Yeah, last season, barring the FA Cup, + performances of Martial and the emergence of Rashford, I'd want to forget as soon as possible. How we shot ourselves in the foot and couldn't even make top 4 is beyond a joke.
You're using first team players as your examples, though. While I agree with your overarching point, that they didn't strengthen their first XI, you can't use their starters as an example. For example, an injury to Dier would bring Wanyama in. An injury to Kane brings Janssen in, and an injury to Dembele brings Sissoko in.
30 million is not too much for what he is capable of, we've all seen how good he can be. it's up to Poch to get him producing those performances regularly. I think the end of the season is the time to judge whether it's a poor buy or not.
So basically if he can be tenacious in ball recovery he's another Dembele, who many including myself, regarded as one of the best midfielders in the league last season.
Dembele is a pretty meh passer to be fair. Almost never passes forwards - He basically beats three guys runs upfield and then makes a five yard pass sideways. Used to be incredibly frustrating when we were looking for someone to replace what Modric used to give us from deep, but now with the water carrier role he plays for us linking the midfield/defense to the attack while also contributing a lot for us in winning the ball back he's a fantastic player under Poch.
You finished third last season and every other one of the teams surrounding you (apart from maybe Leicester) have noticeably strengthened their first XI.
I see where you're coming from, but other squads improving doesn't take away our top league defense, our young golden boot winner, or our young AM core who seem capable of putting up double digit goals and assists each.
Well, it's not different. You came third. Not first. Your squad was not good enough.
Surprisingly Glaston I do agree with you. I just don't think the players you've brought in are that good, barring Janssen who I think is very good and if Kane doesn't sort his act out I can see Janssen taking his spot.
From what I can remember from the Euros is he put a big graft in, was hard to deal with but ultimately his final shot/pass let him down. As far as him playing as well as I think he can then it's not particularly great to be honest. It's a signing I just don't understand.
Quite. I thought he was above average in the Euros, nothing more. By all accounts he was playing at a far lower level for Newcastle over the course of last season. He's 27, so he's unlikely to improve significantly. If it's a mental/ attitudinal problem, then maybe Poch can improve him but we'll see.
Perhaps, but we did use the youngest squad in the league and still put up some of the best metrics you could ask for. That has nothing to do with Chelsea/United/City doing poorly as it was purely based on our play versus 19 other teams. That's reason for optimism. Tied best defense + second best offense + all the shot metrics to show that it was not an anomaly. In fact it shows we could have scored more with some better luck.
The point myself and other Spurs fans are trying to make is that our squad is strong and it's made up of players that no one said, "oh that will make them immediately better" when they were signed. Even though that's what many have done whether immediately or over time.
I suspect all this means is that if he flops at Spurs and they decide to get rid, Newcastle will receive a hefty sell on fee and/ or the fee would be even lower than you might expect. In any case, Newcastle will receive a hefty wedge of money and Spurs will be relatively out of pocket.
Last 4 prem years
I suspect all this means is that if he flops at Spurs and they decide to get rid, Newcastle will receive a hefty sell on fee and/ or the fee would be even lower than you might expect. In any case, Newcastle will receive a hefty wedge of money and Spurs will be relatively out of pocket.
Not that £30m is much money to Spurs or any other Premier league team anyway (nowadays).
Welcome to the wonderful world of splashing a standard £30m on average or slightly above average players by the way!
Spurs excuses in this forum were unbelievable before the season started, and now they are being deluded with £30m of Sissoko. Sissoko is awful, even at euro 2016 I don't know why so many people were overhyping his performances because what I watched from him was he can't do a simple thing that footballer does. Receiving a pass, I remember against Portugal twice he failed to receive a simple pass and the ball went pass through his legs lol. Sissoko is good for a hard-working player to help your full back against big clubs who has Ronaldo, Neymar, Bale. But for £30m you want a starter and a better player than him.