Transfer thread for 2016-17 season

Money, money, money

 

I hear you.

In Kante's case though, I think it was as much Leicester choosing which limb to cut off to facillitate expanding their squad, they have brought in a number of players with the money, as it was Kante's ambition. I think Leicester, rightly or wrongly, are very much looking at their height as a possibly temporary thing. Ranieri is once again talking about a 40 points target for the season. That's their business.

We, however, have been gently improving to arrive at a place of genuine long-term threat to the top four clubs. Liverpool have been slightly displaced as expected ever-present top four (and are spending with intent), Man United could well be next, and Arsenal currently appear to be having another defensive injury crisis.

I'd at least like to make an enquiry and have it rebuffed. No disrespect to Everton, but if they can enquire....

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...al-transfer-news-julian-draxler-a7170646.html

..why should we not?

 

...listen, I don't really see it happening. It would be a nice and welcomed twist, that's all.

 

Do you think VDV would have signed for the obvious wage drop but no CL ??


"I think the majority of players are quite lazy in the fact that there are a set group of clubs that they will join just because of their perceived recent success."

Spurs are not a CL incumbent.
There are several CL incumbents who also have deeper pockets than Spurs.

As both of these things have a greater pull to those players on the rise or seeking
the easy option, then if you cannot beat them you have to join them.

For those on the rise, Spurs actually offer a greater attraction.

Young players who have had the chance to shine in the seniors rather than rot on loan
without ever starting enough games for their parent club to count on one hand.
Career development shown thru the number of (Y)POTY awards the club has
collected in recent years.

 

I agree with the sentiment that cover for Dembele would be great, though I'm truly struggling to think of a single name that plays in a similar role to him that isn't already at an established, big club. I was reading some stats on Dembele just the other day and his ball retention and dribbling success ratio was off the charts last season, he's without a doubt the best in his position for those statistics and so to get someone to even remotely come close to doing what he done last season (and hopefully this!) is going to be a nightmare to find.

Maybe it's a case of appreciating that Mousa himself cannot be replaced for his style, just like we couldn't replace Modric and so we need to find/ promote a player that can be effective in their own right for when Mousa is absent. Winks in pre-season has really impressed me, his passing was crisp and precise and he runs about a lot as well which always goes down well with Poch. With Bentaleb seemingly nearing the exit door and Mason doing sod all in the second half of last season and in pre-season, Winks could well be in with a shout for some more game time.

There is one other lad I've mentioned a few times but it's a complete wildcard, I've literally seen brief glimpses (purely because he's only played a handful of first team games!) but there's something about this player that just makes me think he'll be star with the right training, his name Assane Gnoukouri and he plays for Inter. As we all know Inter aren't exactly renowned for giving youth a chance, just like their fierce Milan rivals, they always seem intent on signing players no younger than 28/29 with little or no sell on value and so I think they're possibly the worst club for Gnoukouri's development. If I was to compare him to anyone in the current game it'd probably be Pogba, he's a lanky sort of lad with good feat and decent passing but of course still very raw. We've not even been linked with the kid nor do we probably hold any interest so basically this is pretty much just me sticking my neck out saying if the kid gets a proper break through at Inter, you heard his name here first, although if we do suddenly sign him, I'm expecting a finders fee from Spurs because I know damn well they've read my post and YouTube'd him .

 

In theory, but also depends if your agents name is Mino Raiola. Young player with ambition? I'm sure he will bend their ear so they join whoever lines his pocket the best. There are always exceptions of course but money (and whisperings of promises into the players ear) will always talk in the end. I'm under no illusions that there always has, and will always be, a pecking order but it just seems more prominent in the last few seasons. Leicester shook things up last season and the fear factor had been stripped away from the likes of Chelsea and Man Utd. How do they respond? Sod tactics and hardwork. Just hoover up all the talent from your rivals and stop them form getting the best replacements at the same time. Always been the way of it.

 

Hence seizing your moment when it comes.
And to be fair, Spurs have not done that on several occasions when the moment was
there (2012, 2013) and irrespective of Citeh winning the lottery at the same time.

We shall see if those painful lessons have been learned come May 2017.

 

I think we're going with Wanyama and Dier, for better or worse. We'll have to see how it goes, but it makes sense to me. I think both have enough ability to get the ball forward for it to be a good pairing.

 

It's the second Monday of the month, so once again the Express are clamping their jaws around the "Eriksen to Juventus" bone they've been gnawing at since about March. Stick to unironic front page stories about Princess Diana, dickheads.

 

Completely agree with this.

It's easy to underestimate just how much of a superstar player Dembele is - on last season's form anyway.

Of course it would be great to have two of him, but it's not going to happen.

Personally I'm delighted to have the one

 

We'll certainly get a good idea of how that partnership will work as it'll probably be the one we use for the first 4 games of the season. I for one would like to see Dier given more freedom to roam forward. He has already played in and mastered 3 positions, why not go for a fourth? He is surprisingly comfortable on the ball for a defensive player and has a nice eye for a pass, as well as a ferocious shot. Watching him play for England made me think that he could well adapt to the role quicker and more effectively than anyone we'd sign for big bucks.

EDIT: Just noticed this is my 2000th post. I'd like to dedicate this happy and joyous occasion to my hero and inspiration, Diego Costa

 

The lack of apparent interest in midfielders suggest this too. It would require a slight change in system though i think. It _might_ free up 1 or 2 of the "3" from having to track back quite so much which might negate the loss of the offensive side of Dembele's game.
Like someone else said, our best backup to Dembele is Alli. If we have 3 others on form to play behind Kane this is a good option. I'm always hesitant of playing your best players out of position though.

 

Here's mud in his eye!

I'd also like to see Dier continue his forward migration--and, for that matter, don't think we'll see Alli moving back. After both Dier and Dembele, Wanyama is the next option, I think. Then there's Mason, who may be an option mainly for when we want to get the ball forward quickly, and Winks, who looks like he may be able to step in and fill the primarily defensive role the other three do. I'm not sure what role Carroll will play, if any. It seems he may be seen as more of an AM choice.

 

You know how I'm trying to get over the phrase "doing a Marseilles" for clubs that needlessly play silly buggers in transfer negotiations? Here's yet another reason why I'm doing that: http://www.skysports.com/football/n...delayed-tottenhams-georges-kevin-nkoudou-deal

Meanwhile, as the Express once again fixate on linking Eriksen with Juventus to the point I have to wonder if the paper is owned by the Agnelli family, a more likely deal with Juve is being suggested: with the possibility of a Pogba-shaped hole in their team, and much of that potential fee spent on Higuain, Juve are considering a move for Bentaleb.

Lastly, in another one of those stories that journalists love as it gives them follow-up stories so they get four or five articles without doing much work, there's reports saying that if Pau Lopez arrives that we'll be selling Vorm to Celtic. I have one question about that last part: why would Vorm want to reacquaint himself with the Carnlough windbag?

 

Sorry to derail this Spurs chat but I have to vent!
Pogba 89 mil Stones 47 mil Ayew 20 mil -oh pleease!!!!! this is bloody insane.
None of them worth it aargh

 

The market is ridiculous. I am glad we pay sensible transfer fees in general compared to this. I'm happy to stick with what we have rather than blow money we as a club can't afford to spend.

 

Bale is till more expensive than Pogba in terms of Euros, however. thanks to Brexit trashing the pound

 

To be honest, I'm coming around to kinda enjoying these clubs attempt to power-buy their way to top-four solidity. Liverpool, Man U to an extent and Man City without Kompany look pretty top heavy at the moment. All guns are truly blazing. Arsene should have gone in for Ashley Williams, but I'm not sure he has the humility to admit that he may be weak at the back, despite the injuries piling up.

These heavyweight managers in Manchester are also under big pressure to prove, not only that they can make a difference to their obviously flawed squads, but they can also beat each other in the process. Then there's the Chelsea Conte pressure, and of course Leicester expectation. It's all high drama.

Hopefully, we can just continue to creep, through the season, unnoticed and under the media radar and away from the fanfare and hype. Quietly improving and solidifying our efforts with well picked, reasonably priced players.

I hear we may in for Rafa Silva. Fingers crossed.

 

I think our whole squad cost about £160m which is about the same as those three!

 

Palace have bid £30m for Benteke. It's truly incredible how a player can have an abysmal season and knock a year off their contract, yet their overall value doesn't change one iota.