Two teams better than one?

[basskadet]

While in an ideal world the answer would be obvious, it isn't quite as cut & dry as that in real life. The benefits of having a world class squad are numerous and you certainly need more than just 11 top players these days to challenge in the EPL but you can have too much of a good thing.

Ramos is hellbent on offloading our 'fringe' players and the 'deadweight' in the team with Kaboul on his way out and now Boateng and Ghaly soon to follow. However, while I can't help getting excited by replacing such players with successful internationals are we in danger of messing up the squad dynamic?

Are such star players going to be satisfied sitting out the odd game? They came to the club with the promise of 1st team football but, with each new signing, its seems increasingly difficult to see how JR can accommodate them all. If he employs a rotation system like Rafa appears addicted to at Liverpool will we not suffer the same issues that they have. Especially with so many new faces in the team they need time on the pitch to gel properly.

There is a certain argument in having some of these 'fringe' players in a team. Players that will come in for the odd game when required with a point to prove as opposed to expecting an automatic start.

Or is JR going to follow Wenger's ethos of fielding his strongest team in the EPL & UEFA while playing a younger, less experienced side for FA & Carling Cup? This could be a solution but I wait with intrigue to see JR's next move.

[bigmartin]

its an interesting point mate, and i guess we can only really speculate at this stage, does anyone know how jaunde dealt with this kind of thing with sevilla?

[punky]

I hear ya. I've been worried that we're replacing decent second string players with solid first team players. The end result: they get fed up and want to leave. We do need first team players as cover but our second squad needs to be just that: a second squad, not an extension of our first.

[funster]

I would suggest that a lot of the debate about having too many first team players - what a great position to be in! - goes way if the club is successful.

Not entirely, sure. But a successful club makes for a happy squad with less inclination to move away if you're not first choice on the teamsheet in your position every week.

[MyGoula]

I agree with Funster we are in a great position with all of these great players

[yidno1]

There was and still is far too much cr4p in the squad at Spurs, any culling by the boss is a good thing I mean who wants Rocha and Kaboul ect when we can have a smaller but better squad which i beleive Ramos is acheiving now.

[P UNIT 1980]

Think we need to start blooding the youngsters in the CC if im honnest, I would like to defend it but would rather have CL footie next season to be honnest.

That is where we need to gain our strength in depth from. Yhat way we wont p!ss them off too much as they will be greatfull for a run out in the first team and that in turn will raise their value.

We do need a fiar sized squad but we also need one that is strong in depth.

[basskadet]

Its a compromise init. Where JR has been quite cunning however is, despite signing a ton of midfielders, they're all capable of playing several positions. This enables him to switch people about, even during a game, to keep the opposition guessing. Look how he played Bentley & Lennon on both wings, Modric has played all over the midfield already and seems to be given a free role, Gio has played on the left as well as upfront. I think its great that nobody knows how we're going to line up week by week.

[DontGoDimi]

Yeah, still wondered why had to get rid of Cerny & Tainio . . I think they would have fitted the 'fringe' profile well . . . Kaboul I think is young & ambitious

[P UNIT 1980]

Cerny wanted to go and didnt want to stay.

Tanio wanted to stay but wanted more games, and I think he could have done well.

Kaboul was and still is pony..........

They will be asured alot more games at their respective new clubs, and for them that is great and for the money we got for them its not bad business for us either.

[bazzabelfast]

modric ( being given a free role ) ? i like this idea not giving modric a specific position to occupy will make the mid field a lot more versatile and harder to work out .

bent will feature highly this season running onto through balls from modric (and whoever is his striking partner )