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Message: [QUOTE="IthacaMatt, post: 3033956, member: 405"] I don't think of Kane as such a "square peg" fit at Tottenham, and remember what Spurs were like before his emergence as a bona fide star. They struggled to make top 4 before; they're now a near-certainty to make it. I agree that wing play is essential in today's Premier League, and at the top levels in Europe. That's what Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had in spades for several years. I think one of the smartest things that Pochettino did at Spurs was recruit and train up "double backs", so he had depth and options and his guys didn't get so worn down from all the action required of them by his system. But then Levy sold a couple important guys, and Pochettino phased out a couple others, and now they're not as deep as they once were. As for Chelsea, I remember when we had to transition away from Drogba, Lampard, Terry and Cech. I think we will be OK, and I think that if they hire Max Allegri, they will be top 4 again next year, even if the transfer ban is upheld. I think that for all the early plaudits for his attacking football (more vertical tika-taka, some called it), Sarri's stubbornness and tactical inflexibility held the team back after the New Year. Say what you want about Conte (namely, that he treated the players like chess pieces that he moved around the board, and his sideline direction got tiresome); he was flexible and changed formations to suit the squad and the circumstances. I think Allegri is a winner, and will keep / instill a winner's mentality. I also like Italian coaches for their tactical proficiency. If you look at the Chelsea lineup for next year and you bring back about 5 quality guys who were on loan, and they're like new signings to inject to life (and competition for places) into the squad. As much coaching turnover as there has been at Chelsea over the years, the squad has been coached by some of the very best coaches in the game. And while each coach might focus on different aspects of the game for their particular system, the players have taken in a lot of coaching ideas over the years, and are the better for it, in my opinion. I think that even with no signings, a Chelsea squad with Giroud and Tammy Abraham up front, Willian, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic as wingers is a good attacking unit. Maybe not that one elite guy, but certainly enough talent among them to get you 50 goals. If you ditch Kovacic, who was hardworking but not very skilled, then you've got a midfield with Loftus-Cheek, N'golo Kante, Ross Barkley, Jorginho, and Timoue Bakayoko (who had a good year in Italy). Bring in a couple of the younger guys for squad depth and cup matches (Mason Mount, Mario Pasalic or Lewis Baker), and that's a pretty good midfield. At the back, you bring back Victor Moses, Kurt Zouma, Kenedy for competition on the wing, and one or two of the young guys like Michael Hector from Sheffield Wednesday or Ola Aina who played in Italy last year, and add them to Tony Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Caesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Alonso and Emerson, and that team seems loaded to me. Kepa is a fine goal keeper. If Willy Caballero doesn't leave, he's a fine backup. Plus they signed that guy Eduardo, who played for Portugal's national team, and has good European experience. He could certainly be your Cup keeper if Willy leaves. I don't think we fall off a cliff if the ban is upheld. I like that squad better than a lot of clubs if they actually chose to use their depth for once. [/QUOTE]

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