The Juventus and Madrid games were great to watch as a neutral.
Spurs 2018/19
- Thread starter Adisa
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Yep I think it would be amazing for more English players (and managers) went abroad. Would really help with their footballing education.
To be honest, I would say most fans absolutely love youth players being promoted to the first team squad and it is one of the few things that unites pretty much all fans. The delight of seeing a youth player on the bench, of seeing them grow and the inevitable over-rating of pretty much all of those players when they first appear.
The thing is, our academy is already actually doing a pretty great job imo. For the most part, what do you want from the academy? A few players who are able to contribute to the season and if you're lucky, a superstar. Those who can't, you want them sold to produce a decent amount of money and hopefully reasonable careers for them. If we're talking about kids we've trained from a very young age, we have Kane and Winks. We have academy players littered around the league (Livermore, Mason, Carroll, Smith, Pritchard), as well as other players who we bought at an older age who are doing well for themselves (and made us decent money).
But realistically, apart from unique generations (class of 92, Barcelona's Messi, Xavi, Iniesta etc generation), you rarely get a conveyor belt of top top talent coming through at the same time.
I have high hopes for Skipp (who has great tabloid headline potential with that name) but he is 17 and is a central midfielder. I can't really recall a 17 year old playing in any of the top leagues really (though I'm sure there are). A successful season for him would be a few carling cup appearances followed by a decent loan. Amos has bloomed late and I can see him going thr way of the likes of Carroll and Mason, though obviously I hope for a Kane like trajectory. But if he does contribute this season, or Onomah, I'm not sure it is going to be at the levels we want for our cm.
I live in hope though, hopefully they do if we are going to be using them there.
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From an English perspective, i'm all for these moves, but why are Spurs talents, specifically, leaving in droves? Do they not like the state of the art, world class training facilities? 
I'd guess a lot of them play in positions where they are unlikely to get regular game time in the first team and are of an age when they need to make a decision about their future career. Happens at every club. None of the young players that have left were really any way close to breaking through with us. The exception may be Marcus Edwards who we may cut our losses on (hoping we don't)From an English perspective, i'm all for these moves, but why are Spurs talents, specifically, leaving in droves? Do they not like the state of the art, world class training facilities?
I recckon he has the club's financial interests (which are intertwined with his own) over its sporting interests.
To be expected from a suit, perhaps, but it is too much so, imo.
They're building a brilliant new stadium. I think they are going through what Arsenal went through years ago.
You can be sure Glaston will be absent the moment spurs are below united in the table. When he does return in pre-season, he will unblinkingly ignore any comments about his wrong predictions or where he was when his predictions were going all wrong. He stays rigidly true to his modus operandus.
Which is why it is hilarious to see him make comments like "I've seen Spurs posters like you on forums many times" when he is a fecking cardboard cutout of a poster.
True, just seems to be a lot with you guys, which is strange as you definitely have spaces they could fill. Marcus Edwards sounds similar to Ravel - supremely talented, supreme dickhead.
Is there any doubt at this point that the needs of this project were also intertwined with the penny-pinching of the people upstairs who were probably cackling at Wenger's economics degree and appreciation of same making him the ideal shill for their "top four on a shoestring keeps the money rolling" ambitions?
Arsenal hamstrung themselves far more than they needed to. Now spurs are doing the same, in both cases because they are lucky enough to have a manager who can deliver top four without spending. They're happier with that than the prospect of slowing debt repayments to challenge for a title that might not be delivered. The risk and bravery that Pochettino asked for basically.
I know you're trying to stir the pot a little but as a youth player, you (and your entourage) are going to want two things. Money and a route through to first team football.From an English perspective, i'm all for these moves, but why are Spurs talents, specifically, leaving in droves? Do they not like the state of the art, world class training facilities?
We don't pay our youth players big bucks but as we have consolidated in the CL and our team has improved, it has become harder for them to break through. So some are leaving for more opportunities (and fair play to them) or more money or both.
It is a trend that is growing for sure recently. Man City, Arsenal, West Ham, Palace etc.
It is a shame about Edwards though. The talent is insane, the application not so much. Especially bad when you have a manager like Poch who values hard work and playing for the team above basically anything really.
As an aside, I really struggle to see the point of mentioning an U15 in this kind of thing....I feel like kids that young should really be left completely alone.
No point, mate ... I'm staying out of this argument till post-window, or Glaston will be here to call me a child for wanting us to actually do something to fix our mounting problems, or chicken little because I don't think we're in a great situation going in to the next season. No point in engaging with it.
'I think we should probably look at the very clear deficiencies in our playing staff before we go in to the next season, could be dangerous. Should probably have got it sorted earlier.'
'WHAT???? YOU WANT TO SPEND ONE BILLION ON PLAYERS??? YOU CHILD. YOU WANT TO BANKRUPT OUR CLUB. UNBELIEVABLE.'
Yeah, sorry. I didn't want to detract from the actual discussion, but couldn't miss that golden opportunity!
I think there are routes through for you though, your squad is very light. Seems like it's money and a little more speed to a route to first team.
Yeah said above Edwards seems to be like Ravel with us.
It's the new thing now ever since that Dembele lad at Celtic and the 13 year old at Dortmund. Everyone loves a wonderkid. I have to agree with you on that point though.
Says the supporter of a team - Liverpool - that perennially finishes below Spurs
PS. Your comment is beyond silly and verging on ludicrous. Spurs were below United for long periods last season and, indeed, finished below them.
Arsenal's problem wasn't just the stadium. They tied themselves to longterm sponsorship deals below market rate. Think Spurs are better placed not to make the same mistake.
The opportunity was very much there!
Yep the squad is light in certain positions but the first eleven is very strong, which may be part of the issue. I wonder whether Griffiths saw Kane for example and wondered if he was ever going to get a route through to the first team with Kane still here. The EL used to be good for stuff like this (and is in fact how Kane started breaking through himself) but we obviously can't do that so much in the CL now.
Yep exactly. I wonder whether part of it is that players like them can really coast through youth football because they're so much better than their competitors and find it a bit of a shock when they get towards men's football and simple talent is no longer enough.
Its a shame. Windy is a great follower of the Spurs youth team and fountain of knowledge on them so his posts are very informative but I just find it a bit weird that we are discussing a 13/14 year old. I feel like I shouldn't known about the existence of such a player until they're at least 17/18 etc.
Anyway, to keep it a bit more relevant, I would like to see some more youth appearances this season. Onomah I guess needs to start playing or move elsewhere. KWP I'd like to see more. Seems like Amos may be integrated into the squad for this season and Skipp is a curveball option, though more one for the future I feel.
Are they really going to rely on Llorente if Kane gets 2-3 months out injured? This whole lack of investment is negligent by Spurs. Right now it's not being made to be a problem but a few injuries and players like Son being absent could mess shit up badly for them this season.
I've maintained for a while, I've not seen much in him to suggest he could displace Winks, or really is premiership level. KWP looks more than capable of playing a role this season, off the back of his appearances last year. I'll have to look out for the rest!
With regards to the talent, you get it at all levels, I play county level and it's stuffed with ex academy players still wondering why they never made it. Like any skill, you need to be determined and driven enough to keep progressing. Some people are naturally talented enough to get all the way up to Edwards' level and don't want to make little changes that would easily get them further. It's a real shame, I wish I had half their talent!
I did think that about Griffiths with Kane, but Kane's not really his competition at 18. Llorente is. There's also no reason why you couldn't play two up top at points. I think you're right on the EL point, you can't really afford it until your ranking goes up in the CL, but if you carry on that shouldn't be a problem.
Problem is you can’t even buy a half decent back up striker for £30-40m these days. Utd have the same problem with Lukuku, Llorente is a good fit for that role.
Yep, I think Spurs can get another season out of Llorente, he's a good striker who is happy to bide his time behind Kane and play from the bench. Getting on so can't run around as much and press hard like Kane. Still dangerous in the air and a good physical presence up top. And saves Spurs spending 40mil on a backup striker.
They also have Son who can play as a striker in a pinch. And im sure they have some young academy strikers they can use in the league cup and the like.
He's not. I agree it's very difficult to find someone in this market (and it isn't a priority with Son able to cover) but Llorente is not a good option. He scored 1 premier league goal last season and whenever he got on the pitch our play was very noticeably worse. If we can find someone who is willing to replace him, we should.
Yeah it's true, he's an absolute beast in the air is Llorente but I don't know if I would want him leading the line in crucial UCL group games though. I think his aerial ability aside he will hinder the pace Spurs play at if he takes over from Kane for a long period of time. I guess he'll do a job for another season but if you have aspirations for titles....
Of course you wouldn’t want him in a crucial CL game, but where are you going to find a striker, who will always be second choice to Kane who is happy to come in for the odd came and can still do a job (that’s the crucial bit - do a half decent job, not to be fantastic) when required.
A striker who is good enough to play in the CL knock out stages is not going to go to Spurs, as he would not get a game, and will never oust Kane. Even if they could find someone who would, they are not going to spend the £30-40 needed on a reserve striker.
Think that might be the reason why Zaha is linked, both him and Son can play up front. It's better to have an in form player like them stepping in, as they will have played in other positions through the season, rather than a back up no 9 who'll be cold and need time to get started.
Different than playing Kane up front, but we've seen similar front line work at Liverpool.
Different than playing Kane up front, but we've seen similar front line work at Liverpool.
Alright, you win. I can't keep up with that kind of comeback.
He'd be great but pigs will fly before Levy pays 60 or 70 mill for a single player, let alone for Zaha.
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7 days before the window shuts...
It annoys me that Rose is injury prone, because what his versatility to operate as an LB in a back 4 or an LWB in a back 5 while providing width and the ability to carry the ball up the pitch are much more important to add to the current mix at United than even a ball playing CB imo. Not having dynamic FBs hinders our transitions on the counter as well as in stretching defenses to create openings when dominating possession more than anything else.
At his best Rose provides all of that in a way none of our current options do. Here's to hoping Shaw somehow puts it together and Dalot can surprise with how much he's able to handle from the start.
Rose couldn't get ahead of Young for England and still looks off the pace, so I'm not sure it would be much of an improvement considering the likely price? Also the injury record is a big concern.
Rose was the best left back in the league pre-injury but since has lost that edge which made him so dangerous going forward. There's still a decent left back there but at the moment he isn't the same, potentially all he needs is some game time to get back to his hold self, but the risk is that the injuries have taken a permanent toll.
I agree with both of these. That's why it's annoying, because I do think Levy would sell him and we need more dynamism from our FBs. Also just sucks for Rose.
Do Tottenham still play Duel of the Fates ahead of every home game?
This is the lone / main striker problem. If you rely on one player for too many of your goals, when that player is unavailable or is off form, the team suffers. And you can't really get a decent backup striker who is willing to wait on the bench until Kane (or Lukaku or Morata) is injured. This is also one of the big drawback of playing with a lone striker in my opinion. You can't really have decent backup for a lone striker.
If your goals are spread around like City, or you can have other players coming in and scoring the goals, then it doesn't matter if one player or the other is injured so much. So City can go for large parts of the season without Aguero, Sterling or Jesus, and still be scoring regularly.
Many teams have had this problem. Liverpool with Torres(Ngog was his replacement). Chelsea with Costa (Batshuayi was his replacement). Chelsea with Morata (Batshuayi, then one on after sending Batshuayi off on loan). Spurs with Kane (his replacement is Llorente). There is too much of a step down in quality from the main striker for the team to be able to perform at the required level.
This is biggest flaw with playing a formation with a lone striker and having your striker as your best / most important player. It's difficult to have a second really good striker, let alone the four that SAF would have preferred in his title winning squads.
I think wide forwards have replaced this, goals aren't expected to come from just the strikers these days. The likes of Ronaldo (or Salah, in the prem) break records when starting from wide areas, for City the likes of Sterling and Sane contribute a ton of goals. Son scores a lot of goals for us but unless Moura steps up to the plate I don't think our other wide options are enough to break our reliance on Kane, hence why bringing in a Zaha or another dangerous wide man was something a lot of our fans were asking for.
If Spurs land their targets it will be a good window, Rose, Alderweireld, Dembele out.
Grealish, Cook, Zaha in? No real 'superstar' signings like a Pulisic or De Ligt, but solid players that will add depth which is what they need.
Grealish, Cook, Zaha in? No real 'superstar' signings like a Pulisic or De Ligt, but solid players that will add depth which is what they need.