Keep this team and play it every week

Apart from the glaringly obvious negatives - we didn't pick up 3 points and we failed to beat those jammy bastards despite having our best chance for a decade - there were plenty of plus points in today's performance.

Wilson Palacios was immense - what a home debut, ranks amongst the very best for Spurs that I've seen. He is so strong, just overpowers opponents and then uses the ball intelligently. A couple of wayward passes, but he saw a lot of the ball, so nothing to worry about there. If he can do this consistently he's worth every penny of 12 million and he's exactly what we've been looking for for, ooh, about twenty five years?

Modric continues to impress - he wasn't outstanding today, but he was really busy, wriggling out of challenges, drawing fouls and making good passes. I'd like to see more exceptional passes, but this will come when he gets more used to his team-mates (after all he'd barely played with two of the guys closest to him on the field).

Jenas finally starts to look good - he no longer has to be the main defensive midfielder or the main creator, he can just use his athleticism to get around hassling, putting in tackles and starting moves off. Then he needs to add more bite in terms of getting forward and punishing the opposition. If he can be given a little more license to get forward and can start scoring regularly, he's well worth his place in the side, in my opinion.

Above all, this is a really well-balanced team - I can't see a weak point in it, really. Compare them with Jol's team that missed Champs League qualification by a whisker - and you have to say they're stronger in all departments. I'm not saying they're unbeatable, obviously, and top sides like Man U will still have a clear edge without a doubt, but this looks like a team that really could compete seriously at the top end of the table once they get their confidence flowing. It may not come until next season, but I think if Harry sticks with basically this team and resists the temptation to tinker much more, they will come good in time.

well said

i sooooo agree you mendestormer.

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I agree with pretty much everything said there. Jenas was very good in the first half, but just completely gave up in the second. I don't know whether it's lack of match-fitness, but he didn't have 90 minutes in him today. I'm confident this team will be able to keep us up, if we play like this every game. At the end of the day, not every team is going to have the quality of Arsenal, so in theory we should be beating the likes of Hull in a couple of weeks, and Boro in our next home game easily. But you know we'll make a meal out of them, and scrape a point from the two...

Good points, however the strikeforce of Pav and Keane is a bit too slow and weak imo. Would prefer to see Defoe in there if he gets fit before the seasons out, just to add a bit more pace through the middle.

I agree with most of your comments.

When the team was announced I thought that means that Modric would be on the left but thought he would probably end up drifting inwards as long as Benni came up on the wide left which did happen and at times the left was once the 'weak link' but overall wasnt too much of a problem.

But, with regards to playing this team every week, if it really going to happen? Harry has made Keane captain stating he wants someone who is generally injury free, a leader and a popular member of the dreeing room, all of Ledders, Woody and Daws, and possible JJ meet SOME of this criteria but Keane was given armband therefore meaning he will start every game when fit.

Harry has also expressed his love for Deofe, not literally speaking, but he always mentions him and how he is a match winner, scores important goals etc and how he plans to show that Keane and JD can play together...so does this mean we will see Keane and JD more often then say Pav and Keane or potentially depending on the opponents will depend on the starting pair, ie, if were up against a big team with a slower backline then it will be Keane and JD whereas if its a stronger physical team then he may opt for Pav for someone to hold the ball up?

The midfield looks strong, there is a bit of everything in it. I think Redknapp will be looking to play the same side as much as possible from now on.

Jenas was the only weak link today - just did not seem with it and was indecisive. Jenas aside stick with this team.

dooey123 said:

Jenas was the only weak link today - just did not seem with it and was indecisive. Jenas aside stick with this team.

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It is strange how Jenas divides opinions - I saw a workmanlike performance, with lots of energy and lots of balls won. As I mentioned, he didn't get forward enough or with enough purpose for my liking, but other than that I thought he was sound.

I agree mendesstormer, I thought he complemented Palacios well and worked hard for the team.

nicdic was wrong about Modric starting from the left :lol:

jenas was fucking atrocious. he did the basics really well, showed the usual legs to get around the pitch but my oh my, apart from a few incidents, he was total dogshit going forward. let's hope it's the rust , i just wish modric had played in the middle with wilson today, with hindsight, jenas on the left. oh well...

Jenas played ninety for the first time in about a month. He did ok.

Pav. should be holidaying or at least in pre-season following his holidaying. He's playing two full domestic seasons back to back. He will be given a break now we have three front line strikers and the Red Nose's Apprentice.

The team posted today has key elements to it which bear the hallmark of a Redknapp line-up.

Solid, dependable keeper in Cudicini, who will offer no-nonsense keeping. Core central defence solidity in Daws and Woody. Palacios is a god-send and means we have versatility in central midfield now, depending on home or away. Then we have proven Premiership strikers who can play deep as well as off the last man's shoulder, in the channels, to feet and to run on to.

My only reservations from today was the obvious lack of overlapping on the flanks, not least on the left wher BAE seemed reticent to adventure.

Corluka seemes ponderous on advancing and even more ponderous on getting back in to position. I see Corluka in central defence and Chimbonda taking up the reigns again at right back.

We missed out on Downing. He, or a player of his stature, is the key to true balance to that team.

Which means Modric, talent that he is, may struggle to line up in a 4-4-2 without upsetting the core rigidity throughout.

Cudicini had 0 to do all game pretty much and anything he did have to do he didnt look nervous. Corluka was his usual relaxed self, Chimbo was poor, Woody and Daws were once again solid, VP and Adebayor and his lucky shin pads didnt get a snif, Ekotto didnt get forward enough, but did well, Lennon was, apart from Palacious pretty much our best player, was confused why he was taken off, Jenas was quiet given his record against scum but seemed to do well with Palacious, Palacious made every tackle I saw him attempt, he would have walked on Fabregas today. Luka was quiet(ish), and should have made himself a legend at the Lane instantly. Keano was quiet in the first half...made more of an impression in the second half, thought Pav did well, but I can see that playing 18 months solid is beginning to catch up with him a little bit.

Overall I agree that the 11 that started today is a strong 11 that can beat anyone on their day. Heres to hoping!!

COYS

jamesc0le said:

jenas was fucking atrocious. he did the basics really well, showed the usual legs to get around the pitch but my oh my, apart from a few incidents, he was total dogshit going forward. let's hope it's the rust , i just wish modric had played in the middle with wilson today, with hindsight, jenas on the left. oh well...

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That's what he was told to do.

yiddo_4eva said:

I agree with most of your comments.

When the team was announced I thought that means that Modric would be on the left but thought he would probably end up drifting inwards as long as Benni came up on the wide left which did happen and at times the left was once the 'weak link' but overall wasnt too much of a problem.

But, with regards to playing this team every week, if it really going to happen? Harry has made Keane captain stating he wants someone who is generally injury free, a leader and a popular member of the dreeing room, all of Ledders, Woody and Daws, and possible JJ meet SOME of this criteria but Keane was given armband therefore meaning he will start every game when fit.

Harry has also expressed his love for Deofe, not literally speaking, but he always mentions him and how he is a match winner, scores important goals etc and how he plans to show that Keane and JD can play together...so does this mean we will see Keane and JD more often then say Pav and Keane or potentially depending on the opponents will depend on the starting pair, ie, if were up against a big team with a slower backline then it will be Keane and JD whereas if its a stronger physical team then he may opt for Pav for someone to hold the ball up?

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I think Harry's comments regarding Defoe and Keane are on the one hand justifying his buying and on the other just stating the obvious - two good players (of any size) can play together in attack. I still think he'll be happier with a big and a little 'un, like so many managers, and I think Pav complements Keane/Defoe better than they do each other. So yes they'll play together from time to time, but Pav + 1 will be the default, I would think. Whether it's Keane or Defoe depends on how they perform, i suppose. I think they could both form a good partnership with him. This also depends on Pav stepping up his game a bit - which is likely, he's only just settling in on the back of no end-of-season break - otherwise I'd imagine we'll upgrade in that department come the summer. Tho it's more likely to be Bent who's being upgraded.

spurs mental said:

Cudicini had 0 to do all game pretty much and anything he did have to do he didnt look nervous. Corluka was his usual relaxed self, Chimbo was poor, Woody and Daws were once again solid, VP and Adebayor and his lucky shin pads didnt get a snif, Ekotto didnt get forward enough, but did well, Lennon was, apart from Palacious pretty much our best player, was confused why he was taken off, Jenas was quiet given his record against scum but seemed to do well with Palacious, Palacious made every tackle I saw him attempt, he would have walked on Fabregas today. Luka was quiet(ish), and should have made himself a legend at the Lane instantly. Keano was quiet in the first half...made more of an impression in the second half, thought Pav did well, but I can see that playing 18 months solid is beginning to catch up with him a little bit.

Overall I agree that the 11 that started today is a strong 11 that can beat anyone on their day. Heres to hoping!!

COYS

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What a crazy thing to say. It's an 11 that can beat anyone but has yet to beat anyone.

mendesstormer said:

It is strange how Jenas divides opinions - I saw a workmanlike performance, with lots of energy and lots of balls won. As I mentioned, he didn't get forward enough or with enough purpose for my liking, but other than that I thought he was sound.

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He did have a very good performance, in the first half. At the end of the day, he still isn't match fit. His slide-tackles in the second half looked more like he was just falling over, and his passing was very short and aimless. Yes, he gave it his all, he very rarely doesn't, but why he wasn't taken off after 60 minutes, I'll never know.

hughy said:

I agree with pretty much everything said there. Jenas was very good in the first half, but just completely gave up in the second. I don't know whether it's lack of match-fitness, but he didn't have 90 minutes in him today.

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which is why he should have come off. lennon, corluka (could have moved to the middle) pav(could have moved to the middle) all off before jenas? shocking subs.

Kendall said:

That's what he was told to do.

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so you reckon harry told him to play sideways and backwards passes all game and lose the ball whenever he was under any pressure with misplaced passes ! seriously guys jenas aint good enough to play for spurs , poor palacios had to do 2 mens work in that midfield today

Kendall said:

I agree mendesstormer, I thought he complemented Palacios well and worked hard for the team.

nicdic was wrong about Modric starting from the left :lol:

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Did you watch the same game as me? Yes we were alright, but we had no balance. Modric as we knew would come inside, he was more disciplined than I expected, but still left BAE with too much work.

Jenas was shocking. It's a good job that Wilson put in a shift for the both of them today because otherwise we'd have got beaten. I still stick by getting Jenas out of the team, and playing Modric alongside Palacios. Modric has got more determination than JJ and he tracks back and tackles more too, and that's not even taking into account the ability to actually pass the ball forwards and control it.