who knows! Fingers crossed he’s genuinely a really promising talent that we’ve secured. - problem is we’ve heard that many times before! When it comes to priorities, you could say the same about the goalkeeper situation. Hardly one of our biggest priorities, but that appears to have some momentum. I said it a few months ago… I wouldn’t be surprised if this window sees us get rid of a couple we really need to shift, but not all of them. Some will still be here like a bad smell. and at the same time I can see us spending our time/money replacing players who are far from a priority. So we end up sort of solving problems, but also not solving the problems.
CK- apparently Bryan Gil had a buy out clause of €43m. Therefore Lamela has been valued at €18m as part of the deal. if true, €18m is great business for Lamela.
So based on what's going around €25m + Lamela for Bryan Gil €10m + Sanchez for Cristian Romero Don't suppose it's too much to ask that we have £10m + Sissoko in the offing for van der Beek?
This gives us 4 wide players (Son, Lucas, Bergwijn and Gil) which is 2 per side, so not exactly overstocking. I agree that CB is the real priority but it looks like we’re making moves there too, so not too worried. Gil is supposed to be one of the brightest hopes in Spain so about £30m is probably standard for a player of that profile. Lamela going as part of that is a canny piece of business too because his value can’t be all that with a year left on his deal (I think) and he earns a decent wage for us. Getting him off the books and offsetting the few for a promising young player could be good business in my books.
Previously, when we've brought in a lot of players in the same transfer window, there's been a definite sense that little thought has been given as to where they fit together or into our system of play. Both in 2008 and 2013, I was left thinking "WTF?" Are we buying this kid because we really need a tricky left winger...or because he's a bargain (or so we think now) and he'll get bums off seats with his trickery, if and when he plays? I don't know...but I have little reason for faith that it's the first option, rather than the second, because we seem pretty well stocked for left sided players, when compared to the right flank.
I think the balance is ok. Sonny can play on either side, though usually comes off the left. Lucas predominantly plays on the right. Bergwijn is usually left sided but has played on the right too. And Gil looks like he’s mostly left sided but has played off the right sometimes in Spain. Ultimately if the very early indicators from preseason game 1 are to be believed we’re looking at 433 with the ‘wingers’ quite narrow and with some fluidity. So the balance doesn’t worry me too much given what we’d potentially have.
I'm happy to have lots of options up top, provided that we don't end up being short on right backs and centre backs, having done our dough on areas where we could have coped without spending. In the January window of 2020, Mourinho wanted a central striker and the club gave him Bergwijn. In 2008, we sold Defoe, Keane and Berbatov and replaced them with Pav and Frazier 'Bloody' Campbell on loan, whilst buying Bentley, Dos Santos and Luka Modric. I'll believe that there's been some form of change within the walls when we have a balanced squad at the end of a transfer window
Lamela out & Bale gone back to Madrid. Signing a RW makes sense. 4 wide players for 2 positions is exactly what Spurs need.
The obvious thing to mention about Gil is that, if he signs, Jack Clarke is surely getting another loan Preferably one where he plays...
Yeah I wouldn’t mind him getting minutes in the ECL but it’s probably better for him to head out sooner rather than later so he can make an impression pre-season rather than coming in half way when the team is often settled and it’s harder to break in.
Like any number of other people, including Pochettino, I thought and still think the best plan for this squad is a total rebuild. Try to do what worked last time, which is get a manager who prefers to work with young players and a bunch of the most talented players in a narrow age range...which has got to be no more than 20, I think, now. That's the only way a team with Spurs' budget is going to have a chance of winning a big trophy. The current approach, which I originally thought of as "Midtable, here we come," I now realize is "Midtable, here we are." Spurs are bringing in midtable level players in their mid twenties to a midtable level squad...too slowly. So things really are not going well, IMO. On the bright side, it is the hope that kills you, and I've got none for this year.
Not sure how this possible Gil transfer may be complicated by the Olympics. He's in the Spanish squad and they play a few times over the next week or so.
It's a bit like watching George Best Don't get excited, that's a few seconds of clips he probably messes up the rest of the time. Anyway thanks for that Bryan.
And here I am hoping it reaches those heights...regarding the quality of incoming players, anyway. While only one of the players who came in that year was 10/10, they generally looked to be top four class, or near it...whereas the likely ones I've heard this year have been nowhere near that. Gil's the first player I've seen credibly linked to Spurs this year who a top club could use. And he's just young enough, IMO, to be the first player in the big rebuild. And Spurs have made room for him by moving on a veteran--albeit a player who's been exemplary in a number of ways. This window would take a huge step up if he actually comes.
