With Ledders always going to struggle and Kaboul now the number 1,who will be our best CB partnership? S.Caulker has certainly proved this season at Swansea to be a future 1st choice CB at Spurs.Dawson has always been there for Spurs,but will Caulker take his place when King(which does seem like being often) is out? Also Gallas is still on the scene,although it's looks like this will be his last competitive year with Spurs. So do we go with Kaboul/Caulker when Ledley is out? I'm also sure this is the reason why we only got Nelsen in at the last window and didn't try to force through a deal for Samba.
*Nelsen. Caulker will be a squad player next season, I think. We're too competitive in that position for him to do a "Walker".
At a guess, and not taking into account potential signings it will be... King Kaboul Dawson Caulker Althought with the liklihood of at least two of Gallas, Bassong and Nelson being moved on in the summer, we probably will be bringing in one of Samba or Vertonghen for the first team, and maybe Uvini for the professionals.
Dawson when on form is a number 1 choice for me too..so him and Kaboul...goes without saying if King was reliable with his fitness then this thread would not have been created..so i think we cant rely on him unfortunatley.
I hope that he's not and that during the summer, with the knowledge that we have CL football in front of us, that the powers that be decide to do something about reinforcing the squad.
Let Bassong and Gallas go in the summer, bring in Caulker and Vertonghen/Samba - we'd be very strong at the back then, and i'm sure Caulker could provide cover at full-back too, looks to have pace.
Caulker might actually be better served by staying at Swansea for another season, as he probably wouldn't get many starts, barring a bunch of injuries. The strength of our defensive back-up needs addressing across the line, though. Corluka looks to be on the way out and I'm not convinced by Rose.
Naughton will doubtless be in the squad next season, and he can play on either flank so we have cover for Walker and BAE so we have someone we can rotate in for both when required.
Agreed. Would he learn more playing 10-15 games for us next season or staying at Swansea on loan for another season and playing 40odd games. It's a tough one.
I'd like for him to get another year at Swansea if all parties agreed. Swansea play the closest style of football to us so getting 30+ games for them rather than 10-15 with us will definitely benefit him more. Next season's centre backs will be similar to this year I think: Ledders, Younes, Daws, Gallas with one of Bassong/ Nelsen/ Khumalo being 5th choice. Other two to be sold/ loaned.
Why would you want him to go out on loan again until he's more important to us? He needs to be brought in gradually in low pressure 10/15 games next season would be great, then Gallas leaves at the end of next season and if Caulker's done well he'll move up the pecking order. It's set up perfectly for him, in my view. I guarantee you that SAF didn't plan for Smalling and Jones to play so many games so soon, especially since Jones has ended up playing 3 different positions for him.
Assuming the departure of Bassong and one of Nelson and Gallas in the summer, there's plenty of opportunity for Caulker to get games - FA Cup, Carling Cup, as well as dead rubber matches in the Premier League and Europe. That's easily half a dozen games there, and there's plenty of opportunity to bring him on as a substitute in games as well, plus the occasional start enforced by injury or suspension.
Low pressure games aren't good enough for him to get the right development. Look at Livermore, he was thrusted into games against Utd/ City came on against Arsenal and now he seems like he's been in the first team for years. Giving Caulker Carling/ FA Cup games won't give him the real tests he needs to become a player who it's fair to say we all believe has great potential. He's proved at Swansea this season he's more than capable of holding his own in what many believe to be the best league in the world, why bring him back to play in fewer games of less importance? Giving him another season in the league on loan to play more, will result in him coming back to us when Gallas' contract will have expired, Ledley will be 33 (I think), Nelsen won't be here, Bassong will probably be gone as will Khumalo and therefore the 2013 season will (hopefully) see Ledley, Daws, Younes, Caulker and maybe one other CB, that pretty much guarantee's him 20+ games for the season while having two years experience of top flight football under his belt. Coming back next season with Ledley, Younes, Daws, Gallas and probably one of Nelsen, Bassong and Khumalo (though I think Khumalo will be behind Caulker in the pecking order) is too much competition for him to even get minor games (providing we're not ravaged by injuries, which with Spurs, cannot be guaranteed).
Nah, give him the Sandro treatment next season, it's been awhile since he played for a team up at the top end of a league so introduce him slowly in low pressure games to find his feet.
He's finding his feet at Swansea, 20 years old and in 10th position isn't a bad way of introducing him to the league and getting him ready for what will hopefully be a successful career with us. He'll be taking a step back next season if he only plays cup games. Cannot see any positives for him to be playing them. Would be different if he were playing in the Championship this year, I'd be all for giving him the cup runs next year and the odd league appearance if injuries occur/ coming on to hold a lead. But fact is, like many players out there, when you play at the highest level on a regular basis you don't want to drop down and play a bit part role the following season and I doubt Caulker will be any different.
Phil Jones was thrown in at the deep end for Blackburn and it didn'y do him, or his transfer value, any harm. I wouldn't stick him in the team for the sake of it against one of the top clubs next season, but he could certainly learn from games against teams where he's less likely to get bombarded for 90 minutes - for the sake of argument, Villa or Everton.
I doubt he'll play them games either, unless we're struck by injuries. First choice pairing will be King and Kaboul, with Daws and Gallas as main back ups in my opinion. That's why I think another season's loan will do him good. Next season is too early for him to do a "Walker", the competition for a CB place is too great for someone like him. 2013 season won't be, no Gallas, no Nelsen, Khumalo and Bassong likely to be gone and with King's knees (may have retired by then, though I f*cking hope not!), only leaves him, Daws and Younes as recognised CB's. With 2 years experience behind him too, games against top opposition won't be a new experience for him.
Of course training with our team will benefit him, regardless of thew games he gets. If he's at Swansea again next season he'll be there best defender, he's better off pushing for a place and trying to impress with us than strolling into a lower league side. And anyway, it's not all about him though. Nelsen's only staying until the end of the season, Bassong will go, Khumalo struggled to hold down a place in the Championship and King and Gallas will be a year older. We need a CB for next season so we might aswell make it him, instead of buying someone in.
