I get the feeling AVB is trying a new approach as well, with the idea being that if you get a bunch of players together who are fast enough, strong enough, big enough and talented enough, you may not need, or even benefit from, a playmaker; they can be each other's playmakers. If this is something like what AVB has in mind, put me in the skeptics camp. But: Espanyol was hardly a fair test considering half the squad were little better than complete strangers.
What this team continues to need even more than a VDV type, IMO, is a Moutinho-like deep lying playmaker. We continue to have a number of players who can beat one player on the dribble, and have a good chance of scoring when they get a ball they can run onto in open field with only one man to beat. I still hope Carroll will get a good trial in this role. I might like to see him come in against teams which sit back (as Espanyol did).
I'm not sold on Gylfi as CM, but think he deserves a good run. Looking at what he did with Swansea, his record of producing goals, and the number of times Espanyol fouled him, I think we might be very pleasantly surprised. I also agree Holtby was signed to play that role, and deserves a trial there. It's true (I think) Holtby is only 22, but Gylfi is only 23.
I certainly wouldn't mind a top playmaker of some stripe coming in yet, and think it would be optimistic to say we don't need one. However: I was afraid we'd have a squad in disarray against Espanyol, like the one we started last year with. Instead I saw a strong team that dominated play, played with spirit, and looked reasonably formidable considering how new it is. Lacking the final ball, sure, but that may improve in time. In any case, I'm seeing the glass half full at the moment.
) but apparently he smashed all fitness records in his medical, officially making him the fittest player at Spurs. If true then I can see why he's called the French Tank!