Mauricio Pochettino stopped picking Wimmer and Jansen a while back, even off the bench. The same with Josh Onomah and CCV. The only departure that means anything was Walker and Aurier is his equal, if not an improvement. That gives us 2 extra squad members - Davinson Sanchez and Fernando Llorente. For us, that's a great window given that Danny Rose, Toby Alderweireld, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli and Harry Kane are all still with us and those 2 additions are high quality additions. It's an 8/10 for recruitment and 9/10 for retention.
As a Spurs fan I do not share that reservation. Our only sinificant loss this season was Walker, he's been replaced with a like for like. Our bench has just taken a huge upgrade from Jansen to Llorente (and I'm still pinching myself), our already hard-as-**** defence just added another crocodile filled moat in the shape of Sanchez and almost our entire team from last season STILL HASN'T REACHED ITS PRIME. Our squad is much much stronger than it was this time last year, it's only really Utd or City that might be able to claim a better window, but we'll see at the end of the season.
J Just waiting to see now how this squad will perform when it gets its first win at Wembley and I think it will do well. With Llorente joining it's good to see a player with hair on his chin instead of bum fluff like most of the players.
Yes, for a number of reasons. We got improvements over what we had for much less money (Foyth vs. Wimmer, Aurier vs. Walker). We're really demonstrating how to build a club from the back. Clubs that already have shaky defending go out and buy and it doesn't make much difference. It's a variant of reinforcing failure, I think. We have the best defenders, and bought two of the best younger ones, and one of the best RB's period. They'll have the right people to learn from. Levy's relative free spending may have sprung from a desire to keep faith with Pochettino. Pochettino is el Marescal in the white hat. He's a straight shooter who demands everyone else shoot straight. I would be a little iffy on Llorente except it deprives Chelsea of a proven PL striker, which makes it a great deal. Quibbles: it would have been great to get Gomes. I thought Mahrez would have been worth the risk. You can't help but wonder if Aurier will straighten up and fly right.
Well compared to this time last year when I think I was frothing at the mouth and chewing through furniture, I am over the moon with this window. Granted, we did the bulk of our business late in the day, but I have come to expect that from Levy as an annual pleasure, kind of like his own little 'me time' after all the time he spends building training grounds and a stadium. I like to think that from August 29th-31st every year he lets his hair down and has some fun. My thoughts on this year's window: As much as it is a shame that we couldn't bring in a roadrunner option up top, I think the successes of our business has been highlighted and underlined by the relative failures of many of our rivals. No matter which way you dress it up, Arsenal have had a horrendously bad window and have done nothing (yet again) to address the gaping holes in their squad. There are at least 6 -players there now who really have zero interest in playing for the club, and some (Aaron Ramsey I'm looking at you and that cheeky Instagram post that you swiftly deleted) who appear to be in open rebellion against Kroenke & his poodle. Chelsea have a formidable first team but have been made a laughingstock this window. Publicly rejected by 3 big names in the closing hours of the window, still stuck with Costa, signed a complete unknown at full back because Levy made Aurier promise not to talk to them. They'll still take some beating, but I honestly cannot see them competing on 4 fronts with the squad they have. Liverpool look frightening going forward, but here again: our success this season could well rely on the fact that they didn't get their man Van Dick and as a consequence still look pathetic defensively. Teams who are stupid enough to try to play them at their own game will be blown away a la Arsenal. But I can see the likes of Burnley and WBA causing them the world of problems. The two Manc clubs got their business done early and plentifully. I guess it helps when your budget is the same as the GDP of a medium-sized country. These are the only two sides I am all but certain will finish above us this season. Overall, the absolute key for me this window was to properly replace Walker. I wasn't comfortable with the idea of Trippier being #1 from day one, and his awful performance against Burnley confirmed my fears. In Aurier, we have acquired a player who - if he gets his head down and matures - has all the talent to equal and even surpass what Walker did for us. Sanchez looks like a beast in defence and Llorente is the wise old head we've been crying out for for 3 seasons yet seemed too arrogant to countenance signing. I firmly believe that Poch would like to go 2 up top on occasion, but sadly doesn't trust Vince enough anymore to do so. Llorente changes that and gives us a player who can seriously bully defences, creating pockets of space for Kane, Alli and Eriksen to exploit. He also gives Trippier a ****ing great big target to aim for with those crosses of his (I love you really, Kieran). All in all, due to the mess at a few of our rivals despite the wealth they command, I would say: Quality: 8/10 Value for Money: 8/10 Depth: 7/10 Oh, and even taking into account all of Sanchez' £14m add-ons, we have made a net profit this window of roughly £15m. Remarkable. I don't know how he does it. Superb window Mr Levy, take a bow
BREAKING NEWS Vincent Janssen will stay at Tottenham after turning down a move to Brighton, Sky Sports News understands.
Concerned about Aurier's temperament but not about his ability to succeed Walker. No concerns re Foyth, Sanchez or Gazza but we've been bitten badly by frontmen bought in i.e. Soldado and Janssen and I'm not totally convinced Llorente is the total package.
This is the type of wisdom and maturity that money cannot buy. I have a feeling Llorente will be 2017's Gallas. Masterstroke.
Signing Llorente could be the making of Janssen. The fact that he turned down a move away from the club talks volumes for his desire to work hard and fight for a place, and is a testament to the spirit within the club. Poch has to be congratulated for that.
So, we find ourselves in a SIMILAR situation as the year after Bale left namely a lot of new faces in. Last time some succeeded and some failed like probably this time too. Sorry to be negative.
Decent window overall! Happy with who we've brought to the club, despite maybe not getting everyone we'd have liked to. But that's football, and we saw other big name players who didn't move on yesterday, surprisingly. My only concern now is any injuries throughout this season to Rose and Aurier, and the athleticism it subsequently removes from the team. I really hope Marcus Edwards and GKN get some decent game time this season, especially in games where Trippier and Davies are our fullbacks. Looking forward to seeing what Llorente will bring, too. Maybe if Eriksen gets past the first man on a corner, we might score a header from one? Just saying.. COYS
The Guardian are claiming that Barkley pulled the plug on the Chavs as Everton refused to enter into talks with Spurs. He felt, quite rightly by the sound of it, like he was being railroaded into a move to the Chavs.
Sorry but I don't see it like this at all. We have basically just replaced like for like but with "hopefully" better replacements. When we sold Bale we were hoping to add all the new players into the first team. With the players In this window it's only Aurier who looks a certain first team player immediately. The others are all squad or bought for the future. So: Foyth vs CCV Davinson Sanchez vs Wimmer Gazzanigga vs Lopez Llorente vs Janssen And obviously Walker vs Aurier And we still have Janssen as well so now we have 3 actual strikers, who would have thought?! As has been mentioned we had a great team anyway and Aurier on paper is a perfect replacement for Walker. We have kept all other key players and just strengthened our bench and provided real competition. And to have an alternative like Llorente on the bench where we are chasing a goal will be massive for the team.
