Transfer thread for 2016-17 season

I think that our forward players have been poor because of our lack of a Dembele replacement though, Lenny.
The balance of the side is shot without him and Wanyama plays a very different game.

 

Honestly, I don’t think it’s underperformance. It’s two teams that pressed us as determinedly as we usually press. I’ve watched Spurs time after time, and we, like everyone else, misplace passes to the degree that other teams don’t give us time and space. We were as dominant as you could hope against CP, just had crap finishing. The bad news is that everyone will be very strongly tempted to follow Everton and Liverpool’s example, because it worked.

 

I agree with this. I'd also add Kane to the list. The stats suggest it's true. Dembele makes us tick.

Yes, and no, in my opinion.....

I agree with this. I'd also add Kane to the list. The stats suggest it's true. Dembele makes us tick.

I'd add that Dembele also gives the defences something else to think about in open play in a way that Wanyama and Dier don't as often as.

 

Yeah I know. It's a big reason they've struggled but still they all have the potential to play a hell of a lot better and paper over the current crack at least more than they have so far.

Was it just me too but did Wanyama look more comfortable on the ball and forward-thinking against Liverpool? Him playing with Dier in the middle is far from ideal BUT if he can alter his game a little bit and/or the forwards start playing more like they can then maybe it won't be as bad as I thought it would be before the start of the season and before the Everton game.

This is just me trying to be positive. I'm not sure I like the feel of it.

Actually **** it - what am I talking about? Dembele gets an injury and then we only have Dier/Wanyama with Mason as back-up? (If he's still here). Maybe Alli? Yeah - **** that.

 

You mean @Spurs or Sex? , CJ?
I'm of the opinion that if there were dealings, we'd already know. SOS is the optimistic one who's convinced of sooner special deadline day signings, not me!

 

Would you join a one season wonder outfit?

More fool him if he does.

 

View attachment 57037 [/QUOTE]

You must admit, this would be an epic troll.

 

Well, Kante went to Leicester before they were a one season wonder, who else was in for him from the PL?

I reckon if we are both in for him, he comes to Spurs. However, if we don't go in??

To be honest, I'll only be pissed if he goes there, and we don't get Dembele backup. (Or we just don't get Dembele backup!)

 

I can't believe Poch won't be in for someone....then again I can see Alli playing the Dembele role and us signing someone to play the Alli role which would be an easier target to attain. When we do get this bloke...I can see Eriksen on the bench a bit more...he either bosses a game totally or just doesn't turn up.

If only I was 20 years younger.

Love the avatar btw.

 

Really I don't see much hope in getting a Dembelle back up as he is pretty unique. Arsenal have never managed to find a replacement for Viera for example. It's more a question of finding an alternative way to play when he is not there. Eriksen has hardly made any kind of impact this season and he is one our most creative players. The second half against Liverpool showed us in better light and that was despite losing Walker.
It's always the way when the team is struggling for form, we look very short of players, when they pick up their game it will look simple and we will be questioning how we are going to keep the squad happy with game time.

 

I agree with PNP on this. For what it's worth, my analysis is:

Dembele brings two crucial ingredients to the table. Our defense plus Dier is more than capable of breaking down most opposition attacks. What we lack without him is someone who can then taken on the responsibility of possession in dangerous areas and seek to carry the ball forward quickly to bring the attackers into the game. Dembele's dribbling stats are ridiculous - I think he may have been the best in Europe last season iirc. Fact is, Wanyama and Dier are too hesitant in possession and neither really want to take the forward-thinking initiative (although Vic did show signs of it against Pool). At the end of the day, Eriksen and Lamela are sadly never going to be good enough to pick apart a settled defense on their own. Alli might one day be able to, but after 3 whole seasons I think we can safely say that we don't have the next Andres Iniesta on our books in those two. Lamela lacks the right foot and the pace, Eriksen constantly looks like he's caught between two minds - his decision making isn't good enough. Without Dembele, the ball only arrives in the opposition half after they've settled themselves, and we revert back to AVB 2014. Eriksen and Lamela are at their best when the opposition is in disarray.

The second aspect of his game is - when an obvious outball isn't on - Dembele has the strength and ability to simply hold on to the ball while taking opposition players out of the equation. He is, to the best of my knowledge, unique in this regard. All those 360's and pirouettes where he doesn't really appear to advance anywhere are incredibly helpful in that they give our back line a few seconds to settle and push up as a unit - our pressing game falls apart when he isn't on the pitch and, despite playing two very capable DM's, we don't look at all comfortable at the back.

Of our two games against strong opposition this season, we've looked ponderous in the final third and panicked in the first third.

 

Breaking news just cheered me up:

Jack Wheelchair is to leave Arsenal on loan to gain first team experience

 

We've got 17 of last year's squad still - all a year older and a year better. We've also got Wanyama and Janssen and hopefully GKN to replace Bentaleb, Chadli and N'jie. Then we've got KWP, CCV, Winks, Onamah, Edwards and Harrison to replace Yedlin, Fazio and Pritchard who hardly played last season. How is this weakening our squad?

 

I actually agree with you PS. I think our first XI is mental..we just needed to bolster our options from the bench.

We just need to get going and we will be right in the mix for top 4.

Happy with our new signings...Janssen just needs a goal...I like how we go 442 with him and Kane.

 

Based upon senior players, where available, our most experienced second XI currently looks like this:

Vorm

Trippier
CCV
Wimmer
Davies

Wanyama
Mason

Son
Carroll
N'Jie

Janssen

On the basis that we might very well sell N'Jie, Mason, Carroll and possibly Son, that's cutting it wafer thin. The kids have talent but they are unlikely to be ready for a hard season including CL. Even if we move a purchase or two on again next season we need back-up. If we are serious about competing then it's time to invest.

 

German doctors are very good. Maybe a season being treated there?

 

I share the worry the squad will be too thin. It certainly looks too thin now. But I still like our squad this year better than last. It’s not just our starters are a year better, it’s that there are no glaring holes. We have decent or better backups everywhere. Last year we had none in central midfield or striker. The one player I honestly regret losing at this point is Chadli. He had more goals as a midfielder than any Spur but Bale and VDV since Gascoigne. Put another way, he was the only one who pretty regularly looked like a strong player against top teams. The other players we’ve been moving were, frankly, not good enough to start against good teams. And while I wish them all well, and am grateful for their effort, how does it help us to use up money and minutes on them?

 

Whilst I agree, this basically backs up my opinion that the squad we have now is the squad we needed last season before we qualified for Champions league, and whilst other teams were capitulating. This squad last season would have won the league probably. We now need a stronger squad as everyone else in the PL has strengthened, plus we are in the CL.

 

Buying players does not mean automatic strengthening of a team, it is arguable whether United City and Chelsea are stronger than they were a few seasons ago especially in relation to a much stronger PL where the skill level of teams like Stoke cannot be ignored.
Spurs have had a season to consolidate a TEAM and that will count.