Well, yeah, but Walker is now in the Vorn, Wimmer, (maybe Bentelab/Mason) Chadli, Onomah, Sonny type team.

It was good that Eriksen got man of the match yesterday as perhaps it will kick him on to be more consistent. Getting MoM against a very poor Sunderland side is one thing but I and I am sure others too want him to get MoM awards in every game he plays irrespective of the opposition.

I too think Trippier deserves an extended run in the side as he is simply better at getting the ball into the danger area than Walker is. Similarly, much as I like Rose as a defender his biggest weakness is getting quality balls into the box. Davies showed against Leicester that he can deliver those chances, our main problem being that we often don't get enough players attacking the opposition's box.

Anyway, an observation of mine yesterday was even before the game started. When the players were lining up in the tunnel the tv camera spent a lot of time focused solely on Kane.
Now I know some players develop a game face as a way of getting themselves in the zone so to speak but to me Kane just looked tired. When I think back to last season and how sharp he looked before and during every game and look at him now the difference is obvious.

In my opinion he is obviously feeling the effects of playing too much football and this is being highlighted at about the 60-70 minute mark in games when he noticeably slows down. Now I can't believe our coaches and fitness guys haven't seen this themselves but I guess there's not much they can do to help as it's not just a physical tiredness but mental too.

The answer is, of course, a new support striker who can play alongside him or come on for him when he's flagging. The Club seems to be enquiring about a number of possibilities, the latest being Ben Yedder from Toulouse but how close we are to concluding any deal is anyone's guess. I just hope we don't keep chasing Berahino right up to deadline day to be rebuffed again with no time left to sign anyone.

I think that's a fair assessment of Kane actually Knarf. I'm sure the commentary I was listening to yesterday said something like it was his 50th consecutive league start, which, if you factor in the number of cup games he's covered this season as well, is almost unheard of in the modern game so it's no surprise he looks tired (which he did).

If we don't sign anyone in this window, even on loan, to cover for him, i certainly fear for his long term future in the terms of effectiveness as well as susceptibility to injury.

As I've said, if he plays the rest of the season as the sole striker, as well as the euros, he's going to end up needed an extended break to fully recuperate and recharge his batteries.

tbh I think he's having the time of his life and I wouldn't read anything into one snapshot. He's loving doing this with this 'band of brothers' and he has clearly never been more confident of his own abilities. I think he's still growing into being a person respected in this league, which he clearly is, and loves working with Poch.

I'd say the opposite looking at his running data; he's thriving.

It's all good imo, as long as he doesn't have to do the midweek Cup nonsense.

Good result from the potters there. Just need them to do the same to Leicester next weekend and if we can get a win against Palace, we'll be right back amongst it.

City will be away to the Spammers and Ars*nal will have Chelsea on the Sunday, so could all get veeeery
interesting

The cup games and last PL match, gives the opportunity to have a good look at Trippier and a chance for him to stake a claim as the preferred right back.

Poch made a comment about not wanting to upset the current team spirit when considering bringing in a new player. Berahino's attitude this season at WBA, alluded to in thinly veiled comments made by Pulis, suggests that he could be a risk to that if we brought him into our squad this window.

Good game. We worked hard to break them down and got our just rewards. We would have been ahead in the first half if their keeper hadn't had such a great game. Very harsh on him to concede four goals. I don't know why they haven't played him over Minnone all season!

Eriksen was still off for me. Got lucky with his goals, but I won't complain. He's definitely been practicing his corners though.

And give Mousa that new deal pronto.

Wow .. I think i've kind of won this thread .. heh

You know it's interesting to see how Townsend seems to be in a decent vein of form for the U21's now he's certain to be on his way.

Daniel Levy really ought to have his own statue outside the new stadium if he gets £14m from anyone for Townsend

the following is a good balanced piece on Eriksen:
http://www.football365.com/news/spur...ksen-conundrum

I'm wondering if Spurs are operating a 'one out - one in' policy. Hopefully, the sale of Townsend will signal the immediate arrival of another striker.

With regards to Berahino, I reckon if he isn't sold this window, he will actively run down his contract. So, if Pochettino wants Berahino, is it a case of now or never?

Personally, if all else fails, I wouldn't mind Spurs going after Giuseppe Rossi from Fiorentina, as he is actively looking for a loan move.

the problem with Rossi, as it has always been, is his injury-proneness

No real idea how reliable, but nice news about Dele, and the tweet above could be interesting.

https://twitter.com/Smudge1962?ref_s...Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Thanks for this, interesting - have stuck £25 on. Seems he is joint favourite with Lukaku at the moment - couldnt believe he is only 22!

Have they even started voting for YPOTY and POTY yet?! Assuming that is a link to a tweet I saw about him winning YPOTY by a landslide? Twitter seems to be broken so the link isn't loading for me.

That's the one. Plus a follow up tweet about some transfer activity that the reporter is, of course *roll those eyes* sworn to secrecy about.

And a transfer I think we'll all be pleased to see that didn't come off

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/public...cle4668777.ece

Yes, that's a relief. Obviously I suppose they could come back and throw a sackful of money at him, but hopefully he'll stick to his guns.

I really hope this isn't true .. but considering the individual and his track record, I suspect it very likely is.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...uary-move.html

Newcastle, please sign Berahino, so he can stop being linked with us!

Townsend to Newcastle looks likely if they can stump up an extra couple of million on top of their current offer but the player it appears, wants to hedge his bets by only going on loan in case the club he joins gets relegated.

Roll on June and we can finally be shot of the remnants of Adebayor's contract.

Hear hear. I know it shouldn't matter, and it largely doesn't, but when you read things like this it really does grind my gears how he managed to get us over a barrel like this. But then he did the same to City when he joined us, so I guess the alarm bells should have been there from the start.

Agree about Berahino as well. If he doesn't move this month, we'll likely get linked to him on a weekly basis until the bloody summer.

I read we've supposedly put in an official bid for Jackson Martinez which has, surprise surprised, been rejected.

I suppose the point about Townsend is it's the January window, you're in the bottom 3 or 5, where on earth do you pick up a proven Prem player who can just drop in your team.

The answer is probably no where, but you can see how he might look good to the odd relegation candidate ...

When he starts blazing shots over the bar on Tyneside, they'll soon realise

Townsend will probably score one glory goal there early on then revert to hitting row Z