Werner’s Championship level. In my opinion Vicario ain’t that bad to be fair, just needs to be a bit more commanding, albeit it’s also stupid that we keep trying to utilise him from playing it out from the back when he’s not overly comfortable with it but that’s on the system more so than him, not every keeper is gonna be like Ederson. I think Vic’s a top six worthy keeper, at least for now.
Can’t argue with that about Werner. Regarding Vicario, if the system doesn’t suit his style then why did Ange sign him? A lot of Ange’s signings don’t seem to have strengths that suit the system which is a bit baffling and why I don’t really see it suddenly clicking and everything coming good like others do.
I think some of you are crackers when it comes to hope especially DH…got that same optimism every transfer window too no way is Vicario improving because it’s such a simple improvement yet he fails to make it and we are into his 2nd season. look at Lloris for example…was always **** at his near post and always prone for a brainfart. these traits never left him throughout his career We don’t have the players to play this way
Some of the signings have made a lot of sense. Micky fits the system superbly and no surprise therefore often looks like our best player. I think Udogie does too (even though technically he was signed before Ange was appointed). Vicario is very happy bombing out of his box and is an excellent shot-stopper both of which are crucial in our system. As PS has argued the goals conceded from set pieces can't just be blamed on him alone. Our midfielders have to be better at winning possession back without committing fouls in dangerous areas, while our defenders (Romero especially) need to stop losing their men so easily. Even Solanke made sense (it was the price tag that didn't) as the focal point to tie everything together. The signings that made the least sense, for me, have been the wide players. When it works, Ange's system presses from the halfway line and suffocates the opposition in their own half. We essentially force teams to sit very deep and play on the counter, and yet we've stockpiled a number of players who'd be at their best in a counter-attacking system themselves. It's pointless having players with the pace of Johnson, Werner and Odobert if they never have space to run into because our system is designed to suffocate space. What we really need are the more technically gifted players who can produce intricate moments of play to unlock a crowded area. Maddison was supposed to be in this style of player but tbh he's largely been found out as someone who actually needs acres of space to operate in (probably why he did well at Leicester). I'd look to Bergvall and Moore to start solving this problem, but we don't seem to be willing to give them the chance.
Didn't see the game as I am enjoying the late summer Sun in Italy. Thought I would catch up with this thread and I am glad I had a bottle of Chianti close by as it has been a tough read. But in all honesty this thread could have been written after almost any game this calendar year and whilst I don't like to be too negative if Ange doesn't change something in the way we play be that personnel tactics or formation then I don't see it changing and he will be gone by Xmas if we are not doing well in Europe.
Thats a question for Ange to be fair. I think he’s a good keeper though, he’s bailed us out more than he’s cost us so far. In terms of the signings in general, whilst you could say morally it’s a respectable decision that he only wants players that purely want to join Spurs, from a sporting decision it’s vastly limited the pool of players we can get and that results in potentially less quality too and I’d say we’re seeing as such. “Solanke only wanted to join Spurs”… yeah no ****, pal, who wouldn’t when they’re playing for Bournemouth? We probably could’ve gotten Osimhen if we waved a few extra £notes under his nose, likewise Eze etc. David Raya could’ve been a Spurs player too, he was linked with us all window, he’s easily the third best keeper in the Prem as well but because he wanted out of Brentford and not just wanted Spurs, we went for Vicario - who again isn’t bad, but isn’t as good as Raya. Raya would’ve suited the style of passing it out from the back too. We have to accept that in football, almost all players are mercenaries. They’ll want to join a club for generally two reasons: A bigger pay day A higher chance of success. City didn’t acquire the team they did because their players were desperate to join Man City, they joined because they paid them a **** ton of dough and gave them a chance to win multiple silverware.
Bro why you digging me out, I gave our window a 3.5/10 for incomings . I’m pretty sure it was CK, AllLedley, Locky, Hudd and maybe one or two others that gave it high marks. Though I suppose I did hope for a good window. As for Vic, I just don’t think he is that bad of a keeper, he could improve, he probably won’t but he’s a solid enough option. There’s plenty worse than him in the Prem. Which isn’t something we can say for some of our other players.
I got more down on the window towards the end of it to be honest, I haven’t been on here as much so haven’t perhaps communicated it. I think we took a massive gamble on youth and while we seem more comfortable paying transfer fees in the 50m region these days, I think our reticence to pay top wages is limiting our competitiveness on transfers for the next tier of player. Maybe we’ve been a bit burnt on the Tanguy experience there but it’s frustrating nonetheless. If Gray, Bergvall and Odobert nail down starting positions and improve and thrive in the coming months I think that’s transformative, but they’re massive “ifs”.
The manager needs to pick Gray and Bergvall in league games soon. The midfield is rubbish atm so nothing to lose by giving them PL starts imo.
At the moment it's patently obvious that we'll rotate in Bentancur for Bissouma in the Europa games due to his ban only covering PL matches That means there's two spots open for Gray and Bergvall to get noticed, but that does beg the question about how much we'll rotate I guess the Coventry match will be a decent way to find out
Yes, apologies you did, I remember now. As for reticence on wages, it makes it even more stupid considering the amount we’ve saved after the departures of multiple high earners and about 95% of the deadwood. We could quite easily pay one or two quality players £250k+ in addition to giving it to Son, too. It looks so silly paying world class fees for midtable players.
Surprised at your comment Hudd, why do you think they are massive ifs? Surely you can see the logic for Spurs who are just on the edge of the top 6 not being able to attract what are now 100 million players. Even if we were offering 100 million (which won't be long now) the finished article, like Rice for example, will not take the gamble on Spurs because of our record in recent times. We therefore have to try and buy young potential superstars and build the squad. Remember how Bale was written off by our fan base and Modric was too small. To me this is a sensible way to build a top squad and if we can secure a cup in the process it changes the game, just as our stadium has put us up a notch. I think we are closer now than we have been since the Burkinshaw years. We have 3 young players who IMO could soon turn into top players. I think it's a risk but not a massive one and it's the kind of gamble we have to take to step up. In line IMO with appointing Ange but then all managerial appointments are risks.
In terms of clearing the decks, it was a superb window. Best we've had in years. In terms of incomings, in isolation - nothing amazingly impressive. Relative to what other teams did - pretty solid. Very few PL teams pulled off deals that made me sit up and pay attention or feel jealous. But the whole strategy of investing in the future only works if you act on the investment. Even I'm not stubborn enough to want Werner to get minutes over Moore, but that's what's happening. I also remain to be convinced that any of our CM options are better than Bergvall or Gray, so why not give the youngsters a chance? I hope all three start tomorrow night, but if they impress this needs to be followed up on with an increase in minutes.
I think you’ve kind of answered the question there. We’ve gambled on the investments in those players paying off in the next 3 years or so, probably with an eye to what will happen when Pep leaves and the relentless City machine potentially skips a few gears. There’s no guarantee Gray, Bergvall and Odobert succeed here. There’s risk in any transfer of course but signing more proven players who would demand higher wages can reduce that risk if they’re scouted correctly. We can debate the logic behind it and the merits of the approach but in terms of improving the team for this year specifically, making those signings vs more experienced players is clearly more of a gamble. FWIW I really like all 3 of them and think I’ll enjoy watching them in a Spurs shirt, I’m not down on the players, it’s more that they’re an indication of the approach of the club, which seems to have been more focused on the long term.
Unfortunately the poll doesn't provide the usernames, but I guess there's enough information here. Be careful what you wish for lads..you never know when some arsehole might come sniffing around your activities.
Not sure about that. It’s generating more income but we’ve: A) not finished any higher than where we’ve finished before at WHL. B) not attracted a player in their prime with the reputation that would match such a stadium. Perisic is probably the biggest player we’ve signed since moving to the new ground but at 33 we weren’t getting the prime version. We’re essentially doing what we did under Jol for instance but just spending more to do it, I suppose there’s a strong argument to say we’re wasting more money in the process though, had we not done that, then it may have been taken us up a notch by now but that’s on ‘ifs’ and ‘maybes’.
