I know its a bit early and there's still plenty of doom & gloom around BUT there were some positive signs from the weekend.......
*Tanganga was excellent, Sanchez played well (esp in a 3 with Toby marshalling everything from the center.
*Its clear Eriksen & Rose are done and hopefully both can be sold
*Hopefully we can get Hugo, Davies & Ndombele back soon
*The 2 Argies showed Jose the way forward that you don't need to play with some lumbering DM, its best to get on the ball and take the initiative to the opposition.
*Obviously much depends on Levy but this Fernandes kid certainly looks to be talented & Jose has made it VERY Clear that we need a striker (Son & Moura are not 9s)
Just for the sake of Argument If Spurs managed to sign Fernandes, Samedo & maybe went a bit mental (given the urgency) and got Demebele from Lyon.... We could be in really decent shape despite losing Kane. If we could recoup some cash from Eriksen, Rose, Jan, Victor and possibly Aurier or KWP..... As was proved by the Deloitte figs from yesterday, the club is raking in the cash (Top club in London, overtaking the Nomads & Chelski)
In a few weeks time our side could look something like this.......
***********************Hugo***********
*********Tanganga***Toby****Sanchez******
***Sameda*********Fernandes*********Sess****
**********************NDombele*************
*************Sonny******************Dele***********
***********************Dembele*********************
Obviously plenty of alternative options with Guys Like GLC, Lamela & Moura for the attacking roles. Winks, or Dier to Play at the base of MF. Davies can slot in at LB in a 4 or left side in a 3 & keep one of the two RBs at the club.
Of course, all this depends on Levy's ambition and whether Jose is the right type of manager for this all remain to be seen, but without wishing to steal a line from Poch... "if we are "brave" we might not be a million miles away
From what I have seen (& its pretty limited) Fernandes looks pretty high energy/ Box to box.. could see him alongside NDombele & GLC/ Lamela in a 4-3-3 or alongside Ndombele in a 4-2-3-1 with a pure number 10 in Dele/ GLC
Come on Levy.... Reignite the fan base.... You owe us !!!!
Team for the second half of the season
posted on 14/1/20
Sandy
Season predictions?
posted on 14/1/20
comment by THudd : The Special One (U1029)
posted 3 minutes ago
Sandy
Season predictions?
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Bit hard to say now mate, probably 5th/6th in the league, decent run in the FA Cup, and go deep in the CL. That would do for me.
New manager will take time to build his own team and squad. Needs at least two full seasons, and three or four windows. By then I would expect Spurs to be back challenging on all fronts again.
posted on 14/1/20
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by THudd : The Special One (U1029)
posted 3 minutes ago
Sandy
Season predictions?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bit hard to say now mate, probably 5th/6th in the league, decent run in the FA Cup, and go deep in the CL. That would do for me.
New manager will take time to build his own team and squad. Needs at least two full seasons, and three or four windows. By then I would expect Spurs to be back challenging on all fronts again.
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Who do you think needs to be shipped out the club?
posted on 14/1/20
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 12 minutes ago
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 50 minutes ago
comment by sandy (U20567)
posted 6 minutes ago
That looks a pretty decent team on paper. But is more of a wish list of new players coming in, than what may actually happen.
As for Reigniting the fan base, I don`t need reigniting, I have never left. I have and will always support the team whatever happens. It is what proper supporters do, they don`t not support the team, if things are not always going well.
The club owe me nothing, I have had 60 years of pleasure out of supporting Spurs, and still have hopefully a few more years left.
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Good for you mate...... My 35 years have been mostly frustrating with the odd cup and big win thrown in
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I get what you are saying mate, but with the odd cup thrown in is still better than 90 per cent of the club in the leagues up and down the country. So not all bad.
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Maybe but I don't care about the rest of the clubs... I was born into Spurs, always will be... I just wanna see them win, or at least try to
posted on 14/1/20
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 28 minutes ago
Saw a Portuguese journo (think MK linked the tweet on the transfer thread) who said the reason Fernandes fell out of favour at Benfica was that he can't play in a midfield 2, only as part of a 3. So I definitely wouldn't have him as the deepest midfielder - frankly you just have to watch some of his highlights to see he's an attacking mid really.
Spurs still desperately need a proper DM to play a midfield 3. Otherwise I think the only way Fernandes and Ndombele play together is in a double pivot with 3 at the back to cover them.
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If that's true.... i wonder what Jose's real view of NDombele is ???? Hasn't exactly got off to great start. Can't see him putting up with these niggling injuries keeping him out for weeks at a time. Maybe he doesn't have the physical attributes to play in the Prem.... The french league is pretty soft
posted on 14/1/20
comment by JustCallMeTed (U21528)
posted 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
In a few weeks time our side will look nothing like that!
We should go for the other Fernandes.
But you know Levy .......
Better figure out a team with Skipp and Winks in it.
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Where the hell would the other Fernandes fit in our team....its not as if we are short on attacking midfielders - Lamela, Alli, GLC all pretty much competing for 1 position. If you expect bruno to fill the Eriksen role then he's not that sort of tempo player.
posted on 14/1/20
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 57 minutes ago
Saw a Portuguese journo (think MK linked the tweet on the transfer thread) who said the reason Fernandes fell out of favour at Benfica was that he can't play in a midfield 2, only as part of a 3. So I definitely wouldn't have him as the deepest midfielder - frankly you just have to watch some of his highlights to see he's an attacking mid really.
Spurs still desperately need a proper DM to play a midfield 3. Otherwise I think the only way Fernandes and Ndombele play together is in a double pivot with 3 at the back to cover them.
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I think he's a more mobile and technical Sisokko. Obvs lacking MS's physical strength but a good ball carrier, with some agility and energy.
I believe in the modern era the need for a 'proper DM' is almost gone. City don't play with one, Liverpool don't play with one, neither really do Chelsea. CMs these days need agility, mobility and energy to press, rather than physical presence. Most successful CM units work very effectively as a combination - Watch Man City, often it KDB picking the ball up from the CBs with Rodri going ahead of him. Rodri is himself not a DM but a very solid and technical CM who works along side Silva or Gundogan. Same with LFC and Fabinho. He and Wijnaldum are not DMs but work hard in combination in the midfield, also with Henderson/Milner.
The day of the DMs like Dier/Wanyama are gone - Mobile, energetic techincal players are what is required, not a DM per se
posted on 14/1/20
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 57 minutes ago
Saw a Portuguese journo (think MK linked the tweet on the transfer thread) who said the reason Fernandes fell out of favour at Benfica was that he can't play in a midfield 2, only as part of a 3. So I definitely wouldn't have him as the deepest midfielder - frankly you just have to watch some of his highlights to see he's an attacking mid really.
Spurs still desperately need a proper DM to play a midfield 3. Otherwise I think the only way Fernandes and Ndombele play together is in a double pivot with 3 at the back to cover them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think he's a more mobile and technical Sisokko. Obvs lacking MS's physical strength but a good ball carrier, with some agility and energy.
I believe in the modern era the need for a 'proper DM' is almost gone. City don't play with one, Liverpool don't play with one, neither really do Chelsea. CMs these days need agility, mobility and energy to press, rather than physical presence. Most successful CM units work very effectively as a combination - Watch Man City, often it KDB picking the ball up from the CBs with Rodri going ahead of him. Rodri is himself not a DM but a very solid and technical CM who works along side Silva or Gundogan. Same with LFC and Fabinho. He and Wijnaldum are not DMs but work hard in combination in the midfield, also with Henderson/Milner.
The day of the DMs like Dier/Wanyama are gone - Mobile, energetic techincal players are what is required, not a DM per se
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100% agree with this
posted on 14/1/20
comment by Diamondlights (U20501)
posted 1 hour, 4 minutes ago
comment by Devonshirespur (U6316)
posted 7 minutes ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 57 minutes ago
Saw a Portuguese journo (think MK linked the tweet on the transfer thread) who said the reason Fernandes fell out of favour at Benfica was that he can't play in a midfield 2, only as part of a 3. So I definitely wouldn't have him as the deepest midfielder - frankly you just have to watch some of his highlights to see he's an attacking mid really.
Spurs still desperately need a proper DM to play a midfield 3. Otherwise I think the only way Fernandes and Ndombele play together is in a double pivot with 3 at the back to cover them.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think he's a more mobile and technical Sisokko. Obvs lacking MS's physical strength but a good ball carrier, with some agility and energy.
I believe in the modern era the need for a 'proper DM' is almost gone. City don't play with one, Liverpool don't play with one, neither really do Chelsea. CMs these days need agility, mobility and energy to press, rather than physical presence. Most successful CM units work very effectively as a combination - Watch Man City, often it KDB picking the ball up from the CBs with Rodri going ahead of him. Rodri is himself not a DM but a very solid and technical CM who works along side Silva or Gundogan. Same with LFC and Fabinho. He and Wijnaldum are not DMs but work hard in combination in the midfield, also with Henderson/Milner.
The day of the DMs like Dier/Wanyama are gone - Mobile, energetic techincal players are what is required, not a DM per se
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100% agree with this
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I'd make two points - firstly Fabinho is definitely a proper DM, as is Jorginho at Chelsea. Yes they're technically sound, but positional I'd say they're definitely defensive.
Secondly, all those clubs look to dominate possession, which Spurs won't under Mourinho. Therefore they need a more technical player at the base of midfield to help keep the ball moving and progressing.
But yeah, I'm not suggesting Spurs buy a brute like Dier. They should be looking for a midfielder with good ball retention and sound technique, but also strength and positional discipline. That's what I mean when I say Spurs need a proper DM. Not an old school clogger, that's for sure.
posted on 14/1/20
Positionally*