A big week lies ahead for Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou as he plays the waiting game with a number of situations.
The Australian is waiting and hoping that all of his Spurs players return fit and healthy from their international exploits ahead of the first North London Derby of the season. He is also waiting to see whether Sergio Reguilon agrees a move away from the club before the Turkish transfer window closes next week and the Tottenham boss is also waiting to see whether Dominic Solanke and Micky van de Ven will be fit to face Arsenal.
As that week begins, our Spurs correspondent Alasdair Gold answered your questions about the club and you can find them all below.
josephspursfan: "Are Micky van de Ven and Dominic Solanke doing fine and are they going to be ready for the North London Derby?"
Alasdair says: "We can only go on Ange Postecoglou's words and he said Dominic Solanke will be ready to face Arsenal. He said last Friday that he was close for Newcastle but they wanted to "err on the side of caution" and had previously dispelled any suggestion he would miss the North London Derby. It sounded the same with Micky van de Ven as he said he was "close in training this week but with the international break he's not quite 100%". With a further two weeks of recovery and work under their belts you would imagine both will be in a position to face Arsenal, but we'll get the final word on Postecoglou on Friday."
alexsmith2000t: "Djed Spence was left out of Tottenham’s Europa League squad, yet impressed in pre-season with his attitude and performances. Is he in Ange’s plans for the future? And why was he left out the Europa League squad?"
Alasdair says: "Spence has done really well this summer and impressed everyone inside the club, including Postecoglou. I think he's just been really unfortunate in that the squad choice would suggest the Spurs boss does not trust his back-up goalkeeper options enough to leave out the experienced Fraser Forster. That means Spence was the odd man out.
"It's a very risky decision because it leaves the defensive cover very light for the group stages. Romero is suspended for the first game against Qarabag and an injury or two more and there's going to be some problems. Spence was able to cover both right and left-back spots.
"How the 24-year-old will react is going to be interesting. He's come on in two of the first three Premier League games and will likely play in the Carabao Cup, so he should still get game time. It's just a massive shame because he would have played a lot in Europe.
"Overall it's a big red flag against the squad management Spurs have overlooked in recent years with not a single outfield club-trained player in the first team now. They have made moves to change that but it's been a problem they should have sorted a long time ago."
Tom: "We've just added the likes of Solanke, Gray, Bergvall and Odobert to the squad. Some great additions but arguably not enough for a team that Ange suggested last season would be part of a title push this year. Realistically how far do you think Spurs can go? I'd love to think we have a real shot at the Europa League and maybe some real pushes in the domestic cups but as a Spurs fan of 30 years, it's the hope that kills you!"
Alasdair says: "I think it's a stronger squad that's far better suited to what Postecoglou wants. Solanke in particular will be the missing piece for me in the Australian's system. He's going to score a lot of goals.
"It's a very young squad, so there will be some inconsistent moments but it's also a squad that Postecoglou can shape into what he wants it to be with good options in most positions, albeit not quite all of them.
"I think the Europa League has to be a strong target. There are some tricky teams in there but no more will drop down from the Champions League now. Overall I'd expect the reverse of last season in that this Spurs squad should get stronger and sharper as the Premier League campaign goes on but it will have the options in plenty of positions now to get through the number of games and injuries.
"I think the results haven't reflected the performances so far, so Spurs are probably going under the radar at the moment. The Arsenal game will be tough but I think there's a lot of exciting displays to come when Postecoglou can get an actual striker, a fit and sharp one, up front in his system."
SimonBadger: "How much rotation do you see happening in the Europa League? Are we seeing Brandon Austin in goal and Ben Davies and Radu Dragusin at centre-back?"
Alasdair said: "I think naturally there will need to be a hefty dose of rotation although much will depend on the opposition. With games every three days for much of the coming months, Postecoglou can't afford to just put out his strongest team in every match otherwise they will tire quickly or even worse, get injured. He has already spoken about keeping his main men fresher this season with more rotation.
"I would think Fraser Forster will play in goal for most of the games, otherwise the decision to include him instead of Spence looks a bit daft. Radu Dragusin will play plenty but Davies may be needed at left-back at times.
"It's a good competition to give Bergvall and Gray - perhaps at right-back - plenty of minutes in as well as others like Timo Werner and the many central midfielders who will be vying for spots in all the games. Richarlison, when he returns, will likely be able to get his sharpness and goalscoring on point in the competition and we'll get to see youngsters like Mikey Moore and Will Lankshear hopefully."
alexthfc: "Given the past links and the Paratici connection, would Adrian Rabiot on a free not be of interest? Appreciate he would come with big wages but we've cleared so much off the wage bill in the last 12 months?"
Alasdair says: "Unless there are any injuries, on international duty or in training, in the next week before the Premier League squad registration needs to be made, I'd be surprised if there was a free agent signing. Mainly because Postecoglou is always talking about not signing short-term, stop-gap players for the sake of having another body. He only wants players that fit his very specific system and if he'd wanted any of the available free agents then they'd have gone for them beforehand. He made a big point when I asked about centre-backs of saying that they didn't just sign anybody because there was nobody available that he wanted. Like I say, I think it would take an injury and big squad cover issues to make them move for anyone with the likes of Rabiot, Martial and Depay out there."
pidgemond: "I know very little about journalism and ‘sources’ but I've always been intrigued about who the sources are at clubs? Are there people at clubs who's actual job it is to provide journalists with snippets of info or is it like my preferred notion of a say a ‘kit man’ or ‘Janitor’ that over hears transfer gossip through a glass cup to their ear against an office wall?"
Alasdair says: "There's definitely not someone with the job of giving journalists info. It would be wonderful if there was! It's just contacts built up over years of covering the game. It can people inside the club in various departments or it can be those outside the club, around the players or staff, or at other clubs who interact with those inside Spurs. The key thing is to piece it all together and always, always double check info with a second source rather than going on something one person says. It's the latter that spews so much rubbish and rumours out across transfer windows in particular as people push agendas or simply misinform."
cal272: "What do you make of Alfie Devine's loan move to Westerlo? Good choice or not?"
Alasdair says: "I think it's the best option that was left on the table. Alfie Devine had plenty of Championship interest this summer but clubs were initially told that he was not available for loan. That changed late in the window when many of those clubs had moved on to other targets. I'm still surprised something wasn't tied up late on before the English window closed, but the Westerlo move is still a good one. The Juliper League will suit Devine's technical ability and give him plenty of minutes and first team experience. He also gets to know Luka Vuskovic and help him prepare for his move to Spurs next year. It will certainly be an interesting club for Spurs fans to keep an eye on."
Alasdair says: "As I mentioned above, I think the decision shows Postecoglou just doesn't have enough trust in their other goalkeepers backing up Vicario and feels he needs Forster's experience. As you say, Austin and Whiteman are club-trained so their involvement doesn't impact other spots. It's pretty harsh on Spence though and leaves holes in the defensive cover. "
AdamJamesHarris: "Are Spurs still open and looking for outside investment?"
Alasdair says: "I don't think that's changed from their initial public statement. Seemingly nothing has yet tempted them enough."
positop: "Do you think that Djed Spence missing out on the Europa League squad will affect him moving forward and does Ange still not believe in him?"
Alasdair says: "Hopefully it doesn't as I'm sure he'll still get minutes in the Premier League and Carabao Cup. I think it's just an unfortunate by-product of Spurs not managing their squad properly over the years and the need for a revamp without having club-trained players ready to step up."
miin: "Do you think Sonny will get a contract extension soon?"
Alasdair says: "I would hope so. Spurs know how much he means to them, he's still a wonderful player in his 30s as well as their biggest star and Son seems to be relishing being the captain. The club have got the security of the extra year option but it's a deal that surely gets done if both parties want it."
impostercoglou: "Alfie Dorrington - do we know how soon he'll be fit again? We might need him in the Europa League as we're a bit short at the back there."
Alasdair says: "Alfie suffered two hamstring injuries last season that hampered his development. He's only just returned to training following the second injury in May, which required surgery, and is yet to play this season. He is expected to be gradually introduced back into matches as this month progresses before hitting his stride again in October as the games come thick and fast. He may well end up getting minutes in Europe with the lack of cover in the months ahead."
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