Have we got a deep enough squad?

[Mattspur]

Time and time again we hear pundits tell us we haven't got a deep enough squad so I thought I'd see how we match up to the other top 6 clubs to see if there's any truth to the statement.

We definitely lack quality in the central midfield area, but in goal, defense and attacking midfield we look as well stocked as anyone. We also lack striking options, but then we've known that for some time. So is it fair to say we lack depth in our squad or are all the squads lacking in some way, and we're just suffering a terrible bout of injuries?

 

[Rocksuperstar]

That doesn't seem right... Did you check the printer? Surely Chelsea's runs on to another page or three?

 

[Mattspur]

That doesn't seem right... Did you check the printer? Surely Chelsea's runs on to another page or three?

They're all out on loan.

 

[easley91]

I don't think it's the quantity of depth that's the issue, it's the quality of that depth.

 

[Mattspur]

I don't think it's the quantity of depth that's the issue, it's the quality of that depth.

Indeed. Do you think our quality is worse than the others?

I think our second 11 is evenly matched with everyone else's.

 

[easley91]

Indeed. Do you think our quality is worse than the others?

I'd say up front, central midfield sure. Had Sissoko not been fit, or Moura we would have certainly struggled even more so. Llorente, although had a good second half (happy for him) he cannot be a long term back up for Kane. We need younger, pacier players. Several times in that first half balls were played for him to chase, he couldn't get there. I'd be happy to give VJ a shot, though Poch won't.

 

[SpursDave88]

Time and time again we hear pundits tell us we haven't got a deep enough squad so I thought I'd see how we match up to the other top 6 clubs to see if there's any truth to the statement.

View attachment 44583
We definitely lack quality in the central midfield area, but in goal, defense and attacking midfield we look as well stocked as anyone. We also lack striking options, but then we've known that for some time. So is it fair to say we lack depth in our squad or are all the squads lacking in some way, and we're just suffering a terrible bout of injuries?

We lack depth in key areas. Also the quality of our depth is poor.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Plenty of improvement possible in our squad but I only think Manchester City really have more quality depth than us. No team would be able to brush off the number of injuries we've had. Pundits making the point that Chelsea brought Willian on as to why are level above, of course they could as they have no attacking injuries. We still brought on Sanchez, Rose and Lucas Moura ourselves, hardly nobodies.

Take the top 3 attackers out of all of those squads and their bench would look crap.

Poch is a victim of his own success, having so many players go so deep in the WC really messed with our season, compounded by an awful transfer window.

 

[Locotoro]

What would be interesting would be to go through the squads as you have presented them and to ask which of our players would be 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice picks.
I believe that would tell us a lot more.

Just of the top of my head our first 11 are likely to be 1st or 2nd picks in my opinion however our 2nd 11 are closer to 4th or 5th pick which somewhat supports your point of quality not quantity.

Edit: does anyone know how to set up a poll to see if we could do this for each player and rank our options individually?

 

[easley91]

Plenty of improvement possible in our squad but I only think Manchester City really have more quality depth than us. No team would be able to brush off the number of injuries we've had. Pundits making the point that Chelsea brought Willian on as to why are level above, of course they could as they have no attacking injuries. We still brought on Sanchez, Rose and Lucas Moura ourselves, hardly nobodies.

Take the top 3 attackers out of all of those squads and their bench would look crap.

Poch is a victim of his own success, having so many players go so deep in the WC really messed with our season, compounded by an awful transfer window.

Don't we also do high intensity training as well? Maybe that also plays a part. Though, a winter break is coming into force at some point, so that will be a massive help going forward.

 

[danielneeds]

The squad thing is a misnomer. We need to add some better players to the starting XI. This letter to Football 365 sums it up for me...

https://www.football365.com/news/spurs-squad-can-win-the-title-pochettinos-xi-cant

 

[double0]

We definitely have squad depth just a lack of quality imo in key positions ie wingback, left wing forward

 

[Locotoro]

I'm surprised that we have the strongest back up left back in Davies.

 

[SpursDave88]

Llorente or Lukaku or Sturridge or giroud

Lamela or Sanchez or shaqiri or Willian

Skipp or fred or Henderson or kovacic

I think we are far weaker than City, United Liverpool or Chelsea in terms of our 2nd or 3rd choices.

 

[ljinko888]

I'm surprised that we have the strongest back up left back in Rose.

FTFY

 

[SpartanSpur]

I'd say up front, central midfield sure. Had Sissoko not been fit, or Moura we would have certainly struggled even more so. Llorente, although had a good second half (happy for him) he cannot be a long term back up for Kane. We need younger, pacier players. Several times in that first half balls were played for him to chase, he couldn't get there. I'd be happy to give VJ a shot, though Poch won't.

Surely that is squad depth stepping up though?

Son Heung-Min is our effectively back up forward too, I wouldn't swap him for Lacazette, Lukaku, Jesus, Sturridge or Giroud.

If we really wanted to surgically boost the squad, Liverpool style, I would suggest the solution would be:

RB - Wan Bissaka the dream for me here

ST/WF - Werner is the perfect example - basically a Rashford/Martial/Son type pacey hybrid striker

CM - Ndombele/Rabiot seem to tick all the boxes in this key addition. However since the summer Winks has really stepped up and Sissoko now seems a solid rotation option, so we only really need one 'big one' here now.

Only 3 players, but that's the best part of £150-200m. We are very close IMHO. Obviously if/when Toby and Eriksen leave they'll need replacing too.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Don't we also do high intensity training as well? Maybe that also plays a part. Though, a winter break is coming into force at some point, so that will be a massive help going forward.

I read yesterday we have had 37 injuries this season. Under Poch we've averaged 15.5 up to this point. WC and competing on four fronts has killed us.

 

[double0]

I'm surprised that we have the strongest back up left back in Davies.

I like Davies brilliant pro and good squad member can also play left CB but my gosh what a difference Rose makes.

 

[SpartanSpur]

Llorente or Lukaku or Sturridge or giroud

Lamela or Sanchez or shaqiri or Willian

Skipp or fred or Henderson or kovacic

I think we are far weaker than City, United Liverpool or Chelsea in terms of our 2nd or 3rd choices.

This feels a bit skewed to me.

Son is effectively our 1st Kane backup, not Llorente. He's better than those listed.
AM is a fair point, although Lamela and Moura is much better than what we are used to. It is however why I want us to get one more top class attacker almost as much as a quality CM.
CM we have the option to drop top class players in Eriksen and Dele back. Surely Sissoko and Wanyama come before Skipp in this comparison too.

 

[Japhet]

We need to improve in a couple of key areas. Everybody knows it. Injuries have been our main problem this year and if other teams had lost players the way we have I think they'd be struggling to stay in the top 4. Chelsea and Man Utd have suffered from ego problems in the squad and poor management and overall I think that's a far bigger problem.