Tag Archives: sports

Spurs just about survived, now who should stay and who should go?

And breath. Finally Spurs are safe from the threat of relegation after making supporters sweat until the final moments of the final game. It feels so cathartic, especially as everything now resets. We begin next season level with everyone else. It almost feels like cheating.

Big changes are clearly necessary, but who should stay and who should go?

The Board

Spurs problems begins at the top. Vinai Venkateshen should be the first to fall on his sword. The amateurish decisions, from the failure to take the initiative when Frank was clearly not performing, to the Tudor debacle, were a lesson in how not to run a football club. Vinai has to go.

Recruitment

Second out the door should be Lange. While we have recruited some promising young players, squad building has been appalling. The balance of the team from the overindexing on youthful potential, to the lack of balance in midfield has shown a lack of high level planning. The fact that we failed to address these problems in January, in the middle of an injury crisis was at best negligent. He is a good scout, not a director of football.

Players

We clearly need more technical ability, especially in midfield. Despite the return of James Maddison, we need younger creative midfielders, to replace the surplass of hard working box-to-box players.

Depending on who we can sign and who the manager feels fits his system, we will clearly need wholesale changes. This is as much about balance as any individual but I would definitely look to move on:

  • Dragusin – zero technical ability, why did we sign him?
  • Bissouma – checked out a while ago.
  • Muani – showed nothing on loan, and was replaced by a defender in the final game.
  • Palhinha – full of effort and scored some key goals but his lack of technical ability will hold us back.
  • Richarlison – still scores goals, but the injuries have taken a toll.
  • Sarr – we just have too many similar midfielders.
  • Vicario – Kinsky’s excellent end of season performances showed up the Italian’s flaws with the ball and at crosses.

On top of this It remains to be seen what happens to our two starting centre backs, we need a backup to Kudus, a reliable starter up front, and we need to swap one or two more of our midfield options for different profiles.

Despite all this, I think we have the key appointment right. Roberto De Zerbi’s impact saved us from relegation. I think he has the personality and philosophy to turn Spurs around, he has certainly earned the right to try.

Who do you think should stay and who should be immediately shown the door?