AS Monaco Vs Tottenham: Pre Season Match Thread

[mill]

Oh you lot... we will be alright. It's a nice evening, lets all go and have a beer.

You buying?

 

[kernowspur]

shocking performance, shocking side we were able to field and frankly I think its embarrassing that we are in this position, gives the general viewers that we are about as organised as shit. really not good, don't wanna here the crap it isn't the team that will play at palace because most the guys some people think will come in have 0% chance of being fully fit.

Five injuries (3 CBs, Sandro, Holtby,), today add Defoe, Paulinho and Soldado to come in, Ade not available for personal reasons. That's a lot of a potential first team squad not available. Some may be sold but others will come in.
Stop complaining and have some faith.
It was a poor performance today from a poor starting eleven, rather now than in two weeks time.

 

[beats1]

The real question is why is he never given a game in the middle? Chadli is a left winger yet played in the middle while Sigurdsson played on the left? Don't understand the thinking there to be honest

Chadli plays in the middle for Belguim in the national team over the likes of Dembele or Fellaini. It seems him and Witsel are favourites for that role with the other two fighting it out for that one spot but I havent seen him at Twente where he apparently played out wide

As for Siggy on the left, I much rather see Falque or Townsend there tbh

Ok, if so. That's only 4/11 that are different to todays team, one of which will be a brand new cb, people have every right to be a bit unsettled by todays performance.

I think there is a strong chance that Paulinho and Holtby may be starting especially if they play next week which they will imo

 

[mpickard2087]

The real question is why is he never given a game in the middle? Chadli is a left winger yet played in the middle while Sigurdsson played on the left? Don't understand the thinking there to be honest

He's too slow, both in mind and body, to play centrally. We saw it early last season. He got crowded out or didn't quite make the pass because he wanted too much time. Harsh but true.

Out wide he has a bit more time to do what he wants with the ball, and as he wants to get in the box, his runs from out to in are harder to pick up and are more dangerous. Like we saw from Kranjcar a few seasons ago.

 

[The Spurs Lad]

Chadli plays in the middle for Belguim in the national team over the likes of Dembele or Fellaini. It seems him and Witsel are favourites for that role with the other two fighting it out for that one spot but I havent seen him at Twente where he apparently played out wide

As for Siggy on the left, I much rather see Falque or Townsend there tbh

I think there is a strong chance that Paulinho and Holtby may be starting especially if they play next week which they will imo

What suggests to you that Holtby or Paulinho will start over Dembele, Parker and Bale?

As things stand, we will be going 4231, so Bale is CAM.

Sandro is out so Parker will be the holding DM, that leaves Dembele vs Paulinho vs Holtby for the third slot, going on match fitness, surely Dembele?

As for Chadli, he was far better out wide for Twente than he is centrally for Belgium, he looks far more natural wide left.

 

[CrankyPants90]

Erm... what has happened to Ade, is he injured?? Why is he not playing?

 

[Gringospur]

Those players have had little to no pre season though thats the problem, so theres a good chance they wont be match fit and AVB will pick a team not far off todays. There is a good chance the only differences come Palace will be Dawson in for one of the centre backs, Bale in for Chadli and Soldado in for Kane. Thats only 3/11.

Yes, it may have only been a friendly, but with injuries, new players, first team players sold and little playing time of the fit 1st teamers, we have a problem for a solid team against Palace.
Though if Bale is still here it wont matter who else is in the team. -wishful thinking.

 

[The Spurs Lad]

He's too slow, both in mind and body, to play centrally. We saw it early last season. He got crowded out or didn't quite make the pass because he wanted too much time. Harsh but true.

Out wide he has a bit more time to do what he wants with the ball, and as he wants to get in the box, his runs from out to in are harder to pick up and are more dangerous. Like we saw from Kranjcar a few seasons ago.

Thats all fine and well if you have a player in CAM who can dictate play and create, we don't so playing a powerful quick winger in there and then sticking a slow man out wide is self destructive, upsets the balance and messes with build up play.

 

[The Spurs Lad]

Yes, it may have only been a friendly, but with injuries, new players, first team players out and little playing time of the fit 1st teamers, we have a problem for a solid team against Palace.
Though if Bale is still here it wont matter who else is in the team. -wishful thinking.

I don't disagree, my post was originally aimed at those claiming people weren't allowed to be a bit worried after today.

 

[jonnyrotten]

You buying?

"I'm only a poor little Yiddo...."

 

[shelfboy68]

Once again no creativity everything slow paced, no one that can dictate tempo or see an early pass, to much going to feet nothing that can put wingers on the front foot so they can take in there stride & have a go at fullback.. really poor, if we don't sign some creative players even with Bale it could be a long season.
As for our defence even with dawson we'd of got trounced, The sale of Caulker was stupidity of the highest order, Parkers boat has sailed no protection to defence.. get rid

This is true but these problems were there last year and still here now so something is very wrong isn't it.
I can only hope that if bale is to go then money is well spent cos we start for real in two weeks and we look a long way off from being sorted.
Some of our rivals look fine like city and even pool who I think have not lost a game yet but we can't have the usual bollocks start to the season as we might not catch up.
This bale situation needs sorting very soon and the money well spent.

 

[paulcumpstone]

Five injuries (3 CBs, Sandro, Holtby,), today add Defoe, Paulinho and Soldado to come in, Ade not available for personal reasons. That's a lot of a potential first team squad not available. Some may be sold but others will come in.
Stop complaining and have some faith.
It was a poor performance today from a poor starting eleven, rather now than in two weeks time.

yeah some valid points but if the players likely to start never feature in preseason why do we even both holding friendlies. even in an ideal world if we can play the 11 we want our fitness level will be awful at palace, and as for the team that played tonight, lennon and siggy yet again showed nothing for me against admittedly a decent side, lennon is never going to be creative enough, score enough or have enough of an influence on games for me. I think townsend will replace him this season as despite him being too greedy and make the wrong choices at times, has more goals and end product.

 

[easley91]

I think we actually need a new medical team.

 

[mpickard2087]

Erm... what has happened to Ade, is he injured?? Why is he not playing?

He didn't travel for personal reasons apparently.

Which led to many guesses, the usual two schools of thought as you can imagine. Either had a legitimate reason or just quite simply couldn't be bothered to play according to the intellects of SC.

 

[dondo]

What suggests to you that Holtby or Paulinho will start over Dembele, Parker and Bale?

As things stand, we will be going 4231, so Bale is CAM.

Sandro is out so Parker will be the holding DM, that leaves Dembele vs Paulinho vs Holtby for the third slot, going on match fitness, surely Dembele?

As for Chadli, he was far better out wide for Twente than he is centrally for Belgium, he looks far more natural wide left.

I would have thought it would be 433 with parker dembele pauliniho in midfield with bale starting position on the right roaming with soldado up top and whoever on the left???????????

 

[jonnyp]

I hope Ade's absence doesn't mean he's being sold. Another monumental mistake if that occurs.

 

[davey]

Once again no creativity everything slow paced, no one that can dictate tempo or see an early pass, to much going to feet nothing that can put wingers on the front foot so they can take in there stride & have a go at fullback.. really poor, if we don't sign some creative players even with Bale it could be a long season.
As for our defence even with dawson we'd of got trounced, The sale of Caulker was stupidity of the highest order, Parkers boat has sailed no protection to defence.. get rid

If bale goes I can see soldado being pissed of at lack of service. No good having a top striker if nobody can play the final pass.

Our pre season has been an utter shambles. Weve bedded in nobody. Got no momentum going. Wed have been better of staying at home and playing 6 or 7 games against the likes of watford or brighton.

Travelling to hong kong and monaco to field teams like we did was a waste of time.

 

[Jamturk]

There is no dressing it up, in our penultimate friendly we should be starting to fine tune. Instead we are having to put out a rag tag team due to politics, injuries etc.

Are people seriously telling me that we couldn't of brought the soldier and little Paul for a 15 minute cameo.

We can't deliver on the pitch unless we come correct off it, this is my main gripe with Mr Levy.

 

[eViL]

The naivety of some of you guys really gets my goat at times.

Redknapp, Jol used to play a full strength side sprinkled with youth every pre-season game and guess what? We burnt out in the final third of the season EVERY year.

Meaningless friendlies are just a run out, Monaco were under a bit more pressure to showcase their new squad to the fans with the money they've spent.

As for complaining wingers aren't 'getting down the line and beating their fullback' or 'Townsend needs to play on the left, Lennon on the right' - fuck me, is it still 1998? Get with the times.

 

[Ossie85]

Even though its pre season, and maybe some of the players weren't giving 100% (mhmm...Lloris), I wouldn't read too much into this game.

But, I'm slightly worried about the lack of players wanting the ball. Dembele looks the only one. Sandro, Paulinho, Chadli, Lennon, are not that kind of player. Bale compensated that absence last season. Lamela, Bernard and the others linked to replace GB are not ready to be the go-to guy.
I hope that news about a bid for Pjanic are true. We are a team full of power, pace and strength, but I feel we are lacking a creative mind.