Paulinho and Benteke are both physical players but are also both very good footballers. I wouldn't bet against spurs competing for the title if they keep Bale and sign a quality CB and Benteke.

Chronic - In the past we have been so soft you could stick currants in us !! - Not anymore my old Enfield Chum !!

Customary Serial comment.

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Signing a creative left winger and a creative forward (rare I know) would give us a good balance

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You always desire silk and steel, both upfront and in CM.
Pity we never got to see a full season of a Modric/Sandro combo.

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Chronic's heart is a deep ocean of secrets.

choice is so profound

Most "beasts" lack, agility and flair. I prefer the quicker, more creative type of player to watch week in, week out, but we'll have to wait and see how it pans out. I hope we're not turning into a glorified Stoke.

Life is a s h it sandwich - does not matter how much bread you take you always come to it !!

'Glorified stoke' is a serious disservice to our players

comment by The RDBD (demoted to supporting the team manag... (U1062)
posted 14 minutes ago
You always desire silk and steel, both upfront and in CM.
Pity we never got to see a full season of a Modric/Sandro combo.

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I don't think it would have been an improvement on his partnership with Hudd - their styles complimented eachother perfectly. Shame we never got a full season of that, just that tail end of 2009/10, start of 2010/11and the CL home qualifier and group games.

I do like the CMs to be physical - Petit and Vieira were virtually unstoppable at times. Could outplay you and outfight you. Ditto Gilberto, Edu and Vieira. Getting the balance right is key.

we have plenty of pace and power but lack creativity!

Analog

'Glorified stoke' is a serious disservice to our players

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We aint seen how they're going to be used yet. For all we know it could be long throw-ins and hoofs.

A potential team of:

Lloris

Walker
Kaboul
Vertonghen
Assou-Ekotto

Paulinho
Sandro
Dembele

Bale
Benteke
Lennon


Overall a big, strong, powerful team, but also a team with flair and pace.

Interesting.

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The side doesn't have to be filled to the rafters with ball players to play good football. As long as two of the three immediately behind the 9 are good in possession, and your fullbacks are comfortable with ball at feet you are generally fine.

Equally as important is having outlets in the wide positions that have pace and control and can make the most of a good pass

I think having a big, strong team will help us in the league, AVB gets em fit too. I'm reminded of Jose's Chelsea the first time round - they physically dominated teams and ground them down to get wins.

Honestly, as much as I enjoyed our flair years under Harry I'm in favour of this if we finally shift the g00ns. Last thing I want is to see us 5/6/7th and be going on about how well we played.. every result is crucial at the top.

Obviously I'd prefer we won playing exciting, flowing football but you can't have everything.

Chelsea dominated because Jose sacrificed a striker for an extra midfielder, which nobody in the pl did at the time

Bales,

Honestly, as much as I enjoyed our flair years under Harry I'm in favour of this if we finally shift the g00ns. Last thing I want is to see us 5/6/7th

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Yet we finished 4th under Harry and 5th last season .

^ PS. Not a dig or anything - just an observation...

that, and they had a strong spine of physical players, the forward line and midfield is far more tippy tappy these days.

I think power in CM and running through the spine of the team is an absolute must if you want to be successful in the EPL.

Lacking this quality has restricted the success of Arsenal in recent years, will probably limit LFCs progress and is a characteristic of all recent title winners - City Utd CFC