How "Deep" Do You Expect Our Squad To Be?

[RichieS]

Our "lack of squad depth" was something that was often commented on last season and even now, after a transfer window in which all of our stated aims were achieved, some people are saying that we still lack depth ("paper thin squad" is a phrase I've seen this evening).

Lloris, Gazzaniga
Foyth, Walker-Peters, (Aurier)
Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Sánchez
Rose, Davies, Sessegnon
Dier, Wanyama, Winks, Ndombélé, Lo Celso, Sissoko
Lucas, Lamela, Eriksen, Dele, Son, (Nkoudou)
Kane

I've only included players from the "First Team Players & Squad" page on the OS but there are obviously talented youngsters waiting in the wings (e.g. Tanganga, Skipp and Parrott). I don't believe that Aurier and Nkoudou will be with us in September.

That's the second strongest group of players in the league imo. Personally, I would only get slightly twitchy if Hugo got a long term injury but I know that's irrational (how often is any team forced to play their 3rd choice GK?).

People will pick up on right-back but Poche has clearly decided Foyth is his man. The other one that always gets raised is "Kane backup". It's Son. It's been Son for the last 2 seasons and will continue to be him in the future.

So come on, how much "deeper" can our squad realistically be?

 

[Graysonti]

You forgot to add Parrot next to Kane.

This kid is going to be seriously good and this is the season first team integration starts imo.

 

[mpickard2087]

You should know by now, it's never enough for the transfer junkies.

 

[JKendall13]

In my view we’ve essentially added 6 new players to the first team squad: NDombele, Lo Celso, Sess, Parrott, Skipp, and KWP (the last two had under 10 appearances in all comps last year) while losing 2-3 squad players from last season in Trippier, Llorente, and maybe Eriksen. GKN doesn’t count as he made 1 appearance last year.

What we’ve really improved is our midfield depth, which was appalling last season due to injuries and sales.

Ultimately, what will truly define the quality of our depth this season is injuries. If we can keep the likes of Dier, Winks, Lamela, Aurier, Rose, Kane, and other oft-injured players healthy for most of the season, then I think we’re looking significantly better than last season. With more depth on paper this season, hopefully rotation will help avoid some of those injuries.

The signings combined with a nice infusion of academy products who look ready for the first team is a real boost and should give us some fire and energy we’ve been missing.

 

[journeyman]

I think we could yet see any or all of Eriksen, Wanyama, N’koudou sold abroad. I hope we don’t sell Toby or Rose.

But yes, depth looking good right this minute.

 

[Shadydan]

You should know by now, it's never enough for the transfer junkies.

We need more according to them just in case our 3d choice RB gets injured for 1 match or something

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

“Deeper” than what has been the case of late and “deep enough” to not blow the cup final of a life time.

“Depth” is not only about number of players you can list on an online forum, but about players you would actually “want” to use.

“Deep squad” is about balance, reliable players and a sense of overall match day squad quality, not only about having 7 AMs and only feel good about using 4 of them.

Anybody can have a “big squad” (number of players). But depth is having a “good” squad.

 

[mpickard2087]

We need more according to them just in case our 3d choice RB gets injured for 1 match or something

Lets be honest, most fans get their kicks more from fantasy football transfer dealings going on in their head (and/or fuelled by the crap going on in the transfer forums and in the media) than the actual stuff that happens out on the pitch. They'd be quite happy for it to just be continuous, and forget the football.

 

[offside_ruel_fox]

Everton must have the deepest left wing squad in the league....

 

[danielneeds]

Depth is more than having bodies. It’s having players who can come in and do similar jobs. If Winks and Kane are key players, who do particular jobs, there’s no-one in the squad who really replicates their style when injured.

 

[Shadydan]

Lets be honest, most fans get their kicks more from fantasy football transfer dealings going on in their head (and/or fuelled by the crap going on in the transfer forums and in the media) than the actual stuff that happens out on the pitch. They'd be quite happy for it to just be continuous, and forget the football.

Reckon transfers make people feel better and also allows fans to get one over other fans on social media purely for the bantz.

The backlash when Arsenal signed Pepe from our fans was fucking hilarious, its almost as if people just saw the transfer fee and went nuts.

 

[Timberwolf]

I've always maintained our squad depth has actually been really decent over the past couple of seasons and the notion that "Spurs lack depth" is just lazy punditry...except in central midfield.

Last season we had better squad depth than Liverpool in literally every area of the pitch except central midfield. The difference was we had tons of injuries and Liverpool didn't. We still managed to come 4th (almost 3rd) despite these injuries + Wembley, yet apparently our depth was an area of weakness. It's just nonsense.

When you have Llorente and Nkoudou getting vital assists, Lamela scoring vital goals in our first 10 games, Lucas scoring a hat trick in the CL semi final, Foyth and Skipp playing in important games, Sissoko stepping up out of nowhere...THAT'S FUCKING DEPTH IN ACTION!!! None of those players are guaranteed first teamers yet all of them played huge roles in our season. Could you say the same for many other teams? I don't think so.

 

[cliff jones]

I think we've done enough to be competitive, although in terms of creativity much depends on what happens next with the Dane of course.

He doesn't look fit, Lo Celso isn't either, and we all know what happens relying on Lamela.

I thought KWP was really good v Inter, our MoM such as it was, the goal conceded was due to a combination of positional errors and no one deciding to trip the goalscorer up.

COYS

 

[Timberwolf]

*ahem* but to go back to the original question, with our new additions I reckon our current depth is really good in most areas. Obviously RB is bit questionable and if Kane gets injured, we have no-one in that mould to replace him, but it's completely unsustainable for us to have the squad depth of a team like City .

I think this level of depth is almost as good as we could realistically hope for.

 

[Lilbaz]

I think we could yet see any or all of Eriksen, Wanyama, N’koudou sold abroad. I hope we don’t sell Toby or Rose.

But yes, depth looking good right this minute.

Think we need to do everything we can to keep eriksen.

 

[Deleted member 22380]

In: Ndombele, Out: Dembele
In: Sessegnon, Out: Trippier
Not like for like, but i expect Foyth to move to RB, Davies to move to CB, Sessegnon to LB
In: Lo Celso, Out: Eriksen/Wanyama?
In: None, Out: Jansson
In: Parrott, Out: Llorente

I think we have upgraded from Dembele to Ndombele. But the Lo Celso acquisition is pending if Eriksen departs. If we keep Eriksen, we have improved in depth. If Eriksen departs, then potentially we have lost some quality which will depend on how quickly Lo Celso can adapt and whether he can perform as well as Eriksen.

So i think we have improved on last years squad but i'm not sure it is that significant enough to challenge a Man City or Liverpool. We needed another acquisition to make that step up to Man City class, and annoyingly, Dybala seemed to be that perfect player. Someone capable of scoring 20 goals and creating. To take some pressure off Kane and Son.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

we also need some luck regarding injuries, if and a big if wanyama, dier and lamela can stay fit and return to their peak level i think we are fine in squad depth

 

[nicdic]

Depth has never been the problem. We’ve always had depth, it’s just that some posters don’t like certain players.

What we do have this season is greater strength in depth in the middle and final thirds and hopefully with a proper pre season, no World Cup hangover and a bit of luck we won’t have the injuries we had last year.

 

[yawa]

I think it’s more quality now if we really want to push for winning the title.

Right back needs improving and Centre back will need someone next summer.

Attacking line up could do with a world class player.

Backup for Kane. Perhaps this is going to be Parrott. Have to see how he does this season.

 

[spurs9]

Depth is more than having bodies. It’s having players who can come in and do similar jobs. If Winks and Kane are key players, who do particular jobs, there’s no-one in the squad who really replicates their style when injured.

Correct with Kane but Lo Celso can play Winks's role.