Team v Arsenal
- Thread starter dannythomas
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DEFchenkOE
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I'm also wondering if Lamela and Eriksen can operate successfully in the same team, I'm prepared to give them time as it's still early days. But if it's to work I think Lamela needs to improve on taking on his opponent and Eriksen needs to have much more influence and start to dominate games. He's on the periphery way too much lately.
St José Dominguez
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That isn't entirely what happened today though. They looked the more threatening and were ripping our defence to pieces. At times we were barely close to their penalty box. Today would've been a game to perhaps have two striking options like he did at Soton with lambert and osvaldo. Or to force them to be on back foot by only having one DM and an additional attacking player.
DaSpurs
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They're already creaming their pants anyway given our current midfield options, and will have to buy new testicles if we go with a physical three with no supplier to those two pacey wingers.
I do agree with the last part though. If you'll permit me to continue pointing to our last result against Woolwich as I did earlier, it was the pace of Lennon and Bale that did that pinning back (via supply from behind). I agree with you on giving Lamela and Chadli a break for this one. Don't think they'll see much of the ball anyway, and especially if we go with a physical midfield.
St José Dominguez
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I think they will in the vast majority of games but I'm gonna take some convincing whether they will against big teams. It's not necessarily a negative, the top 4 all will change teams vs each other to play different types of players more suited for the opponent.
DaSpurs
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That is what happened. How many through-balls did you see? Meanwhile, we can certainly agree we saw a whole damn slew of crosses. We cross because it's all we've bloody got, and no open supply lanes. So very easy to shut us down.
And you're right, they were the more threatening, because it was so easy for them to work in behind our two holding mids without designated roles and the speed to catch a play in behind. No shield, and all this behind an oppressive front because we weren't making passes such as to cause disarray and push the opposition back, thereby allowing them to come at us in numbers.
spurs9
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personally I think Ade is destroying (being a bit over dramatic here) our attack. I think Ade is better suited to playing with another striker and Lennon & Eriksen rather than the 3 he currently plays in front of. He wonders off to wings too far and we need someone who will stay in the centre and run the channels, making space and pulling the defence.
I think if we had Chadli, Eriksen and Lamela behind Soldado and they were supported by a midfield that had the intensity of Stambouli (not really too sure who I would have partnering him), then he may get a shock. Chadli was our best player in the first half (and one of in the 2nd) in his first game against them and one of the best in the second game (where he was very unlucky not to score a couple). Lamela is the player in our team most looking to make something happen, which is the opposite to what Wenger will have experienced in the last 2 years against us. Eriksen needs games and he will come good and offers a threat from set pieces. Soldado links the attack well and can make the type of runs Lamela can pick out (so won't have to do as many step overs waiting for movement).
Wrenchy
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------------------------Lloris----------------------
Naughton----Vertonghen-----Kaboul-----Davies
------------------Capoue---Bentaleb-------------
------------Lennon----Lamela---Kane-----------
------------------------Soldado-------------------
Think Dier could do with a rest. No doubt he's a good player, but he's been thrown straight in there, and he's not a natural full back. Hell, if Kaboul hadn't been made captain, i'd throw Dier in at CB with Vert. I know Naughton isn't going to pull up trees, but he's a natural right back and will offer us the width we don't currently have. We noticeably missed Walker today. Davies gets the nod ahead of Rose, because, well, his final ball can't be any worse than Rose's today.
I've taken Eriksen out as he's becoming more and more of a luxury player, and with Lamela in the team, we can't have more than one luxury player. Very little movement today and zero urgency. Lennon looked far more lively in the 15 minutes he had today, and will offer the defensive cover we'd need against Arsenal.
I'm not sure if Adebeyor is still feeling the effects of international duty for Togo the other week, but he looked knackered today. Soldado hasn't been given the opportunity of a run of games under Poch, and I think he benefits Lamela more than Ade does. I've put Kane in the role Chadli has been playing recently, someone willing to have a shot, will create movement, and is a local boy who should be really up for North London Derby.
Big game next saturday. If Poch can't get the players roused for Arsenal, things could get ugly...
Naughton----Vertonghen-----Kaboul-----Davies
------------------Capoue---Bentaleb-------------
------------Lennon----Lamela---Kane-----------
------------------------Soldado-------------------
Think Dier could do with a rest. No doubt he's a good player, but he's been thrown straight in there, and he's not a natural full back. Hell, if Kaboul hadn't been made captain, i'd throw Dier in at CB with Vert. I know Naughton isn't going to pull up trees, but he's a natural right back and will offer us the width we don't currently have. We noticeably missed Walker today. Davies gets the nod ahead of Rose, because, well, his final ball can't be any worse than Rose's today.
I've taken Eriksen out as he's becoming more and more of a luxury player, and with Lamela in the team, we can't have more than one luxury player. Very little movement today and zero urgency. Lennon looked far more lively in the 15 minutes he had today, and will offer the defensive cover we'd need against Arsenal.
I'm not sure if Adebeyor is still feeling the effects of international duty for Togo the other week, but he looked knackered today. Soldado hasn't been given the opportunity of a run of games under Poch, and I think he benefits Lamela more than Ade does. I've put Kane in the role Chadli has been playing recently, someone willing to have a shot, will create movement, and is a local boy who should be really up for North London Derby.
Big game next saturday. If Poch can't get the players roused for Arsenal, things could get ugly...
St José Dominguez
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Yeah I misread your post lol. I agree. Was a truly woeful performance from back to front.
VoteMe4Prez
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I'd rather not see him play again for a long while
Matrix
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Not the game for him.
DEFchenkOE
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Yea they probably are really looking forward to playing us, none of our midfield options will be scaring them right now. Don't get me wrong I'd love to see someone like Mason be given a chance and become a player for us. I've seen him play a couple of times for the u21s and hope to seeing more of those guys come through in the near future. Just don't think the NLD is the game to throw him in considering he hasn't even been on the bench since the season started. We do need more progressive forward thinking passers in the team but we loaned out 2 who have more experience than Mason so if that's what Poch wanted to do in the "2" of the midfield he should've probably kept at least one of them I would have thought.
DEFchenkOE
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Just not sure there is enough pace or dribbling ability in a front 4 of Lamela, Chadli, Eriksen and Soldado. Out of those 4 only Lamela can carry the ball and he's kinda struggling right now to get past defenders at speed. eriksen is a passer which is fine if you have effective movement around him which we don't right now.
I hope you're right and it works though as it's probably what Poch will go with next weekend.
spurs9
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Pace is a real issue in the front 4 but neither Lennon nor Townsend are the answer. Lennon appears to have lost his pace and his guts to take a man on and Townsend holds onto the ball too long and does nothing with it. I think Chadli and Soldado are good off the ball runners to create space for Eriksen and Lamela to pick out. I also think Eriksen and Lamela need time to develop an understanding at who drops deep to pick up the ball and who makes a run into space as both are capable of either.
The above depends on them developing an understanding, which may not work against Arsenal this early, but I don't think there are any quick fixes for this game, so we need to go the long term option, so they can get games together.
DaSpurs
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I'm not sure it was entirely our decision with Holtby. I think he might have stayed had we promised him first choice, but it doesn't seem Poch was willing and of course it still seems he wants Schneiderlin. Holtby has been treated like an absolute star since the pursuit of Hanburg, and upon arrival. 300 people showed up for his first training session to see him to play and get autographs. Hamburg forums have gushed over him like mad since his arrival, and haven't let up. I don't blame him for wanting that.
I also think Poch may have been in for somewhat of a surprise, both in terms of just how unable we are in moving the ball forward from midfield also just how rapid teams are to sandbag the box while we transition. I think he ideally does want a physical two to win the ball, but was probably hoping for more drive in his plans including out current options. Sure enough, Poch nailed it on the head in his postgame interview today, as he mentioned how incredibly slow we are in moving the ball. I only hope we give him enough time to fix it. At least we now have someone who recognizes the problem (Sherwood did too, but much too late).
