The way forward for 2019-20

If you added an l and an i, he'd be Wilkins

 

Thoughts on the pre-season strategy ...

1. Spurs (manager + players) have to start getting tough on any nation
looking to flog our players into the ground this summer for any stupid
(non-tournament qualifier) games.

England and Korea in particular : Spurs owe you NOTHING.


2. We know that certain players are going to have to do the "PR" and
play in games, but for them I want final 15-20 min turnouts. Meanwhile we
want the likes of KWP/Wanyama/Janssen etc to be in the starting XIs for
these games and getting as much competitive time in their legs as possible.

I don't care if they are going to be sold etc or are Pochettino outcasts,
I want them fully PL match fit for the start of the season as if an injury
plague has already put our best starting XI out for 4 months.

 

Replacing Dembele is a big step in the right direction.
I'm curious to see what happens with Alderweireld and Eriksen - both would be hard to replace.

 

Toby's replacement is Dave Sanchez. We'll need another body (unless Dier/ Davies are permanently moved to CB) should Toby go but his long term replacement has already been here for two years.

Eriksen is different. Impossible to replace with someone of equal or better talent unless Man City suddenly put de Bruyne up for sale. It's why myself, Hudd and a couple others feel a switch to 433 is on the cards because otherwise pursuing Lo Celso AND Ceballos wouldn't make sense if we were keeping a 4231 formation.

If we do lose Eriksen but sign Lo Celso and Ceballos, it's the second best option Spurs can have after keeping Eriksen. If we can bring in a RB then it's near enough a perfect window for Spurs.

A line-up with options looking something like:

Hugo
Dani Alves?, Dave, Jan, Rose/ Davies
Ndombele, Sissoko/ Winks/ Ceballos, Lo Celso
Lucas/ Alli, Kane, Son

Would definitely excite me.

 

Like DH says there’s no point trying to replace Eriksen, not only because he’s really good but because we need to change the way we play - it was getting a bit stale and there were too many players wanting to fill the same space, especially when we tried to fit the DESK into a 4231. A direct Eriksen replacement helps nobody.

Personally I think that:
Gazza
*New RB Dave Jan Rose
NDombele Winks Alli
Moura Kane Son

Is a balanced and dangerous team - you can swap a DM in for Winks when it’s one of the games where we don’t expect to be dominating possession or even when up against a particularly dangerous counterattacking team like Wolves, if you wanted. For me securing a RB has to be the priority now, followed by another midfielder.

 

You may find that "New RB" is Foyth.

 

That may be true. He’ll need to improve his crossing and such but he’s technically quite strong (I think I read somewhere he played as an attacking mid for years before converting to CB reasonably recently) and it could work.

 

The FBs really do depend on how we line up further forward.

Davies and Foyth would make sense at FB if we have an attack-minded midfield and so they can remain deeper in their own half to create a more rigid back line ready for a counter should one happen.

Rose and New RB would make sense if one of Dier or Winks are in the midfield as neither offer much going forward and so will sit back whilst the FBs can press on.

 

All the signs are pointing in this direction, including the recent interview he gave on the subject, the fact that the club have now made Aurier available as well as Trippier, and the real lack of options out there (Dani Alves is the only name that keeps doing the rounds, which tells its own story). I think DH's assessment is spot on. There is every chance we'll line up with Foyth and Davies as first choice FBs next season, shifting to a more defensively capable, technically gifted back line.

To my mind if Llorente has indeed left the club (if I'm honest even if he hasn't) we need to be searching far and wide for a proper Kane back up. I like Son and even Lucas leading the line but we need a player who can bully defenders and dominate space like Kane does. We are of the stature and have a wage ceiling where the 'but who would come here to sit on the bench' excuse is beginning to wear thin. We need another attempt at a Janssen but to get it right this time. As much as Llorente contributed last season, he doesn't and never will suit our style of play. This means that the overall quality of our game drops off a cliff when Kane's ankles inevitably give way (now apparently a bi-annual tradition), hence the panic and rush to wedge him back into the side semi-fit. We need to bring someone in to bridge that gap in quality, allowing Son and Lucas to play in their best positions and Kane longer to recover.

Right now I'd say Pool are slightly behind us in this regard as Firmino-Origi isn't as good as Kane-Llorente, but that is only because Kane is so good. City on the other hand are miles ahead with Aguero-Jesus.

No names immediately spring to mind but Leicester picking up Ayoze Perez for £30m was the right sort of player at the right sort of price (also would have stopped the fecker scoring against us every time we play them). Others have suggested Mitrovic and if his attitude wasn't such a concern I'd agree.

 

The backup striker is definitely a tough one, not too many sides have a good striker sitting on the bench. PSG’s backup is Choupo-Moting! Whilst Barca had Kevin Prince-Boateng on loan to be Suarez’s understudy.

Realistically only City as you’ve already mentioned, Juve (Mandzukic) and Madrid (Jovic, albeit he’ll displace Benzema in time) have elite level second choice strikers.

Agree on Mitrovic’s attitude although he won’t happen anyway as he just signed a new deal.

I don’t think Newcastle have signed Rondon yet, he could be an option as he’s essentially a younger version of Llorente.

I’ve banged the Ollie Watkins drum a few times, he’s also capable of playing anywhere behind the striker too, although Brentford look set to sell Maupay so may be very reluctant to let Watkins go as well.

It’s a shame Tammy Abraham plays for Chelsea as I think he’d be a good option.

 

Start the boy Parrott in all the pre-season games.

A new Michael Owen in waiting, or still a "rough diamond" ??
Time to "be brave" and ask the question (when the cost is zero) ...

 

Yeah I’m all for giving him chances in pre-season but it’s still way too early to be asking him to deputise for Kane. He hasn’t even had a full season with the U23s yet.

 

If the boy shows promise in the pre-season, then the opportunities
throughout the season by definition become incremental (sub
appearances in certain PL games - when the result is done and dusted etc) .

 

You still need a more established player around. Can’t be going into a Prem and CL season with a 17 year old as your main backup to Kane.

 

Janssen and Llorente are more established (and thus main backup) .

 

One's to be sold and the other's contract expired.

 

Until either happens officially in the next 4 weeks, they are still
currently the back-ups to Kane.

 

I mean, Llorente isn't currently a Tottenham player but ok.

 

I'd go for Vardy

Can play anywhere across the front line and provide Kane with actual competition

 

Ok as a player but as an individual would you want him anywhere near our dressing room, no thanks