Team v. Lazio

[talkshowhost86]

Personally, I think the benefit gained from the majority of the first team playing together against good opposition and having another match to learn AVB's required style of play greatly outweighs the need to rest players this early in the season. The more they play the system the better they're going to get with it.

I'd swap in Lloris because I think eventually he'll be number 1 and possibly give Dempsey and Caulker/Dawson a start but outside of that I'd like to see the team that played against Reading.

That's a fair point, but we want the entire squad to be able to play the system so that when they come into the team (which we want so that we get some rotation) they aren't having to learn the system.

 

[ryantegan]

Any news if Lloris will be?

OK, according to the London based journo's he is in as well

 

[Chezaspur]

Important we keep the momentum after the Reading game so for me just a couple of changes, Lloris and Dempsey.

 

[stevenqoz]

Central Midfield needs to be Sandro Huddlestone Dembele

 

[$hoguN]

OK, according to the London based journo's he is in as well

Sounds good to me

 

[Yid121]

Central Midfield needs to be Sandro Huddlestone Dembele

Why do people keep saying that... It's toothless! These players hardly score or assist!

It has to be Huddlestone Sandro Demspey in my opinion. Dempsey will give us a goal threat and Dembele will be fresh for the weekend.

 

[camaj]

Debele scored on his debut and is more than capable of creating goals. Huddlestone can spot a pass and Sandro is capable of scoring and he'll cause defenders problems. Hardly toothless and switching Dempsey for Dembele wouldn't be a massive improvement but since Dempsey didn't start against reading he should start tonight

Townsend in CM? Walker at RM and Caulker at RB?!!

What drugs have you been smoking?

So if you disagree why not explain why? I never said Cauker at RB I asked if he could play there. I think Walker would be good down the right wing if we don't play Lennon. Of course, that would require someone to play RB. Who would you play RB if Walker was RW? It's easy to criticise and just avoid discussion

 

[Blake Griffin]

So if you disagree why not explain why? I never said Cauker at RB I asked if he could play there. I think Walker would be good down the right wing if we don't play Lennon. Of course, that would require someone to play RB. Who would you play RB if Walker was RW? It's easy to criticise and just avoid discussion

but why townsend in centre midfield? would you suggest lennon or bale play there?

 

[brasil_spur]

I'm hoping it will be:

Lloris

Walker
Dawson
Caulker
Naughton

Sandro
Hudd
Sig

Townsend
Dempsey
Bale

Ideally I wouldn't want to start Sandro, Bale or Walker here...but needs must I guess.

Can't risk starting Defoe tonight IMO - with Ade injured now, and Dempsey not up to speed etc.

Looks good to me Mr Pink.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Why do people keep saying that... It's toothless! These players hardly score or assist!

It has to be Huddlestone Sandro Demspey in my opinion. Dempsey will give us a goal threat and Dembele will be fresh for the weekend.

Dempsey isn't a central midfielder, that's the major problem there.

 

[idontgetit]

Is bale fit? It looked like he was limping a bit after the Reading match

 

[Yid121]

Dempsey isn't a central midfielder, that's the major problem there.

He played there for a large proportion of last season at Fulham, in behind the striker.. He would of course be the more advanced CM that Siggy usually plays.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

He played there for a large proportion of last season at Fulham, in behind the striker.. He would of course be the more advanced CM that Siggy usually plays.

It's possible. I thought Dempsey played on the right side for Fulham for the majority of last season though?

 

[Yid121]

It's possible. I thought Dempsey played on the right side for Fulham for the majority of last season though?

Nah he played on the left or the central position behind the striker. Then he had a few appearances upfront. He very rarely played on the right according to my Fulham mate.

Also, Dembele is much better as playing one of the holding CMs rather than the midfielder just behind the striker. My Fulham mate said he is worse than Modric at shooting, I guess he got lucky on his debut lol, but it makes sense when you see his goalscoring rate at his previous clubs. He's also like Yaya Toure in the fact that he is more dangerous running from deep and carrying his momentum in the final third to accelerate passed standing defenders.

 

[Blake Griffin]

It's possible. I thought Dempsey played on the right side for Fulham for the majority of last season though?

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

Is bale fit? It looked like he was limping a bit after the Reading match

That's just the fake look at me I'm limping because I've been trying really hard for the team and got myself injured limp.

We've all done it on a Sunday morning...

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Debele scored on his debut and is more than capable of creating goals. Huddlestone can spot a pass and Sandro is capable of scoring and he'll cause defenders problems. Hardly toothless and switching Dempsey for Dembele wouldn't be a massive improvement but since Dempsey didn't start against reading he should start tonight



So if you disagree why not explain why? I never said Cauker at RB I asked if he could play there. I think Walker would be good down the right wing if we don't play Lennon. Of course, that would require someone to play RB. Who would you play RB if Walker was RW? It's easy to criticise and just avoid discussion

Okay. For a start Townsend is not central midfielder and in my opnion has never displayed the ability to play there.

Why do you think Walker can play on the wing? Please don't tell me it's because he is quick?

 

[chinaman]

I am a bit worried about the striker situation. While not wanting to burn out Defoe as we need EPL points in the coming weeks, who can play there today?

 

[mattstev2000]

That's a fair point, but we want the entire squad to be able to play the system so that when they come into the team (which we want so that we get some rotation) they aren't having to learn the system.

Totally agree - just feel the first 11 at the moment really need to get it first and build up a bit of momentum. Plenty of time for players to rest when we play weaker opposition in the Europa and the Carling Cup.

 

[beats1]

I am a bit worried about the striker situation. While not wanting to burn out Defoe as we need EPL points in the coming weeks, who can play there today?

Dempsey will be starting up front imo, also Caulker and Townsend are definitely starting by the sounds of it and Carroll, Mason and Smith may play apart or start as well

In more than a decade as Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy has shown strong belief in the value of young players. While the club’s Academy system has not proved as fruitful as Levy would have liked, the early signs are that Andre Villas-Boas will place greater trust in youth than predecessor Harry Redknapp did.​

Against Lazio in the Europa League tonight, junior team graduates Steven Caulker and Andros Townsend will hope to play a significant role, while Jake Livermore, who failed to establish himself under Redknapp, is likely to get another chance to shine after impressing Villas-Boas during the summer.
Kyle Walker and Kyle Naughton were signed from Sheffield United in 2009 and after Walker proved his worth with stellar performances last season, Naughton was given his first League start for Spurs start in the 3-1 win at Reading on Sunday.
After leading FC Porto to success in the Europa League in 2011, Villas-Boas has set himself a demanding task in this season’s competition: to balance the desire to progress with the need to test the younger members of the squad while keeping an eye on Tottenham’s Premier League form. It will be tricky indeed for the Portuguese to succeed but if his younger players improve with exposure to European competition, it should enrich the squad.
Livermore, Townsend and Tom Carroll were used by Redknapp in last season’s competition but back then there was never a sense that the Europa League was important to the manager. His strategy would have brought Champions League qualification had Chelsea not won last season’s tournament but it is not a plan Villas-Boas will follow.
If the younger players understand the greater weight the Europa League carries under the new regime, they might feel more pressure to perform well. The ideal result is that they prosper under exacting circumstances.
“There are certain opportunities that must be given and we can use these competitions to give chances to players coming through,” said Villas-Boas.
“For example, in the summer we extended the contract of Steven Caulker, who is one of the players who can have a bright future here.
“Steven will get his chances very soon. He is doing well in training as is Andros, who has been fantastic. He did very well when he came on as a substitute against Reading.
“We also have Tom Carroll, Ryan Mason and Adam Smith coming through. They did extremely well for us in pre-season and they will certainly get opportunities during the season.
“The most important message I can tell the players in our youth academy is that there will be many chances if their talent is greater than the talent available in the first team. At this level, that is how I prefer to play it. The best talent in the world is easily identifiable and this talent will get into any team straightaway.”
While Tottenham fans will be keen to see how many of the young players are included tonight, they can also look forward to the possibility of a home debut for American Clint Dempsey and a full debut for goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.
Villas-Boas dismissed suggestions that Lloris, signed for £12million from Lyon in the closing hours of the summer transfer window, was nettled at learning he would begin life at White Hart Lane as understudy to Brad Friedel. Yet Friedel’s excellent form early in the season, coupled with the arrival of France’s first-choice goalkeeper, has given Villas-Boas a problem.
Lazio have the talent to give Villas-Boas another headache. The days of financial excess that brought Christian Vieri, Marcelo Salas, Hernan Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron to Rome are long gone but they finished fourth in Serie A last season and have begun the campaign well under new coach Vladimir Petkovic, winning their first three games.
Experienced Germany forward Miroslav Klose is their best-known player but Brazilian Hernanes is an inventive attacker and Antonio Candreva a smart midfielder, while Giuseppe Biava and Andre Dias are one of the most durable centre-back pairings in Italy.
“They are a well-organised team and one full of talent,” Villas-Boas added.​

“Even though they have changed their manager and their style of play, they have managed to surprise everyone during the early part of the season.”​

I like how he mentioned Mason and it seems he isnt going on loan, he has great ability and the most gifted player in our academy for a while, pushing him to championship club doesnt help him since they dont play his style, bleeding him in to our squad is the best way for him to progress until a premiership club like wigan want to take him on loan