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Alasdair Gold

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium naming rights deal latest and whether Conte will be around to see it

Adriantoner79: "How committed do you feel Antonio Conte is to Spurs? Do you still see him there next season?"

Alasdair says: "I'll admit, the way he speaks doesn't exactly offer up too much hope that he will be in charge next season. Anything about a topic beyond the end of this season is swerved. Yesterday I simply asked him whether the youthful nature of Spurs' transfer policy brings the inconsistency we see and whether a couple of experienced heads could be in order in the summer. He swerved it with all of his might.

"The way he talks, you can tell Conte feels this is not what he thought he was signing up for and that there is far more work required at Tottenham than expected. He's said as much.

"At times he speaks like someone who has come in to do the club a favour for a few months until he can find something more to his liking.

"As I've said a fair bit, the summer will be key and if Conte feels he will be backed with enough important signings to build a team in his image then he could well stay.

"However, if there's any indication from the powers that be that it's going to be another slog of a season like this then I can't see him accepting that.

"Personally I really don't want another long and farcical new manager search! I just don't know where the club would go from there and things would become very difficult for Daniel Levy because he would be the one all the fingers point at."

User1: "How many current players in Spurs squad in your opinion can beat their man in one on one situation?"

Alasdair says: "Spurs have clearly lost a couple of players who can beat a man, Gil, Ndombele and Lo Celso to a degree, while Alli in his pomp could do it.

In terms of who's left, Son, Kane, Kulusevski, Lucas and Bergwijn can all do it, as can Ryan Sessegnon and Sergio Reguilon with their pace. I think there's enough one vs one ability there. It's about confidence I guess."

purky13: "Is there the possibility of moving Sessegnon to right wing-back with Doherty and Emerson’s form with Reguilon remaining on the left hand side?

Alasdair says: "Good idea but I think by doing that you negate the impact of Sessegnon really, with his ability to get to the touchline and get a cross in. Conte switched he and Doherty at one point a few matches ago and it just didn't work."

Frankheth23: "I know we’re still a couple months away from the summer window, but do you have any information on what positions Spurs are targeting and what the summer budget will be?"

Alasdair says: "There's been a lot of talk about Tottenham having to spend this summer in order to convince both Conte and Kane of their ambition, while Fabio Paratici also likes a free transfer. I think Spurs will be pretty busy this summer. They need to be. In terms of positions, at this point they want a new striker, a right wing-back, a left-sided centre-back and another creative player. Anyone who leaves will have to be replaced as well. Like I say, it has to be a busy one."

Wouterrr: "Dane Scarlett only has a contract until 2023. Are there already some talks going on? Start to get a bit scared he'll leave."

Alasdair says: "I wouldn't be too worried at this point. Most Spurs contracts, particularly academy ones, come with an option for another year. Young players can only sign certain length contracts to begin with, I think it's either a two or three year one on their 17th birthday. They quickly get new ones as they progress."

Bash04: "I've watched a decent amount of Pape Sarr this year and whilst his performance level is down from the previous season he is still showing some very good qualities. Do you know if the club is currently planning to send him out on loan against or keep him around the first team? Also, after reading your Devine article earlier today, do you know what Conte thinks about him?"

Alasdair says: "I think they have to take a proper look at Pape Matar Sarr when he arrives this summer. He's had a good season of development in a struggling Metz team and he's played in plenty of different positions.

"He'll have been studying English and physically preparing himself for the league so pre-season will give the club a good chance to look at him before his next step is decided. He's a talented young player, one of the brightest talents in Ligue 1, but they need to know if he's ready for the Premier League.

"As for Alfie Devine, I think the fact that Conte has named him at 17-years-old in his two recent matchday squads tells you what you need to know. As Conte told me the other day about Dane Scarlett: "I don't hand out gifts to players." Players have to earn their selection in the squad."

Sarah128: "There's been a lot of speculation about the stadium, Alasdair, what's the latest with naming rights do you know?"

Alasdair says: "From what I can gather there has been various discussions over naming rights but Spurs want to get the best possible deal for a stadium which is one of the world's best and they're looking for a long-term commitment.

"It doesn't appear as if anything is close right now but the club have certainly spoken to various interested parties over the years and continue to do so. It's under the remit of chief financial officer Todd Kline, who joined Spurs last year and has experience of putting together such deals.

"If they could somehow get something tied up before the end of the summer it could be perfectly timed to boost their transfer funds. However, it's already been almost three years since the stadium opened."

TheRealMrFantastic: "Is it necessary that we orient our style of play more towards a possession game? We have the players to play a counter attacking style but surely this should only be reserved for teams who are much better than us? It was painful to see us take a deep countering approach against a lower division side on Tuesday."

Alasdair says: "I agree. I think Spurs have to start learning to take teams apart when they sit back. The reliance on counter-attacking and looking for space in behind is just too predictable. They need to be able to boss the possession against the sides considered weaker on paper and use the counter-attacks for those side they have to give up possession to. They went through a couple of seasons of being able to do it under Pochettino, but that may well have been because of the influence of Eriksen and Dembele, who could play both ways."

Gatsby901: "With Lloris' new contract taking him beyond 10 years of service to Tottenham, he should get a testimonial. Who would you like to see play in it?"

Alasdair says: "Good question. I think it would have to be a Spurs vs France match with the best of Lloris' time for club and country. For Spurs, I'd love to see Eriksen, Dembele, Bale, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Walker, Rose and others who have worn the shirt since 2012 appear."

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