I like the idea of one inside forward and one true winger, it gives the best of both worlds. Despite inconsistency in form, Chadli has shown he's a more than capable asset when cutting inside and getting into the box, his goal and assist stats have been very impressive this season and I'm sure he'd be up there statisticially with the best wide players in the Prem. On the right, both Townsend and Lamela have really struggled, both have shown a few glimpses but we need more than that, when Townsend actually goes wide, he can hit a decent cross, both with his left and right but he doesn't do it often enough, usually you find him cutting inside and trying a Bale-esque shot that he can't pull off. Next season could be interesting because Pritchard is back and is arguably our best crosser of the ball in the squad, with Eriksen as his main competition, seeing as he can play anywhere across that attacking midfield trio, he could really push for a claim at RW with Poch in pre-season. Having a good crosser of the ball from the right would open up a world of opportunities for Kane and Chadli, Kane would obviously be the target man but I'm sure Chadli would be a threat at the far post, like he was for his goals at home to Stoke and away to Villa, Eriksen would no doubt lurk on the edge of the box waiting for any loose balls or clearances and you could also have one of the CM's push up to pump the ball back out wide if the crosses are initially cleared. Moving onto the Dortmund and Atleti examples, teams like that are what gives me hope that perhaps we can follow suit. We have a very good academy and a young side with massive potential (in my opinion), it does lack one or two special players which I hope can be addressed in the Summer but I think for the first time since Harry and Jol's tenures, where under Jol we got back to being a European chasing side and with Harry we broke into the top 4 twice, there's a bit of optimism on my part that we may just have some good times ahead. Maybe I'm being too optimistic and setting myself up for disappointment but there's something about Poch and certain players that just gives me this glimmer of hope.
Hope. Optimism. Yep that just about sums us up towards the back end of a season. With our youngsters, I am very much looking forward to next season and have been for a while now (without trying to wish my life away). What is interesting is most of those young players are English, grown up with the English game and I am convinced it makes a difference. They want to prove themselves- they don't come to England with big egos. And for that reason I want a new CB partnership of English players who are willing to put their head on the ball and clear it when neccesary ( How many times have Fazio and Vlad lost the ball when just fuffing around?). I would go down a division or 2 to find them if we haven't got them ( I don't think the academy players are ready for the move yet-they need to be loaned out). The Athletico example gives me added hope that Poch can be the right man (re: Simeone). And finally, as I posted on the transfer thread- as a new striker (to replace Ade) I want Chiquarito.
Definitely agree on the English factor, I think it's been far too overlooked by many clubs in recent years. It's often realised how important they are/ were once they'd gone - Lennon and Dawson spring to mind for us this season. But the likes of Barry, Milner, Parker, Carrick and many others I've missed only get half the credit they deserve/ deserved. I've said all season how I'd love someone like Shawcross at the club, a good no nonsense CB who with all respect to Stoke (despite doing the double over us ) should be playing for a team higher up in the league, also mentioned Ashley Williams too. I still think Vertonghen is a very good defender but something just isn't clicking for him like it did in his first season, he was poor last year and has been on and off this one. I wouldn't expect too many bigger clubs to be interested in him if I'm honest but apparently he rejected a new contract earlier in the season so I'm presuming there's only a year or two left on his current deal, which could put us in a position of maybe looking to sell. Atleti and Dortmund have shown that there is a way of achieving success without constantly signing the best players in Europe for premium prices, granted it's a lot harder to do but it is a possibility. I don't expect us to win the league next season but I think there could be a pleasant surprise, providing Poch gets in (and out) the players who he wants.
I'm surprised that Shawcross is still with Stoke, too. His deal runs until the summer of 2018, though. He might see the next window as his best chance of making a move that'll increase his chances of national team selection. The competition in his position isn't exactly amazing right now and he's still not picking up caps.
Are you all deluded to think that we can challenge for silverware or top 4 based on current philosophy . Nice to see academy players make the first team but it will Never be enough . I agree we have no choice as we have not a pot to piss in , except for paying Levy a fortune. Clutching at straws sadly is our calling card . The real hardcore Spurs fans who travelled to Stoke say it as it is . They sang " we are **** " go and ask them.
Of course we could always break those rules. Man City's punishment was a fine. So a fine could just be worked in as part of the cost of buying success, as it no doubt was for them. A fine which is slashed if you register a few less players in the CL which you've bought your way into (the squad is now limited to the number of players that you used last year anyway), limit yourself to a measly 50m net spend in a transfer window (a figure almost all self-sustaining clubs can only dream of) and gradually bring your defecit down year on year. I don't know anything about other FFP rulings but the City one very clearly showed that essentially there is absolutely no sensible reason to keep to the rules. Besides are there any FFP limitations in the EPL? For ages I thought they were just a European thing but have been reading about the Championship FFP rules recently.
I like your thinking! However according to http://www.financialfairplay.co.uk/financial-fair-play-explained.php the PL can deduct points as a punishment. Also any fine is an additional cost which means any players we buy are effectively twice as expensive. Unless the owner has infinite resources and only cares about success (eg Chelsea and Man City) then this is a very risky plan given we start with a disadvantage against five other clubs.
Keep meaning to ask you, Power: is that a picture of Thomas Tallis as your (what's the word) ID thing?
Yeah, just seen the SSN article. Fantastic news, think he's got a great future ahead of him. Seeing as Brentford (unless they perform a miracle) have lost the play off semi, can Pritch play next week at Everton?
He did feature in our final game last season after finishing up with Swindon, so in theory it's possible.
I mentioned on another thread that Tom Carroll looks a very good player, one for the future no doubt.
I've watched him a couple of times at Swansea and he's very good, can pass, tackle and more importantly his reading of the game and positioning is very good.
Whenever I've watched him he's looked too timid. He plays safe passes, takes too many touches and generally just looks like he can't wait to get off the pitch. It's a shame because at under 21 level he looks far more comfortable and does very well.
He's looked good at Swansea and seems comfortable at that level, I think he's the type of player that we should develop in the UK, a technical player other than the big built runners the clubs in the UK love at this point he'd be more suited to the Spanish, Italian or German leagues but if he can add a bit of steel to his game I think he'll do well. It's a shame that players like him don't move abroad and develop their natural game.
