This is where it gets weird: if they're on internationals until Tuesday at the earliest they'll just announce it and be done with it, but otherwise it's waiting for the video reveal, the first interview etc etc Similar happens if a player's signed when they're with their squad ahead of a World Cup etc
I'm lukewarm. The Good: what you said, plus they're both well up in pressures and tackles, which I think means they're tryers. And Conte likes a tryer, since that's what he is. Plus Spurs actually signed somebody...maybe... The Bad: If we move on Ndombele and lo Celso, and bring in these two, haven't we just downgraded our crop of misfits? The Knee Jerk: A Juve fan on Kulusevski: "He’s neither super quick nor fast, is super one footed and panics when space evaporates." So he's a perfect fit.
Juve fans are weird, as in their eyes all their players are both world class and dirt worst at the exact same time, so it's no wonder they're trying to convince themselves they're right to let Kulusevski and Bentancur leave...while retaining the services of Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot, both players who are further down the pecking order at Juve and also setting the club back a combined £350k a week to be wastes of space Case in point, when it comes to Kulusevski's pace it is true to say that he doesn't have straightline speed to burn down the flank faster than any opposition defender - but he does have that half yard of acceleration to get him past his marker in the blink of an eye coupled with close control that means it'll be a bugger to get the ball back off him once he's got going
I highly doubt it. Ultimately Ndombele and Lo Celso are both the two biggest flops in our history and two players that, in a Spurs shirt, have been terrible for just about 95% of their time here. Whether they then go on to become the best players in the world after leaving means nothing to me, what they've done here means that it should be almost impossible to downgrade on them with regards to impact in our XI/ squad. Bentancur and Kulusevski basically need to not be really **** in order to provide upgrades. The bar is super low. That said, I am excited and intrigued to see what they can bring, Kulusevski a bit more than Bentancur but on paper I think they're two solid additions with good pedigrees. Time will tell though.
Realistically what we're doing is trading in ten seconds of tweet-worthy highlights per match for ninety minutes of actual football Because that's ultimately the failure of Ndombele, we paid a superstar transfer fee for effectively a dribble and, if we were lucky, a couple of stepovers per game, yet we're paying a fraction of that fee for somebody who can receive or win the ball, look for a teammate, and then move on the ball - which is what we need our CMs to do Solid, reliable football is what we need from our spine, not flakiness when defending or an apparent inability to play out to the flanks
Now I understand you HBIC! And yes, easy to understand diagrams but I'm not sure how valuable. Firstly not sure you can compare players playing in different leagues and secondly a quick glance shows Gil on the list.
The thing is that, when he's actually be on the pitch, you can see why he is Case in point the Chelsea game where he was doing more to progress the ball up the pitch in his short cameo than several of his teammates managed in ninety minutes - but he can't do that if he's not on the pitch
The saddest thing though is Ndombele was actually the less ****ter of the two. I mean, at the very least, he actually has 10 seconds worth of highlights… Lo Celso’s highlight was probably learning special handshakes each morning with the physios.
Gil, Sarr plus the two eventual new boys are all on it. On paper at least it should imply a decent future for us. Let's just hope that paper turns to grass in time to come!
Regarding Ndombele and Lo Celso. I feel you could replace them with any two of us from this forum and we’d contribute just as much
Gil hasn’t earned the right to be on the pitch imo. I trust Conte and if he is happy for Gil to be loaned out then so be it
I can run for a good 20 mins before I get a stitch, which should be enough to move me above Ndombele in the pecking order.
Excluding Kulusevski and Bentancur, anyone think we’ll make a signing or two tomorrow? I’ve gotta feeling we will. Said I fancied 3 in and around 5 out. Two are basically in, I reckon there could be a left field one, ideally a RWB or ST. I do still want a creative mid but I don’t see that one happening. I think if we sell Bergwijn we’ll definitely sign someone else. Sounds like Ajax will make one final bid tomorrow so it’s whether it’ll be enough or not.
