Team v Wolves

[Shadydan]

Less possession means very little, we created countless chances and 4-1 flattered Liverpool, my point is that we can play three at the back with the right personnel, and that 4 at the back with no career DM to screen them is a risk against a side as fluid as wolves

Missed the point there a little ...We could afford to give up possession against Liverpool because they used to dominate territory, Wolves don't. They have decent technicians in the middle of the pitch but they are setup to break hence having 2 wing backs.

I really don't see how one game from last season has any bearing whatsoever on this season when the opponents and citcumstances couldn't be any more different, it's a strange comparison. There are counter examples where we destroyed mid table fodder like Wolves playing with 4 at the back so I really don't understand the sudden need for 3?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Missed the point there a little ...We could afford to give up possession against Liverpool because they used to dominate territory, Wolves don't. They have decent technicians in the middle of the pitch but they are setup to break hence having 2 wing backs.

I really don't see how one game from last season has any bearing whatsoever on this season when the opponents and citcumstances couldn't be any more different, it's a strange comparison. There are counter examples where we destroyed mid table fodder like Wolves playing with 4 at the back so I really don't understand the sudden need for 3?

My ONLY point is that those players in that formation has worked. Nothing more to read into it. I even started my original post by stating that I generally don’t like 3 at the back but when we have no dedicated DM available and Dembele can’t run it is worth considering. Also, it’s not just 1 match v Liverpool, we played 3 at the back for almost the entire second half of 16/17 and as we amassed our best ever league finish, highest points total and destroyed teams one after the other.

 

[Shadydan]

My ONLY point is that those players in that formation has worked. Nothing more to read into it. I even started my original post by stating that I generally don’t like 3 at the back but when we have no dedicated DM available and Dembele can’t run it is worth considering. Also, it’s not just 1 match v Liverpool, we played 3 at the back for almost the entire second half of 16/17 and as we amassed our best ever league finish, highest points total and destroyed teams one after the other.

Yeah it worked once against a completely different opponent in a different season in different circumstances to what we're facing now, that is my point. We are a long way away from that in terms of personnel or confidence.

?? We are nowhere near the level of 2016/17 season though we had 2 of the best midfielders in the league at the time fit and on top of their game commanding the centre of the pitch and two fast wing backs hence why it worked so well, there is absolutely no comparison to be made to how we fare now.

Just because it worked for that one match doesn't mean it would work now, as I said we played the 3 against Watford who are a similar level team to Wolves and we were terrible, so I don't get why it would work now?

 

[spursfan77]

We need a firing Harry Kane for PSV. I’d almost start Son tonight up top and keep Kane on the bench.

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

No idea how Poch will go for this one. With having played two games already this week and a game on Tues we have to rotate. I’d probably go...

 

[kaz Hirai]

We need a firing Harry Kane for PSV. I’d almost start Son tonight up top and keep Kane on the bench.

I'd go with son too because he's on his streak hopefully, and eriksen, and lamela also need to start

Not overly concerned with psv as we'd have to best Milan and Barca away to progress.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Is Poch hinting that Sanchez might not be in a condition to start? This will probably come back to haunt me... But I would be quite up for seeing Foyth get another run out. Aside from that, I'm expecting a midfield of Sissoko and Dembele.

 

[WiganSpur]

Wolves

Lloris
Trippier Foyth Alderweireld Davies
Dembele
Dele ----- Sissoko
Lamela ------------------- Lucas
Kane
​

Gazzaniga, Sanchez, Aurier, KWP, Winks, Eriksen, Son


PSV

Gazzaniga
Aurier Sanchez Alderweireld Davies
Winks
Dele ---- Eriksen
Lucas ------------ Son
Kane
​

Vorm, Foyth, Trippier, KWP, Dembele, Lamela, Llorente

​

 

[Gareth88]

Llrois
Aurier- Foyth(wont happen)- Sanchez-Davies
Dembele-Dier
Moura- Winks- Lamela
Kane

Subs: Ali, Toby, Wanyama, Son, Gazza, Tripps, Erkisen

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Yeah it worked once against a completely different opponent in a different season in different circumstances to what we're facing now, that is my point. We are a long way away from that in terms of personnel or confidence.

?? We are nowhere near the level of 2016/17 season though we had 2 of the best midfielders in the league at the time fit and on top of their game commanding the centre of the pitch and two fast wing backs hence why it worked so well, there is absolutely no comparison to be made to how we fare now.

Just because it worked for that one match doesn't mean it would work now, as I said we played the 3 against Watford who are a similar level team to Wolves and we were terrible, so I don't get why it would work now?

Slightly revisionist, that amazing second half of season we played mainly with Trippier and Davies, Rose was crocked and Walker our of favour. So the best it ever looked was without two fast wingbacks. Also, we’re playing far better now than we were back when we face Watford, while Watford at that point we’re flying and wolves currently keep losing.

I’m not really sure what your bone of contention is, you are arguing for the sake of arguing. I haven’t even said that we’d be better with three than with four, merely that in current circumstances it might be wise to consider it. I think we are at our best generally with 4, but I think today we might not quite have the solid spine to play it so I’m suggesting, not insisting, but suggesting that it could be the way to go. You keep using Watford as a reason why 3 at the back won’t work and are ignoring the countless more occasions when it did, or finding extenuating circumstances which don’t actually exist to explain away why it worked. I actually agree with you, I prefer a 4, which is why I’m so baffled why you’re reacting as though your cat was gangbanged by a three man defence.

 

[Shadydan]

Slightly revisionist, that amazing second half of season we played mainly with Trippier and Davies, Rose was crocked and Walker our of favour. So the best it ever looked was without two fast wingbacks. Also, we’re playing far better now than we were back when we face Watford, while Watford at that point we’re flying and wolves currently keep losing.

I’m not really sure what your bone of contention is, you are arguing for the sake of arguing. I haven’t even said that we’d be better with three than with four, merely that in current circumstances it might be wise to consider it. I think we are at our best generally with 4, but I think today we might not quite have the solid spine to play it so I’m suggesting, not insisting, but suggesting that it could be the way to go. You keep using Watford as a reason why 3 at the back won’t work and are ignoring the countless more occasions when it did, or finding extenuating circumstances which don’t actually exist to explain away why it worked. I actually agree with you, I prefer a 4, which is why I’m so baffled why you’re reacting as though your cat was gangbanged by a three man defence.

Will concede the point about the wing backs (pretty sure Walker played more than Trippier though that season, Walker was out of favour towards April) but you conveniently didn't address the point about the midfield which is the main reason why playing with a back 3 will give us problems, we've already seen that this season.

I'm not ignoring the 'countless more occasions' the back 3 has worked, as I mentioned before those occasions were from previous seasons and we were in differenct circumstances then. Citing a formation switch for a one of circumstance last season when it worked in an isolated game isn't gonna convince me otherwise.

As you note we're playing well now and starting to improve but this contradicts your argument of changing the system, why would you want to change if we are playing well and starting to get settled in this formation?

Also this isn't an argument it's a healthy debate, normally happens when two people don't agree on something doesn't it?

 

[Scissors&Tape]

this isn't an argument

Yes it is.

 

[Paolo10]

Do tell us why you're so against a back 3, when it actually suits the best players we have available (IMO)?

 

[SpursAddict]

Hugo
Trippier Toby Foyth Davies
Sissoko Winks Dembele
Lucas Eriksen
Kane

Bench: Gazzaniga, Aurier, Sanchez, skipp, alli, lamela, son

 

[Giovanni]

Whilst i think we have played some great football under poch with a back 3 with some fantastic results i dont see it as the best option right now seeing as we dont have walker/ rose dominating the wide areas as we have done.
Id rather have a flat 4 and a more attacking cm2 and an extra forward. With lamela, moura, eriksen, son, alli we have a good selection of 3 to pick from those.

Im actually hoping for a dembele/ winks cm2 tonight because i think dembele can play a good shielding role with winks dictating and finding those forward passes with ease.