The CL is worth between £40M and £100M per year depending on how far we get in it, plus the secondary income associated with being a CL team through better sponsorship deals, increased gate receipts etc. Levy has been at pains to say that our business model deliberately does not rely on it (and that is why he is conservative with his spending - effectively to date we have spent like a non-CL club), but he must have got used to the additional income for the last 4 years. It will be interesting to see if he is willing to spend heavily now to chase 4th as with the current squad we have little chance of finishing top 4 without new faces!
No idea how people think we don't need to look into a CB. In fact there's not a single player in our entire back 5 (including GK) that couldn't be upgraded on right now.People are saying that it would be a lot of our budget to spend on a position that we don't need to look at, but if Jan is coming to the end of his Tottenham career then we aren't going to get a better replacement than this guy.
Defence needs addressing but I think you'd find Van Dijk, TAA and co would look shakey behind a midfield screen of Dier/Winks and Sissoko!! And likewise Aurier and Sanchez would look far better behind Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson.
I'd love Koulibaly as he's world class but I'd rather a world class DM in front of Toby and Sanchez than a world class CB behind Dier and Sissoko.
Whilst I agree with this, I don't see why this needs to be an either/or for CB/DM positions. Defensively we are a mess and need improving in both defence and DM positions to give freedom to our attacking/creative players. Whenever top class players that can improve our team become available, we should be all over it.Defence needs addressing but I think you'd find Van Dijk, TAA and co would look shakey behind a midfield screen of Dier/Winks and Sissoko!! And likewise Aurier and Sanchez would look far better behind Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson.
I'd love Koulibaly as he's world class but I'd rather a world class DM in front of Toby and Sanchez than a world class CB behind Dier and Sissoko.
I don't know if he is injured but he didn't start today and isn't on the bench
I don't know if he is injured but he didn't start today and isn't on the bench
Surely he’s in N17 having talks now?I don't know if he is injured but he didn't start today and isn't on the bench
Think he has a muscle injury if i'm not mistaken.
I don't know if he is injured but he didn't start today and isn't on the bench
Sweet, gentle Jesus- not againHeard there's a flight enroute to Stansted which left Naples an hour ago, he must be on that. I'll get tracking.
Whilst I agree with this, I don't see why this needs to be an either/or for CB/DM positions. Defensively we are a mess and need improving in both defence and DM positions to give freedom to our attacking/creative players. Whenever top class players that can improve our team become available, we should be all over it.
Our for at least another monthI don't know if he is injured but he didn't start today and isn't on the bench
I agree wholeheartedly with this Clive, I've been banging the DM drum for a while now. But reading through this thread, the thinking is very one dimensional. I do think someone like KK would be a big upgrade for us, so if he's available then get him. But there's no reason why we can't do that AND bring in the DM we both feel is needed. 2 signings would, imo, instantly stiffen up our spine and make us much harder to play through.Defence needs addressing but I think you'd find Van Dijk, TAA and co would look shakey behind a midfield screen of Dier/Winks and Sissoko!! And likewise Aurier and Sanchez would look far better behind Fabinho, Wijnaldum and Henderson.
I'd love Koulibaly as he's world class but I'd rather a world class DM in front of Toby and Sanchez than a world class CB behind Dier and Sissoko.
I agree wholeheartedly with this Clive, I've been banging the DM drum for a while now. But reading through this thread, the thinking is very one dimensional. I do think someone like KK would be a big upgrade for us, so if he's available then get him. But there's no reason why we can't do that AND bring in the DM we both feel is needed. 2 signings would, imo, instantly stiffen up our spine and make us much harder to play through.
Don't forget too that this is just one window and the January one at that. Our issues aren't going to be fixed in one window and I suspect that we'll be looking at fullbacks to purchase this Summer.
But fix the spine first, that is always the starting point for any team.