Steff, Milo, and Gareth bask in the top top job Thomas Frank is doing at Tottenham, bask in the beauty of Richy’s wondersmash, predictions for the season are offered, Milo goes over the new Premier League rules for this coming season, plus we try to fathom why the hell despicable racism still exists at football in 2025 and ponder what (beyond words) can be done to prevent it. Oh yes, we also touch on our final pre-season friendly against PSG…Kudus to us for all that, eh?!!!
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The #10 Commandment
Steff & Milo ponder the Bayern friendly, Sonny’s move to LAFC, the injury to Madders and who will be our #10, plus Milo reduces the ‘squad numbers game’ to an easily digestible form for all of us…last week of pre-season so join us!
Legend
Steff, Milo, and Ram find a few words to share on another quiet week at Spurs which saw us beat Arsenal 1-0 in Hong Kong, say goodbye to the mighty Sonny in Seoul, and potentially lose James Maddison for a while. So yes, not much in this episode (ahem)…
Two For The Price Of One
Steff and Milo bring you two games and a Week That Was in one pod, where we Frankly discuss everything in our day of friendlies against Wycombe and Luton, from Destiny to the Devine and Tel you our thoughts. No Sarr-casmhere, and trust us, you’ll be a Porro person for not settling in and joining us in this summer Spurs Sonjourn…
Reading Test Passed
Steff and Milo look back at the first sighting of Thomas’ Tottenham in the 2-0 pre-season win at Reading. They run the (loose) rule on matters but yes, there’s lyrical waxing about Kudus and Vuskovic, plus all of the week’s news.
Kudus To Us
Steff and Milo discuss the news from the last week including the signing of Mohammed Kudus, trying to work out what is going on with Morgan Gibbs-White, where the new signings leave our squad for the Champions League, rumours of new investment in the club, Thomas Frank’s coaching team, changes in the medical department, and what we can glean from the videos of preseason training.
Sliding Doors 2
Gareth and Milo discuss sliding doors moments in our history like what would’ve happened if Robert Maxwell had bought Spurs or Poch had walked after the Champions League final? We also chat about our bid for Mohammed Kudus, pre-season starting, the imminent arrival of Kota Takai and all the other news.
One Player From History
Steff and Milo choose some players from our past who would most improve today’s team, we ponder whether ‘the old school maverick’ is possible in the modern game, and we discuss the latest Spurs news. There’s also brand new vocabulary being invented, and the first ‘breed specific canine playing style’ breakdown of a new signing!
Squad Review
Milo, Gareth and Ram review the squad and decides who stays, who goes, who’s available at the right price and who gets loaned to Westerlo. We also discuss the weeks news including the interviews with Thomas Frank, Vinai Venkatesham and Daniel Levy and the signing of Mathys Tel.
Tottenham’s Summer Transfer Window: Decoding the Squad Rule Challenge
The summer transfer window is open, and for Tottenham Hotspur, it’s not just about finding the best talent; it’s a complex balancing act dictated by strict squad regulations in both the Premier League and European competitions. As the club continues its squad rebuild, the investment in youth hasn’t yet delivered a bountiful supply of club-trained players, adding another layer of difficulty. So, how will Thomas Frank and Johan Lange manage to bring in the much-needed reinforcements while adhering to these intricate rules? Let’s dive in!
Decoding the Squad Rules
Both the Premier League and European competitions impose specific rules on squad composition, directly influencing Tottenham’s transfer strategy. Understanding these is key to grasping the challenge ahead:
European Squad Rules:
- Non-Homegrown Players: A maximum of 17 non-homegrown players are permitted in the squad.
- Homegrown Players: 8 spots are reserved for homegrown players, which are further divided into two categories:
- Club-trained: 4 players who have been with the club for three seasons before their 21st birthday (or the end of the season during which they turn 21).
- Association-trained: 4 players who have been registered with any club affiliated with The Football Association or the Football Association of Wales for three seasons before turning 21 (or the end of the season during which they turn 21).
- Under-21 Players: There’s an unlimited allowance for under-21 players, but they must have been at the club for two years to be eligible for the squad.
- For this season, under-21 players are defined as those born on or after 1 January 2004.
Premier League Squad Rules:
- Non-Homegrown Players: The Premier League allows 17 non-homegrown players in a 25-man squad.
- Homegrown Players: 8 spots are allocated for homegrown players, with the same definition as “association-trained” players in European competitions.
- Under-21 Players: The number of under-21 players is unrestricted.
- For this season, under-21 players are defined as those born on or after 1 January 2004.
Tottenham’s Current Squad: A Numbers Game and a Tight Squeeze!
Analysing Tottenham’s current squad reveals a particularly tight situation. Even with Timo Werner, Fraser Forster, and Alfie Whiteman having left, and the expected departures of Manor Solomon, Bryan Gil, and Alejo Veliz, the room for new signings is quite limited.
European Squad Challenges
The homegrown player allocation for Europe poses a significant hurdle. Tottenham currently has two more association-trained players than permitted. This means these two players will be reclassified as non-homegrown, pushing the club over its squad size restriction. Consequently, Tottenham will need to leave two players out of their European squad before any new players even come in.
Premier League Squad
Things are “a tad easier” in the Premier League, where the club currently has 5 free squad spaces. The reason for this is that the Premier League does not require players to be with a club for two years to qualify for the Under 21 list, so players like Archie Gray, Wilson Odobert, Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel do not need to be included in the senior squad. However, a key question remains: would new players be willing to join if their inclusion was limited to domestic competitions only?
Addressing Needs, Navigating Constraints
The club has several areas that urgently need reinforcement: a left-sided centre-back, left-back cover, a defensive midfielder, a playmaker, and potentially a striker. However, with the extremely limited squad space, Tottenham must adopt a highly strategic and measured approach in the transfer market.
Some recent contract decisions have helped alleviate immediate concerns; Fraser Forster, Timo Werner, and Alfie Whiteman have departed, while Son Heung-min and Ben Davies have extended their contracts until the summer of 2026. However, Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur’s contracts are set to expire next summer, suggesting a likely sale of one (probably Bissouma) and an extension for the other to protect player value and avoid losing two key peak-age midfielders in one window.
The club’s conscious decision to focus signings on young players has created a really exciting squad, but one that is short on experience. Only 11 players are currently in their peak years, with the likelihood that several of these could be sold this summer. Ange Postecoglou had previously spoken of the need to add experience to the squad to help it cope with the extra rigours of the Champions League. It will be interesting to see whether Thomas Frank agrees with this assessment and if the club will deviate from its approach of the last few summers of signing one experienced player, with the bulk of signings being “for the future”.
Final Thoughts
Tottenham’s summer transfer window is shaping up to be a complex strategic game, far more than just signing new talent. Navigating the intricate squad rules, especially in Europe, while addressing key positional needs and balancing youth with much-needed experience, will be the ultimate test for Thomas Frank and Johan Lange. It’s a delicate balancing act, and every decision will be crucial for the season ahead!