start of the season that this team could go places, I think it is patently obvious the current lot are not good enough. They are sitting 3rd in the Prem agreed, and have one foot in the CL QF, but when push comes to shove they aint won nothing, and are not likely to. Since the turn of the New Year, performances have dipped and I think it is patently clear changes are needed now. Obviously not this season, but next season needs to be some changes.
The team that so excited us of two or three years back is no more in reality, although it won nothing it played some really great stuff.
Lloris
Walker
Toby
Verts
Rose
Dembele
Dier
Lamela
Eriksen
Dele
Kane
That team was set in stone, always the same defence, injuries aside, no rotation, same with the midfield, and of course Harry up front. Now it is pick any 11 from 20, with only two or three absolute guaranteed starters.
With Walker and Dembele gone, Verts, Toby and Rose clearly now getting past their best and Lamela and Dier both who cannot nail down a regular spot, that really only leaves Lloris, Kane, Eriksen, Dele as the way forward now, and even Eriksen may be off before long. The defence has become a shadow of its former self, most weeks none of us know who will be starting, same with the midfield. Just seems a complete mish mash of team selection at the moment, no cohesion, and that is showing in the displays.
Proabably at the end of the season the button needs to be reset, and new blood brought in.
As it stands
Lloris
Sanchez
Eriksen
Dele
Son
Kane
all look nailed on starters, so need another couple of full backs that goes without saying, and somebody to partner Sanchez, if Toby is off, then Verts I would be fine with, but he is 32 now, so he will obviously need replacing, so does Poch just go with Foyth and Sanchez and hope they can form a lasting partnership. In midfield obviously Dembele needs replacing.
Players to move on
Trippier
Aurier
Toby
Rose
Davies
Lamela
Llorente etc
or at the worse keep one or two just for cover.
The team and manager did well but won nothing is going to be on their epitaph, but bottom line is every good thing comes to an end sometime, now is the time for this present Spurs squad to be broken up and restart the project.
This week could get pretty messy with Chelsea and Arsenal on the horizon.
Although I had high hopes at the
posted on 23/2/19
I think Erikson will be off too.
posted on 23/2/19
Selling Walker was a huge mistake. That one is on Poch. Don't get why he fell out with him.
Walker isn't even amazing, but the gap between him and Aurier/Trippier is laughable.
posted on 23/2/19
Absolutely facking horrendous day of sport.
posted on 23/2/19
Aurier and Trippier definitely both need to be moved on and significantly upgraded.
burnley are hardly a team of flying wingers and made Aurier look like a pub player.
Also what is with Foyth and his obsession with taking risks? I've never seen anything like it. loads of ability but needs to learn when to play and when not to play... and is far too reckless at times.
posted on 23/2/19
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 11 minutes ago
Aurier and Trippier definitely both need to be moved on and significantly upgraded.
burnley are hardly a team of flying wingers and made Aurier look like a pub player.
Also what is with Foyth and his obsession with taking risks? I've never seen anything like it. loads of ability but needs to learn when to play and when not to play... and is far too reckless at times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The whole of the defence has seriously regressed, and that includes Toby and Verts. A lot to do with constant rotation, but also time waits for no man, and Toby, Verts and Rose are past their best now. Can get away with one perhaps not being on his game, but all three are nowhere what they were three seasons back, although Toby had a decent game against Borussia, but that was in a more attacking sense.
posted on 23/2/19
Sorry should have said Verts had a decent game against Borussia.
posted on 23/2/19
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 11 minutes ago
Aurier and Trippier definitely both need to be moved on and significantly upgraded.
burnley are hardly a team of flying wingers and made Aurier look like a pub player.
Also what is with Foyth and his obsession with taking risks? I've never seen anything like it. loads of ability but needs to learn when to play and when not to play... and is far too reckless at times.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The whole of the defence has seriously regressed, and that includes Toby and Verts. A lot to do with constant rotation, but also time waits for no man, and Toby, Verts and Rose are past their best now. Can get away with one perhaps not being on his game, but all three are nowhere what they were three seasons back, although Toby had a decent game against Borussia, but that was in a more attacking sense.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
possibly due to lack of protection... we don't really play with a DM.... Sissoko is more of a box to box CM than a DM....
problem is that Dier and Wanyama are both injury prone and have generally looked awful whenever they have played.
posted on 23/2/19
Sandy I said this at the start of this season, this policy of not spending is going to put us further and further behind the pack, we are in a false position in the league, over achieved , Poch has done well with this squad, some strange decisions, leaving Kane on for 90 mins is one
posted on 23/2/19
reset button should have been pushed last summer or at least a portion of this squad should have been recycled. The stadium means we are standing still in terms of what we do on the field...the gap between the best and the "also rans" is getting wider and wider. The game is all about money, until we spend some we will only ever be also rans.
no point getting annoyed about it now. This spurs team reached its ceiling 12 months ago. it's understandable but has now become boring and frustrating.
At least we will finally know where we stand this summer. With the stadium finished but with Toby, eriksen likely gone it will be interesting to see whether we can reinvest in the team. If we don't/ can't, the realization will kick in for some that the short term impact of this stadium is gonna be horrendous
posted on 24/2/19
Sandy, old boy......this comes to you from Hawaii where I am ATM.
I agree 100% with your post. Been saying similar things since beginning of this season. I suppose you do remember?
"The team that so excited us of two or three years back is no more in reality, although it won nothing it played some really great stuff."
I assume you have in mind the team that came second to Leicester City?
I agree .... that was the team that should have won something, if not the league then a cup.
Trading Walker was necessary because he wanted out. Family in Sheffield I think was the excuse.
But tightwad Levy has never replaced players with the same quality. And this season's "buy nothing" has really come home to bite us now. This is the part of the season where the paucity of the squad shows up. No Alli....no win at Burnley.
We must now pin our hopes on the Dortmund CL leg.
I think, with a full squad, we have a good chance of getting to the quarters. Wether we can go further is another matter. Did you watch the Atletico/Juve game? Unbelievable finish by Atletico..... there's a team and manager we do not want to meet in the next round, if we make it that far!
BTW .... if we had VAR today that corner Pochettino was complaining about would not have been given upon review ... if that total ashenhole of a ref would have consulter it.
I think you've joined the pessimist's corner, Sandy.
But all is not yet lost.