Ex Spur thread

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humanbeingincroydon said:
PSG were mentioned at some point - which would, ironically enough, scupper Dele's chances of a loan there
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I read somewhere on twitter - might have been Ali Gold - that we have already turned down Eriksen as a potential return signing. But that he's definitely off if they can find a buyer.
 
The Huddlefro said:
I read somewhere on twitter - might have been Ali Gold - that we have already turned down Eriksen as a potential return signing. But that he's definitely off if they can find a buyer.
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Inter's president has confirmed he's on the transfer list
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The obvious thought is this couldn't come at a worse time for Eriksen, because a lot of teams are playing 433 these days, and those that still play 4231 who could afford him don't need him, for example Dortmund have Reus

I'd hate to see him have to move to someone like Zenit or Dynamo Kyiv, but it is a possibility
 
humanbeingincroydon said:
Inter's president has confirmed he's on the transfer list
You must log in or register to see media
The obvious thought is this couldn't come at a worse time for Eriksen, because a lot of teams are playing 433 these days, and those that still play 4231 who could afford him don't need him, for example Dortmund have Reus

I'd hate to see him have to move to someone like Zenit or Dynamo Kyiv, but it is a possibility
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Yeah I agree he’s a victim of circumstance to an extent. A lot of teams have shifted to that 433 with a lot of creativity coming from fullbacks and wingers and a midfield that demands a lot of work. While Eriksen always covered a lot of ground during the peak Poch years it was more front-foot pressing rather than doing the dog work in midfield, and that’s what people are looking for these days, as well as the ball skills and creativity.

Ironically I think another player at Inter signed around the same time as Eriksen is the prototype midfielder that people want these days - Nicolo Barella - a player who gives you a lot across the park while also being very good on the ball. Someone like him to partner PEH would be another transformative signing for us IMO.
 
The Huddlefro said:
Yeah I agree he’s a victim of circumstance to an extent. A lot of teams have shifted to that 433 with a lot of creativity coming from fullbacks and wingers and a midfield that demands a lot of work. While Eriksen always covered a lot of ground during the peak Poch years it was more front-foot pressing rather than doing the dog work in midfield, and that’s what people are looking for these days, as well as the ball skills and creativity.

Ironically I think another player at Inter signed around the same time as Eriksen is the prototype midfielder that people want these days - Nicolo Barella - a player who gives you a lot across the park while also being very good on the ball. Someone like him to partner PEH would be another transformative signing for us IMO.
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The irony being that Conte often plays Barella as a trequartista ahead of a Vidal/Brozovic pivot, with Eriksen getting the shortest possible cameo at the end of the game if he's feeling equal parts generous and spiteful

Eriksen and Dele are both in the same boat at the moment, as most teams are playing either 433, 343 or 4321 these days which places a greater emphasis on central midfielders controlling the game and getting the ball to the wingers who cut inside, and that means there's less teams where they could immediately slot into the starting xi and get on with it, so whatever his agent said to him a couple of years ago has been the worst advice he could have given
 
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humanbeingincroydon said:
The irony being that Conte often plays Barella as a trequartista ahead of a Vidal/Brozovic pivot, with Eriksen getting the shortest possible cameo at the end of the game if he's feeling equal parts generous and spiteful

Eriksen and Dele are both in the same boat at the moment, as most teams are playing either 433, 343 or 4321 these days which places a greater emphasis on central midfielders controlling the game and getting the ball to the wingers who cut inside, and that means there's less teams where they could immediately slot into the starting xi and get on with it, so whatever his agent said to him a couple of years ago has been the worst advice he could have given
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Yeah it is ironic for Barella especially considering he was very much a midfield general at Cagliari.

I've always wondered why Alli has never really worked when tried as a CM at Spurs, which was more the role he filled at MK. He's got that rangy build that covers ground easily that should work for a box-to-box player, and I have no doubt that physically he's up to the task. Maybe he just doesn't read the game so well in those deeper positions where you have to see the game backwards and forwards, or maybe it's an unfortunate lack of application. Either way it's a shame because he has all the physical and technical attributes you'd want for a player to play any midfield position.
 
The Huddlefro said:
Yeah it is ironic for Barella especially considering he was very much a midfield general at Cagliari.

I've always wondered why Alli has never really worked when tried as a CM at Spurs, which was more the role he filled at MK. He's got that rangy build that covers ground easily that should work for a box-to-box player, and I have no doubt that physically he's up to the task. Maybe he just doesn't read the game so well in those deeper positions where you have to see the game backwards and forwards, or maybe it's an unfortunate lack of application. Either way it's a shame because he has all the physical and technical attributes you'd want for a player to play any midfield position.
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I'm wondering if it's the same reason Winks became so conservative, namely the injuries piling up means he's got that split second mental block when challenges come in that takes the edge off his game

In Winks' case it's more understandable given he's had a couple of severe ankle injuries and missed a lot of football in two consecutive seasons, but Dele certainly seems to have lost something since the 2018-19 season, because in that season can be summed up as: started season pretty well, hamstring injury, tried to play through it, hamstring injury that surprised nobody, comes back in a good run of form including terrorising the Chavs at Stamford Pit, thigh strain during the January glut, limped to the end of the season and then did his hamstring again in the summer

Not only did he look unfit for large chunks of last season, but he certainly didn't seem as combative as he used to be when he did play while this season he's only shown the occasional glimpse of that in the few games he's started
 
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humanbeingincroydon said:
I'm wondering if it's the same reason Winks became so conservative, namely the injuries piling up means he's got that split second mental block when challenges come in that takes the edge off his game

In Winks' case it's more understandable given he's had a couple of severe ankle injuries and missed a lot of football in two consecutive seasons, but Dele certainly seems to have lost something since the 2018-19 season, because in that season can be summed up as: started season pretty well, hamstring injury, tried to play through it, hamstring injury that surprised nobody, comes back in a good run of form including terrorising the Chavs at Stamford Pit, thigh strain during the January glut, limped to the end of the season and then did his hamstring again in the summer

Not only did he look unfit for large chunks of last season, but he certainly didn't seem as combative as he used to be when he did play while this season he's only shown the occasional glimpse of that in the few games he's started
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For sure true with Dele. I don't doubt he's had attitude problems as well but he has suffered with injuries and that takes its toll. What is noticeable watching videos of him when he first joined us is how much more combative, sharp, and quick of thought and action he seemed then compared to now. I think it's too reductive to say that he's overthinking and not relying on instinct anymore, so there must be something else off mentally and/or physically.

I think its perhaps affected Winks both in and out of possession, we saw this evening that when he gets time and space he can actually play some pretty effective forward passes, but I think what he's lost is that ability and desire to take the ball in tight spaces and make that half yard of space to move it on/beat the man that top CMs need. Of course when you nip the ball past your man all the time you're going to get kicked and I wonder if he just has a bit of a mental block with it all, because of past injuries.
 
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