I think that counter-attacking football can work, but we don't have the players for it.
We've got one inexperienced holding midfielder, who's injured right now, for a start.
Match Day Thread Tottenham Hotspur v Middlesbrough
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We've got one inexperienced holding midfielder, who's injured right now, for a start.
I don’t think we have enough players to play any system effectively to be honest.
We have two RBs that aren’t suited to high press or even counter attacking football as they lack speed and end product. One of our LBs has been nothing short of abysmal since joining despite the fact I still think there is a player in there somewhere.
Not a single one of our CMs can control a game, with three of them primarily specialising in the defensive aspects and one who’s just incredibly basic and out of his depth.
Kane and Son are the only two we have that are seemingly adaptable to any system. They’ve generally excelled under every manager we have had, regardless of their personality or style.
Maybe I/ we have been too harsh on the likes of Poch (2019-), Jose and Nuno in the past because our players simply aren’t good enough to do what they ask. Now Conte’s having the same issues too.
I really don’t know where the club’s going nowadays. I’m half dreading the summer because I think Kane will want out again and this time may get his wish, we don’t know if Conte’s definitely sticking around and barring Son and about 5-6 others, we’ve got a squad of players who’d likely struggle getting game time in teams generally expected to finish around 10th and below. It’s a car crash of a club at the moment.
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And that's the overall problem. We've got no direction and a mishmash squad.
We're not making signings to complete a jigsaw, we're just picking up players that could be good.
There's no plan.
Perhaps Paratici will be able to work with Conte to fix this, but I'm extremely doubtful.
We'd need to sign about a dozen players and I can't see us doing anything like that.
I think January was semi-promising, I wanted a lot more done but I think the two players that came in have done well for the most part and seem well suited to "Conte-Ball" but there's so much more that needs doing and I can only hope we do enough in the summer, I agree about needing around a dozen, as scary and crazy as that sounds. I think a realistic number needs to be around six at the least:
CB, Creative Mid, two RWBs, possibly a LWB and a ST are what I'd say are the necessities. Then there also needs to be planning for Lloris' eventual replacement, plus backup to replace the likely departing Gollini, it feels inevitable Bergwijn will leave, we don't know if Kane's sticking around and if he goes we're right up **** creek and I dread to think where we'll go from there if he does...
We really are such a mess, at a time where it feels like we should be on the up what with all the infrastructure we now have plus the calibre of manager in the dugout.
Tottenham Hotspur, ladies and gents.
I certainly think that was the issue when Nuno was in charge, as there did seem to be an approach of grabbing players based on their Moneyball potential such as Sarr, Gil and Emerson first and expecting them to be hammered into the team later, and it does have to be said that we had a similar grab bag approach when Comolli had Levy's debit card
On the other hand, January showed more of a commitment to quality as, while we didn't bring in half a squad's worth of players (which is unrealistic in January, but don't let that get in the way or SpursWeb's constant moaning...), the two players we brought in were perfect fits for the team, with Deki having the combination of Lamela's grit and Dembele's tenacity while Bentancur has shown glimpses of being both the controlling presence and defensive presence our midfield has been crying out for since the back end of the 2017-18 season
In other words, I'm not expecting seven or eight signings in the summer unless some severe squad surgery is carried out, but at the very least four who can slot straight into the team is the minimum expectation
The squad is a real mishmash of players who mostly seem ill suited to what the manager (previous managers) need.
This is where the club need a clear vision and need to be consistent with what sort of manager they appoint.
Obviously it’s easier said than done but the club need a clear structure where even if the head coach/manager leaves it means the next one can come in and still has suitable players.
Emerson Royal for example doesn’t fit the Conte system and he already looks like he will be surplus and he was only signed last summer.
This is where the club need a clear vision and need to be consistent with what sort of manager they appoint.
Obviously it’s easier said than done but the club need a clear structure where even if the head coach/manager leaves it means the next one can come in and still has suitable players.
Emerson Royal for example doesn’t fit the Conte system and he already looks like he will be surplus and he was only signed last summer.
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And yet he wasn't our worst player.
Hey! Finally thought of something positive. Since our recent form goes good game > bad game > good game > bad game (ManC > Burnley > Leeds > Boro), then our next game should be good!
I like your strategy. I hope you've got it right,. however the good game > bad game theory when applied to the Premieship games means we're in for another shocker next time out. But, the good news is that our next FA Cup game (in the far yonder) should be good.
I hope I havn't poured too much cold water on your positive blurprint.
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It isn't as many as a dozen and even if it is, there is no urgent pressure to sign them all in one window. Progress can and should be incremental, exactly as it was for 3 years under Poch after which we left WHL and seemingly lost our way for quite a while, running on (pretty strong) fumes until eventually they gave out.
I am intrigued to see a run of games with a Skipp-Bentancur pivot, something we haven't seen much of at all due to injuries to both players. Given a run of games in the side I think could already see performances improve drastically.
Our fundamental problems at the moment are that 3 out of 4 FBs are not suited to a WB system and we don't have a reliable source of game-changing goals on the bench. I will also add - and I think for Conte this is actually top of the list - we lack players with a ruthless, winning mentality. Kane and Son, for all their talent and accolades, just aren't in that cast of player. They rarely, if ever, dig us out of a hole in the same way that Ginola or Bale used to.
I think with just 4 signings - but they have to all be immediately successful! - we can totally transform the level of the entire squad:
1) New RWB
2) Proper winner (ideally at CM or AM), someone with a Bale or VDV mentality.
3) New LCB
4) Defoe type option off the bench
That's a big outlay - maybe circa £150m - but it certainly isn't a dozen players. I'd say around £90m could be covered by outgoings, if we are smart and various loan to buy options are exercised. The remaining £60m is honestly a minimal test of just how much Levy wants to back Conte.
I also get the feeling from Conte's numerous 'post comment comments' where he goes deeper into his thinking and unpacks the often emotional reactions he has after a game, that as long as he feels that the club are on the same page as him and supporting his vision for the side, he is here for at least the medium term. Now, I get that this is a big IF and the summer will reveal all.
This is what you get when you change manager often.
Utd have just the same problem.
You finish up with a group of players, many of whom are individually talented but don’t work together as a team.
The team/squad finishes up for unbalanced.
Players aren’t suited to playing in a particular way and don’t have a great understanding of other players’ strengths and weaknesses.
So in Spurs case, it’s been down to two players who have played together a long time and do have an understanding in Kane and Son to bail the rest out.
Utd have just the same problem.
You finish up with a group of players, many of whom are individually talented but don’t work together as a team.
The team/squad finishes up for unbalanced.
Players aren’t suited to playing in a particular way and don’t have a great understanding of other players’ strengths and weaknesses.
So in Spurs case, it’s been down to two players who have played together a long time and do have an understanding in Kane and Son to bail the rest out.
When it comes to midfield, it's worth remembering that we'll have Pape Matar Sarr available next season so that could add a dimension to our squad while also meaning we can focus our attention elsewhere, although given there's whispers of us being willing to let Hojbjerg go in the summer if anyone offers £25m (albeit only from TeamTalk, so take that with handfuls of salt) it may well see another CM added as well as Sarr coming in, even if that means a freebie for Kessie or Brozovic or whoever
Similar can be said for Gil when he comes back with some regular football in his legs, as it's likely that Bergwijn is off in the summer which does mean one less obstacle in his path, and if we do continue with the 3421 formation there's obvious opportunities there for him to come on for Son or Deki
So hen both of them get loaned to Brentford by the end of July...
I don’t watch much if any French football, who is Pape Matar Sarr most like?
Sarr and Gil are not the players Conte wants. That much has been very clear in almost everything he has said since mid December.
He is more than happy to buy young prospects and have them develop over time, but that cannot be a strategy when the first team is crying out for ready-made solutions who are experienced enough to slot straight in and improve things immediately.
He wants a totally different profile and I make him justified in wanting that. Which is why I slapped a figure of £150m on the purchase of 3 first team ready players and one backup option. The profile he wants and we need doesn't come cheap. But needs must.
At the risk of causing 'Nam flashbacks, he combines aspects of Hojbjerg and Sissoko
When it comes to Hojbjerg, not only has his career path been similar as both started as a No8 but have been moved into a No6 role due to their ability to win the ball in a mid block (so, not the Hojbjerg from last night...) and move it forward before usually taking the percentage pass, while the Sissoko comparison is once he gets going it's very hard to get the ball off of him, and it has to be said he's good enough with the ball that Metz have played him as an AM and a winger at points this season, which underlines what a shambles Metz have been which is also where the main Sissoko comparison comes from
He's been compared to a more defensive Eduardo Camavinga, although saying that would likely set expectations way too high which is why I prefer a Hojbjerg who can move the ball is probably a fairer baseline
I can`t remember the last truly world class player we signed in their prime, it was probably when Sugar signed Klinsmann 28 years ago.
Whether you’d say world class or just below, I’d say the likes of Berbatov, van der Vaart, Eriksen and Alderweirled all joined and were immediately brilliant. I think both Eriksen and Alderweired won Spurs POTY in their debut seasons and Berbatov won it in his second season if my memory’s correct.
