lack of squad depth..

[Spurs_Q8]

as anyone, i was so angry during the whole game to see us playing like this crap 90 mins at home vs such average team, who we should beat. If we've managed better results or performances vs West Brom or Norwich, things could be a lot easier. But seriously 7 points drop at home vs those teams at home and we are still early in 4 Nov. ?? this absolute joke.

i think different reasons played it's role for our inconsisent results ..

the main issue lack of squad depth, surely in terms of quality in width or upfront, we keep playing some key players in League cup & Eroupa league, just because we don't have the ability to play with decent teams in cups. If we played the likes of Townsend & Mason instead of Bale & Defoe vs the likes of Lazio (H) Olimpiakos (A) or even Norwich (A) in Carling cup, things could be a lot worse. Even Norwich was good performance & almost win it unless that lucky game, and we almost score level after 1-2 as well. This problem is Levy fault, I know we needed to reduce wage bill, but that approach to invest only from the players sales three years stopped our improving. When we secured CL place three years ago.. at that season we managed poor results like Birmingham (H) Stoke (H) Wolves (H) Hull (H) .. we managed 2 points from possible 12 points ( two of those games were in 1st half of the season as well ) .. but in that season we managed to beat City (twice) beating Chelsea & Arsenal. In that season our team was :

Friedel​

Corluka - Dawson - King/Bassong - Ekotto​

Lennon - Huddlestone - Palacios - Modric​

Crouch - Defoe​

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our defence was so tight as both fullbacks rarely came forward, that was good reason to play 4-4-2, we put some good displays with that season the 2nd half season before that reason, from relegation battle to 8th place ( almost Eroupa League spot unless last season defeat at Anfield ) .. and when at the start of the new season, we brought both Kyles, Kranjcar & Crouch ( we sold the likes Zokora, Boateng & Bent ) ..​

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when Modric got an injury vs Birmingham ( 4th game i think ) , he was out for three months, Kranjcar came in as LM and put some class displays questioned what we can do with Modric when he came fit. Also Palacios lost some form, then when Modric came back fit, he took CM position, at the end of Dec. Ekotto got an injury plus African cup was in our way, Bale came as LB and did well. Then Lennon got an injury, Bentley came on and did well as well. Also when we loaned Keane to Celtic i think, we took Eidur Godjohnsson on loan even thought we've 3 strikers. Also in Jan. we brought Kaboul, who covered some positions like RB or CM when injuries hit us. Also Walker given a game or two when Corluka wasn't available.​

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Now, We didn't do that in last 2 summers, We changed the system to 4-4-1-1, nice decision since we promoted attacking right back -Walker- in Corluka place, but we changed a lot things, Bale never made as LB, Ekotto so was the only option as LB, Rose came in without any experiece, we loaned Corluka & Naughton ( both decision understanded ) .. but why the hell we didn't add CB, Since Kaboul needed to be backup for Walker, as all of King, Dawson & Gallas were taking injury after injury.. Also the same problem at CM, Livermore was our backup for Modric, Sandro & Hudd ( so if someone injuried, you need to count on him ) .. And upfront, as 4-2-3-1, you can't have 3 playmakers and 2 wingers in Bale & Lennon, that was the case with VDV, Niko & Pienear, this didn't help them they are asked to wide players in 4-2-3-1, specially with our strikers like Defoe, Crouch, Pav/Saha .. all can't offer any support outside the box. Baiscally if I would take new DM and Winger in a place of Livermore & both Pienear & Niko was much better opition IMO, so Modric can be promoted as VDV backup, but you can't let Livermore after Sandro, Modric & Huddle, as i said if someone is off, the bench fucked. This player didn't have EPL experience, and some of Championship clubs weren't that impressed with him, same with Alnwick when he was our backup after long term injury for Carlo around three years ago.​

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Now, we kept the same CM & pacy winger backup, we fixed CB problems at all, but we added to CF problems to the list, so imaige what can happen to your team when you don't have options in those positions: CM, Winges & CF.​

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don't say Dempsey can be Winger, we used him as LW vs QPR with attacking fullback in Bale, we didn't create anything in home game.​

When Dembele & Bale missed vs Chelsea & Maribor, our chances was so slim, Now we've the same issue even when we play Wigan at home with only Dembele is missed in those positions. Despite the fact Sandro taken off for early, but should that happen when you only lose your DM & CM ? so missing one or two in those positions proved so bad to current team. This is clear issue need to be solved in Jan.​

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a team wasn't top four finish, can't go like that to finish in top four, the answer should be new DM/CM and Winger/Striker type player.. Loan the likes of Livermore, Falque & Townsend to learn there trade. Even Dempsey can be loaned !​

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May be Moutinho & Willian can be good for us, but i wouldn't be Greedy, I can welcome the likes of Catermole & Agbonlahor with open arms, my main issue to avoid using inexcperienced Livermore, Sigurdsson as CM, Dempsey as winger. Also this is also not good if you lost Defoe or you needed to take him off like yesterday.​

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be aware that we've four players who can play at AM position, Dembele, Sigurdsson, Dempsey & Falque..only one can be good as CM, and this one is the main three quality players at CM. I would take 4 or five at CM and 2 playmaker, not the opposite ! ​

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anyway, if AVB disagree with lack of squad depth, he really need to know that's the wrong depth.​

 

[spurs mental]

What?

 

[eddiebailey]

The problem is not so much the lack of depth as the failure to achieve the right blend of players or to set up to the strengths of the players available.

You could cite lack of quality, but are we really any worse in terms of options than when we qualified for Champions League? I don't think so. We still have a squad that is the envy of most of the Premiership - a Premiership incidently that is more lacking in quality outside the top three than for some time.

Redknapp was often criticised for being tactically moribund, but what he was supremely good at was recognising his main footballing assets, adapting his tactics to play to their strengths and building teams around them, snapping up the right players, often players past their prime, to give those exciting talents the platform that they needed.

AVB seems to have very fixed ideas about football and unless Levy pushes the boat out to get in players of exceptional quality who are a natural fit, I am sceptical of his ability to turn the situation around.

 

[ethanedwards]

The problem is not so much the lack of depth as the failure to achieve the right blend of players or to set up to the strengths of the players available.

You could cite lack of quality, but are we really any worse in terms of options than when we qualified for Champions League? I don't think so. We still have a squad that is the envy of most of the Premiership - a Premiership incidently that is more lacking in quality outside the top three than for some time.

Redknapp was often criticised for being tactically moribund, but what he was supremely good at was recognising his main footballing assets, adapting his tactics to play to their strengths and building teams around them, snapping up the right players, often players past their prime, to give those exciting talents the platform that they needed.

AVB seems to have very fixed ideas about football and unless Levy pushes the boat out to get in players of exceptional quality who are a natural fit, I am sceptical of his ability to turn the situation around.

Agree with this. Good post.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

It's a perfect storm

Losing players of the quality and experience of Modric/VDV/Pienaar/Pav/Crouch/Kran and not replacing them adequately plus the fact that AVB is making some strange tactical decisions makes this a worrying period for us

We need all our injured players back ASAP and we need our manager to have a rethink on a few areas and formations