So I was looking at our team the other day and realized how many greatly-improved players we have. And in fact the entire first team plus a few regulars break down mostly into either a) been between very good and excellent since the minute we bought them (Toby, Alli, Dier, Verts, Lloris, Eriksen...) or b) improved tremendously since we bought them/they broke through into the first team.
I've got a top four but first some notable absentees: Vorm: has improved a lot this season but in my mind it's more of a return to what we thought he was capable of before he moved. Dembele: sort of ditto in a way only this time it's more like he's improved into the player we always thought he sort of could be and that he's shown signs of. Davies: He was not that bad when we he first joined, tbh, has looked a solid option without making the spot his own but he's not just pushed Rose - he's also looking an all-round better player these days, it seems to me. But not seen any sort of amazing improvement to be fair since he joined. Solid progress and performances, let's say.
So the top 4 would be:
4) Kyle Walker. Now the only reason he's so low down the list is because he's always been pretty decent. But England regular (and arguably one of the best players at that) and club stalwart? Didn't really see that coming. So honest and hardworking and perfect for our system. One of our players of the season so far.
3) Erik Lamela. Not that's he's better than Walker - he's not. But **** me he looked crap when he joined. But he's completely bought into the Poch system, he's become so much stronger both on and off the ball, he's even starting to be someone who I actually would trust with a penalty (oh well - it was bloody **** as it turned out but at least it shows you something that he wanted it). I genuinely think something might happen when he's on the ball around the area nowadays. Still needs to use his right foot a hell of a lot more. It's not *that* bad. But genuinely a totally different and more effective player than the flash-harry weakling kid whose tricks never came off and couldn't pass who turned up in 2013.
2) Ooh. This is hard. It's gonna have to be Harry Kane. Who saw that coming? Jesus Christ - all those years of waiting for Dean Marney or Terry Dixon or Jon Obika or one of these other hot young things to do something and then this lad turns up who looked okay, nothing too special, "quietly competent" is how he looked to me. Might do alright as a professional. Not at all excited to have him on the bench during Europa games, that sort of thing.
Holy. ****. He's now one of the best strikers in the league and probably Europe. Hasn't been at it this season but he's class - no doubt about it. We got ourselves the best youth product since Ledley. Easy. And I can't really imagine a youth product being better than Ledley. Maybe one with some knee cartilage might be an improvement.
1) See Kane looked alright. But Danny Rose? I think I can quote myself from a few years ago saying "So he's a not-terribly effective left winger converted to a not-very-effective left back". Sure part of his improvement has been that the current system actually doesn't call for him to be an orthodox left-back or winger. And he fits that middle ground perfectly. But what a beast of a player he is now! How often does he win headers? You seen the size of him? Just full of energy, can use the ball well, doesn't mind a shot and I do now believe he can defend. He could easily be a LB in a trad 4-4-2 now, though he'd be wasted. Yes he used to make some big mistakes but even they seem to be fading from memory. Has he had any cock-ups at all this season? All in all I think he is the player, from our current squad, who I have been the most wrong about. Wrote him off a few years ago. Now I wouldn't want to swap him for anyone.
I've got a top four but first some notable absentees: Vorm: has improved a lot this season but in my mind it's more of a return to what we thought he was capable of before he moved. Dembele: sort of ditto in a way only this time it's more like he's improved into the player we always thought he sort of could be and that he's shown signs of. Davies: He was not that bad when we he first joined, tbh, has looked a solid option without making the spot his own but he's not just pushed Rose - he's also looking an all-round better player these days, it seems to me. But not seen any sort of amazing improvement to be fair since he joined. Solid progress and performances, let's say.
So the top 4 would be:
4) Kyle Walker. Now the only reason he's so low down the list is because he's always been pretty decent. But England regular (and arguably one of the best players at that) and club stalwart? Didn't really see that coming. So honest and hardworking and perfect for our system. One of our players of the season so far.
3) Erik Lamela. Not that's he's better than Walker - he's not. But **** me he looked crap when he joined. But he's completely bought into the Poch system, he's become so much stronger both on and off the ball, he's even starting to be someone who I actually would trust with a penalty (oh well - it was bloody **** as it turned out but at least it shows you something that he wanted it). I genuinely think something might happen when he's on the ball around the area nowadays. Still needs to use his right foot a hell of a lot more. It's not *that* bad. But genuinely a totally different and more effective player than the flash-harry weakling kid whose tricks never came off and couldn't pass who turned up in 2013.
2) Ooh. This is hard. It's gonna have to be Harry Kane. Who saw that coming? Jesus Christ - all those years of waiting for Dean Marney or Terry Dixon or Jon Obika or one of these other hot young things to do something and then this lad turns up who looked okay, nothing too special, "quietly competent" is how he looked to me. Might do alright as a professional. Not at all excited to have him on the bench during Europa games, that sort of thing.
Holy. ****. He's now one of the best strikers in the league and probably Europe. Hasn't been at it this season but he's class - no doubt about it. We got ourselves the best youth product since Ledley. Easy. And I can't really imagine a youth product being better than Ledley. Maybe one with some knee cartilage might be an improvement.
1) See Kane looked alright. But Danny Rose? I think I can quote myself from a few years ago saying "So he's a not-terribly effective left winger converted to a not-very-effective left back". Sure part of his improvement has been that the current system actually doesn't call for him to be an orthodox left-back or winger. And he fits that middle ground perfectly. But what a beast of a player he is now! How often does he win headers? You seen the size of him? Just full of energy, can use the ball well, doesn't mind a shot and I do now believe he can defend. He could easily be a LB in a trad 4-4-2 now, though he'd be wasted. Yes he used to make some big mistakes but even they seem to be fading from memory. Has he had any cock-ups at all this season? All in all I think he is the player, from our current squad, who I have been the most wrong about. Wrote him off a few years ago. Now I wouldn't want to swap him for anyone.
moment, he will become a pivotal player for us again...he's just getting his bearings in order.