Tottenham 2015-16: We don't even have a clever title

[Jimy Hendrix]

If Poche trusts Trippier so little to make that nightmare makeshift back three instead of bringing him on, then Yedlin's path does suddenly look a lot clearer to fight for that backup spot.

I am hyper focused on this irrelevant fact right now because everything else that just happened is too brain meltingly horrible to think about.

 

[coremiller]

If the last four games taught us anything, it's that, as good as the team looked for stretches this season, they need major reinforcements if they want to compete at the highest levels on multiple fronts.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

Oh yes, I'm looking for the following primarily if I'm Spurs.

* CM Depth (both a direct Dier replacement and a Dembele replacement. The Dembele replacement could be attacking band depth that lets Alli move back also)
* Backup Striker
* Better rotational FB options

attacking midfield seems to be the only spot where they've got depth. Otherwise they got pretty lucky with health this year.

 

[URI]

They have pretty good depth at center back with Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweierld, and Dier.

The Dier/Dembele suspensions showed where they really need depth, which is in the center of the pitch. With Clinton, Chadli, and Son, I think they are all right on the wings. They need support for Alli, Kane, and Dembele/Dier, especially since Puch seems to hate Tom Carroll, and Mason just isn't where we need him to be.

 

[Gunfighter 09]

They have pretty good depth at center back with Vertonghen, Wimmer, Alderweierld, and Dier.

Hopefully Carter-Vickers is trying to force his way into the CB space as well next year. You're right, CB is not where they need to be spending money.

Oh yes, I'm looking for the following primarily if I'm Spurs.

* CM Depth (both a direct Dier replacement and a Dembele replacement. The Dembele replacement could be attacking band depth that lets Alli move back also)
* Backup Striker
* Better rotational FB options

attacking midfield seems to be the only spot where they've got depth. Otherwise they got pretty lucky with health this year.

I have no idea why you would want to replace Dier, I thought he was awesome and have read nothing other than praise for him moving to DM. I thought he was pretty great breaking up counters and protecting the CMs all year long, though, like Kane, the lack of depth behind him seemed to cause him to fade at the end of the year.

Obviously an additional striker is coming to get Kane some rest.

I am fine with Davies, and certainly think Yedlin is the best option to back up Walker.

The Dier/Dembele suspensions showed where they really need depth, which is in the center of the pitch. With Clinton, Chadli, and Son, I think they are all right on the wings. They need support for Alli, Kane, and Dembele/Dier, especially since Puch seems to hate Tom Carroll, and Mason just isn't where we need him to be.

Agree completely, they don't need another wing unless they decide to sell Chadli, which I wouldn't mind at all, and they also have Prichard waiting for a shot. Also agree with where the focus needs to be, another player to back up Dembele as he gets older and continues to have injury / suspension issues.

 

[coremiller]

I'd look into replacing Walker outright. He improved defensively this year and he has great pace but his passing/crossing is mediocre at best and his decision-making on the ball is too slow. How many attacks this year broke down because someone found Walker in space and he stood on the ball for two or three touches without deciding what to do? How many times did Walker waste great positions with aimless or overhit crosses? Rose had 7 assists this year to Walker's 3 despite playing ~800 fewer minutes.

Maybe Yedlin is the guy, to replace him, I don't know. And there are never that many good technical right backs around. But with a system that places significant offensive demands on the fullbacks, I think Spurs can do better. And because he's English, fast, and still young Walker will fetch a big price.

It's not as high a priority though as finding another central midfielder and cover for Kane, but it's an area where I think there's room for improvement.

 

[Jimy Hendrix]

To clarify, I meant a like for like replacement for Dier as a backup, not supplanting him on the team. The team is so much more balanced with a good pure DM and he's the only one on the team. They were lucky he stayed healthy and was rarely suspended, but you don't want to rely on that.

 

[URI]

Yeah one thing to remember with Dier is that he...is hot tempered. So more than the other outfield players (other than Alli)...he should have a capable backup to cover for 3 games if need be.

 

[coremiller]

Yeah one thing to remember with Dier is that he...is hot tempered. So more than the other outfield players (other than Alli)...he should have a capable backup to cover for 3 games if need be.

Even besides his temper, playing DM in a high-pressing team also he means that he accumulates a lot of yellow cards for tactical fouls, leading to suspension risk.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

This morning was f*ing gutting.

Sell Chadli, he doesn't fit the team's style.
Decide if Bentaleb has a future. He could be good depth in midfield, but if he's on the bench for the likes of Ryan Mason...
Sell Mason and Carroll.
I'm ambivalent on Walker, but there is definitely a surplus at RB, especially with Walker-Peters in the wings.
Bring in DM (Wanyama?), CM, CF (Batshuyai)? and another AM for rotation/competition. Could us one additional flex midfielder, like Alli, who can play multiple depths, centrally.