Midfield Keeping Them All Happy

[mano-obe]

First of all this isn't a complaint and I don't want it to sound negative either.

We have such a luxury of players and one of the best midfields in the whole league, but we have quite a few! It's such a great problem to have, but do you think we'll keep them all happy? Will AVB keep rotating around? Who do you think we'll be untouchable and who will be sidelined?

Lennon, Townsend, Chadli, Eriksen, Lamella, Sandro, Capoue, Holtby, Paulinho, Siggy, Dembele.

 

[OmarsComing]

Squad game yo

Do you think that supporters of Man U or Chelsea start creating threads asking how can they keep all their talented players happy? No, and you know why? Because they have seen their clubs win league trophies, champions leagues, they have the winning mentality and they don't care about the players to that extent, all they care about is success and whoever is wearing the badge at that moment in time gets the plaudits.

We as spurs fans haven't seen a league winning team in over half a century, we are used to mediocrity, with a slice of luck winning a cup here and there. We shouldn't be worrying about keeping multi-millionaire footballers happy, on the flip side, it should be they, the players, who are trying their hardest to keep us the supporters happy.

So now we have the strongest squad in living memory, it's now time for our players to step up their games or find themselves playing for mid table clubs, like west ham or Fulham. We now have player coverage for every position and if the player who has hold of the jersey at that particular moment in time isn't performing to an elite standard, then there is cover in the squad so that another player has a chance to take his place. This is of course with the exception of goalkeeper and creative midfielder as we all know that Holtby isn't anywhere near the standard of Eriksen in the creative midfielder role.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

We've played 4 league games so far and every single one of those players has had minutes. There is very little drop off over 90 minutes and hopefully no stalling of the engine half way through the season.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Depends if we have decent cup runs.

 

[DaSpurs]

Squad game yo

Do you think that supporters of Man U or Chelsea start creating threads asking how can they keep all their talented players happy? No, and you know why? Because they have seen their clubs win league trophies, champions leagues, they have the winning mentality and they don't care about the players to that extent, all they care about is success and whoever is wearing the badge at that moment in time gets the plaudits.

We as spurs fans haven't seen a league winning team in over half a century, we are used to mediocrity, with a slice of luck winning a cup here and there. We shouldn't be worrying about keeping multi-millionaire footballers happy, on the flip side, it should be they, the players, who are trying their hardest to keep us the supporters happy.

So now we have the strongest squad in living memory, it's now time for our players to step up their games or find themselves playing for mid table clubs, like west ham or Fulham. We now have player coverage for every position and if the player who has hold of the jersey at that particular moment in time isn't performing to an elite standard, then there is cover in the squad so that another player has a chance to take his place. This is of course with the exception of goalkeeper and creative midfielder as we all know that Holtby isn't anywhere near the standard of Eriksen in the creative midfielder role.

While this is all true, we're still at an awkward meeting point of "club resume" for the players. We've reached a level such that we attract top talent, but we aren't quite big enough for some of these players to be content just to be in the squad. And I agree, they're paid millions to not complain and fight for it, but the problem remains that they will bugger off without playing time. I think it'll get better as the profile of the club continues to rise with situations such as what happened this summer and AVB's "project" gaining notice, but we're still not quite there yet. Eventually more players beyond Defoe will become unhappy with the lack of playing time. As of right now, I predict the next unhappy face to be Townsend unless he starts scoring goals. A club record signing won't be allowed to ride the bench for long, so he's going to have to produce very soon.

 

[indy]

11 players for 5 positions sounds about right. A couple of young players there too who ain't gonna be expecting a big return in games.

Plus we always have at least 1 mid-long term absentee through injury!

Could be worse, could be trying to shoehorn Corluka or King in midfield!!

 

[marion52]

We just need to start winning things and players will be happy.

 

[Geyzer Soze]

Competition competition competition

AVB appears to weed out those likely to sulk (including Vdv/ Adebayor) & be left with pros who realise the best way to be picked is to work hard & do well ... Not to throw a shit fit & sulk!!

Happy days, that's how you win things. Not by letting vdv start because its written in his contract or ade start because he'll try box your ears if you don't ....

 

[JAYSTAR]

First team (PL and later stages of EL) has to be:​

Soldado​

Chadli Eriksen Lamela​

Paulinho Dembele​

​

Cup(s) team has to be:​

Defoe​

Lennon Sigurdson Townsend​

Sandro Holtby​

​

Capoue can be the first sub and cover for Sandro / Dembele / CB, but in terms of balance, I think AVB wants Holtby to play deeper alongside Sandro and I think Dembele and Paulinho make a fantastic combination that will be first choice.​

​

Lennon will have to learn to play on the left if he wants to play again, and apparently needs to change his attitude towards AVB... apparently.​

 

[theShiznit]

I can't see Sandro when fully fit being out of the first XI.

People seem to forget how immense he was for us before injury (heading for player of the season) Pretty much made Dembele, who looked a shadow of the player he was when Sandro was not beside him.

 

[parklane1]

Plenty of games to keep players happy.

 

[theShiznit]

I personally don't think it will be as easy as people are making out, especially when probably as many as 10 of them are hoping to be selected for their respective nations' World Cup teams/squads

 

[dondo]

I dont care if some dont like it, the ones who play the best will play more big games and the rest have to play well when they get a game to prove they are worth a 1st team spot.

 

[crokey]

The only reason a squad using rotation will have unhappy players is if we are losing. If the players are performing well enough to be happy, they will be.

 

[Spursidol]

Current status of our midfielders :

Injured : Chadli, Capoue, Lennon
Problem with hip, needs to manage injury : Dembekle

Fit : Eriksssen, Townsend, Paulhino, Sandto, Holtby, Sigurdssen, Lamela (7 for 5 starting places in a 4231 plus 2 on the bench = 100% utilisation in a match squad).

How overstovcked are we now ?

 

[michaelden]

Have a braai, get them all round, a few beers , tunes & good grub and everyone will be happy. Then they will play well on the pitch. Team building African style

 

[annekcm]

Competition breeds maximum performance from the players. It will drive them to be their best and so ultimately ours.

Over the course of the season we will have plenty of games as we know AVB will take every cup competition seriously. Look how many players we've used over the last week even. We've used 19 players in the last two matches. Bearing in mind this is only the start of the season so the players are relatively fresh that is quite a lot of rotation. Especially when you consider that we have players only settling/coming back.

We've got a long season of playing different teams. Different players will suit different opponents and AVB will make sure the players know it too so that even while on the bench players feel happy.

If you look at the players we've targeted too, none are mouthy, egotistical players. They are success driven and want to be at the top, but they are young guys who seem to want to be a part of something special.

The only places were you seem to hear of people not being happy with their game time is the level below the top clubs. We want to be a top club and with the success of being there will bring a spirit of achievement that all players will feel happy to be a part of. How many United players do you hear complaining? Very little.

Winning breeds happiness and continuity and then more success.

 

[mano-obe]

While this is all true, we're still at an awkward meeting point of "club resume" for the players. We've reached a level such that we attract top talent, but we aren't quite big enough for some of these players to be content just to be in the squad. And I agree, they're paid millions to not complain and fight for it, but the problem remains that they will bugger off without playing time. I think it'll get better as the profile of the club continues to rise with situations such as what happened this summer and AVB's "project" gaining notice, but we're still not quite there yet. Eventually more players beyond Defoe will become unhappy with the lack of playing time. As of right now, I predict the next unhappy face to be Townsend unless he starts scoring goals. A club record signing won't be allowed to ride the bench for long, so he's going to have to produce very soon.

I am a bit worried for Townsend and Holtby too. I hope they can be effective at Spurs with all the others

 

[mano-obe]

First team (PL and later stages of EL) has to be:

Soldado​

Chadli Eriksen Lamela​

Paulinho Dembele​

​

Cup(s) team has to be:

Defoe​

Lennon Sigurdson Townsend​

Sandro Holtby​

​

Capoue can be the first sub and cover for Sandro / Dembele / CB, but in terms of balance, I think AVB wants Holtby to play deeper alongside Sandro and I think Dembele and Paulinho make a fantastic combination that will be first choice.

Lennon will have to learn to play on the left if he wants to play again, and apparently needs to change his attitude towards AVB... apparently.

You must rate Chadli very high, I'm curious to see how well he does at Spurs. I may change Townsend for Chadli in your lineup and maybe Sandro instead of Dembele? It's so hard to choose

 

[Spurger King]

We've played 4 league games so far and every single one of those players has had minutes. There is very little drop off over 90 minutes and hopefully no stalling of the engine half way through the season.

Exactly. We're learning to play as a squad instead of having a regular first eleven, which means our style of play should be fairly consistent. I think our midfielders will all get plenty of opportunities.