Transfer speculation

[Finney Is Back]

There was no mention of starting. It simply said 'improve us'

But it wouldn't improve us.... Instead of having a happy, harmonious squad - we would have a better substitutes bench for a short period of time, until the new player got frustrated with a lack of opportunity and then we would be likely to have sniping and cliques forming and suddenly our teamwork and togetherness is disappearing and we lose what it is that allows us to compete pretty equally on the pitch against the 'money clubs'.

Lukaku goes straight into Man Utd's team. Lacazette goes straight into Arsenal's.... that is because their existing centre forward is weaker than ours. All us signing either player does is risks what it is that currently makes us special.

To improve our current squad we either need to find a player who would start ahead of Kane or find a player who is:

1. Paid no more than our lower end first team players,
2. Is fully prepared to bide his time as a back-up.
3. Will integrate with the group
4. Works hard in training
5. Play in the way that Pochettino wants him to play in terms of our team pattern
6. Is better than Janssen.

Lukaku and Lacazette certainly tick the final requirement there, but they fail the first two. Requirements 3, 4 and 5 are unknowns - that one only really ever truly knows once the player is at the club - but requirements 1 and 2 not being met are reasonably likely to lead to 2, 3 and 4 also not happening.

 

[AdamB]

But it wouldn't improve us.... Instead of having a happy, harmonious squad - we would have a better substitutes bench for a short period of time, until the new player got frustrated with a lack of opportunity and then we would be likely to have sniping and cliques forming and suddenly our teamwork and togetherness is disappearing and we lose what it is that allows us to compete pretty equally on the pitch against the 'money clubs'.

Lukaku goes straight into Man Utd's team. Lacazette goes straight into Arsenal's.... that is because their existing centre forward is weaker than ours. All us signing either player does is risks what it is that currently makes us special.

To improve our current squad we either need to find a player who would start ahead of Kane or find a player who is:

1. Paid no more than our lower end first team players,
2. Is fully prepared to bide his time as a back-up.
3. Will integrate with the group
4. Works hard in training
5. Play in the way that Pochettino wants him to play in terms of our team pattern
6. Is better than Janssen.

Lukaku and Lacazette certainly tick the final requirement there, but they fail the first two. Requirements 3, 4 and 5 are unknowns - that one only really ever truly knows once the player is at the club - but requirements 1 and 2 not being met are reasonably likely to lead to 2, 3 and 4 also not happening.

I think you're taking this too seriously. Its a completely unrealistic scenario because as I've said twice, the question which GB posed had noting to do with financials - it simply said 'improve us'. Lacazette would clearly improve us, but is he gett-able? Of course not. Michael Keane or Harry Maguire would improve us as I believe we're short of cover at CB. Hernandez would improve us as he'd be a different option off the bench. Morata would improve us but clearly not gett-able!

 

[Finney Is Back]

I think you're taking this too seriously. Its a completely unrealistic scenario because as I've said twice, the question which GB posed had noting to do with financials - it simply said 'improve us'. Lacazette would clearly improve us, but is he gett-able? Of course not. Michael Keane or Harry Maguire would improve us as I believe we're short of cover at CB. Hernandez would improve us as he'd be a different option off the bench. Morata would improve us but clearly not gett-able!

OK let's ignore the financials and let's assume that we could get Lacazette, Lukaku, et all. How long do you think the players would be happy to sit on our bench?.... 1 month? 6 weeks? 3 months? 6 months perhaps? Once that point is reached there is a big risk that the bad apple spoils the apple cart.

Keane or Maguire MAY have improved our squad (and I think both probably would've accepted time on our bench). I guess the question is whether either of them are actually any better than Wimmer? If not then there is no point in bringing either in. Morata falls into the same category as Lacazette & Lukaku. It seems that he wants out of Real Madrid due to not getting enough game time, would he sit there with a smile on his face and want the best for us while sitting on the bench? Surely he might as well have stayed at Real Madrid picking up free league titles and Champions League medals if that was the case?

Hernandez - again.... Would he be happy getting little game time? Would he want to go from first choice at Leverkusen to second choice at Spurs and continue to give his all despite that? I would also probably question whether or not he is a player that can fit our system?

 

[StephenH]

I think you're taking this too seriously. Its a completely unrealistic scenario because as I've said twice, the question which GB posed had noting to do with financials - it simply said 'improve us'. Lacazette would clearly improve us, but is he gett-able? Of course not. Michael Keane or Harry Maguire would improve us as I believe we're short of cover at CB. Hernandez would improve us as he'd be a different option off the bench. Morata would improve us but clearly not gett-able!

You forgot Mbappe!

 

[Gazza]

You forgot Mbappe!

Funny i went to the golden arches and my mcchicken sammich came without the mbap and i was forced to go back and get a proper one not just s giant chicken nugget

 

[AdamB]

Keane or Maguire MAY have improved our squad (and I think both probably would've accepted time on our bench). I guess the question is whether either of them are actually any better than Wimmer? If not then there is no point in bringing either in. Morata falls into the same category as Lacazette & Lukaku. It seems that he wants out of Real Madrid due to not getting enough game time, would he sit there with a smile on his face and want the best for us while sitting on the bench? Surely he might as well have stayed at Real Madrid picking up free league titles and Champions League medals if that was the case?

Hernandez - again.... Would he be happy getting little game time? Would he want to go from first choice at Leverkusen to second choice at Spurs and continue to give his all despite that? I would also probably question whether or not he is a player that can fit our system?

Keane or MaGuire - I think we need another CB in addition to Wimmer. To simplify things about where Dier plays, if you assume we play 3-5-2 then we have 4 players either at CB or DM in our team. For those positions, we currently only have 5 senior players - TA, JV, ED, KW and VW and then with an unproven kid as back-up. Personally I think that 5 players for 4 positions is too few.

Hernandez- - I think that sort of player would be a good addition. The question I guess is whether you would want a like-for-like as a back-up, or someone of a different style so that you can change things if plan A isnt working

 

[Vega]

Get French Football‏@GFFN 32s33 seconds ago
Neymar has requested that after he joins PSG, Les Parisiens sign Philippe Coutinho & 2 other world class players, according to Le Parisien.

Lets unsettle Coutinho and upset Liverpool, i like it.

 

[AdamB]

Get French Football‏@GFFN 32s33 seconds ago
Neymar has requested that after he joins PSG, Les Parisiens sign Philippe Coutinho & 2 other world class players, according to Le Parisien.

Lets unsettle Coutinho and upset Liverpool, i like it.

Player power!!!

 

[Bedfordspurs]

Keane or MaGuire - I think we need another CB in addition to Wimmer. To simplify things about where Dier plays, if you assume we play 3-5-2 then we have 4 players either at CB or DM in our team. For those positions, we currently only have 5 senior players - TA, JV, ED, KW and VW and then with an unproven kid as back-up. Personally I think that 5 players for 4 positions is too few.

Hernandez- - I think that sort of player would be a good addition. The question I guess is whether you would want a like-for-like as a back-up, or someone of a different style so that you can change things if plan A isnt working

Agree with all of this other than Hernandez who is ok £140k a week.... that's a lot of money for him

 

[DubaiSpur]

Keane or MaGuire - I think we need another CB in addition to Wimmer. To simplify things about where Dier plays, if you assume we play 3-5-2 then we have 4 players either at CB or DM in our team. For those positions, we currently only have 5 senior players - TA, JV, ED, KW and VW and then with an unproven kid as back-up. Personally I think that 5 players for 4 positions is too few.

Hernandez- - I think that sort of player would be a good addition. The question I guess is whether you would want a like-for-like as a back-up, or someone of a different style so that you can change things if plan A isnt working

I agree with your first point. Not sure about Hernandez, though - small poacher would be too much of a departure from Kane's playing style for the team to adapt to on the fly should Kane spend a significant amount of time out injured. If we ever decide that we're going with a dissimilar backup, I'd prefer someone somewhere mid-way between Kane and the likes of Hernandez - pacier, somewhat less of a target-man but still able to fill that role if necessary. Someone like Patrik Schick or Kasper Dolberg.

 

[DeleHarry]

What - you mean like we are going to be able to do with Sissoko?

So you think Lukaku would come to Spurs and be happy to sit on the bench for the big games? Additionally you think that we should buy a back-up player and pay him wages twice as big as our highest earning first choice player? What impact do you think that will have to squad harmony and also contract negotiations for every single existing player at the club?

Yes, and I would buy Mbappe and put him in the under 23 side. He will have to wait a little while and earn his place in the first team squad.

 

[braineclipse]

We need someone to cover Wanyama/Dier as a matter of importance imo - Wanyama being out currently means Dier moving to CM and CCV playing at CB or a change of formation - either direct cover for Wanyama so him being out doesn't effect Dier at CB or another CB to cover Dier should he need to fill in for Wanyama.

Winks and Onomah are fine for Dembeles cover/competition but we're aren't covered in the same way for CB or the second midfield slot

We went into last season like that and CCV was even younger then.

I think changing formations to mange injury problems is part of our strategy. As GB pointed out we can also play Davies at CB, particularly if it's a back 3 I would say.

Wanyama and Vertonghen out as an example we still have Alderweireld and Wimmer at the back with Dier at DM in a 4-2-3-1. That's pretty strong for missing one CB and one DM.

You can always say "what if we get another injury?" But Pochettino has seemed happy with this amount of backup in the past.

 

[StephenH]

As much I would love to sign a 'make a difference' player, the money being thrown at winning the EPL is currently just simply out of our reach. There is little long term point in trying to attempt to compete with the supper rich clubs.

Due to the total failure of FFP, we and most of the clubs in Europes top leagues, will have to sit out whole transfer windows to a great extent.
Real, Barca, The Mancs, Chelsea and PSG are in an untouchable situation.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Dortmund and even Bayern are now in the second tier.

I believe we will slowly edge our way up the pecking order but it will take some considerable time. The way we are trying to use the academy is excellent but sadly is not going to be as dynamic as the doped clubs.

 

[billyiddo]

We went into last season like that and CCV was even younger then.

I think changing formations to mange injury problems is part of our strategy. As GB pointed out we can also play Davies at CB, particularly if it's a back 3 I would say.

Wanyama and Vertonghen out as an example we still have Alderweireld and Wimmer at the back with Dier at DM in a 4-2-3-1. That's pretty strong for missing one CB and one DM.

You can always say "what if we get another injury?" But Pochettino has seemed happy with this amount of backup in the past.

I agree there's a danger of never satisfying the 'what if there's another injury' train of thought but in this particular area i don't think we have sufficient cover at all - one injury to any one of Dier Wanyama or Alderweireld and we're walking a tightrope essentially, two injuries and we're deep in trouble and imo that isn't good squad management - fair enough it didn't hurt us last season but it'd be foolish to bank on Dier and Wanyama having as good a season as last injury wise, having an additional player in this area is not over stocking the squad afaic. Even forgetting injuries it just makes sense to have back up options so as to help combat fatigue later in the season and to prevent earlier by rotating more in the cups - we have good cover elsewhere in the squad for a variety of positions but not in this one area (two i suppose if you want to include both DM and RCB)

Having the option to change formation and the ability to do so as well as we do is huge plus for us as it means we can approach games in different ways should we choose to and to switch things up mid game - if we're only one injury away from limiting that choice entirely then personally i think that strengthens my position rather than weakens it

 

[alekaras]

I agree with your first point. Not sure about Hernandez, though - small poacher would be too much of a departure from Kane's playing style for the team to adapt to on the fly should Kane spend a significant amount of time out injured. If we ever decide that we're going with a dissimilar backup, I'd prefer someone somewhere mid-way between Kane and the likes of Hernandez - pacier, somewhat less of a target-man but still able to fill that role if necessary. Someone like Patrik Schick or Kasper Dolberg.

Schick is available, if I'm not mistaken. His move to Juventus broke down a couple of weeks ago. And given he was going to Juventus, he would have been a bench player, what with Dybala and Higuain in front of him, so not one expecting starting minutes. Worth the money at £20-30 million, though?

 

[Robbo]

As much I would love to sign a 'make a difference' player, the money being thrown at winning the EPL is currently just simply out of our reach. There is little long term point in trying to attempt to compete with the supper rich clubs.

Due to the total failure of FFP, we and most of the clubs in Europes top leagues, will have to sit out whole transfer windows to a great extent.
Real, Barca, The Mancs, Chelsea and PSG are in an untouchable situation.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Dortmund and even Bayern are now in the second tier.

I believe we will slowly edge our way up the pecking order but it will take some considerable time. The way we are trying to use the academy is excellent but sadly is not going to be as dynamic as the doped clubs.

 

[DubaiSpur]

Schick is available, if I'm not mistaken. His move to Juventus broke down a couple of weeks ago. And given he was going to Juventus, he would have been a bench player, what with Dybala and Higuain in front of him, so not one expecting starting minutes. Worth the money at £20-30 million, though?

Well, two things, really - firstly, I want us to give Janssen another season, so I was speaking hypothetically to an extent. I don't really want or see the need for a new striker right now, per se. And, secondly, although you're right in that Schick is available, apparently his move to Juve broke down because of heart arrythmia - only a mild version of it, and apparently one that can be fixed with a fairly routine surgery via the abdomen, but I suspect that either the condition or the recovery time needed after the surgery (two to three months, more or less) will keep him off the market for risk-averse clubs this summer.

I'd like us to return to the idea next season, though - if Janssen's still unable to step up as a reliable backup for Harry, we might as well try something different, and both Dolberg and Schick (among others) would fit the bill provided they keep their form up over the coming year.

 

[K.D.D.D.D.Soc]

Let them eat dough

 

[StephenH]

Is that someone in particular?
I don't blame players mind!
A nice gig to get!

 

[Dr Rosenrosen]

OK let's ignore the financials and let's assume that we could get Lacazette, Lukaku, et all. How long do you think the players would be happy to sit on our bench?.... 1 month? 6 weeks? 3 months? 6 months perhaps? Once that point is reached there is a big risk that the bad apple spoils the apple cart.

Keane or Maguire MAY have improved our squad (and I think both probably would've accepted time on our bench). I guess the question is whether either of them are actually any better than Wimmer? If not then there is no point in bringing either in. Morata falls into the same category as Lacazette & Lukaku. It seems that he wants out of Real Madrid due to not getting enough game time, would he sit there with a smile on his face and want the best for us while sitting on the bench? Surely he might as well have stayed at Real Madrid picking up free league titles and Champions League medals if that was the case?

Hernandez - again.... Would he be happy getting little game time? Would he want to go from first choice at Leverkusen to second choice at Spurs and continue to give his all despite that? I would also probably question whether or not he is a player that can fit our system?

Chicharito has signed for West Ham (who are doing some decent business), so no point talking about him any further....