James Maddison

[djhotspur]

He's just saying we're spoilt at the moment...

Don't think it means anything more than that lol

Haha I know it’s just funny

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

In theory I agree with you, but signing 7/8 players in summer and then expecting them all to hit the ground running is optimistic.

The signings we have brought in are more likely to take less time to settle (mainly experienced players), but also will take time to adapt to the Conte system.

Also when Chelsea won the league they didn't have the competition that we have.

I am still looking forward to what I think will be our best season in (my) living memory, but I just can't see us winning the title.

Hope I'm wrong

Fair enough mate and you’re probably right , I just think that if we make those 8 signings + then we do have a slim chance and shouldn’t dismiss that.

5 of the players being in before pre-season should mean they’ll settle in pretty quickly and also because conte is so meticulous and his system is so clear and well drilled, most top players pick it up pretty quickly, just look at Kulu and Bentancur for example and they were signed mid season with no pre-season, I don’t see why the majority of our signings can’t hit the ground running.

True re. the competition now vs when Chelsea won it, very valid point but conte has shown that with a squad with many holes in he got us to win what 8/11 games at the end of the season, imagine what he could get us to do with this mega squad he is building…

I don’t ‘think’ we will win it and you made a great point that even if one of city or lpool had an off season the chance of them both doing that are minimal but I just think with those 8+ signings we could well push them both closer than people think.

Why not dare to dream, if we can’t do that now with this squad and this manager then you never can/will. ?

 

[Cochise]

Firstly, I wanted us to go for him when he was in the Championship as I thought he would have been great as succession planning for Eriksen.

As things stand, I think we lack a little bit of guile in the squad. We saw the change in the side when we brought Kulusevski in as the third option in the front line and how much the team seems to regress without him. I have less confidence in a front line that includes Kane and two direct players, we need another creator in the squad .

Other midfielders have been linked. Fabian Ruiz at Napoli is less attacking but would be a solid option for a three man midfield. Zielenski wasn't linked IIRC but some speculated after the Napoli ITK a while back. Lastly would be Paqueta.

I think we also lack a dead ball specialist. What are the dead ball skills of these four players?

 

[wadewill]

Would be very happy with this

But can’t help but feel we REALLY need a CB more than him, like REALLY need one

 

[SpartanSpur]

You obviously know those options but I certainly agree that if we are spending huge money we should bring in an elite player.

I wish I could see the list because I'm scratching my head coming up with options.

Milinkovic-Savic - Yeah I'd give you that one. Could even drop into the pivot alongside Bissouma.

Lautaro - no chance with them passing on Dybala.

Antony - Massive risk at the supposed price.

Paqueta - looks promising but not convinced he'd be able to match Maddision's numbers. Wary of Lyon after Ndombele.

ASM - Much rather Maddison

Depay - No thanks

Zaniolo - Nope

Szobozlai - hasn't gone as well at Leipzig as expected

Raphinha has gone to Barca, Ousmane is staying there. Gnabry likely to stay at Bayern.

Most of the above wouldn't even be considered elite and can't think of any that are on the market. Even if not linked to us they would be linked to someone.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Firstly, I wanted us to go for him when he was in the Championship as I thought he would have been great as succession planning for Eriksen.

As things stand, I think we lack a little bit of guile in the squad. We saw the change in the side when we brought Kulusevski in as the third option in the front line and how much the team seems to regress without him. I have less confidence in a front line that includes Kane and two direct players, we need another creator in the squad .

Other midfielders have been linked. Fabian Ruiz at Napoli is less attacking but would be a solid option for a three man midfield. Zielenski wasn't linked IIRC but some speculated after the Napoli ITK a while back. Lastly would be Paqueta.

I think we also lack a dead ball specialist. What are the dead ball skills of these four players?

Yep this is a massive weakness at the moment and given we’ve just brought in a set piece coach you’d think Conte and FP realise it’s not just the coaching of them that needs improving but also the taking.

Having someone like Maddison would be invaluable just for his phenomenal set-pieces alone tbh. We waste an absolute ton of good positions and chances but with Maddo we could take advantage of them.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Would be very happy with this

But can’t help but feel we REALLY need a CB more than him, like REALLY need one

Why not both? No ITK or any other reports etc have said it’s an either / or situation buddy most have said we are targeting both another CB and another AM after Spence.

 

[Snarfalicious]

This one’s starting to drag on a bit now. Would have liked to have seen more definitive movement at this stage.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Would be very happy with this

But can’t help but feel we REALLY need a CB more than him, like REALLY need one

Might be worth giving Lenglet a few games before completely dismissing him.

Romero is top top quality and Dier has proven to be really strong leader in the central role under Conte. Sanchez and Davies contributed to a great defensive record in the last couple of months of last season earning us CL football.

I'd love a big money CB like a Bastoni, Bremer or Gvardiol but I also don't think it's as vital as you make out. I just don't think they are available for us this summer unfortunately. We were never going to pay the silly money Chelsea are on Koulibaly.

 

[wadewill]

Might be worth giving Lenglet a few games before completely dismissing him.

Romero is top top quality and Dier has proven to be really strong leader in the central role under Conte. Sanchez and Davies contributed to a great defensive record in the last couple of months of last season earning us CL football.

I'd love a big money CB like a Bastoni, Bremer or Gvardiol but I also don't think it's as vital as you make out. I just don't think they are available for us this summer unfortunately. We were never going to pay the silly money Chelsea are on Koulibaly.

got to be honest, completely forgot about Lenglet

Bring me Maddisooooon

 

[mark87]

So Dave Agent was right?

 

[lobob8]

So Dave Agent was right?

Imagine.

 

[SambaSpurs]

You obviously know those options but I certainly agree that if we are spending huge money we should bring in an elite player.

The boss whacked a winner on my SMS post earlier too...

I really need to shut up talking about him but no thread that I can find.

On Maddison I think he is a classy player and has proven he can do it in the PL. He’s also been a thorn in our side when we play them. My main concern would be he seems to be a confidence player. Rodger’s had to show him videos of how good he can be after a long lean spell. Would this player do well as a rotation option and a late sub? That’s just playing devils advocate though, he’s clearly very talented and we have a great manager for any player that puts the effort in.

 

[Living Legend Colm G]

Maddison has always struck me as a brilliant interview subject, he speaks honestly and with a personality to it.

Don't think I've heard him speak before so I found him to be extremely impressive.

He has obvious determination to better himself which shows great character, and I love his understanding of tactics which proves he definitely has superb footballing intelligence.

 

[Guntz]

I wish I could see the list because I'm scratching my head coming up with options.

Milinkovic-Savic - Yeah I'd give you that one. Could even drop into the pivot alongside Bissouma.

Lautaro - no chance with them passing on Dybala.

Antony - Massive risk at the supposed price.

Paqueta - looks promising but not convinced he'd be able to match Maddision's numbers. Wary of Lyon after Ndombele.

ASM - Much rather Maddison

Depay - No thanks

Zaniolo - Nope

Szobozlai - hasn't gone as well at Leipzig as expected

Raphinha has gone to Barca, Ousmane is staying there. Gnabry likely to stay at Bayern.

Most of the above wouldn't even be considered elite and can't think of any that are on the market. Even if not linked to us they would be linked to someone.

Paratici is apparently a massive fan of Szobozlai and he's been linked with leaving Leipzig this summer.

I can see him definitely being on the list.

 

[DanNolan]

Not a big fan of him as a player personally - for the money quoted believe we could do much better. Not a bad player by any means but 60-70m is absolutely crazy for a guy of his quality that is behind the likes of Smith Rowe for England

 

[robertgoulet]

Not a big fan of him as a player personally - for the money quoted believe we could do much better. Not a bad player by any means but 60-70m is absolutely crazy for a guy of his quality that is behind the likes of Smith Rowe for England

Dier is behind a couple of logs for England but I don’t think you’d swap him for most of them.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Based on the latest ITK, my guess is that we'd only go for Maddison is Spence falls through, for HG reasons. I know others think the same.

I'd be happy with either of those players, but for both positions (RWB & CAM) I think we can get better for less abroad.

 

[mil1lion]

25m plus Winks sounds about right. I was thinking around 50m and we seem to rate Winks around 25m. I guess you could say Maddison is worth twice Winks but probably no more.

 

[Timberwolf]

Man if we get Maddison the depth in midfield and attack would be unreal. As WLB says, we truly would be spoilt...

Front 3: Kane, Son, Kulu, Rich, Lucas
AM: Maddison
CM: Bissouma, PEH, Skipp, Bentancur

That's a serious team...