Pochettinos 11 vs west ham

[Mr Pink]

What I believe Pochettino will play:

-------------------- Lloris --------------------
Walker --- Kaboul ------- Verts --- Davies
--------- Capoue --------- Paulinho ---------
Lamela ------------Holtby---------- Eriksen
------------------ Adebayor------------------

Why?

I think he will go for a side that can bring a physical presence in and around the box on set pieces against the Hoofball experts that are West Ham. Kaboul and Vertonghen represent not only our best CB tandem at this time but also the best in the air that we can offer.

Capoue and Paulinho are also valuable defending set pieces and we're going to need a physical presence in the box to hopefully win some headers and wreak some havoc on West Ham's backline. I'd imagine Paulinho could push even further forward at the expense of Hotlby dropping a tad deeper just to ensure we have enough physicality up top. It's why I also went with Adebayor over Soldado. Soldado is going to have a huge role this season, but I think this match might go against his style of play given the way West Ham play like assholes.

The '3' behind the striker are there to create space and confusion with movement. Holtby and Paulinho could add to that with interchanging between being an attacking midfielder and more of a box-to-box option. I think it could create the confusion we will need to break down West Ham's defense.

Last set piece he defended at West ham went down well lol

I know you cite interchanging there mate, between AM and more of the B2B role in the two, but I'd be surprised if Paulinho is selected for that position.

I see Poch wanting to stick with the system/style so we can build cohesion. Paulinho just doesn't use the ball well enough from that position and isn't great off it either - albeit he would beside the more disciplined Capoue.

I think we'll see tinkering with tactics according to the opposition but for me Paulinho would be to the detriment of the team's balance being played in the 'two'.

Just my onion

 

[Snarfalicious]

Last set piece he defended at West ham went down well lol

Meh. That was shitty, yeah. But I'm not looking back to last year, anymore. Feel like that was a different club/players in all honesty.

 

[Mr Pink]

Meh. That was shitty, yeah. But I'm not looking back to last year, anymore. Feel like that was a different club/players in all honesty.

Sorry mate, just added to that post on Paulinho above.

 

[Snarfalicious]

@mrpink I think you make a fair assessment in what Paulinho does bring to the table. I'm not stating that Paulinho should be in the side to run things and make the offense work, that's not his style. It's why I think Capoue as the partner work simply because Etienne can be fed the ball and distribute quickly which can keep the attack ticking over. He's done it all preseason. Paulinho's capable on the ball, he can play the quick one-twos (Thinking of Soldado's goal last season, one of our best of the season) as he's got the mind for it but he brings the ability to make dangerous runs into the box that can really mess up the organization of a side like West Ham that will undoubtedly sit deep.

 

[Mr Pink]

@mrpink I think you make a fair assessment in what Paulinho does bring to the table. I'm not stating that Paulinho should be in the side to run things and make the offense work, that's not his style. It's why I think Capoue as the partner work simply because Etienne can be fed the ball and distribute quickly which can keep the attack ticking over. He's done it all preseason. Paulinho's capable on the ball, he can play the quick one-twos (Thinking of Soldado's goal last season, one of our best of the season) as he's got the mind for it but he brings the ability to make dangerous runs into the box that can really mess up the organization of a side like West Ham that will undoubtedly sit deep.

Fair enough Snarf, we all have our preference.

For me, I just see Capoue with Schneiderlin, hopefully. I like that balance...or Bentaleb perhaps. I like the idea of one solid sitting type and a slightly more mobile, agile and tenacious type partnering him - who can get up and down a bit to, and both who can supply effective forward passing.

But Paulinho is interesting. He doesn't have the wit/cuteness to play the number ten role and is a bit weak to play deeper in a two IMO but in a three he could be great, arriving late into the box...would score loads.

That being said Poch could well improve some facets of his play and if he does we could have a hell of a player on our hands.

That's why I wouldn't want us to sell him, he could be capable of getting 15 league goals - and that's a big return for a midfielder.

 

[idontgetit]

It's shit like this that worries me about Pauli in a two-man midfield



Harsh picking out two examples but I think there are serious questions over his defensive commitment. I remember a few time watching the other CM push up and wide to press and knowing he wouldn't be dropping in to cover if the oppo broke.

 

[Sweech]

Again, this is why I think Paulinho is far better suited to be part of the attacking mid 3 instead of the CM 2.

 

[sloth]

Without including any potential signings. Also going by what Poch seems to be trying to do strategy wise.

Lloris
Davies - Vertonghen - Kaboul - Walker
Dembele - Capoue
Lennon - Lamela - Eriksen
Soldado
​

I'm not a super fan of Lamela in the middle, but more often than not either Poch aligns them that way or Lamela tends to rotate there frequently.

I also wouldn't mind seeing Chadli in over Lennon and seeing more of a Chadli - Eriksen - Lamela front.

Inverted full-backs, that's a new one! Presumably underlapping the wingers?

 

[Son of spurs]

Wait wait wait do none of you remember last season or the World Cup?
Paulinho is shit. In every way possible.

 

[Hoddle&Waddle]

think we'll go with this as our front 4

Townsend Lamela Eriksen (line them up how you want)
-------------Ade--------

 

[Gb160]

Wait wait wait do none of you remember last season or the World Cup?
Paulinho is shit. In every way possible.

Wow .... I have to ask mate, which debating society at Oxford were you part of ?.....that's some powerful stuff right there.

 

[TheUltimateHotspur]

Why are so many saying Ade will start? He hasn't played one pre season game and has had malaria. He has zero chance of playing IMO.

Anyway Soldado has been excellent pre season he deserves a start. As does Holtby and Capoue.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Why are so many saying Ade will start? He hasn't played one pre season game and has had malaria. He has zero chance of playing IMO.

Anyway Soldado has been excellent pre season he deserves a start. As does Holtby and Capoue.

for me it's because he's our best striker and i'm really underwhelmed by the idea of soldado up top on his own away to a side like west ham. kane has had an excellent pre season too so you could say he deserves to start just as much as soldado.

 

[Flobadob]

GK-Lloris
RB- Walker CB-Kaboul/Vertonghen LB-Rose
CM-Capoue and Bentaleb
RW- Lamela CAM- Eriksen LW-Lennon
ST- Kane

Personally I think Rose has been better than Davies in pre-season, plus I want our full-backs to put theirs under pressure because I don't rate them at all.

I feel very confident that Capoue and Bentaleb will be very good together. Both have shown they're good passers and can defend well and both can get forward to an extent, Bentaleb more so though.

Lamela/Eriksen/Lennon can cause the spammers big problems because of their link up play and spammers struggle up against a lot of movement.

The more I think about it, the more I think we need a more physical presence up top in this match against Tomkins and Reid. Kane has done well in pre-season so I think he deserves a chance, he can score and provide as well as hold the ball up well and that's going to be more important away from home. Adebayor would normally be my choice but it's unlikely he'll be fit/strong enough by this fixture

 

[NickHSpurs]

Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Davies
Capoue Holtby
Lennon Eriksen Lamela
Soldado

 

[TwoSaintsComeMarching]

Lloris
Walker Kaboul Vertonghen Davies
Holtby Capoue Eriksen
Lamela Kane Soldado​

 

[agrdavidsfan]

My team would be

-----------Lloris---------
Naughton--Kaboul--Vertonghen--Davies
---------Capoue----Mason----------
--------------------------------------
Lamela--------Holtby-------Eriksen
------------------------------------------------------Kane---------------

 

[DanielCHillier]

My team would be

-----------Lloris---------
Naughton--Kaboul--Vertonghen--Davies
---------Capoue----Mason----------
--------------------------------------
Lamela--------Holtby-------Eriksen
------------------------------------------------------Kane---------------

Why Naughton and not Walker ?

 

[CowInAComa]

I think we will go with Ade against the thugs and Roberto against QPR.

 

[sundanceyid10]

really hope Capoue and Holtby both start!