly, a few players need to be flogged. Fazio, Carrol, Chadli and Mason for certain. And then there's players that are good but if we can improve on them surely we must. E.g. Kyle Walker, Vorm, Davis and maybe even Eriksen.

 

[Spursman]

I have been impressed with Trippier going forward so i would play him over Walker. Walker has no end product, time and time again he messes up

Id get competition for Dier

Competition for Dembele

An upgrade on Eriksen who for me is over rated and inconsistent. This should be the big signature signing

Another striker similar to Harry Kane (not Berehino) might have a chance to sign Benteke, dont think Klopp likes him

Sell- Bentaleb, Mason, Fazio and Carroll who has had plenty of opportunities to stake a claim
Loan - Winks, Onomah

Promote Pritchard and give him a few games. We miss a direct player

We need to sign proven players who have played in the premier league who can come in and wont need much settling in time.

so x2 centre mids
x1 attacking mid
x1 striker

Lloris

Trippier
Toby
Verts
Rose

Dier
Dembele

Lamela
Alli
(big name signing) dunno who

Kane

First team needs a small tweak but squad needs adding to. Also bring through any youth player showing potential.

 

[diego_maradona]

Yep 2 CMs, an AM and a Striker

Wanyama, Tielemans, Batushayi and Denis Suarez

I really don't care about names to be honest as long as they fit the profile that Pochettino wants

 

[90sSpursBook]

I think we outgrew several players throughout this season - Davies, Mason, Chadli, Trippier and Carroll (with Vorm and Fazio already behind) - if we want to challenge for the title again and/or compete in the champions league these guys are either surplus to requirements or need to be coached and improved to be significantly better. We could possibly carry a couple of them but not all; we may not be able to sell them

That means that we probably need to sign 6 players to either bulk up the squad or to improve the starting XI.

1. A back-up keeper who is better than Vorm;
2. an upgrade on Davies at left back;
3. a right sided central defender to provide cover for Toby;
4. a first band midfielder who is better than Mason/Carroll who could complement Dembele.
5. An attacking winger who will create competition for Lamela and Son and who is an upgrade on Chadli
6. A central forward who can supplement or replace Kane

McGee, Clinton, Bentaleb, Pritchard, Walker-Peters, Onomah, Winks, Ball, Yedlin and Carter-Vickers are ten from the current first team squad who have not had a look in this season due to injuries/loans/recent upgrade from scholar who need to prove that they are at the level we need.

Would love to think that Mitchell and Poch can uncover another Wimmer, Alli and Kante.

I'd be amazed if we went down the 'marquee signing' route.

Alternatively we might decide that we overachieved and that next year we'll set the same expectations of 12 months ago that sniffing around the top 4 is where we're at - however I don't think Levy works like that.

 

[Jordinho]

I'd be shocked if we actively looked to upgrade our FBs. Davies and Trippier are more than good enough for their roles and I'd expect both to push even harder for a starting spot next season.

 

[DubaiSpur]

Yep 2 CMs, an AM and a Striker

Wanyama, Tielemans, Batushayi and Denis Suarez

I really don't care about names to be honest as long as they fit the profile that Pochettino wants

Suarez's buyout clause was activated by Barca recently, I think. 3 million euros, or something similarly (and outrageously) cheap. They apparently want him as cover for MSN next season, which makes me think he isn't going anywhere.
The others are all gettable, even Wanyama (Saints ordinarily wouldn't like to do business with us, but he's only got a year left on his contract, which helps). Tielemans in particular could be a good shout now - Anderlecht have lost the league, are likely to need to negotiate multiple CL playoff rounds due to being runners up to Brugge, and he hasn't had the greatest season, which might help in terms of his valuation being lower than it otherwise would be in the crazy market of 18 and 19 year olds going for 80 million euros (Renato Sanches) and 40-odd million quid (Ousmane Dembele).

 

[Cochise]

1. Which positions are top priority to strengthen and in what order?
Firstly a new forward who can either partner Kane or play up top alone. Secondly a top class attacking midfielder who can play across the front line, but is ideally a left footer (competition for Lamela). If we do go on to sell Bentaleb then I think we need a third signing who can challenge Dier and Dembele.

2. Which players in particular would fit the mould of what you're looking for?
Of all the names thrown out there, Embolo is my pick for the first signing. He could easily lead the line, but also play in a support role, we could could even see Kane working in the space behind him. The names we have seen linked for the AM role have comprised of speedy, tricky players. Of those, Boufal does excite me the most, though whether he'd hit the ground running, I don't know. For the deep midfield role, a player like Kante would be awesome. Someone who has the ability to sit back and shield the defence as well as drive forward.

3. Who from the current squad needs to be actively flogged?
Fazio, Yedlin, Carroll, Chadli and Mason are the players I can see leaving. Only Chadli strikes me as a player that could still do it for us, but if we can get someone better, then I'm happy with him leaving.

4. Are there any other players who you'd listen to offers for in order to finance more important signings - given that we're likely to still have a low net spend until we move into the new stadium despite additional Champions League and TV revenue?
None, that I haven't already listed.

 

[Gutter Boy]

6 in

10 out

Are people seriously nostalgic for midtable obscurity!

The only device we've got against the 5 clubs who are financially much stronger than us is stability, the academy and coaching.

 

[Robspur12]

I think our "defensive solidity" has been a little overplayed we are terrible at holding on to leads which may in part be a mental thing (if so this still needs addressing) but we also concede too many from corners. I would focus on three areas
1) a tigerish defensive midfielder along the lines of ngolo kante/wilson palacios, a play breaker for opposing teams.
2) A centre back who dominates in the air .
3) a striker to cover Kane or offer something different. I hope we still pursue Saido Berahino. Kane will be knackered by next season if as is likely he will play a big part in the Euros.

To be sold: Fazio, Mason, and Tom Carroll.

Brought back into the fold: Bentaleb, Pritchard.

 

[DubaiSpur]

6 in

10 out

Are people seriously nostalgic for midtable obscurity!

The only device we've got against the 5 clubs who are financially much stronger than us is stability, the academy and coaching.

This was our activity this summer, prior to the 2015-2016 Premier League season;



We have 70 points now. Here was our transfer activity the last time we finished a season on 70 points.




That season got us Champions League football. This season got us Champions League football. And although I don't foresee much of a net spend this summer, or as much churn as some people are suggesting, neither do I see much merit at all in your suggestion of just one cheap (or even possibly free) CF backup and nothing else as reinforcement this summer, given the ludicrously weak bench and squad we have that has been exposed over the past month.

Your fears of squad churn and of spending are overblown, and I really, *really* don't think they are fears that Poch himself shares in any way.

 

[indianspur]

A proper on the pitch leader, we have needed it for weeks now, its become more and more obvious, ideally someone who has seen it all before, whether that type of player would fit in the Poch mold is another question.

Might seem unlikely but I'd try to bring in Schneiderlin. He can't be happy at Utd, we can offer CL football, chance to work for Poch again. He knows exactly what is required on the pitch from Poch, he would be the kind of midfield General we need. No adaptation period needed as he would simply slot straight in. Worth a shot imo.

 

[Raziel]

1. CF, DM, CB

2. CF - Quality player who can play up front on his own, as part of a duo with Kane or ahead of Kane, who drops back into the AM three. Also, has to be slightly faster than Harry at the very least (to give defences something to think about) and must be able to hold up the ball equally well.

DM - Ideally, someone who can cover for Dier *and* Dembele - he doesn't have to be a specialist at both jobs (i.e, water-carrier and box-to-box midfielder), but he needs to be able to do both roles adequately, while bringing his own unique skills to the mix.

CB - someone to fill that fourth CB slot, so we can finally rotate two pairings of CBs through the season. Strong, fast, preferably *really* vocal to keep Verts from dozing off and horrifically f*cking up if he's paired with him.

3.) Fazio, Yedlin, Chadli, Carroll (although he's leaving on a free transfer).

4.) Mason, Bentaleb, Walker, Vorm. Also, not strictly to *finance* new signings, but I'd try to find a loan club for Onomah, Winks and CCV, just go free up the squad space. I don't think we need to flog anyone else, although if Eriksen doesn't renew, we will end up having to sell him, and in that case I think we can make do with Pritchard and retaining one of Onomah and Winks, *provided* Pritchard really, really impressed in pre-season and we spend the money we earn on the aforementioned three necessary incomings.

Really close to my thoughts, a few comments

- 4th CB is hopefully CCV
- No to selling Walker, the 4 CB's we have work, rotate as needed, as form dictates.
- Eriksen will sign, if not, we need to buy big.

 

[DubaiSpur]

Might seem unlikely but I'd try to bring in Schneiderlin. He can't be happy at Utd, we can offer CL football, chance to work for Poch again. He knows exactly what is required on the pitch from Poch, he would be the kind of midfield General we need. No adaptation period needed as he would simply slot straight in. Worth a shot imo.

I'd rather not open the Pandoras' box of buying players from domestic competitors again; it might lead to them making unwanted moves and requests for our own stars further down the line, and our own players pointing to buys like Schneiderlin (if we do as you say) and complaining about the unfairness of being denied a move to a fellow PL rival when, as clearly shown, we're not afraid to *buy* from them when it suits us.

Really close to my thoughts, a few comments

- 4th CB is hopefully CCV
- No to selling Walker, the 4 CB's we have work, rotate as needed, as form dictates.
- Eriksen will sign, if not, we need to buy big.

Wouldn't mind if we ended up with CCV provided he isn't a liability off the bat and can solidly rotate without issues - if he is, I'd rather he get a loan somewhere to iron out the kinks in his game. With the CB position, mistakes tend to be even more costly than they are elsewhere on the field.

 

[Rorschach]

Might seem unlikely but I'd try to bring in Schneiderlin. He can't be happy at Utd, we can offer CL football, chance to work for Poch again. He knows exactly what is required on the pitch from Poch, he would be the kind of midfield General we need. No adaptation period needed as he would simply slot straight in. Worth a shot imo.

I'd love that but his wages would likely be an issue as would the fact that Utd see us now as a direct rival. We are no longer the annoying little brother who they could bully and rob his sweets.

 

[indospurs]

I don't think we necessarily need to go like for like. A 'quality' utility player who can play in two, even three, positions would be great - no quality player will come in as back up to someone in exactly the same position, I'd question their desire. Unless they were young and looking to prove themselves, a la Alli.

Big question is Mason - was his injury the real reason he didn't perform last few games ? How about Bentaleb, where/when are we going to use him ?

We don't need much, just one or two to add to the first eleven - we need to let youngsters have a chance to play and shine. Poch has shown he works wonders there.