Tottenham Hotspur still have slim hopes of reaching the Europa League this season, but with only two games now remaining in the 2019/20 calendar, it means manager Jose Mourinho simply has to take six points from both Leicester City this Sunday, and then Crystal Palace in a weeks time, if we are to have a European adventure in 2020/21.
Unbeaten in four, with back to back victories, should give us some confidence of achieving just that, and Harry Kane will certainly be in good spirits having crashed through the 200 goals marker – but we all know our play is far from perfect and massive questions remain about performances.
Leicester...
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Whatever does happen with the chase for Europe, we all know it’s mainly about taking some form, momentum and confidence into next season to try and put what has been a massively difficult, and extremely poor year, completely behind us.
Sensible strengthening to really freshen up the group and what many hope will be a major defensive rebuild would put us on the right track again, but until then, all eyes to the fourth placed Foxes as anything other than a win, simply won’t be good enough.
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Just looking up contract’s ending relatively soon enough:
Vert’s and Vorm end next Monday already. Would love Vert’s to stay for another 12 month’s but don’t think it’s going to happen unfortunately – let’s wait and see.
Tanganga has 1 year left and is in the process of renewing as I write – hopefully this will be sorted ASAP just like Parrott and Skipp were.
Fernandes is on loan for another season but doubt it will be made permanent like Lo Celso especially for the ridiculous amount touted about last January – he can leave now already lol – 50m Euros or something around there ffs?!
Rose, CCV and Amos also only have 1 year left each and must be sold immediately this summer end of.
KWP actually has 3 year’s left but is highly likely to leave also this summer already – no problem with this for me.
Then there’s: Aurier, Foyth, Lamela, Lloris, Gazzaniga and Whiteman all with 2 year’s left each.
I have said blatantly I want Aurier sold and would also be willing to let go of Foyth so I guess now is the right time to sell both and get as much as possible given only have 2 year’s left – we’ll soon start finding out.
Lloris will be 35 odd in 2 year’s so I guess letting him run down his current contract is the right thing to do and then take it from there if he’s still worthy of a renewal then.
Gazzaniga and Whiteman – not sure – maybe look to renew with them next summer perhaps?! Neither is worth anything really so leaving it until 1 year left is not really a problem – wonder what we’ll do with these 2 as it’s not 100% clear cut?!
Lamela – now I have to admit I’ve said even though I view him as only 4th and last choice of the wingers (Sonny, Moura and Bergwijn ahead of him) I would still keep him and use him for sure but having just found out he’s only got 2 year’s left and bearing in mind he’s on a 6 figure weekly wage and regularly injured now starting to wonder if we shouldn’t look to sell him just like Aurier and Foyth?! This would be the summer to get as much as possible back for him – we shouldn’t leave it for next summer IMHO – so a bit of a conundrum here – does anyone really want to see him sign another long term expensive contract given his injury record and general lack of good productivity regarding goal contribution’s not to mention we could still probably get a decent amount for him if we’re lucky – hmmm interesting – wonder what we’ll do – can’t wait to find out lol – Mr Marmite indeed!
Look forward to reading other’s viewpoint’s on this!
EJ agree with you list of outs. I would be rid of Lamella simply because of his time spent on the physio table over the years.. He does have dodgy hips, so for me sell him on get a few quid,only then if JM wants the like of William in for free I’m happy with that. I would also let Winksy go for a few quid.
However I do feel he has played ok in the last few games. But for me is a bit too light weight as defensive and doesn’t bring enough going forward. Can’t question his engine tho and think we would get decent money for him.
Saw a lot of people talking about Ndidi if only….
An obvious response from me, EJ, to your insistence on who you want sold, is? It’s not about what you, myself or anyone else on here wants.
I would like to know what Jose wants and what he thinks on Aurier for instance. Personally, I can’t see good reason to sell him as he is currently our one and only experienced RB. And although I said myself a few weeks ago that I feel we could do better. I didn’t say I wanted him gone. And I’m always looking at how players develop their game and/or improve . And of course what they are already good at. And I think I have seen a lot of improvement with Aurier since the seasons restart. But more to the point, what does Jose see? And he may well like what he sees… I don’t think Aurier is anywhere near as bad as some fans suggest.
Lamela, likewise. I think Jose really likes him. I like him as well. I think JM will want him to stay.
The best example of how a player can quickly improve and then have me change my mind on them, is Lucas.
Just a couple of weeks ago or less, I said I don’t think that he is defensively good enough for Jose’s team, but also not productive enough in attack. I said that I like him but not as a regular starter. 3 games later I see him as undroppable, having gone way up in my estimation. Both as a defender and provider up front.
If we sell any of our players that are still seen as very good, high-rated players and so could fetch a good few quid for the club. My first choice would be Ndombele and Sessegnon. But what does Jose think? I know he has always rated Ryan but that he has already publicly had a dig at Tanguy. But who knows what Jose’s plans will be with them or what his motivations are when not using them. So, again, I haven’t got a clue.
One thing is for sure the club would have to spend a huge amount of cash to make very noticeable improvements on the squad as a whole. Especially when I see that one of Europes most highly rated young midfielders and, Spurs most expensive signing to date, can’t get a start or rarely leaves the bench…
And likewise for the young Sessegnon who many thought would be/should be an instant replacement for Davies… If anything, Sess may well be a wise short-term investment as I feel it has boosted Ben’s game and that he has upped the ante at LB . But maybe Ben just got fitter and better regardless. Because to me Sessegnon was never ready to step straight in for Ben. No way.
In other words, I still insist that many of our existing players are far too underrated by our own supporters.
I’ll say it again… We are Spurs not Real Madrid or Barca! We can’t yet afford to buy a Ronaldo a Messi or even a Harry Kane! And even the cheaper young players that people are touting as possible new Spurs buys aren’t really cheap when they are still not proven at the top and so not so easily better than we already have…
It depends on what we want as supporters as to how we view the buying and selling. Because to rebuild the team probably means having yet more patience and maybe a step or two back. And I’m not sure that Jose is here to test that patience further. He is paid big dollars to fix it and fix it quick, imo.
In my book a man like Jose is paid so handsomely, more for his coaching skills and not about how much money he can get the club to spend when the club right now ain’t too flush. He has to adapt his game to Spurs current situation, just as players need to adapt to him.
We have very good players that a very good coach such as JM, should be able to improve as individuals and reunite as a strong and winning team once again. And maybe that’s to do more so with the general mentality of certain players and not their specific skill-sets as such. And this is what Jose is supposed to excel at.
I don’t think anyone needs to teach Hugo how to keep goal or, Harry how to score goals or, Aurier how to tackle. And I do think that Tanguy knows how to play a killer pass and that Sessegnon already has a good shot on him and knows how to dribble easily past 2 or 3 to get that shot off… The rest is about self-confidence in these abilities, the right team-minded spirit, ambition and sheer hard work on the training pitches etc, etc…
All in my humble opinion and… And all done in the best possible taste!
Up the Spurs!
In other words, I think Jose will need to for now, mostly work hard with most of the players we already have. And those that he won’t yet play or will want to sell, will be more to do with how he feels about their mentality, attitude and willingness to adapt to and learn Jose’s ways and means.
And any players he does bring in will need the right mentality as well as the skills. Not necessarily better skills. And I don’t know who they may be regardless of who I like to watch, when not watching Spurs.
And watching Sessegnon for example, many coaches and supporters alike, liked very much what they had seen odf him, over 3 years or so at Fulham. But who could see inside his head? Maybe Jose will be the man to get Ryan playing at his best. Or maybe it’s someone else, somewhere else. Maybe Ryan will not make it at Spurs and yet make it at Barca. Maybe the same goes for Tanguy. Because he was wanted by Barca too.
In other, other words it’s not just about the players mentality and skills even, it’s also about how the manager and players can or cannot work together.
When Poch came to Spurs he saw some very talented players. But a few players that just wouldn’t or couldn’t put in the required hard graft for him. Lennon for instance. And many others that were soon gone. Not bad players but not the right players for Poch.
With Jose it will be the same. It’s not as straightforward as to how we as supporters/observers may view certain players. But how well they respond to coaching and how the coaches respond to how they work in training and work for them. And that is a difficult thing to predict. Especially with a man like Jose calling the shots.
I’m rambling again……….
HT….your last couple of posts, well written and spot on regards players in what we see or what JM see’s, after all he is the MAN! at the mo, so I will and would expect every one else to respect his decisions on who stays or go’s, ok that doesn’t stop us having an opinion on what happens next. COYS
By the way, I am chuffed Dier has signed a new contract, and to add to that it would be brilliant to here Tanganga has also signed. COYS
Let’s call it as it is, dier is not good enough, he hasnt been for years, we need to bring in better players and freshen things up if we want to challenge for trophies. By keeping the likes of dier it will end up with the same ol same ol.
Cheers PY.
I’m chuffed as well about Dier. I think he is well suited to Jose’s tactics and we will get what Jose requires from him. After all he did want him at United as far as I know/think
I think Eric has a certain amount of steel that’s needed in our defence and a fire in his belly. Some neat skills too. And I think he’s a grafter that can still improve a lot on his game and be a much better player yet. And I already rate him quite highly. 🙂
HT….your correct in your assumption JM did want Dier whilst he was MU coach, he obviously see’s something in him that the experts on here do not Lol! COYS
I’m with HT and PY here 123. Dier is a good covering player if nothing else. However just like HT I have seen improvement from him particularly in CB position. Not the finished item in this position yet not quite a Toby or Verts at their best but getting there. Don’t forget he did have a bit of an annis horriblis in 2019 with illness more than injury. I think he is on the way back.
Players to sell …too many. Aurier, Davies, Winks, Lo Celso, Fernandes,Lamela, NDombele (sadly), KWP, Vorm, Verts (maybe)…none of these are good enough or strong enough to take us further. We need a top quality right back and left back; a decent two footed midfielder who can pass and score goals (a la Eriksen); a goal scoring winger; AND (after 5 years of asking) a striker ( not a lead boots Llorente) but a decent goalscorer a la Defoe, Keane, Berbatov. We have too many ordinary passengers. Then we need to do something about our academy. We have fantastic training facilities but no exciting players coming through. What is happening? Where are our scouts? We can’t keep buying bargain basement barely knowns and expect to compete with Liverpool, Man C., Man Utd, Chelsea etc.
WW agree with som, but not all of your list there. Would keep Davies, LoCeslo (better to come), Fernandes (only on loan anyway), NDombele(on the fence if we get what we paid he can go)
The rest I agree. And, I agree re the type of striker we need. However who would come as 2nd fiddle to HK10, also, look at our position at best EL. Lastly where do we get the dosh for all these players you want to replace with “better options”.
HT – 2 good posts there as usual along with a few others from the likes of PY and ND – but as PY stated we all have an opinion and this is a great place to put it forward and further discuss which is what I have been doing plenty lately – lol!
First of all though no doubt JM’s opinion is the only one that truly counts along with possibly Levy’s, etc and I for one am intrigued to see what starts happening this summer already – BUT…………….!
Personally I’m going to stick to the line that Aurier isn’t good enough and makes way too many mistakes/errors and for that reason would not be greatly missed despite having good experience – indeed by now at 27 he should be reaching his prime and the mistakes/errors in general should have gone from his game! Also as he only has 2 year’s left on his contract and holds a decent market value (atleast £15m I would say so not insignificant) – now would be the time to make a decision on him for the long term surely?!
The same goes for Foyth – too short for a top Prem CB IMHO and furthermore no real experience in the Prem either despite being with us 3 year’s now and having become a regular currently for Argentina in the last year or so (as a RB though not as a CB) – so again with only 2 year’s left on his contract (and a decent market value of atleast £10m thus again not completely insignificant) – the time has surely come to make a long term decision again?!
Finally Lamela who also has only 2 year’s left – surely a long term decision has to again be made here aswell especially given his probable value of atleast £15-20m in the current market?! He’s on pretty big wages at £105K minimum a week especially as he’s regularly injured and even when fit mostly plays coming off the bench and is certainly not 1st choice anymore even on the wing despite covering at ACM also – indeed for me he’s now 4th choice on the wing behind Sonny, Moura and Bergwijn and at best 3rd choice at ACM behind Dele and Lo Celso so given all this is he really worth keeping even if he has an excellent attitude and is generally well liked even by JM himself?! This question definitely needs asking as regards Mr Marmite himself IMHO lol!
If we want to avoid letting contracts drag on as we did with Eriksen especially and watch value’s dwindle further (look at Rose specifically for example) – then we surely have to act ASAP especially as regards these 3?! Lloris, Gazzaniga and Whiteman do not really hold much transfer value so we can afford to let their contracts run down and then take it from there – indeed Lloris will be 35+ in 2 season’s when his contract is up and if he’s still good enough we can offer a rolling 1 year contract surely and as for Gazzaniga and Whiteman hardly see the door’s being knocked down as regards these 2 so again we can probably afford to let their contract’s run down also and then address them at the end quite frankly!
Rose, CCV and Amos have to go end of – only 1 year left and all have been loaned out with no intention of ever counting for future plans – let’s get what we can and move on end of!
KWP – looks as if even though he’s still got 3 year’s left will be going – can’t really argue with that – never proven himself and already 23+ – how much longer do you wait to put it frankly?!
I might add that we clearly need funds to build a kitty for incomings so again one major way is to sell from within the squad and ideally those who do not fit into where the club is trying to go!
Dier, Davies, Winks, Sissoko, etc are good solid and even versatile regular Prem and international players and as HT rightfully pointed out we need a good sized squad and they can’t all be HK10’s and Sonny’s etc unfortunately lol!
As regards Sessegonon and N’Dombele (and even Lo Celso) so all our major 3 signings from last summer – we have to wait and see and also hope that next season starts to be the making of them going forwards but I certainly would not entertain selling any of them that’s for sure – not only because of the money we spent on them and not being able to get it back now but also because all 3 are very clearly highly talented individual’s and it’s up to JM to harness and develop that further (hat off HT lol) and turn them into top Prem star’s quite frankly – just like was done with Modric, Bale, Sonny, HK10, etc eventually to name but a few who made their name exclusively at Spur’s and under the guidance of manager’s who do not have the talent or experience of a certain JM!
I really must say so we let Vert’s go but keep the likes of Aurier – when we can actually re-coup a decent amount on Aurier probably and just accept that we got it pretty much completely wrong with him?!
Also everyone is generally saying we need a new RB but not many are backing me up on saying we should sell Aurier and even KWP/Foyth but as it stands we currently have: Aurier, KWP if he returns, Foyth and even Tanganga not to mention in desperation Toby, Dier, Davy, and even Sissoko/Skipp who can all cover RB – so why the hell do we need another RB for then LOL?!
We only need a good RB if we sell Aurier especially and also if KWP and Foyth go promoting Tanganga to RB aswell. Seeing as we have Toby, Davy, Dier and possibly a new CB coming in – where does Tanganga fit into all of this?! At least with my suggestion of RB he would play a fair share of games swapping with the new guy eg Castagne?! It’s obvious Tanganga wants to play and pretty regular at that and we have to harness that obvious talent so for me I’d give him a decent go at RB – he’s relatively tall at 6ft (for a RB but certainly not for a top Prem CB) and very fast and also mistakes on the side should not be as crucial as through the middle (although Aurier makes an art form of it lol) so great position at RB for him to develop into a top all round defender worst case! Look at Dier he started at CB, moved to DCM and even RB and now many year’s later is returning to CB!
I think with a Castagne and Tanganga we’d be sorted at RB (hell if really desperate keep Foyth who surely has a higher potential than KWP given he’s playing there regularly for Argentina no less at the moment and is roughly a year younger aswell or even keep KWP and sell Foyth lol). Toby, Davy, Dier and 1 more at CB (not to mention maybe Fagan-Walcott who got a run out in the CL this season also and obviously Tanganga can always cover aswell) and then Davies and Sessegnon at LB (with this Cirkin apparently coming through there further).
For me the only logical solution to bringing in a good new RB who will cost decent money is to sell Aurier – bascially a direct swap – no real other way for me!
A decent/good CB was always needed for me even more if Vert’s leaves already this summer and obviously a good DMC finally seeing as Wanyama is gone and Dier returns to CB and then a 2nd STR to obviously support HK10 allowing Parrott to go out on loan which can only surely be good for him, same as Skippy, etc (God I hope Clarke is another who finally does something so we can either bring him back or worst case sell him)!
Sorry but for me I see it as simple as this quite frankly lol – can’t wait to see what JM does finally though……..!
Did anyone watch the Villa v Arse game and if so can explain how Arse lost LOL?! They beat Liverpool and Man City and lose to Villa all in less than a week?! WTF?! Anyway that secures 7th for us – now to go for 6th and call it in the end a half decent season especially when viewed with hindsight lol! I think Chelski wll be too good for Arse in the FA Cup final but no reason why we shouldn’t beat Palace away after their last 7 dismal run of defeats and Chelski should atleast get a draw at home v Wolves – so that would make the FA Cup final academic for us! Anyway like TQ and myself have stated – either way we need a small favour from the chav’s at Chelski – hope they do not disappoint lol!
Just read that one of my interests in Hojbjerg could be available for as little as £14m as per Southampton’s very own acceptable valuation (Liverpool Echo) and that Everton have apparently NOT made a £25m offer that was supposedly accepted by Southampton last night – indeed Hoj has made it clear he wants to come to us next season end of! Hope Levy snaps him up for JM immediately next week so everyone ends up “nice and happy” lol and naturally the cheaper the better – can’t surely go wrong around the £15-20m mark worst case – I mean we paid £30m for Sissoko and upto £65m for N’Dombele!
As regards one of my other interests in Castagne just read Atalanta wanted £12m for him in January 2019 from Celtic but they were only prepared to pay £8m so it fell through! Now on here I’ve said £15-20m for him but if this report was true and given he only has 1 year left on his contract and wants to leave to come to us – what’s to say we can’t get him for around £10m or so compromising with them of course as Levy does best LOL?!
Indeed all reports regarding for example KWP suggest he’s atleast worth £10m maybe a bit more so that would cover Castagne already and I would still sell Aurier lol for atleast £15m which could help cover Hoj aswell! Foyth is another who if was to leave surely we could get atleast £10m for if not more. Finally Rose, CCV and Amos perhaps £5m each maybe at a minimum especially for Rosey cheeks lol!
We get rid off what we don’t really need and it helps bring in what we do need – pretty simple if we’re lucky and Levy gets his net spend as close to 0 as possible again as usual and especially now with regards to all the financial issues due to CV/Covid 19, Brexit (and potential No Deal as I’ve just been reading about as very likely come January), etc – lol!
Well it’s simple enough in my tiny mind lol (hence all the lol’s) and I’m sure Levy will do his best to make it so I am right or close enough to – LOL!
Sad news today that Arsenal will finish below Spurs, again. I’ll try to live with that!!
Couple of points about Dier. First he wins the most defensive headers of any of our defenders, you used to take it for granted centre halves would win those balls but these days it seems the exception rather than the rule. Second he usually seems to be in the right place at the right time rather than trying to recover his position. I remember both Southgate and Ledley King talking about how playing in midfield helped them read the game when they moved back into defence, I suspect the same has happened with Eric. Generally speaking if our defenders are such crap how have we only leaked two goals in five games ? (probably will be six the way Palace are playing).
Just reading some comments from Saints fans on Hojbjerg. Universally rated by them as no more than an average premier league player. Seems to the way of things with Spurs fans, if he’s our player he’s marked down, if he’s someone else’s player he’s marked up. I’ve a nasty feeling the Southampton fans may have got it right.
jod …. That’s about the way of it and I often wonder why.
Jod – those 2 goal’s you mention – whose fault were they – Aurier’s that’s who lol! The defender’s I myself mentioned are Aurier (regular mistakes/errors which tend to cost us dear), Rose (who has been shipped out on loan already), KWP (again shipped out on loan), Foyth (completely unproven despite being with us already 3 year’s now – indeed probably because of injury otherwise might have gone out on loan also this season), CCV (always shipped out on loan), Amos (again always shipped out on loan)!
I’m hardly advocating the sale of our best defender’s here lol – it’s just basically deadwood that needs to go and on top we could do with building some funds to make necessary purchases so even more so as regards getting rid off the above ASAP surely?!