Team v City

[Reado]

Whats our record of last 5 games against them? Can the stats masters dig this out?

Well we beat them this season, did the double over them last season, and I think they did the double on us the season before that.

 

[noggen]

Whats our record of last 5 games against them? Can the stats masters dig this out?

3 wins in a row. Lost the two before that.
2-0 this year. 2-1 away and 4-1 at home last season.
Lost 1-0 at WHL and 4-1 Etihad the season before that.

 

[JayB]

For me, it should definitely be our primary formation, but it might not always be the best option for a particular game, especially when we rotate the squad. Now that Vertonghen is injured, it will certainly be more challenging to keep three CBs on whilst also resting players, in cup games.

I disagree, we have plenty of squad depth to cope with one CB being injured. For the back 3 formation we have have three right-sided CBs in Toby, Dier, and CCV, and three left-sided in Vertonghen, Wimmer, and Davies. Although we have really only lined up with Toby as the central CB so far since we switched formations, I'm quite sure that Dier will be able to play in that spot given that he essentially played as an auxiliary CB splitting Toby and Vertonghen last season.

Vertonghen is in the best form of his Spurs career and of course will be missed but if Wimmer can replicate his form of last season we'll be just fine.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lloris
Dier Alderweireld Wimmer
Walker Wanyama Dembele Rose
Eriksen Dele
Kane

Vorm Trippier Davier Winks Sissoko Nkoudou Son​

 

[yankspurs]

In all honesty, the team picks its self. Wimmer slotting in for Verts if he is, in fact, out like we all think. Same exact team as today and Chelsea. The bench is where there could be some fluctuation depending on Lamela's availability and/or if Poch wants a CB on the bench. But I think its pretty clear the only change in the entire 18 will be Wimmer in for Vertonghen at LCB.

Just for discussion sake, do you think Poch opts for Son in for Dier and go with the set up that beat City at the Lane? A bit more direct and pacey, better opportunity to strike off the press. The 343 has been working very well recently but I have noticed we havent really pressed with it that much, and I wonder if that is because Poch doesnt feel comfortable pressing with it, particularly as the full backs are playing higher up and the only true attackers out there are Kane, Eriksen and Dele,

Oh and all in favor of wrapping Toby and Dier in bubble wrap this week in training?

 

[Neon_Knight_]

I disagree, we have plenty of squad depth to cope with one CB being injured. For the back 3 formation we have have three right-sided CBs in Toby, Dier, and CCV, and three left-sided in Vertonghen, Wimmer, and Davies. Although we have really only lined up with Toby as the central CB so far since we switched formations, I'm quite sure that Dier will be able to play in that spot given that he essentially played as an auxiliary CB splitting Toby and Vertonghen last season.

Vertonghen is in the best form of his Spurs career and of course will be missed but if Wimmer can replicate his form of last season we'll be just fine.

I think you've slightly missed my point. We have more than enough cover for league matches, but we are about to be inundated with midweek cup ties, where key palyers need to be rested. With Vertonghen injured, it would be pretty much impossible for the following players to be rested simultaneously, unless we want to put out a very suspect defence:

Rose + Wimmer (Davies can't cover for both at once and we have no other LCB options)
Wanyama + any CB (Dier would be slotting into CDM, so that would mean two changes at CB)

You may disagree, but I would not feel comfortable with both CCV and Davies playing in the back three at the same time, alongside only one of our more established CBs. It might be adequate against Wycombe, but that could well be the only remaining fixture of the season, depending on how kind cup draws are.

Although we have a few options for CM, playing without either of Wanyama or Dier at CDM would have a huge impact on how we play. The CBs wouldn't be able to maraud forwards as they currently do and the CM pair would probably have to play deeper than Dembele currently does, to compensate for the fact that neither is a CDM. In short, our whole team would end up playing deeper...that's definitely a bad thing.

 

[yusrisafri]

3 wins in a row. Lost the two before that.
2-0 this year. 2-1 away and 4-1 at home last season.
Lost 1-0 at WHL and 4-1 Etihad the season before that.

I forgot we did the double over them. I hope the city players memories are better than mine and its making them shiver inside.

 

[JayB]

I think you've slightly missed my point. We have more than enough cover for league matches, but we are about to be inundated with midweek cup ties, where key palyers need to be rested. With Vertonghen injured, it would be pretty much impossible for the following players to be rested simultaneously, unless we want to put out a very suspect defence:

Rose + Wimmer (Davies can't cover for both at once and we have no other LCB options)
Wanyama + any CB (Dier would be slotting into CDM, so that would mean two changes at CB)

You may disagree, but I would not feel comfortable with both CCV and Davies playing in the back three at the same time, alongside only one of our more established CBs. It might be adequate against Wycombe, but that could well be the only remaining fixture of the season, depending on how kind cup draws are.

Although we have a few options for CM, playing without either of Wanyama or Dier at CDM would have a huge impact on how we play. The CBs wouldn't be able to maraud forwards as they currently do and the CM pair would probably have to play deeper than Dembele currently does, to compensate for the fact that neither is a CDM. In short, our whole team would end up playing deeper...that's definitely a bad thing.

I think you're overestimating how much rotation will be necessary. CB is the least physically demanding outfield position and Poch has hardly rotated it at all during his time with us. How much playing time have our backup CBs been given when Vertonghen and Toby have been fit? Scarcely any. The occasional marauding run forward enabled by the 3-4-3 doesn't fundamentally change that.

Our fixture list doesn't get busy for another month anyway, by which time Vertonghen could be close to a return depending on the severity of his injury. As you suggest, we will likely rotate fully for the FA Cup (which the Villa match would suggest is viewed as our lowest priority) and the draw against Gent means we will probably be able to get away with some rotation in the first knockout round of the Europa League as well, if Poch deems it necessary. The round of 16 for the EL is nearly two months out, by which time Vertonghen will likely be back unless his injury is extremely bad.

If we pick up another injury to a CB then things could get dicey but as things stand Vertonghen's injury will just mean a temporarily increased workload for Wimmer and Davies, something which I'm sure both of them will welcome.

 

[Bulletspur]

I forgot we did the double over them. I hope the city players memories are better than mine and its making them shiver inside.

Or they forget and underestimate us, lower their guard and we beat them with a sucker punch!!

 

[Bobbins]

When did playing for Bales, whoops I mean Wales, give an indication of a player's quality? And Davies is 5ft 11 and Poch has never bought a CB under 6ft 2 - if we played him at CB he'd be targeted like we targetted Aspilaqueta.

He's literally played Davies at CB before for us, let alone just Wales.

It's nothing to do with national teams and indications of quality - the point is it's a natural position for Davies to play and he's played there plenty of times before (as well as playing CB plenty of times in his career).

There's no point totally dismissing the bloke's ability to play in a position he's quite clearly very capable of playing in.

 

[littlemandefoe]

This is going to be a massive game for numerous reasons. If we win this one we are serious serious title contenders. Last season was exciting but there was always a doubt, this season though... We are flying at the moment and although I am young, this is the most excited I have ever been watching Spurs. I expect to win every game, really. The Champions League was a huge disappointment but we can make up for that by winning the league!!! COYS

 

[Japhet]

Where on earth does all this 'Davies is more comfortable on the ball' stuff come from. Wimmer is a very good passer and a far superior CB than Davies, and stepped in for Vertonghen seamlessly last season. Davies may play that position for Wales but he wouldn't for Austia.

Edit; If we played Davies at LCB and he picked up a knock we'd have no real cover for Rose. If Wimmer plays and gets a knock we're still OK for a short while at least - hopefully until Vertonghen gets back.

 

[millsey]

He's literally played Davies at CB before for us, let alone just Wales.

It's nothing to do with national teams and indications of quality - the point is it's a natural position for Davies to play and he's played there plenty of times before (as well as playing CB plenty of times in his career).

There's no point totally dismissing the bloke's ability to play in a position he's quite clearly very capable of playing in.

Match of the day had Vertonghans position right up the pitch. Not sure Wimmer can do that. Leave Toby back and Davies has the speed and legs to get up the pitch. He's much quicker than Wimmer. I actually think Poch will go with Davies

 

[millsey]

In all honesty, the team picks its self. Wimmer slotting in for Verts if he is, in fact, out like we all think. Same exact team as today and Chelsea. The bench is where there could be some fluctuation depending on Lamela's availability and/or if Poch wants a CB on the bench. But I think its pretty clear the only change in the entire 18 will be Wimmer in for Vertonghen at LCB.

Just for discussion sake, do you think Poch opts for Son in for Dier and go with the set up that beat City at the Lane? A bit more direct and pacey, better opportunity to strike off the press. The 343 has been working very well recently but I have noticed we havent really pressed with it that much, and I wonder if that is because Poch doesnt feel comfortable pressing with it, particularly as the full backs are playing higher up and the only true attackers out there are Kane, Eriksen and Dele,

Oh and all in favor of wrapping Toby and Dier in bubble wrap this week in training?

Do we need to press when we are winning so well? Much over talked this pressing thing. We get the ball and don't give it back now. I think 343 is our formation for the rest of the season.

 

[Bobbins]

Is this game going to be easier or tougher after City's destruction today?

 

[Mark_147]

Is this game going to be easier or tougher after City's destruction today?

Well I prefer them losing 4-0 than winning 4-0

 

[holmesy]

I expect we'll go about this game similar to the Chelsea match. The performance we put on against Chelsea was completely different to what we have done in the past against the top teams... I think we changed the way we played and we were a lot calmer and rigid as we knew they had threats.... It was very workmanlike compared to how we played against West Brom for example, when we were more fluid and our fullbacks were more in there half then our own....

I am hoping its a case we have learnt how to perform in the big games and to hold our nerves and not play as 'riskier' game as we normally would have...first and foremost keep it tight, then look for opportunities.

They need to win more then we do, so we can expose them if we're patient

 

[Mr Pink]

Obviously Pep will have them fired up for this given today's result and how poor they've been recently bar the Fa Cup game against West Ham.

So I expect a fast start from them with plenty of tempo and energy. If we can withstand the inevitable early pressure I fully expect us to gradually get on top of them and overpower them in midfield.

We keep them quiet early doors and the atmosphere could get really cagey for them which will really play into our hands.

Their midfield and defense is so weak looking we need to be careful we're not over confident as their attack is still a world class unit.

But if we boss the middle we limit their supply and increase our own.

 

[arunspurs]

Pep is really fucked because of their midfield situation. He got in Gundogan who is out for the season. Then he relied on Fernandinho, who was playing so well initially, only, he had frequent brain freezes & got sent off 3 times already this season.

Without Fernandinho, Pep is playing with Zabaletta. WestHam in the cup made him look like Xavi But Everton yesterday put him in his place. Yaya is slow & doesnt set the tempo. I don't think he has any good talents in the squad to play at CM. They are far too overloaded with attacking midfielders & average defenders, its laughable how bad their squad is.

If Pep is going to play Yaya-Zabaletta against Wanyama & Dembele, he is in deep deep trouble. But then, who else has he got ?
Pep may take a gamble on Gabriel Jesus as striker, but how ready is he fitness wise for such a big game ?

Key for us is to cut their midfield from their really good forward line & pressurise their weak defense. If we can get a early goal, Etihad crowd should turn against them. Looks like Pep is too stunned in these games to make good tactical subs.

If we stick to our game plan, 3 points is for the taking...

 

[arunspurs]

If we play 3 at the back, it makes no difference whether we play Davies or Wimmer. Personally, I prefer Wimmer, as he has a good track record as Vertonghen's replacement.

If we play 2 at the back, I would prefer Wimmer ahead of Davies. But then, in this case, Dier-Toby would be the safer option.

My XI

Lloris
Dier, Toby,Wimmer,
Walker, Wanyama,Dembele,Rose
Eriksen, Kane, Alli