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Team v Newcastle (H)

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
The good news is Sonny is back & Dele should not be far behind.
Here's my team for next Sunday- (4-3-3)
Lloris
KWP Toby Jan Rose
Sissoko Winks N'Dombele
Moura Kane Sonny
subs: Gazza Davinson Davies Skipp Dele Lamela Dier
COYS!!!!

This is how we should have setup against City (If Sonny was fit)
 

Primativ

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2017
3,229
12,486
Winks had no interceptions or tackles versus Man City and he was our deep lying playmaker...DM or whatever you want to call him

Eventually people will come round to the fact he isn’t a part of our best 11.

Does he offer enough defensively in that position? Absolutely not. Does his on the ball ability make up for his defensive shortcomings! No it’s doesn’t. The sooner Poch wakes up and puts Winks on the bench, I genuinely think our CM will be better balanced.

Winks is a squad player but I’d like to see Sissoko and NDombele as the two, with GLC in front of them.

As a three I think they will be our best options there.

Winks is the golden boy on here but he’s incredibly overrated. Not sure why he gets in most people’s selections when his attributes are well covered by other players and they can do more on the ball than he can.
 

buckley

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2012
2,595
6,073
We worked our socks off for this point so well done lads.
If apart from Lamela and Moura you can tell me who played well? it seems unfair to single out any one player also I don't get why all and sundry seem to be down on winks as nobody came out with real merit except for showing grit and tenacity.
 

Khilari

Plumber. Sort of.
Jun 19, 2008
3,461
5,287
Not sure the Sissoko / Winks / Ndombele midfield trio works for us at the moment, but we haven’t really had a decent go at it yet.

I actually think Winks has been more effective than Sissoko in these last couple of games but has been the formation change casualty both times.

Would rather see a double pivot behind an attacking 4 from:

Kane / Moura / Son / Eriksen / Lamela.

But I think Pochettino will persist with the MF three.
 
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Flashp

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
784
3,274
You don't think Winks makes us tick so you'd prefer Sissoko? I don't see the logic. All the complaints you've made about Winks can be applied to Sissoko to an even greater extent.

I don't think Sissoko makes us tick either, but I've never expected that from him, and it has never been his role.

Against Villa and against City again, he made some good breaks with the ball, and naturally have more of a physical presence than Winks, defensively.

Don't get me wrong, I love Winks, and I also agree that most of our problems so far has been down to Pochs formations and the designated player roles in the dreaded diamond. In the current setup however, I think he's the most expendable of our CM3. I'd keep Ndombele and Sissoko on for their mix of skills, and of course keep Sissoko in the CM role, and not in the 16/17 Sissoko misplaced RW role.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,840
56,924
I don't think Sissoko makes us tick either, but I've never expected that from him, and it has never been his role.

Against Villa and against City again, he made some good breaks with the ball, and naturally have more of a physical presence than Winks, defensively.

Don't get me wrong, I love Winks, and I also agree that most of our problems so far has been down to Pochs formations and the designated player roles in the dreaded diamond. In the current setup however, I think he's the most expendable of our CM3. I'd keep Ndombele and Sissoko on for their mix of skills, and of course keep Sissoko in the CM role, and not in the 16/17 Sissoko misplaced RW role.
You'd have a great point if the next game was Arsenal away, but it isn't. I don't think we need the brute physicality of Sissoko against Newcastle at home. Winks and Ndombele will be a strong enough midfield duo. If the Villa game told us anything it's that Sissoko's lack of composure is the absolute last thing we need when trying to break a team down. Winks' ability to keep the ball moving from a deeper position will lend itself to this match perfectly.

The bigger problem is the shape. If Poch reverts back to the diamond this is all moot.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
If you are playing possession football with teams sitting against you, you can't afford players with a 50/50 touch (or worse) So Sissoko would be the man to go for me from CM, although that still leaves Lamela, Moura, Alli and (less so) Son ... we have too many with a heavy touch and when you are being asked to play in limited space it just doesn't work.

If we need a battering ram he can come on later in the game.
 

nuttynoah

Arbiter elegantiae
Jul 21, 2004
8,175
7,432
Lloris
KWP - Toby -Verts - Davies
Winks - N'Dom - Lo Celso - Lamela
Son
Kane​


subs: Gazzaniga - Sanchez - Skipp - Rose - Dier - Lucas
 

thekneaf

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
1,933
3,878
Son and Lo Celso need to start to get match fitness for Arsenal. The aim should be as many players fit and ready to be selected for that key game.
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Son and Lo Celso need to start to get match fitness for Arsenal. The aim should be as many players fit and ready to be selected for that key game.

Nah, that sort of thinking is outdated... every game is key when you're in the race for the title.

That being said, Son and LoCelso do need to start getting match fit, not because of the Arsenal game, but because they will be key in our claim for the title.
 

journeyman

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2005
931
3,657
————Lloris
KWP—Toby—Sanchez—Rose
——-Sissoko—Ndombele
Lucas—Eriksen——Son
————Kane

Subs: Gazzaniga, Jan, Dier, Skipp, Winks, Lamela, Lo Celso
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,729
5,431
Newcastle had a chastening defeat against Norwich, after their tails were up from a decent showing against Arsenal. They possibly went to Norfolk a little too sure of themselves - some interviews suggested as much - and were found out. Their next six matches include Watford and Brighton and they can't afford similar results in those. So you can be sure they'll be defending for their lives against us, without expecting too much.

With that in mind, I'd love for Plan A to work in this game for us. It's a perfect one to play a dynamic 4231 since we'll have most of the ball and need to ensure we're moving the ball quickly and not allowing silly chances against us. Harry Winks has been subbed out for the last two - if that doesn't repeat I reckon Plan A would be working! This suggested line-up is tough on Sissoko and Lamela, who've done nothing wrong and a lot right, but I'd go for this against a "low block".

Lloris
KWP, Alderweireld, Sanchez, Rose
Winks, Ndombele
Moura, Eriksen, Son
Kane

Our bench is starting to look formidable as players return: Gazzaniga, Vertonghen, Davies, Dier, Sissoko, Lamela, Lo Celso

(with Foyth, Sessegnon, and Dele still to come back)
 

maltahotspur

Always look on the bright side of life
Oct 29, 2007
2,572
2,365
Lloris
KWP - Toby -Verts - Davies
Winks - N'Dom - Lo Celso - Lamela
Son
Kane​


subs: Gazzaniga - Sanchez - Skipp - Rose - Dier - Lucas

So Sissoko/Eriksen doesn't even make your bench and you'd prefer having only 6 not 7 on the bench ? Baffling, to say the least.
 

thekneaf

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
1,933
3,878
Nah, that sort of thinking is outdated... every game is key when you're in the race for the title.

That being said, Son and LoCelso do need to start getting match fit, not because of the Arsenal game, but because they will be key in our claim for the title.

I politely disagree, beating a rival is excellent for morale both with the squad and fan base. 3pts away to a rival is also an emphatic statement. Yes every game is vital, but your suggestion that my main focus in life is beating Arsenal is at best misconstrued. I want everyone fit for a tough game where 3pts are not assured.
 

mike_l

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2005
5,171
3,676
Well that’s just not true is it? NDombele scored the first goal versus Villa, how would that have happened if he’d have been taken off instead of Winks?
One of the other 10 outfielder, or Lloris doing a Robbo at a push, would've scored instead and the end result would have been more or less the same.

If you're making a joke then apologies, if not, then learn to read between the lines.
 

doctor stefan Freud

the tired tread of sad biology
Sep 2, 2013
15,170
72,169
One of the other 10 outfielder, or Lloris doing a Robbo at a push, would've scored instead and the end result would have been more or less the same.

If you're making a joke then apologies, if not, then learn to read between the lines.
Which lines?
 

teok

Well-Known Member
Aug 11, 2011
10,836
33,607
I'm very impatient to see Lo Celso but would accept 20 mins from him.
 
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