TherealnorthernTOON

What people forget here imo is the quality of midfielders. Spurs were pressing high and down right we had simpson. Taylor isn't the best passer in the world, and it seems like he more then understood so by the charts against spurs. It's more important to keep posession then trying something difficult and loose the ball, atleast the way we are playing now. With Colo back and a right back of some calibre he will have more options whom are creative and worth passing to. As our backline was reduced to what it was, spurs knew where to hit us and tried alot at it aswell. I for one really like having tiote so far up the pitch, gives HBA more freedom down that side. But guess we'll have to get 10 games or so under the belt before we'll see the outcome of the tactic. Really worried about the penetration we've got without HBA though. As Papiss doesn't really have that trickery in his locker to dribble off a few and put a shot, actually looked quite a limited player out there.

THURSDAY NIGHT MATCH! sorry, just had to get it out.

Just didn't seem like he found his spot in that midfield tbf. really think he has to get a few games and weeks just to gel in and show what he can do from that DM position. We also moved Tiote up to become that offensive ballwinner with some penetration through will power. Seemed to work somewhat but in all think the team was quite off when it came to offensive play. The only one who did manage to make us play was Ben Arfa.

wouldn't mind Adam Johnson that much tbf. Just the kind of player we need, a direct winger with an eye for goal. Familiar with that attacking trio kind of play aswell.

Look back 20 years and see what happend in european football. Are you referring to the influx of money in other leagues? If so then it doesn't explain their relative mediocrity domestically and also their inability to have the odd good European campaign reaching the semis/final or winning a competition like smaller clubs such as Porto/Leverkusen, etc. Not really sure how people are claiming Ajax have been hamstrung by the money in other leagues and that's all there is to it, surely if that was the case they'd win their own league more often than not. Money in all the big leagues, club known to create the goods. Offcourse they will be ripped apart in an instant when the players there suddenly know they can live the rest of their lives on playing footie for the next 10 years. An easy look through the 5 first years of the premier league shows you some of the best players of the last 2 decades came from ajax. Like kluivert, overmas, bergkamp etc.

Look back 20 years and see what happend in european football.

I don't really think two strikers so to say is the main point here. It's the lust for goals and positioning inside the box were looking for. If we've just had one natural striker in the team on matchday we would be putting a few too many eggs in one basket. We need goalscorers on the field and the Senegalese are our safest bet for goals atm. Behind those two there wasn't really that much to talk about. Allthough with Cabaye higher up the pitch we might see more of that lethal right stick of his. HBA might also chip in a few and the terrible lack of goals from our CB's last year... We are in for more goals throughout the squad as a whole so leaving any of the two strikers out for a game, no in my mind.

Remy, Anita and Debuchy would actually be a dream window for us. Would strengthen us massively both in quality of first team and depth. With those three players we could really put up a challange as outsiders for top4.

Where can I see the highlights?

It brings alot of options into our team, and different plans setups against different teams. Sometimes we'll need 2 DM's like against the upper teams. When playing against swansea last season having Jonas as an extra dm/fullback/defensive outlet on the pitch helped us out massively. If he's 3rd choice or even a 1st choice alongside Tiote and Cabaye there will be enough games for everyone. Both Tiote and Cabaye tends to wear out in the end of games and we often tucked Perch into it or Raylor. Now we'll have even more games to cope with during the season and we'll need quality in depth.

Wasn't he at one point also linked with sunderland? -Magedia

Hope he will get some gametime in the cups etc. would be fun to watch some kids do well.

If he turns out to be top class in the prem we could easily get 14-15m for him. Thats pretty much the market right now. And dutch players are kind of sought after. Just because of reputation it seems.

That was pretty much the case when we played against swansea aswell, the lack of pressing on britton was there for everyone to watch. It's the style of play, and tbf, I don't like that style of play and glad Pardew opts for the more direct counter attacking style, hopefully on the ground.

Playing for Ajax and the Netherlands you aren't exactly that much tested defensively, wich is a concern. How will he cope against the bigger teams? However our attacking right hand side really need a supporting fullback behind HBA and Van der Wiel and Anita sure has that attacking strategy and mentality brought up in blood through Ajax. It's kind of exciting and I do think we'll be better off on the whole. But as said, actually worried that he won't be as good as Simpson on the defensive. Simpson is by all means not superdupergreat, but he just lacks that offensive bit wich I for one really wanted there to go along with a good/okay right back. After all it's all about how the team works together anyway.

Guess he's liverpool bound?

there there son, it'll be allright!

11m euro? Thats more then almost double of what we are haggling over Debuchy?

Starting to let it sink in that we ain't going to have any new faces for the Spurs game. Wanted us to make a statement that we were willing to fight for those top spots with a quality signing improving our first XI.

We see it occasionally, but he never uses it in the correct situations etc. wich is highly experience based. Think people really neglect that he hasn't been used all that much at manu before we bought him off them. He came to them at an early stage where he just came through and was very highly regarded in france. If he can get a couple of good experiences together with some confidence he could blossom rather soon then later. That people slag him off as an untechnical player with no trickery and only pace to rely on, I'm glad you're not the scouts of the club because Obertan got that in abundance. But as some people point out, there is just so much sand in the glass, and it's starting to run out quicker.

by any means televised?

If we made a first offer now? Wich are close to their valuation, I doubt we will back off so quickly and a secondary offer will come quite soonish.

Tbf, our first team lineup could possibly fight it out with any team in the league right now. But the season is long and as before it's the squad that matters. With the extra games we have this season, and a few uncertains as Marveaux, Amalftiano, Bigirmana, Abeid, Vuckic, Sammy etc. Will they provide enough quality when asked upon to let the machine keep going?

Signed HBA at the same rate tbf.

Just the type of player I think we should get for that wide forward position. Got a bit of height, some dribbles and skill on the ball. Pace is there too. Would be perfect.