AEL Limassol Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Donki]

I think you're very wrong about this.

Paulinho's position is undoubtedly the box to box in the CM2 with license to get forward and support the attack.

It's where he plays for Brazil for goodness sakes. He doesn't have the requisite trickery or pace to be an effective AM and I'm pretty sure we'll only see Poch play him in the two.

Unless you know better than Poch?

Rhetorical.

Cheeky

 

[eddiebailey]

And it's taken until Lamela and Kane have started playing for Bobby to have anyone else on the pitch with the intelligence to see what he's doing and take advantage of it.

I never doubted his ability, but after being starved of service under AVB his confidence had gone to the extent that by the end of last season the problem was not so much lack of chances as his failure to convert them.

Keeping his cool for the finish tonight was progress, but I am not yet taking for granted that we have back the finisher who played for Valencia. Once a striker loses confidence in front of goal it is a bugger to get back.

 

[thinktank]

I think you're very wrong about this.

Paulinho's position is undoubtedly the box to box in the CM2 with license to get forward and support the attack.

It's where he plays for Brazil for goodness sakes. He doesn't have the requisite trickery or pace to be an effective AM and I'm pretty sure we'll only see Poch play him in the two.

Unless you know better than Poch?

Rhetorical.

Wrong and wrong imo. He's very good at combination play and does have a few tricks up his sleeve. Also he doesn't have to have blistering pace to be effective. He's quick enough.

Be shocked if Poch persists with him in CM2.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Townsend is going to be a very successful premiership player, either for us or someone else. He has all the ability, so if we can't find a coach to use him well it is a damning indictment.

One dimensional Defoe is no comparison.

I hope he has a decent career too but at 23 now I think it's time to start asking the tough question, is that decent career going to be at Spurs? He's come up through the youth ranks had plenty of loan moves and playing time now in the first team to show us what other 'dimensions' he has to his game and other than running around a lot really fast I'm not seeing what they are. I'm sure our current and previous coaching staff haven't purposely told him to run about with his head down, not passing and shooting into the stand from long distance because they think that is a meaningful way to get the most out of ATs ability. Thats really just down to him.

When you look at Kane on the other hand at 2 years younger you can see his overall game is getting better, I feel everytime he plays now you will see the lad get better. Sadly I just don't feel that about AT and that's how I felt about Defoe.

 

[thinktank]

Me too .

Oh. lol

 

[Waiwonder]

and my stream has just started........

 

[diamondlight]

If only Kane had pace, what a player he'd be.

Just a thought: how fast was Shearer? There have been a lot of comparisons between Kane and Sheringham on this site, but actually Kane reminds me more of a young Shearer. Strong, shifts the ball well, knows where the goal is, and an absolute piledriver of a shot.

As far as I remember, Shearer wasn't especially quick. He just found space, picked up the ball, and smashed it. And that's enough to be a top goalscorer.

 

[C0YS]

I agree that that's all we've seen so far of Townsend, but whilst he is still young, there is the possibility him to develop a footballing brain.

If by the end of the season we've seen no improvement in decision making then it would be best to sell but as a lot of people have pointed out, technically he's got the physical attributes.

If only Kane had pace, what a player he'd be.

The thing about Townsend is he is 23 now. It's his last season you can really consider him a 'young' player. It is a big season for him (and last chance saloon for Mason as well).

Even so, Townsend clearly has a load of ability so should be given time. I don't even mind him being one dimensional as long as he is effective. Robben is an example of a player who only really has one move (though he has began changing a bit as a player in the last few seasons) which is to run and shoot (or get a free kick) but he is very effective at that role. Townsend isn't though. 1 league goal in 20 games last season for a player who plays in such a way is dreadful. But Townsend is still a decent option to come off the bench, to shake things up a little bit.

 

[michaelden]

I agree that that's all we've seen so far of Townsend, but whilst he is still young, there is the possibility him to develop a footballing brain.

If by the end of the season we've seen no improvement in decision making then it would be best to sell but as a lot of people have pointed out, technically he's got the physical attributes.

If only Kane had pace, what a player he'd be.

um, not that young, he's 23 and quite experienced, you'd think he'd have learnt to run with his head up by now

 

[Sarsipius]

Wrong and wrong imo. He's very good at combination play and does have a few tricks up his sleeve. Also he doesn't have to have blistering pace to be effective. He's quick enough.

Be shocked if Poch persists with him in CM2.

And your evidence for any of that is? (Besides how you've set it up in Football Manager)

Let's come back to this at the end of the season.

If Poch plays him in the attacking 3 more than 3 times (as part of the starting line-up) I'll eat my words and will shower you with praiseworthy adjectives.

If not we have to consider that Poch doesn't rate him there and we should accept his judgement, should we not?

 

[Shadydan]

But you're making it sound like it Lennon has been first choice even last season, Lennon was mainly first choice down to Lamela having a back injury and Townsend not recovering from his calf injury. He was also first choice not because of his "great play" but because the lack of options

Now he was quiet simply one of our best players before he fucked his hamstring and this preseason he did well but against West Ham, it was same old lennon(post hamstring).

He has benefited from the managerial change since every manager has to give him a chance.

Also Poochie playing him twice in the PL doesnt mean he is highly rated, Poochie is still getting to know his squad and Lennon is one of our few senior players

I'm not making it sound like anything, I don't even like Lennon that much but I did say that I'm willing to give him another chance under Pochettino seeing as he knows best. You're the ones making silly excuses getting your nickers in a twist, it's actually ridiculous.

I've asked a simple question and no-one has been able to answer it because it, why....because it doesn't fit with your argument, fair enough if you don't rate him but you cannot say you know more than any of our other managers who are clearly in a better position to judge a player, I would have given you the benefit of the doubt over 3 but not 6 managers, no way.

 

[gloryglory]

I hope he has a decent career too but at 23 now I think it's time to start asking the tough question, is that decent career going to be at Spurs? He's come up through the youth ranks had plenty of loan moves and playing time now in the first team to show us what other 'dimensions' he has to his game and other than running around a lot really fast I'm not seeing what they are. I'm sure our current and previous coaching staff haven't purposely told him to run about with his head down, not passing and shooting into the stand from long distance because they think that is a meaningful way to get the most out of ATs ability. Thats really just down to him.

When you look at Kane on the other hand at 2 years younger you can see his overall game is getting better, I feel everytime he plays now you will see the lad get better. Sadly I just don't feel that about AT and that's how I felt about Defoe.

I agree Kane is improving all the time, but I have never seen anything special about him and I tend to be in the camp that doubts he will ultimately make a top half premiership player.

Townsend's problem is that his pace and skill have probably made the game too easy for him until the highest level and so he is now having to learn things like tactics and decision making that others had to work on earlier to get noticed. But in addition to oace and skill he has power, confidence, stamina, two good feet, can beat a man on either side, cross from either flank and shoot, so I am desperate for us to give him what would only be his second run in the team.

Nobody, be they Lamela, Soldado, Chadli or whoever, should be written off without a run of games. Don't judge on isolated appearances where people are trying too hard to impress.

 

[Shadydan]

For a million pound he was a good buy but Ramos spent 15 million on someone who plays in that position, had Bentley lived up to expectations, Lennon may not be here any more.

But Bentley didn't live up to expectations so your argument becomes completely redundant.

 

[thinktank]

And your evidence for any of that is? (Besides how you've set it up in Football Manager)

Let's come back to this at the end of the season.

If Poch plays him in the attacking 3 more than 3 times (as part of the starting line-up) I'll eat my words and will shower you with praiseworthy adjectives.

If not we have to consider that Poch doesn't rate him there and we should accept his judgement, should we not?

My eyes, mthrfkr. And don't play FM...played the actual game all my life though.

If poch doesn't play him there he doesn't play him there. I'd have no option but to concede to it would I.

Something in the air tonight on SC. Or is it a full moon....

 

[Sarsipius]

Just a thought: how fast was Shearer? There have been a lot of comparisons between Kane and Sheringham on this site, but actually Kane reminds me more of a young Shearer. Strong, shifts the ball well, knows where the goal is, and an absolute piledriver of a shot.

As far as I remember, Shearer wasn't especially quick. He just found space, picked up the ball, and smashed it. And that's enough to be a top goalscorer.

Yeah, I think the comparisons with Sheringham and Shearer are valid in that they prove a striker doesn't necessarily need to have pace to be effective and in fact in direct contrast to Townsend, it is probably his lack of pace which means he has developed so much ability with his feet.

Meanwhile, for all of Townsend's speed and two-footedness, one wishes he could use it a bit more intelligently.

I think they both have potential to be good premiership players but whether it works out that way remains to be seen.

I think it's fair to say it's a big season for them both.

 

[diamondlight]

Townsend's problem is that his pace and skill have probably made the game too easy for him until the highest level and so he is now having to learn things like tactics and decision making that others had to work on earlier to get noticed.

That's a good point. Reminds me of how great singers often don't make great songwriters.

 

[Bobbins]

I never doubted his ability, but after being starved of service under AVB his confidence had gone to the extent that by the end of last season the problem was not so much lack of chances as his failure to convert them.

Keeping his cool for the finish tonight was progress, but I am not yet taking for granted that we have back the finisher who played for Valencia. Once a striker loses confidence in front of goal it is a bugger to get back.

Totally agree - that's why I want to see him and Lamela get as many minutes together as possible, and I'd throw Kane and Eriksen into that mix as well - our 4 most intelligent footballers up front together excites me.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

I agree Kane is improving all the time, but I have never seen anything special about him and I tend to be in the camp that doubts he will ultimately make a top half premiership player.

Townsend's problem is that his pace and skill have probably made the game too easy for him until the highest level and so he is now having to learn things like tactics and decision making that others had to work on earlier to get noticed. But in addition to oace and skill he has power, confidence, stamina, two good feet, can beat a man on either side, cross from either flank and shoot, so I am desperate for us to give him what would only be his second run in the team.

Nobody, be they Lamela, Soldado, Chadli or whoever, should be written off without a run of games. Don't judge on isolated appearances where people are trying too hard to impress.

In all honesty I can't see that in AT, I can agree to a point that maybe being quicker than other players may have made the game easier at youth level but at 23 is he going to develop the intelligence to be a better footballer? Anyone can get stronger and quicker it's not as hard as people think, but getting more intelligent is not. And he doesn't come across when he plays as a player that's trying to develop his game but still trying to out pace or out power the opposition. Chadli, Lamela, Soldado and Kane all have better footballing brains and I can see in Kane that little bit more about his game already than anything AT has shown. Kane hasn't even played full season yet and I personally think his overall game is better now than ATs.

 

[Sarsipius]

My eyes, mthrfkr. And don't play FM...played the actual game all my life though.

If poch doesn't play him there he doesn't play him there. I'd have no option but to concede to it would I.

Something in the air tonight on SC. Or is it a full moon....

Your eyes have seen him be effective in the front three? Or they just lead you to believe he would be effective there?

You think Paulinho can play anywhere in the front 3 yes? As in like, LWF or RWF? Isn't that what you're saying?

Don't get precious @thinktank , I'm just asking you why you hold that opinion which seems to me so evidently wrong.

Who's calling who mthrfkr, wolf boy?

 

[thinktank]

In all honesty I can't see that in AT, I can agree to a point that maybe being quicker than other players may have made the game easier at youth level but at 23 is he going to develop the intelligence to be a better footballer? Anyone can get stronger and quicker it's not as hard as people think, but getting more intelligent is not. And he doesn't come across when he plays as a player that's trying to develop his game but still trying to out pace or out power the opposition. Chadli, Lamela, Soldado and Kane all have better footballing brains and I can see in Kane that little bit more about his game already than anything AT has shown. Kane hasn't even played full season yet and I personally think his overall game is better now than ATs.

Ceballos has an overall better game from what I've seen and he's not getting a look. I'd prefer to bring him on and use AT as a make-weight for MS.