There was definitely one match last season where Chadli was moved up front to see out the last ten minutes and that let the opponents back into the game due to his complete inability to hold up the ball.
Are you thinking Stoke earlier this season? Kane came off, Chadli went up top and dropped points, I think.
"If the Fulham lad signs we could call them Belgian Dembele and French Dembele to distinguish?" Bembele and Frembele ??
Correct. Possibly out most disappointing result this season having utterly dominated the first hour or so and taken a fully deserved 2-0 lead, we conspired to throw it all away. The two main reasons were lack of an outlet up top when the inevitable kitchen sink was thrown by Stoke, and some circa 2014 defending. Another two well taken goals from Chadli doesn't change my opinion of him though. He isn't a frontman and due to his overall contribution is probably better as an impact sub.
According to The Star Online, Man Utd. are plotting a raid for Harry Kane, Dele Alli and 2 of our full backs. The journalist (I'm being generous here) doesn't even say which two. Apparently there may be some opposition "as Spurs are still in 3 competitions and Pochettino wants to keep his squad together". In The Express Pochettino is said to be "desperate to do so." I know most people who look at The Star can't read and The Express is for people who only want to read about Diana but...really wouldn't they be better off saying that Spurs players want to leave as Pochettino has been showing them pictures of a half naked Diana showing Levy her tits?
Yeah - please don't think that I think Son or Chadli are able deputies for Kane! It's just that, unless Poch makes it abundantly clear that it's not the case, I can imagine Levy looking at what Poch has done when having his hand forced to use some of the second string and even experiment with them in different positions he might think it's doable. "If Poch can transform Dembele into a key midfielder for us surely he can convert big, good-in-the-air, knows-where-the-goal-is Chadli into a half-decent striker if need be and save us a few million." I can imagine him having that thought. Maybe the greatest worry about Poch's success with this squad is that he'll make it look like pretty much any sow's ear can be turned into a silk purse. Apart from a Fazio-shaped one, obviously.
On the plus side, at least we won't spend a third summer on the trot wondering who NEW STRIKER will be. I like the idea of signing a player in January so that they get a full pre-season at the club instead of faffing about in our traditional Laurel n Hardy-esque panic during the closing minutes of August. I strongly suspect that Alli's incredibly quick adjustment to the team and PL life was partly down to this.
Veljkovic is supposedly joining Bremen for £500k + add-ons. Alex Pritchard is joining Burnley on loan, which he probably needs. Still no news on anyone coming in.
I don't think Berahino is the right person anymore, least of all given the money they're supposedly demanding and his 3-month long tantrum. The annoying thing about him is that whenever Pulis does play him, he scores - as he showed again yesterday with two well taken goals. I've always thought that the logic behind signing him involved pretty reasonable assumptions that Lamela would continue to be cack, Alli and Son would need at least a year to adapt, and Dembele the Elder would maintain his severe allergic reaction to passing forwards and/or scoring. Since none of the above ended up transpiring, I think the Berahino ship has well and truly sailed. Having watched Fulham a few times this season (the wife hails from Craven Cottage stock), Dembele the Younger seems much more like the type of player we'd need as proper cover for Kane. He's been a rare bright spark in a largely abysmal team. Strong, quick, two-footed, excellent in the air and has a real selfish streak in front of goal that I like in a lone striker. I know a number of posters have argued that a small, quick, skilful player like Berahino would be a good addition in order to shake things up and have a plan B, but in all honesty I'm starting to trust our plan A so much that I think if we continue to strengthen in like-for-like depth and nurture the young players to perfect the plan A that Poch has devised, we will eventually be too good for most teams to handle; even those who sit back in their 18 yard boxes for 88 minutes of the game. When you look at the true greats of the game; Barca, Bayern, Juventus, United under Fergie etc. they don't really have 'plan B's', simply because they don't need them. Maybe I'm getting carried away.
As someone who hasn't seen him play , this is good to hear. I have seen the odd snipet but that doesn't tell the whole story-so thanks. However what I think we lack is the 'magical player'. City have Aguero, dare I say Woolwich have Sanchez, on his day Costa; a player who can take the ball , round two or three players in a tight situation and score, and does it regularly,not a one off.
There is always the element of fear that Dembele simply looks good because Fulham are utter tripe aside for him and McCormack up front. Another striker and former trainee of ours Cauley Woodrow has also had a pretty decent season and looks like another good young prospect. They've scored 43 goals this season - only Burnley and Hull have managed more! It's their too open, expansive style and appalling defence that has left them in the relegation battle that they're in. At the end of the day, Dele Alli is the exception rather than the rule, so while I have high hopes for Moussa II, I can't say that I'm that optimistic. Another factor that I think makes a massive difference is that MK Dons were a club on the up during Alli's last season there, whereas Fulham are very much in damage control mode both on and off the pitch. I'd imagine it can affect a youngster's confidence and self-belief if the environment is changed that drastically. And as for a 'magic' player, we have Chadli
There is no need for a plan B if Plan A is correct. If you've worked out a way of playing which gives a better chance of winning the game then why change to an inferior plan just because the opposition have coped well so far. I'd much prefer to have a like-for-like player to replace Kane but there is actually no point in having such a player unless he is better than two of Chadli, Alli, Lamela, Son or Eriksen because any four of those playing as a flexible front four will cause most defences all sorts of problems.
Probably a late derisory bid an hour until the the deadline. If we don't sign a striker in this window then it's beyond a joke. Most teams have 3-4 in their squad.
