Competition for a top 4 place next year will surely be at it's highest.

-------------------------------------------
Everyone says that every single year. You could have said the same for Utd and Chelsea last summer.

Spurs have improved their squad which they needed to as that's where we fell down last season and ultimately lost the title.

Spurs (until the last 4 games) had the best performing 11 all season and with this young team a year older and the most settled team out of everyone I'm confident we will be right up there again.

comment by He's magic you know, Mauricio Pochettino (U20915)
posted 3 minutes ago
Competition for a top 4 place next year will surely be at it's highest.

-------------------------------------------
Everyone says that every single year. You could have said the same for Utd and Chelsea last summer.

Spurs have improved their squad which they needed to as that's where we fell down last season and ultimately lost the title.

Spurs (until the last 4 games) had the best performing 11 all season and with this young team a year older and the most settled team out of everyone I'm confident we will be right up there again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair point, although I would argue that Spurs at times lacked the individual genius of a Mahrez to unlock tight defences, and pace to stretch teams the way Vardy did. I'm not sure having Janssen and Wanyama last season would have won Spurs the league.

I don't think we can really improve our first team. There are quality players in all positions and the only improvements that can be made will cost 40 m plus huge wages. Our squad definitely needed improving and we are certainly doing that.

Our first choice eleven of:

Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Dembele, Lamela, Alli, Eriksen Kane

Was brilliant last season, it's the squad players that were not up to scratch. The only player in that position I can see being improved is Lamela, but even that would be harsh.

comment by benjones (U20832)
posted 3 minutes ago
comment by He's magic you know, Mauricio Pochettino (U20915)
posted 3 minutes ago
Competition for a top 4 place next year will surely be at it's highest.

-------------------------------------------
Everyone says that every single year. You could have said the same for Utd and Chelsea last summer.

Spurs have improved their squad which they needed to as that's where we fell down last season and ultimately lost the title.

Spurs (until the last 4 games) had the best performing 11 all season and with this young team a year older and the most settled team out of everyone I'm confident we will be right up there again.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair point, although I would argue that Spurs at times lacked the individual genius of a Mahrez to unlock tight defences, and pace to stretch teams the way Vardy did. I'm not sure having Janssen and Wanyama last season would have won Spurs the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah possibly and pace is something we did miss. We had Njie who was injured and we have just signed N'Koudou who has pace...whether he will adjust is a slight risk I agree although I'm happy with our business.

Last year proved big money signings and big individuals is not what you need. Let United crack on spending 400 million each summer.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

The only player in our best starting 11 that we could do with replacing is Lloris, the other 10 are all worthy of their place. Where we break down is when our shocking b listers get called upon (Wimmer aside), so Poch is correct to concentrate on strengthening the squad.

comment by ®åρtor✡ (U1071)
posted 1 minute ago
This is gonna be a big season for Lamela.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree, have a feeling he is going to announce himself on the big stage this year.

it is a valid question OP

Janssen and N'Koudou are entirely unproven.

Wanyama is good but for me, no better than what we have.

So the signings are improving our squad overall, as opposed to immediately improving our first team - and as otherrs have said, that is what we need. We didn't have a lot of options off the bench last year.

So it does sort of make sense, most people are very happy with the first XI that started most games last year.

Saying that though, the CL is a big step up, and I expected maybe a more proven, higher level, signing or two. Clearly there is a lot of faith in the current squad

Probs not, but the starting XI is solid.

comment by Lennon's perfect cross (U6930)
posted 18 minutes ago
I don't think we can really improve our first team. There are quality players in all positions and the only improvements that can be made will cost 40 m plus huge wages. Our squad definitely needed improving and we are certainly doing that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm afraid I can't agree with you there.

I think looking at the starting XI - you can almost certainly improve on Erik Lamela and Christian Eriksen - and also provide more quality competition for Moussa Dembele - I feel Spurs suffer most when he's not playing and there is no ample replacement for him.

Whilst I love Eriksen, he has a propensity to go missing, and also lacks the pace and directness that often make title challenging teams so dangerous.

Lamela, whilst being an honest, hard working option seems to lack that extra yard of pace and quality to really make him a star too IMO.

first eleven was never an issue. we competed with every team in the league with our first 11 and beat most. often convincingly.

as soon as a few key players were missing that's when the trouble started (see the run in).

that has what has been addressed by the excellent summer business so far.

comment by He's magic you know, Mauricio Pochettino (U20915)
posted 14 minutes ago
comment by ®åρtor✡ (U1071)
posted 1 minute ago
This is gonna be a big season for Lamela.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Agree, have a feeling he is going to announce himself on the big stage this year.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
agree as well. hopefully he stays fit... I expect him to continue his improvement and have an excellent season.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Every year is another years experience for our players. Whilst we haven't bought a Higuain or a Griezmann, I do feel that overall we have strengthened our squad exponentially without upsetting the balance a great deal.

Poch's ethos is hard work in training and having players who will not only buy into his training methods, but who also understand their responsibilities in terms of work ethic & attitude.

Bringing in a big name could disrupt that without necessarily achieving results that are wanted.
We also have several very good youngsters coming through & Poch has shown with Onomah & Alli, if you are good enough then you are old enough.

I expect Edwards & Cameron Vickers-Carter to get some good game time this season & also in pre season.

It was Alli's performances in pre season last year that got him into the starting line up & the rest is history.

comment by Chronic (U3423)
posted 10 minutes ago
first eleven was never an issue. we competed with every team in the league with our first 11 and beat most. often convincingly.

as soon as a few key players were missing that's when the trouble started (see the run in).

that has what has been addressed by the excellent summer business so far.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
People keep saying this but no 2 seasons are the same. Just because the starting XI of last season was relatively successful it doesn't mean it will be replicated next year.

Take chelsea for example. The chelsea side who won the league in 2015 barely made changes to their first xi and finished 10th.

This isn't to say that Spurs will suddenly plunge into a very poor position but I think it's naive to assume that just because they had a good season in the division last year with that squad that it'll happen again. Even with regard to context, that Spurs side had less points than AVB's 5th placed side of 2013 - so its all in relation to the strength of the division, which I'd argue was much weaker last year.

Spurs side is young enough you'd expect it to just imrpove by itself over the new few years, maybe they don't want to mix it up too much and just add some strength in depth. Also with the manager and coaching having another season under their belt with the players etc surely helps.

As a club off the pitch they've got a lot going on too.

No we haven't. However the squad is stronger so that gives us more room for manoeuvre.

I keep reading on here that a big name might upset the balance, why? Almost as if there's some myth that suggests all big names are highly-opinionated and lazy when that's far from being 'the rule'. Really gets on my nerves when I see that, as if it's to say all players with lesser reps are choirboys.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

Comment deleted by Site Moderator

comment by Ledley's knee surgeon; Football Manager l... (U20121)
posted 18 minutes ago
No we haven't. However the squad is stronger so that gives us more room for manoeuvre.

I keep reading on here that a big name might upset the balance, why? Almost as if there's some myth that suggests all big names are highly-opinionated and lazy when that's far from being 'the rule'. Really gets on my nerves when I see that, as if it's to say all players with lesser reps are choirboys.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
100% agree with this, many of these top players are top players because they do that extra work other players may not.

Yeah there is a few bad attitdues out there but the majority of top players have the right attitude too or they wouldn't be where they are.

And upset the balance makes little sense too, a squad of players would embrace a top player coming in, makes them a better team overall, like if Spurs were signing Greizman as an example would the squad really be upset?

You mention Liverpool as improving their starting 11 but all I can see with their signings is Mane being a potential big improvement. That Newcastle fella is alright but no where near the 25 mil Liverpool have paid. Let's not forget Liverpool were near enough midtable last season so will take a hell of an improvement to even come close to us. We will be fine because our 1st 11 is better than most and still is. With signings like Janssen and Wanyama, they will come in and improve our overall squad which was our big weakness last season.

comment by Ledley's knee surgeon; Football Manager legend. (U20121)
posted 18 minutes ago
No we haven't. However the squad is stronger so that gives us more room for manoeuvre.

I keep reading on here that a big name might upset the balance, why? Almost as if there's some myth that suggests all big names are highly-opinionated and lazy when that's far from being 'the rule'. Really gets on my nerves when I see that, as if it's to say all players with lesser reps are choirboys.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

I agree and to actually get to that top level the player must have shown some hard work and drive otherwise without it you end up with talented yet wasted players e.g. Adel Taarabt, Ravel Morrison and Mario Balotelli.

BUT for a team like Spurs signing a certain level of player is not only financially difficult but could work against us as our players are generally level on talent and bringing in a really world class player could lead to them thinking theyre better, putting in less work thereafter if results arent going our way because theyll feel its the team letting him down.

I dont know, there's no right opinion. Just ultimately comes down to the players mentality and ambitions and at our stage of development we cant provide the perfect place for world class players.

Problems could then be similar to Arsenals where they had a set of young and talented players but without winning and truly progressing the best of the bunch then look to go elsewhere rather than sticking together

I'm not sure having Janssen and Wanyama last season would have won Spurs the league.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Considering our poorest points tally were at the beginning of the season when Kane was misfiring and at the end when we lost Dembele and Alli then Id say Janssen and Wanyama would have definitely put us in a better position and perhaps win it.

Not to mention how it helps with rests if you have a back ups more than capable of playing cup games.

Comment deleted by Site Moderator