I think Spurs/ Poch May have felt that a season on loan in the Prem could’ve done him wonders after a tough first season, but he rejected the chance to go to Brighton and instead took up Fener’s offer of a season long loan. I think really put him out of favour with Not really seen Tierney play but his name keeps getting linked with a Prem switch. Shaw could be interesting, seems to have lost his place at Utd again but stupidly signed a new deal back in October. I'd also like to see KWP play more now, although Aurier has marginally improved in games, I expect so much more from a £25m, multiple Ligue 1 winning RB. He seems to be a great guy round the place but he gives too many heart in mouth moments on the pitch, if we could find a buyer in the summer I'd happily sell. Tripps hasn't been at his best this season but he's usually a safe bet and he's always one cross away from getting an assist. With KWP, you feel like he could be a real successor to Walker, has good pace, very skilful and the crossing can always be worked on, defensively he's still not there yet but that's to be expected from a young FB.
The thing with Davies and Trippier is they were both signed to kick Rose and Walker up the backside and it worked - but now the issue is Davies is first-choice left back due to a combination of better form in the last two seasons and Rose being a shadow of his former self, while at right back it's a weird purgatory where neither Aurier nor Trippier are first choice Left back is the more pressing concern of the two and definitely needs to be addressed - although I expect it won't be until the summer, because as things stand the main options we're linked with are non-HG (Grimaldo, Tierney), they're far too important to their clubs to be allowed to leave in January (Sessegnon), their clubs will be dicks about it (Shaw) or the player signed a lengthy contract extension in the last six weeks so there's no room to negotiate whatsoever (Chilwell)
I'd happily keep Davies and Tripps. Davies for me is our best FB and one of the best in the Prem, he's defensively sound and while he won't take on many opposition FBs, he does get down the wing nicely and has a half decent cross. Tripps is similar, not as sound defensively but has an unreal cross, though he can be improved upon. I'd like to see KWP challenge (and eventually beat) Tripps for the first choice RB spot, I'm also a fan of Wan-Bissaka as well but don't think we'd need him so long as KWP gets his chances. As for then bringing in a Rose replacement, if Sessegnon was willing to drop back to LB I'd be all for it, although it seems as if he's permanently switched to LW at Fulham. I agree that getting Chilwell won't be easy, although if we were to offer Rose plus cash, I think it could tempt Leicester's hand, maybe even Rose plus one of the strikers, Leicester look like they could do with some Vardy competition and may find one of Llorente or Janssen a decent option.
At the very least we need a CM. I’ve got faith in Skipp being used a bit more too. Also need to sell one of Dembele or Wanyama to free up some space and wages.
We have to twist, surely?! The reality of January is that it’s an extremely tricky window, so we shouldn’t expect too much. I can only envisage 1 signing, and that player needs to be a a CM of sorts, for all the reasons previously mentioned. Getting Toby and Eriksen to sign new deals should also be a be a top priority for us. Signing decent players is getting more and more difficult under our transfer policy and the financial strength of our rivals, so we need to be looking after the quality we have, IMO. Going forward, I’d like us to address our full back positions, as I feel they are the next weakest part of our squad, despite the number of them we have. But that’s a job for the summer transfer window.
I voted the none. Danny boy needs to pay off the stadium and your squad should see you through into top 4. Mainly because i want to see some mass hysteria I will be shocked if levy goes out spending 20+ in the transfer window
We don't have a team of strong enough kids. We wouldn't get far in the Europa League with a team of our 'youth', for example. I really wish we did. We needed two players, one CM and one DM, when Wanyama and Dembele were the only problem positions that needed cover / replacement. Now we need more than just two, in my humble opinion. Unless Toby is going nowhere, and Rose can get back to his best. Plus, Kane cover. Then again, it depends on what the agenda is this season. I think we should be winning something. Very soon. If we end up in the Europa League, we should be aiming to win it. If not, at least we should be making a very strong claim for a domestic cup. Plus, with our away record being as good as it is, with the new stadium coming, and with the right additional players, we can challenge at the very top, if not this season, the next. I'd like to see real statements of intent from now going forwards. Especially with the mess of this summer. If it's not big names, then I'd like to see us sweep up the best of young players we can get our hands on. It's time to find the new gear we've been threatening to for so long.
There's only so much business that we can get done in the forthcoming window. We should be concentrating on getting in someone to replace Mousa Dembele and Big Vic. Unfortunately, neither are what they were a couple of years ago and we're short in the centre of the pitch. I'd be behind taking a punt on Barios or getting Schneiderlin in for a bargain fee, or taking a loan signing, because it's very unlikely that any top prospect is going to move mid-season. Having said that, we should be looking to jump the queue and do deals for players to move to us in the summer. Maybe by putting some money up-front now and taking the player later, we can prevent being out-muscled when others are also wanting to do business? The elephant in the room is what we do with Toby. For me, unless United sell us Martial or Bailly, they can do one and take their chances next summer. An extra £15m for the second half of the season seems like a good deal but we need CL income and losing a player of his calibre is a false economy in what promises to be a close run thing
You’re just fretting, Bob. Worried about little old homeless Spurs with zero signings finishing above the mighty Chelsea and thus winning me our bet . Our spending in January though will be dependent on what we can shift out. Squad is already too big to be able to add any foreigners. Gotta shift out Dembele, Wanyama, GK, Janssen and maybe Llorente to then hopefully bring some in. Ain’t gonna be easy but it’s a necessity. Danny Boy has to deliver this window.
I really rate Davies also. He's been a tad off form and he's been caught out of position a couple of times this season as a result i think. Last season he was brilliant. He's actually a lot better "attacker" than people give him credit for, especially if we are playing well. Positionally he is very good in that area too, often ghosting into space (where he is rarely found tbh, but it opens things up). I often note (again, we have to be playing well) that rather than marauding down the wing like a regular wing back might he actually takes up more of a no10 position inside, which frees up one or 2 of the 3 to go wide instead.
The DOF is not responsible for the cost of the stadium. Danny Boy "needs to" only have basic command of Google.
Yeah completely agree. Had an iffy start to this season but has regained form and began looking like the player he was last season where he was brillaint. Probably one of the most complete FBs you'll see, defensively solid and he knows how and when to attack at the right times.
I was very confused as to why he didn't start the season tbh. Was he injured? He was first choice last year and Rose had been to the WC whereas Ben should have been fully rested. Seemed a strange decision to start with Rose early on. Took Ben a few games to get into things.
Some players need to be playing all the time. Take, Kane, he often or even always has a slow start. But you wouldn't drop him for doing zilch in August.
He started the first three or four but his form weren't great so Rose came in and actually done ok, then he got injured so Ben regained the spot. Started picking up his form around the Palace game, hopefully he can keep it up.
So, yeah, I think we can continue using the A List for January rather than dig out the B List Just remember that Rabiot and Tielemans are cup-tied in the Champions League...
As of this season the rule of being cup tied is scratched. So they would be eligible: 27 Mar, 2018 UEFA announced on Tuesday it had decided to remove the "cup-tied" rule from all European competitions. This means that, for the first time, a player could play for two different clubs in the group stage and the knockout rounds of the Champions League, or the Europa League, in the same season. Players could switch between competitions in the past, but not stay in the same one with a second team.
