AS Monaco Vs Tottenham: Pre Season Match Thread

[beats1]

We would be completely fine if we go 433, i don't doubt that.

I just doubt that we will go 433, or drop Parker, as much sense as it makes, it doesn't mean we will do it.

We have more evidence to show that we will go 433 than 4231 and Bale hasnt played behind the striker in a long time. At the end of last season season bale also played on the right as he did in preseason. So I dont think that will change.

 

[NEVILLEB]

Selling Modric, VDV and Bale is not going to make you a better football side.

I hope Bale stays. We've already given away so many quality, creative players

 

[The Spurs Lad]

We have more evidence to show that we will go 433 than 4231 and Bale hasnt played behind the striker in a long time. At the end of last season season bale also played on the right as he did in preseason. So I dont think that will change.

We only played 433 vs Everton(without Bale), City for 20 minutes, Basle(without bale) and Wigan away. I don't recall Bale playing wide in any other games? He moved wide for short spells in the final few games but ultimately was always CAM.

 

[whitelanefever]

There seems to be a group of supporters joining this opinion, generally speaking you say things like that, which are deemed anti AVB and the majority will kick off, however the minority who can see these problems is getting bigger and eventually it will become something of a common talking point, rather than a laughed off nothing point.





It's not an anti - AVB thing at all. I really like the guy & want him to do well,there are things he has us doing I like & other things I don't ( slow pace, set piece defending- the big 1) That said the flaws are obvious to see

 

[davey]

Selling Modric, VDV and Bale is not going to make you a better football side.

I hope Bale stays. We've already given away so many quality, creative players

You dont think its a good idea to sell our best player a week before the season starts?

 

[The Spurs Lad]

I know, i was saying that when you say things that accuse him of doing something wrong, then people automatically assume it's anti-avb and instantly slate you

 

[Paolo10]

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.

The 'Couldn't be bothered' was a tongue in cheek dig at his abysmal attitude.

 

[SpurSince57]

100pc with this. Every pre season we are on the back pages for the wrong reasons. Our woeful starts have cost us cl on more than 1 occasion.

Which occasions had you in mind?

 

[beats1]

We only played 433 vs Everton(without Bale), City for 20 minutes, Basle(without bale) and Wigan away. I don't recall Bale playing wide in any other games? He moved wide for short spells in the final few games but ultimately was always CAM.

Looking at the heat maps/action areas for the last 3 matches he spent most of his time on the right and middle which I remember him cutting in alot at the end of last season

I didnt watch todays showing but we have been playing 433 in every other game in preseason

 

[kernowspur]

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.

You're probably right about Lennon and Townsend. Friendliest are arranged long before players fitness is known for sure. AVB probably hoped some of the current injured players would be fit by now.

 

[EllenAlex]

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.

I agree. I am also not a fan of the inverted winger with our squad.

Sure, Bale can cut in, but he can also score from the left side, as well as cross, intimidate etc. whilst allowing others to perform in their best and only real positions.

What's your view on the inverted tactic?

 

[beats1]

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.

Didnt his brother die but that was a while ago, I mean my gran died last week and we had her funeral on Wednesday

 

[The Spurs Lad]

Looking at the heat maps/action areas for the last 3 matches he spent most of his time on the right and middle which I remember him cutting in alot at the end of last season

I didnt watch todays showing but we have been playing 433 in every other game in preseason

We have been playing 4231 all pre season except Swindon, He played CAM in 4231 in every game except the ones mentioned, i can assure you of that, it''s only natural that a left footer in CAM like Bale who want's to shoot drifts to the right hand side of CAM so he gives himself more space to knock it left before shooting.

 

[EllenAlex]

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.

I know we aren't Man UTD, but they don't fine tune until November/December.

 

[easley91]

Reaction from Spurs twitter on the way. They've been really slow tonight with that.

 

[Paolo10]

Didnt his brother die but that was a while ago, I mean my gran died last week and we had her funeral on Wednesday

It wouldn't surprise me if we are selling him and going in for he who shall not be named again...or Hulk (if we do sell GB).

 

[Spursking]

Obviously we didn't play our best team today, so we don't really care about this result at all. Good training session for the players.

 

[beats1]

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.

Chadli does play a creative role in the middle for Belguim national team in the middle

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Reaction from Spurs twitter on the way. They've been really slow tonight with that.

Do you have expectation that Spurs Official twitter gives any updates quickly? (Except Ledley's King Eating Viedo )

 

[The Spurs Lad]

I agree. I am also not a fan of the inverted winger with our squad.

Sure, Bale can cut in, but he can also score from the left side, as well as cross, intimidate etc. whilst allowing others to perform in their best and only real positions.

What's your view on the inverted tactic?

I don't mind it but the inverted winger needs pace and close ball control, Sigurdsson lacks both. The likes of Robben, Shaqiri, Messi early in his career, Villa at Barca, Young and Johnson as some examples all have those two traits, I think Bale could do it, however he has so much power that he can get in behind and score from the left as well as being an out and out winger.

I think though, if Bale is wide, especially on the right, then he needs a passer in midfield to play him in behind and give him the ball early so he can isolate full backs rather than this current slow build up we have where we rely on him having to run across the pitch and then smash it from range. City home was the prime example when he was played in early by Holtby or Huddlestone i think and managed to get in behind and beat Hart, that situation just simply isn't that possible from central.