just home from the game, plusses and minuses

[loyalyid]

so from that formation ekotto and dos santos played on the right, and gunter and lennon on the left? wouldve thought it was the other way round. interesting.

Was just quoting the system, Ekotto/Dos Santos were left, and Gunter/Lennon right. Dos Santos and Lennon switched 2nd half.

 

[chivers!]

Dos Santos and Lennon switched 2nd half.

Which looked more effective?

 

[Northernspurs]

How did Gunter do?? I know he started nervous, but how did he progress?

 

[There's always next year]

Which looked more effective?

It will be interesting to see these two up against the likes of Everton, Bolton and Stoke away.

 

[Tickers]

With further expected transfers:

Gomes, Hutton, King, Woodgate, Ekotto, Bale, Bentley, Zokora, Modric, Villa, Arshavin.

Gotta love that optimism.

 

[markie]

Cant believe you lot are still putting Zokora in your squads... Scary

 

[Kyras]

i

beat me to it but I was going to put j :lol:

 

[camaj]

Not surprised about Ekotto, he was impressive when he played. I think he made one mistake and half the people here wrote him off. I rate him higher than LYP at the very least.

 

[loyalyid]

Which looked more effective?

To be honest 2nd half we looked more dangerous... Lennon on the left and Dos Santos on the right. I have a feeling there will be at least another signing and sale that will change things once again....

 

[loyalyid]

How did Gunter do?? I know he started nervous, but how did he progress?

He looks young and raw at the moment, but showed some good touches. He has plenty of time IMO, as Hutton looks the dogs nuts.... he is one for the future, as is Pekhart, Rose, Bostock, Dervette and others.

 

[lukespurs7]

So you say Berby looked even more disintrested than usual and that he played in midfield for most of it-I assume you mean a deeper role do you think this was part of a system or just the way he usually plays? Also aside from the goal which you say we had little chance of keeping out, did we look generally solid defensively not just the defence but as a whole team?

 

[Bulletspur]

I'm really looking forward to seeing BAE back in the team. I thought he had a hell of a lot of potential going forwards, but perhaps lacked positional awareness for whatever reason. Perhaps a long period off the pitch has given him time to settle a bit more.

Although there were a lot on this forum knocking him, I always wanted him to do well as you could see had potential. At the time when playing, we was in a no win situation as most of the pressure was the lack of a proper left midfield to cover him, therefore he was left exposed. I am not saying that he wasnt at fault sometimes as well, but he was never as bad as some made out.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I think BAE has the potential to be a good player, always rated his first touch. As long as the desire is there I think he'll be a very useful squad member.

 

[Kyras]

I think BAE has the potential to be a good player, always rated his first touch. As long as the desire is there I think he'll be a very useful squad member.

BAE - "I don't watch football, Well, I play it enough don't I? I don't talk about football away from the game either. I suppose that is unusual. My interests are my friends and music, especially hip-hop. I like Ice Cube and 50 Cent."

 

[double0]

And so what if Benoit Assou-Ekotto likes Hip Hop. Jimmy Bullard loves fishing, Robbie Fowler loves property, Wayne Rooney loves old women and Beckham loves Bling.

Different strokes for different folks.

I really hope we keep Assou-Ekotto. I personally believe his as good as Clichy, if not better.

 

[Chris12345]

Cant believe you lot are still putting Zokora in your squads... Scary

Some of our fans still haven't realised that Zokora is both a useful, effective player, and that he is probably one of the first names Ramos writes on the teamsheets... Scary

 

[PT]

I went to the game too. About twelve thousand at the stadium with no segregation but it wasn't needed.

For my tuppence ha'penny's worth -

4-4-2 system

Gomez in goal and while he didn't disappoint in his first public showing he was still erratic early doors. In his haste to get Ekotto going he threw the ball straight in to touch. But that was a strength I believe will help up next season. By not punting the ball up for a 50/50 heading contest we should see play being steadily set up from the back.

BAE and Gunter were steady - Gunter frequently getting past Lennon or supporting him upfield wide but not often found or used. Defensively sound. Ekotto, like LoyalYid eluded to, was a revelation. I can remember his previoous outings over a season ago when he looked like a rabbit in headlights but he seems to have an assuredness about him, whilst taking in to account the opposition.

Woody and Dawson in the centre - both looked composed in play building up but on a couple of occasions when the Hercules got the ball wide for crossing in both of them looked shaky. My main gripe with Dawson is he insists of playing those fifty yarders from the back diagonally across field and he is still doing it, particularly late inn the second half.

Lennon on the right flank was on fire first half and frequently skinned his marker. His crossing seems to have improved too. Definitely should see an inprovement on his all-round game next season. Gio was on the left flank but came in often and linked up with a deep-playing Berby. In the second half they switched flanks and the threat seemed to diminish from those outlets somewhat.

Jenas was given licence to go box to box but with lots of effort did little to impress on this occasion. Huddlestone sat deep and dictated the direction of play by switching flanks using the FBs and wingers. On one occasion he got his speed up full tilt and dispossessed one of the Hercules MFs. I had to look twice to confirmm it was the Hudd missile and wasn't disappointed. He can now officially motor..like an oil tanker.

With no Keane to partner Berbatov it was a chance for Bent to impress the holiday makers. He didn't. While our system doesn't cater to his best attributes, when he was offered the ball, his reactions, movement and touch were lacking. I want this guy to step up and don't know when or if he will.

Berbatov was Berbatov in every way - nonchalent, un-interested, suave, impressive, argumentitive...!! He turned up and did his bit, playing the full ninety and the Hercules fans certainly noticed his quality. If that was his last game then I'm pleased I witnessed it because he's graced our shirt and i've been privleged to see him at work.

The subs came thick and fast in the secondt half with Bostock, Ohara and Troy!! getting some part of the game.

1-1 was fair but I was left with impression that our tactice were not new and in the closing elements to the match, our fitness was waning, even after Mr Ramos's famous pre-season training antics. I feel we still need a top drawer CB and a DM. Oh, and the jury is out on Gomez for me.

 

[DC_Boy]

Thanks for report PT

One thing's clear to me without having seen any of the game is that if we play a front six of AL JJ TH GDS DB x2

we're gonna suffer in the Prem

there is no way that our central 2 mids can cope with that - especially if the full backs are bombing on

when Modric comes in - either a striker or a winger has to go

no way can we play AL LM & GDS plus 2 strikers and JJ (except on rare emegency occasions)- we'll get done big time and often

ATM assuming both Berbs & Keane are gone we can play the 5 mids plus Bent

of course with different personnel it all changes-

 

[rez9000]

Wasn't blaming anyone, just saying he didn't do much last night... nobody would be happier than me to see the lad banging in the goals, which he most cetainly is capable of... one ball came to him, completely unmarked, 5 yards out, swung a boot at the ball, and he miskicked completely, injuring himself, think the boy is lacking confidence at the moment, that's allmg:

Which is hardly surprising, considering the shitstorm he's been through since he moved from Charlton.

Lambasted by the fans for daring to choose to come to us, the media questioning his transfer, never knowing when he's going to get on the pitch. Maybe if we all got off his back a little (not directed at anyone in particular, and certainly not at you, LY) and encouraged him when he was on the pitch, he'd rediscover his ability?

Or we could keep on blasting him on the forums and chatrooms and groaning when he misses a sitter, and keep paring away at his confidence until he does a Robbo, and becomes a shadow of his former self. We have to stop that from happening. If he misses a sitter, start chanting his name. Encourage the boy, make him feel as if he's a part of Spurs and eventually he'll respond. From what I've read of his interviews he seems a strong-minded chap anyway, but everyone has doubts and the way to beat them is for us, the fans, to tell him how good he is, even if we don't believe it. That's what being a fan is about, and whether we signed him for £16 mil or 16 pence, we have to step up to the plate and deliver on our responsibilities.

I take heart in the fact that he hasn't been offloaded by Ramos. As far as I'm concerned if Juande thinks he's good enough, then that's good enough for me, and it should be good enough for every other Spurs fan too.

 

[DC_Boy]

well said (again) Rez

Bent may be our only experienced striker come opening day - we'd best get behind him