Fazio

[spursfan77]

made a couple of mistakes this year against Chelsea at home and fiorentina away and seems to have been punished because of them. He formed a great partnership with vertonghen and we were doing well with him in the team. He should have played in the league cup final (as has a good record against Costa) and would have been better that dier to play today.

I think it's a big mistake and we are missing his experience. Sure he makes mistakes but we looked a lot more organised with him in the team.

 

[Blackcanary]

Yep, i'm inclined to agree with this. I certainly rate Dier higher in terms of potential but, especially today up against Fellaini, Fazio would have been a much better choice.

 

[dondo]

made a couple of mistakes this year against Chelsea at home and fiorentina away and seems to have been punished because of them. He formed a great partnership with vertonghen and we were doing well with him in the team. He should have played in the league cup final (as has a good record against Costa) and would have been better that dier to play today.

I think it's a big mistake and we are missing his experience. Sure he makes mistakes but we looked a lot more organised with him in the team.

Think it's time he came in for dier for the rest of the season dier is making a lot of mistakes in the last few matches

 

[Jimmyjimmyo]

I honestly think all our defenders are much of a muchness, look at the goals conceded this season and we have been awful all year regardless of who plays or who we play against

 

[mpickard2087]

He probably should have played today, however with him in the team we were frequently barbequed by the ball over the top and its only by a combination of Lloris, bad finishing, and pure luck that we weren't punished much more for this. Games like Utd at Home for example of this. This has largely stopped since Dier came into the team. Even when he came back in against West Brom for example, there were three occasions where a simple ball over the top was latched onto as he struggled with it.

Dier is the better prospect. He's quicker over the ground, isn't that bad in the air, and is better with the ball at his feet. There are certain games where Fazio might be useful, but I'd rather persist with Dier for the majority.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Our defence looks worse after he was booted.

 

[Blackcanary]

Our defence looks worse after he was booted.

To be fair, the whole backline and midfield seems to be suffering from some sort of 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind' situation where they get less capable match by match. I'm not sure if it's systemic or confidence or both but something needs to be done to stop the rot.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

To be fair, the whole backline and midfield seems to be suffering from some sort of 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind' situation where they get less capable match by match. I'm not sure if it's systemic or confidence or both but something needs to be done to stop the rot.

I kind of looks like Pochettino tweaked his preferred starting line-up one too many times?

 

[dontcallme]

I hope he is being given a break. I think he's a good defender but sometimes if a player makes mistakes in their first season they can get labelled.

Given a bit of a break he can come back fresh and with regained confidence.

 

[Jody]

To be fair, the whole backline and midfield seems to be suffering from some sort of 'Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind' situation where they get less capable match by match. I'm not sure if it's systemic or confidence or both but something needs to be done to stop the rot.

Our league form has been decent.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Don't think he would have made any difference today. We were completely dominated in midfield which made us very vulnerable in defence. Diers mobility was needed up against Rooney.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Our league form has been decent.

Not when it has mattered the most (after vs. Arsenal). Not vs. Liverpool, not vs. West Ham & not vs. ManUtd. Only in matches which aren't equally important (ie. aren't a 6-pointer).

 

[scat1620]

Since he joined us I haven't seen anything that's made me think that Fazio's a better defender than Dier.

 

[Blackcanary]

I kind of looks like Pochettino tweaked his preferred starting line-up one too many times?

See, i'm inclined to think it's more of a system issue which creates pressure on the backline and leaves us men short. No, that doesn't account for the stupid 'unforced errors' but I think it contributes to them. Which brings me to...

Our league form has been decent.

But we've conceded the same number of goals as Leicester. You simply can't sustain things with a 'we're going to score one more' mentality. We're constantly the equivalent of a virtual point down because our goal difference is so ropey.

 

[UncleBuck]

Horses for courses and looking at how Man U play at the moment with Fellaini then Fazio for me was a no brainer to start today.
The guy has won the EL whilst skippering for god's sake, he knows how to lead and how to defend.
Yes he has been exposed for his perceived lack of pace but playing a high line with a 'sweeper keeper' to an extent negates the need for him to have pace, especially if his partner is quicker than him.

 

[JAYSTAR]

Dier still needs to develop. Trusts himself too much, then doesn't quite get back in time, like today and someone like Fellaini is allowed to score..

Walker has a similar trait, so right now, unless we're playing against serious pace up front, I'd play:

Chiriches Fazio Vertongen Rose

We need some defenders in there who are happy to play positionally, make solid tackles, dominate the air and anticipate the opposition's movement better.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

See, i'm inclined to think it's more of a system issue which creates pressure on the backline and leaves us men short. No, that doesn't account for the stupid 'unforced errors' but I think it contributes to them. Which brings me to...



But we've conceded the same number of goals as Leicester. You simply can't sustain things with a 'we're going to score one more' mentality. We're constantly the equivalent of a virtual point down because our goal difference is so ropey.

Oh, you are correct, of course. We've either chosen or ignored the effect that we are endangering our defence in order to open up moving forward. And we also don't have the CM's to bully the opponents enough defensively. No, you are speaking the truth. But that doesn't mean that we've also arrived at a place somewhere on the side of our best 11 players.

 

[Blackcanary]

Oh, you are correct, of course. We've either chosen or ignored the effect that we are endangering our defence in order to open up moving forward. And we also don't have the CM's to bully the opponents enough defensively. No, you are speaking the truth. But that doesn't mean that we've also arrived at a place somewhere on the side of our best 11 players.

Sorry, i've had a LOT of wine today - clarify this bit for me?

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Sorry, i've had a LOT of wine today - clarify this bit for me?

Your points are all valid, as the main problem, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the starting line-up isn't a little off, too.

 

[spursfan77]

Dier still needs to develop. Trusts himself too much, then doesn't quite get back in time, like today and someone like Fellaini is allowed to score..

Walker has a similar trait, so right now, unless we're playing against serious pace up front, I'd play:

Chiriches Fazio Vertongen Rose

We need some defenders in there who are happy to play positionally, make solid tackles, dominate the air and anticipate the opposition's movement better.

Walker is having a mare at the moment but chiriches at right back is also heart in your mouth stuff. I'd rather see if yedlin is any good at all at right back for the rest of the season.