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Push and Run - Match Preview: Must-Win at Reading?

dav3j

SC Supporter
Jan 28, 2011
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Hi all, thanks again for all the feedback and likes for my last article, means a lot to me. Hope you enjoy my latest piece on our expectations for the Reading game...

Following what seemed like an endless international break with only the Spurs youth setup in the NextGen Series to satisfy fans’ craving, Tottenham will resume their rather stop-start beginning to the season this Sunday with a short trip west to Reading and the Madejski Stadium. Reading themselves have not had the most captivating start to the season, with their last league match at Sunderland being postponed, and coming on the back of a defeat at Stamford Bridge and a last-gasp draw against Stoke on the opening day. However, in the eyes of many, the pressure is already on Villas-Boas to deliver Spurs’ first win of the season after disappointing results against Norwich and West Brom, but is this game really a must-win, and should fans be expecting Spurs to take all three points?

Read more: http://t.co/NBv7gn7Q
 

pablo73

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
3,978
13,596
Thanks for that, good read and I agree with most of it.

Couple of points I disagree with:

- I don't think the defence has looked 'largely competent bar a couple of silly goals' - I think we've looked very shaky at the back particularly towards the end of the last two games. i would get Gallas out of the team immediately, I think he should be 5th choice or 4th at best.

- I think you're overrating Bale's contribution so far, I think he's been fairly anonymous.

I would also stick Dempsey in for either Sig or Lennon
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
"So, is this game really a must-win? I personally don’t think so. While a comprehensive victory would appease fans and show we have a fanastic set of players, at the minute, that is all they are. Villas-Boas must be given time to work with these players and forge the team and style of play he wants to see, which is no easy, overnight task."

Completely agree
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,729
5,431
The lauding of Bale's contribution to the first three games is mysterious. He's been absent for large portions of those games, and I have my doubts that front-left forward is a good position for him. If you take away his searing runs at the full back, starting from a lot deeper than the front left position, then I'm not sure we'll have the same player.

I'd agree that Adebayor is must for starting, and that Dembele should play in the middle unless Parker is fit. If Parker is available, I'd play him with Sandro and have Dembele in place of Sigurdsson in your line up. I'd also be tempted to play Dempsey front right instead of Lennon, because he offers more goal threat and Lennon offers more pacey impact from the bench.

I'd also certainly pick Dawson at the back. If there's an option to add Dawson, Parker, Dembele and Adebayor to the spine of this team, I reckon we'll see a much better performance. This will be a nice scalp for Reading, so we have to out-fight them first and then let our superior ability win the day.
 

Chris_D

Well-Known Member
Feb 24, 2007
2,652
1,278
"So, is this game really a must-win? I personally don’t think so. While a comprehensive victory would appease fans and show we have a fanastic set of players, at the minute, that is all they are. Villas-Boas must be given time to work with these players and forge the team and style of play he wants to see, which is no easy, overnight task."

Completely agree
It's not yet a must win. Sooner or later we've got to win something or we're going to be under real pressure. This game is winnable so if we can win this one it'll take the pressure off a harder fixture later on. If we don't win this one then a must win game is only around the corner.
 
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