January 2025 Scouting Thread

[archiewasking]

Think Mbuemo would be outstanding for us.

He reminds me of Mane before he made the step up to Pool.

Someone who will go up a level once he leaves Brentford.

Yep. I'm a big fan too.

 

[pedrodelawasp]

What’s interesting is the split in opinion across the fan base on which wing we should be looking to improve. In this case obviously Mbuemo is a left footed RW and Lookman a right footed left winger, although he has played a decent amount on the right and is currently playing as a SS.

I guess it’s just interesting in that now Johnson is doing so well there is maybe fewer people shouting for a new RW and with Son and Werner both looking somewhat off form a new LW seems to have become the more desirable.

In amongst that we also have 3 young right footed wingers who will be looking to stake a claim over the next few seasons.

Considering we are likely only to be putting a semi significant fee towards one WF in the near future im very curious to see which wing Ange and the club prioritises.

Johnson has had significant minutes playing on the left in his career too, though I’d be loathe to shift him from the right when he’s on such a good run playing on that side, though I do really like Mbeumo.

In my head, I can imagine a lovely, interchangeable attack featuring Johnson, Kulusevski, Solanke and Mbeumo all comfortable switching positions, dragging defenders hither and tither, all that nice stuff. Would it work in practice? I don’t know, but expect it would be exciting to find out.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

We definitely need a RW more than a LW.

We have 5 players here or incoming who are all naturally LW/LWF in Son, Werner, Odobert, Moore and Yang.

Meanwhile we only have one player who is naturally best at RW in Johnson.

Now Werner is rubbish and needs his loan cancelled, Son is getting on and isn’t a natural touchline player. Meanwhile Odobert, Moore and Yang are very young and not the finished article.

But having 3 big talents for LWF surely means we won’t go for yet another LW?

 

[ajspurs]

We definitely need a RW more than a LW.

We have 5 players here or incoming who are all naturally LW/LWF in Son, Werner, Odobert, Moore and Yang.

Meanwhile we only have one player who is naturally best at RW in Johnson.

Now Werner is rubbish and needs his loan cancelled, Son is getting on and isn’t a natural touchline player. Meanwhile Odobert, Moore and Yang are very young and not the finished article.

But having 3 big talents for LWF surely means we won’t go for yet another LW?

The balance is all over the place really. The left side is stacked so realistically we can't really add to it, but the quality is questionable. Solomon will be here in the summer too so even if not in the plans, we'd still need to find a solution for him. The right side looks better now that Johnson has started to establish himself but we certainly need another option there.

I have to admit though after the summer I've become very sceptical about signing any 'next level' wingers. I'll believe it when I see it, but I don't hold the greatest of hopes for it.

 

[joey55]

We definitely need a RW more than a LW.

We have 5 players here or incoming who are all naturally LW/LWF in Son, Werner, Odobert, Moore and Yang.

Meanwhile we only have one player who is naturally best at RW in Johnson.

Now Werner is rubbish and needs his loan cancelled, Son is getting on and isn’t a natural touchline player. Meanwhile Odobert, Moore and Yang are very young and not the finished article.

But having 3 big talents for LWF surely means we won’t go for yet another LW?

The trouble is, none of them have done anything yet and the reality is, no matter how excited we are by their potential, history tells us the chances are, they wont reach the level we need. It's very rare players reach the level of prime Sonny and Bale. Yet for us to take the next step and actually start to win trophies, that is the level we need. Most extremely talented youngsters with deserved hype, still usually don't make the grade. For every Rooney or Foden there are lots of Hudson Odoi, Edwards, Roberts etc, even Sancho probably isn't good enough. The standard needed to regularly win things is just so high. Our match winners need to come from the front 3. To topple City, Liverpool needed Salah and Mane. When you consider the speed and shooting ability, of Salah, Mane, Bale and Sonny, it shows how insanely high the level is and as talented as our youngsters are, it's easy to see why most don't make it to the required level.

As you said Werner isn't good enough and Sonny is 33 in the summer and though still a quality player, I think if we are being honest, most would say we are witnessing a notable decline. Unless either Odobert or Moore really make an impact before the end of the season and by impact, I mean show that they are likely to score double figures next season, then I think we have to buy a LW and put a sizebale amount of our budget towards it. Solanke looks like a decent forward, but he's no Harry Kane. So we have to get goals from wide areas. I agree with you that we also need a RW, but I think it's very likely we'll need a LW too, unless something very dramatic happens with Odobert or Moore before next season.

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

The trouble is, none of them have done anything yet and the reality is, no matter how excited we are by their potential, history tells us the chances are, they wont reach the level we need. It's very rare players reach the level of prime Sonny and Bale. Yet for us to take the next step and actually start to win trophies, that is the level we need. Most extremely talented youngsters with deserved hype, still usually don't make the grade. For every Rooney or Foden there are lots of Hudson Odoi, Edwards, Roberts etc, even Sancho probably isn't good enough. The standard needed to regularly win things is just so high. Our match winners need to come from the front 3. To topple City, Liverpool needed Salah and Mane. When you consider the speed and shooting ability, of Salah, Mane, Bale and Sonny, it shows how insanely high the level is and as talented as our youngsters are, it's easy to see why most don't make it to the required level.

As you said Werner isn't good enough and Sonny is 33 in the summer and though still a quality player, I think if we are being honest, most would say we are witnessing a notable decline. Unless either Odobert or Moore really make an impact before the end of the season and by impact, I mean show that they are likely to score double figures next season, then I think we have to buy a LW and put a sizebale amount of our budget towards it. Solanke looks like a decent forward, but he's no Harry Kane. So we have to get goals from wide areas. I agree with you that we also need a RW, but I think it's very likely we'll need a LW too, unless something very dramatic happens with Odobert or Moore before next season.

Agree with a lot of what you say there. I have quite a lot of faith in Moore and I like the look of Odobert too but accept your point that most young players don’t develop in to top players.

The other issue for us is we need the very best to try and compete at the top end of the table.

 

[cliff jones]

Son, Mikey and Oddo enough on the left for this and next season. We do need an RW, yhough, unless one of our youngsters does really well on the right when called upon- BJ can't keep scoring/fit forever...

Son will of course be here and helping Yang to settle.

Not sure where I'd spend the bigger money. Either DM or AM depending which of Gray or Bergvall doesn't make their mark this,season.

Also need competition for Udog.

 

[djhotspur]

Yeah we need to go very big on a RW and a 6. Move one of Benta/biss on and reinvest massively in true 6 talent.
If we can sell solomun and Gil use that money towards a top RW too. They need to be instant starter quality not kids.

 

[jakuba]

Yeah we need to go very big on a RW and a 6. Move one of Benta/biss on and reinvest massively in true 6 talent.
If we can sell solomun and Gil use that money towards a top RW too. They need to be instant starter quality not kids.

Going into this season I’d have agreed RW was an area of immediate priority to improve. But Johnson potentially breaking through into being indispensable is giving me flashbacks to when we thought Son was the easiest player to upgrade on.

I know Johnson’s run isn’t going to go on forever but at the minute he’s by far our most effective goalscorer and if he keeps a fraction of that form up over a season then to me it’s a hard argument - with the players out there to improve on him.

 

[Danny1]

Going into this season I’d have agreed RW was an area of immediate priority to improve. But Johnson potentially breaking through into being indispensable is giving me flashbacks to when we thought Son was the easiest player to upgrade on.

I know Johnson’s run isn’t going to go on forever but at the minute he’s by far our most effective goalscorer and if he keeps a fraction of that form up over a season then to me it’s a hard argument - with the players out there to improve on him.

I think it’s more than in this day and age there is always the requirement for an adequate back up/rotation option.

At the minute there is a very clear requirement in central midfield and I personally would move on Bissouma and spend very big in that area.

I also think a LB is imperative as Destiny is both young and fairly injury prone.

Currently at LW we have Son, Werner, Odobert and Moore. Assuming Werner goes then that is pretty good depth with experience and youth.

However at RW we really only have Johnson and would then have to put Odobert or Moore there which is neither of their natural positions. Yang will be joining in January and we have no idea how he will do. The period between January and the Summer is the time to review him and see if he has it to push Johnson for a starting spot.

In this Ange side I want every player to feel that if they don’t improve then there is someone right behind them pushing for their position.

Vicario - Forster - Gunter

Porro - Spence
Romero - Dragusin
VDV - Davies - Vuskovic
Udogie - TBC

Bentancur - Gray - TBC
Maddison - Sarr
Kulusesvski - Bergvall

Johnson - Yang - TBC
Sonny - Odobert - Moore
Solanke - Richy - Lankshear

This is on the assumption that Reguilon, Bissouma and Werner depart either in January or the Summer.

 

[mr ashley]

Watching this England team and thinking about our HG/CT issues it is a potential missed opportunity not competing with chelsea for madueke.
obviously very likely that they’ve paid more than we weee prepared to spend (plus any conflict from when he left in the first place)

 

[spurs9]

Watching this England team and thinking about our HG/CT issues it is a potential missed opportunity not competing with chelsea for madueke.
obviously very likely that they’ve paid more than we weee prepared to spend (plus any conflict from when he left in the first place)

He count as HG/CT. He left us when he was 16 and signed for Chelsea when he was 20, so only has 2 of the required 3 years between 15-21.

Edit: He actually only has 1 year of the 3 as he turned 21 1 couple of months after joining Chelsea.

 

[Scot-Spur]

He count as HG/CT. He left us when he was 16 and signed for Chelsea when he was 20, so only has 2 of the required 3 years between 15-21.

Edit: He actually only has 1 year of the 3 as he turned 21 1 couple of months after joining Chelsea.

He is also so greedy, every time I see him he shoots instead of passing. Obviously really talented and still young but will drop out that Chelsea team soon imo.

 

[LukaKranjcar]

Yeah Madueke looks decent enough, but he's Taarabt levels of selfish

 

[TPdYID]

Yeah Madueke looks decent enough, but he's Taarabt levels of selfish

And comes across as a bit of a dick. “Road man” init blud.

 

[Goobers]

I don't think the forward addition or additions will be addressed in January unless there is an opportunity for us. But if and when Gil, Werner move on I agree with the above that, along with the known additions needed in defence and midfield, we will need another forward. Looking at the make up of the squad surely this would be someone that could play centrally and off the right. We need the depth if we are In Europe and the options as well.

 

[mr ashley]

I don't think the forward addition or additions will be addressed in January unless there is an opportunity for us. But if and when Gil, Werner move on I agree with the above that, along with the known additions needed in defence and midfield, we will need another forward. Looking at the make up of the squad surely this would be someone that could play centrally and off the right. We need the depth if we are In Europe and the options as well.

Frustratingly it feels like the standout player who fits our approach and budget would be marmoush but he’s more of a LW.
every chance that we miss out on him and another team benefits sadly.

I feel like the angel Gomes deal will feel too good to miss out on as he’s going to be low price and HG, and although he look’s technically proficient im not sure he’s the cdm in our system

if Davies is keeping the LCB seat warm until vuskovic arrives then I can live with that.
Goalkeeper becomes a higher priority although I could see that waiting until the summer unless vicario got a long term injury before February, which would force us to act. Not really sure who the standout candidates are though, especially as we’d want HG here too.
most urgent priority becomes a left back, so expect us to push hard to sign dorgu.
and if we see another signing to come in the January window it should be a RW, one of mbeumo, bakayoko or kubo if it’s to be a left footer.
only other link of note that keeps coming up is sudakov at shaktar- would he be able to play RW? I always believed he was more of a CAM.
if thats the case I’d rather we went all out for baena

 

[djhotspur]

Frustratingly it feels like the standout player who fits our approach and budget would be marmoush but he’s more of a LW.
every chance that we miss out on him and another team benefits sadly.

I feel like the angel Gomes deal will feel too good to miss out on as he’s going to be low price and HG, and although he look’s technically proficient im not sure he’s the cdm in our system

if Davies is keeping the LCB seat warm until vuskovic arrives then I can live with that.
Goalkeeper becomes a higher priority although I could see that waiting until the summer unless vicario got a long term injury before February, which would force us to act. Not really sure who the standout candidates are though, especially as we’d want HG here too.
most urgent priority becomes a left back, so expect us to push hard to sign dorgu.
and if we see another signing to come in the January window it should be a RW, one of mbeumo, bakayoko or kubo if it’s to be a left footer.
only other link of note that keeps coming up is sudakov at shaktar- would he be able to play RW? I always believed he was more of a CAM.
if thats the case I’d rather we went all out for baena

With marmoush I guess in the summer once werner, gil, Solomon and maybe even son are gone then we have space for him. Have him and odebert left, Moore I think will move to 10 at some point, then buy a RW too.

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

Marmoush before any of the bigger teams pick him up, leave him in Germany on loan until the summer to sweeten the deal.

Other than that I have no idea who we should be targeting

 

[Ghost Hardware]

With marmoush I guess in the summer once werner, gil, Solomon and maybe even son are gone then we have space for him. Have him and odebert left, Moore I think will move to 10 at some point, then buy a RW too.

Unless Juve commit to a complete buy out, they don't have an option and its just an expensive dry loan, then I am starting to think Conceicao should be our primary RW target. AVB, the current president of Porto, was talking about him recently and he certainly wasn't hinting at any future deal being put in place with Juve at this stage. Yes it would mean waiting until next summer but I think we would be okay with that. It would obviously depend if we think we have an opening but if we believe we do then I would be watching him very closely as thus far he has certainly impressed.

What could be a rather interesting plan would be to aim to sell Richy and replace him and Werner with Marmoush and Conceicao. After all Marmoush plays predominantly as a CF these days whilst also being very natural on the wing so he could cover both positions. That would leave us with some excellent options of different ages across both wings and CF.