Tottenham 2018/19: Transfers? Who needs transfers?

Zososoxfan

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As an Argentine, I have high hopes for Lamela but I will be surprised if he is better than any of Son, Alli, or Eriksen in the next 2-3 seasons. Nevertheless, on a club that plays 3 AMF, he is a solid 4th.
 
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Mugsy's Jock

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Just learned I’ll be around for next Saturday’s game vs. Barcelona at the Rose Bowl. I expect i’ll be Stubhubbing or something... happy to meet up if anyone else is interested.
 

Kliq

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Roma not really showing that vaunted Serie A defense so far.
 

Merkle's Boner

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Lucas Moura with two goals against Roma. He could be an interesting player. Came midway through last season so I think he could really benefit from being around from the beginning. Seemed to hold his own while at PSG and Juve.
 

scott bankheadcase

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Now that I've seen them play in the new kits..... they're even worse than I thought.

I've been impressed with Lucus every time I see him play. I still think they need a backup striker and another CB if Toby is leaving, but I'm not overly worried about the attack.
 

Kliq

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FWIW, Llorente banged in two early goals yesterday and looked like a competent poacher that can finish with his head in the box. The problem for Spurs is that they often play with only one striker, and that is Kane, so it's hard to find a really good player in his prime that is willing to come off the bench. I think they can be okay with Llorente, or using Son as a guy off the bench or as a 9 with Kane dropping back to be more of a hold-up player, which he is capable of doing. Yeah it would be great if they plucked a guy like Martial; but I'm not that worried about it.

Moura I really like; his pace and ability to break down an organized defense is something I think Spurs really needed last season, when teams would pack it in the box to try and defend crosses into Kane; Spurs need more guys that can beat defenders off the dribble and cut into the teeth of a well-organized defense.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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easily 20-1 barca-spurs fans here at rose bowl. defense looks terrible though aurier works hard and is fast and fun to watch.

sissoko went down hard w non-contact leg injury, though the way they were treating him i’m hoping it’s a hammy and not a knee
 

koufax32

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easily 20-1 barca-spurs fans here at rose bowl. defense looks terrible though aurier works hard and is fast and fun to watch.

sissoko went down hard w non-contact leg injury, though the way they were treating him i’m hoping it’s a hammy and not a knee
He had ace bandages wrapped around his hamstring holding an ice bag in place while on the sidelines and didn’t appear that despondent.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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The second half was clearly a lot more fun than the first — surprised to see Son and Eriksen get so much run. Atmosphere was okay — the heart of the Spurs support filled just 1/2 of one section, and they did their best but wasn’t a loud chorus for all the songs and chants in such a big venue.

Much harder to evaluate how players are faring live than on TV (at least for me, and where I was sitting). Best I could tell, Amos was overmatched, Carter Vickers was good at covering up mistakes (some of which were his own), Aurier and Lucas are speedy and high-effort, and Eriksen’s play was a cut above — a few beautiful passes that were run onto properly.
 

Tangled Up In Red

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17 hours left in the transfer window and Spurs are the only club in the top 5 European leagues to not have brought in a player.
Haven't moved anyone out, either.
Insane.
"Levy Time" vs "Spursy"
 

swiftaw

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17 hours left in the transfer window and Spurs are the only club in the top 5 European leagues to not have brought in a player.
Haven't moved anyone out, either.
Insane.
"Levy Time" vs "Spursy"
So either they are going to stand pat or they are going to desperately overpay for someone.

I’m also hearing that Rose is going to be loaned out.
 

coremiller

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Well, at least there was no overpsending on unproven Dutch forwards or Sissoko-like panic buys, I guess.
 

bosox4283

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17 hours left in the transfer window and Spurs are the only club in the top 5 European leagues to not have brought in a player.
Haven't moved anyone out, either.
Insane.
"Levy Time" vs "Spursy"
What do you think about Tottenahm not signing anyone? Do you support the decision, or do you think the club has made an error in not addressing any needs?
 

Tangled Up In Red

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What do you think about Tottenahm not signing anyone? Do you support the decision, or do you think the club has made an error in not addressing any needs?
Consensus among fans is this is a major, major disgrace. Sign of lack of ambition. First PL team since 2003 without an incoming.

Personally, I think the squad needed strengthening and refreshing in CM and backup attack. Anything beyond that would have been welcomed opportunistic. But the squad, as-is, still should compete favorably for top 4.

I worry most that this leads to Poch looking for greener pastures. That would be devastating.
 

scott bankheadcase

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I think this is being overblown. If, and granted this is a big if, but if no one is sold to Europe over the next 20 days, Spurs have a better squad than last season where they finished 3rd and made an impressive run in the Champions League.

Toby/Rose/Dembele all staying, plus Lucas and another year of development from Winks/Sanchez/Trippier leaves them with a better squad than last season and much more depth than the media is portraying. If you watched Poch's presser, I don't think he's disgruntled and this team will hold together.

A midfield upgrade would have been nice and a martial-type to play in a false 9 when Kane needs a rest, but overall this is not the disgrace it's being portrayed. While they didn't bring anyone in, they also retained all their talent. Winning the transfer window doesn't get you a trophy either, just ask Everton.
 

wonderland

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Moura is essentially a new player and looked good in the preseason.

Alderweireld is staying so that’s a big plus.

Winks is the wild card in the midfield. If healthy, there’s the depth.
 

67YAZ

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And it’s not as if they didn’t spend money. They signed Kane, Son, and Lamela to extensions with pay raises. As a team building strategy, retaining your proven young talent through their peak years is the very best thing to do. It’s not sexy like signing a huge name player, but it’s the best bang for the buck.

Also, any sane Spurs fan would agree that retaining Eriksen, which will definitely hit £200k/week if not more, is more important than a back up CM or striker.
 
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Kliq

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And it’s not as if they didn’t spend money. They signed Kane, Son, and Lamela to extensions with pay raises. As a team building strategy, retaining your proven young talent through their peak years is the very best thing to do. It’s not sexy like signing a huge name player, but it’s the best bang for the buck.

Also, any sane Spurs fan would agree that retaining Eriksen, which will definitely hit £200k/week if not more, is more important than a back up CM or striker.
The reality is that Spurs historically are not Manchester United, or City, or Chelsea when it comes to signing big time players. Over the last few seasons they have played at the same level as those clubs, which gives off the impression they are competing with those clubs. The reason they have been able to do this is because they've developed a lot of good talent; so retaining that talent is really important; because honestly in the past talent as good as Kane and Eriksen and Lloris and the Belgian backs would have been sold. Hell, we are one year removed from selling Kyle Walker.

I'd be more concerned if every other team in the top six was loading up; but really only Liverpool has made a big splash during this window. City signed Mahrez, but they can only play so many wings at once. Chelsea sold arguably their best player; Arsenal made a few decent signings, United didn't do much. I don't think Tottenham has really fallen behind.
 

teddykgb

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You guys are talking yourselves into it. You finished 23 points off the lead and a dozen off a more normal title tally at least. It’s important to retain talent but Spurs needed to push on and choosing not to could prove disastrous. You may flirt with losing top 4 and then no CL might limit your targets and or start an exodus.
 

DJnVa

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In second half of season Spurs had 43 points, Man City 45. There’s no reason to think Spurs should fall off the pace so much that Top 4 isn’t only realistic, but expected. Lucas all season, Lamela back, etc.

Grealish would have been nice but I can’t see he’d have been difference. And had they signed him then there’s no story here.
 

Kliq

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You guys are talking yourselves into it. You finished 23 points off the lead and a dozen off a more normal title tally at least. It’s important to retain talent but Spurs needed to push on and choosing not to could prove disastrous. You may flirt with losing top 4 and then no CL might limit your targets and or start an exodus.
You have to talk yourself in a little bit when you can’t blow 60 million on a backup winger.
 

coremiller

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The window was very disappointing. The big problem for Spurs is that all the teams around them got better while Spurs stood still. Even Man Utd brought in Fred and Dalot. E.g. Spurs were about as good as Liverpool last season, but Spurs bring back the same team while Liverpool massively upgraded.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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None of you Spurs fans want to come over to the predictions thread and record your optimism for posterity?

You still have a very good team with a very good shot at top four but I think you're far off City and probably behind both Liverpool and Chelsea. I think you'll regret not bringing in a midfielder with some quality and passing ability who can replace Dembele's contribution as he seems frequently hurt and not the same player when healthy. The injury record of the offensive quartet of Kane/Eriksen/Dele/Son over the last three years is also totally ridiculous and very likely unsustainable. As long as that holds, the lack of quality depth in attack won't hurt you but at some point you'll lose one of those guys for the year to a bad knee injury or two of them simultaneously to 2-3 month injuries.
 

Gunfighter 09

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The injury record of the offensive quartet of Kane/Eriksen/Dele/Son over the last three years is also totally ridiculous and very likely unsustainable. As long as that holds, the lack of quality depth in attack won't hurt you but at some point you'll lose one of those guys for the year to a bad knee injury or two of them simultaneously to 2-3 month injuries.
In terms of depth up front, I think most Spurs fans think more of Lamela and Moura than the average Arsenal supporter. They can afford to lose Dele or Son (they will lose Son for a month +), because of those two, losing Kane or Erickson is more of a problem. I agree on the need for some more midfield depth, but they must think more of Winks than I do.

I think some of the disappointment here is that it is so surprising. When Poch signed the extension and rebuffed Real in June, we all assumed Spurs were going to spend like Liverpool or Chelsea. But clearly what Poch demanded from Levy was the extensions and not necessarily breaking the budget for signings. He would, and could, be bitching loudly if Levy broke promises to him concerning the transfer window, clearly he is in on this strategy.

5. Spurs - They could easily finish 3rd or 4th but there is a lot that could go wrong between a thin roster, a trio of spine players (Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dembele) out of contract next summer, and the difficulty of keeping everybody fully motivated for another run after its become so clear that Levy won't improve the team in the market.
The players out of contract next summer is a long term problem, not a short term one (and Alderweireld is not out of contract, his buyout opens up for $35M, I think). I bet we are going to get a pretty solid "free agency push" from that group, provided Dembele stays healthy and Poch actually plays Toby. As for the second clause, it is equally plausible that this group feels very well supported by Levy paying them all and keeping them together after last year's performance that was very solid but could have been so much better.

I think you are also underestimating how big of a factor the stadium could be this season, actually having a home, rather than playing 19 neutral site home games, should certainly be worth some improvement, especially considering the lost points at Wembley early last season.

To answer your request, I need a few days. Levy & Poch either just made the dumbest or smartest play ever, I just can't decide which.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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In terms of depth up front, I think most Spurs fans think more of Lamela and Moura than the average Arsenal supporter. They can afford to lose Dele or Son (they will lose Son for a month +), because of those two, losing Kane or Erickson is more of a problem. I agree on the need for some more midfield depth, but they must think more of Winks than I do.
My biggest question with Lamela and Moura (as well as the CF depth) is whether they have the end product to replace goals from the trio of Kane/Son/Dele if those guys go missing. Lamela seems like a useful squad player who can bring energy and some other contributions but just doesn't have much end product. I don't know what to think of Lucas Moura, who scored a reasonable amount of goals for a winger at PSG. I think he might have been a pretty savvy "buy low" addition for Spurs. But its hard to know whether the goals will translate to the Prem given that PSG was basically just blasting other clubs in Ligue 1.

The players out of contract next summer is a long term problem, not a short term one (and Alderweireld is not out of contract, his buyout opens up for $35M, I think). I bet we are going to get a pretty solid "free agency push" from that group, provided Dembele stays healthy and Poch actually plays Toby. As for the second clause, it is equally plausible that this group feels very well supported by Levy paying them all and keeping them together after last year's performance that was very solid but could have been so much better.

I think you are also underestimating how big of a factor the stadium could be this season, actually having a home, rather than playing 19 neutral site home games, should certainly be worth some improvement, especially considering the lost points at Wembley early last season.
That's fair on both counts. I am probably a bit influenced by Arsenal's experience with soon-to-be-out-of-contract players and the attitude and drama they brought to the club, which was not good (to say the least). But that may have been a function of Wenger's management and Poch may just do a better job handling the personalities and getting everybody to keep moving forward together. And its true that I wasn't really thinking about the potential lift from having a home stadium once again.
 

scott bankheadcase

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I'm going to jump in the predictions thread as well, and I think Spurs are a 3rd place team this year. Liverpool is better, City is clearly better. I think Man U drops and Chelsea is right with Tottenham in the 3/4 category.

Like Core, I'm disappointed with the window as another winger and creative midfielder are necessary for a real run at the title or a deep run in the CL, but I was taken aback a bit by the idea that the window was a disgrace. Not buying but also not selling anyone of consequence is better than buying grealish but losing Toby and Demebele or Rose.

As for depth in attack with injury, Spurs have actually shown the ability to win without Kane (something like 64% winning with him in the lineup and 59% without). It's Eriksen they don't have cover for, and an injury to him would be devastating.
 

Gunfighter 09

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That was ugly, but I am happy with the result. Glad the World Champ was on his game today.

One of the bigger Spurs twitter accounts (I don't remember which one) noted that Kane just doesn't look explosive right now. That is a great observation. I know he is not the most athletic striker alive, but I wonder if the ankle ever has gotten totally healthy since last spring.
 

Kliq

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Newcastle was the better team in the second half but the defense held on and Lloris had a great command of the game from his position. Last season I thought Sánchez was talented but mistake prone; but he may have played his best game for Spurs this morning and could be a breakout star. Aurier was okay and had a good cross to set up the second goal.

Kane is a notorious slow starter and he had a great World Cup, so I wouldn’t be too worried. I feel like today they played him further back and used him more as a target man downfield who distributed to midfielders making runs than as a guy who is foxing around the box; he was also getting back on defense so I’m thinking there was a strategic use for him.

The thing I’d like to see this season is a more consistent Dele; so it was nice to see him come out and get on the scoresheet.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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There’s a lot of concern about Spurs depth coming off the empty transfer season, but Lamela could be a significant “addition”. His burst to create the third goal today was pretty great.
 

Kliq

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If there is a guy who may be an "addition" as you say, it looks like it is going to be Lucas Moura actually playing meaningful games for us. A small, pacey attacker that can break down defenses with his dribbling is exactly what this team needs on offense, and he really deserved his goal today because he was the best player on the pitch.
 

OCST

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Lloris arrested in London for, as the Brits call it, drink-driving:

http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/hugo-lloris-drink-driving-tottenham-captain-arrested/19zrg8lkbezys1l2s0gfqt1qnc

Don't know the particulars re: how far over the legal limit he blew, priors, etc. Last year, Rooney had his license taken away and had to do community service, which he did by painting benches and fences in a senior center, IIRC. It coincided with a dip in form for Rooney and the team which eventually led to Koeman's sacking. Correlation is not causality, and by all appearances Lloris was not driving the car of a young woman who was in the front seat next to him while his wife was at home pregnant with their fourth kid, so the situations are not similar in all characteristics.

Still, not good.

Edit: jinx.
 

Merkle's Boner

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So are we watching Sonny get Wally Pipped by Lucas?

And yes, great match and three points at Old Trafford!