Areas to strengthen within the squad

[sirleytonbrisbane]

Lamela has improved but a number 10 he is not.

 

[ajspurs]

Lamela has improved but a number 10 he is not.

To be honest I think he could play as a number 10 or at the very least i'd be intrigued to see him there. He ends up in an around that position anyway and plays all his through balls from that position. The only question is whether he's more effective running into that position as opposed to being more stationary in it (like Eriksen on the other side) but it doesn't change the fact that he does his damage in the position of a number 10.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

I don't believe we need to upgrade on any players, we just need to add strength in depth and we need to offer something different from the bench when games tend to stagnate. I'll stay with two main postions:

DM/ Box - to - Box Midfielder - Victor Wanyama
Striker - Borja Baston

Not so Important but tasty nonetheless:

AM - Nabil Fekir
LW/RW - Michy Batshitcrazy
CB/LB/RB Cover - Marc Bartra

I know this is a true wishlist and probably not gonna happen bar Wanyama and Batshit, but they are my picks nonetheless.

 

[richard_gleeson]

We need someone who can cross the ball.

I'm not saying we should sign him but this knockaert at Brighton has put in some absolutely top quality crosses tonight. When I see walkers crosses I feel like I'm watching conference standard

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

All areas can be strengthened.
Question is how many changes can be done and still keep squad balance, and which players are available.

 

[brendanb50]

We need someone who can cross the ball.

I'm not saying we should sign him but this knockaert at Brighton has put in some absolutely top quality crosses tonight. When I see walkers crosses I feel like I'm watching conference standard

I won't knock what you're asking for here, but do we play like that anymore? Kane is well suited and is more than capable in the air but when was the last time you could see our play genuinely looking to do this? Seems to come from the fullbacks when it does but more often than not we play back inside.

That's not to say a player with great delivery wouldn't change things but few teams seem to play with genuine wide play anymore.

 

[Mr-T]

Another striker obvs.

I'd like another player who can do the Dier role of DM/DC, Fosu-Mensa at Utd looks good but I doubt we'd have much luck there. If we got such a player we'd have enough defensive cover if we also included CCV.

Bentaleb *can* play the Dembele role but we may need to upgrade if he doesn't.

Not sure if Yedlin will be able to break in but I'd like to see a bit of pace.

 

[brendanb50]

I think there's a few obvious answers here and we clearly need competition and cover in a few positions but I'd save some room on my wish list for a bit of creativity on the ball. Not sure who fits the bill but a player who can generate a bit of magic out of nothing would be great. Probably what every fan/team wants but a bit of flair: Ginola/Bale/Hoddle would thrive in this team.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

A number of upgrades from the be bench needed plus Lamela doesn't contribute enough goals in the bread and butter of the PL so an upgrade for him in the starting 11 required and pretty sure we will see it.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

There are 5 key areas that we need new players for:
1) pace, dribbling, creativity in behind Kane - a trio of Eriksen, Lamela and Alli lacks all of these and is far too similar to each other, we need a new Bale
2) competition for Kane - to state the obvious we don't have this right now
3) competition for Dembele - we don't play without the Moose, we need another ball carrying M/F who can dribble out from the back to create space, Mason and Carroll should be sold
4) competition for Dier - we have nobody like him at the club, perhaps Ball can challenge next year, and we over play him as a result
5) a real challenge to Lloris - cue the negative ratings but for all the love for our skipper ultimately his mistakes have cost us at crucial times - away at West Ham, home to the goons, home to WBA and Southampton, yes he can be brilliant but he needs to know he isn't undroppable and with Vorm around he has no challenge

 

[PMS]

Two in the striker department
3 across midfield
And a defender

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I don't believe we need to upgrade on any players, we just need to add strength in depth and we need to offer something different from the bench when games tend to stagnate. I'll stay with two main postions:

DM/ Box - to - Box Midfielder - Victor Wanyama
Striker - Borja Baston

Not so Important but tasty nonetheless:

AM - Nabil Fekir
LW/RW - Michy Batshitcrazy
CB/LB/RB Cover - Marc Bartra

I know this is a true wishlist and probably not gonna happen bar Wanyama and Batshit, but they are my picks nonetheless.

Batshuayi isn't a winger.

 

[Dan Yeats]

From back to front:

Reserve GK to replace Vorm. Although part of me would like to see Glover get that role, as I've really liked what I've seen of him so far.

RB competition for Walter unless Trips can really step it up a bit in the off-season. Pains me to say it, but Kyle is the weakest link in our defence right now. Caught out of position far too often and his passing is very weak, frequently landing us in trouble. He's an exceptional athlete which allows him to make up for it a lot of the time, otherwise he would have cost us many more points. He makes me think of a defensive Andros Townsend really.

Cover for Dembele, for obvious reasons.

Competition/cover in the attacking band. Chadli appears to be something of a write off, and Son, even when scoring, I'm totally unconvinced by. He's incapable (it seems) of doing the midfield terrier work that The Mighty Llama has become so good at, losses possession with frustrating frequency, and just generally doesn't seem to be on the same wavelength as the rest of the team. Willing to see if he can improve on these by next season, but I'd be more comfortable if we had another, solid, option,

Back up/competition for Kane, obviously.


With all of these though, I'm very happy with Poch/Mitchell's focus on young or underrated players rather than splashing the cash on allegedly 'proven' ones that may not adapt to the EPL and/or THFC. I'm also totally behind his prioritisation of the right personality and character to fit in harmoniously with the squad, not just technical/physical/tactical ability.

 

[Dan Yeats]

You know what? Ain't gonna happen, but as a depth signing I'd not be at all displeased to see Gylfi back.

 

[talkshowhost86]

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier
LB: Davies, Rose
CB: Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweireld
DM: Dier
CM: Dembele, Mason, Carroll, Bentaleb
AM: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Chadli, N'Jie, Onomah, Pritchard
ST: Kane

For me the areas where we simply need additional cover are at DM and ST, with a possible position also available at centre back.

Then in terms on where we can improve on what we have, personally I'd lose one or two of Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb and have another ball playing central midfielder.

I'd also try and upgrade Chadli with a wide-forward (someone like Schurrle) who fits our system a bit more.

Finally there is an argument for improving at right-back, but I think we're fine there personally. I hope Tripper steps up next season and I still think Walker is improving.

So at most I'd have 5 players brought in (in order of priority):

1. Striker
2. Defensive midfielder
3. Ball playing midfielder
4. Attacking midfielder/wide forward
5. Centre back

And I'd only consider selling Chadli and maybe two of Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb.

That would leave us with:

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier
LB: Davies, Rose
CB: Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweireld, +New CB
DM: Dier, +New DM
CM: Dembele, +New CM, Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb
AM: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son, +New AM, N'Jie, Onomah, Pritchard
ST: Kane, +ST

 

[SpartanSpur]

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier
LB: Davies, Rose
CB: Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweireld
DM: Dier
CM: Dembele, Mason, Carroll, Bentaleb
AM: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son, Chadli, N'Jie, Onomah, Pritchard
ST: Kane

For me the areas where we simply need additional cover are at DM and ST, with a possible position also available at centre back.

Then in terms on where we can improve on what we have, personally I'd lose one or two of Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb and have another ball playing central midfielder.

I'd also try and upgrade Chadli with a wide-forward (someone like Schurrle) who fits our system a bit more.

Finally there is an argument for improving at right-back, but I think we're fine there personally. I hope Tripper steps up next season and I still think Walker is improving.

So at most I'd have 5 players brought in (in order of priority):

1. Striker
2. Defensive midfielder
3. Ball playing midfielder
4. Attacking midfielder/wide forward
5. Centre back

And I'd only consider selling Chadli and maybe two of Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb.

That would leave us with:

GK: Lloris, Vorm
RB: Walker, Trippier
LB: Davies, Rose
CB: Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweireld, +New CB
DM: Dier, +New DM
CM: Dembele, +New CM, Mason/Carroll/Bentaleb
AM: Lamela, Eriksen, Alli, Son, +New AM, N'Jie, Onomah, Pritchard
ST: Kane, +ST

Definitely have the same outlook as you on the squad as a whole, however after some consideration I think I'd switch 3/4 on your list, as I think Alli could be a genuine option to cover Dembele going forward (as he broke through there) especially if we bolster our attacking options by bringing an adaptable striker (Batshuayi) and a pacey/tricky AM/WF to add depth to the 3 behind Kane.

I'd like us to continue to try and do young player deals, bit of a shame the MD2 trail has gone cold. The young LB Rico Henry looks promising. Would like us to test the waters with Oxford and Lascelles also, 4th CB needs to be one for development IMO, and thats only if CCV isn't deemed ready.

Agreed on the outs, would be interested in seeking late PL loans for Pritchard and N'jie if good options come up (and reinforcements came in). Burnley would be a great option for Pritch (who I like a lot) if Poch thinks he needs more experience after assessing in preseason.

Sadly the thing we really need to really push on IMHO is finding a really elite WF option, like Reus and Griezmann level. Maybe we could unearth our own Payet/Mahrez/Dybala but its not always easy. Lacazette may have been a possibility for this role as well as ST cover but not sounding likely. Typically we lost out on Dembele to Dortmund, and we lack the spending power to get the ready made ones, a la the Goons and Sanchez. Oh to be able to add Bale to this side!

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

A striker and a DM job done.

 

[Indacupfortottenham]

A striker and a DM job done.

Oh and I'd take a punt on Nathan Redmond,
if Chadli leaves/Pritchard and Njie don't prove their fitness.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Definitely have the same outlook as you on the squad as a whole, however after some consideration I think I'd switch 3/4 on your list, as I think Alli could be a genuine option to cover Dembele going forward (as he broke through there) especially if we bolster our attacking options by bringing an adaptable striker (Batshuayi) and a pacey/tricky AM/WF to add depth to the 3 behind Kane.

I'd like us to continue to try and do young player deals, bit of a shame the MD2 trail has gone cold. The young LB Rico Henry looks promising. Would like us to test the waters with Oxford and Lascelles also, 4th CB needs to be one for development IMO, and thats only if CCV isn't deemed ready.

Agreed on the outs, would be interested in seeking late PL loans for Pritchard and N'jie if good options come up (and reinforcements came in). Burnley would be a great option for Pritch (who I like a lot) if Poch thinks he needs more experience after assessing in preseason.

Sadly the thing we really need to really push on IMHO is finding a really elite WF option, like Reus and Griezmann level. Maybe we could unearth our own Payet/Mahrez/Dybala but its not always easy. Lacazette may have been a possibility for this role as well as ST cover but not sounding likely. Typically we lost out on Dembele to Dortmund, and we lack the spending power to get the ready made ones, a la the Goons and Sanchez. Oh to be able to add Bale to this side!

I remain unconvinced by Alli in a 2 man midfield. Having said that he's still very young so could certainly develop into that role, but at the moment I don't think he's a mature enough player to cover that role.

As for your other points, I'd keep N'Jie as he's the only real out and out pace we have out wide (unless we sign someone else) and I'd start to be concerned that if we don't see Pritchard next season, we won't see him at all.

With the defender I actually wonder whether we need a more experienced head in the squad, rather than another youngster. As you say we've got CCV hopefully coming through, but I don't think he's ready yet, so maybe a wise-old head to add cover for a year or two until he's ready. No idea who that would be though.

 

[talkshowhost86]

A striker and a DM job done.

Those are definitely the top priorities. If we only sorted those areas I'd be relatively happy, although for me we still have a weakness when Dembele is out (which of course he will be at the start of the season).