09 Jan 2019 16:05:26
Ed, will Spurs look to replace Dembele this window or wait till the summer?

{Ed001's Note - you already bought Sissoko and Wanyama to replace him in previous windows!}

1.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 02:11:55
That does make sense. Thanks Ed!

Ed would you be running with a group of Winks, Sissokho, Dier and half a Wanyama for 6 months?

{Ed001's Note - no, because none of them are close to being as good as Dembele was. If you want to challenge for league titles you should be improving the team not weakening it as you have been since Poch took over.

When Poch took over Lloris was top class, now he is not at his best and is average.

The defence was the best back 4 in the league. Now you have full backs that are adequate at best.

The midfield had Dembele purring like a Rolls-Royce and running things, now he is going you will have Winks, who is ok but a long way from Dembele. Wanyama has the first touch of an elephant in clogs with stones in them. Sissoko runs around a lot but has League Two level technique.

The only area that has improved is the attack and that is because Son has found his feet and the other players have, such as Kane and Alli, are moving towards their peak. You have not actually brought any improvements in, just the players there have got better.

Spurs really need to change that and start bringing in players who improve the team, rather than donkeys like Aurier.}

2.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 07:12:24
Bitter truth that. Going to be really tough to get those top tier players with the stadium situation now. Hopefully we solve at least some of our problems in the summer!

{Ed001's Note - it is why some people think Poch is some kind of miracle worker to even keep Spurs in contention. I disagree, I think he has to take some of the blame for Spurs not actually winning any trophies under him as he is, in large part, choosing the signings. He would rather have the Davinson Sanchez, Moussa Sissoko, Serge Aurier and Victor Wanyama brute force player in the team. Don't get me wrong, you need a player or two like that to protect the rest, but it is about getting a balance and the balance has gone too far towards physicality at the moment.

I fail to see how the new stadium will change things either, at least in the shorter term. It is not going to suddenly bring in a massive influx of cash, you still have to pay off the building costs over the next few years after all. Initially it will only be a step forward, rather than a leap. What it does, imo, is safeguard Spurs' future against the uncertainty of future TV rights money. If that bubble bursts then Spurs are in a magnificent position to capitalise.}

3.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 12:18:00
And yet with an injury ravaged team, no signings, no pre season, playing every game away, here spurs are only 6 points off the media darlings Liverpool.

4.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 13:35:28
I agree Ed. Signings like Sissokho do puzzle you, but it's worked out well for him this season! I hoping we get some technicians in the middle soon. Or in the stadium, both need them.

Quick question Ed, what is your opinion of Dier? I thought he was doing marvellously and improving earlier, but he seems to have plateaued recently. Is it form, injuries or just plain ceiling?

{Ed001's Note - I deliberately left him out of any mentions because I have been thinking the same. He does seem to have lost his way recently but I think a lot of that is not having the calmness of Dembele alongside him. Dembele draws players to him constantly, so all Dier was doing was mopping up and then moving the ball on quickly. Without Dembele he is expected to do more, with and without the ball, and I simply think it is beyond him. His limitations are exposed, rather than him being able to just use his strengths.}

5.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 15:49:00
Unfortunately, and for Dier, it's going to be very tough to replace Dembele's calmness. Do you by chance a list of CMs to watch out for?

{Ed001's Note - not in the style of Dembele, but Spurs are one of the clubs that would like to take Barella.}

6.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 16:14:39
In January Ed?

{Ed001's Note - they certainly were showing interest, but I don't expect him to leave Italy, he wants too many guarantees.}

7.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 17:16:42
That won't stop me from hoping though!

How do guarantees of playing time work out Ed? Are the players promised a certain number of games?

{Ed001's Note - he is after guaranteed starts when fit. Sometimes players are promised a certain number. I know of players, who are dropping down from bigger teams, who have been promised to start every game when fit within their contract. Not sure if that still happens now though. Clubs signing someone who brought people through the gates would do that in the past.}

8.) 10 Jan 2019
10 Jan 2019 21:34:11
I can't see us buying a replacement any time soon. It will mean more minutes for Skipp this season so we may see a bit more of him and what he is made of, he seems to have great potential.

The one thing we desperately need is a CM that can go past a player which then opens up space for the front 3. This is what Dembele has been brilliant at. When he goes past one or two and then gives it we create so much more. We need to have that as in my eyes Dier Wanyama, Winks and Skipp are really all competing for the same posistion and currently Sissoko is the only one for the other CM spot if Dembele goes.

I really like Sissoko in terms of speed stamina work rate and dribbling but technically he isn't good enough and has little to no end product. He does a lung busting 40 yard run, goes past 3 and then misses a 5 yard square pass!

I would also like to add that Dembele has been my favourite player to watch live for the last 3 years and he has completely bossed many of the games I've been to. The guy has such strength and technique, made it look so easy at times, and I will miss him!

9.) 11 Jan 2019
11 Jan 2019 06:51:44
That is a tough thing to guarantee and especially when written in the contract Ed. Must be really tough to enforce it when it goes wrong.

Things like these remind me why Ed 002 asks to not get into nitty gritty of contracts.

{Ed001's Note - it has caused no end of problems in the past.}

10.) 11 Jan 2019
11 Jan 2019 06:52:33
How are you doing Ed? I'm missing some of your anecdotes in the daily round ups!

{Ed001's Note - sorry you are missing them, I got asked to do them as separate articles now, so I have been doing that, it is just everything got put on the backburner while my family were over for Xmas and New Year. Only see them once a year (at most) as we have been living in different countries to each other for the last few years as they retired to Spain initially.}

11.) 11 Jan 2019
11 Jan 2019 08:36:43
Hoping you spent some quality time with the family. I must protest, you don't spend enough time together!

{Ed001's Note - we did spend a good few weeks of quality time. And some that was not quality too! Like when my dad decided to forget his bag containing passports, flight tickets and wallet somewhere on a day out and we all had to run around to try and find it as he only realised he had lost it a few hours before they were due to fly home.}

12.) 11 Jan 2019
11 Jan 2019 13:41:50
That's stressful and scary! Perhaps he was hinting he wanted to extend his little visit?

{Ed001's Note - I think it is just old age mate, he gets a little confused...}

13.) 14 Jan 2019
14 Jan 2019 13:34:55
Make that 9 Ellis ;)