Welcome Good post, although I'd sell Dembele before I'd sell Paulinho. I reckon we'd be better off loaning Paulinho out for a season as I think he's a good player just low on confidence. If he does well on loan we could either bring him back next season or sell him for closer to what we paid.
Right. Welcome aboard, Changing Man. I don't really disagree with anything you said, except perhaps I'm not sure Lamela has the finishing confidence at the moment to be worth a try at striker. If he did, I'd be tempted, as he's had some brilliant moments near the goal. Lamela isn't exactly universally beloved on this board, I might mention. The "2" was our weakness last year, so it needs to be improved. Bentaleb has shown he's a good DM. The problem is that he thinks that may not be making the best use of his talents, maybe justifiably. The one team of the week I remember him making was as a left back. He also had the brilliant cross for one of our couple of most crucial goals. I'd be tempted by some combination of Carroll, Bentaleb, Dembele and Alli, (with Bentaleb potentially not in a DM role) as I also don't think Mason's good moments made up for his knack of being caught out of position. He really did look like a CAM playing too far back at times. I'd try him as Eriksen's sub, and certainly rest Eriksen more this year. In any case, it's up to Pochettino. If he thinks we need an expensive signing, or even two, that's fine. I tend to think he may have solved the problem in the last few games of last year, when our defenders weren't exposed much.
"I am happy at Spurs and I look forward to the future with Spurs," Harry Kane said. "I have seen there is interest but that's all I know. It is flattering for other clubs to maybe be interested." Kane started for England as they lost 1-0 in their opening European Under-21 Championship match against Portugal on Thursday. He scored 31 goals for Spurs in all competitions during his breakthrough campaign last season, which ended in him being named as the PFA Young Player of Year. Kane's impressive year has led to reports that 20-time English champions United are ready to offer up to £40m for him. When asked if it would be hard to turn down one of the Premier League's "big clubs", Kane said: "Tottenham are one of the big clubs. That is the way people have to see it. I am at a big club." I'm trying to figure out how he could have said that any better and failing.
Hey I'm not saying that, but look at the team those kids joined and the experience they had around them in key positions.
I'm sure both our clubs have signed players that have forced their way out like Sterling is trying to do. It's just modern football, unfortunately. It is great to have a player like Kane that keeps his feet on the ground and isn't trying to bleed every single penny out of his career, like a certain mr Rooney is doing.
The journos have responded to Kane's comments re. Man Utd by saying that buying Kane would solve their striker problem but only if we agreed to sell. They all word it like we somehow owe it to Man Utd and the rest of the footballing world to bend over for them and sell them Kane and that, if we don't, then we're the worst thing to happen to the game
I always find it hilarious when people criticise Levy for getting inflated prices for a lot of our players and refusing to sell others. Isn't that what he's supposed to do? The sad thing is that the same media critics bash the hell out of anyone in a similar position that sells their best players or gets lowballed. You literally can't win with those ****ers.
"The journos have responded to Kane's comments re. Man Utd by saying that buying Kane would solve their striker problem but only if we agreed to sell. So loaning Kane from Spurs would not solve their striker problem ?? Perhaps they should revisit 2011-12 and Adebayor.
"I always find it hilarious when people criticise Levy for getting inflated prices for a lot of our players and refusing to sell others. Isn't that what he's supposed to do?" Levy has made the Spurs squad the football equivalent of toxic/spiny/puffer fishes. They make look very tasty indeed to bigger fishes, but dare you to try and take a bite.
So, Trippier confirmed by the club. Lets hope he proves an astute pickup. You'd expect Yedlin to be loaned out now, I doubt he'll be sitting in the youth team setup for a season, and it would be a major surprise to see Walker sold despite his troubles IMO.
Getting the simple, easy signings out of the way first seems like a good idea. You never know who could come available later in the window so best to save your cash. I just hope these signings aren't setting the tone for another thrifty summer.
Welcome aboard, Kieran. His assist record for a RB is very impressive, if he can find Harry and Nacer with some of his crosses then it could turn out to be a great signing for us, £3.5m for a young, English RB who from what I hear was one of Burnley's standout players in recent seasons is great business. With the **** form and injuries of Walker and the inexperience of Yedlin, he may well be the man that starts against Utd come the first game of the season, certainly wouldn't be disappointed if it were the case.
Trippier certainly does have all the stats you’d want in a fullback we might be interested in, given the idea we need to send quick crosses in more often to keep defenders from clogging passing lanes. He led the PL in crosses and accurate crosses, I think, and created a lot of chances. The question is whether the numbers were a real measure of him. It may be that playing on a weaker team inflated them. I’d prefer not to loan out Yedlin, at the very least until it’s clear whether Walker is fully fit. I think Yedlin has more potential than Trippier, and don’t really see why we couldn’t put him to the test this year. He’s got the pace our team needs, and has looked good whenever I’ve seen him play. Rumors about Schneiderlin (again...), Cabaye, Imbula and Kondogbia don’t indicate we’re really very likely to get any of them, but might indicate Pochettino is serious about spending pretty big to get a top deep lying player. Of course, that seems to be the player we always don’t end up getting. Moutinho one year, Schneiderlin last year.
I am also of the opinion Yedlin has more potential than Trippier and I am also wondering where this signing leaves Ryan Fredericks who did well at Middlebrough last season. I hope this doesn't mean a loan for Yedlin as I think he could be useful for us this coming season, I like what I have seen of him.
