- Aug 31, 2011
- 1,806
- 5,260
It's a weird result with Spurs scouting and players bought over the last few years. Most of them ARE good players, but many of them either don't fit the team and/or their are too many similar players in that position already. Some quick examples:
Soldado -good player, overpriced, and his style does not fit Spurs/prem
Sigurdson - good player, WAY too many attacking centre mids in squad (when team needed wingers)
Eriksen - good player, outstanding talent, too many players in squad suited for same position (see winger issue)
Paulinho - good player, showed a great engine, WAY too many midfielders choking selection
Okay, a couple full on busts:
Capoue - average player and Spurs had no need for a player in that position
Chiriches - marauding player from a lower league who is not suited to the prem
Some hits:
Lloris - top player, top signing
Vertonghen - top player, top signing
Dier - looks just about ready to step into a starting CB position (only 4 mil, great move)
Please do not loose sight of the issue by disagreeing with the examples I used as you can insert the players you think are good. It is the acquisition imbalance that is at the centre of this post.
So is the problem the "scouting network?" Or, is the problem a lack of focus at the decision-making level for acquiring players? Seems like loads of centre mid and attacking mid players bought in the last few years, but how many can you field successfully at one time? Most were good/successful players before they played for Spurs, so they didn't just forget how to play after arrival. But being 4+ players deep for these positions, and that's 4 players expecting to be starters, creates it's own own crisis.
Here's a point Sherwood made when he admitted the squad was overloaded. I think he put Bentaleb out there knowing he was as good, if not better, than Capoue. He threw Bentaleb in the face of Spurs' organization to make the point that they do not have to go out and buy every player. The academy produces enough players to balance the squad and they expect to develop, not expect to start. Capoue was a pointless buy at the time and has proved totally unnecessary.
So, there is no balance in the squad created by the similar position/role of the players bought by the club. I am not sure that is the fault of the scouts who recommend players though... Who keeps buying players that a.) Spurs already have a glut of starting level professionals and/or b.) Spurs already have suitable academy players available?
Only Spurs themselves know for sure....
P.S. Comoli is a **** either way
Great question raised about flawed scouting vs flawed decision making!
It's hard to argue that both have been a disaster of late.