Perfect time to rest Robbie

[tony_parkes]

I think Saturday is the perfect time to bench Keane. I don't want this to turn into a 'Keane is shit thread' however his form of late hasn't been good.

I still think Robbie will play an important part this season and score some vital goals for us but that he should be picked as a striker only.

Our last fixture proved that it doesn't really work with Keane at the tip of a midfield diamond nor is he truly effective on the left side of midfield. It seems Pav is off so Redknapp needs to stick his neck out and pick 2 from the 3 that is Defoe, Keane and Crouch.

Keane will have played 2 important internationals in a week where Defoe and Crouch had a relaxed friendly in the sun.

Harry will never have a better chance to rest Robbie whilst giving Crouch a chance to stake his claim in a home game we should win. Crouch hasn't set the world on fire since he arrived but he is a good player who will score goals given the chance. He has been a little unlucky in front of goal, he should have scored more league goals due to him missing chances, hitting the woodwork and having efforts cleared of the line.

Let's give the Crouch / Defoe partnership chance to develop. If Keane starts this game then Harry will have well and truly shown us that Robbie is virtually guaranteed a starting place.

This isn't to say that I think Crouch and Defoe should be the partnership for the rest of the season just that Saturday is the perfect game to give it a go and possibly in the process get Keane to focus and up his game.

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

I think your right, and I think harry will "rest" Keane this week, makes no sense him playing 3 games in a week when we have 3 other "International" strikers on the bench?

 

[Krafty]

I would start with Keane and Defoe as they work hard at the top and make it hard for defenders to play good balls out of defence. Crouch doesnt work as hard/effectively, plus his presence encourages the rest of the team to just knock it long and not look to make good runs off the ball.

Having Crouch on the bench allows us to change things if we want, as Wigan will be sat deep. A switch of Keane for Crouch might not be as effective.

Wigan have big defenders who can be a bit cumbersome, so Keane's quickness of mind might be a better tool than Crouch's height.

Keane hasnt played brilliantly, but I think he still does a job

 

[spurs mental]

Rest Keane and we'll see another game where we send it long to Crouch, for long spells of the game, more than likely

 

[Spurs_Bear]

All I want to see is a 4-4-2......

 

[tony_parkes]

That's definitely true about launching it long with Crouch sometimes but I'd like to think we can get enough quality possession in the middle of the park against Wigan that we wouldn't have to resort to that. It's also about using the squad to keep people fresh, as Keane will have played twice in a week.

The midfield have to learn not to launch it, Crouch is an option with his head but he's got a good touch and is comfortable receiving it on the deck.

 

[defoe18]

It's a difficult one as we are doing so well with Keane and Defoe so why change a winning formula?

But i argee Keane needs to be benched to get a rocket up his arse to make him perform better in the long run.

Maybe go Defoe and Crouch, but then we may resort to long balls etc.

Here's an idea, go back to Defoe and Pav? See what happens?

 

[markie]

Crouch needs to be benched and Kranjcar played left midfield.... Then we can start playing proper on the floor football again...

 

[Dougal]

I think Saturday is the perfect time to bench Keane.

And start him on Sunday?

 

[tony_parkes]

And start him on Sunday?

:razz:I forgot, he should be on the bench for our next fixture which is Sunday.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Keane will not be rested, he will play unless he is injured. He is the captain of the team sitting 4th in the league.

He will be up front with Defoe.

 

[Huddlestone22]

Aslong as we don't play HOOF ball I'm not too bothered.

I'd like Crouch to play but only if we kept the ball down.

 

[TonyGalvinsShinpads]

I think we need to keep it Keane/Defoe at the moment, with Crouchie coming on for Keane as an impact sub. As other posts have mentioned we just go longball when Crouch is in the team, even though he seems far more comfortable when its played to feet.

 

[Adam]

Conversely, what on Earth has Crouch done to deserve a start ahead of our top scorer and captain? He isnt working hard, he isnt taking his chances and he is completely destroying the way that Tottenham Hotspur play football.

Keane and Defoe have started up front together 7 times this year and we've won 6 of them. Defenders like Bramble will be delighted if we pump diagonal balls up to Crouch all day long, but will not enjoy having to track the movement of Keane and Defoe with Lennon and Kranjcar buzzing around just off them and Huddlestone being able to thread through balls in behind their defence.

Playing Crouch would be a massive error, and would give him a start that he certainly doesnt deserve.

 

[striebs]

Conversely, what on Earth has Crouch done to deserve a start ahead of our top scorer and captain? He isnt working hard, he isnt taking his chances and he is completely destroying the way that Tottenham Hotspur play football.

Keane and Defoe have started up front together 7 times this year and we've won 6 of them. Defenders like Bramble will be delighted if we pump diagonal balls up to Crouch all day long, but will not enjoy having to track the movement of Keane and Defoe with Lennon and Kranjcar buzzing around just off them and Huddlestone being able to thread through balls in behind their defence.

Playing Crouch would be a massive error, and would give him a start that he certainly doesnt deserve.

Well that makes a refreshing change from the prevailing view on SC which seems to be that it's all Keane's fault .

So long as we play 4-4-2 I really don't mind who plays as strikers .

That said I would rather we had Kranjar on the left and Keane if he plays up front .

 

[Dr Know]

I must say I would prefer Pav over Crouch, as many have said before we seem to forget we got midfielders when Crouch plays. The defence just lobs it right up to Crouch. So I guess what I'm saying is Keane and Defoe to start thanks

 

[Bill_Oddie]

Alternatively, Pav and Keane could both score goals that take their country to the World Cup on Wednesday. If that's the case, they'll both be in great form and confident. The case could be made that you shouldn't 'rest' either if that happens.

 

[jimbo]

I think this is a much simpler question if any of our strikers were showing anything approaching good form. As it is I think even Defoe is a little out of sorts lately, I would guess Harry will go with the front two he thinks will cause Wigan the most problems, which could be any combination. Though you'd imagine that Keane will get a half at most given the internationals and you could make the same argument against Pavlyuchenko.

So yeah, Defoe and Crouch then. I just hope we play a proper 4-4-2 with no more than 2 central midfielders at any one time.

 

[lukespurs7]

Rest Keane and we'll see another game where we send it long to Crouch, for long spells of the game, more than likely

Yep that is the problem!! And its not Crouch's fault as he's half decent on the floor,by all means from free-kicks and corners and crosses look to use his height but from open play,just play the kind of football we can,so frustrating!!

 

[Supersonic]

I would like to see Crouch start, but we should be able to beat Wigan either way really