Run-down of 'first team' squad
Saturday, September 1, 2012 at 10:18AM (Keepers)
Lloris - Could see a similar situation to David de Gea as he settles into life in the Prem, which I hope we don't, mainly because we don't quite handle the fragility of some our goalkeepers very well. Massive signing though. Sweeper-keeper, a vital ingredient in VB's plans.
Friedel - Knows his role, understands he's long in the tooth but aside from not attacking the ball more often he remains reliable. Aside from when staying on his line and not attacking the ball.
Cudicini - Back up.
Gomes - Forgotten about.
(Centre-backs)
Vertonghen - Not just a class in defence but brings the ball out of it and into midfield and forward positions, with an eye for goal. Will lead by example from the back, can see him being very inspirational as the season drags on.
Caulker - Sparky form for Swansea, if King was The Legend, Caulker is The Future.
Kaboul - Out for 4 months.
Gallas - Question marks on fitness, age, experience not in doubt but perhaps desire is.
Dawson - Not considered a fit in Villas-Boas model (too slow, immobile) but with Kaboul out, he might be called upon to do a job.
(Full-backs)
Assou-Ekotto - Positional concentration important and rotation paramount to retaining form.
Walker - Improvements on defending as he has no trouble going forward.
Naughton - Lack of experience in Prem, signed new contract, has to step up and make the grade.
Smith - As above with making the grade..
(Wingers)
Lennon - Big season for the little man with the new contract. That fiery pulsating Aaron running at opposing back fours with speed, cutting in and out, is a sight to behold. Needs to impact games and pressure full-backs (especially at home) and needs to do it consistently. No cover here. We wanted something extra here, to aid VB and his 433.
Bale - Massive season after last season's erratic one. Was allowed to roam under Redknapp. Has to be controlled this time round. From the left, has to deliver the type of crosses he's capable of and hopefully our forward(s) and midfielders attack the box with intent to get on the end of them.
(Defensive/Holding midfield)
Sandro - Should be key this season marshalling the midfield.
Parker - Post-injury recovery, will be interesting to see if he gets in the side ahead of Sandro. Older legs so doubt we'll see the burn out Redknapp was responsible for last season. Rotation.
Livermore - Has proven he can do a job for us. Young, hungry to impress and promoted from within. We've got the DM position covered well.
(Attacking midfield)
Dembele - Box to box beasting. Can work the ball around, keep things ticking over and get involved with the less glamourous work. Dynamic. Will link up well with Dempsey.
Dempsey - Goals from midfield, from out wide or deputising up front. If he can replicate the form he had for Fulham last season then he'll be the one to grab those vital points in tight situations.
Sigurdsson - Another high up the pitch attacking midfielder with an eye for goal. His development and influence under Villas-Boas is something I'm waiting to see play out. We're not short of goals in midfield, with Rafa gone. Not short on strength and agility either. It's craft and guile that we need to be comforted with. 433 is dependent on that playmaker. Dembele might just cover that.
(You tell me)
Jenas - Almost went to Sunderland on loan.
Huddlestone - Needs to regain fitness, possibly doesn't fit into Villas-Boas model due to lack of pace.
Townsend - Could provide cover on flanks if given the chance.
Carroll - Too light-weight?
Bentley - Not a clue.
(Attack)
Defoe - Impact sub. Can't lead the line in one-man attacking formation.
Adebayor - Links up play with midfield, drops to channels/wings. Not an out and out striker but can lead the line. Harry Kane is on loan to Norwich. One injury away from a breakdown. Bare bones anyone?
Midfield looks great, really does. Even the 'benched' players could do a job in covering in early cup matches. They have to be involved more often than not but considering the 'first team' options available, (who will have first dibs in that rotation pool) they might be surplus to requirements after all.
Attacking midfield can cover flanks in 443 formation. So versatility is there. Bale and Dempsey can play in forward positions if required. Dembele is the key for the time being to keep the ball moving forward with lack of a more obvious playmaker. You feel VB won't be able to fulfil his ambitions until we sign one. Can't ignore how much this will potentially impact our fluidity and movement in midfield. He'll have to adjust our evolution here.
Full-backs? Injuries aside, pressure on Walker and Benny again to perform across the season but we'll need to rest them so that means we might have to call upon the young lads to cover.
Centre-backs are fine. Would be perfect if Kaboul wasn't recovering from surgery. Have to hope this won't be a reoccurring theme. Dawson stays for now but get the feeling he's behind Gallas in pecking order.
Brad to retain his number one jersey, but Lloris to own it in time. Brad already well aware (due to age) that he might have take a step back. As for Hugo, not expecting him to be boss from the off. All dependent on how quickly VB wants to push him into first team action.
Onwards.
Reader Comments (24)
I absolutely hate our fans sometimes. We have gotten to the point where we are spoilt brats - the new Liverpool fans if you will. I just wish we could get behind our side.
Up front so very light, unless AVB has an eye for one of our nextgen strikers. He did say he likes an ambitious young striker as third pick, I guess we'll have to see.
AVB has said Huddlestone is part of his plans but needs to get match fit, which he isn't going to be able to do at Spurs, hence the wish to send him out on loan for a season. he fits into the 4-3-3 system that AVB wants to play and now that we have signed more players capable of playing in it, the system we will be adopting next season.
Kane was supposed to be 3rd choice backup. What do we do if Ade gets crocked? Defoe isn't capable of the role that AVB would want him to play.
Dawson has been treated terribly IMHO. He has been a stalwart of the back 4 for many seasons. I hope he gets a chance with Kaboul out for a bit.
Bale & Lennons positioning is key this season. The constant roaming that occurred under 'arry must not be allowed to continue. We we always best when the wide players stayed wide.
Both Dempsey and Bale can play up front so not as light as first appears.
What price some cup action for Coulibaly?
Given the shortage of strikers the loan of Kane is bizarre. He could have played in the Europa. And Moutinho being missed because time ran out (apparently) just shows how this last-minute dealing harms the team.
Good read. We have signed six top players. But......why did we let Rose go? We don't have any left-back cover. Then there is the striker situation...guys we have just TWO strikers! Kane was meant to be one of the three and we let him go! That makes no sense at all. If Defoe or Ade get injured we are screwed. We bought well but we have completely let ourselves down on the striker front.
Demebele, dempsey and Bale can do a job up front so I think we are ok.
Really don't know what happened to JJ, Huddlestone etc? Are we going to use JJ as an impact sub :) ?
I think we are moving forward as a club...contrary to the majority opinion. Moutinho was going to turn us into a potential title challenging team. As it is, we remain a potential CL team. Not bad considering the top 3 will comprise of cheats such as Man City and Chelsea. We are a natural self-sustaining club and if that means missing out on Damiao and having to "settle" for Clint Dempsey so be it...we have to be realistic. Personally, I've always wanted to have Clint at Spurs. I think he is quality.
Overall, I remain content and optimistic. We kept Lennon (If AVB sold him I would never have forgiven him), we sold VDV at the right moment and the poisonous Modric finally left and we received proper compensation. We have Lloris (41yr olds are Harry Redknapp players not THFC style...sorry Brad fans), Vertonghen is going to be one of our best defenders ever, and Dembele is quality. Sigurdson looks like he might struggle (I hope I'm wrong). Adebayor...? I would have preferred Berbatov, but...
The only sad thing is that the disgusting leech that is Jenas is still sucking vital resources from THFC and limiting the progress of our youngsters. Tom Carroll would have benefitted from a run in the League and UEFA cup games but instead we will be forced to witness mindless repetitions of Jenas faking a tough guy facial expression, pointing at his shoes with both hands and running aimlessly out of position chasing the ball (but never getting it) like a 10yr old. Its no use talking about a wage structure at the club while we continue throwing away money at such rubbish players. 60,000 pounds a week! Release the waster if no other team wants him...atleast we get to save on the wages!
once more with feeling - Dempsey is comfortable playing at striker, and has enough about him to lead the line. He is 2nd choice to lead the line in my eyes. I think we bought him when Remy didn't come off, and then put the Remy money in a last minute run at Moutinho (speculation of course).
full back is a different story. not so bothered about Rose going on loan, he never looked comfortable at left back. Wonder if we should have taken the boy Fryers... Concerned about CB now with Kaboul out.Vertonghen gets injured and our season looks dodgy. I guess few teams can handle multiple injuries in the same position well. Walker used to play CB for Sheffield right?
I think this has been a common-sense window.We've shed a lot of players and, if we'd shifted Gomez, Jenas and Bentley, we'd have had more room for manoeuvre in bringing players in. If we lost out on Moutinho, we did so because Porto started off by asking us to pay what we would get for Luka and then backed down at the end of the window for a sale. Having called and beaten their bluff, we had Moutinho holding out to break the wages policy. Given that, we were unlikely to make progress in the time left. I have no doubt that we were serious in our interest, and he may still be one for the future, depending on how Porto do in the Euros. That aside, our signings have been sensible and we have a lot of strength and versatility in a reduced squad. This will generate capital for buying in the future, and takes account of the absence of CL football. Of course we ALL want a big name strike and a gifted playmaker. The latter we sought and failed at, the former was always problematic, given the money such players go for. Picking up Dempsey was a good piece of opportunism and overall I think Levy is to be congratulated on using the cash well and staying inside the policy. Everyone picked up has sell-on value except for Ade and Dempsey, and there have been some real bargains secured whilst we've got good or better money for the exits. Would have kept Harry Kane, but I'm prepared to trust AVB's judgement. I add that Carroll may be little, but he has a big heart; he's a youngster that may step up, and is the same kind of stature as Luka - it remains to be seen whether he makes the grade, but he deserves chances, as do all our young fringe players, in appropriate settings. I think AVB's assessment of the squad has been a distinct improvement on 'Arry's.
Now for some points ........ COYS!!
AVB was bigging up Kane a few weeks back, then he goes on loan. Strugglin to understand that one and think we are going to suffer when the injury curse strikes
I fear we will rue the lack of an out and out striker, capable of consistently holding up the out ball a la Ade, AND finishing like JD (at his best).
(Very?) strong midfield now, so why prioritise Moutino? Agreed striker as above will be i) hard to find, ii) ££££ and iii) difficult to lure without CL, so start thinking now about Jan window?
For now, if chasing the game Dempsey could partner Ade or JD well, but IMO forget Bale in this role, who is best off left or running from deep.
Injuries could hurt.
Hope I am wrong! Massively excited. COYS!
Levy is an arch cunt,
Bald headed penny pinching little count, we have all known we needed a top class striker and a Modric replacement, I mean for fucks sake, Dempsey for 6, Berba went for 4 mil and he pisses on Dempsey.
Levy fucked us again, we had a genuine chance of moving on but all we got was the same old bollocks and PR spin bullshit of the supposed Moutniho offer.
Clint fucking dempsey, what a joke, he is Pav in disguise.
LEVY OUT!!
Chillax my fellow Spurslings! We will play a more direct game in the final third, with anyone from Dembele, Bale or Lennon running at defences and drawing players to them. You don't need a modric or mountinho to dink the ball to the free man. All of those 3 are more than capable. Then bang, it's all about the finish.
As for strikers...Demsey can lead the line. I also think Coullbailly will get his chance if needed. We wont win the league this season but have faith.
AVB will eventually smash this! COYS!
I am yet to be convinced Spurs have had a good window. We have clever, value for money signings, but aren't we left with a squad with just 1 back to goal striker and arguably, counting the wingers, 13 midfielders. We have 9 defenders, including just three specialist full backs. Is this a reasonable and a reshaped squad that can push for top three, which is surely what we should be aiming for given last year. It seems to me that for so many reasons Moutinho and a striker were the must buys of this window (and, on the opposite side, shedding a lot of the surplus-to-requirements midfield) and missing out on Mountinho when the fee had been agreed seems inexplicable to me. Surely we knew in advance whether he wanted to come and how much he would demand. I can see how we can shape an attack around a versatile set of wingers and attacking mids, but who have we got to move the ball from deep? Dembele? Maybe? Vertonghen streaming forward? At what risk? I see us playing 4-2-3-1 with these players - so same old same old, except AVB wants them to run around a bit more than Arry did. As if Redknapp did not ask his players to press from the front. Having said all that, COYS.
Spurs fans are concerned about up front and on the wings, but if one of Defoe or Adebayor gets injured then Dembele (used to be a striker) and Dempsey (played as a striker for Fulham sometimes) can also play up front. If you worry about Bale, Lennon and Dempsey getting no cover, then Dembele and Sigurdsson can also play as wingers/wide forwards. Take it from me (a Reading fan), Sigurdsson can do a job on the wing and he played out wide for Hoffenheim on occasion too. There's no need to worry, Spurs fans. They'll survive until January.
Dempsey is vey good player, I would have liked Berba back but Levy obviously hasn't forgiven him. Letting VDV go was very poor especially as the Moutinho deal collapsed. But with only one forward to lead the line I'm afraid we are in trouble lads. Makes no sense....we HAD to sign a striker.
Good piece and excellent sketch of Jenas by Ronnie. Read somewhere that PL rules prevent two players from going on loan from one team to another in the same season, therefore Jenas couldn't follow Rose to SAFC. Is that right?
Very good work from Levy / AVB. Dempsey & Dembele give us options. Fewer players in the squad means more opportunities for younger ones, and frees up wages in the budget. This will help us come January. Shame about Moutinho but its an opportunity for someone else to stake a claim.
As far as Kane is concerned, apparently he is more effective when he plays off a striker like Adeybayor, rather than being his Europa league cover, etc. Therefore, he is behind Defoe in the pecking order; but Defoe is jostling with Gylfi and Dempy, for that 2nd forward position, so best Kane goes for a step up to regular 1st team Prem action with Norwich. Lets see what Coulibaly can do.
Slightly concerned we have no natural LCB to cover Vertongnen... have we? I would like to see Dawson take Kaboul's spot for these 4 months out, but give Caulker and/or Gallas games if Dawson is not at his very best - The competition will keep Dawson sharp.
COYS
Got the wife to put the humble pie back in the fridge. Just looking at what you have written Spooky it seems obvious to me that we have a glaring hole in the squad, let's just hope it doesn't turn into a black hole. Looks like we are relying on our scoring to be very strong from midfield.
The criticism of Levy remains and it is this: you have to identify targets and then go and get them, no excuses, no conditions and not waiting to the very last moment in the hope of saving six pence on a key essential purchase. If AVB gets his team playing, his tactics look ok but we start sliding because of squad deficiency, I for one will be looking up at the directors box not at the manager's bench.
Amazing depth in MF. However, greatly concerned about lack of depth in D (specifically LB and RB) and up top. Question the decisions to let Kane and Rose(LB) go out on loan. then again, they need to develop and can do that better with more match time, which they will hopefully get at the other clubs. We are fine, so long as no one gets hurt in these positions. Possibility of Dempsey being used as a striker? He's done it before....I mean, not necessarily on a regular basis, but in a pinch.
Love the Dempsey signing. He has a bit of an edge to him, something the squad has long lacked, as evidenced by yet another late equalizer in the WBA match. Guys like Dempsey and Parker are invaluable when the pressure is on. Spurs need a leader in those situations, and have not always seemed to have one.
Good job on Lloris. We'll see how he does with balls in the air, but his keeper skills are undeniable. Brings a certain quickness that Freidel and Cuducini lack and a certain competence that Gomes just never managed to maintain.
Lloris
Walker Vert Gallas BAE
Dembele Sandro Siggy
Lennon Dempsey Bale
I know it's not great for balance, but it sure would be fun to watch em fly about. Seriously, I see Dempsey moving into the striker conversation quite soon, after a few more games of watching Defoe and Ade muck about.
We need a striker we buy a keeper. Play 2 holding midfielders at home?
Clueless v norwich absolute rubbish, Fans have a right to boo after that. Season over