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How does our team compare to 2016/17?

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posted on 7/2/24

If I was doing a combined team between then and now:

Lloris

Walker Toby Verts Udogie

Bentancur Sarr

Eriksen Maddison Son

Kane

That defence was very good and in time we could get back to that level with our current defence but they aren’t there yet. I love Danny Rose but Udogie is better. Dembele is over romanticised by our lot, incredible at keeping the ball but never scored or assisted enough and didn’t have a great engine for defensive work. Wanyama had 1 brilliant season with us. Alli, one of those players where if he didn’t score then he barely contributed.

I appreciate some of that will be controversial, but that’s how I see it

posted on 7/2/24

Vicario

Walker Toby Verts VDV Udogie

Bentancur Dembele

Eriksen

Son Kane

comment by Spurtle (U1608)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Striketeam7 - There used to be a football club over there (U18109)
posted 1 hour ago
If I was doing a combined team between then and now:

Lloris

Walker Toby Verts Udogie

Bentancur Sarr

Eriksen Maddison Son

Kane

That defence was very good and in time we could get back to that level with our current defence but they aren’t there yet. I love Danny Rose but Udogie is better. Dembele is over romanticised by our lot, incredible at keeping the ball but never scored or assisted enough and didn’t have a great engine for defensive work. Wanyama had 1 brilliant season with us. Alli, one of those players where if he didn’t score then he barely contributed.

I appreciate some of that will be controversial, but that’s how I see it
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I can understand Maddison over Dele. He is the better player overall and does give the team more. Dele wasn't coming out of my team strictly due to the 18 league goals he scored but in a year's time I'm expecting to comfortably be able to put Maddison ahead, he's been that important to us.

We have a number of players who if they carry on their current trajectory could be world class

posted on 7/2/24

Sarr has the potential to be as good as Dembele and will score more goals

posted on 7/2/24

Vicario

Walker Toby Verts Udogie

Bentancur Dembele

Maddison

Son Kane
--------------------
Think Micky, Porro, Romero and Sarr have potential
to make the eleven over time.

Maddison just over Eriksen because he is more direct and has a better all round game but only by abit.

posted on 7/2/24

Spurs had a great first XI but still, being honest, only came 2nd because Liverpool, Arsenal, United and City all had bad and/or transitional seasons.

A team as good as that Spurs team wouldn't finish ahead of City or Liverpool today.

posted on 7/2/24

I think spurs are more exciting to watch these days tbf

posted on 7/2/24

That team in 2016/17 was a match for any side anywhere in the world, but had fundamentally a flaw: it didn't have that cutting edge to complete a game, the metal or the raw know how. It fell short whenever there was a game of importance and a chance of silverware, Someofthe players, though were technically fantastic, but lacked mental toughness and smartness to get over the line

What Ange is building is not just a winning team but a team with a winning mentality.

This is why when we went through a phase of having 12 players our, he said it was all part of the journey.

He also showing a tough streak that he wants to see players react to the events in the game and show ruthless streak.
Ange ball is more arty with heavy metal noises!

posted on 7/2/24

I only see Udogie breaking into that team

comment by Phenom (U20037)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 2 minutes ago
I only see Udogie breaking into that team
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this

comment by Spurtle (U1608)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by He who Dares, waits for Trophies (U15748)
posted 10 minutes ago
That team in 2016/17 was a match for any side anywhere in the world, but had fundamentally a flaw: it didn't have that cutting edge to complete a game, the metal or the raw know how. It fell short whenever there was a game of importance and a chance of silverware, Someofthe players, though were technically fantastic, but lacked mental toughness and smartness to get over the line

What Ange is building is not just a winning team but a team with a winning mentality.

This is why when we went through a phase of having 12 players our, he said it was all part of the journey.

He also showing a tough streak that he wants to see players react to the events in the game and show ruthless streak.
Ange ball is more arty with heavy metal noises!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The real flaw with that team was the lack of strength in depth. You need decent back up players to win titles, and you only have to read some of the players I listed who we had to rely on to come off the bench for why it never quite got over the line.

The other thing is how much Ange is going to play a part. We may have a weaker team than them but if you believe that Ange is better than Poch and Poch held us back, maybe there's enough in what Ange can bring to the table to bridge the gap.

comment by Phenom (U20037)

posted on 7/2/24

Vicario
Walker Toby Verts Udogie
Bentancur Dembele Maddison
Eriksen Kane Son

comment by Spurtle (U1608)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 4 minutes ago
I only see Udogie breaking into that team
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I think that's quite a pessimistic view. You've got to admit there's at least not much between certain players. And besides how can Son not get into a team with Son in it?

posted on 7/2/24

How can Son replace himself? The best version of Son was probably a few years ago now, anyway. I'm not saying we're miles away but that team was grate. Anyone you switch in is arguably keeping the levels the same, not really improving it.

It's a different thing though init, that team was 2 (?) years into Poch's time with us. I think a fairer comparison will be maybe at the end of 2025 when Ange has everyone he wants and the squad's had time to settle

posted on 7/2/24

Vicario is better than Lloris

Romero & VDV on a par with Verts & Toby

Bentancur/ Bissouma/Sarr better than Wanyama/Dier

Maddison on a par with Eriksen

That’s it!!

comment by Spurtle (U1608)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Bãleș left boot (U22081)
posted 11 minutes ago
How can Son replace himself? The best version of Son was probably a few years ago now, anyway. I'm not saying we're miles away but that team was grate. Anyone you switch in is arguably keeping the levels the same, not really improving it.

It's a different thing though init, that team was 2 (?) years into Poch's time with us. I think a fairer comparison will be maybe at the end of 2025 when Ange has everyone he wants and the squad's had time to settle
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The Son of now is better than the Son back then. At the least you'd have to put him in this team. Then you could add Udogie.

I agree it'll be easier to compare a season or 2 from now because it's still early days for some. You'd hope they will all go on to be quality with us for many years and even improve. Some may not. Some we might even lose. I would hope not. If we go on to win something of substance, I think this team is going to look very favourably next to that one when we look back, as you would expect.

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Phenomenonecoglou (U20037)
posted 25 minutes ago
Vicario
Walker Toby Verts Udogie
Bentancur Dembele Maddison
Eriksen Kane Son
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Agreed. I only picked 10 in my team 😂.

comment by Spurtle (U1608)

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Conn & Duncan..Scottish Legends (U15636)
posted 8 minutes ago
Vicario is better than Lloris

Romero & VDV on a par with Verts & Toby

Bentancur/ Bissouma/Sarr better than Wanyama/Dier

Maddison on a par with Eriksen

That’s it!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Udogie is on par or better than Rose. At 21 he certainly is better than 21 year old Rose was.

comment by Ace (U14461)

posted on 7/2/24

_________Vicario
Walker_Toby__Verts__Udogie
____Dembele_Bentancur
Eriksen__Maddison__Son
_________Kane

I prefer Vicario to Hugo. Not that I don’t rate Hugo, but he wasn’t great with the ball on the floor and, given that he was captain, I think he had a pretty weak personality which transmitted to the rest of the team. He himself was responsible for critical errors at key moments in our seasons.

Walker is obvious, and Toby/Vert proved themselves over 3 years as one of the best CB partnerships in the league. I really like VDV and possibly he’d make the team in a couple of years. Rose I think gets overrated; he was bang average for several years before Poch, then had an excellent 18 months but then injured his knee Jan 2017 and was never the same. Ben Davies stepped in and we went on our best run of form in PL history. I think Udogie has a much higher ceiling.

Dembele is better than Bissouma, Bentancur better than anything we had back then.

Maddison over Dele for me. Dele was sheite hot for a couple of seasons but Madders is the more creative, more technically gifted player. Peak Eriksen was quality, and Kane like Walker is a no brainer.

Our first 11 now is the best we’ve had since 2016/17, and I think we have better depth now than back then. That was our biggest issue, and has always been a problem for us, but I do think we have mostly decent options now.

I do think Poch in hindsight underachieved with that team, there was so much talent and that was reflected in the league stats - points return plus goals scored and conceded. How he didn’t turn it into at least one League Cup during that peak 3 year period 2015-18 has to be viewed as a failing, especially as there was no mega dominant club or elite managers in the PL then like there has been since with Pep & Klopp. Obviously he took us to new heights in the league plus a CL final, which was all good fun, but it’s pretty bittersweet.

posted on 7/2/24

Eriksen and Maddison in the same team seems unnecessary

If we're going potential, VdV could well be better than Vert by next season. Quicker, better in the air.. just needs consistency

posted on 7/2/24

Dembele was a monster of a midfield player, almost impossible to get the ball off. He would walk into our current team. Most of you are bypassing Sarr, but I think he is a phenomenal talent and he is more than comfortable in the PL.

Bissouma & Bentancur, on their day as good as anyone in their positions, just need a bit consistency going forward.
Lloris was a great keeper and of course also a WC winner, it is only over the last few years that his abilities were questioned, but overall he just edges it for me.
At the back it is very difficult to leave out a WC winner, but Verts & Alde were incredible as a pair for us. VDV has been outstanding and certainly the fastest CB we have had. This is possibly the most difficult area to choose from in my opinion.
Up front it has to be Kane & Son,

posted on 7/2/24

None of your current players would get in that team.

posted on 7/2/24

comment by Vladimikel Artutin - committing war crimes aga... (U18355)
posted 2 hours, 39 minutes ago
None of your current players would get in that team.
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Well……seeing as Son was in both teams that sort of kills your argument🤔

comment by Movies (U23088)

posted on 8/2/24

-------------Lloris
Walker Toby vdV Jan
------Dembele Sarr
---------Eriksen
Porro Kane Son(16/17)

maybe

vdV would be LCB anyway, so there's 1 at least

posted on 8/2/24

Sad that Son is the only one left now following Kane’s departure.

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