Ratings vs Man City

[Bus-Conductor]

Last season it made sense to stick with Dier and Dembele because our options of Mason / Bentaleb / Carroll were not good enough . Before you say that you also advocated Winks and Onomah, clearly Poch didn't think they were ready ( and still doesn't and sensibly is integrating them into the squad with occasional appearances from the bench and league cup etc.

We had a strong first 11 but couldn't cope with injuries / fatigue /suspension. Our transfer business this summer was excellent from the point of view of extending our options without the lavish spending of our rivals. Why ? Because we already had a strong starting point, we didn't need to bring in replacements for our team from last year. Now Wanyama has been excellent and maybe is an upgrade on Dier. The other signings are high quality options. But why would you have a problem with Wanyama and Dembele together in midfield ? I think that would scare the life out of most teams. In fact I am quite sure that when Dembele is match fit he will come in , probably for Sissoko.

I have just read some of the 63 pages of post match post mortem on Blue Moon and do you know what so many say ? They can't cope when they have injuries to key players, they need to improve their squad depth with more signings in January. Or no De Bruyne no team. Sounds familiar ? Shows how we have moved forward from last season.

I don't agree with that, firstly because many of us were constantly pointing out that a change of formation could easily mitigate any perceived deficiencies, and recent games evidence this, but also I don't agree with the basic premise that Bentaleb or Mason weren't good enough or viable options played next to one of the obdurate duo for many games. It's not like Eriksen is a defensive tiger or Alli doesn't lose the ball or make mistakes.

 

[spursdon1]

I don't agree with that, firstly because many of us were constantly pointing out that a change of formation could easily mitigate any perceived deficiencies, and recent games evidence this, but also I don't agree with the basic premise that Bentaleb or Mason weren't good enough or viable options played next to one of the obdurate duo for many games. It's not like many Eriksen is a defensive tiger or Alli doesn't lose the ball or make mistakes.

Don't worry, Alli hates you too.

 

[Jospur]

View attachment 25850

How the fuck do they come up with these, Otamendi higher than all our outfield?

The Sun (Dream Team) gives Lloris Star Man for the game. Interesting that the ratings table at Spurs Community has only one person voting for Lloris - 0.2% of all voters. As for Otamendi - he was on the brink of being sent off on a number of occasions. Didn't deserve the '8' rating. Others did better than him. Not sure how The Sun comes up with such inappropriate ratings...

 

[mpickard2087]

The Sun (Dream Team) gives Lloris Star Man for the game. Interesting that the ratings table at Spurs Community has only one person voting for Lloris - 0.2% of all voters. As for Otamendi - he was on the brink of being sent off on a number of occasions. Didn't deserve the '8' rating. Others did better than him. Not sure how The Sun comes up with such inappropriate ratings...

I you look in that graphic, it says how - they go off the ratings from WhoScored. So blame the stats experts. Not that uncommon in my experience for these 'Gurus' to somehow pick out a player who's clearly having an absolute shocker for motm or a silly rating.

 

[dannythomas]

I don't agree with that, firstly because many of us were constantly pointing out that a change of formation could easily mitigate any perceived deficiencies, and recent games evidence this, but also I don't agree with the basic premise that Bentaleb or Mason weren't good enough or viable options played next to one of the obdurate duo for many games. It's not like Eriksen is a defensive tiger or Alli doesn't lose the ball or make mistakes.

Ok well let's just say that I regard switching Mason and Bentaleb for Sissoko and Wanyama as an upgrade .

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Ok well let's just say that I regard switching Mason and Bentaleb for Sissoko and Wanyama as an upgrade .

Sissoko isn't even a central type midfielder and Mason and Bentaleb are nothing like the same type of players as Wanyama. IMO, Bentaleb would be bloody excellent in this current set up with Wanyama, not instead of. In fact I think a CM3 of Mason/Wanyama/Bentaleb could have been bloody good and a really good blend of skills, dynamism and tenacity.

 

[dannythomas]

Sissoko isn't even a central type midfielder and Mason and Bentaleb are nothing like the same type of players as Wanyama. IMO, Bentaleb would be bloody excellent in this current set up with Wanyama, not instead of. In fact I think a CM3 of Mason/Wanyama/Bentaleb could have been bloody good and a really good blend of skills, dynamism and tenacity.

If we go with your preferred 4-3-3 ( if all are fit ) I would prefer Dembele / Wanyama/ Eriksen with Lamela, Kane and Son ahead of them. In a 4-2-3-1 I would push Eriksen forward to play between Lamela and Son . Personally I don't think there is any doubt which threeesome is stronger but as ever we can agree to disagree. As for Sissoko I agree that his best position is as an attacking midfielder.

Porch started with Mason and Bentaleb in his first season and so I think it as valid to say that Dembele and Wanyama are stronger than them in either a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 . Buying Sissoko has given us more midfield options whether or not he plays an identical role.