How are we doing on the rebuild?
We’ve had a major squad overhaul these last two seasons and we all know it was long overdue. There have been far too many players in the squad that should have been moved on a long time ago. We can debate why it has taken so long and point the finger at certain people within the club for not cutting their losses sooner. But let’s focus more on the rebuild and ask ourselves where we are after 2 years of rebuilding under Ange Postecoglou.
PART 1….
Dominic Solanke
I have to say it, he is a hard worker but with only a single successful season to his name it was always going to be a huge risk. A risk I couldn’t quite understand to be honest considering we had already twisted and bust on the Richarlison signing. Why would we want to make the same mistake twice ? But this is not the first time we have seen those in charge repeat their mistakes in consecutive moves and yes I am talking about the appointment of Conte so soon after Mourihno.
I lecture my kids on learning from our mistakes but here we have one of the biggest football clubs on the planet with unimaginable resources at their disposal, making the same mistakes time after time.
Solanke will run his socks off for you but he’s never going to be a Harry Kane, he’s never going to be a prolific goalscorer, and that was exactly what we needed. I think like a lot of people out there, the logical step was to sign up Toney. Now I know what a lot of people will say to that, Solanke fits the Ange system better (running around aimlessly like a headless chicken), but was that really the reason why we signed Solanke and not a proven International goalscorer like Toney? Or was this Mr Levy going for the cheaper and younger option once again to make sure he gets his return on the transfer? I know what I think!
Transfer Rating: 7/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: 50/50
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Cristian Romero
A great tackler with a typical aggressive Argentine temper that will always make him popular with the fan base. Going forward he looks part of an exciting Spurs team and he knows how to find the net too which is always a bonus for a defender. But we have to judge a defender most of all on how he defends, how he handles pressure in the box and how many goals come from his side. This is where I find Romero frustrating, he seems to switch off far too many times in the box which result in goals I feel were avoidable with better positional awareness. If he can improve this part of his game we have a real world class defender.
Transfer Rating: 8/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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Lucas Bergvall
I first watched Bergvall in a pre-season friendly for Spurs and I know we shouldn’t get carried away with friendlies but I really felt we have the next star on our hands here. He’s the type of player I would expect to see in a Real Mdrid shirt in a few years time, so we better enjoy him whilst we can! Like most players this season he’s had his highs and lows but let’s remember he is only 18! The confidence he shows for an 18 year old is incredible and it won’t be long before Maddison will be looking for the exit door as this man is the future. His physical attributes give him the potential to be very successful in the Premier league but it’s his quick vision and passing ability that sets him aside from the rest. With more game time I expect him to become a key figure in future Spurs teams.
Transfer Rating: 9/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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Archie Gray
Another young signing who has really been thrown in at the deep end this season! I don’t think anyone would disagree he has been outstanding and yes we know he is not playing in his favoured position, which makes it even more impressive. The confidence he shows on the ball under pressure makes him a perfect fit for this kami-kazee football because let’s face it, if you are defender in this Spurs team, you are going to find yourself in deep sh%t more than once or twice in a game, so you better know how to handle it! I hope this experience only helps develop him further as a player and I can’t wait to see how he performs when he’s played in his preferred position.
Transfer Rating: 9/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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Micky van de Ven
I don’t think there’s any doubt he is a player we miss when he is on the sidelines. His pace and recovering ability make him invaluable with this high line defending set up. He is a player that is very difficult to replace in this current Spurs squad but yes, Gray has made a great effort in his absence. I hope Micky can get over these injuries and does not become another one that is plagued with injuries leaving us to only question what could have been! Not only can he defend well and cover those around him, but for a defender he is one cool finisher too. In fact some of his finishing has been superior to most of our forwards these last two seasons. Mickys dribble and assist against Utd was as good as any you will see from a defender.
Transfer Rating: 9/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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Brennan Johnson
I have to say when we signed Johnson I asked who, and why? Once again he fits the bill in the age department meaning Mr Levy will get his return on his £47.5 million over the 6 year contract, but is he any good? Well after just over a year now I am still asking why? In all fairness he has scored 15 goals so far this season and is our current top scorer, so it may sound a little harsh. Credit where credit’s due, he has shown the ability to come into the box late and ‘toe poke’ a few goals and there’s nothing wrong with that. Many great strikers have made their names in just being in the right place at the right time.
I think my frustration with Johnson lies with his overall contribution in a game. Sure we have another hard worker who can maybe run all day but he’s not a great passer of the ball and his control lets him down. My biggest criticism of Johnson though is his lack of dribbling skills. For me I want to see my wingers beat their man and put in a good cross or pass and he simply does not seem able to produce that.
An interview I saw with Johnson from last season has stuck in my head when he was asked about how he was settling into the team and adapting to Anges way of football. In this interview he says he was instructed by Ange himself to always put in a cross or pass into the box as early as possible and NOT to look up first. This astounded me as it goes against everything I remember being taught as a boy, control the ball, look up and make the pass. But not with Ange ball, our wingers are instructed to ‘hit and hope’, so it is difficult to criticise Johnson for this as he is only following team orders.
Transfer Rating: 7/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: NO
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James Maddison
When Mads joined us I was very pleased and pretty confident he was a key position we had been missing for some time, since the departure of Eriksen in fact. It was clear we needed a new creative midfielder who could split a defence with a clever pass and create a few assists for our goal starved forwards. It didn’t take him long to show just that and the timing of his injury last season couldn’t have come at a worse time. Before his injury he showed the ability to dribble forward and commit his player before making that through pass or even going for a one-two pass into the box causing mayhem for the opposition.
But on his return from injury all that seems to have deteriorated within his game. I don’t know if it is because of his injury he is being over cautious now, or whether the Ange system is taking its toll on his game. Again, it may sound a little harsh considering he has still notched up 10 goals and 7 assists over 33 games this season. But from a player of Mads ability I think he is capable of more assists and I think Spurs need to work out how to utilise him better to get his full potential.
Transfer Rating: 8/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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Dejan Kulusevski
What can we say about the ‘ginger swede’, strong, physical, exciting and committed in everything he does. I was very frustrated with him last season and began to even question if the right decision was made in making his signing permanent. But this season he has been outstanding and a potential player of the season at Spurs. He has managed 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions so far this season, compared to 8 goals and 3 assists in the full season before. There’s no coincidence that his rise in form coincides with the change to his favoured position down the middle, giving him that extra freedom to keep the opposition guessing.
Sure he could do with cutting out those silly challenges or rather ‘shoves’ he likes to impose in a tackle but he is just that type of player, committed in every play. If I was to find a criticism at all in Kulu, it would have to be his long range shooting. For the amount of times he has cut in and made a shot attempt, I have lost count how many times we have seen them sail into row z! If he can learn how to control these shots and improve his accuracy we have another top class player.
Transfer Rating: 8/10
Good enough to get us in the Top 4: YES
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