Over the last decade where we have basically been 5th best 3 of the things that have held us back are: 1 - awesome 1st XI-XV, not good enough outside. 2 - not being ruthless enough with playing staff 3 - not gambling at the right time I think all of these things have been addressed in this window. 1 - I am not at all worried about accommodating all the players, it means not-good-enough ones won't play. 2 - what I mean by this is we normally have a weak spot in the team and we seem to concentrate our efforts on fixing it (left wing before bale, new striker). The best way to play at transfers is to be willing to upgrade ANY player should a better one become available regardless of whether it is a strong position or not. Using Lennon (who I love btw) as an example, he's never been weakest link but similarly he would not command a starting place in the other top4 contenders. Could we have previously signed a better rw? Yes. 3 - we should have gambled the CL year, IMO, we didn't and went backwards comparatively. Now is a time to gamble, arsenal are weak and the other 3 have changed manager. I think a few of us, myself included but I'm trying, struggle with point 2
1. My take on this, is that outside the champions league/title clubs its near on impossible to have an awesome first XI and decent backup, as its not just about having players on the bench who have talent, these players need to be hungry and content and match fit, so there is a concern that our backup players will find it difficult to accept these roles. 2. Its always tricky dropping players like Lennon as he really is a top pro, one of the hardest workers, and while he has improved, his position has been comfortable and we do need more goals/assists from the wing but I expect he will fight for his place yet if he goes to the bench, we don;t fully know how well he will react and may want to move. 3. Completely agree, our lack of signings last year meant we handed the goons 4th and the last two seasons really where a kick in the teeth when we had the better team but gifted champions league football to other clubs.
Nice post Spurm I agree with points 1 and 3, so I'll touch on point 2. Football is so much of a business these days, but it's difficult for fans to remember this, when we develop a "love" for a player. We're all humans with feelings. However, sometimes this can cloud our judgement and it can get in the way when we hear of a new signing who could be coming in to replace one of our beloved players. If we can improve, we should always improve wherever possible. There's very little loyalty in football from players due to this "business" element of the game, so as fans, we need to be thinking in a smilar way. - Enjoy the time a player is with you, but be prepared for change and welcome it. 2 months ago, the thought of losing Bale was a nghtmare. But now, it doesn't look so bad. We just need to start thinking more like businessmen, as that's the way football is these days unfortunately.
Utterly tragic, but true. We all wanna win the league with 20 local Tottenham lads who are all 1 club guys but that isn't happening any time soon. The new training facilities and emphasis on development is a massive step but for now we need these mega-bucks players IMO. Someone said in another thread, YV?, that the youth players will benefit from having quality around them and dare I say it, some actual success at the club. If they can force their way in the team then fantastic, if not then sell them for as much as we can get. If we sold Townsend for say £6m that is still a useful contribution to the club for a youth team grad. Next year we will hopefully be in the CL and everything will be rosey as we will have a deep, happy squad and probably only tinkering to do. All teams need a rebuild every so often, the spurs team of 06-13 has gone, long live the class of 13/14 I say! RAAAAWR
I doubt we'll see a window like this again for a long time. 4 years perhaps even longer than that. We have to gamble on getting into the CL which is by no means going to be easy. But now is the best time to gamble - Arsenal are not as strong as they, United, City and Chelsea have all changed managers and Liverpool aren't the force they were. I agree that the CL year was the right year to do it but I don't think Levy wanted it with Harry.
Am I the only one a bit worried that all of these signings might take a while to get used to the way we play and English football.
Another reason why I'm not worried by the big squad. AVB showed he likes to introduce noobs slowly so there will be game time for all til Xmas I would say
The good thing is that he shouldn't take the flack for it either like he did with Friedel/Lloris last year. I think Lloris is the better for the slower introduction.
I think you've done some seriously good business in this transfer window, wether Bale stays or goes. I think you are undeniably stronger than last season, and with more depth. Is it a gamble? That will only be seen at the end of the season, but I don't think you are going to be far away. (As much as I hate to say it!)
What's the gamble though, if bale leaves? We'll have spent hardly anything. It's not like we're going to be utter **** is it? The core of the team is still very good, so it's likely we'll be more than ok.
Another good point. Goalkeeper, 3 of the 4 back four and sandro gives us a solid, reliable and proven base. We have Defoe and Lennon who have been here a while and I'm almost 100% confident in Soldado. Then we have everyone's favourites in Sig and Dembele (who I'm a big fan of). We've still go enough established players to work on top of. Better gamble than sell Bale and try to just get by without. If bale is going its a necessary gamble
it's less of a gamble than it was this time last year, going in to last season. we only had 2 strikers, we'd sold VDV and hadn't replaced him properly, we bought some average players. - We ended up relying on Bale for everything. Very unlikely to be the case this season.
