xvausch - 4/1/2018 11:52
Today I watched a crazy even match...
Goons took off Lacazette and put on Welbeck
Chelski took off Hazard and put on Willian
Those are potential game changing subs. With our best 11 starting, and no injuries, can we make a comparable sub? One we could expect to shift the course of a match?
We need players that are going to continue to improve our overall speed of play. We are best when we are moving fast. Some of that comes from familiarity, and Kane-Eriksen-Dele-Son-(and Winks) are all flowing pretty well together. I'm going with the expectation that Lamela will get back to his pre-injury contribution.
The shakiness in the defense is different from last season, and has changed what the attacking players are able to do. The transition forward thru Toby-Victor-Eriksen, a faster more direct path, has been disrupted, and the play wide is happening deeper instead of in the final third, bogging sh|t down and exposing the likes of Sissoko and Tripp.
IMO, all healthy, on top form, our best 11 looks like...
<B><I>4-3-3</b></i>
_________Hugo_________
Aurier_Toby_Vert_Rose
_________Victor_________
_____Eriksen_Dele_____
Lamela____________Son
_________Kane_________
Of those, 2 or 3 are possibly concerning...
Rose - For all the obvious reasons
Lamela - How good will he be?
Aurier - Some pretty shaky performances, but new to the Prem
<b><i>3-3-3-1</b></i>
__Sanchez_Toby_Vert___
Aurier___Victor_____Rose
__Dele__Eriksen___Son__
__________Kane__________
<b><i>4-2-3-1</b></i>
Aurier_Toby_Vert_Rose
____Dier__Victor______
Dele__Eriksen___Son
________Kane_________
So, which of those players' roles could be improved upon with a January signing?
Off the bench we'd have Sanchez, Lamela, Winks, Llorente, Davies, Tripp, in order of potential on-field value. And then the rest.
Do we have younger players that could rise to the occasion? KWP, Edwards, Amos, TOB, Sterling, Harrison? Kyle Walker Peters being the most known of a mysterious group. Maybe we need a "Kyle" back on our flank? Seem to be missing the last one a bit. And who is this Oliver Skipp kid?
Spurs have become pretty adept at developing young talent, and Poch's stated desire to get early deals done this Winter, looking to bring the players in at the start of the Summer, makes alot of sense. Might be the best way to get the players we need without spending the new special "Liverpool Tax".
<u>Who do we buy?</u>
<b>Ryan Sessegnon</b> <i>(And his brother Steven apparently) </i><b>(Fulham) -</b>
No brainer, prolly cost 35m. Sign him(them), loan them back for the season. No matter what happens with Rose, this is just a player we should sign, and figure out where he plays later.
<b>Christian Pulisic (BVB) & Weston McKennie (Shalke) -</b>
Pulisic is the real deal, and he's showing it with Dortmund. I would have no problem whatsoever with Levy writing a 50m check for his kid right now. He is that good already, and his potential is off the charts. He is grounded, his head is screwed on straight, and he's been in Europe for years, and he's only 19. He WILL be playing in the Prem next year, and we really can't let Manure or Piss get him. He is a PERFECT fit for Poch's playing and coaching style, and if we were needing a replacement/improvement for Eriksen, this guy might be it.
McKennie is a totally off the radar player, but that won't be for long. He's a strong CM with excellent vision and great touch on the pass. Not as polished a pro as Pulisic, but he's as good a prospect out there for around 5m. And I think we've seen we could use some good depth at the pivot.
These two Americans are friends, both mature for their age (19), and play very very well together. Signing them both, bringing Pulisic in now, and loaning McKennie back, would be a great bit of business. USA is out of the World Cup so both players would be available for a full offseason/preseason. Experienced European pros, room them together, they're less likely to suffer the Yedlin syndrome.
<b>Jadon Sancho (BVB)</b>
There was talk of a nifty roundabout deal with the kid ending up at Spurs next season. Whether there was any truth to it or not, he's proving to be the player we thought he might be. Might not be available, but as another sign and loan back player, he could be a great buy for the future.
<b>Ross Barkley </b>
I've not been too big on this deal, which is weird because I remember seeing him first break in and thinking how I'd like to se him in a Spurs shirt. I've come around again. It's clear Moose is nearly done, he's prolly already on the hip replacement path in his retirement. And Winks has shown he's got a bit of mental work to do. Provided he can get fit, Barkley playing in the CM pivot with Victor would create a slew of new options for Poch. Can't cost much, in this market he'd be a steal. Regardless of his injury, there is <i>NO WAY </i> that I could believe he'd end up being worse than Sissoko. Why hasn't this been announced already?
<B>Luke Shaw</b>
If Rose went to Manure and we took Shaw in return plus 25m, well that'd prolly be ok. But isn't he on some stupid ridiculous salary? Is he potentially a World Class Fullback? I'm not sure. After Poch called him a lazy pussy with an attitude problem, one wonders if the Coach rates him. But the player has said he'd like to play for him again so who knows.
<b>Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) </b>
Everybody wants Draxler, but Brandt is a better buy. Strong on the ball with size that belies his quickness, speed, and dribbling ability, he can make plays with his feet and his passing. He'd fit in our wide forward spot, more inclined for the left I think, as well as the middle. With 150 top level games under his belt already at the age of 21, he could be a quick contributor. My guess is he'd cost between 25-30m. Next year, if he has a successful World Cup with Germany, he could cost 75m. This guy could be a great Spurs player under Pocchetino.
<u>We should probably sell somebody.</u>
<b>Rose</b> is the most talked about potential sale. Me, I'd rather he get fit and play like his last game. Be the best Left Back in England, and become a true Spurs legend. However, if he were to go for a 50m type fee, well kinda hard to not to be ok with it. If he's down again with his knee for any extended period of time, I'd surely sell him in the Summer.
<b>Moose</b> is about done. Made himself one of the best in the team, and showed how to put your head down and work to improve your weaknesses. Total pro, well when he ain't gouging eyes that is. He should go to France, finish off his career, then return home, relax, and run his Hotel. Whatever we get for him would be fine, he should be sent where he can get a chance to play a less rigorous game than The Prem.
<b>Sissoko. </b> God please let him go somewhere. Anywhere. please. He's got some ability, and he was fantastic for France in the Euros, however if we don't have a young player in the wings that could <i>at least</i> contribute as much as Sissoko has, then we has some real big problems. I don't think he'll ever be more than a serviceable backup, and frankly he's taking pitch time from some guys that could be alot better. If anybody offers us anything we should just send him away.
<u>Loans out, loanees back in...</u>
<b>NkooDoo</b>
Last game he was given a chance, he took it by the neck. Wait, that was pretty much the only chance he's been given this season. And none since. Hmmmmm...... Why is this? I really like the guy. He seems like a really likeable guy. I'm going back to the Sissoko comparison again, but I'd rather see this guy get a chance. At least NkooDoo's brain works fast, has to to keep up with his feet. I see no value in loaning this guy out. Either he stays and earns time and that's great, or he stays and can't get in, and then we make a decision on him in the Summer.
<b>Janssen</b>
Boy what a strange disappointment (So far). I thought he'd make it. My hope was he'd be scoring for fun in Turkey. Guess not. I heard Napoli wants him, how that happens I don't know, but recalling him to sit is senseless. Be great if he banged in 20 for the season and made us think of bringing him back in the Summer.
<b> Onomah & CCV</b>
If we don't bolster the CM/AM/AF spots at all with new signings, then bringing Onomah back might be prudent. Otherwise letting him play more there is best. Not sure I see the benefit of recalling CCV for us or the player, as long as he is doing well and getting regular time on loan.
Sending out a few of the mysterious youngins' mentioned above is likely in the cards. But I really hope we do see Marcus Edwards get a real chance in the first team this season.
GK: Hugo; Vorm; Gazzinga
CB: Toby; Vert; Sanchez; Foyth
LB: Rose; Davies
RB: Aurier; Tripp; KWP
DCM: Victor; Dier; Winks
CM: Dele; <B><I>Barkley</i></b>
ACM: Eriksen; <B><I>Pulisic</i></b>
LF: Son; <B><I>Brandt</i></b>; NkooDoo
RF: Lamela; Edwards
CF: Kane; Llorente
Winter Signings for Summer Arrivals
R Sessegnon; S Sessegnon; McKennie; & Sancho
<u>Then....</u>
Rose to Manure for 55m, 15m for Moose, 20m for Sissoko, and we take that and buy Bale for 75m, and subsidize his salary down to 200k/wk with performance add-ons and such.
:9:
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