Team News for Udinese (A)

[Geez]

Tom Huddlestone is the only injured absentee from the squad preparing to face Udinese in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.

The midfielder misses the trip to Italy for our first match in the group stages with a slight knee injury. "Tom is injured and it wasn't possible for him to come," confirmed Head Coach Juande Ramos at the Stadio Fruili. "He needs to rest."

Roman Pavlyuchenko and Vedran Corluka are ineligible for the UEFA Cup and have stayed in London.

[mawspurs]

Shame about Huddlestone, I think European football suits him. If Modric is fit I'd have him in for this game too, in preference to the Bolton game.

Ramos needs to pick carefully now because we need the right players available for the Bolton game and we already have limited options.

[BringBack_leGin]

i don't actually think woodgate did badly the other day so i wouldn't be distraught to see king play this game, i think woodgate and corluka could form a good partnership.

another game for hutton can only be a good thing as he regains fitness.

given that he will have to play sunday, i'd play ekotto tomorrow as well. it's not as if bale has pulled up any trees lately.

on to the midfield. with pavs absence we don't have much choice but to go with one up top. Hoddle tonight, when talking about barcelona, talked about the sort of players they put wide. Hleb, Messi, Iniesta, Busquets, Bojan, all central players for better or worse who cut in through the middle. The let their full backs to the crossing. It made me think about Modric, who currently is not really doing it in the middle, and on the left of a 442 he is starting way to deep to do what thos guys do.

But if we put him wide on the left of a 3 man attack/ 5 man midfield, he would have freedom to cut in on his right foot, play through balls, avoid the melée that is the centre and stay far up the pitch where he is much better.

For this reason I'd be quite happy to try him there v Udinese, even as a tester ahead of the Bolton game. At the same time, while he's performed well, I would like to see Lennon back on the right, especially now that Hutton is fit. Last season I thought they had the makings of a good combo.

The middle three positions are where it is difficult. Ordinarily my suggestion to put Modric out left would go hand in hand with Huddlestone getting almost an advanced midfield role, like that in which he performed admirably for the u21's recently before his sending off. However, his absence means that, if Modric is on the left, the central three kind of pick themselves. O'Hara, Jenas, Zokora. O'Hara right now I'd have in there anyway purely because of his fight and passion for the club, even if he is a bit limited as a footballer. Zokora plays best as the anchor of a three man midfield. And Jenas, well I've accepted that he isn't losing his place anytime soon so I'm just going to support him.

Up front obviously Bent plays, unless you want us to teach the young Utd boy how to play a lone striker role? Didn't think so.

Our squad is a touch stretched right now it seems, especially with the unavailability of Pavlychenko and Corluka, so perhaps Ramos should be bold with the bench and pick just one of the reserves to travel to Italy. My choice would normally have been Rose, but given his recent successes for the reserve team, and givent he fuss that was made over him coming, I'm intruiged to know if this Bostock boy (who I wasn't overjoyed with when I saw him for the u18s) is any good. There are seven places, give spots to cesar, dawson, gunter, giovani, campbell and bentley. that leaves one spot. now it could be given to gilberto, which is a waste of a place on the bench really, or ramos could think outside of the box and see how a young player copes, even if its jsut how he copes in the training session.

[nidge64]

Id love the team to do well tomorrow, But most of my thoughts are on sunday & the Bolton game! no win in that game & i dont no what were going to do? sack Commoli is all i hear..great.how is that going to change things on the pitch? well people say we will spend our way out of trouble in January..ummm..who the hell would want to sign "if" we are bottom or near the bottom of the league, alot different type of player than the ones we were all talking about or linked with during the summer! In fact if that scenario is true & we are down near the foot of the table come the January transfer window opening it would make a director of football jobs HELL! Let Ramos sign his own players i hear you cry, Well id say the same thing, what chance has Ramos got of attracting players if your struggling in the league, Basically what im trying to say is unless Spurs show an improvement in the league i dont now what will happen....Martin Jol worked under 2 Different D.O.F he didnt seem to do to badly...Surely Ramos must be getting paid at least twice as much as Jol..So should'nt we expect just a little bit more? I do feel the carling cup win seems to have masked alot of problems we may or may not have since Ramos took over.

[spud]

While I like your thinking, BBLG, I can't agree about Modric playing left. For two reasons. First, his lack of speed would mean that - overlapping full-back aside - there would be no wide threat and so he would be nullified on every attempt to cut inside. Secondly, his strength is in a central role where he operates as the fulcrum of the attack and can move forward into scoring positions. GDS would be a much better choice in the left role.

We have to start using Modric in his best position as a playmaker. He is one of the best in Europe at it (second only to Kaka according to Slaven Bilic) and the longer we play him in the wrong place, the lower his confidence will sink. We have to put him in a position to succeed rather than to fail. We saw glimpses on sunday of what he can do; if we persist with him, he will be great for us.

[TimJ]

When you talk about the team and mention the players I am finding it so difficult to get excited about this. No one has really performed that well this season. Players who were good last year have not been up to the same standard (Woodgate in particular) and those who have come in have really struggled.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Even players like Bale, who I was really excited about watching this season, have struggled. <o:p></o:p>
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For the next couple of months in the Premiership I think we need to play very defensively and try and hit teams on the break, similarly to how we did at Chavski. ….and I mean at home and away and against all teams. We need points desperately to get us out this rut and this is how I think we should do it.<o:p></o:p>
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Perversely, I think we may do OK today against the Italians given the way they play the game…. but with Spurs I have been wrong before….. lots of times.<o:p></o:p>

[Fancypants]

SO who is actually in the travelling squad? Is the UEFA squad listed anywhere?

I ask as I was just wondering which of the young guns (.... ) are in :o)

[mil1lion]

BBLG if we were to play a similar formation to Barca, i would go with Lennon on the left, Giovani on the right and Modric in the central attacking midfield role.

Zokora and Jenas will have to continue in the heart of midfield again tonight. They should be good enough, and often look good in Europe. I also agree with BBLG that King playing tonight would be fine. Hutton is back now, and i think we should now start playing Woodgate and Corluka in the League games so they can work up a good partnership. I dont see any harm in King coming in to play Cup games, especially as Corluka is UEFA Cup tied anyway. As long as the back four in the League stays the same, we'll have the consistency in defence. I'd also like to see O'Hara at left back when Bale is suspended. I'd like Bale to start tonight though, so he can redeem himself. But after that, O'Hara showed for the u-21s (ok, much lesser competition) and against Man Utd (didn't he do pretty good up against Ronaldo there last season?) that he can play effectively there.

A 1-1 draw would be alright tonight. As long as we dont lose. We've got a good record in Europe and although the game on Sunday is important, we still want to make a good showing in Europe.

[mil1lion]

For the next couple of months in the Premiership I think we need to play very defensively and try and hit teams on the break, similarly to how we did at Chavski. ….and I mean at home and away and against all teams. We need points desperately to get us out this rut and this is how I think we should do it.

Although that may sounds logical, i actually think thats the worst thing Spurs can do at the moment. We're a team lacking confidence, and thats going to make it very difficult for us to soak up pressure and hit teams on the counter effectively. Thats a tactic that requires more confidence in the attack than what we're showing. We need to up the tempo as much as possible, and keep forcing our play on the opposition.

Its time we started throwing a few players forward and getting players into the box. We haven't scored more than 1 goal in a League Game this season, but there haven't been enough chances in the final 3rd.

[The Original Yiddster]

While I like your thinking, BBLG, I can't agree about Modric playing left. For two reasons. First, his lack of speed would mean that - overlapping full-back aside - there would be no wide threat and so he would be nullified on every attempt to cut inside. Secondly, his strength is in a central role where he operates as the fulcrum of the attack and can move forward into scoring positions. GDS would be a much better choice in the left role.

We have to start using Modric in his best position as a playmaker. He is one of the best in Europe at it (second only to Kaka according to Slaven Bilic) and the longer we play him in the wrong place, the lower his confidence will sink. We have to put him in a position to succeed rather than to fail. We saw glimpses on sunday of what he can do; if we persist with him, he will be great for us.

Agreed I could never understand why Ramos plays Modric on the left.....a complete waste. As you say he needs to be at the heart of everything in the centre dictating play. Who partners him there is the question although less of an issue with a 451 formation

[steveb]

I think he has to be positive and give it a go or we will get battered.
Therefore we need to do 2 things, 1. hold back ledley for Bolton. 2. Play a 4-4-2.

Gomes

Hutton, Woodgate, Dawson, Bale

Bentley, Zokora, Modric, Lennon

Campbell, Bent

Subs, Cesar, Dos Santos, Jenas, Benoit, O Hara, Gilberto, King

[Coyboy]

For me playing King in the league overides everything. Corluka and Woodgate are both good defenders but they are not King and don't have his effect on the team. I would take a loss tonight for a win on Sunday and that is most possible with King in the side. Therefore I would play Dawson tonight. As for the rest;

Gomes
Hutton
Dawson
Woodgate
Bale
Lennon
Jenas
Modric
Zokora
Bentley
Bent

I really want to see Dos Santos play but Bentley looked better the other day and he and Lennon actually have the potential to be a good contrast and can swtich wings and they can also come inside to allow both full backs to come forward. Bale was a disaster obviously on Sunday but Hutton was excellent.

[BringBack_leGin]

with corluka, pavlyuchenko and hudd all out, the bench spot is guaranteed for gilberto if every 1st team squad player is used as we have exactly 18 left without those three. Gilberto on the bench is a waste of a spot so I hope he has the guts to give one of the kids a spot

[2bearis2do]

I always love the reminder of cup tied players before a big cup game.
Oh the brilliance of the THFC Transfer strategy never fails to impress.

As for the team...He´ll play 4-5-1 and we´ll probably lose by one goal.

But hey, I´m hanging on with my fingertips in the virtual world of hope and reckon Ramos will see the light, play 442 and we´ll win 2-1.

8-)

[BringBack_leGin]

just a quick thought

in pre season, against mainly european opposition, we played a 442 pretty much, with giovani as a support striker, and a midfield that included both lennon and modric (bentley was yet to sign at this point).

perhaps ramos should try this?

[2bearis2do]

just a quick thought

in pre season, against mainly european opposition, we played a 442 pretty much, with giovani as a support striker, and a midfield that included both lennon and modric (bentley was yet to sign at this point).

perhaps ramos should try this?


Totally agree and something I´ve shouting about for some time. Either get Dos Santos or Lennon right in behind the main striker. Basically get them to play Keanes role. I remember Jol saying that Lennon was brilliant in this role in training and it was something he used a couple of times in matches.

4-5-1- just isn´t working and if Ramos goes with this again tonight then we seriously have to question his ability to put things right when the current system is so clearly failing at present.

Get some shape back in the starting XI. 4-4-2 and play players in their positions....you never know it might just work.

Trivia question, as I know not the answer....

How many games have we played 4-4-2 this season?

[Kay]

Lennons, final ball when coming in from the wing is not always very good to say the least, however he knows how to turn players and has lot's of pace.

Maybe we should consider reverting to a 4-4-2, a formation the players know, and play Lennon up frontt as the second / small striker:

Gomes
Hutton Woodgate King Bale
Bentley Jenas Modric Santos
Bent Lennon

Lennon would give defenders a headache, running at them or behind them.

[Fancypants]

SO who is actually in the travelling squad? Is the UEFA squad listed anywhere?

I ask as I was just wondering which of the young guns (.... ) are in :o)

Nobody knows then............ :razz:

[kelloggs]

BBLG if we were to play a similar formation to Barca, i would go with Lennon on the left, Giovani on the right and Modric in the central attacking midfield role.

Zokora and Jenas will have to continue in the heart of midfield again tonight. They should be good enough, and often look good in Europe. I also agree with BBLG that King playing tonight would be fine. Hutton is back now, and i think we should now start playing Woodgate and Corluka in the League games so they can work up a good partnership. I dont see any harm in King coming in to play Cup games, especially as Corluka is UEFA Cup tied anyway. As long as the back four in the League stays the same, we'll have the consistency in defence. I'd also like to see O'Hara at left back when Bale is suspended. I'd like Bale to start tonight though, so he can redeem himself. But after that, O'Hara showed for the u-21s (ok, much lesser competition) and against Man Utd (didn't he do pretty good up against Ronaldo there last season?) that he can play effectively there.

A 1-1 draw would be alright tonight. As long as we dont lose. We've got a good record in Europe and although the game on Sunday is important, we still want to make a good showing in Europe.

?????? Sorry mate I don't understand where you are coming from? Lennon a right footer on the left with GDS a left footer on the right? Both cutting inside and meaning we have no with on either side? We need to strecth teams to create chances for Bent or Pav when we get back to the prem as both have average to poor touch and annot operate in a crowded area as Keane and Berbs could. I think this has been a major cause of our problem. The ball does not stick or do anything clever when it gets to our strikers. They can only run onto a ball ahead of them (Bent), shoot or head at goal! Nothing creative happens to enable the midfield to join or for tho bring the other striker into play when we have 2 on the pitch!

I would really like to see those players who have been shunned given a chance to show they are prepared to fight for us and prove themselves. Tarrabt, KPB and Ghaly could all add something of the bench. Tarrabt had undoubted talent and has never been given much of a run to show what he can do, Ghaly, whilst showing a really poor attitude, works hard, tackled and often created opportunities (I watched season review DVD recently), while KPB will add some steel and energy (again I think he never had time to settle fully). I can hear many of you thinking im stpid or of poor judgement, however consider this. How many games has Jenas had in our team, and how many great performances has he put in as a ratio? Compare that to the 3 I have mentioned! Why sould JJ be given the oportunity to get a run of poor games before we get a performance (and get the captaincy) and not these players, who after all were all young and not established in the PREM. Im not a JJ hater, in fact I have defended him many times, I am just provoking thought about these players and the way Ramos has disposed of them without offording them a real cance and am using JJ as a converse argument. Any thoughts guys?

[degoose]

just a quick thought

in pre season, against mainly european opposition, we played a 442 pretty much, with giovani as a support striker, and a midfield that included both lennon and modric (bentley was yet to sign at this point).

perhaps ramos should try this?

yep we did also im confused why dos santos is not being played up front yet, he bloody did it for barca so im sure he can for us.

[riversmonkey]

How's Gomes, he looked like he was carrying an injury against Stoke?

[markie]

with zokora in midfield tonight we will struggle