Summer Transfer Strategy

[Finney Is Back]

Here's hoping we got off to business quickly. Wanna see a couple of names in before the euro's and the inevitable price jump.

The problem is that most clubs holding players going to the Euros will hold on them until after the Euros for that very reason.

 

[StephenH]

What a ridiculous knee jerk reaction.... Who should stay?

At an absolute minimum Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen and Kane. Our first choice team is bloody brilliant, good individually and even better as a team. After those Trippier, Davies, Wimmer, Bentaleb and Son should all remain and be a valuable part of the squad. One would probably have to also keep N'Jie (simply because I don't think it is fair to judge him yet).

Of course it's knee jerk! May was a bloody embarrassment and big questions should be asked of the whole group due to the lack of mental strength!

I would make Kane captain!

 

[Gutter Boy]

Here's hoping we got off to business quickly. Wanna see a couple of names in before the euro's and the inevitable price jump.

It's a seller's market at the moment. It's going to be mega hard to get any player with any sort of a profile, for anything but a ridiculous fee this summer.

Also, the window doesn't actually open till near the end of the Euros. After the Euros it's player holidays. 85% of all transfers (not just ours) will be in the last fortnight of August - same as always

 

[Finney Is Back]

Of course it's knee jerk! May was a bloody embarrassment and big questions should be asked of the whole group due to the lack of mental strength!

I would make Kane captain!

So because of one poor month in the whole season, you would advocate pretty much completely starting again? That is absolutely ridiculous and I think that you even know that yourself.

If I went back to the poll taken at the end of last summer's transfer window regarding where we all thought we would finish in the league, I wonder what position I would find your vote cast against? (for the record I think I voted 6th - and am therefore absolutely delighted that we finished 3rd, even if we threw away second place in the last month of the season).

You really do need to look at the bigger picture here, while our capitulation wasn't great to watch unfurl, it is still obvious that we need tweaks as opposed to completely wholesale changes to the squad.

 

[SUIYHA]

I don't see the parallels between Modric and Eriksen at all

Modric was the heartbeat of the side - he drove everything.

Eriksen is a tidy player who is pleasing on the eye, but he's peripheral in the big matches and lacks both the ability to impose himself on games and that real creative spark. IMO he's the weakest link/most easily upgraded upon in our starting 11

I really wonder if some of the people on this board actually watch football.

Eriksen has scored six goals and made SIXTEEN assists for us in the league this season. Only Ozil with 19 had more. Contributing to 22 league goals in a season is a decent output - neither Modric nor Van Der Vaart ever achieved that (and VdV took the penalties which Eriksen doesn't). He regularly features amongst the top players in the league in terms of distance covered per match. And doesn't perform in the big games? I guess you missed the winner at the Etihad, the assists at Anfield and Stamford Bridge or the ones in the 3-0 against Man Utd and the 4-1 against West Ham...you could even count his free-kick that Kane scored the rebound from against City as an assist.

There are a maximum of five players in our squad that you could argue a case for having greater importance than Eriksen - Kane, Alli, Dembele, Alderweireld and Lloris. To suggest that anyone else in our squad is as valuable as he is, is quite frankly laughable.

If we can replace Eriksen in the starting XI with a better player then we'll do very very well this summer.

 

[StephenH]

So because of one poor month in the whole season, you would advocate pretty much completely starting again? That is absolutely ridiculous and I think that you even know that yourself.

If I went back to the poll taken at the end of last summer's transfer window regarding where we all thought we would finish in the league, I wonder what position I would find your vote cast against? (for the record I think I voted 6th - and am therefore absolutely delighted that we finished 3rd, even if we threw away second place in the last month of the season).

You really do need to look at the bigger picture here, while our capitulation wasn't great to watch unfurl, it is still obvious that we need tweaks as opposed to completely wholesale changes to the squad.

It was not just one poor month it was the poor 'final' month it when the pressure is on and at its peak. We failed to cope as a group.
We must stop being apologists because of what went before. We failed when the pressure was applied, this is NOT excusable for professional footballers at this level. We have been making excuses for our squads for too many years, but not this squad! Because we know they are capable of being outstanding. But when squeaky bum time came around, we looked like bloody Aston Villa!

• Toby and Jan cracked (a total brain fart in both cases)
• Walker turned back into forest gump, something I thought/hoped he'd left behind.
• Dier look overwhelmed
• Dembele lost the plot
• Alli likewise
• Lamela was tireless (good for him) but with limited success
• Ericksen was limp and half hearted
• Kane was left to battle on his own and was not successful
• Son was Son
• Rose never stopped and was a credit
• Lorris was erratic (I'm being polite coz I like him)

I dont think our current squad need or should accept excuses from pundits or fans. They had a CL spot sorted early, but when it came to pushing on they flopped. I hope SAF taught Pochettino how to be ruthless when needed.

 

[Gutter Boy]

It was not just one poor month it was the poor 'final' month it when the pressure is on and at its peak. We failed to cope as a group.
We must stop being apologists because of what went before. We failed when the pressure was applied, this is NOT excusable for professional footballers at this level. We have been making excuses for our squads for too many years, but not this squad! Because we know they are capable of being outstanding. But when squeaky bum time came around, we looked like bloody Aston Villa!

• Toby and Jan cracked (a total brain fart in both cases)
• Walker turned back into forest gump, something I thought/hoped he'd left behind.
• Dier look overwhelmed
• Dembele lost the plot
• Alli likewise
• Lamela was tireless (good for him) but with limited success
• Ericksen was limp and half hearted
• Kane was left to battle on his own and was not successful
• Son was Son
• Rose never stopped and was a credit
• Lorris was erratic (I'm being polite coz I like him)

I dont think our current squad need or should accept excuses from pundits or fans. They had a CL spot sorted early, but when it came to pushing on they flopped. I hope SAF taught Pochettino how to be ruthless when needed.

Or...

We were sucker punched at West Brom, lost the title that night, and collectively couldn't sych ourselves to focus on a consolation prize.

But some people just seem to enjoy our failures more than they do our accomplishments

 

[StephenH]

Or...

We were sucker punched at West Brom, lost the title that night, and collectively couldn't sych ourselves to focus on a consolation prize.

But some people just seem to enjoy our failures more than they do our accomplishments

If you think there has been any enjoyment gained from the last four matches, perverse or otherwise you are totally mistaken!

We are being hit for "sucker punches" because and especially in May we we played and acted like suckers! Prime example Chelsea second half!
We need to stop this "its wrong to criticise the team" gonads.

This current group played some of the best football I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I said many times they are just wonderful!
This is why I cannot just shrug and say 'bad luck boys'!


This team are better than that.

 

[StephenH]

Is that what you really believe, or is it a hangover/shock reaction from Sunday?

Other than Kane, Rose and Alli but for different reasons. No one should be bulletproof.
I think Poch has proven already that no one is bulletproof, and his post match comments on Sunday certainly indicated he was not happy with some. However I would hope that whatever decisions he makes will be in the cold light of day, not based on one bad (very bad by all accounts - I haven't watched it) game. I don't think we need any drastic clear-out at all, as long as Poch is convinced the players have the right mindset. A few key incomings, and some outgoings that will be needed to make room/upgrade to required standard, should suffice to stand us in good stead for next season.

It saddens me to say it but the performances in May have relegation standard.
Certainly results DDLL were not what we needed, obviously. Peformances? Against Saudi Sportswashing Machine, clearly not good enough and not acceptable. Soton? Not great, 2nd half worse than 1st. Chelsea? Good 1st half performance, 2nd half OK until they equalised and we went for them. WBA? Good first half, we let them into the game 2nd half.
Fair to say once the title was clearly out of reach, we dropped off. Whether it was through mental fatigue, acceptance of getting CL, having one eye on the Euros, being on holiday - who knows. Maybe a mixture of all the above across the whole team.

Sitting here today I shudder to think what next season will bring.
Next season will hopefully bring more of what this season did, but without the disappointing ending. I don't necessarily mean chasing the title, although that would be great, but more with additions to the squad, improvements in our play, our ability to hold onto winning positions and close out games. Hopefully a decent CL showing, maybe a bit of domestic silverware, and competing for a top 4 spot. That is all something I can look forward to (and I mean in the sense of looking forward to us trying, not in a sense of expectation that all will happen. The thought of next season does not make me shudder at all.

Such a waste of all that effort.
How can securing our highest PL finish, and securing CL proper be a waste of effort? It is a great reward for great effort across the whole season. How can the experience of being the only team to even come close to overtaking Leicester be a waste of effort? And even in the disappointing ending, there are lessons that can and will be learned, and used to good effect in the future.

"Spurs will only get better" was the media cry.......my arse!
Spurs WILL only get better. I am confident of that.
I sense our competitors and rivals are confident of that too.

Poch is lucky he signed that contract when he did. If Levy had waited a week he might have had second thoughts.
I trust Levy not to base such a big decision on one game.

I really believe as much a Leicester shocked in their stellar rise to the top, we could be making similar headlines but going in a different direction.
Having got this far, it has just struck me that maybe you were being ironic, taking the p*ss out of some of the over the top reaction? If you were, then red face for me.
If you weren't, well, you've always come across as a long-standing and loyal fan of the club, so hopefully once we get into the summer business, and the season start,s you will see some of your faith restored.

Liked your post.......in the main.

"Ironic" no, bloody livid yes

We fell short but got third and yes I'm pleased of course.

I'm not sure what happened a Saudi Sportswashing Machine, at the time it felt like some seismic event had been announced to the players and distracted the team and set off the capitulation.

 

[Hashegotthesackyet?]

I would love to know exactly what Poch said after the match, and if he specifically dug anyone out.
Not because I will enjoy it, but because it might give some closure on the utterclusterfck that it was.
I totally get what @StephenH says, and feels. Of course, at least for me, it's not the answer and is purely driven by emotion, rather than a measured response, but i do understand the "sack them all" thoughts.
Hopefully time will heal and there will be lessons learned.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Liked your post.......in the main.

"Ironic" no, bloody livid yes

We fell short but got third and yes I'm pleased of course.

I'm not sure what happened a Saudi Sportswashing Machine, at the time it felt like some seismic event had been announced to the players and distracted the team and set off the capitulation.

Fair enough. I think we are all at varying stages of anger/disbelief/disappointment/acceptance of how the season has ended. A bit like the stages of grieving I guess! And as someone here mentioned, our pride has been hurt as well.
I'd love to know what happened, but I doubt there will ever be an explanation that can be pinpointed.
The important thing now is to get the strategy right over the summer, get in those key, quality players that Poch identifies as soon as is possible, and draw a line under this season.

 

[StephenH]

I would love to know exactly what Poch said after the match, and if he specifically dug anyone out.
Not because I will enjoy it, but because it might give some closure on the utterclusterfck that it was.
I totally get what @StephenH says, and feels. Of course, at least for me, it's not the answer and is purely driven by emotion, rather than a measured response, but i do understand the "sack them all" thoughts.
Hopefully time will heal and there will be lessons learned.

I hope so.

With all the great and deserved praise this group has received this season, comes the added pressure to deliver. They all looked out of the depth when coping with the pressure.
The ability to cope with the increased burden success brings, is a vital skill and I'm not sure it can be taught. I truly hope all the current squad can rise to the tasks ahead. I have no desire to see any of this talented bunch fail.

 

[parklane1]

This is not exactly 'news' but Poch apparently went berserk after the game. I think we can safely assume that there will be a few who get booted. I do not think we will see a performance/result even close to this again under him.

If we really want to push on I agree, the likes of Mason, Carroll ( who I do like but I can not see him getting more then the occasional game) Bentaleb ( unless he comes back and proves himself as he is till young enough to do so) are really not good enough for a team who want to be the best, our bench does not have enough really good players to cover when needed or put any pressure on the guys in the first team.

As for those who saying Eriksen is not good enough for Christ sakes he has just turned 24 and will be a top player when he reaches his peak which is a couple of years away yet.

 

[parklane1]

I really wonder if some of the people on this board actually watch football.

Eriksen has scored six goals and made SIXTEEN assists for us in the league this season. Only Ozil with 19 had more. Contributing to 22 league goals in a season is a decent output - neither Modric nor Van Der Vaart ever achieved that (and VdV took the penalties which Eriksen doesn't). He regularly features amongst the top players in the league in terms of distance covered per match. And doesn't perform in the big games? I guess you missed the winner at the Etihad, the assists at Anfield and Stamford Bridge or the ones in the 3-0 against Man Utd and the 4-1 against West Ham...you could even count his free-kick that Kane scored the rebound from against City as an assist.

There are a maximum of five players in our squad that you could argue a case for having greater importance than Eriksen - Kane, Alli, Dembele, Alderweireld and Lloris. To suggest that anyone else in our squad is as valuable as he is, is quite frankly laughable.

If we can replace Eriksen in the starting XI with a better player then we'll do very very well this summer.

I could not agree more, its madness.

 

[Finney Is Back]

If you think there has been any enjoyment gained from the last four matches, perverse or otherwise you are totally mistaken!

We are being hit for "sucker punches" because and especially in May we we played and acted like suckers! Prime example Chelsea second half!
We need to stop this "its wrong to criticise the team" cobblers.

This current group played some of the best football I have ever had the pleasure to watch. I said many times they are just wonderful!
This is why I cannot just shrug and say 'bad luck boys'!


This team are better than that.

You said it right there.... This team are better than that. Therefore surely you must agree that it would be RIDICULOUS to look to have a major overhaul. Yes the mentality needs to improve somewhat, but some of that improvement could come from within. Are there any players that we could sign where we can guarantee they have the right mentality? Or would we be gambling that they do, while also risking degrading the squad overall?

I think all of our first 11 have earnt the right to have another go at it next season. They will have gained a lot of experience this year and if in the same situation again next season they might be able to use that to react in a better way. Would Alli throw the punch again? Would Dembele put his hands to Costa's face again? Would Kane go for glory instead of squaring the ball for a teammate again? Would Lloris/Vertonghen/Alderweireld urge a bit of caution and avoid going kamikazee straight away when only a goal down against 10 men with 20 minutes remaining? Would Pochettino remove a fullback to put on an attacking player?... etc, etc.

Clearly we haven't coped well without Alli and Dembele (the West Ham away game also showed that up) so we need better options in the squad to come in for those two. However I wouldn't advocate selling any of the other 9 first team players in order to bring them in.

 

[Rorschach]

I don't see any problems with our generally accepted first eleven ability wise, though some may need to take a hard look at themselves with regards to the effort they put in the last few matches. And in addition to that I think there are about 4-5 squad players who can step up when required, but if we want to get to the next level (consistently challenging on multiple fronts) we are going to have to add to the squad with quality that will either replace first teamers or push them to a higher level to keep their spot in the starting line up.

 

[StephenH]

You said it right there.... This team are better than that. Therefore surely you must agree that it would be RIDICULOUS to look to have a major overhaul. Yes the mentality needs to improve somewhat, but some of that improvement could come from within. Are there any players that we could sign where we can guarantee they have the right mentality? Or would we be gambling that they do, while also risking degrading the squad overall?

I think all of our first 11 have earnt the right to have another go at it next season. They will have gained a lot of experience this year and if in the same situation again next season they might be able to use that to react in a better way. Would Alli throw the punch again? Would Dembele put his hands to Costa's face again? Would Kane go for glory instead of squaring the ball for a teammate again? Would Lloris/Vertonghen/Alderweireld urge a bit of caution and avoid going kamikazee straight away when only a goal down against 10 men with 20 minutes remaining? Would Pochettino remove a fullback to put on an attacking player?... etc, etc.

Clearly we haven't coped well without Alli and Dembele (the West Ham away game also showed that up) so we need better options in the squad to come in for those two. However I wouldn't advocate selling any of the other 9 first team players in order to bring them in.

I agree - I would stress to 'every' player that capitulation like at the end of this season will not be excepted and will have consequences!

The likes of Alli and Dembele will have to control themselves far better or face being dropped or worse.

 

[parklane1]

I don't see any problems with our generally accepted first eleven ability wise, though some may need to take a hard look at themselves with regards to the effort they put in the last few matches. And in addition to that I think there are about 4-5 squad players who can step up when required, but if we want to get to the next level (consistently challenging on multiple fronts) we are going to have to add to the squad with quality that will either replace first teamers or push them to a higher level to keep their spot in the starting line up.

Without a doubt I agree, the likes of Mason etc are never going to put too much pressure on the guys in position of the shirts, we need better if we are to progress.

 

[Gutter Boy]

If we really want to push on I agree, the likes of Mason, Carroll ( who I do like but I can not see him getting more then the occasional game) Bentaleb ( unless he comes back and proves himself as he is till young enough to do so) are really not good enough for a team who want to be the best, our bench does not have enough really good players to cover when needed or put any pressure on the guys in the first team.

As for those who saying Eriksen is not good enough for Christ sakes he has just turned 24 and will be a top player when he reaches his peak which is a couple of years away yet.

So why does 24yo/300 senior games Eriksen get leeway/time to reach his peak, but not 24yo/150 games Mason or 21yo/50 games Bentaleb?

 

[parklane1]

So why does 24yo/300 senior games Eriksen get leeway/time to reach his peak, but not 24yo/150 games Mason or 21yo/50 games Bentaleb?

Simple really, Eriksen has shown far more, far often then Mason has ever done for us.