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***Tottenham Hotspur v Reading OMT***

So full time thoughts

On players

- From the new boys, Vuskovich & Kudus impressed
- Little bit rusty/quiet from VDV, Sarr
- Johnson, Spence will have to do a lot more to be in contention for starting place (Porro & Kudus looked good)
- Son looked gassed very early

On tactics/game

- Game was easy, we really didn't look threatened (first real save was around 80th?), nice not to feel open all the time
- Saw 4-4-2, 4-3-3 (more on that later)
- 10 role (Maddison/Deki/MGW) plays very close to striker (had to play youngsters there today)
- Defense is definitely a 4 block, 2 CB's + 2 sitting midfielders
- Lots of tight, technical passing
- Set pieces work obvious

Lot of starting lineup looks obvious (without additions), still need to see who owns LW
 
Grays_1890 said:
We need another Striker as an option beyond Solanke. I like the guy, works hard, but we need something different as an option
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To be honest we probably bed better than him. Solanke would be an excellent second option but he's quite the level we really want as the main starting option imo.
 
Bishop said:
To be honest we probably bed better than him. Solanke would be an excellent second option but he's quite the level we really want as the main starting option imo.
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Depends on where the goals are expected to come from. For me, obvious from just this game, the CF will get a lot more touches, closer to goal than under Ange, could see Solanke doing 15-20 goals in that model. Thats fine if we expect the wide & 10 roles to contribute.

I'd like to see a pacey option to compete with Solanke, unfortunate neither Lankshear or Scarlett have that in their locker.

Bishop said:
Was this ever in question? The alternative is flipping Johnson.
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Don't see Johnson starting in main PL team as a winger, Kudus has more to his game, question will be does Johnson have a more second striker/inside forward role under Frank (focus on his positioning/finishing which he is very good at)? either way, Johnson knows now he has competition.
 
Raziel said:
Depends on where the goals are expected to come from. For me, obvious from just this game, the CF will get a lot more touches, closer to goal than under Ange, could see Solanke doing 15-20 goals in that model. Thats fine if we expect the wide & 10 roles to contribute.

I'd like to see a pacey option to compete with Solanke, unfortunate neither Lankshear or Scarlett have that in their locker.
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I have high standards so yes for me Solanke isn't quite there. Obviously we aren't challenging for the title any time soon but our goal should be to get the best players suited to making that goal a realistic ambition.

I do like him as a player and he has lots of positive attributes but I'm just being honest when I say he's not quite the level we really want from our striker.
Raziel said:
Don't see Johnson starting in main PL team as a winger, Kudus has more to his game, question will be does Johnson have a more second striker/inside forward role under Frank (focus on his positioning/finishing which he is very good at)? either way, Johnson knows now he has competition.
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I'd happily never see him on the wing again. If he can find a productive role somewhere else I'm all for it.
 
Bishop said:
I have high standards so yes for me Solanke isn't quite there. Obviously we aren't challenging for the title any time soon but our goal should be to get the best players suited to making that goal a realistic ambition.

I do like him as a player and he has lots of positive attributes but I'm just being honest when I say he's not quite the level we really want from our striker.

I'd happily never see him on the wing again. If he can find a productive role somewhere else I'm all for it.
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Solanke thinks too much. Can Frank get him shooting in a more instinctive way? Maybe. Atm a 22 year old CB has a more instinctive finish.
 
Bishop said:
I have high standards so yes for me Solanke isn't quite there. Obviously we aren't challenging for the title any time soon but our goal should be to get the best players suited to making that goal a realistic ambition.

I do like him as a player and he has lots of positive attributes but I'm just being honest when I say he's not quite the level we really want from our striker.

I'd happily never see him on the wing again. If he can find a productive role somewhere else I'm all for it.
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Solanke is decent, nothing more nothing less. Our attacking lineup looks weak compared to the big boys - sure a Tel/Moore/Odobert/Kudus might step up to become amazing but Solanke is 27 so is near enough at his peak. He just doesn't possess any real next level qualities and whilst he has his uses and would be happy to have him as a rotated option he doesn't inspire me as our lead striker.

Of course it's near impossible to get another Kane or even prime Son, but there are definitely better out there we should be aspiring for. I would imagine next season this would be a position we are looking to invest in, unless the club are convinced in a Lankshear or whoever....
 
harr1984 said:
Solanke is decent, nothing more nothing less. Our attacking lineup looks weak compared to the big boys - sure a Tel/Moore/Odobert/Kudus might step up to become amazing but Solanke is 27 so is near enough at his peak. He just doesn't possess any real next level qualities and whilst he has his uses and would be happy to have him as a rotated option he doesn't inspire me as our lead striker.

Of course it's near impossible to get another Kane or even prime Son, but there are definitely better out there we should be aspiring for. I would imagine next season this would be a position we are looking to invest in, unless the club are convinced in a Lankshear or whoever....
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Which is why United are looking at Jackson? they aren't that many top level CFs out there.

Solanke's skillset is he's a top level presser and quite physical. If you look at his best season, he spent a lot of time in the box as a poacher (last season we kept him too far from box).

That said, he needs competition, preferably someone with more pace.
 
Raziel said:
Which is why United are looking at Jackson? they aren't that many top level CFs out there.

Solanke's skillset is he's a top level presser and quite physical. If you look at his best season, he spent a lot of time in the box as a poacher (last season we kept him too far from box).

That said, he needs competition, preferably someone with more pace.
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With respect I don't care what Man U are doing, and even with the wages they offer they are not going to attract a top striker when they have no Europe. I agree in this day and age there aren't a load of top class forwards out there, but the idea that there isn't a better striker out there for us than Solanke I can't agree with.

Yes we all know what Solanke is good at and he does it well. But I don't see him being good enough if we are serious about challenging at the top table again....
 
harr1984 said:
Solanke is decent, nothing more nothing less. Our attacking lineup looks weak compared to the big boys - sure a Tel/Moore/Odobert/Kudus might step up to become amazing but Solanke is 27 so is near enough at his peak. He just doesn't possess any real next level qualities and whilst he has his uses and would be happy to have him as a rotated option he doesn't inspire me as our lead striker.

Of course it's near impossible to get another Kane or even prime Son, but there are definitely better out there we should be aspiring for. I would imagine next season this would be a position we are looking to invest in, unless the club are convinced in a Lankshear or whoever....
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Sesko would be the unlikely dream
 
Legohamster said:
Sesko would be the unlikely dream
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Funny, that was the first name that had entered my head too.

I do believe we could attract this type of level signing if we want to come up with the money and whilst our stock is high ie in the Champions League. I think that this is an area that needs to be addressed if we want to seriously challenge, but do think the club will see other areas as more of a priority at the moment (which is fair) and assuming we don't have a bottomless pit to spend this window....
 
My observations from the stadium:

First half we were very comfortable and played the game in their half; Udogie was always free down the left, but Romero repeatedly refused to pass out to him which was odd as it was an easy pass.
Towards the end of the first half I realised we were playing 442 with Devine alongside Solanke. It didn't look good for Devine, he had a poor game.
Kinsky is reassuringly comfortable on the ball, but too short to be an elite keeper; at one set piece the ball was bouncing around the box and Kinsky couldn't be seen behind the towering defenders and attackers, as he flailed to get sight of the ball.
You can really see that Porro Romero Udogie Bentancur Solanke etc are top, top players whereas Moore/Devine want an extra second, get knocked over and need to mature.


Second half was very different, Reading pushed us back and at times we played a lot more in our own half. Vic looks really shaky on the ball, he has to concentrate massively to control it, then has to refocus and concentrate massively to kick the thing. I thought we had seen the back of this with Lloris, but he is really weak on the ball, in stark contrast to Kinsky. Made some good saves though of course.
Kudus looks excellent so far, but is very short, no use in our own box.
At the corner I told my wife to watch out for Vuskovic and Lankshear as they are potent and bish bash bosh they scored. I'm a legend, me.

Son looked dreadful. What else...hmmm... Sarr got spoken to at half time by a coach. Bergvall tried to dribble in his own box and got the ball robbed, at which point Frank went back to the bench to say something.

VdV always seems to be wrestling and writhing on the floor and fouling and fighting, doesn't seem to be as strong and elite as you would think, from looking at him.

George Abbott was there doing some passing drills but didn't get on. Likewise Phillips.

Surprised Scarlett / Richie weren't around?

PS. That stadium is TOILET. I hope everyone that went now realises just how brilliant a designer Daniel Levy is. Reading is just breeze blocks, spit and pain.
 
harr1984 said:
Funny, that was the first name that had entered my head too.

I do believe we could attract this type of level signing if we want to come up with the money and whilst our stock is high ie in the Champions League. I think that this is an area that needs to be addressed if we want to seriously challenge, but do think the club will see other areas as more of a priority at the moment (which is fair) and assuming we don't have a bottomless pit to spend this window....
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I think we can get by with Solanke for this season assuming we do the other needed business (MGW, DM, LB etc) and go for a higher calibre striker next season. I wouldn't be against that course of action tbh.
 
harr1984 said:
Funny, that was the first name that had entered my head too.

I do believe we could attract this type of level signing if we want to come up with the money and whilst our stock is high ie in the Champions League. I think that this is an area that needs to be addressed if we want to seriously challenge, but do think the club will see other areas as more of a priority at the moment (which is fair) and assuming we don't have a bottomless pit to spend this window....
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Arsenal have been trying to sign him for a couple of years now - looks like they've finally given up and moved on. Red Bull been dingdonging them around from what I can gather
 
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