I think Townsend and Lennon may both fit into Poch's plans for their pace and dribbling. On a very simple level, Poch wants us to play at a faster tempo. Lennon seems able to pass quickly as well as dribble quickly. I saw both him and Townsend get deep in the box and cut the ball back effectively this preseason. That not only is effective, it will open space for other attacking players if they do it effectively and defenders have to worry about it. Townsend has looked notably selfish before (most shots for zero goals, anybody?), but I think and hope Poch is getting him to realize that selfishness will get him a seat on the bench and/or a move, and that helping the team will make him a lot of money.
Lennon and Defoe linked up so well together. They just knew exactly where each other was and where they were going the whole time.
I'd keep both Townsend and Lennon, for me both are great options to have, whether that be from the starting line-up or from the bench. More pacier options than Chadli and Lamela but lack the creativity of the other two.
I was up for us selling Lennon this summer but seeing him this pre season he looks pretty sharp. He is clearly adapting to Pocho's philosophy. He seems happy to stay so he is at least a decent option to have from the bench.
Lennon is pretty much a water carrier for us - he's useful going forward, he's useful covering his full back, and he's useful contributing his share of the midfield donkey work.
His work rate is better than most wingers that's for sure. If he stays though he will have to up his game in terms of goals and assists.
I hope all this talk of Poch wanting Spurs to play at a high tempo is true. I am so fed up with looking at some kind of snakes & ladders style that we have seen in the last couple of seasons. What do want: Speed Grace & Artistry! When do want it: Now!
"I hope all this talk of Poch wanting Spurs to play at a high tempo is true" It has to be. If Spurs do not play that way, it will be last season all over again.
Lennon even said that himself, on a TV interview, about 5 years ago. He's only ever going to score a couple of goals each season and it would be unrealistic to expect more from him.
The formation has changed since then though. In a 442 or 4411 type formation I get it. He won't score many. Under Pocho we have now finally got in a real coach where players will be able to express themselves. I'm not expecting double figures from Lennon in the goals department but I really hope his assist ratio goes up. That's of course he plays most weeks.
Im wondering how far into the season it will be when people stop saying lamela's being used in the wrong position etc, and realise that he's just bang average.
I'm hoping Lamela struts his stuff as the season progresses Rob. Again not possible for me to judge, he only played 3 times.
Fair point Spurf. Usually though you can see something in a quality player pretty much straight away can't you, even if you can see weaknesses as well. I just see nothing in him at all. I watched him away at villa last season, and have seen bits and pieces of him in other games, and it's just the same averagely skilled player with no stand out qualities that i see every time. Even if you watch the youtube clips of him, once you turn the exciting music down, there's really not a lot to see (yes i know you dont see the music). As we have to say on occasions such as this, i very much hope i am wrong, but i dont see it tbh. As you say though, time will be the real test.
Lamela didn't do enough yesterday, but he has been pretty decent in other games pre season. Pre season is not the time to judge players on how they will do in the season. All about the prem the bread and butter. He needs at least ten games on the bounce in the league. We will get a better idea then.
Completely agree with that. I'm still looking for something there, really. But emphasise the fact that I AM still looking. I don't want to write him off but at the same time have to acknowledge that he really hasn't done anything that's given me much cause to be expectant rather than merely hopeful. And I know what you mean about the YouTube clips too! God - the number of times I tried to get excited by looking at videos of him at Roma and you hit the nail on the head - a similar video of Townsend, for example, would look much, much more exciting. The fact that history is now being written that "He had a fantastic preseason" shows how desperate we all are to see him succeed. But the fact is that even in preseason he really has not looked anything special against weak opposition AND when he's got a point to prove. As we're all used to saying now: I hope I'm wrong but...I can see him getting a few chances early on, not taking them and then being off in Jan for about 15m.
That's 30, with 5 U-21 (Dier, Davies, Fryers, Bentaleb, Kane). Of the rest, 8 are HG. So any new signings means one of these missing out. Mason might be an obvious candidate to miss out, but he would have to be replaced by a HG player. I guess we're short of offers for BAE! Meanwhile, what's happened to Khumalo and Obika? I don't get our policy with over 21s who aren't in the first-team squad (Falque was effectively in this category too)
If Carroll is on loan, then as things currently stand, to make a squad of 25 over 21s we have the following : 1. Contentious slots = BAE, Mason, Obika, <free> 2. At least one of Mason and Obika would have to remain to have the min 8 HG players.
