The all new Striker thread..

[braineclipse]

So, 9 days to the start of the new season and we have

Kane
Adebayor who has had a medical at Villa

Soldado who is not even training with the first team

Coulthirst who scored 6 goals in 33 matches in the football league last season

I presume Levy & Poch are going to unveil some master plan in the next few days

9 days until the start of the season, over a month until the transfer window closes. Between the start of the season and the close of the transfer window we have 4 games.

What we do have that's been rare for us for at least the last 25 years is a clear cut first choice striker we're happy with. Sure we've had them before, but it's been the exception rather than the rule. What we've usually had is a selection of striker varying between good, promising and not good enough.

No one will be unhappy with Kane starting every one of those 4 games we have in August. Those games are a week apart and there will be little need for rotation. As Poch showed last season he's not going to be desperate to start using new signings straight away anyway.

No need for a master plan in the next couple of days. No need to be in a hurry or lack patience. If Soldado and Ade leaves I think we need two strikers, if Soldado stays we need one. The quality of those strikers, how they fit into our system, their potential for development and so on is much more important than getting someone in quickly. We've been in a worse situation in terms of striker options in the majority of seasons I can remember.

 

[PochettinoPochettinoPochettino]

9 days until the start of the season, over a month until the transfer window closes. Between the start of the season and the close of the transfer window we have 4 games.

What we do have that's been rare for us for at least the last 25 years is a clear cut first choice striker we're happy with. Sure we've had them before, but it's been the exception rather than the rule. What we've usually had is a selection of striker varying between good, promising and not good enough.

No one will be unhappy with Kane starting every one of those 4 games we have in August. Those games are a week apart and there will be little need for rotation. As Poch showed last season he's not going to be desperate to start using new signings straight away anyway.

No need for a master plan in the next couple of days. No need to be in a hurry or lack patience. If Soldado and Ade leaves I think we need two strikers, if Soldado stays we need one. The quality of those strikers, how they fit into our system, their potential for development and so on is much more important than getting someone in quickly. We've been in a worse situation in terms of striker options in the majority of seasons I can remember.

All true but going into the season with one striker is just asking for trouble isn't it.

 

[braineclipse]

All true but going into the season with one striker is just asking for trouble isn't it.

Depends what you mean by "going into the season" though.

Are you talking about the end of the transfer window? Most definitely...

If you're talking about a handful of games early in the season quite possibly with Soldado on the bench as well as the potential backup option of Chadli who has been tested as a striker in the past... Not sure that is asking for trouble.

 

[Baleforce]

i'm not fussed yet, Ade isn't gonna get a game regardless so he's irrelevant, Soldado is still here, Chadli can play there, Lamela, Eriksen and Mason have all scored plenty of goals in the past from deeper positions, also iirc, Dembele played as a forward in his AZ days

 

[PochettinoPochettinoPochettino]

I'm touching wood here but I mean having one striker is tempting fate. I don't want to say it though! Not that me saying it would make it happen....

 

[scaramanga]

I'm touching wood here but I mean having one striker is tempting fate. I don't want to say it though! Not that me saying it would make it happen....

What you do behind your keyboard is your own business

 

[Nigeyman]

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/785360406?-19389:793:0

could be in for young Timo Werner....

know zip all about him.

 

[PochettinoPochettinoPochettino]

What you do behind your keyboard is your own business

Ha I asked for that.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

If you're talking about a handful of games early in the season quite possibly with Soldado on the bench as well as the potential backup option of Chadli who has been tested as a striker in the past... Not sure that is asking for trouble.

Are you talking about having Soldado who is not currently training with the first team squad in the US because his agent is probably trying to secure him a deal away from Spurs? Chadli may have "done a job" but I question the "proven" tag

 

[NaijaSpurs]

9 days until the start of the season, over a month until the transfer window closes. Between the start of the season and the close of the transfer window we have 4 games.

What we do have that's been rare for us for at least the last 25 years is a clear cut first choice striker we're happy with. Sure we've had them before, but it's been the exception rather than the rule. What we've usually had is a selection of striker varying between good, promising and not good enough.

Our luck will end eventually, and just as Bale got injured when we really needed him so it could easily happen to Kane

No one will be unhappy with Kane starting every one of those 4 games we have in August. Those games are a week apart and there will be little need for rotation. As Poch showed last season he's not going to be desperate to start using new signings straight away anyway.

Even funnier, in the first half against Man Utd, and you just know how Spurs love to crumble when their best player leaves the pitch.

We knew by the end of April that both Ade and Soldado were not the option long term and it makes no sense that they could not sign at least 1 player in the world deemed good enough for our squad up front. IT is a gamble I hope they get right

No need for a master plan in the next couple of days. No need to be in a hurry or lack patience. If Soldado and Ade leaves I think we need two strikers, if Soldado stays we need one. The quality of those strikers, how they fit into our system, their potential for development and so on is much more important than getting someone in quickly. We've been in a worse situation in terms of striker options in the majority of seasons I can remember.

So after 2 seasons of failure, and with Spurs obviously trying to get rid of him you honestly think starting another season with Soldado is a good thing???????

 

[afsoc4life]

This worries me the most. Apart from Kane, I dont know Spurs is going to improve its attack.

 

[mudshark]

Might as well prepare ourselves for some more unspectacular August results. Facts of life, I suppose, even if it means next May we're left wondering why we've finished a handful of points off the pace of our famous ambitions yet again.

 

[braineclipse]

Are you talking about having Soldado who is not currently training with the first team squad in the US because his agent is probably trying to secure him a deal away from Spurs? Chadli may have "done a job" but I question the "proven" tag

What was suggested was that we would have only Harry Kane, all I'm saying is that might not be an accurate description. Not sure I used the proven tag for Chadli?

Our luck will end eventually, and just as Bale got injured when we really needed him so it could easily happen to Kane

Even funnier, in the first half against Man Utd, and you just know how Spurs love to crumble when their best player leaves the pitch.

We knew by the end of April that both Ade and Soldado were not the option long term and it makes no sense that they could not sign at least 1 player in the world deemed good enough for our squad up front. IT is a gamble I hope they get right

So after 2 seasons of failure, and with Spurs obviously trying to get rid of him you honestly think starting another season with Soldado is a good thing???????

What are you talking about our luck will end eventually? I'm talking about a 2-4 match period where we might have to manage with one proven first team striker. Teams quite regularly make do with that during seasons because of injuries, suspensions, ACN etc.

What we have seen for a very long time is the long term damage of signing players that aren't right for the club. It's much more important to get the right player in than to get someone in two weeks earlier.

It's not about signing 1 player deemed good enough for the squad. That's not our transfer strategy, nor should it be. Competing with teams with much bigger budgets I don't think we should be looking to bring in someone "good enough for the squad" because we're worried about a handful of games where a new player might not even make a real impact. We need to make very good decisions in the transfer market. Of course we could have signed someone good enough for the squad, but that wouldn't be good for us long term.

 

[imcallingbullsh*t]

12 months ago most of the whingers were saying that we were destined for failure, as we had bentaleb who was just sherwoods love child. Plus we only 1 striker in soldado as Ade wouldnt turn up and Kane who would never be good enough.

We will get Berahino and a 20yr old to fill the gap between senior and youth team.

 

[braineclipse]

12 months ago most of the whingers were saying that we were destined for failure, as we had bentaleb who was just sherwoods love child. Plus we only 1 striker in soldado as Ade wouldnt turn up and Kane who would never be good enough.

We will get Berahino and a 20yr old to fill the gap between senior and youth team.

Or one experienced striker like Lambert and one younger one (could be Berahino).

A lot of good ways to complete the strike force when we're lucky enough to already have Harry Kane in our ranks.

 

[Vega]

Lambert deal agreed for West Brom and medical taking place.

 

[imcallingbullsh*t]

Or one experienced striker like Lambert and one younger one (could be Berahino).

A lot of good ways to complete the strike force when we're lucky enough to already have Harry Kane in our ranks.

Cant see us getting anybody more experienced. Will try and build a squad that can see us through to new stadium and all grow together which i fully agree with.

We could do with a Davids type for dressing room but i dont think i can think of anybody bar a Pirlo that has that kind of standing anymore.

 

[imcallingbullsh*t]

Wanted striker to play second fiddle to 22yr old local boy.
Must be proven goal scorer
Must fit within a squad full of young players who mostly know each other
Must be willing to do double training sessions and play high press football
Preferably played in PremierLeague
Must have wages less than 60k

Yeah good luck with that. Only option is a player who can play as part of a front 3 and also play as main striker its why Berahino is a no brainer

 

[parklane1]

Lambert deal agreed for West Brom and medical taking place.

Good.

 

[NaijaSpurs]

What was suggested was that we would have only Harry Kane, all I'm saying is that might not be an accurate description. Not sure I used the proven tag for Chadli?

You are right, what you actually said was "Chadli who has been tested as a striker in the past"

Same difference

What are you talking about our luck will end eventually? I'm talking about a 2-4 match period where we might have to manage with one proven first team striker. Teams quite regularly make do with that during seasons because of injuries, suspensions, ACN etc.

I am talking about the fact that we were lucky that our most important player did not miss a match last season due to injury, that is the kind of luck that can end in a split second either in one of those 4 league matches you refer to or in our next preseason game against Madrid

Besides those teams that end up with just one striker are not normally foolhardy enough to start the season with one just striker.

What we have seen for a very long time is the long term damage of signing players that aren't right for the club. It's much more important to get the right player in than to get someone in two weeks earlier.

Not a relevant point for the simple fact that it was obvious by January that Adebayor had no long term future beyond last season, and by March that Soldado was also a bust, more than enough time to have identified a player that could be integrated into the team. Irrespective of a new stadium and the players we have sold I would expect that after securing 5th position in the league we should have a kitty of at least £20m. There has been more than enough time to identify a striker, especially with the set up we have.

It's not about signing 1 player deemed good enough for the squad. That's not our transfer strategy, nor should it be. Competing with teams with much bigger budgets I don't think we should be looking to bring in someone "good enough for the squad" because we're worried about a handful of games where a new player might not even make a real impact. We need to make very good decisions in the transfer market. Of course we could have signed someone good enough for the squad, but that wouldn't be good for us long term.

I think you have misinterpreted my use of the phrase "good enough for the squad", or more likely I did not elucidate what I was thinking clearly. I was thinking of a players I thought were good enough for Spurs like Berahino in my opinion as opposed to a striker that might be "above our pay grade so to speak". Using Berahino as an example I think he is good enough for us and he is gettable and I think it is a deal we should have sorted out by now. Nut importantly, if you do not rate him I feel disappointed that we have not been able to close a deal for such an important position when it was so obvious so long ago that we needed replacements.