Fernando Llorente

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Bangkokspur, when does this youngster gain experience ? (options 4 & 5) in Poch's first few seasons with us he gave 1 or 2 youngsters match time at the end of games, but since the pressure of top 4 he hardly ever gives a young player match time, Llorente appears too slow in matches is that due to age or lack of regular match time ? Son & Kane are different types of striker so playing Son instead of Kane means the team has to play differently (maybe even a different line up) to me that's not a problem but the players need to be coached to understand how to play

Has to be in the early European games and in the Cups ... I know people say we should try and win any trophy but if you want to bring youngsters through then that's where ... as Llorente has said in a Sky interview you have to adjust to being a rarely used back-up, with luck next season our front-line stay fit and he's never used but at least if called upon he's been there, done that. Whilst he's to old for 50 games a season he should still be good for four or five ...

It's the same problem as always ... if Kane and Son play 90% of matches what 'as good' player is going to be happy sitting on the bench?
 
in the old days at least the "others" got a runout in the Football combination (reserve football) to keep close to match sharp, now the "others" in the squad get top money for training Mon-Fri with every weekend off
 
As a 3rd choice striker behind Kane and Son we will not get a more experienced player than Llorente. If he stays he will be entering his third season in a back-up a role he has accepted and understands, he brings his years of top class experience and the years of playing within the Spurs system ...

However he isn't the future, he takes up an overseas squad place, he's getting old

What are our options -

  1. Sign a 100m striker and drop Son to 3rd choice
  2. Sign a 100m striker play Kane as an AM behind the new guy and Son
  3. Sign a 30m striker to replace Llorente as 3rd choice, release Llorente
  4. Promote a home-grown youngster to gain experience, keep Llorente
  5. Promote a home-grown youngster to gain experience, release Llorente
  6. Give Llorente another year

I like option 2 but don't think spending 100m on an area we are strong in already is justified, Option 4 works but adds payroll and means even less playing time for the back-ups ....

Option 1 - No
Option 3 - What's the point
Option 5 - Who?

So for me go with option 6 ... spend our budget where it's needed we already score enough goals and that's even with the strikers world cup knackered / away / injured nearly all season ...

Option 7: Let Llorente go and buy another player in the Son mould who can play ST and also aid the AM rotation.
 
Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente, 34, is keen to extend his stay at the club for another season. (Sky Sports)
To be fair, it's probably a good sign regarding the feeling around our club/squad that he'd be happy to stick around and not fuck off back to sunnier climes.

No idea whether he will be offered a new contract, or if next season would be a bridge too far for those legs, but the team spirit seems excellent.
 
Option 7: Let Llorente go and buy another player in the Son mould who can play ST and also aid the AM rotation.

Would be nice ... but Son is a 50m player so can we afford or convince one of those to come sit on the bench ... shame Troy isn't a year or two older, but if he's good enough maybe he deserves a few cup games then see how he goes.
 
Has to be in the early European games and in the Cups ... I know people say we should try and win any trophy but if you want to bring youngsters through then that's where ... as Llorente has said in a Sky interview you have to adjust to being a rarely used back-up, with luck next season our front-line stay fit and he's never used but at least if called upon he's been there, done that. Whilst he's to old for 50 games a season he should still be good for four or five ...

It's the same problem as always ... if Kane and Son play 90% of matches what 'as good' player is going to be happy sitting on the bench?

Looking at how Poch has been operating over the last couple of seasons, the key time for youngsters is the pre season games.

Play in a few of those catching his eye by being reliable and making few mistakes and you stand a chance of getting a handful of games the following season (see Skipp, Amos, Marsh).

Miss out on pre-season through injury or not perform in the preseason games and its not likely you get a chance in the cup games.

Typically he takes half a dozen youngsters into pre-season, sees how they train and then gives a few a chance.

Problem is that in the 5 seasons he's been at Spurs he's really only brought through Winks (Kane et al had already first team experience in a regime where that was more easily had) and might bring through KWP, Skipp et al so not a lot of Academy youth development in that time. He's been relaxing his 'no loans' ideas, so maybe that will be another way forward for the likes of Bowden, Parrott, Bennett, Cirkin, White and other very promising looking youngsters.

Will 19 year old Parrott be a back up striker option in 2020/21 after getting a couple of games in 2019/20 making Llorente as a back up in 2019/20 more sense. Hmm could be a season too early for Parrott ?
 
Keep him if only just for the impact he can have as a long-ball knock down helper. What a performance
 
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