The beauty of Kane never being a speed merchant means that providing his ankles don’t give way, he’s easily got another 5-6 years of Prem football in him. So many of the worlds top strikers are in their 30s and showing little signs of slowing up and I don’t think Kane will be any different, his game’s evolving too with the addition of his playmaking. Just an incredible player and one I genuinely love watching. He’s someone who epitomises what the beautiful game is all about. I said it the other day but I think it’s becoming tougher and tougher to deny the fact he’s now probably the best player we’ve had in the Prem. I’ve long said it was Modric, followed by Bale but what Kane’s doing season in, season out is making it hard to deny the guy the top spot.
Kulusevski has played 8 games and Bentancur has played 6 games. Although both look good so far it’s way too soon to say they’re successes or not. Seen too many players over the years start off well and then fade away. FWIW I’m hopeful both will be long term successes at Spurs
Yeah they both look settled. I was fairly confident Bentancur would improve us but I’m surprised Kulu has settled so quickly. He’s a nailed on starter right now. Lucas has been a fine servant and provided the occasional incredible moment but seeing Kulu’s intelligence in the final 3rd makes you realise that as hard as Lucas works, his inconsistency has been a thorn in our side. I’m still slightly concerned that our January transfer strategy consisted of a scatterbrained approach and then our supposedly well-connected DoF going back to his old club to poach two players they didn’t want, but they do look good finds. I just hope for more joined up thinking in the summer.
Various reports have said we were in negotiations for Deki at the end of December, and based on various suggestions we were always looking for a double swoop with McKennie the main name doing the rounds - which does beg the question where we changed targets to Bentancur, although it's safe to guess that it was around the time we were negotiating for Amrabat
After the **** we’ve brought over the last five years you best believe I’m getting overexcited at the two new boys (plus Romero), lol. About time we’re due some good fortune in the market!
Juve seem to be so hot and cold on McKennie. I can’t say I follow them that closely but he seems to go from mustard to a player they’re willing to let go. I worry about his big injury though, now. My main concern with us is that we focus on the right areas of the squad. We got a bit distracted over the summer and while January seems to have gone well in terms of addressing the balance of the forward line and midfield, we need to be super-focused in the coming summer. We’ll need at least 3, possibly 4 first team starters and to fix problem positions like backup striker and GK. Getting players like Gio, Tanguy, and Emerson out will be important, and we’ll have to work out what to do with Gil and Sarr (I suspect loans). A lot will depend on what European football, if any, we qualify for.
He needs to work on it because we can’t afford to have a defender of his quality missing games. He’s always going to be a risk for these things because he likes to come out of defence and pressure the ball, he’s very good at it but he’s going to pick up cards doing it, inevitably. Rather than stopping that, he needs to cut out the silly ones like last night. Fix that and the occasional positional indiscipline and the sky is the limit for him.
Several of his yellow cards were absolute jokes from poor refs being conned by habitual cheats. He will need to be careful though ,it perhaps referees ought to improve. Can’t argue aboutlast night’s one even if it was one of of the contenders for cheat of the season
Definitely, at this rate he will miss too many games through suspensions, add into that injuries and he will end up only being available for half the games
I thought it was very nice and very kind of Lloris to guide Dele to the Park Lane. A touch of classy friendship and I am sure Dele appreciated his warm welcome back. As for Everton, they have a mighty fight on their hands and much as I hope Dele regains his best form, it will take more than that to keep them up.
I've commented elsewhere that I don't think we're a million miles away from a top 4 squad with a doable number of additions. A lot depends on certain players being open to sticking around despite little first team football, but to my mind if we can go into next season with a match-day squad of: Lloris Romero Dier Davies/CB RWB Skipp Bentancur Reguilon Kulu Kane Son Subs: GK CB/Davies Doherty/Royal Hojbjerg Lucas Gil/Bergwijn ST That's not a bad squad at all. I personally think Skipp/Bentancur could be immense in the pivot, if only they could nail down a solid run of games together before the end of the season. Invest in a new RWB, competition or upgrade on Davies, backup striker and a new long-term Hugo replacement and that's a very, very solid foundation for the coming season - especially if we can move plenty of players on. Obviously it's still a long way from being able to challenge for major trophies, but tbh we need a few years of CL money until we can consider elevating the squad to that sort of level.
1. Great to see us massively improve our goal difference in the last two games. 2. While I had a problem with Dele making that ****ty video of the se asian guy in relation to covid. I think it's sad how far he has fallen as a footballer. 3. Glad he got a decent reception from us. His part in the great football we saw from 2015 - 2019 deserves to be remembered. 4. Really pleased for Doherty ... has taken his chance and looks excellent. Was really excited every time he got the ball last night. 5. Richarlison is a disgrace. 6. Fat Frank on the sideline 7. The fans were excellent. 8. Excited to see what this squad with some good additions could do next season after a summer with Conte. They look twice as fit from last October. 9. Not getting carried away as the Southampton, Wolves, Burnley and Boro games have shown how inconsistent we are. 10. Bentancur and Kulusevski look like very good signings
I don’t think Romero’s gonna change. Cards are seemingly part of his game. He got 10 yellows in the league last season (15 in all comps) and still won Serie A defender of the year in the league with arguably the best collection of CBs in Europe. Gotta take the rough with the smooth with him, his aggression is what makes is style enjoyable, even if it is edgy and risky. If he loses that I think he’ll lose some of what makes him a great player. I’d rather we get 30+ great games with him and he misses 5-6 through suspension than 35+ games of where he isn’t quite himself and possibly an inferior player.
