Are Tottenham ready for 2015/16? Well, not quite...

Not based on today’s defeat at Old Trafford, it seems.

Our tired looking performance against a very beatable Manchester Unite side on the opening day of the season has made me doubt how prepared we really are for the gruelling 9 month campaign, and certainly given us reason to question our tentative approach to this summer’s transfer market.

As well as many of the players floundering around the 70th minute – probably due to the poorly scheduled Audi Cup appearance in Munich in midweek – there were several areas where improvement or reinforcement was cried out for.

Wishlist

Summer signing Toby Alderweireld looked right at home next to former Ajax and Belgium teammate Jan Vertonghen, however that was the end of the fresh faces that took on a new-look and flashy United side.

Mauricio Pochettino’s shopping list should be as clear as day after today’s showing. We showed that we’re in dire need of a comfortable defensive midfielder, if you’ll excuse the pun, as well as some significant pace going forward too. Mousa Dembele lining up in the creative 3 behind the striker isn’t ever going to be the best-case scenario, and we’re only ever a twisted Harry Kane ankle away from our season being down the metaphorical toilet.

I thoroughly believe that we were a pacey substitute away from grabbing a point in Manchester today. This morning’s link to famously quick Lyon forward Clinton N’Jie now makes perfect sense.

We have to be prepared for our players having “off” days such as today. For example, Nabil Bentaleb had an absolute stinker in centre midfield; but at 20 years of age we can’t expect the Algerian to produce the same mouthwatering performances as last season week in, week out. He needs reinforcement that would come in the form of someone other than 19-year-old Premier League debutant Dele Alli, who has been unendingly impressive nevertheless.

Meanwhile, the need to replace the technically good but far from perfect Eric Dier in midfield while adding an injection of pace in the wing forward position surely have to take priority in the remainder of the window, unless we risk burnout like we saw today throughout our campaign.

Rectify

With all that said and done, we are in a fantastic position as long as opportunities are taken where they are offered. The fact that we can now go out and actively seek improvement in identified areas through the transfer market is indeed one of these opportunities – however it remains to be seen whether it will be taken.

While our loss to United was not devastating, it is nothing less than frustrating to be highlighting weak links that we have had months of pre-season to iron out, just ONE game into our 38 game domestic campaign. We can only hope that Mr Levy saw the same gaping technical holes that I saw on the pitch in Manchester today.

Plus, telling our players which goal we’re attacking first might help them out a bit.

Welcome back, Spurs.

 

Excellent article. It hits the nail on the head. Throughout the past few years, we have consistently left our transfer dealings to the very last minute, especially when it comes to selling but we should know our squad by now. There were some positives today but it was the tired nature of the performance that frustrated most of all. To be successful you need to have a quality squad and we do not possess that. Last season I wrote about how our second string was average. This season is no different and there is no excuse for getting that wrong this time around.

 

why were you surprised at the performance/ result? A few new faces is all. Nothing has changed. lacklustr spurs losing to a weak united. First own goal of the season down to a poor walker. We woke up 10 mins out incl stoppage time. Weve bern short of second striker and midfielder for awhile

 

Frustrating is the key word. Bentaleb was so so poor and needs some experience next to him.

We need an injection of pace and to be more proactive in the market; so pedestrian today it was untrue. Just toothless - full stop.

 

Interesting viewpoint and well written.
The agenda from post to pre has been to trim the superfluous squad and hone it to multi tasking players able to cover more than kne specialised position.
Dier has played defensive mid in Portugal so it wasn't an alien circumstance today. He's clearly not being retrained for that role though and a specialist might be expected.
Kane needs to be protected both from over playing as the season unfolds as well as mental fatigue and loss of form. His age will guarantee one of the former taking effect on him at some point the last twelve games of last season post England debut is a pointer.
Therefore I expect we'll see in comings of specialist wing forward and possibly a central midfielder with a preference to shield ala Parker or Zokora.
Today was winnable as was implied but in defeat there was plenty to take away with positivity for building on.
Lloris is to come back, as is Mason as well as new arrivals.
Ali looks special and encouraging that he looked comfortable both against an aging AC Milan and an energising biting Manchester United midfield including Schweinsteiger et Al.

 

What the fcuk is Levy playing at leaving transfers until after the season has started? the bloke is one big cluster fcuk that is holding us back year after year! one striker going into the new season you can't make it up! where is the midfield general marque signing? pacey skilful winger to feed the isolated Kane, or the second striker we are still haggling for because of a million here or there? the day he sells up to some rich owner will be the day we move forward, Poch must be so frustrated at not being backed properly.

 

Deggsy56. While Walker scored the goal the cause was not him it was Bentaleb.....!!! You cannot give away possession so easily when attacking having pushed your fullbacks forward to support.

We do lack pace and someone who is prepared to drive at opponents such as Bale did many years ago from central areas.

I think we need three players at least..

Front man
Wide Man
Central Midfielder ideally defensive minded....

Not all doom and gloom...yet!

 

He has continually done this every year since 2001 but that's what makes him a master Businessman and keeps us punching above our weight.

 

Need transfer window to close before season starts. A lot of business in the league in general will be conducted between now and the end of August. Spurs are not alone in this situation.

 

Theres no pace in the side, no guile or bite in the midfield.
The Poch pressing system is almost as mythical as the new stadium.
Reading quotes from Poch saying we need to make signings- no sh;t sherlock the season only started today and youve had basically 3 months to sort it.
Im sick of hearing muppets saying (insert player) had a poor game today but hes only 21 so never mind hel learn, well no this is Spurs 1st team not a training excersize/experiment we deserve a proper 1st team.
Weve solved nothing from last season and its as if the powers that be dont care or are so inept they cant see it.

 

Welcome back long-suffering spurs fans, good to be back for a season of fast, cutting edge and decisive football!! Apart from the middle 70 minutes we played well and kept their attacks to a premium. Alderweireld looks a tidy acquisition, and the defence today had a more solid look, admittedly, against a lacklustre man u side. If they have aspirations of top 4 then we shouldn't be far away?? We did look leggy, being second to the ball throughout, and Bentalebs abhoration cost us in the end. Need 2 or 3 quality players to include a striker, as i worry about a Kane burnout, and we could be thereabouts. I dont mind playing the better teams early as 3/6 points can be made up easier than at the end of the season, so not the end of the world yet spurs fans!!! Three winnable games coming up and some potential new signings, things may be rosy by September- keep the faith! COYS

 

Gentlemen... I watched the game yesterday and wasn't happy with the team selection, we lack pace down the left without Rose.

My biggest concern is bentaleb ... he passes sideways .. back... sideways again... then.. as Liverpool .. Madrid and United yesterday, gives the ball away at a crucial stage of play... they score... the game changes. He is vastly overrated .

We were in complete control until the sloppy goal.. at old trafford ... add 2 class players up front... we will be 100% more threatening.

Why oh why does Levy always make a Manager start the season without the necessary personnel ? He will always be the main problem at Tottenham !

 

I don't think throwing 6f 5 Ady up front for the last ten with Kane going 442 and longish ball to get a shot at goal in the last 10/15 mins would have been an option.

 

I disagree Poch.

We have to work with what we've got ATM. Putting Ade and Lennon in the reserves is just plain stupid IMO. If they were both fit (and had squad numbers!) they could have brought some value to the last 25 minutes of the game - some pace down the wing and physicality in the mixer.

Yes their attitudes aren't right, but they would actually bring something to the table in the short term, given that they are in the shop window for the nxt few weeks!

Anyhow, let's just hope we see some transfer activity in the next few days. Reckon Berahino is a must now up top - he's direct, brings pace, has PL experience and can add some width too.

 

Not a bad article but the bit about Bentilebs "mouth watering performances" confuses me. Last season he continually gave the ball away, regularly plays blind balls square inside & resulted in several goals against last season directly from his sloppiness. Yesterday was exactly where he left off - needs shipping out

 

If spending money was the solution to all a team's woes Manure should have beaten us easily. Likewise we cannot blame the games in midweek as the LGV X1 had a free week and were just as mediocre as we were.
I like defenders who are comfortable with the ball at their feet but this possession football at the edge of our own area is going to fill coronary emergency wards with Spurs fans quicker than you can say heart attack.
I think Alex Pritchard on as sub would have got us at least a point - unfortunately he is out injured and whether he would have been on the bench is debatable. I really hope to see him playing soon.

 

The transfer window definitely needs to be ended before the season starts. The only reason it doesn't is so Jim White can spend an entire evening with a fit bird pretending everything is really exciting. All about money as per usual sadly.

 

The transfer window should end the night before the 1st game of the season.
It would make the long summer more interesting.
The build up to the beggining of the season more exciting as its stick or twist definitive before a balls kicked.
It wouldnt effect smaller clubs so much as they wouldnt have their star players poached at last minute because a big club has suffered an injury.
And everyone would know where they stand. Do the buisness and fall by what you did.

 

Alan Shearer summed it up perfectly on MOTD, "It was a very Spurs-like performance. They played well until they had a setback". We have to develop the ability to overcome setbacks in big matches, or else we will continue to fail in our aim to get into the top 4 and/or win trophies. It's about mental strength and character.
As for where we need to strengthen by 01/09, it's clear for all to see as all your correspondence shows. I'm more and more convinced that Saido Berahino will be at the Lane come the start of September. He meets every criteria we demand, he's young with potential to improve, quick, tricky, an intelligent mover, can play on either flanks or as a striker (alone or as one of a pair), scores goals, combines well with our main man, HK and is PL-proven. The Berahino Dance has been going on between Spurs and WBA at least since January and is now beginning to come to a close. West Brom are preparing for this by restocking with strikers, Rickie Lambert + another. They want £20m+ for their boy and we will only pay £15m. Come on guys, we all know we will end nearer their mark than ours. Berahino will probably be training at Hotspur Way before the month is out, so come on Daniel Levy and Jeremy Peace, get it over with already! As for the holding midfield situation, either Christoph Kramer or Sven Bender will be an improvement on what we have currently. My suspicion is it's more likely to be Kramer.
Finally, Man U for top 4? Please! If they are a top 4 proposition, then so are we. After spending well north of £100m and having a full week to prepare for yesterday, we still looked the better side despite looking tired from our Audi Cup exertions. Once we have all our transfer dealings done, I still have confidence that we will have a good season and may even surprise a few pundits. Come On You Spurs!

 

Yes, when are the endless excuses for our unending mediocrity going to stop? The likes of Lamela and Carroll are still spoken of as if they were kids by their apologists, but they're 23 - the Dambusters pilot who died last week was 22 when he flew a Lancaster to Germany - don't MEN exist anymore?
Pochettino is a 'young' manager, but he's several years older than Bill Nick was when we won the Double - he's done nothing to date, and I'll be amazed if he ever has anything to put on his CV (and SAF had a fantastic record with Aberdeen before his well-publicised slow start at Old Trafford - Espanyol anyone?).
Soldado, Chadli and even Levy have been excused their numerous failings by family illnesses and bereavements, but isn't 'just getting on with it' what life's all about? The trains still run and the hospitals still function, but Spurs can't play football because the players aren't happy? Would SAF or Mourinho put up with sulkers and wasters like Adebayor (or Bentley or BAE before him, or Kanoute before them)? NO - and the willingness, even eagerness, of so many Spurs supporters to make excuses for the lack of fight, heart and basic professionalism which has been with us for so long now that it's become a national joke ( Alan Hansen's 'Spurs will always let you down' should really be the club's motto, though 'to dare is to do' is much funnier, at least in Spurs case) is a big part of the problem - if you expect little or nothing, you won't be disappointed.