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The Annual Pre Season Spurs Thread

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redhorizon2

redhorizon2

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Antonio Conte: Chelsea boss questions Tottenham's ambitions


_97092942_chelsea_tottenham.jpg

Chelsea beat Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals and gained seven points more than them in the Premier League last season
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has questioned Tottenham's ambition, suggesting they have lower expectations than their Premier League title rivals.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy this week defended a lack of signings and railed against "unsustainable" spending.
They were runners up to Chelsea in the Premier League last term, faltered in the Champions League group stages, and again in the Europa League last 32.
"If [Spurs] don't win the title, it's not a tragedy," said Conte.
"If they don't arrive in the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League, it's not a tragedy.
"Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and - I don't know - Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand the status of the team.
"Every team has to understand what their ambitions are. If their ambitions are to fight for the title or win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It's simple."
"My question is this: What are Tottenham's expectations?"
'Chelsea tried to buy Walker'

More than £850m has been spent by Premier League sides so far in the summer transfer window, which closes on 31 August, with accountancy firm Deloitte predicting top-flight clubs will surpass the record £1.165bn they spent last summer.
Chelsea have parted with about £130m for three players - forward Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco and defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma.
Tottenham, who sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City for £45m, have not made any signings, with Levy saying: "We have a duty to manage the club appropriately."
Conte revealed Chelsea "tried to buy" Walker and acknowledged that the market is currently "very difficult", adding: "I think now every single player is expensive."
Harry Kane scored 29 goals in 30 Premier League starts last season
'Kane is one of the best in the world'

Conte also said Spurs and England striker Harry Kane would be his first pick if he could sign any forward. Kane has finished as the Premier League's top goalscorer for the past two seasons.
"Tottenham is a really good squad if they are able to keep all the players," Conte said. "For me, Kane, now, is one of the best strikers in the world.
"If I had to buy one striker I would go to Kane. He is a complete striker. He is strong physically, with the ball, without the ball, he fights and he's strong in the air and acrobatic on the right and the left.
"If you go to buy Kane now it would be at least
 
redhorizon2 said:
Antonio Conte: Chelsea boss questions Tottenham's ambitions


_97092942_chelsea_tottenham.jpg

Chelsea beat Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals and gained seven points more than them in the Premier League last season
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has questioned Tottenham's ambition, suggesting they have lower expectations than their Premier League title rivals.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy this week defended a lack of signings and railed against "unsustainable" spending.
They were runners up to Chelsea in the Premier League last term, faltered in the Champions League group stages, and again in the Europa League last 32.
"If [Spurs] don't win the title, it's not a tragedy," said Conte.
"If they don't arrive in the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out in the first round of the Champions League, it's not a tragedy. If they go out after the first game that they play in the Europa League, it's not a tragedy.
"Maybe for Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and - I don't know - Liverpool, it is a tragedy. You must understand the status of the team.
"Every team has to understand what their ambitions are. If their ambitions are to fight for the title or win the Champions League, you must buy expensive players. Otherwise you continue to stay in your level. It's simple."
"My question is this: What are Tottenham's expectations?"
'Chelsea tried to buy Walker'

More than £850m has been spent by Premier League sides so far in the summer transfer window, which closes on 31 August, with accountancy firm Deloitte predicting top-flight clubs will surpass the record £1.165bn they spent last summer.
Chelsea have parted with about £130m for three players - forward Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko from Monaco and defender Antonio Rudiger from Roma.
Tottenham, who sold Kyle Walker to Manchester City for £45m, have not made any signings, with Levy saying: "We have a duty to manage the club appropriately."
Conte revealed Chelsea "tried to buy" Walker and acknowledged that the market is currently "very difficult", adding: "I think now every single player is expensive."
Harry Kane scored 29 goals in 30 Premier League starts last season
'Kane is one of the best in the world'

Conte also said Spurs and England striker Harry Kane would be his first pick if he could sign any forward. Kane has finished as the Premier League's top goalscorer for the past two seasons.
"Tottenham is a really good squad if they are able to keep all the players," Conte said. "For me, Kane, now, is one of the best strikers in the world.
"If I had to buy one striker I would go to Kane. He is a complete striker. He is strong physically, with the ball, without the ball, he fights and he's strong in the air and acrobatic on the right and the left.
"If you go to buy Kane now it would be at least
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They may have qualified second but with the lack of spending it will have an effect.
 
Spurs will be very competitove again this Season and they will probably buy Barkley + a top Winger at a very minimum. For me Spurs don't really lack anything though squad-wise bar 'age'. A young team a year older now and they will be upthere come May. Again.

I think Conte's focus here actually underlines his real worries about them really.. trying to unsettle them a bit perhaps? Force them into signings of players they don't really need?
 
Kay Age El said:
Spurs will be very competitove again this Season and they will probably buy Barkley + a top Winger at a very minimum. For me Spurs don't really lack anything though squad-wise bar 'age'. A young team a year older now and they will be upthere come May. Again.
Click to expand...

'up there' with no trophies? That's what he's saying ... they have no pressure to win anything - not even from their fans it seems!

Bottom line, they'll WANT to compete on all four fronts ... You cannot do that with such a small squad (as Conte discussed a few days ago - he only really used 13 players last year! 13!!!) ... so unless they pick up 4-5 good players to help the rotation, they may struggle to keep up on all four fronts.
 
Kay Age El said:
Spurs will be very competitove again this Season and they will probably buy Barkley + a top Winger at a very minimum. For me Spurs don't really lack anything though squad-wise bar 'age'. A young team a year older now and they will be upthere come May. Again.

I think Conte's focus here actually underlines his real worries about them really.. trying to unsettle them a bit perhaps? Force them into signings of players they don't really need?
Click to expand...

They lack some quality in depth and have sold Walker.

The interesting thing about Spurs this season is not playing at WHL. That could and will probably affect them.
They were crap at Wembley..
 
LeTallecWiz said:
'up there' with no trophies? That's what he's saying ... they have no pressure to win anything - not even from their fans it seems!

Bottom line, they'll WANT to compete on all four fronts ... You cannot do that with such a small squad (as Conte discussed a few days ago - he only really used 13 players last year! 13!!!) ... so unless they pick up 4-5 good players to help the rotation, they may struggle to keep up on all four fronts.
Click to expand...
I agree with that and I also agree with the lack of media/fan pressure on them to win things. Maybe that's part to reason as they have spend so little compared to most other teams in the top flight and yet they are now a ChL team for two years running?

When you manage to assemble a homogenous and also very strong and talented squad for pennies, that delivers, you probably get a bit more time and deservedly so.

If they should fail to win trophies this Season however I guess that would start to change as they'd then start to struggle to keep hold of their most talented players. For me, despite the apparent lack of expectations compared to the others mentioned, this is a key Season for them. So the pressure is there, but more so from within their own ranks. As I see it.
 
Hansern said:
They lack some quality in depth and have sold Walker.

The interesting thing about Spurs this season is not playing at WHL. That could and will probably affect them.
They were crap at Wembley..
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Walker was however litterally a reserve for like the last third of the Season? I mean they prob knew all about his ideas for the future but Trippier really stepped up didnt he?

The Wembley thing will be a hurdle and definitely make their high pressing game more difficult for starters. I think they'll cope with it but we'll see.
 
Kay Age El said:
Walker was however litterally a reserve for like the last third of the Season? I mean they prob knew all about his ideas for the future but Trippier really stepped up didnt he?

The Wembley thing will be a hurdle and definitely make their high pressing game more difficult for starters. I think they'll cope with it but we'll see.
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He played 33 league games. The issue seems to be more a dicipline matter then quality when it comes to selling him.
I dont rate Walker that much, but Trippier isnt as good as him.

They were crap at Wembley, I actually think it could turn out to be a very big factor for them this season.

I hope, and think, that they'll struggle a bit this season.
 
Kay Age El said:
Walker was however litterally a reserve for like the last third of the Season? I mean they prob knew all about his ideas for the future but Trippier really stepped up didnt he?

The Wembley thing will be a hurdle and definitely make their high pressing game more difficult for starters. I think they'll cope with it but we'll see.
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They are allowed to change the size of the pitch so long as it stays within FIFA regulations.

Walker was only dropped because they knew he wanted out and they had to blood Trippier. Walker still had far superior defensive stats, they could be more porous this season.

They were also pretty lucky with injuries last season (amazing how teams do so well in the PL when that happens) bar Kane for a period. With the improvements made to all those around them it's going to be much tighter and this season Spurs will be in the CL not the EL, they won't be able to get away with playing weakened teams.

I think they could well slip out of the top 4. I'll wait until the end of the transfer season before making a call on that though.
 
Kay Age El said:
Spurs will be very competitove again this Season and they will probably buy Barkley + a top Winger at a very minimum. For me Spurs don't really lack anything though squad-wise bar 'age'. A young team a year older now and they will be upthere come May. Again.

I think Conte's focus here actually underlines his real worries about them really.. trying to unsettle them a bit perhaps? Force them into signings of players they don't really need?
Click to expand...
I made a thread back in April saying that they would fall out of the top 4, I stand by it.
 
Kay Age El said:
I agree with that and I also agree with the lack of media/fan pressure on them to win things. Maybe that's part to reason as they have spend so little compared to most other teams in the top flight and yet they are now a ChL team for two years running?

If they should fail to win trophies this Season however I guess that would start to change as they'd then start to struggle to keep hold of their most talented players. For me, despite the apparent lack of expectations compared to the others mentioned, this is a key Season for them. So the pressure is there, but more so from within their own ranks. As I see it.
Click to expand...

I have no clue - I think Poch is a very ambitious manager, so it's odd for me ... Oh well, I sincerely hope they fail miserably (as I am concerned we'll need help to finish top 4 again)
 
spurs didn't really need a lot did they ? Unfortunately I'll think it will be more of the same for them this season, in sure Wembley will cost them a few points here and there but I'd be surprised if the fell out side the top 4.
 
Spurs have a small squad, but their first team is really strong and have done well in the league for the last two years. But if they do well in europe it will effect them in the league with their squad size. If they want to do well in both they need a good 4-5 players. But if as usual they get knocked out early then they'll make top 4 again with their current team.
 
Spurs starting XI of the upcoming season could look something like this:

Lloris, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Dier, Rose, Trippier, Dembele, Wanyama, Eriksen, Alli, Kane..

And that team is a COMBINED fee of a staggering £80M!!

Or an inflated Virgil van Dijk if you like.. (which I don't btw)

If nothing else, that is an achievement in itself on todays football and surely one of the reasons why fans/medias are seemingly more forgiven and less harsh on their lack of trophies?
 
Their recruitment in recent seasons have been dodgy too - N'Jie, N'Koudou, Janssen, Sissoko.
 
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