Alassane Plea

[Hercules]

I don't understand the relevance of that. I'm saying both Martial and Plea have the same amount of experience of top-level football and Plea has outscored Martial. Obviously Martial is a much better player but someone can't dismiss Plea based off his goalscoring record alone, whilst wanting Martial for similar reasons.[/QUOTE

Obviously? I am not so sure it is that obvious. All about opinions though

 

[allatsea]

I think we can all look at this deal with a slight worry due to the nkoudou and njie failings ? hopefully this guy makes a good impact if signed. Saying that I’m hoping 1/2 bigger names come in if not it’s worrying

Sorry but what ‘deal’ are you referring to ?

 

[Lilbaz]

I don't understand the relevance of that. I'm saying both Martial and Plea have the same amount of experience of top-level football and Plea has outscored Martial. Obviously Martial is a much better player but someone can't dismiss Plea based off his goalscoring record alone, whilst wanting Martial for similar reasons.

Because martial is partly being considered because he has the potential to improve further.
Some think he might be better than son already (although not from stats). Plea might be a good player i just don't see him as an upgrade on what we already have. One great season does not a player make.

 

[Univarn]

Obviously? I am not so sure it is that obvious. All about opinions though

I agree in that I am not certain Martial is obviously a better player today but Martial is 3 years younger and Plea has cardboard for knee caps which I think makes Martial a much better fit for a high pressing, physical, system... if our options are one vs the other (which depending on ManU, budget, etc it may well not be). A Plea that has miraculously cured his ongoing knee issues is probably a very good value buy but I imagine that value is there because you can't count on him to stay healthy.

 

[Hercules]

I agree in that I am not certain Martial is obviously a better player today but Martial is 3 years younger and Plea has cardboard for knee caps which I think makes Martial a much better fit for a high pressing, physical, system... if our options are one vs the other (which depending on ManU, budget, etc it may well not be). A Plea that has miraculously cured his ongoing knee issues is probably a very good value buy but I imagine that value is there because you can't count on him to stay healthy.

Good point

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I agree in that I am not certain Martial is obviously a better player today but Martial is 3 years younger and Plea has cardboard for knee caps which I think makes Martial a much better fit for a high pressing, physical, system... if our options are one vs the other (which depending on ManU, budget, etc it may well not be). A Plea that has miraculously cured his ongoing knee issues is probably a very good value buy but I imagine that value is there because you can't count on him to stay healthy.

I looked at a Nice forum yesterday and many seemed to admire his work rate so I'm not sure that's an issue.

 

[Univarn]

I looked at a Nice forum yesterday and many seemed to admire his work rate so I'm not sure that's an issue.

I would not doubt that one bit, the little I have seen of him seems to back that up. I don't know enough about Nice to have a perspective on how physically strenuous their training is but by most accounts Poch puts players through the ringer and expects that to transition into matchday. I would just personally worry our system would only exacerbate his injury history. Of course I expect any deal would include a very lengthy checkup from our medical team which has been said in the past to also be very particular. So if he gets through all that then maybe I worry for nothing and we got a good value player.

 

[Keefo]

I looked at a Nice forum yesterday and many seemed to admire his work rate so I'm not sure that's an issue.

Did u find out what the nice fans think of the transfer?

 

[nedley]

Not that I am advocating we sign him. But some of the negative comments I have seen about this guy does not match up to what I have seen.

I've seen next to bugger all of the lad. What's his strengths and weaknesses iyo @Hercules

 

[SpartanSpur]

Not that I am advocating we sign him. But some of the negative comments I have seen about this guy does not match up to what I have seen.

I think the main issue Herc is that a lot of us are hoping that now we have scratched and clawed our way into the top 10 in Europe, we've reached a point where we can sign the plan A-B's rather than the usual plan C-Ds. I'm sure you can appreciate that.

You can only get so far with constant long shots. I admit this guy has a lot of upsides, but with our CL status, new stadium and increased wage budget we would be upping the quality of incomings to the level of a Martial or Kovacic, and not just saying 'we tried' and immediately moving on to a much less renowned a player half the price as usual. I'd much rather sign an exciting player like Malcom (or Pulisic or Bailey) and use Son or Dele/Lamela as emergency strikers than go for Plea.

Now I'm not advocating that more £ is a guarantee of a better outcome but I think that's a fair point (especially those fans facing a huge uplift in season ticket prices). If we signed Plea last season when a backup ST was a secondary issue I'd have been all for it, but it seems pretty clear it is a priority role this summer. In which case a cheap(er) punt on a player with serious injury concerns in a league that can flatter to deceive (see Lacazette) is not what I'd hope to see.

While I'm excited at the prospect of Grealish I'm hopeful he's 1 of 2 incomings at CM. But we haven't even had much ITK to say otherwise on that front, so who knows.

I'm still hopeful due to the need to keep Poch sweet, but right now I'm getting a bit if Deja Vu. Just hopeful everything is gonna start kicking off after the WC.

 

[synththfc]

From what I've seen of Plea he's a pretty decent player and I have no doubt he'll do a job, but after all of the martial, bailey, and pulisic links it just feels so underwhelming. It's my own fault for believing the links so heavily, but that's another story.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I don't understand the relevance of that. I'm saying both Martial and Plea have the same amount of experience of top-level football and Plea has outscored Martial. Obviously Martial is a much better player but someone can't dismiss Plea based off his goalscoring record alone, whilst wanting Martial for similar reasons.

I would have expected Martial to considerably outscore Plea if he was playing for Nice whenever he was fit and not a bit part player at Man Utd. Martial lit the league up as a teenager when Van Gaal put a lot of faith in him. Jose is so petty with his forwards. Never lets them get any rhythm.

 

[rossdapep]

I think the main issue Herc is that a lot of us are hoping that now we have scratched and clawed our way into the top 10 in Europe, we've reached a point where we can sign the plan A-B's rather than the usual plan C-Ds. I'm sure you can appreciate that.

You can only get so far with constant long shots. I admit this guy has a lot of upsides, but with our CL status, new stadium and increased wage budget we would be upping the quality of incomings to the level of a Martial or Kovacic, and not just saying 'we tried' and immediately moving on to a much less renowned a player half the price as usual. I'd much rather sign an exciting player like Malcom (or Pulisic or Bailey) and use Son or Dele/Lamela as emergency strikers than go for Plea.

Now I'm not advocating that more £ is a guarantee of a better outcome but I think that's a fair point (especially those fans facing a huge uplift in season ticket prices). If we signed Plea last season when a backup ST was a secondary issue I'd have been all for it, but it seems pretty clear it is a priority role this summer. In which case a cheap(er) punt on a player with serious injury concerns in a league that can flatter to deceive (see Lacazette) is not what I'd hope to see.

While I'm excited at the prospect of Grealish I'm hopeful he's 1 of 2 incomings at CM. But we haven't even had much ITK to say otherwise on that front, so who knows.

I'm still hopeful due to the need to keep Poch sweet, but right now I'm getting a bit if Deja Vu. Just hopeful everything is gonna start kicking off after the WC.

I largely agree with this. If we didn't get sold the line that we will be targeting players who are going to be game-changers only to end up with squad options then the responses may not be so despondent. Obviously there is plenty of time left for that to still happen.

However, we were sat here in April/May saying that we really need to add a big game player, players who can make a significant difference, yet we go from Martial to Plea. He could turn out to be a great buy but we've been burnt on this front in the past. We ain't getting close to City with these types of signings and it certainly gives the likes of Arsenal to rebuild and make up that gap. I want to blow them away, I want to be successful, we have the platform for it.

I do enjoy seeing punts on these players because the reward feels even better, however we won't be able to win any titles in the near future solely buying these types, we need another big game player who can make a real difference from day one.

Sorry, if that sounds like I'm asking for too much but that's the messages we seem to have been getting.

 

[SpartanSpur]

I largely agree with this. If we didn't get sold the line that we will be targeting players who are going to be game-changers only to end up with squad options then the responses may not be so despondent. Obviously there is plenty of time left for that to still happen.

However, we were sat here in April/May saying that we really need to add a big game player, players who can make a significant difference, yet we go from Martial to Plea. He could turn out to be a great buy but we've been burnt on this front in the past. We ain't getting close to City with these types of signings and it certainly gives the likes of Arsenal to rebuild and make up that gap. I want to blow them away, I want to be successful, we have the platform for it.

I do enjoy seeing punts on these players because the reward feels even better, however we won't be able to win any titles in the near future solely buying these types, we need another big game player who can make a real difference from day one.

Sorry, if that sounds like I'm asking for too much but that's the messages we seem to have been getting.

It's not just what we've been told, it's clear looking at our projected income (CL income, constantly improving sponsor income and the big jump in matchday coming) that we are catching up with the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea financially. Harry's bumper new deal only adds to that belief.

Look at what Liverpool are doing now. Salah was a bit of a punt but still much closer to Martial level than Plea in terms of stature in the game. Firmino, Keita, Fabinho, all statement signings in the £40-50m bracket that most top clubs would have loved. Even Arsenal bought one of the top strikers in Germany a few months back.

We did make a big bold move with Davinson, that was big money on a huge prospect. When Poch said he wanted backing to go for the big prizes I assumed more along those lines.

 

[KaNoUtE9]

L'Equipe claiming no offer from Spurs for Plea.....

http://sportwitness.co.uk/tottenham-absolutely-not-submitted-offer-player-despite-claims-otherwise/

 

[Univarn]

L'Equipe claiming no offer from Spurs for Plea.....

http://sportwitness.co.uk/tottenham-absolutely-not-submitted-offer-player-despite-claims-otherwise/

Generally RMC is one of the few outlets I take at face value when they report something. L'Equipe on the other hand I give the benefit of the doubt. Could be Nice trying to racket up the price on BM or we could have put down a "hey hold onto this guy jic" offer. Could be both. Could be neither.

 

[allatsea]

L'Equipe claiming no offer from Spurs for Plea.....

http://sportwitness.co.uk/tottenham-absolutely-not-submitted-offer-player-despite-claims-otherwise/

What a shock

 

[SpartanSpur]

Generally RMC is one of the few outlets I take at face value when they report something. L'Equipe on the other hand I give the benefit of the doubt. Could be Nice trying to racket up the price on BM or we could have put down a "hey hold onto this guy jic" offer. Could be both. Could be neither.

View attachment 39106

My guess is a bit of both. He's probably a backup we have on ice, a bit like what was suggested about Malcom. As such we've probably had informal discussions with club and player which RMC and L'Equipe have reported differently. The player and club may prefer a potential deal with us so it's up to Gladbach to pay over the top or wait for us to buy a preferred target such as Martial. Ties in nicely with that great info from @Trix a while back on why transfers tend to happen late in the window.

 

[SpursTillIDie1882]

Jesus... Calm down.

I was and still and calm its Jonny boy you wanna speak to , Jonny boy started the expletives with stupid reasoning which i just ripped apart , so you calm down or tell jonny boy, ive given him the response that he deserved and the tone he gave it

 

[King of the Lane]

Nice knowing some of you


P.s. Unintentional pun