Team v Chelsea

Chelsea are a strong team. If we want to see Modric, VDV and Bale play to their true capabilities, then we have to give them the confidence to attack. Playing both Sandro and Parker will give them that assurance.

yusrisafri said:

Chelsea are a strong team. If we want to see Modric, VDV and Bale play to their true capabilities, then we have to give them the confidence to attack. Playing both Sandro and Parker will give them that assurance.

Click to expand...

So who is playing RW out of those 5.....

because playing anyone of those players except Bale out wide isnt allowing them to play to their true capabilities.

you need sandro and parker to man mark ramires, he is the driving force in most of their attacks

Kendall said:

Why would playing Parker and Sandro restrict our chance of winning the game? The more possession we have, the more chances we will create.

Click to expand...

I don't think it's that simple. Liverpool are one of the biggest campers-in-the-opposition-box with a higher average possession than us, but they don't score much or create a greater quality or quantity of chances. Sure they're wasteful, but their chances aren't laid up on a silver platter either. Because they push teams back so much, they end up playing against a parked bus, and resort to crosses that are easily headed away or shots from distance. They don't have space for the throughballs that we've thrived on this season.

Most of the best chances seem to be created when the opposition team is caught on the backfoot. We've had a lot of success in the transition attack. OTOH, this means that teams have the opportunity to press into our half, so we're playing a risky game.

Possession - ie control of midfield - is great for restricting the chances that the opposition gets (see: Swansea and their great defensive record). But just having a lot of the ball doesn't necessarily mean you will create good chances, not when you don't have or use space intelligently. Sometimes you also get a case like when we played Arsenal earlier this season - against a fast counterattacking side, Arsenal found itself treading water in midfield, clueless how to unlock a deep defense *and* conceding great chances thanks to poor defending and a high line.

If you have good movement and intelligent technical players like Arsenal (when on form), Chelsea, and City, then you can both create chances and dominate possession more often than not. The key is the movement - the ability to move the ball QUICKLY and accurately into space, the anticipation, etc.

I think United have been especially good at moving the ball quickly and cleanly, even though they're not the ball-hoggers that Chelsea and Arsenal are. They've been playing more conservatively this season than usual, but I think you can still see glimpses when it all "clicks".

We've looked sharp on the ball, but not quite as good at getting the ball back - perhaps because we only really have one ball-winner while everyone else seems to be in "waiting to receive ball" mode. We should be a lot more hungry for the ball.

I support playing Parker and Sandro esp in away games since I think we're too easily played through atm, but I think asking everyone to work harder and move more off the ball would be even more productive. There are plenty of teams that are able to organize well defensively without discharging the entire duty to a brilliant DM. OTOH, I'd like to see Parker play further forward, so we'd need a disciplined DM behind him.

It was one of the first occasions on Saturday where we started with both Sandro and Parker. On the first half performance they/we were too static and tended to move the ball too slowly. I believe that we will be better off not playing just them as a central pairing but adding Modric to make up a three if we want to win it. How much do we want to win it, because against Sunderland playing largely without Lennon and completely without Bale our play was just too pedestrian. Solid will get us a point but we need spark to get the three imo.

-----------Friedel--------------
Walker Kaboul King Assou-Ekotto
--------Sandro Modric Parker---------
--------VDV-----Krancjar---------
----------Adebayor------------

Diamond with our full backs providing the width. Without Bale and Lennon we do not have the pace so should not play 4-4-2.

ChristianBaler said:

So who is playing RW out of those 5.....

because playing anyone of those players except Bale out wide isnt allowing them to play to their true capabilities.

Click to expand...

None of these 5 need to play as RW. Walker can do that. More reason for the need to play 2 DMs, i.e. to cover for Walker when he goes on the attack.

yusrisafri said:

None of these 5 need to play as RW. Walker can do that. More reason for the need to play 2 DMs, i.e. to cover for Walker when he goes on the attack.

Click to expand...

I see what you're saying but you'd play Walker in a position he's never played before against one of the top sides in the league?

I believe Charlie is injured, and I'm not sure Kaboul is best at RB (would prefer him in the middle).

Kendall said:

Why would playing Parker and Sandro restrict our chance of winning the game? The more possession we have, the more chances we will create.

Click to expand...

That isn't true at all.

I just hope bale will be fit and redknapp is keeping it quiet. What a massive boost it will be for us seeing his name on the squad sheet.

First game im really bricking it for this season. Make or break for both teams!

Spurs_Bear said:

That isn't true at all.

Click to expand...

I think he just wanted to make somebody type a lot. Which you resisted but Bananafish didn't.

The problem is not really that you're playing both Sandro and Parker through the middle. It's if you don't play Modric there. As somebody put in their formation - you have to choose one of Sandro and Parker to sit in front of the back 4 and be destroyer and the other to be be Modric's partner. It's more defensive but you keep Modric in the middle and don't take the ball when you want him to have it

Sandro/Parker/Modric tactics didn't work on Sunday so, as long as Bale is fit, I think we should go back to 442 and think who to swap for Lennon. Maybe Sandro. He has pace, stamina, work rate and decent technical ability after all. He will have the discipline to cover back for Walker

Biggest game we have played since Milan, without doubt. This is massive. I am sure everyone around WHL realises that - as will Chelsea.

WHL, under the lights, full team with exception of Lennon hopefully. Chelsea should be without their Captain. We have these bastards. Dont fcuk it up.

Come on You Spurs!!!

ChristianBaler said:

I see what you're saying but you'd play Walker in a position he's never played before against one of the top sides in the league?

I believe Charlie is injured, and I'm not sure Kaboul is best at RB (would prefer him in the middle).

Click to expand...

No he wont be playing in an unfamiliar position. He'll still be at RB, but given the license to bombard forward. That'll naturally leave the defence open to attacks, but thats also the reason why the 2 DMs have got to play. Something like this:-

.................Friedel..................
Walker....Kaboul...King.........BAE
.............Sandro...PArker.........
.........VDV....Modric............Bale
...............Adebayor...............

Seems everyone wants to put players in positions they aren't comfortable in . If it was me I would make the midfield bale - modric - Parker - Townsend/rose and up front vdv and adebayor . It means we keep the shape and still have pace on the wings .

degoose said:

Seems everyone wants to put players in positions they aren't comfortable in . If it was me I would make the midfield bale - modric - Parker - Townsend/rose and up front vdv and adebayor . It means we keep the shape and still have pace on the wings .

Click to expand...

Yet play perhaps our best attacking outlet out of position?

I'd bring in Pienaar for Lennon personally. Mata v Walker is a concern for me and Pienaar can help out defensively when we dont have the ball but also, when we do have the ball, he naturally moves inside to give Walker the space to bomb on. Its what he did for Baines at Everton for years !

JohanTheYid said:

I'd bring in Pienaar for Lennon personally. Mata v Walker is a concern for me and Pienaar can help out defensively when we dont have the ball but also, when we do have the ball, he naturally moves inside to give Walker the space to bomb on. Its what he did for Baines at Everton for years !

Click to expand...

:hump::clap:

bubble07 said:

With no Lennon Pienaar is the ideal man for right mid. Not only will he be able to help centrally against their 3 he will also be able to cover the forward runs of Walker. Without Lennon we need those runs from Walker more then ever

I think Bale will play. So 1 change for me: Pienaar in for Sandro

Click to expand...

so thats 2 changes, bale and pienaar in....

i do agree though, Pienaar would be the choice i would pick for RM, thought i still like the idea of Parker and Sandro in CM. Hard call

JohanTheYid said:

I'd bring in Pienaar for Lennon personally. Mata v Walker is a concern for me and Pienaar can help out defensively when we dont have the ball but also, when we do have the ball, he naturally moves inside to give Walker the space to bomb on. Its what he did for Baines at Everton for years !

Click to expand...

We finally have opinions similar to mine. This is the game for Pienaar

bubble07 said:

We finally have opinions similar to mine. This is the game for Pienaar

Click to expand...

I certainly wouldn't be dissappointed by that Bubble, it still balances us nicely.

Just a question mark over his fitness? Maybe...