I'd say Eriksen is a game changer. Lamela potentially can be if given more trust and freedom and if we can get the form of the Brazil/ Corinthians Paulinho, he too could be someone to rely on in the important moments.
Don't forget neither Modric or Bale were game changers when Harry started, he inherited less than we have now.
I nearly fell out of my chair, another spurs fan who actually remembers Modric & Bale weren't at the level (they are now) when Arry took over as judging by some comments, Arry had Modric, Bale, VDV, Gazza, Linekar, Waddle, Berba all in their prime when he took over!
To be fair, Modric had only played eight league games for us before Harry came in (somebody kept mentioning this, I can't remember who...) while bale was habitually injured.
Most players get better as they get older: the point is that one or two of our current younger players can easily turn into world-class players. Indeed they have to if we are going to continue to progress. That's why signing 7 players with the Bale money was a good long-term strategy.
The trouble with long term planning is also balancing the current ability, as in do we have the right balance between potential and players that can deliver now? I would say currently no and out of the 7 players we signed there is a high chance 4 will be flops (possibly more), one may turn out to be world class, one may a decent squad player and one may be an important first team player. We made a mistake signing 7 players with the Bale money but its down to Pochettino to prove me wrong and prove Levy was right, as if Pochettino fails then Levy has screwed up, not just in backing that spending spree but going through three managers trying to find someone who can make these players a success.
We will soon know if last season was akin to 2008-9 in terms of squad churn and PL shock. If so, next season is going to be very nice indeed.
I wouldn't judge any of the seven on what I have seen so far. None have played in a settled well organised Spurs yet.
I'm not judging them, as in case closed. Just this is a crucial year for all 7 and we don't know yet if they are all Pochettino players but after next season we should know which ones where a mistake. Eriksen is the one we all view as a success while Lamela is the one we're hoping is the "next bale". Soldado is the one I hope shocks people (in a good way) but he may take the get out clause of returning to Spain!
Power come on! lets not drag this into another Redknapp debate! We have been there many a time and lets just enjoy having Redknapp back in the premier league and I'm sure you will hope he gets a great reception when QPR visit the lane! But, this current squad (imo), lacks the stamp of an experienced manager, its more the type of squad you would have if you gave someone a copy of football manager (that computer game), and they signed players based on potential, chucked them all together and hoped they would "Gel". A more experienced manager wouldn't have allowed them 7 players to arrive and instead would have signed players for now but because thats too risky (for enic), the long term planning sits well with their idea of maximising player purchases and hoping it all clicks into place but too much of what we have is potential.
I wasn't trying to, honest! But I'm genuinely confused as to why everyone thinks we have a bad squad, two disastrous managers, signed the wrong players and our Chairman is an idiot but we still finished above Man Utd. I actually think we have a good Chairman and a good squad which was poorly used through most of last year and nevertheless did OK.
I agree with this 100%. When we concluded our business last summer, despite being disappointed with the Bale departure I was amazed and excited with some of the players we managed to bring to the club. Eriksen as many of you know is a player I've admired for years and genuinely believe that he'll play for one of the best in the world one day and Erik Lamela was regarded by many as the best U-21 player in European football. Paulinho joined after a superb Confeds Cup, Soldado joined after smashing a shed load of goals, Chadli also enjoyed his highest scoring spell with Twente, Capoue is/ was a French international and Vlad is the captain of Romania. Adding them to what was already a decent/ good squad filled me with confidence that we could be in for a good season. I'm not saying the managers are solely to blame for the poor performances of some, the players are just as much to blame but it certainly didn't help having one manager that played a defensive system with an attack-minded squad of players while the other openly criticised and seemingly isolated others where he also lacked leadership by sitting in the stands for a number of games. Poch seems a decent bloke, all the Soton players have praised him highly and said what a great guy he is to work under, this fills me with confidence that he can lift the spirits of some and get us playing the football we know our lot can play. I hope, more so than ever, that my confidence in the man/ squad will be proved right.
