WookieD
Didier Zokora
So then, things seem to be stagnating a little and we are in a dubious position at the tail end of what was looking to be a glorious season. If we hang on for CL then, obviously, that strengthens our position incredibly, but the question will remain, do we need a clear out?
We are, in all likeliness, going to be looking at a new manager by the end of May and what with a manager wanting his own flavour/stamp/influence on the squad and the need to replace the old and unreliable, I think we may end up seeing the biggest transfer window at Spurs for a decade, I honestly do.
Defence
King: As said in another thread, it's like watching your 17 year old dog become incontinent and need putting down. He was great at the start of the season, but a couple more injuries and a fairly full season of games and it is clear that he is doing more harm that good to himself and us. A job on the training ground for the King of WHL
Gallas: Missed half a season through injury and on much higher wages than his first season, Gallas is not without his faults now and isn't worth the squad number or salary, considering the amount of games he misses.
Nelson: On his swan song, filling a gap, and not doing it superbly well in any case.
Benoit: Not necessarilly one out of the door, but he needs solid competition as his performances have become increasingly erratic as the season has progressed. Poor marking and tracking lead to too many soft goals.
So that's three CBs that may well be (should be) on their way out and a LB position that has not had cover for a couple of seasons now (unless you call Rose proper cover). Kaboul is our only dependable CM at the moment, Dawson is completely erratic in form and more so when he doesn't have a leader like King next to him (always been this was for me). The Bong is never going to make a Prem footballer, which leaves our CB line up as Kaboul/Dawson/Caulker... So we are going to need at least one very good CB, preferably two, and a LB.
Midfield
Modric: In all likeliness to cause a stink if we miss CL football and probably looking to move anyway if we get it, it will most likely be time to let him go for a good profit (preferably onto the continent) this summer.
Bale: This really depends on how long he is going to stay honest for us and keep developing. I think Harry made a mistake in giving him a completely free role, he needs to focus on one position and drift only when opportunity knocks. In any case, Barca can GTFO if they think we're selling him cheap, ?ú50m+ from Madrid would make me happy. I'd be happier still if he committed to us, but let's be realistic about it if he doesn't.
Niko/Jenas/Bentley/Gio: They are just costing us money now, even Niko. We need a semblance of an idea on what our style is, and then what we need our squad to look like to allow for proper rotation and get this lot out and the targets in.
Attack
Defoe: It's possibly time to draw Defoe's days to a conclussion. We're unlikely to line up 4-4-2 as our default ever again and he doesn't suit a lone striker role in any way shape or form. The only way we can accomodate him is if we line up with three forwards. But with Bale and Lennon occupying the extremes of the wings, I can't see this happening in the immediate future. Goals this season belie the fact that we are struggling to utilise him properly.
Saha: Like Nelson, only ever a short term solution. Has performed better than many gave him credit for being able to do, but should be a fourth choice at best going into a new season.
Adebayour: People gush about Ade and what he brings to the team, but for me I honestly think there are much better options. For one of "world soccer's" apparent super stars, he is a terrible finisher, his touch at times lets him down as badly as Pav's ever did and he isn't the quickest striker in the world (I was actually surprised about his break for our goal yesterday). Depending on the sums of money being talked about, I think we may possibly spend it better elsewhere.
So for the attack, we possibly need a 100% rotation!
Summary
The defence we all, in our heart of hearts, know about. More surprisingly, I think we are in a bit of a position in the midfield. Both our wins need backup, we need to figure out how to make the best of Sandro and Livermore, we need to figure out whether we are going to stick with our currect shape or if not, what do we do with VDV. Modric may well go, Huddlestone isn't the answer, or if he is, he needs strong competition, and our strikers fail to find the net on a regular basis, apart from Defoe, who cannot play in our preferred formation. In my opinion, without even taking into consideration the wants of a new manager we are possibly going to need:
2xCB
1xLB
1xRW
1xLW
2xCM
3xFW
That's mental when you look at it, but unless a new manager can come in and figure out what to do with our current squad, I think it may actually be in much bigger need of a shake up than any of us realised.
Thoughts?
We are, in all likeliness, going to be looking at a new manager by the end of May and what with a manager wanting his own flavour/stamp/influence on the squad and the need to replace the old and unreliable, I think we may end up seeing the biggest transfer window at Spurs for a decade, I honestly do.
Defence
King: As said in another thread, it's like watching your 17 year old dog become incontinent and need putting down. He was great at the start of the season, but a couple more injuries and a fairly full season of games and it is clear that he is doing more harm that good to himself and us. A job on the training ground for the King of WHL
Gallas: Missed half a season through injury and on much higher wages than his first season, Gallas is not without his faults now and isn't worth the squad number or salary, considering the amount of games he misses.
Nelson: On his swan song, filling a gap, and not doing it superbly well in any case.
Benoit: Not necessarilly one out of the door, but he needs solid competition as his performances have become increasingly erratic as the season has progressed. Poor marking and tracking lead to too many soft goals.
So that's three CBs that may well be (should be) on their way out and a LB position that has not had cover for a couple of seasons now (unless you call Rose proper cover). Kaboul is our only dependable CM at the moment, Dawson is completely erratic in form and more so when he doesn't have a leader like King next to him (always been this was for me). The Bong is never going to make a Prem footballer, which leaves our CB line up as Kaboul/Dawson/Caulker... So we are going to need at least one very good CB, preferably two, and a LB.
Midfield
Modric: In all likeliness to cause a stink if we miss CL football and probably looking to move anyway if we get it, it will most likely be time to let him go for a good profit (preferably onto the continent) this summer.
Bale: This really depends on how long he is going to stay honest for us and keep developing. I think Harry made a mistake in giving him a completely free role, he needs to focus on one position and drift only when opportunity knocks. In any case, Barca can GTFO if they think we're selling him cheap, ?ú50m+ from Madrid would make me happy. I'd be happier still if he committed to us, but let's be realistic about it if he doesn't.
Niko/Jenas/Bentley/Gio: They are just costing us money now, even Niko. We need a semblance of an idea on what our style is, and then what we need our squad to look like to allow for proper rotation and get this lot out and the targets in.
Attack
Defoe: It's possibly time to draw Defoe's days to a conclussion. We're unlikely to line up 4-4-2 as our default ever again and he doesn't suit a lone striker role in any way shape or form. The only way we can accomodate him is if we line up with three forwards. But with Bale and Lennon occupying the extremes of the wings, I can't see this happening in the immediate future. Goals this season belie the fact that we are struggling to utilise him properly.
Saha: Like Nelson, only ever a short term solution. Has performed better than many gave him credit for being able to do, but should be a fourth choice at best going into a new season.
Adebayour: People gush about Ade and what he brings to the team, but for me I honestly think there are much better options. For one of "world soccer's" apparent super stars, he is a terrible finisher, his touch at times lets him down as badly as Pav's ever did and he isn't the quickest striker in the world (I was actually surprised about his break for our goal yesterday). Depending on the sums of money being talked about, I think we may possibly spend it better elsewhere.
So for the attack, we possibly need a 100% rotation!
Summary
The defence we all, in our heart of hearts, know about. More surprisingly, I think we are in a bit of a position in the midfield. Both our wins need backup, we need to figure out how to make the best of Sandro and Livermore, we need to figure out whether we are going to stick with our currect shape or if not, what do we do with VDV. Modric may well go, Huddlestone isn't the answer, or if he is, he needs strong competition, and our strikers fail to find the net on a regular basis, apart from Defoe, who cannot play in our preferred formation. In my opinion, without even taking into consideration the wants of a new manager we are possibly going to need:
2xCB
1xLB
1xRW
1xLW
2xCM
3xFW
That's mental when you look at it, but unless a new manager can come in and figure out what to do with our current squad, I think it may actually be in much bigger need of a shake up than any of us realised.
Thoughts?
