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The Transfer Wishlist Thread

Hoddle&Waddle

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2012
8,337
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Still think we need a more mobile DM rather than a Neves/Holjberg ballplaying type. We already have Winks who is similarish.

Would much rather an Ndidi/Zakaria/Luis type of player to focus on solidying the defense and cover the spaces behind GLC and Ndombele.
Ndidi would be great, but how much would he cost?

Remember we need to be clever for the foreseeable.

Also I think for every young player we bring in we need to bring in a more experienced player. Otherwise we will always end up with a very young squad which is not compatible with winning trophys.

Hojbjerg ticks a lot of boxes in those regards.
 

pedrodelawasp

Morton season ticket holder, Spurs fan from afar
Jan 14, 2019
1,446
2,449
Still think we need a more mobile DM rather than a Neves/Holjberg ballplaying type. We already have Winks who is similarish.

Would much rather an Ndidi/Zakaria/Luis type of player to focus on solidying the defense and cover the spaces behind GLC and Ndombele.

Zakaria has the potential to be great. Think he the perfect DM to have if playing a system where the FBs go on the overlap and the CDM drops in alongside the CBs.
 

Goobers

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
1,953
3,165
I think the days of an out and out midfield destroyer are limited if not over. A player that we are looking for has to have a bit of everything but primarily read the game surely especially if he is going to have Gio and Ndombele or a Winks either side of him.
Hojberg has several advantages - available, gettabke, affordable and little transition in terms of moving country or culture. I would assume that would be why we are after him if that is indeed the case.
 

Goobers

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
1,953
3,165
Zakaria has the potential to be great. Think he the perfect DM to have if playing a system where the FBs go on the overlap and the CDM drops in alongside the CBs.
A lot of people better versed than I agree with you but I haven’t really seen him play I don’t think. Is there a comparison that he is like or even what type of player is he ?
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,986
81,918
Fraser's decent but I don't think he's any better than what we've got. Whist it might freshen things up a bit, the main reason I can see it happening is for financial reasons. That is, we bring him in for nothing and sell somebody (say Lamela). In the unlikely event that any of those proceeds were reinvested in the team (LB/RB/CM) it would be sound business.
The thing is I think squad players do need freshening up. Most players will be squad players for 2-3 seasons at a club and if they don't start playing more regularly the generally want to leave.

Chadli was an excellent squad player for example.

Moura must be thinking if he doesn't get a place in the first team more regularly soon then he might want to move on.
 

wiggo24

Well-Known Member
Jan 5, 2013
5,091
36,808
Ndidi would be great, but how much would he cost?

Remember we need to be clever for the foreseeable.

Also I think for every young player we bring in we need to bring in a more experienced player. Otherwise we will always end up with a very young squad which is not compatible with winning trophys.

Hojbjerg ticks a lot of boxes in those regards.

Agree with all of that - wasn't really suggesting buying Ndidi. If he became available he'd be wanted by 9/10 top teams. More just highlighting my opinion that we need his type of player if we're to use GLC and Ndombele together as we should.

I think the days of an out and out midfield destroyer are limited if not over. A player that we are looking for has to have a bit of everything but primarily read the game surely especially if he is going to have Gio and Ndombele or a Winks either side of him.
Hojberg has several advantages - available, gettabke, affordable and little transition in terms of moving country or culture. I would assume that would be why we are after him if that is indeed the case.

Agree that the requirements for a top DM have changed but still think there's a real need for defensive focused midfielders. Pep loves a DM to disrupt play/counters, Klopp needs Fabinho to cover spaces and mark opposition 10s, our best play of the last 5 years has been with Dier dropping between the cbs.
Even Madrid had Casemiro for the later of their CL victories and Barca have suffered as Busquets has declined (hence FDJ although admittedly he's more of an 8).

Whilst they need to be more press resistant and better at breaking lines than before, I still think there's a need for a defensive minded midfielder, especially in a midfield three. Not only can they shield the defense but can also facilitate better pressing by covering the spaces attackers leave behind, as well as allowing the creative players more freedom on the ball.
 

pedrodelawasp

Morton season ticket holder, Spurs fan from afar
Jan 14, 2019
1,446
2,449
A lot of people better versed than I agree with you but I haven’t really seen him play I don’t think. Is there a comparison that he is like or even what type of player is he ?

I don't want to over-hype him (but here goes anyway!) - he has a bit of Essien about him defensively, but is more like Yaya Toure when he pushes forward with the ball.
 

Frozen_Waffles

Well-Known Member
Jan 26, 2005
3,760
9,505
Just watching Wolfsburg and the RB caught my eye, he is called Kevin Mbabu (apparently he used to play for Newcastle)

Very strong and solid defensively and has a good delivery.

Also in the same match is a CB called brooks who looks very good, but perhaps a little slow for the premiership.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
Ndidi would be great, but how much would he cost?

Remember we need to be clever for the foreseeable.

Also I think for every young player we bring in we need to bring in a more experienced player. Otherwise we will always end up with a very young squad which is not compatible with winning trophys.

Hojbjerg ticks a lot of boxes in those regards.

We should just tap him up. If Chelsea can get Chilwell out of Leicester then we can get Ndidi out of there too. Obviously we won't pay what it takes but we could get him if we really tried.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
We should just tap him up. If Chelsea can get Chilwell out of Leicester then we can get Ndidi out of there too. Obviously we won't pay what it takes but we could get him if we really tried.

Never gonna happen. Leicester would demand a fee that we simply wouldn't pay right now if ever. Chelsea have a chance with Chilwell because they still seem to have the capability to splash cash left right and center. Ndidi still has 4 years left on his contract too so not even worth thinking about IMO.
 

Hotspur_Hero

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2012
347
1,005
Just watching Wolfsburg and the RB caught my eye, he is called Kevin Mbabu (apparently he used to play for Newcastle)

Very strong and solid defensively and has a good delivery.

Also in the same match is a CB called brooks who looks very good, but perhaps a little slow for the premiership.
I think Brooks would be a good fit for the premiership, but unfortunately he’s made of glass. Missed a lot of games for Wolfsburg and the US in the last few years with constant injuries.
 

YiddoTom90

Well-Known Member
Feb 9, 2015
1,456
2,051
psg letting cavani go on a free. of all the freebies out there. this is one we should be going for. still got 2 to 3 good years left imo.
 

THFCSPURS19

The Speaker of the Transfer Rumours Forum
Jan 6, 2013
37,886
130,485
psg letting cavani go on a free. of all the freebies out there. this is one we should be going for. still got 2 to 3 good years left imo.
Firstly, why would he leave PSG because he's second choice to become second choice for us. Secondly, not a chance in hell we could afford his wages.
 
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doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
Why do people

Firstly, why would he leave PSG because he's second choice to become second choice for us. Secondly, not a chance in hell we could afford his wages.
His wages would be ridiculous, although there can’t be many clubs around able to pay him what he’s been used to. Even so, this sort of signing has Utd all over it
 

C0YS

Just another member
Jul 9, 2007
12,780
13,817
Still think we need a more mobile DM rather than a Neves/Holjberg ballplaying type. We already have Winks who is similarish.

Would much rather an Ndidi/Zakaria/Luis type of player to focus on solidying the defense and cover the spaces behind GLC and Ndombele.
If Hojbjerg is a ball playing midfielder, than we are doomed, because he isn't a particularly good ball player. He is tactically disciplined, works hard and is bang average. Yes, he was hyped as a kid, but so were about half the players in the Championship, it doesn't mean you will succeed, and he has succeeded (even the most hyped players, few end up actually playing top-level football) but hasn't shown anything to suggest he is anything more than a mid-table midfielder. Stats people love him, but those stats must be understood in the context of a team which plays a particular style based on winning the ball in the centre of the pitch. He could do a role in some rotational capacity, but it's far from inspiring. I think it would be an opportunistic signing for depth, not a solution to the problem.

People confuse ball winning midfielders, who chase the ball looking to turn over possession (or press), and generally roam around the pitch doing so, with 'holding midfielders' who essentially cover gaps, delay attacks, stop passing lines and take the ball under pressure to distribute simply. I'm not against both, but Sissoko and Lo Celso are both competent at chasing the ball down who can actually do that job effectively so we need to focus on someone who can cover and organise well. That can also be a more combative player (like in the style of Wanyama or Palacios) or a passing focused one (say Carrick), players are dynamic.

Our problem is we are being pulled apart and gaps emerge everywhere. I think more disciplined full-backs and a confident back 5 will help this a lot, and I think there are signs that Winks might be able to develop into a pretty competent player in that holding position, but he has a long way to go and I worry that his frame is just too small (ok countless examples of short holding-midfielders but most tend to be strong and bulky). So we probably need another option. Affordable PL options are few, I guess Declan Rice would be the dream but would be expensive, and there are a few interesting, risky, options and young talents we could go for. In any case, one player isn't going to solve everything, there is too much wrong defensively, and we will need coaching and probably find a little bit more reliability and organisational personalities in the backline (Hojbjerg arrogant but dedicated personality might help here). Even the more experienced people in our back line, were coached to defend in a very particular (brave) way, which relied on backing themselves in one on ones, that's easier at 25, not at 32. So it will take time for us to really understand how to work in a different way. Mind, If Jose can't do it, don't think anyone else will.
 
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Hoddle&Waddle

Well-Known Member
Nov 25, 2012
8,337
17,565
I'm really warming to the idea of getting that Ngaku on a free.

Seems to have made a big impression in his 4 starts in the Prem so far. Would allow us to use our finances on other positions.
 
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