Would be a nice co-incidence, us having Baldini and Poch wanting a Roma player. Hopefully he was Lamela's mate.
Most importantly, though, the first signing is going to be a centre forward. That implies that one of Soldado or Adebayor may be moved on. My second thought is that, given Destro cost Roma £13m, what's the transfer fee going to be, given that Roma got more than double (potentially rising to triple) what they paid for Lamela...
No doubt a new coach with this team opens up many questions and possibilities. I agree the one player we really need is our Modric replacement. I wouldn't dismiss our young players out of hand (Carroll, Bentaleb) but I think we need to spend serious money here. On the other hand, I don't think we really need to spend money anywhere else. Ade should be a good 4-2-3-1 striker, even though he wasn't for AVB. He's certainly a better choice on the face of it than Soldado, who I think is a 4-3-3 player who might be okay in a 4-4-2. Somewhere hidden within the Spurs squad is an outstanding team, given the talent level, even without the Modric replacement. It will certainly be interesting to see Poch's efforts to find it, and to see who he wants to add. The key question to me is who to subtract. A big problem last year was that we had too many players with a realistic claim on a start. Depth is good. Too much depth, and too many similarly talented players fighting for starts, and you have an unhappy, uncertain team, which I think we did last year. Here's where there are too many players: Sandro Capoue Dembele Paulinho. At least one and possibly two should go. Certainly two if we get our Modric replacement in. Chadli Townsend Lennon Lamela. Eiriksen, surely, will start, leaving four players fighting for one or two spots. If it's one, then, again one or two should go. A lot depends on who starts at CM. Paulinho? Lamela? Chadli? MR (Modric replacement)? I could see the sense of Eiriksen on the left and Lallana (if he comes) or even Soldado as a CM.
Various papers (notably the Standard and Grauniad) seem to be presuming that Pocc was brought in so that we'd start using more of our academy players, with the Standard also taking this presumption one stage further by expecting certain first teamers to be moved on to allow this to happen, going as far to ask which of Sandro, Dembele, Paulinho and Capoue will Poch deem to be "expendable" In other news...oh for ****'s sake, not again: http://metro.co.uk/2014/05/27/totte...tico-madrid-battle-for-his-signature-4741427/
I was believing that until I read 'more than £20M'. Levy will be looking for at least £40M possibly more.
Sandro can play the ball though. His passing's okay(better than Dembele's) and he brings the ball forward very well, in my opinion. Pochettino likes quick closing down and Sandro ticks that box too. I really can't see him going.
Very true. To be honest, it's probably more of a case of random player names being linked, simply due to whether it can look legit for a tabloid story. I.e Any Roma player as Baldini came from there etc etc. I hope you're right mate.
The players we have available who can play cm are - Sandro, Paulinho, Dembele, Capoue, Bentaleb, Holtby, Livermore, Caroll and Eriksen, Siggy, Chadli and Veljcovic can play there too. Thats far too many and even if we dont sign anyone for that position we need to offload 2 or 3 We obviously need a LB (priority signing) a CB and maybe someone like Konoplyanka to play on the left of the attacking three behind the lone forward. In an ideal world we would offer £70m to Southampton for Shaw, Lovren and Lalana but thats not going to happen although we have a more realistic chance of getting Lovren. This is how i would like our squad to shape up for next season Gk - We have Lloris, Archer and Brad hopefully in that order RB - The two Kyles LB - New LB and either Rose or Fryers as back up CB - Vertonghen, Chiriches and offload either Dawson or Kaboul and bring in Lovren / Lescott CM - Sandro, Paulinho, Dembele, Bentaleb, and Caroll. Offload Capoue, Siggy and Livermore and loan out Veljcovic ATTACKING THREE - Lamela, Lennon Konoplyanka, Chadli, Eriksen, Townsend and Holtby CF - Adebayor, Soldado and Kane So 5 or 6 out and 3 in.
If that was offered to me as our summer business i'd jump at it, even though i don't know who Konoplank... is
I agree with most of this, however, I think there's too many in the "attacking 3" positions. If we sign someone like konoplyanka, there's no way we need Lennon and/or Townsend. Lennon hasn't been great for us recently. We used to miss him when he didn't play, but this season he's been poor IMO. We need to decide whether we keep him or cash in now. Personally, with lamela supposedly being a big talent, Lennon should be sold IMO. I'd also get rid of Townsend and bring in a better attacking left sided player. If needs be, we've always got Eriksen who can play there as back up, even if it's not ideal. For me, Townsend doesn't offer enough and i think we're in need of better quality if we're to make as big a push for the top 4 as possible. I wasn't sure aobut Townsend this time last year, and a year on, I'm still not convinced. RW Lamela Chadli CAM Eriksen Holtby LW New LW/ Eriksen/Chadli
Do we think Kaboul will ever get back to his best? There was talk of his injury being of the same nature as Ledley's, which isn't good news. Letting Daws go to the right bidder is all well and good but if Verts was also sold due to a large bid (which isn't surely out of the question) and Kaboul remains blighted by injury then suddenly we only have one senior centre back. IMO we need to see if Kaboul can prove his fitness, and if he can then then its all rosy but if not then the backline is going to need some serious tinkering this summer if Daws is out the door as well. I'd sell Lennon and keep Townsend personally.
Personally i think the whole back 4 was such a poor unit for most of last season that we wouldn't be too disadvantaged if Daws, Verts and Kaboul left, although i'm not saying that is ideal. I don't think Kaboul will ever get back now, he's a back-up for me. I didn't like Verts attitude a lot last season but if he's willing to stay then i'd keep him and Chiriches as first choice and replace Dawson. I think Daws and Verts will both go this summer.
What about having Caulker back. I've heard we have an option on him, and he can replace Dawson. Isn't Kaboul out of contract now?
Agree. Lennon, sad to say, is the finished article as far as he is concerned. He has been fantastic at times for us but I think those days will only get fewer. Townsend still has potential and would still be a fantastic backup at this stage of his career. He can still improve as a player and I don't want us to keep throwing out our youth prospects after one dissapointing season. Dawson is another one who sadly needs to go. Huge fan of his, with his passion and drive, but that can only compensate for so much. Kaboul, I'd keep just because it will be difficult for us to get another centre back of sufficient quality who will be willing to play a back-up role. Obviously, the coaches and manager will know far more about his injury and current ability than I do so wouldn't surprise me to see him go if they feel he cannot get back close to his previous level of ability. Didn't Lamella sometimes play up-front for Roma? I know we have a lot of options for that slightly deeper striker role but wouldn't he be an option up top rather than the left where he (sometimes, occassionly, allegedly) played last season?
Vert's attitude and subsequent performances last season, should be enough to see us not receive any bids. I agree that the defence needs an overhaul, but I don't think we can do it in 1 go. Bringing Caulker back seems like a sensible option as the players already know him. But losing Daws and Kaboul, and then bringing in new faces could see us with a shaky defence that takes the majority of a season to get used to one another.
For what it's worth here's my prediction of who is in and out... these are not who I want us to sell... just an opinion...and considering my predictions they'll probably all be here on sept 1st! out ... Lloris ... too many big CL clubs will want him...(£20m) ....................... replace with Marshall (£15m) Danny Rose...just too unreliable defensively...(£3-5m) ......................................have no idea who to replace with Dawson...can't play the high line and won't want to be on bench ...(£2-5m)......... ditto Vertongen...cos I think he's an arrogant cock.... (15m) ..........ditto re replacement Dembele ... we will choose to sell and he wants first team football (£8-10m) Paulinio ... we will choose to sell ... no place for him and sandro (£15m) Holtby ... we will choose to sell ... reminds me of Jamie O'Hara ... lots of passion and energy but lacking something (£5m) Livermore ... we will choose to sell ... wants first team football and will not get it at spurs (£5m) Carroll ... we will choose to sell ... will never be in first team (£1m) That leaves Lamela, Lennon, Siggy, Sandro, Capoue, Bentaleb, Eriksen, Townsend, Chadli so no replacements needed Adebayor...can't see him staying...way too inconsistent...will be given a free to get rid of his wages....replace with Remi an extra striker still needed
