No point in getting a striker until the midfield is fixed. This is appalling
View: https://x.com/spursplstatsman/status/2007933969157763270?s=46
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Transfers The Winter Transfer Thread - 25/26
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No point in getting a striker until the midfield is fixed. This is appalling
View: https://x.com/spursplstatsman/status/2007933969157763270?s=46
....and that right there is football:
a game of opinions!
That's disgusting!
...and it's ALL on Frank!
You telling me that if we bought Xakha or Henderson the fans would be happy...?
..and yet BOTH have outperformed our ENTIRE midfield in their recent games against us.
...and Wharton may be everyone's choice as being 'deemed worthy' of our illustratious club, yet there's not a hope in hell a player of HIS quality would come to us right now
... So we're stuck.
Turn our noses up at someone like Henderson, Wharton wouldn't come...
Yet BOTH are miles better than what we currently have!
Honestly? Something in between.Frank is all about set pieces, long throws, lumping it into the box
What did everyone expect
That Frank would provide more tactical solidity to what Spurs had but was squandered by a naive out-of-his-depth manager.
That we would continue to take advantage of our attacking strengths, but actually convert some set pieces, and that we'd add organization to the defence and reduce our goals conceded.
We're kinda on track with the last bit, having good luck with the 2nd bit, but absolutely no success with the first bit. That seemingly has a good bit to do with injuries and a lack of options.
In the last year (365 days), these are the number of 'progressive passes' each of our midfielders has made per 90
this season is in parenthesis
source
So, oddly enough, all of them have more progressive passes per 90 this season than they did last season (assuming last 365 is approx 50/50), except for Bentancur (by a fraction).
We just have shit midfielders in that regard
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Yep, good and bad ones.
That’s got to be systematic as well.
There’s been some quality posts on here explaining why the MF isn’t progressive. They are being used to occupy areas to make space for direct balls over their heads
If we are replacing Vicario in the summer, we could do worse than the Sunderland GK Roefs imo.
Its very clear confirmation that Frank wants to play a defensive-oriented midfield rather than a passing one, which is obviously disappointing.
Let's imagine this instead:
Sarr------Xavi
Bergvall
Udog-VdV-Rom-Djed
Bergvall
Udog-VdV-Rom-Djed
Bergvall's been a decent 6 when we've seen him there before. This would get all our best passers from that list on the field. Obviously some will say that it's weak defensively compared to Bentancur and Palhinha, but I honestly doubt it would be much different- there's nothing particularly special about Bentancur or Palhinha. Our coaches lately have really been cowardly when it's come to perceived youth and seniority.
All Frank has to do is switch who is playing. This comes back to his main problem which is he appears not capable of recognizing who his best players are at each position.
Cheers.
Baleba and Anderson are unrealistic as earmarked by other clubs with more pull. Who would be your top choice for this Jan window?
I think it's the same thing that Jose and Conte both faced, though - the idea that the defence is useless without a protecting DM. With Romero in there, it's a decent point.
But, aside from that, we don't have anyone effective to play otherwise right now. Xavi has failed to impress and chops away at ankles recklessly. We've got a plethora of midfielders who are, individually, not anywhere near the likes of Modric, Dembele, or even Sissoko.
Grey has been decent but it's a lot to put on someone that young
A team like Brighton would happily blood all these players and be glad to suffer a bit to do so. We're unfortunately are too short-sighted and undisciplined to try and do what is needed with what we have.
I think the difference is that Brighton are 1pt ahead of us and can still call it a great season so far. Their fans have a lower expectation and wouldn't boo players for misplacing a pass. It's a safer environment.
What won't help - which is why I'm not too eager to jump on the 'sack' calls - is giving managers no point in blooding young players. 3 or 4 months in and getting booed and calls to be sacked will inevitably have them not wanting to risk it on young inexperienced players. He does need to, though, because the experienced ones are letting him down. We've been here before
This message board has no place for rational thought and numbers that back up opinions. The accepted line is “Frank out! It’s the managers fault” and I’ll thank you to stay on message. /s
Well if he could get the darts in the same numbers each week he'd have more chance of getting combinations on the park regularly .
Pig in a poke selection policy is killing us and him .
Pick an 11 and stick with it for a few games and he might just see a few guys understanding the players along side them .