Roberto Soldado needs strike partner, says Glenn Hoddle

[mawspurs]

Tottenham forward better in 4-4-2, says pundit.

Read the full article at Sky Sports

 

[JonnySpurs]

AGREED! Robbie did nothing all evening until Kane came on and he then instantly sprung to life. Granted he wasn't all over the place after that but he got his goal and he just seems so lost when up on his own.

At Valencia he always had Jonas playing off him and I think he needs that support in order to thrive properly.

Desperate to see him succeed at Spurs.

 

[18Klinsmann]

Two strikers or not, he definitely needs someone to link up with.
Last night's finish was a real poacher's goal on a night where he wasn't involved until Mason and Kane came on and we began to play forward instead of backwards/sideways. I still think about how well he combined with Eriksen and Gylfi in the first couple of games last season, when he played as a lone striker. What I'm saying is that as long as he is included in the first eleven I am convinced he will come good. Technically he is a brilliant player, and as long as he is in and around the box with other good players he is bound to get and produce chances. With no crosses and movement around him, naturally he is screwed.
Against negative sides that park the bus at the Lane I do, however, think that two strikers is the right answer whether in a 4-4-2 or 3-5-2 which might also work when Walker returns. Rose and Walker are both wing-back material, but I find it hard to see Poch tamper with his preferred system of four across the back (and I'm not sure I want him to either), and we are still to see a 4-4-2 starting lineup under him as far as I remember. We probably shouldn't expect one on Saturday either...

 

[JonnySpurs]

I also believe that we need to take advantage of the great relationship he has with Lamela. Even when being subbed off for Erik last night you could see that they had a quick joke with each other.

In pre-season they appeared to link up well and I would even consider us putting Eriksen off the left, Chadli off the right and Lamela playing just off Soldado to try and bring the best out of him.

Lloris

Walker Fazio Vert Davies/Rose

Chadli Dembele Capoue Eriksen

Lamela
Soldado

Or with a diamond midfield:

Capoue
Dembele Chadli
Eriksen

Soldado Lamela

I think the latter looks pretty awesome.

 

[Block D Spurs]

I did notice last night.. we played a 433 shape for a while.. Soldier needs support and attacking player movement, creating space for chances. Took his goal, with sharp reactions, the ability is still there, just needs support from Poch. and players in games to flourish

 

[whitesocks]

Hod is right.
We look better all over with 2 up top.

 

[Japhet]

We were better v Forest when we matched up and went 442. They were forced back once Kane came on. However, playing 2 up top and leaving ourselves outnumbered in midfield v a different formation would be suicidal IMO. We need a 10 who supports the striker but also puts in a shift in MF. Maybe Lamela can do it, but I don't think Eriksen is suited to that role, and playing him on the left leaves us weak defensively down that side.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

Whoever starts up front, they need support. Whether that be in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 makes no difference.

Against WBA, Liverpool and away in the EPL we failed to score using a 4-2-3-1 and for seventy minutes it was the same last night.

If that isn't evidence enough for Poch then nothing will be. We all know the adage about the definition of insanity don't we?

Let's just hope that he does.

 

[MyNameIsNicolaBerti]

Don't rate Hoddle as a manager, but I find it hard not to agree with this. He's not had a chance to develop a strike partnership with anyone since he's bin here so it's pretty unfair on the give to keep giving him stick when he's being asked to pretty much carry the entirely goal scoring responsibility of the side, particularly when goals don't come from midfield a lot. I think the same can be said of Adebayor. People always have the knives out for these two players, but when one players as a lone striker up front it puts huge amounts of pressure on the player. We saw how a lone striker formation didn't bring home the bacon under AVB. Poch is in danger of making the same mistake. I'd like to see Soldado, Ade and Kane all getting more experience of working together....and I would like to see different formations in different games. Doggedly sticking to the lone striker formation is AVB repeated. I assumed Poch had more dimension to his game so it'll be interesting to see what happens over the coming months.

 

[MyNameIsNicolaBerti]

Whoever starts up front, they need support. Whether that be in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 makes no difference.

I agree and I disagree. You're damn right that they need support, but that's what two strikers can provide, support for each other. So I think there is a difference between the two formations you mention. I'm sure if Ade and Soldado formed and effective partnership more goals will come. Ade scored a decent amount last year during the Sherwood months, and in a number of those games he was playing with Soladao or Kane.

 

[Block D Spurs]

Poch. has to have seen the difference in shape of 433 / 442. Personally i think 4411 with 2 of the MF 4 moving up to supply chances, pulling defenders wide / forwards so to creating space for both strikers in the box. It may not have shown on TV..the wider view at the game was..Off the ball Robbie was often making runs but did not receive the pass, throwing his arm up a few times..also turning off the defender shoulder, and no pass, which left him offside a number of times.

 

[Edgarsglasses]

Yea or just a midfield that bloody supports & creates for him

 

[mil1lion]

I think it could work with a wide forward as well though. It really frustrates me when the ball is on one wing and the winger on the opposite side just stands still. They need to bust a gut to get into the box and get themselves a goal. Chadli has started to do it more and he has a few goals to show but neither Townsend or Lennon have that attacking insincts. I'd actually like to see Harry tried as a wide left forward. Either way Soldado needs support up there.

 

[vigospur]

Or put another way, he can't play as a lone striker. Shouldn't be chosen as one again. If it is a two then Kane is a much better bet as an unselfish partner than Ade.

 

[Thfc28]

Much as I have respect for him..We really really needed Hoddle to point this out as every man & has dog & cat whatever can see we need that desperately and maybe we didnt even notice Defoe had gone either

 

[goughie1966]

Whoever starts up front, they need support. Whether that be in a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 makes no difference.

Against WBA, Liverpool and away in the EPL we failed to score using a 4-2-3-1 and for seventy minutes it was the same last night.

If that isn't evidence enough for Poch then nothing will be. We all know the adage about the definition of insanity don't we?

Let's just hope that he does.

Actually it's not so much that we didn't score it's the fact that we didn't even get a shot on target in that time. We went nearly 3 hours without a shot on target from the 75th minute of the Sunderland game to the one in the 71st minute v West Brom. And none at all during the Partizan game.

We spend 100m on players and go so long between shots on target. Incredible.

 

[JAYSTAR]

I really believe kane needs to be developed as our no 10, so he can play in a 4231 or 442 formation.
It is undeniable that we score more easily with two forwards on the pitch. I'd rather pick the cm pairing to suit the opposition and allow the front 4 to gel playing all pl games together:

Capoue Mason (weaker opp)
Dembele stambouli (tougher opp)

Lamela Kane Townsend
Soldado
​

Eriksen is out of form and could replace townsend, as could chadli but townsend does seem to be putting in the effort atm.

​

 

[CrazyHeart]

For once I agree with the man, but I don't think Ade or Kane are adequate. I think Eriksen and Lamela going forward should serve Soldado well in that capacity. 4-4-2 formations have been proven to be shredded apart by likes of Arsene, Jose and Manuel... such oppositions demand a physical 5-man midfield ahead of a strong back four.

 

[mawspurs]

For once I agree with the man, but I don't think Ade or Kane are adequate. I think Eriksen and Lamela going forward should serve Soldado well in that capacity. 4-4-2 formations have been proven to be shredded apart by likes of Arsene, Jose and Manuel... such oppositions demand a physical 5-man midfield ahead of a strong back four.

Yeah it's a case of horses for courses though, we need to have more than one way of playing so that we can change things up when necessary, such as against the teams whose managers you mention. Against the so called lesser teams though especially at home we can and should go two up front. We need to start increasing that 'goals for' column as well as the points column.

 

[eViL]

Even though he didn't play in a 4-4-2 in la Liga.

Brilliant.