In Arsene Wengers words - Top top quality player . Spurs just became title contenders IMO if they can get all their new signings up and running together.

http://www.asroma.it/en/news/corporate_ljaji_and_lamela

Also, Ljajic to Roma.

Roma have announced the sale of Erik Lamela for €30 million to Tottenham Hotspur.The Serie A club announced the Lamelas departure to Spurs on their official website, revealing that the €30 million deal could rise by another €5 million, subject to bonuses based on both the player and the clubs future achievements.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/233411.html

@TheGame: Thanks for your words, btw, dude. I'm really proud of my club, too, for that reason. I appreciate it. :)

@Lo, no prob mate. Just telling it like it is.

He's even had his first training session already. I reckon he'll be on the bench on Sunday!

LOL. So, I was wrong regarding Capoue/Sandro; AVB decided to start them the other way round to my prediction.

Also, Lennon isn't in the squad, so he must be still injured.

Other than, that, I'm pleased with myself for having gotten everyone else right! (including Lamela on the bench)

COYS!

@Fred: Here is another formation I've been musing upon, once our squad reaches full fitness/cohesion:

Basically a 3<4>3.

Obviously it can be considered a risk, but with the 2 flanking midfielders (in Paulinho and Dembele) being so versatile (both are excellent readers of the game, ball-winners, accurate long-passers, good at bursting forward over 20-25 yards, hard to get the ball off, efficient short-passers... need I go on?), that keeps the back nice and tight, whilst giving the offensive tip of the <4> the freedom to roam wherever he likes.

That was what was so great when we had Modric; because he knew that Parker's sole job was to win the ball and then give it to him, Modders had the freedom to create and pull the strings wherever he wanted to. Eriksen, in this system, would have 2 (or 3, including Sandro) players doing that for him, so he can wander from flank to flank, hang back to create from deep, or charge forward to have a crack/feed the forwards as he sees fit. With the added bonus that his destroyers are ALSO highly capable of feeding the wingers themselves, either on their respective flanks with passes down the line, or their opposite flanks, with accurate play-switching long balls.

Seriously, draw some imaginary lines in between those front 6 players, and the versatility and freedom of expression of this system becomes increasingly clear. :D

And (perhaps) the best part? It can be modified to a back 4 with extreme ease, because of the quality of personnel.

Let's say we're protecting a lead, and the opposition bring on a right-winger. Take off Townsend, bring on Rose, in response, and let the back 3 shuffle right-ward to allow for a back 4. Kaboul is comfortable covering RB, so let Rose concentrate on simply closing down this new threat. The same can be true for the other flank, too, with Walker coming in to target a new right-winger, and Vertonghen ably covering LB. This simply then switches to a 4-3-3 (or 4-3-1-2), and we continue to threaten on the counter.

OR. If we're chasing an equalizer/winner, and need more pace down the right wing, for instance, bring on Walker for Paulinho (or whichever seems best) to make it a back four, let Sandro and the other remaining destroyer sit in front of them, and let Walker bomb forward on that flank to help join in the attack, safe in the knowledge that he's well-covered. Rinse/repeat with the left wing, if needs be.

So many options. So many options. Plus! It subtly deals with a nagging fear we all (seem to) have, which is that Walker and Rose might not be up to the quality of the rest of the squad. ;) Use them as needed, instead, or against particular opposition, against whom a high-line will be effective, and they can continue to learn their craft without having to play every game.

And, of course, it goes without saying that you can sub in various replacements according to fitness/form, such as Capoue in for any of the Sandro/Paulinho/Dembele triad, Holtby or Sigurdsson for Eriksen's role, Defoe (or even Adebayor) for Soldado, and Lennon/Chadli for the wingers, and the team still keeps its shape.

What do you think?