After Another Derby Day Defeat, Are Tottenham Missing The Final Piece To Their Puzzle?

The longest running transfer saga this summer ended on transfer deadline day, and with it came the most obvious move in football. Gareth Bale had joined Real Madrid.

Whilst this was all happening, Tottenham were preparing for the inevitable by splashing out on several players to try and fill the void about to be left by the Welshman. A hard task it is so how did they do?

These were their summer signings:

Erik Lamela (Winger) - 26.5m

Christian Eriksen (Centre/attacking midfielder) - 12m

Vlad Chiriches (Centre Back) - 8.5m

Etienne Capoue (Defensive Midfielder) 9.7m

 Roberto Soldado (Forward) - 26.4m

Nacer Chadli (Winger) - 7.2m

Paulinho (Centre midfielder) - 17m

The blue side of north London have strengthened the entire squad and with the sale of Gareth Bale and a few other players have actually managed to make a couple of million pound profit as well.

Soldado will be the man they look to fill the goal void and he could easily get 15/20 goals a season for them. Lamela and Eriksen will be seen as the men to provide these chances and as we saw last season at Roma, Lamela can score them as well. Capoue and Paulinho will be the enforcers. They will win the ball and give the previous three every chance to get the goals that Bale could and would often to get on his own. Chiriches and Chadli will be good versatile squad players, and it seems that Andre Villas-Boas has bought shrewdly this season.

But after a poor performance against rivals Arsenal, why does it seem like there is something missing?  Seven potential first team players bought in for the coast of one player out seems great especially when you've strengthened in every position, but what everyone is thinking is clear. There are no Gareth Bale's.

Granted, where else to find a player similar to Bale. Ronaldo? Messi? Being realistic, Tottenham are unlikely to get them. But none of these players are the type of player who you expect to pick the ball up 30-yards from goal and bury it in the top corner. Bale has now become someone you always expect to produce a piece of magic, something that will win games as he did so often last year. Goals against West Ham in the league and Lyon in the Europa League spring to mind.

Lamela and Eriksen are good young players but they aren't good enough to do that just yet, if ever, and Soldado is a poacher, the man you want the ball to fall to in the box in the final minute of a games that's deadlocked at 0-0.

If Tottenham fans are feeling very smug this year at the fact that they have strengthened more than there rivals Arsenal, then I advise them to think again. Arsenal have signed what they needed and even what Manchester United. A bit of magic and a genuine match winner is what new Gunner, Mesut Ozil, is.

Yes, Tottenham have bought some very good players, but I'm sorry, they are not in the same class as Gareth Bale and I think come the end of the season that will be more and more clear.

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Comments

[Madcap]

Yes but surely you realise that Erikson didn't play against Arsenal and Lamela only came on as a sub? When half the team is new it takes maybe half a season before they all play in tune with one another. I also disagree with your assertion that the players Spurs have bought are not in the same league as Gareth Bale. Bale was sensational last year, and very good the year before that. However he was fairly ordinary for most of the other time. Lamela and Erikson are younger than Bale and far more accomplished than Bale was at 21. In Ozil Arsenal have purchased the talents of a world class player; but he is one player and as Spurs found out to their detriment last season, one Swallow does not make a Spring.

[Lightning Smith]

This article sows a real lack of understanding about Spurs.and the Boy wonder, I suspect it was a bit of a homework project from school

[Lodatz]

Hmmm. Aside from the fact that we also notched up 'another win' against Arsenal last season, I think your very title is misleading.

The NLD came too early for Spurs this season; it's as simple as that. 3 games in, with a squad that had 4 new (and key) players in it, and without the biggest and most anticipated signings of all of them. Up against an Arsenal team virtually unchanged from last season, who were desperate to win to (already) save their season. Oh, and then only won 1-0 at home by parking the bus, coughing up 57% possession to Spurs, having fewer shots, and finishing the game with 6 defenders.

A little early to begin the catcalls, don't you think?

Also, with regard to Ozil: he was the last thing they needed. That is: his position is the one they needed the least work upon. Arsenal really needed a DM (or two), a new RB, more options at CB, a new winger, and a new striker. So Wenger brought in a teenager from France's second division, an old fart of an ex-player, and then splashed 42m on the one department he was actually well-stocked in to begin with.

Not sure how all Ozil's class (and he is, undoubtedly, a brilliant player) is going to count for much when Walcott/Giroud/Wilshire/Ramsey (pick two) get injured from a grueling Champions League group, and he's stuck with Bentner to work with.

Remember, he's used to feeding Ronaldo and Benzema, in a league which treats defense as a minor distraction.

I have a feeling the Wenger Out signs will be back in force by Christmas.

[stingray]

So misleading...As most of the comments rightfully state. Bale only turned good 2 seasons ago and at 22. Lamela and Eriksen at 21 are better than when Bale was 21! If they develop at the rate they are currently, they would be better than Bale! As per the NLD, its laughable to use that as a true state of both teams! Spurs bossed most part of the game with 6 new players who had barely played together for a week! To lose by a lone goal away and dominate, shows that Spurs are lots stronger. Note Spurs lost 5-2 last season with Bale.
Arsenal doesn't really need Ozil and that would be exposed soon when Arsenal play more physical mid table teams who would test the muscle in the team as Aston Villa exposed. If Spurs players were tighter and more robust in their tackles, the result would have been different. Arsenal are in desperate trouble and the NLD is a false mirage that would soon be exposed and the rebellion would soon be felt soon. Spurs will get back to their winning ways and would overtake Arsenal soon and Ozil would have litt;e or no impact!