Five old signings that will feel like new ones, if...

Spursex

Spursex

Alert Team
(no, not FIVE, but Six, no no, Seven! )

...IF we can get them fit..!!! And keep them fit for an extended run?

What a squad base we will have!

James Maddison

It was a washout of a season mostly for James Maddison as he suffered that ACL injury in pre-season out in South Korea, having only just come back that summer from the partial tear suffered towards the end of the previous campaign.

De Zerbi took it cautiously with the England midfielder and used him mainly behind the scenes after he returned to training, as a leader around the group and a voice in the dressing room.

The 29-year-old produced 23 goal involvements for Spurs in the previous campaign and his absence made it easy to forget just how creative a game changer he can be.

"Real leaders who talk inside the dressing room, Maddison is a top player on the pitch with the ball but also as a personality, mentality on the pitch," De Zerbi said of the midfielder.

Maddison will be desperate to remind people what he is capable of and his return at the end of the campaign should act as a prolonged pre-season of sorts for him to be more than ready for the coming year.

Mohammed Kudus​

Mohammed Kudus was on his way to being Tottenham's player of the season without question. Yes, the Ghana international dipped before his enforced absence but that was mostly due to Thomas Frank overplaying him into the ground and a system that only ever saw the ball come his way every single time and the opposition knew it, constantly surrounding him.

It says plenty that the 25-year-old ended up as Spurs' joint top assist provider, despite being injured with that troublesome quad since January and missing the remainder of the campaign, as only Pedro Porro and Xavi Simons could match his tally of six. He also scored three times, which he will want to improve on next season.

Once he is fully fit, with the pain of missing the World Cup to fuel him, Kudus with his power and ability to beat a man will be huge within De Zerbi's system. The Italian had said the attacker was set to be one of his 'crucial' players only to lose him within days of his return to training.

It's a cliche of course but it will be like Kudus has signed again when he returns because the £55million man is that good a player and De Zerbi will use him in the right way.

Dominic Solanke​

Last season's rusty Dominic Solanke was not the version of himself that he or anybody wanted to see. It was a campaign riddled with injury woe for a striker who arrived at Tottenham with barely a physical problem to his name for years.

He started just 11 Premier League games, one in the Champions League, and scored only six goals across a season in which an ankle injury kept him out from August until January and then he only showed glimpses of looking fit and sharp before a hamstring problem ended his campaign prematurely.

Many fans have given up on Solanke already - frequent injuries and being rusty and off the pace on your return will do that for a striker. However, it shouldn't be forgotten that the 28-year-old produced 49 goal involvements in his preceding two seasons, despite a knee injury swiping two months out of his debut Spurs campaign.


De Zerbi has already said that Solanke is a big player for him and don't bet against the former Bournemouth forward getting goals aplenty in a system that might finally get the ball to him in the opposition box.

Destiny Udogie​

It's easy to forget that Destiny Udogie is still just 23-years-old. De Zerbi has plenty of faith in the young Italian but the key for the left-back is to get over the injury issues that just stop him getting a long run of games in a row under his belt.

It's no coincidence that when he finally does get a string of appearances going, Spurs invariably look more balanced and better on the pitch. Ange Postecoglou managed him well through the end of last season, using him mainly in the Europa League, and he was integral to Tottenham lifting that trophy. Likewise at the conclusion of this campaign, Udogie started six of De Zerbi's seven matches and Spurs only lost two of them.



Next season he will have Andy Robertson as big competition at left-back and that's a good thing for him. He will learn plenty from the Scot, who has won everything you can in the club game, and the competition will drive both players on. Keep an eye on Udogie to shine under his compatriot this season.

Dejan Kulusevski​

It's crazy that Dejan Kulusevski has not played a game of football for club or country since May 11, 2025.

More than a year has passed since the talented Swede last took to a pitch and the problems with his knee have been well documented since, with the setbacks and the clean-up procedure all culminating in his World Cup dream being dashed as he tried to get back before the end of the season.


Kulusevski has a remarkable mindset and if anyone is going to come back from this and star again it will be the 26-year-old former Juventus man. You cannot overestimate just how big a player for Spurs he was, dragging them through games at times.

When he returns he will need some time to get sharp again, but when he's back in the swing of things he's going to be a huge addition for De Zerbi.
 
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scottspurs25 said:
Does anyone know what is happening with poor Dejan? I am a massive fan of his attitude and work rate, can't wait to see him play again.

James and Kudus will also be great to see again properly.
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He had another procedure (smallish one) before the WC, his comeback was again questioned by a Swedish journalist - basically saying he didn't think he'd play again - and by way of counter an hour later Kulu released a video on Instagram of him doing a session with a personal trainer and being upbeat.
he could be seen passing the ball to his personal trainer, controlling the different types of passes back at various heights and then jogging on to strike the ball into two small goals. It was not high intensity work but he appeared to be moving freely and hitting the ball accurately.

He chose the song 'I Can't Wait' to play over the top of it, by Kanye West featuring Lauryn Hill, which samples The Supremes' and later Phil Collins' song 'You Can't Hurry Love' with many of the lyrics applicable to Kulusevski's difficult journey in the past year. The Swede has previously uploaded clips of him playing basketball with his friends this summer and putting plenty of weight on that right knee.

I hope he makes it back.
 
Spursex said:
He had another procedure (smallish one) before the WC, his comeback was again questioned by a Swedish journalist - basically saying he didn't think he'd play again - and by way of counter an hour later Kulu released a video on Instagram of him doing a session with a personal trainer and being upbeat.
he could be seen passing the ball to his personal trainer, controlling the different types of passes back at various heights and then jogging on to strike the ball into two small goals. It was not high intensity work but he appeared to be moving freely and hitting the ball accurately.

He chose the song 'I Can't Wait' to play over the top of it, by Kanye West featuring Lauryn Hill, which samples The Supremes' and later Phil Collins' song 'You Can't Hurry Love' with many of the lyrics applicable to Kulusevski's difficult journey in the past year. The Swede has previously uploaded clips of him playing basketball with his friends this summer and putting plenty of weight on that right knee.

I hope he makes it back.
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Thank you for the reply. I certainly hope he makes it back too.
 
Still Spex it evidences how hamstrung we were last season for 1st team choices, I'd challange any (current) top six team to come thru the Injury list that we had unscathed.
Had that been Manure or Liverpool, oh the (Shearer type) pundits would've been gushing excuses, and sympathy for them.
But we were given little to nothing on empathy, with many hoping we'd go down.
But, hey, we survived and we are now rising from the ashes, a different stronger Tottenham awaits any opposition.
Good thread m8
 
Niall D said:
Still Spex it evidences how hamstrung we were last season for 1st team choices, I'd challange any (current) top six team to come thru the Injury list that we had unscathed.
Had that been Manure or Liverpool, oh the (Shearer type) pundits would've been gushing excuses, and sympathy for them.
But we were given little to nothing on empathy, with many hoping we'd go down.
But, hey, we survived and we are now rising from the ashes, a different stronger Tottenham awaits any opposition.
Good thread m8
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Maybe Niall we should have a Phoenix instead of a Cockerel on our new shirts, this season only though!.. :clap: 🥃 cheers Niall...COYS
 
Niall D said:
Still Spex it evidences how hamstrung we were last season for 1st team choices, I'd challange any (current) top six team to come thru the Injury list that we had unscathed.
Had that been Manure or Liverpool, oh the (Shearer type) pundits would've been gushing excuses, and sympathy for them.
But we were given little to nothing on empathy, with many hoping we'd go down.
But, hey, we survived and we are now rising from the ashes, a different stronger Tottenham awaits any opposition.
Good thread m8
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I try to be balanced; but still believe that injuries in the last two seasons dragged us down artificially. You can't build a cohesive squad, build a tactical solid approach and develop youngsters when you keep having to put square pegs in round holes or worse still see the pegs break every time they're on the board.

It made the coaches job almost impossible. The evidence is clearly there, just look at our early results/form and what happened to them as the injuries piled up, and we were trying to play on four fronts. In retrospect, and as I said again and again it was almost impossible.

I can't hide my feelings about Frank and his approach, but what I will say is on some days he must have looked at what was available to him, looked at the opponents and just want to run away...
 
stupops said:
Out of that list I think the writing is on the wall for Maddison and Kulu.
My gut tells me they will be gone by the end of January.
I hope I am wrong.
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We just don't know until/if they start playing competitive games again, but I do feel that Kulu's injury would normally mean players chucking it in if it still isn't feeling/moving right - it is one thing to build stability and strength back in a knee, which in itself is one hell of an achievement, but to then play competitive top class football in the fastest/hardest league in the World, is something else.

I'd love to all those with these horrible knee injuries; Madders, Kulu, Xavi and Odobert, make it back, but from personal experience that is one hell of mountain to climb.
 
Spursex said:
Christ !..and Xavi Simmons as well (where was my brain at first thing this morning?!) ...that's SEVEN, all of which could have a massive first team impact!!

IF we get all these lads up and running and match fit, RDZ will have sleepless nights worrying about how he keeps them all happy..
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No wonder Berg wants out then ... he will be way down the pecking order
 
Spursex said:
We just don't know until/if they start playing competitive games again, but I do feel that Kulu's injury would normally mean players chucking it in if it still isn't feeling/moving right - it is one thing to build stability and strength back in a knee, which in itself is one hell of an achievement, but to then play competitive top class football in the fastest/hardest league in the World, is something else.

I'd love to all those with these horrible knee injuries; Madders, Kulu, Xavi and Odobert, make it back, but from personal experience that is one hell of mountain to climb.
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I can't comment on injuries.
I'm.old enough as it is as doing my shoe laces these days is a ballache.
But, let's be honest.
Madds was never going to be a Luka or an Eriksson when we signed him.
A very good player. And an ambassador and absolute first class professional.
But. Time catches up.
I'd love for him to have a grand finale with us.
 
sldspurs said:
No wonder Berg wants out then ... he will be way down the pecking order
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He, his advisors, his agent will all be saying/thinking that the pathway he had when he signed has now changed significantly - and I believe it has and he is now in his most important development years; he/they will know, he will need focused coaching and playing time and not a situation where he has to 'prove' his worth everytime he gets some minutes. His personal sponsors will be dismayed at his non-playing time and non-exposure to their European audiences, these pressures mount.

This is how they will be thinking; so I still would not be at all surprised that if the bid gets big enough, he demands to go and we let him.

You never truly know how a player is going to develop, but that's why a small gaggle of coaches and analysts make these decision together, so in short, I think we'll sell him. IF RDZ blocks it now, it may cost us £20-30 mill by the time we do sell him.
 
Spursex said:
He, his advisors, his agent will all be saying/thinking that the pathway he had when he signed has now changed significantly - and I believe it has and he is now in his most important development years; he/they will know, he will need focused coaching and playing time and not a situation where he has to 'prove' his worth everytime he gets some minutes. His personal sponsors will be dismayed at his non-playing time and non-exposure to their European audiences, these pressures mount.

This is how they will be thinking; so I still would not be at all surprised that if the bid gets big enough, he demands to go and we let him.

You never truly know how a player is going to develop, but that's why a small gaggle of coaches and analysts make these decision together, so in short, I think we'll sell him. IF RDZ blocks it now, it may cost us £20-30 mill by the time we do sell him.
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I agree, and if it was me I would think the same. But he is under contact and for me the clubs need trumps the players wish.
As I have said before, if the club believes that with European football season after next he would be needed. Then for me he stays or goes on loan for a season, it to be looking for player a year down the road to replace one that we have let go.
Not to mention that the player knows the club and a new player will need time to settle in.
 
Topspur1 said:
I agree, and if it was me I would think the same. But he is under contact and for me the clubs need trumps the players wish.
As I have said before, if the club believes that with European football season after next he would be needed. Then for me he stays or goes on loan for a season, it to be looking for player a year down the road to replace one that we have let go.
Not to mention that the player knows the club and a new player will need time to settle in.
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I agree entirely, but via a related agent, I am told he is determined to leave - we will see in time no doubt.
 
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