A Heads-Up For The Forthcoming Season..

[Rackybear]

Everyone is dissapointed with todays result. We've seen such results in the past and also similar setup from away opposition in putting men behind the ball - clearly we have to actually take action and learn how to play these games rather then just say we are going to do so. A new striker by the middle of next week may also go someway in preventing these results in the future.

Now it was obvious for me today, that our CL exploits on wednesday clearly had an effect on our players today; mentally and physically. Its easy to say it in hindsight, but we started with too many tired legs, Kranjcar & Pav should have definetly started, possibly gio too - that way, we would have looked much more energetic as we were lathargic today (IIRC Lennon and Bale both failed to beat there man today at any point).

The importance of using our squad will be unparrallelled this season. Playing in the CL' on a tuesday/wednesday and then in the EPL again the following weekend will DEFINETLY effect our league form. Consolidating 4th place is going to be a very tough task this season & I would definetly like to see some more games for the squad members.

Im sure Harry knows this, but I guess the point im trying to make is - results like today are going to happen, and I probably expect them to happen again in the future - moreso because of our involvement in 4 compeitions at present. To prevent this from happening as much as possible, we really need to see some squad rotation between our CL and EPL games; more then what we saw today.

Players like Bale / Lennon will tire the quickest and are probably 2 of our more key players. They wont be able to cope with CL and then EPL games for the next however many months (depending on our CL involvement in latter stages etc..). That will only result in poorer form towards the back end of the season - essentially the crunch period / run in to finishing as high as possible in the EPL.

We've been blessed with a seriously good squad, better then every other team in the EPL I think bar Chelsea, Man City and United (which is debateable) - lets use it.

 

[Misfit]

We'll need to improve our squad a fair bit if we're to juggle it so much. Palacios/Jenas/etc (I do not dislike in any way) but we're going for another top 4 finish. If we needed top 6 I would be fairly confident. Right now though, not so much.

Who do we have to replace Lennon, not even mentioning Bale? Bentley can do a fine job but the team will be different with that change alone. Then the Bale replacement. Where is he at in the squad right now? Maybe the Ashley Young thing happens now.

 

[Rackybear]

If Diarra and Fabiano come in as we hope. I see no reason why we cant shuffle more often then not. Fresh legs is a must.

 

[Misfit]

If Diarra and Fabiano come in as we hope. I see no reason why we cant shuffle more often then not. Fresh legs is a must.

True. No reason to stick with same system either. In fact, next to impossible to do if you're changing more than a couple of players around.

Niko can do a job for us. Bassong I like but man, he needs to improve still. Gallas might end up playing more than any of us thought this season. Hope to see Walker get a few games.

But anyway, point taken. Knowing Spurs they'll finish 8th or something. But win the CL!

 

[dontcallme]

While I agree it's important to rotate the squad a little it isn't always as easy as that.

There have been a few reports that Krancjar is lacking fitness and Jenas, Bentley and Dos Santos haven't played a full 90 minutes in a Spurs shirt for a long time. Putting them all together is more dangerous than playing a few tired legs.

In training Harry needs to get the whole squad ready to play with different players at a moment's notice, it's going to be a very difficult thing to get right.

 

[Rackybear]

Kranjcar looked like our most threatening player when he came on. Pretty good for someone lacking match fitness.

 

[dontcallme]

Kranjcar looked like our most threatening player when he came on. Pretty good for someone lacking match fitness.

Looking threatening for 45 minutes is different to a full game especially if you wanted him to play with a midfield that he has never played with before which is what we would have done if we'd gone for too many fresh legs.

 

[wizgell]

We also need a Plan B. HR changed the personnel that weren't working, but the system wasn't working either and remained the same.

 

[Rackybear]

Looking threatening for 45 minutes is different to a full game especially if you wanted him to play with a midfield that he has never played with before which is what we would have done if we'd gone for too many fresh legs.

:eh:

Kranjcar started a lot of games for us last season when Hudd / Palacios and Lennon were the other 3 in our midfield. During the spell Modric was injured..

 

[dontcallme]

:eh:

Kranjcar started a lot of games for us last season when Hudd / Palacios and Lennon were the other 3 in our midfield. During the spell Modric was injured..

Yes but if you wanted fresh legs then more changes were needed than bringing in Krancjar. Krancjar hasn't played regularly in the first team since Modric returned, Jenas has only just returned and there would have been too many changes to fit in a player struggling for match fitness if the rumours about his fitnes are true.

 

[Rackybear]

I never suggest bringing in JJ though. Just pavlyuchenko and kranjcar & maybe gio ;-)

 

[dontcallme]

I never suggest bringing in JJ though. Just pavlyuchenko and kranjcar & maybe gio ;-)

Sorry your first post said something about Bale and lennon tiring quickest and if you want to change them and put in Krancjar which would involve a completely different dynamic to our team then we'd struggle.

 

[Rackybear]

Sorry your first post said something about Bale and lennon tiring quickest and if you want to change them and put in Krancjar which would involve a completely different dynamic to our team then we'd struggle.

I think you misunderstood the point. I was merely stating that we cant play Lennon & Bale too much because they are such important players for us & that they would lose there effectiveness towards the end of the season because as wingers they will tire quicker then others if they continue to play every game (which they have done up until now).

Hence I was suggesting playing Kranjcar, I wasnt suggesting that bringing kranjcar into the team would make us worse. :up:

 

[dontcallme]

I think you misunderstood the point. I was merely stating that we cant play Lennon & Bale too much because they are such important players for us & that they would lose there effectiveness towards the end of the season because as wingers they will tire quicker then others if they continue to play every game (which they have done up until now).

Hence I was suggesting playing Kranjcar, I wasnt suggesting that bringing kranjcar into the team would make us worse. :up:

Fair enough. I've taken part in several different debates at the same time and I think I've confused myself.

 

[claw_diddy]

Our players are not mentally tough enough. Skill level is similar at this level, occasionally flashes of brilliance from the very top players but not for 90 mins. The main difference is attitude and mental toughness.

We should have expected that Wigan would park the bus after how many goals they previously shedded this term, coupled with our inability to cope with said tactic last season (Stoke, Wolves etc.)

Our players just thought "well we'll just need to turn up and the win will fall into place". Taking things for granted like this is mentally weak.

We can't afford to just turn up for the big games. Reminds me of Ranieri's 'which Chelsea will turn up' syndrome.