#10s for next season

[Dusic]

Feels like this is becoming a bit ofan issue for us in that the best one by a distance is Armstrong but he may also be deployed as a #6 sometimes which takes away our only real goalthreat from open play aside from the strikers.

Of the others Redmond, Djenepo and Walcott (assuming he signs) are very inconsistent and don't contribute enough in terms of goals and assists.

Tella seems much better as a striker than when played deeper as he can use his pace better and probably isnt technical enough retaining possession.

We brought Minamino in because we had Walcott injured and it seemed a no brainer of a poan but surely we wouldn't sign a 5th #10 (6th if Tella included) on a permanent deal.

So - excluding a Minamino replacement, we essentially Armstrong on the right when fit and then whichever of Redmond, Djenepo and Walcott happens to be in form.

I guess that is ok...but definitely an area that could be improved. In a way its what makes the permanent signing of Walcott a tough one as in a sense it makes sense and is low risk, but really if we were serious we would be signing a starting XI player instead.

[TWar]

Yep definite issue, only Armstrong is good enough, Tella looks much better as a forward. Best case scenario we sign one of Danjuma or De Frutos, sign another player to cover CM and play Armstrong and Danjuma/De Frutos with Walcott and Djenepo as back up and Redmond as back up up top.

[SuperSAINT]

2 minutes ago, TWar said:

Yep definite issue, only Armstrong is good enough, Tella looks much better as a forward. Best case scenario we sign one of Danjuma or De Frutos, sign another player to cover CM and play Armstrong and Danjuma/De Frutos with Walcott and Djenepo as back up and Redmond as back up up top.

Both likely to be way over our budget, IMO.  Can see another loan coming in.

Dusic's topic is interesting because it equally puts the No.6 position into question (for depth) as well as No.10.

[TWar]

Just now, SuperSAINT said:

Both likely to be way over our budget, IMO.  Can see another loan coming in.

Dusic's topic is interesting because it equally puts the No.6 position into question (for depth) as well as No.10.

Yeah we need a 4th for both. Happy for the no 6 to be a 4th choice as I rate JWP, Romeu, and Diallo. The only number 10 I like is Armstrong so we need a 2nd choice. More pressing due to that imo.

[Nemi]

We really need a creative passer over another pacy winger - a la Tadic, though it will be tough to match his overall quality.

[spyinthesky]

I reckon we need a left footed midfield/forward  player.

We are a very right footed forward team which means any player on the left has to check inside to deliver a cross or path.

A Pelle type player ie decent in the air, would also be helpful to provide a different option but realise this is likely to be an expensive option.

[tajjuk]

11 hours ago, Nemi said:

We really need a creative passer over another pacy winger - a la Tadic, though it will be tough to match his overall quality.

This, Tella, Redmond, Djenepo, even Armstrong to an extent are players who tend to run at people, their delivery (aside Armstrong) is erratic, what we need is someone with some passing and vision to pick those through balls and crosses especially against deep defences.  Ward-Prowse is good at it but obviously plays deeper and is more often playing the pass into the no.10 areas. 

Probably our best person at this is actually Adams, which is why he probably has the most assists I think in the team from open play, he seems to be able to play through balls in tight situations and with a very good weight of pass, as seen for his assist against Palace. 

Tadic is pretty much what we want, but the younger version and undiscovered. 

Personally I think this is a priority area along with left back (and striker depending on Ings). I think losing Romeu to a long term injury was unlucky but actually JWP.Romeu, Diallo and Armstrong able to play is a good centre-mid with good depth, centre-backs are decent, Ings and Adams have a good partnership and KWP is a good right back.  

So the obvious 'gaps' in our first team are left back and no.10

[S-Clarke]

Haven't we been looking for a number 10 for years? Boufal, Ramirez spring to mind. Tadic wasn't actually signed as a number 10 really, he played on the flanks for us most of the time. And we do miss his quality and guile in that attacking third for sure.

I don't even think our formation suits a number 10 per say, especially if we play two up top. We have two inverted wingers who come very narrow towards the middle - so adding a number 10 there would just congest things.

What I think we need is just a much, much better attacking wide player. Someone who can play the flanks and play that inverted role equally as well.

[tajjuk]

13 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Haven't we been looking for a number 10 for years? Boufal, Ramirez spring to mind. Tadic wasn't actually signed as a number 10 really, he played on the flanks for us most of the time. And we do miss his quality and guile in that attacking third for sure.

I don't even think our formation suits a number 10 per say, especially if we play two up top. We have two inverted wingers who come very narrow towards the middle - so adding a number 10 there would just congest things.

What I think we need is just a much, much better attacking wide player. Someone who can play the flanks and play that inverted role equally as well.

Ralph calls them no.10s because they start wide and drift into that position, most modern attacking forwards these days can usually play across the 3 positions behind the strikers anyway, but basically an attacking mid with some quality to pick passes rather than a pure pace/dribble merchant.