c1982

He wasn’t instantly paid that though... he was kept happy and motivated then earned it. I wasn’t just referring to Kane - I was making reference to Spurs’ wage structure and how they keep their players despite not being the biggest payers and get relative success on the pitch. Whereas I think Pickford should be one of our highest earners, we need to be careful with players like Sandro and Schneiderlin on so much - it’d be easy for most to make a case for parity with them - that’s when the financial difficulties can creep in.

He is now but that wasn’t always the case. Sure Sissoko was on a lot more than him when he signed.

Spurs have managed this in recent years... seems to have been shaken by the likes of Walker and now Rose and Alderwireld but it’s been well managed all the same.

2 centre backs are essential. At least 1 more dominant centre midfielder is essential. A striker to compete with Tosun is essential. A keeper to compete with Pickford is essential. We need 5 more at least.

Need another 5/6 in and 10-12 out! I guess with the focus being at Finch Farm and Goodison this week we may see a little more action - I think Silva/Brands will have made their mind up on a few who are surplus.

Sky saying it should be done in the next 24hours too.

That’s where man management comes into it - something Silva is said to be very good at. We’re looking to sign young international players who may see us as a stepping stone - they’ll have to perform to get that ‘bigger’ move - this may even elevate us in doing so and we may begin to match the ambitions of these more illustrious signings. With Stoke, Jesé was only on-loan, Wimmer was an over priced Premier League signing and Berahino was an exciting expensive punt which back fired - not really the same scenario as we’re talking here. Regarding their dealings with Barca - they had Bojan and Muniessa on similar deals to Geri to us - none in reality all that good and Allefay who’s had one injury too many and is long finished.

Problem with signing players like Mooy, Ake and King is you’d have to pay the best part of £100m to get them... good players but nowhere near the quality for the price we’d have to pay to get them here. Signing from the Premier League is not cost effective - we should be able to find equivalent players elsewhere.

Ramsey is an excellent player who would walk into our midfield but unfortunately he simply wouldn’t come here over Chelsea or even Arsenal wanting to keep him.

Dave Benson Phillips is.

On a positive note - I think I’ve found dave...

Yep, he was poor! Was he being exposed having Sandro ahead? He certainly wasn’t getting any cover from Gueye or Schneiderlin - we’re just so easy to expose from every angle!!!

I was so wrong about Keane... he looks such a liability. We 100% need at least 2 centre backs - maybe keep Jags as back-up but have Holgate and 2 new signings playing for the starting positions. He looks completely clueless - I think his confidence was a factor why he didn’t ever get a chance at Man U - he seemed to get that sorted at Burnley but to be honest now I’d be happy just to get shut of him as I don’t see how he can succeed here.

Richarlison is our best player by a million miles already!

If there’s any takers for Schneiderlin, we need to snap their hand off! If Burnley with take Keane back, we need to make it happen!

Hopefully it was more tactics and Silva will be able to sort this.

Distribution isn’t just the 50 yards pass to the winger to set him free - it’s also playing as a ‘sweeper’ and speeding up the start of an attack with a one touch pass to the full-backs or whoever. Not many keepers are as comfortable as Pickford with the ball at their feet. Many stop the ball dead and think too long - killing any potential exposure.

I would prefer him to Butland but if we were to lose (not that I want to lose him), then Butland would be perfect in my opinion. I read somewhere that Pickford didn’t make a single error that led directly to a goal last season - not sure if that’s 100% accurate though. I also saw that his shot save percentage is ‘so so’ - he had plenty to do but that could be much better...

He played in a very poor team last season - all it takes is a couple of passes that lead directly to goals and everyone would be raving about it. The fact is, his passing is there, unfortunately the outfield players often lost the ball with the next touch.

A lot of the time last season it was passed to his right foot under pressure and as a result the ball flew out of play. His distribution was probably highlighted more positively for England - no doubt, his passing off his left foot is top quality.

His passing from his left foot is pin point - with his right foot it’s a whole different story.

If it was guaranteed that we’d get Batshuayi, Loftus-Cheek and Butland for whatever we sold Pickford for then it’d probably be a good deal but there’s too many ifs and buts there... plus if we’re seeking a fee that would allow this, Stoke will whack another £20m onto Butland’s price tag. I don’t think there’s much between Pickford and Butland personally - I feel Pickford edges it with his distribution though.

I do wonder if Spurs will come in for Mina if Alderwireld goes. He and Sanchez looked good together at the World Cup.

Shit hair!