2bearis2do
Well-Known Member
- Apr 22, 2006
- 3,820
- 2,317
I've had a long think after yesterday's crap result, a long think about tactics, starting line ups and about Harry and it's official - He's doing my head in -
He hasn't got a clue what to do with a big talented squad. He's better off with 18 players and 8-10 regular starters by default. Less decisions for him to make and a group of players who know their roles week in week out. He´s out of his depth and at this moment in time, his selection thought process is as twitchy and irreverent as his post match interviews.
He wants to play 4-5-1 because he has got VdV and therefore does everything he can to accommodate him at the expense of any good team combinations that have developed over the last year. And then he signs that off by playing Crouch up front on his own, Bale at Left back and Corluka at centre back in order to play his 3 most creative players - Modric VdV and Lennon- And worse still - He's brought Jenas back into the team as a regular.
I've given him the benefit of the doubt on numerous occasions due, in part, to him getting us into the CLge. But he looks like a fish out of water these days, clueless, too many good players at his disposal and too many games for his little barrow-boy mind to juggle.
And then to listen to his post match interview last night was to add fuel to the fed up fire. He talks so much post-match nonsense, it's hard to believe he was at the same game. One of those days Harry, their goalie had a blinder, a game of two halves Harry, nah, we just couldn't break em down (again), I fought they played particularly well (again) Yeah we've got a lot of games coming up.
It's official I'm fed up with him.
His team selection and performances in the PL all season have been on the whole pish poor. The striker department just doesn't exist this year, the final third has no linkage, creativity or element of surprise. The back four hasn't been the same for two games running. nor I guess has the midfield or the system he employs. So how can he build partnerships and team performances? How can players develop in their roles, if their roles are constantly being changed? The good work the team put in last season is rapidly being undone by the rudderless leadership coming from old Harry himself.
Harry was quoted as saying that the best position for VdV would be behind a FRONT TWO. His quote. So why hasn't he tried that? 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 or a million other ways to make that work for VdV but not 4-5-1 with Crouch up front on his own. It's painful to watch and it's painful to read the team sheet before games - especially against teams Harry underestimates.
Other teams like West Ham, despite a poor start have stuck with it and become better, they looked like a team yesterday as did West Brom the week before and Wigan the week before that. We just look like a bunch of over paid pre-Madona's who believe they have the three points in the bag before the starting whistle.
He needs to get back to basics and find that winning formula pretty damn quickly and stick with it, interchange players for like players as and when form dips or injuries prevail and stick with that formula, changing it only as and when necessary, not every game. It's like he's still in pre-season mode trying desperately to find a place for VDV in the team at the expense of common sense.
I'm fed up with him, but of course will stick by him, he´s got us this far and deserves a chance to make it work at this level but he's got to pull his finger out, get back to basics, be bold with his selections even if that means leaving some outstanding quality on the bench. If players aren't performing Corluka, Lennon, Crouch - then drop them. Work on the key partnerships in the team. central defence, central midfield, the flanks and of course upfront. Has there been a game this season where he has played two up front who can play together? He can't keep giving players like Pav, Gio and Keane bit parts with 10 minutes left on the clock expecting them to right the wrongs of the previous 80minutes that he´s set up. It's frustrating to see so much talent in the Spurs squad and yet not a whiff (OK Man City first half - Spurs of last season, no VdV) of that talent gelling together as a team.
He needs to take a good look at himself and the team and make serious adjustments pretty dam quickly before the season disintegrates and the Spurs faithful start getting on his back. But we're 6 games in and the signs are not great.
In answer to Kellogs - what would I do?
(Taking into account no King and no Dawson, no Defoe - and the poor form of Corluka and Lennon -I'd do the following)
Gomes
Kaboul, Bassong, BAE
Hutton, Hudd, Modric Bale
VDV
Pav, Keane
I'm second-guessing we'll be up for it on Wednesday and put in a good performance and this post will sound anxious and pointless. But the truth is we're under performing in the Premier league big time. That is our bread and butter and Harry needs to find his best team on a Saturday and stop tinkering like a garage mechanic at every given opportunity or all the good work from last season will simply become a memory. The CL will take of itself.
He hasn't got a clue what to do with a big talented squad. He's better off with 18 players and 8-10 regular starters by default. Less decisions for him to make and a group of players who know their roles week in week out. He´s out of his depth and at this moment in time, his selection thought process is as twitchy and irreverent as his post match interviews.
He wants to play 4-5-1 because he has got VdV and therefore does everything he can to accommodate him at the expense of any good team combinations that have developed over the last year. And then he signs that off by playing Crouch up front on his own, Bale at Left back and Corluka at centre back in order to play his 3 most creative players - Modric VdV and Lennon- And worse still - He's brought Jenas back into the team as a regular.
I've given him the benefit of the doubt on numerous occasions due, in part, to him getting us into the CLge. But he looks like a fish out of water these days, clueless, too many good players at his disposal and too many games for his little barrow-boy mind to juggle.
And then to listen to his post match interview last night was to add fuel to the fed up fire. He talks so much post-match nonsense, it's hard to believe he was at the same game. One of those days Harry, their goalie had a blinder, a game of two halves Harry, nah, we just couldn't break em down (again), I fought they played particularly well (again) Yeah we've got a lot of games coming up.
It's official I'm fed up with him.
His team selection and performances in the PL all season have been on the whole pish poor. The striker department just doesn't exist this year, the final third has no linkage, creativity or element of surprise. The back four hasn't been the same for two games running. nor I guess has the midfield or the system he employs. So how can he build partnerships and team performances? How can players develop in their roles, if their roles are constantly being changed? The good work the team put in last season is rapidly being undone by the rudderless leadership coming from old Harry himself.
Harry was quoted as saying that the best position for VdV would be behind a FRONT TWO. His quote. So why hasn't he tried that? 4-3-3 or 3-5-2 or a million other ways to make that work for VdV but not 4-5-1 with Crouch up front on his own. It's painful to watch and it's painful to read the team sheet before games - especially against teams Harry underestimates.
Other teams like West Ham, despite a poor start have stuck with it and become better, they looked like a team yesterday as did West Brom the week before and Wigan the week before that. We just look like a bunch of over paid pre-Madona's who believe they have the three points in the bag before the starting whistle.
He needs to get back to basics and find that winning formula pretty damn quickly and stick with it, interchange players for like players as and when form dips or injuries prevail and stick with that formula, changing it only as and when necessary, not every game. It's like he's still in pre-season mode trying desperately to find a place for VDV in the team at the expense of common sense.
I'm fed up with him, but of course will stick by him, he´s got us this far and deserves a chance to make it work at this level but he's got to pull his finger out, get back to basics, be bold with his selections even if that means leaving some outstanding quality on the bench. If players aren't performing Corluka, Lennon, Crouch - then drop them. Work on the key partnerships in the team. central defence, central midfield, the flanks and of course upfront. Has there been a game this season where he has played two up front who can play together? He can't keep giving players like Pav, Gio and Keane bit parts with 10 minutes left on the clock expecting them to right the wrongs of the previous 80minutes that he´s set up. It's frustrating to see so much talent in the Spurs squad and yet not a whiff (OK Man City first half - Spurs of last season, no VdV) of that talent gelling together as a team.
He needs to take a good look at himself and the team and make serious adjustments pretty dam quickly before the season disintegrates and the Spurs faithful start getting on his back. But we're 6 games in and the signs are not great.
In answer to Kellogs - what would I do?
(Taking into account no King and no Dawson, no Defoe - and the poor form of Corluka and Lennon -I'd do the following)
Gomes
Kaboul, Bassong, BAE
Hutton, Hudd, Modric Bale
VDV
Pav, Keane
I'm second-guessing we'll be up for it on Wednesday and put in a good performance and this post will sound anxious and pointless. But the truth is we're under performing in the Premier league big time. That is our bread and butter and Harry needs to find his best team on a Saturday and stop tinkering like a garage mechanic at every given opportunity or all the good work from last season will simply become a memory. The CL will take of itself.
