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Tottenham Hotspur 2020-21

Zapp Brannigan

Zapp Brannigan

Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
New season, new thread?

Hart, Doherty and Hjobjerg (sp?) in, Vertonghen the only major departure so far. Danny Rose expected to leave as well, hard to see a way back for him now sadly. Aurier still a potential departure, as is Foyth.

Goalkeeper: Lloris, Hart, Gazzaniga
Right back: Doherty, Aurier (Tanganga, Foyth, Gedson)
Left back: Davies, Cirkin (Sessegnon)
Centre back: Alderweireld, Dier, Sanchez, Tanganga, Foyth

Holding mid: Hjobjerg, Winks (Dier)
Box-to-box: Ndombele, Sissoko, Gedson
Attacking mid: Lo Celso, Dele
Wide forwards: Son, Lucas, Lamela, Bergwijn, Sessegnon
Striker: Kane (Son, Lucas)

25 man squad, only Cirkin (I think) is a free pick because of his age. 16 non home-grown (including Dier, because of his youth training in Portugal - could be wrong on that) so no problems with registering players for the league or Europa.

I'm expecting a usual 4-3-3 with the excellent Son-Kane-Lucas front line supported by either Lo Celso or Dele from midfield, but still hopeful of big things from Sessegnon - there's a really good player in there somewhere, just hasn't happened for him yet. If he does hit a bit of form, could see him as a left wing back, opposite Doherty, with Davies in a back 3 as he does for Wales.

Top 6 again is an absolute minimum, top 4 not unattainable. City and Liverpool should be the same top 2 in either order, and Chelsea have spent big but got good players for it. Us, Utd, Arsenal (Leicester? Wolves?) are broadly similar on paper, win that mini-league and all is good with the world.

Sunday at home to Everton with their shiny new midfield, live on Sky and all good illegal non-Murdoch streams. COYS!
 
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On paper Spuds should do better this year but I can't see them competing for top four (#joseout :D)

Saying that this season has a brutal fixture list (did you get Europa qualification?) any team that can keep their first pick players fit might turn up a surprise.
 
here's hoping mourinho pulls a strop in the europa qualification games. honestly, he's the only (opportunist) Spurs personelle I like.

I really do want Levy to go mental and sign Messi though just so he has to ignite a war in the dressing room whilst paying off his legal fees.
 
Tottenham are ready to loan out Dele Alli to Real Madrid. The proposal involves Dele Alli joining Madrid on loan until the end of the season and Real paying 100% of his wages, whilst Gareth Bale joins Spurs and they pay 50% of his wages.
 
Badgers said:
Tottenham are ready to loan out Dele Alli to Real Madrid. The proposal involves Dele Alli joining Madrid on loan until the end of the season and Real paying 100% of his wages, whilst Gareth Bale joins Spurs and they pay 50% of his wages.
Click to expand...

Even by 2020's standards that is crazy. Is he going there to take Bale's place as the player who Zidane exiles from the squad?
 
Reguilon is a neat left back who was in the Seville side last year. Man Utd were in some discussions for him but there is a dispute about a buy back clause ( which hints that Madrids technical director may be at odds with Zidane over the evaluation of the player's abilities). If Spurs concede to a buy back clause he will on his way.

Bale would be a good loan for a season , Mourinho has a penchant for older forwards who still have something to give. God knows what Bale's attitude will be to a return to Spurs ,he was keen on a China move so playing golf isn't his main thing in life. If he does move then that is the inevitable Mourinho/Levy row over transfers delayed until after Xmas.
 
The39thStep said:
Bale would be a good loan for a season , Mourinho has a penchant for older forwards who still have something to give. God knows what Bale's attitude will be to a return to Spurs ,he was keen on a China move so playing golf isn't his main thing in life. If he does move then that is the inevitable Mourinho/Levy row over transfers delayed until after Xmas.
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Bit unsure if this is a 'good' deal or not?

Dele has been a bit inconsistent/temperamental of late but is 24 and has a decent fitness record.
Bale is 31, has hardly had any recent competitive playing time and is a bit more injury prone.

Levy really likes Bale though and Jose loves a player like that!
Also the Spurs faithful would be over the moon to have him back and will be rushing to buy more shirts :D
 
Badgers said:
Bit unsure if this is a 'good' deal or not?

Dele has been a bit inconsistent/temperamental of late but is 24 and has a decent fitness record.
Bale is 31, has hardly had any recent competitive playing time and is a bit more injury prone.

Levy really likes Bale though and Jose loves a player like that!
Also the Spurs faithful would be over the moon to have him back and will be rushing to buy more shirts :D
Click to expand...
It’s pragmatic to say the least . If it’s true then there is always one player under Mourinho who’s sacrificed . Tbh it says more about Mourinho’s obsession with one season success ie Europa League or a domestic cup rather than anything long term. Would any other top six team let Dele Ali go ?
 
There has been malaise in the squad for a couple of years now. In many ways Dele typifies that. Not sure if it’s a case a ‘can’t find a way to get the best out him’ or ‘attitude problem’?

On his day (& they have been few and far between) he is one of the best players I’ve seen ‘without’ the ball. Ghosting in between the lines, appearing late in the box etc. It’s with the ball that’s the biggest area of concern. Play stagnates or is lost when he receives it. Maybe a temporary change of scene would’ve got the best out of him. Who knows?

Re: the squad now with the new LB plus potentially Bale and maybe a new back up striker - José has all the tools and no excuses. PEH and Doherty didn’t cover themselves in glory on their debuts but they are Mourinho players, as it Hart, bringing experience and supposedly a winning mentality to the squad. The overhaul is almost complete.

Let’s see how they go.....
 
Dele was at his best when playing with Eriksen (the DESK days). He played almost as a second forward very close to Kane, which worked for 3 main reasons - (1) Eriksen's workrate and a tendency to drift inside, almost becoming a 3rd midfielder; (2) he didn't have the burden of being the main creator, more a finisher; and (3) the glorious, beautiful man who was Mousa Dembele. A player so good he was like having two players, a hard as nails defensive midfielder and a silky dribbler with an eye for a pass.

The current 4-2-3-1 is disjointed because neither Son nor Lucas/Bergwijn are creators in the Eriksen style, and none offer a great deal to midfield. It ends up being a 4-2-4 with a huge gulf between the midfield and front. Son - Kane - Lucas (or Bale for that matter) are suited to playing as a proper 3, with Kane dropping deeper when one or both of the wide players go beyond him. That means Dele's role would be playing from deeper, facing the play - and frankly Gio Lo Celso is better at that than he is.

None of this means I don't like Dele or want him to leave; but if his wages for this season at least partially offset Bale's and allow that to happen it's definitely a short-term upgrade.
 
Zapp Brannigan said:
Dele was at his best when playing with Eriksen (the DESK days). He played almost as a second forward very close to Kane, which worked for 3 main reasons - (1) Eriksen's workrate and a tendency to drift inside, almost becoming a 3rd midfielder; (2) he didn't have the burden of being the main creator, more a finisher; and (3) the glorious, beautiful man who was Mousa Dembele. A player so good he was like having two players, a hard as nails defensive midfielder and a silky dribbler with an eye for a pass.

The current 4-2-3-1 is disjointed because neither Son nor Lucas/Bergwijn are creators in the Eriksen style, and none offer a great deal to midfield. It ends up being a 4-2-4 with a huge gulf between the midfield and front. Son - Kane - Lucas (or Bale for that matter) are suited to playing as a proper 3, with Kane dropping deeper when one or both of the wide players go beyond him. That means Dele's role would be playing from deeper, facing the play - and frankly Gio Lo Celso is better at that than he is.

None of this means I don't like Dele or want him to leave; but if his wages for this season at least partially offset Bale's and allow that to happen it's definitely a short-term upgrade.
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I want him to leave, and I dont like him. I bow to your strategic theory, I just think he had a couple of good seasons, then went off the boil, got caught in a sex tape, did some shit corona video, did some other crap i cant remember, he looks miserable, i just think he peaked early. Not very sophisticated take, but there you go.
 
ska invita said:
I want him to leave, and I dont like him. I bow to your strategic theory, I just think he had a couple of good seasons, then went off the boil, got caught in a sex tape, did some shit corona video, did some other crap i cant remember, he looks miserable, i just think he peaked early. Not very sophisticated take, but there you go.
Click to expand...

All as equally valid as the tactical shit, probably the truth lies somewhere in between. Can't help but feel though, the single biggest reason any Spurs player looked good about 3 years ago was Dembele.
 
ska invita said:
I want him to leave, and I dont like him. I bow to your strategic theory, I just think he had a couple of good seasons, then went off the boil, got caught in a sex tape, did some shit corona video, did some other crap i cant remember, he looks miserable, i just think he peaked early. Not very sophisticated take, but there you go.
Click to expand...

He's still only 24, right enough, maybe worth Spurs giving him another year or two in case he matures and hits some good form again.
 
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