Is he fit yet? If not anyone got a clue when he will be back? Really looking forward to seeing how he does for us and would absolutely love to see him dovetail with the Wolf and bang in a hatful for us this year.
We are so lucky to have 3 top quality strikers: RvW, Elmander and Hooper. IMO anyone of those 3 could step in and the do the job required Compare to last year and we had Chris Martin, Jackson, Morison, Vaughan, Kamara, Holt (the only decent one), or even further back to when times were so desperate, the Ginger Pele, played up front!!!
Certainly looking forward to seeing Hooper in action! After the saga that was his transfer it's been pretty annoying that he's missed the start of the season. Hopefully he'll come back ready and fighting!
Thanks Supers. Agree with GoldenEye that having Elmander as well looks like being a masterstroke by CH. Quality player with a decent attitude and a bit of experience to boot and has made Hoopers absence less of an issue. I reckon he is playing so well currently that Hooper could struggle to get a game for a bit and I suppose having him also means that CH will not feel the ned to rush Hooper back until he is 100% fit which is a good thing.
the comparison from last season's attack is startling really but if you check back to our defence from 11-12 the change was just as drastic. hughton is very canny in the market, its just we had to wait 12 months for the attack to be upgraded! i think midfield will be overhauled next summer
re; the midfield - how many of our current crop can you see being in the first team next season? I'd be surprised if Fer and Snod weren't still in situ and Redmond could make a place his own if he contiues his rate of improvement. Personally I can see a new AM and a more accomplished central partner for Fer being top of the shopping list with Wes fading away and Howson being reduced to a bit-part player. This obviously pre-supposes that Fer/Redmond/Snod don't do so well this year that they attract the attentions of some of the bigger clubs.
Can't wait to see him in action, has everything in his locker to score goals He's a spurs fan as well...... Destiny?
Surely everyone will agree: Essential: Snodgrass (Wing), Pilkington (Wing), Redmond (Wing), Johnson (DM), Fer (DM), Hoolahan (AM) Expendable: Howson (Controversial, I know), Bennett, Fox, Tettey, Surman Next summer, we therefore require four new midfielders: 1 Winger, 1 DM, 1 CM, 1 AM (replaces Hoolahan as No.1)
It pains me to say it, but Wes is no longer 'essential' in my book. I'd swap him with Howson on your list.
Given that he still has it in him, although on rarer occasions it is sad to note, keeping him is a no-brainer. If those 3 go (Bennett, Fox and Tettey) and are replaced with players of the calibre of Fer and Redmond, then that would be the ideal situation. Trying to replace him will be very expensive!
hooper got two goals against Braga didn't he. looking forward to seeing him. don't want to contradict superman, but i thought chris said in the press conference pre-Saints he was resuming training last monday, so he'll have pretty much 2 weeks in the bag come saturday - if true might be good for a place on the bench instead of becchio
i don't think anyone is 'essential'. i'm sure fer will be but its still early days and i doubt we'll be able to keep him here for more than a year or two anyway. same applies to redmond. all the players are replaceable if a better player becomes available but johnson, hoolahan, howson, fox, bennett, tettey and surman look most likely to be replaced from the above. i'm a big fan of both snodgrass and pilks but neither are guaranteed to start games anymore.
i think you're right actually - he started light training last week but spurs may still come too soon. we shall see...! would love to see him play some part
The early part of last season you were all lording Tettey as being the "signing of the summer" among other high praises and adulation.. what has happened to him? I know he had an injury that set him back but was his early season form just a purple patch if you now see him as being expendable... Obviously the arrival of a few new faces has pushed him down the pecking order also, most of all Fer who is getting a lot of similar praise to that which Tettey was getting 12 months ago (Though I would consider Fer to have a bit more in his locker than Tettey)
What on earth has just happened??? Dave, Maestro, DH and all of you who frequent this board... I apologise for my barrage of tourettes and Dementia..
Totally agree, but only if CH plays Howson in a more forward position. I'm not sure Hoolahan will even make the bench very often next season. Personally, I'd like to see a Full Back who has a good 'turn of speed', as some of the opposition wingers are quite nippy.
