Match Threads Spurs vs MK Dons - Match Thread - Pre-season Friendly - KO 7.45 pm

[eddiebailey]

only the top two are bringing the goals and one of them wants out - which i would be happy to do if we strengthened accordingly. lucas can contribute to the overall team dynamic but if we're relying on him for goals we are in trouble. bergwijn and gil are unproven. i'm not happy with us at either end of the pitch, the defence more so.

also at 28/29 lucas, son and kane are all going to need replacing in the not too distant future, which is why it would make sense to me to put that process into action now while kane's value is at its highest.

Not sure Bergwijn or Gil have anything more to prove than some of the midfielders you named. With the exception of Holjberg for half a season none of them have a recent track record of performing consistently in the Premiership.

 

[Locotoro]

Honestly don't get the infatuation with the formation when formations nowadays are generally fluid, incorporating all those formations you highlighted in your post during a game - whether it's a lop sided attack to make it 3 at back with the ball or alli to get further forward to make it 4 3 3 etc etc.

Not a snipe at you btw.

You're absolutely right that a very good team should be fluid when it comes to formation.....except when you're in a defensive phase.

When you're defending fluidity is only going to create open spaces for the opposition and chaos/uncertainty within your team because players won't know who should be where.

A formation is useful if you are examining how a team should be defending. If we play 4-2-3-1 then you know the 4 will likely tuck in narrow and you will have the two wingers covering the wide space. The 4 remaining central players will usually create a diamond to force the opposition to their preferred direction.

When you play a back 3 you're looking to do the same thing except you're trying to force them down the middle where you have an overload. The wingers are not dropping back to cover the wide areas as the wingback is doing that job

(Unless you're like Jose's team and the fullbacks will stay wide and one/both CM will drop deep to make up another CB to cut the passing lanes and the wingers stay forward).

That's why i asked the question - because i'm interested in how we set up to defend

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

it was 433 up until the final 10 mins or so when it became 532.

It looks as if he won't be playing a five at the back like he did the season before last with wolves. I think he did it just to give everyone minutes.

If he were serious about considering the 5, he would have done it in the first half when we had Doherty and reguillon on.

It also puts more credence to the news that Doherty will go, no point in keeping him if we play with a 4, unless he does the lobsided full backs like José did. Which, again would probably still not suit him imo.

Of course he could just be picking the best formation with the players available.

if this is the case (playing with a 4), we are in desperate need of a right back (again!).

 

[PLTuck]

It looks as if he won't be playing a five at the back like he did the season before last with wolves. I think he did it just to give everyone minutes.

If he were serious about considering the 5, he would have done it in the first half when we had Doherty and reguillon on.

It also puts more credence to the news that Doherty will go, no point in keeping him if we play with a 4, unless he does the lobsided full backs like José did. Which, again would probably still not suit him imo.

Of course he could just be picking the best formation with the players available.

if this is the case (playing with a 4), we are in desperate need of a right back (again!).

Tomiyasu.