We keep looking like we have a plan, and that the plan makes sense, at least in theory. We have a more balanced squad with better cover than any Spurs team that I've followed in the past. We've done what we can to see that an injury crisis won't kill us. How we do depends on how well Baldini (and others) bought, how well Pochettino (and others) coach, and how well our mostly very young players play. The idea is that a few of them will develop into big stars, a few will not cut it (and be replaced by others), and that the team should improve both from experience playing the same system, and because our average key player right now is about 22. So however we do this year, we ought to do steadily better the next few years. So how we do depends on how a fairly well-conceived and executed plan pans out, which is all you can ask for. Criticisms: 1. Keeping Townsend and letting Gylfi go. It's the difference between a player who has never intentionally scored a goal in the PL and the PL's current leader in goals + assists. Also, Gylfi showed ability and willingness to track back on the left in the past, while Townsend has only ever shown a consistent ability and willingness to play one on 11 and try repeatedly and futilely to score by hitting the ball either directly at the keeper or miles over the bar. But even here, we aren't necessarily hopelessly short of options for the left sided half striker Pochettino likes, since I hope we try Kane there, and possibly Soldado. 2. Backups for the whole attacking three look very shaky. Townsend and Lennon have zero history of looking effective on their reverse sides. Paulinho is the established success of the three, having knocked in a few goals and assisted on a couple while playing very erratically in a few games at CAM. It could be worse, again, though, given the fact that Kane has looked effective on the left, and Soldado might well be good either there or in the center. Dembele actually might be our real backup option on the right, not Townsend. Kane-Paulinho-Dembele might just be a very good attacking three. 3. Given the fact that Kane and/or Soldado should be pressed into service in the attacking three when the inevitable injuries come, we're short a striker. I can only hope Rodriguez comes in January.
I've been saying for a long time that Ade is shaky and most disagreed and now most agree. Our transfer activity was labeled a bore fest and ranked 17th out of 20 and I couldn't agree more. As to the striker perhaps Poch thinks he can rely on Paulinho and Chadli to bang them in for us.
The need for the addition of a quality striker has been glaringly obvious for some time now. Why nothing has been done, only the club hierarchy can say.
Striker is the only area where our net spend is positive over the last few seasons. Since Berbatov left we've spent about £80m on Pav, Keane, Defoe, Crouch, Ade and Soldado and recouped about £45m selling the first four and Bent. Ending up spending £35m net to get Ade and Soldado sounds about right and we'd struggle to get anyone better for £18m each. A 'quality' striker costs £30m or more.
We don't need another striker - we need Ade or Soldado to play like £30m strikers (which they are theoretically)
That doesn't get around the fact that neither Ade nor Soldado can locate the goal, even with a map, at the moment! Whatever a proven premiership goals order costs, we should just pay up - it would be worth it in the long run. Reports in from more than one source said that Bony was available for £24mil.
Soldado isn't worth 5 million in terms of his ability to perform in the Premier League. He will likely score the odd penalty between now and Christmas before being flogged abroad.
Remy, Bony and the like are not proven in any way but neither was Berbatov or many others I could mention. A year or two ago people on her wanted Ba and Carroll!
True, but we aren't the sort of club that can go out and spend £25m+ on a striker every year. We took a punt on Soldado, so far it hasn't come off and because we did take the punt we probably aren't in the position to take another one
It proves that Bony is very capable of scoring goals in the premiership. Something Soldado seems incapable of doing, save from the penalty spot.
