- May 26, 2004
- 4,780
- 2,108
Good Week
Gylfi Sigurdsson
A ‘man of the match performance’, AVB called it. Siggy showed what he is all about, picking up both goals. What pleased me most was to see someone running into the box, and getting beyond the striker. It’s something we have lacked this season, and it would appear AVB knew this as well.
Andre said that Siggy also makes the most of his opportunities, and he certainly did on Saturday.
Christian Eriksen
Yes. Just yes. We were all disappointed to miss out on Willian (who?) but in a way I think Eriksen is a better fit for what we needed. He was integral to all our play, flitting between the lines, showing the vision that our central midfield lacks, and generally oozing class.
Although on the flip side, the feeling that the Dane is crucial to our success this season after just one game is a little worrying.
AVB
There was lots of surprise in the press room when our team sheet went up. Siggy in? No Lamela? No Sandro? But as the game showed, AVB was spot on with his selection, to be truthful against opposition like Norwich we should not need a holding midfielder.
Sigurdsson, for example, came back from the internationals with a dead leg but AVB told him he was needed. As mentioned, it is pleasing to see that AVB identified where we were lacking, and with such a strong team at his disposal he must not be afraid to make changes, make use of the players’ different abilities, and ignore reputations/price tags.
Ryan Mason
Impressing on loan at Swindon. Seems to be a player our development staff has rated for a while but injuries and some poor loan moves have stunted his development but looks to making a mark now.
Thursday night’s crowd
Looking at our bench on the weekend, you could not help but be impressed. Come Thursday night against Tromso, we can expect to see a very strong Spurs lineup – Holtby, Lamela, Sandro, Kaboul, Chiriches (not sure on the permit problem implications), Naughton, Friedel, Defoe. It is going to be an extremely strong XI and show easily overpower the Norwegians.
Bad Week
Kyle Walker
Lots of bad publicity which to be honest has been absolute bull, and goes to show that the English media really don’t care if the national team does well. Player doing something silly but not illegal? Check. Blow it out of all proportion because its England week? Check. Happened three months ago? Check. We have a winner.
He didn’t play particularly well against Ukraine, but he was up against their biggest (nay only) threat, who scored the last time he was up against an England right back, and was given very little help by Walcott who manages to escape under the radar despite being sprinter in a footballer’s kit. Yes, there needs to be improvements, he sometimes loses the ball in bad positions, but some of the stick he has received has been well over the top.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Do we think he’ll play for Spurs before January? The tone of AVB’s words indicated that it will take a remarkable change in attitude before Ade is back in first team contention, and that is as likely as Alan Shearer offering some tactical insight on Match of the Day.
Gylfi Sigurdsson
A ‘man of the match performance’, AVB called it. Siggy showed what he is all about, picking up both goals. What pleased me most was to see someone running into the box, and getting beyond the striker. It’s something we have lacked this season, and it would appear AVB knew this as well.
Andre said that Siggy also makes the most of his opportunities, and he certainly did on Saturday.
Christian Eriksen
Yes. Just yes. We were all disappointed to miss out on Willian (who?) but in a way I think Eriksen is a better fit for what we needed. He was integral to all our play, flitting between the lines, showing the vision that our central midfield lacks, and generally oozing class.
Although on the flip side, the feeling that the Dane is crucial to our success this season after just one game is a little worrying.
AVB
There was lots of surprise in the press room when our team sheet went up. Siggy in? No Lamela? No Sandro? But as the game showed, AVB was spot on with his selection, to be truthful against opposition like Norwich we should not need a holding midfielder.
Sigurdsson, for example, came back from the internationals with a dead leg but AVB told him he was needed. As mentioned, it is pleasing to see that AVB identified where we were lacking, and with such a strong team at his disposal he must not be afraid to make changes, make use of the players’ different abilities, and ignore reputations/price tags.
Ryan Mason
Impressing on loan at Swindon. Seems to be a player our development staff has rated for a while but injuries and some poor loan moves have stunted his development but looks to making a mark now.
Thursday night’s crowd
Looking at our bench on the weekend, you could not help but be impressed. Come Thursday night against Tromso, we can expect to see a very strong Spurs lineup – Holtby, Lamela, Sandro, Kaboul, Chiriches (not sure on the permit problem implications), Naughton, Friedel, Defoe. It is going to be an extremely strong XI and show easily overpower the Norwegians.
Bad Week
Kyle Walker
Lots of bad publicity which to be honest has been absolute bull, and goes to show that the English media really don’t care if the national team does well. Player doing something silly but not illegal? Check. Blow it out of all proportion because its England week? Check. Happened three months ago? Check. We have a winner.
He didn’t play particularly well against Ukraine, but he was up against their biggest (nay only) threat, who scored the last time he was up against an England right back, and was given very little help by Walcott who manages to escape under the radar despite being sprinter in a footballer’s kit. Yes, there needs to be improvements, he sometimes loses the ball in bad positions, but some of the stick he has received has been well over the top.
Emmanuel Adebayor
Do we think he’ll play for Spurs before January? The tone of AVB’s words indicated that it will take a remarkable change in attitude before Ade is back in first team contention, and that is as likely as Alan Shearer offering some tactical insight on Match of the Day.