We won’t even sign him as this isn’t an actual transfer link, just an idea on who Spurs should try and sign but if there’s ever a chance to sign a player of that calibre for Spurs, you have to take it. “Poch ethos” or not, a player like Dybala earns you points individually. A front three of Dybala, Kane and Son would put Spurs well up there as to having one of the best strike forces in Europe.
We already have one of the best strike forces in Europe. FBs and CM are in far more urgent need of attention and will probably need big bucks to solve. Up top the main order of the day will be to adequately replace Eriksen (which Dybala wouldn't), beyond that and a cheapish back up for Kane, I can't see us spending big on another striker.
Wouldn’t say we have one of the best strike forces in Europe, a solid one but not one of the best. We need someone more potent on that RW to accompany Kane and Son to solidify such a title. Although I agree about CM and FBs being the the priority and that comes first and foremost. As for losing Eriksen, it depends how we go about it, do we stick with the 4231 or switch to a 433, kind of like how Pool did when they lost Coutinho? Realistically there’s only about two or three players that can replace Eriksen adequately enough and so it’s down to whether we can get one of those in, or look to change things up completely.
I kinda see it going that way if I'm honest. Grab Ndombele and Teilmans and have a killer three man midfield option. Who would we actually get to replicate what Eriksen does if he goes? I've said Isco, but I can't imagine them letting him go, or if he'd be as effective at doing exactly what Eriksen does.
Other options would be Nabil Fekir (who every hack seems to have forgotten existed since he rejected Saltypool last summer...) and the recently-linked Hakim Ziyech Although if Champions League football is what Eden Hazard wants...
We can't afford to have our cake and it eat too, as United and the FFP cheats do. We can't afford to buy a straight replacement for Eriksen, no matter what we sell him for. The wages would crucify our structure and upset the rest of the squad. I'd rather get the midfield and full-backs sorted and play a bit differently, more like England do to make up for the deficient midfield general. Getting some pacy width into the team would open up areas for Dele and HK, as per 2015/16 and 16/17.
I hope this Hakim Ziyech link bears fruit. They way Ajax have been going on lately, I'd be happy if he landed with Neres. Levy, do it!!! (I'd still grab Teilmans and Ndombele though. Even now we need an option for when Eriksen is not available.)
Whilst I agree that we need to add greater quality, we also know that fitting more than 3 new first team regulars into a team is never easy. For me a minor clear out of 4 - Trippier, Llorente, Jansen and N'Koudou, + the likely loss of Toby and Christian and ideally 6 in of whom 2 will need to be first choice on first day of the season - RB & CM. Unfortunately I can't see us getting N'dombele and our record N's in't great anyway! But I can see us looking at both Tielemans and Andre Gomes who now both have prem league experience and are known to be available. RB I am very firmly in the Wan Bissaka camp, and I would sweeten the deal by offering Walker Peters on a season long loan and keep Aurier as back up. CB Andersson has been mentioned alot but I know nothing about him - Keane or Tarkowski would be my choice Home grown and prem league ready. The other 3 would be from the growing list of championship wannabees - Grealish, James, Bowen, Clarke, Phillips, Aarons etc.
You probably won't believe me but I wouldn't take Hazard on a free. Even if we can pay his wages (which we can't) I think he's a bad influence in the dressing room. I think he's too associated with the Chelski play "every other season" thing and throw the toys out of the pram until you get a manager you want. This is why you have to be very carefully with personalities you buy in, not just their playing abilities. Add talent and disrupt squad cohesion can lead to a general decline in performance. Also don't agree with so many changes at once. This very rarely works.
Are their any midfield magicians out there who haven't scored a dead ball goal since 2015 and got the ball past the first man whilst taking a corner since March 2017? He is our man to replace Eriksen
Let's not forget our youngsters who are coming through. Shashoua, Georgiou , Edwards, Amos, Sterling etc. At least 2 will probably make the squad
Edwards has a year on his contract and just changed agents, so it's 50/50 he pisses off Poch and gets sold At the start of the season I was hoping Georgiou or Shashoua would take GKN's spot as bench winger who rarely plays, with Georgiou obviously higher in the pecking order at the time, and the only thing that's changed since is that Monaco probably have the same opinion right now...
I can't see any of them making it, unfortunately. Most of our current loanees are simply playing to be more prominent in the shop window. Poch doesn't believe in the loan system and none of them have been sent to a level anywhere near the level we need them to be at. Amos is a maybe as he was officially promoted to the first team this season but an entire year out and there is no way of knowing if the damage that has done will be long term. He and Georgiou are going on 23 which is veritably ancient in this day and age for a footballer.
Yeah me too. I've long tried thinking of ways to replace Eriksen but I don't think that's the best solution - unless we're able to sign someone like Isco or James Rodriguez. Otherwise it's pointless trying to sign a B-Tec Eriksen as it'll only mean we're weaker in that position. Instead, switch it up and beef up the CM to go from a currently very, very average one, to a top class one that dominates games. Ndombele and Tielemans would make for great additions. Alli would then join Son and Kane in the attacking three. If we only sign one top midfielder, then I'd play Alli deeper and look for a new WF to join Son and Kane up top. I'd like Zaha, he's not everyone's cup of tea due to inconsistency at Palace but I'd say he's probably the best player outside of the top 6 and in a better side who's used to dominating games more often than not, I think he'd thrive.
Good point. I also find it interesting when you consider the physicallity of some of these players in comparison to some of our targets, it seems crazy that they are all a similar age. Ndomble and Teilmans are 22 and 21 respectively, Harry Winks is 23 and seems pint sized in comparison, as do some of our other youngsters. I imagine this may be a factor in some of Pochettino's decisions for certain positions. It's a shame that Amos was injured, I reckon he was front-running amongst those who were about to make a mark.
Saw something at the weekend about Spurs (with other clubs) looking at Victor Camarasa who is on a season long loan at Cardiff, from Real Betis. Age 24, he has been the stand out player at Cardiff scoring 5 goals in 27 games for a struggling side despite missing a few games with injury. In my opinion he would perform to a higher level in a better side and would certainly fit in with Spurs ethos and style of play. If Cardiff were to stay up, a very big if with Burnley's win at the weekend, Cardiff would love to sign him permanently, fee around £15m. However, I think he will want to go onwards and upwards. I don't think he has been mentioned on here before and it could be many of you will be looking at more obvious, possibly more expensive options, but definitely worth a look.
For sure, CM is the ultimate priority, it's what's let us down massively this season (and last) despite Sissoko's great form. Sort out the CM, then RB, then a WF plus a Toby replacement. Bonuses would then be a new LB (I can live with Rose/ Davies for now but wouldn't say no to Chilwell) and a back up to Kane... Which is always fun.
I just had a look at some vids. Mate. It's been a long flippin' time since we had a CM that can be relied upon to threaten the goal! (More than twice in a season...) Imagine that.
Earlier this season Poch said he'd changed his stance on loans, as his policy is to give players a couple of seasons experience training with the first team to bring them up to what's expected before loaning them out so they gain experience instead of stagnate on the bench However, given the players we have out on loan this season, I wouldn't say this was universal... * Georgiou and Sterling have been training with the first team since at least last season so this certainly appears to fit * Shashoua appears to be along the lines of what Poch's suggesting, although his loan does appear to be more about improving the physical attributes of his game without compromising his technique, which wouldn't happen with another season of PL2 games or a loan to a League Two team respectively * Edwards is a loan I'm willing to believe is what was planned with his loan to Norwich last season, although he actually plays games now, but there is a hint of "Put up or shut up" to his loan * Onomah and CCV have been on the fringes of the team for two/three seasons but only really got minutes in the cups, so they feel just as likely shop window jobs as loans to avert stagnation * Ogilvie, Glover and Harrison certainly feel like they're being put in the shop window, especially with Ogilvie and Glover out of contract at the end of the season There's another reason I don't think this is universal, though: George Marsh, Tashan Oakley Boothe, TJ Eyoma and Alfie Whiteman have all been around first team training sessions since last season, especially Whiteman and TOB, yet there's been no whisper of a loan for any of them this season. At the very least Whiteman needs minutes because he's our default third-choice keeper from 1st July, while TOB certainly needs a run of games in his preferred position considering he's been mainly deployed as a winger in the U23s this season due to Edwards and Shashoua being on loan and that's not going to help his development much
A 10+ goal-a-season CM is a must. Would love to see Isco arrive, although there are a few options if we're brave financially. We need 2 FB's with Chilwell and Wan-Bissaka at the top of my list.
