I don’t see the point of including players who aren’t wanted. My fear is that Nuno will keep them and use them.
Winks could fill a role this season as the way we played through midfield in preseason is a lot closer to his wheelhouse than how he's been deployed for the last three seasons. The problem is that the question dangling over his head is how long before Harvey White and Nile John are capable of reliably doing the same Sissoko, on the other hand, I'll be glad to see the back of - not for anything he does or did, but because the line of thinking of being 1-0 up with ten minutes left means it's time to bring on Sissoko has consistently failed for both club and country
It is pretty concerning that with just over a week out until the season commences, we’ve got what is probably a 5th choice calibre CB pairing starting, our new CB will likely have no pre-season with us, no creative midfielder with any minutes in pre-season, no proper striker with any minutes and the dross likes of Winks, Sissoko, Aurier etc still part of the squad having not been shifted. Gotta feeling that City game could be quite ugly. Genuinely feel a bit sorry for Nuno. Edit: And no minutes for our first choice keeper yet either.
Was always the problem waiting over 10 weeks to appoint a new manager. Many suspect we'd go into the season under prepared and need the first 5 or 6 games AFTER the window closes to get a cohesive team and style of play. They best we can hope for is a EL place and a good cup run next season...if most fans get this then Nuno will get the time he deserves...if not things will get very ugly very quickly
It’s more about player availability for me - or lack of should I say. Ndombele and Sessegnon haven’t featured all pre-season. The international lads have either played just one half or nothing at all so far. One new signing is in Tokyo and the other expected arrival likely won’t feature against Arsenal if he has to quarantine(?). Probably our 3rd and 4th choice CBs are playing at the moment. This Chelsea team meanwhile seems like it’s not too far from being full strength. Feels like we’re massively behind in preparation. Aaaand they’ve scored as I type this.
1-0 Chelsea. Ziyech. Stupid giveaway by Moura in the midfield and everyone just backed off him. Awful.
But that was always going to be the case. We had players playing in the Euros and Copa America... apart from the ones we want rid of. We screwed up big time not sorting out a replacement for JM back in February. Now we must NOT compound that by failing to give Nuno a proper chance.
Nuno was hired before players returned for pre-season so I don’t think the managerial appointment timing has affected too much. We were likely counting on Ndombele and Sessegnon being fit. We also couldn’t have anticipated some of our players making multiple finals/ semi finals whilst we’ve typically taken time on transfer dealings which has left Nuno with little to prepare with other than primarily squad players and youngsters. From a fitness and team cohesive viewpoint, it feels like we’re miles behind. Let alone quality.
For all the rumours we’ve heard, only a (backup) keeper and (backup) winger have been signed . The team will go into the new season (again) with unsettled players and signings still to be made.
Cup run is possible depending on the draw but I can’t see Spurs troubling the top 6 next season. On paper (yes I know) this could be the weakest Spurs squad in quite some time.
