Team vs. Arsenal

[Mr Pink]

This is a difficult one:

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Parker Holtby/Dembele​

Lennon Bale Siggi/Holtby​

Ade​

Now Bale's been given that free role our left side goes from being a strength to a glaring weakness imo. In the summer I'd like us to get in a left-sided player, if available Coentrao would do me, either to play LB or in front of Rose. If we do get him or an equivalent then I'd sell BAE, who for me is nether an over-lapping FB type, nor a robust full-back; what he is is very good at reading the game, he'll pick up loads of interceptions, he's cultured on the ball and will link up well with a good LW, but his inability to get to the byline and whip in a cross is a big negative, especially when we'll often be playing a narrow attacking three.

Back to the match, Holtby looked a bit at sea against West Ham, in particular when we lost the ball he was often miles from the left-flank, and they had a degree of joy attacking us down that side, he was also peripheral to the game in general. Siggi on the other hand made a difference when he came on and seemed more at home on the left. But we've seen Siggi be ineffective this season when he's on from the start, and equally Holtby has had great cameos when he's come on late, so I'm torn between the two. What I would say is that Holtby's best role is in the centre of the park.

I think Dembele looks like the season has taken it's toll on him so I'm half-tempted to rest him. Parker on the other hand has seemed rusty and short of confidence, however the second half against West Ham he played with much more assurance, almost as if those memories of all the Man of the Match performances he'd had at the Boleyn reminded him how to play and what made him effective. I want his energy and I think he should be given the chance to build on that second half showing. So, perhaps Holtby could partner Parker, and Dembele given a rest? On the other hand this is Arsenal at the Lane, Dembele will get himself up for it, and so in the end I think I'd go for him.

In summary then I'd go for Siggi over Holtby who I'd start on the bench.

The player I'm really looking for a big game from is Lennon, with all the attention sure to be lavished on Bale I'm hoping he'll find himself in space, and with Bale and Ade to aim for in the centre, with support from Siggi or Holtby his contribution could be very significant.

Yeah some interesting debates in there Sloth. Ultimately you're conclusion is right IMO. Dembele has to play, I think we'll see more of the second half performance against United on Sunday from him. He said it himself, its easier to get up for the big games. Although that worries me, I can understand it - its pyhchological afterall. So Dembele starting is a no brainer for me, we can always change it if he's looking ineffective or struggling, but I really doubt that will be the case.

The far more taxing choice is between Holtby and Siggi. With Bale likely to be central, or at the very least interchanging regularly to disturb them as much as possible - you then have to consider who's the best operating from the left for the sake of the team. I thought Holtby wasn't anywhere near positonally disciplined enough against West Ham and AVB made the change early in the second half which was to his credit. Siggi came on and made an immediate difference, mainly becasue he was positionally sound and it gave us much more balance. The reservation is anytime he's started he hasn't had much impact, any glimpse of quality has always come as a sub.

Holtby offers more grit and fight though, and his passing is better to but offers less goal threat. But those pro's come from the centre of the pitch and I think Bale playing central is the priority, or at least having a fair share of the game roaming through the middle attacking the heart of that vulnerable back line. With that in mind the person more adpet at playing from the left, and therefore the balance of the team benefiting, should get the nod...and that's Sig.

 

[Wardy]

I would start:

Lloris
Walker Dawson Verts Naughton
Parker
Lennon Dembele Holtby
BBBBBBBBBBAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEE (he covers all of these positions )
Adebayor

Lloris - becoming a hero - so good
Walker - please step up your game SON
Dawson - natural leader & good for derby game
Verts - you're a bit of a unit aren't you fella?
Naughton - purely for pace to keep up with Walcock... BAE not fit enough for this sort of game IMO
Lennon - the kid that never ages - legend
Dembele - Chuck wilshire an elbow as you breeze past him - he deserves it
Holtby - can't wait for his 1st proper derby game and will work his ass off for this game
Adebayor - purely because we don't have another option - Ade: pipe up mate and celebrate in front of the scum fans?


C.O.Y.S - very nervous for this game, but I honestly believe this is our time to show the scum we are better than them!

 

[vegassd]

Naughton - purely for pace to keep up with Walcock... BAE not fit enough for this sort of game IMO

The way to keep Walcott quiet is to keep him out wide and not let him run toward goal. BAE will be much better suited to this and will be more likely to keep his head in the atmosphere too.

The worry for me is Walker vs. Cazorla. I imagine that Arsenal will go with Diaby to keep an eye on Bale, so that should hopefully give Parker a bit more time to keep an eye on Cazorla. I think it's an argument for starting Gallas as well, because he will be better prepared to cover that RB position.

We could potentially dominate them down our own right flank but will have to be very careful about them on the break.

 

[Dan Yeats]

If we play any three of Bale, Lennon, Siggy & Dempsey in the AM slots then it really doesn't matter which bit of the paper you write them on. All four have become used to playing the width of the park and rotating throughout the match. All four can carry the ball down the wing. All four can cross from wide. All four can play through the middle (although less so with Lennon). All four can take a punt when the opportunity arises. There's even a certain amount of the same from deeper back with Dembele/Holtby/Sandro.

AVB has crafted a Brownian midfield at our club, and it's a thing of beauty.

 

[chinaman]

Lennon has got to be told to adopt a more attacking attitude. He hadn't been doing enough of that in the past 3 or 4 games.

 

[Air Jordan 3]

Noticed JD in the training pics, good option off the bench for 15 mins if needed, only been out a few weeks so fitness should be ok!

 

[Adam456]

Funny how playing Bale as our central attacking midfielder is SUDDENLY so popular. Nobody but Ravo agreed with me when I was saying that back in December.

And Sloth you're quite right - it now leaves us horribly unbalanced at LW - as I pointed out repeatedly since December - we should have been playing Townsend but didn't and eventually loaned him out.

Oh and if anybody asks - what do you want - a medal ? Yes please (since I was also saying play Bale instead of Malbranque at LW 5 years ago when most didn't want him anywhere near the team or as a LB at best )



So Dec 17 before Stoke game:

If the team news is correct then I suggest:



Lloris

Walker Dawson Vert Naughton

Lennon Demb Sandro Townsend

<-------------Bale------------->

Ade



Was going to suggest Townsend for the Everton game but Dempsey suddenly showed some form and it was away from home etc.



Also been meaning to start a read about giving Bale a completely free role behind Ade. At home and against sides who will park the bus at least. Until we sign anybody else I think it might be the best way to unlock defences. He can choose to run the channels or burst through the middle on touches from Ade or when we disposess. So often with our high pressing we can't take advantage.

...and Dec 22 before the Villa game:

Lloris

Walker Dawson Vertong Naughton

Lennon Sandro Dembele Townsend

Bale

Adebayor

.....and Bale wasn't available for Reading so I said Sig in the middle. And then as pointed out on Jan 2 in the 'lack of creativity thread':

.....Bale in a completely free role behind Ade with Townsend at LW. Imagine the movement there:

Lloris

Back____________Four

Lennon Sandro Dembele Townsend

< ------------ Bale ------------ >

Ade

.....and again in the 'why not play Bale as attacking mid/striker':

Said this a couple of times. Most recently in the creativity at home thread yesterday (below). It doesn't mean Bale tries to be VDV or that we then play a replacement LW with no pace. It simply means he is free to go wherever and double up on fullbacks or run into space when Lennon or Townsend (in my example) has been defending. Also not necessarily suggesting playing this away either

.....and in the team vs United thread but as a striker when we were short of options:

Lloris

Walker Daws Vert BAE

Lennon Parker Demb Townsend

Sigg

<-------------- Bale -------------->



I think we need 3 in the middle without Sandro because they'll be looking for revenge and pressuring from the off. I think Sig offers the best combination of tackling, mobility, creation and goal threat. As much as Defoe has been scoring this season, he very rarely manages against the top sides and will offer nothing in holding up the ball. As I often say, we would need him to put in one of those unplayable performances on the break and they are rare in general but never against the big boys. We can only have 1 luxury/passenger in this game so I can think of nothing better to scare them sheetless than having Bale with a free role up front - as he's played for Wales. We still need pace on the wings so that we're not inviting their fullbacks forward all day so Townsend in for Bale.

....and in the 'Is Defoe injured thread':

I was saying it before the QPR and ManU games. Time to give Townsend a game and Bale a completely free role. But no need against Leeds. Defoe should at least manage there

....and in the Team for Norwich thread:

Anyway my team for Norwich:



......................Lloris

Walker Dawson. Vertonghen BAE

Lennon Parker Dembele Townsend

......................Holtby

........................Bale

....and then ruefully pointing out that we stupidly loaned Townsend out and no longer have a natural winger to go to LW so that Bale can play central:

Well anybody who has seen my selections for the last 3 matches will have noticed that I have been advocating playing Bale centrally/up front with (our only pacy backup winger) Townsend coming in on the left.

Now we've sent Towns out on loan again (we should have done that at the start of the season if we didn't have any faith) we have no real alternative to playing Bale at LW (please don't even go there with Dempsey or Sig). So despite the fact that

Bale excels in the free role we have no option but to go with the utterly mis-firing and otherwise non-contributory Defoe with Holtby behind.

<------- Back 4 ------->

Lennon Parker Dembe Bale

Holtby

Defoe



Or just go with an unbalanced side that offers nothing at LW and regularly exposes Benny at LB:



<------- Back 4 ------->

Parker Dembe

Lennon Holtby Dempsey

Bale

.....and the rest, as they say, is history...........

 

[Mr Pink]

I always suggest playing Bale every week, can I have a medal to?

 

[worcestersauce]

Maybe you hadn't noticed how BAE fills the space on the left wing that is left empty when naughton plays.
By the way some of us were saying Bale should move to the middle three years ago.

 

[Dan Yeats]

@Adam456 - you do realise Bale has rather developed as a player in the last 5 years, yes?

 

[Adam456]

@Adam456 - you do realise Bale has rather developed as a player in the last 5 years, yes?

Yes

 

[alfiespurs]

Just sitting here and feeling the nerves already - We are so so close - just hope we do not do another repeat like last season - but looking at the lads, I think we have matured and solwly getting that winning meantlity of grinding out a result - I would like to see

Lloris
Walker,Dawson,Jan,BAE
Scotty,Mousa
Lennon,BALE
ADE

Just hope Ade had learnt his lesson and keeps his head screwed on - The MF Scum will be wel lwell up for this - really need to nullified Wilshire - COME ON YOU SPURS !!!!

 

[alfiespurs]

White shirt, blue shorts - league
White shirt, white shorts - Europe.

'tis the way it should be.

As long as its not that BLOODY COURT JESTER kit - I hate it and it brings us bad luck

 

[Mr Pink]

Just sitting here and feeling the nerves already - We are so so close - just hope we do not do another repeat like last season - but looking at the lads, I think we have matured and solwly getting that winning meantlity of grinding out a result - I would like to see

Lloris
Walker,Dawson,Jan,BAE
Scotty,Mousa
Lennon,BALE
ADE

Just hope Ade had learnt his lesson and keeps his head screwed on - The MF Scum will be wel lwell up for this - really need to nullified Wilshire - COME ON YOU SPURS !!!!

Not much chance with ten mate!!!

 

[alfiespurs]

Can we bring back JENAS - he loves to score against the SCUM CoYS

 

[alfiespurs]

Not much chance with ten mate!!!

Well spotted - told you I was a bundle of nerves - Holtby

 

[worcestersauce]

Well spotted - told you I was a bundle of nerves - Holtby

No problem alfiespurs the mood this side is in I'd back them with ten men!!!!

 

[thetallaghttiger]

Lloris​

​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen Assou-Ekotto​

​

Parker Dembélé​

​

Lennon Bale Sigurdsson​

​

Adebayor​

​

Subs: Friedel, Naughton, Caulker, Livermore, Holtby, Carroll, Defoe.​

​

I think Sigurdsson deserves his chance now to start, plus I feel the best we've seen of Holtby is when he comes in for a 20/30 minute spell. If that means subbing Sigurdsson then, so be it.​

​

I'd be worried about our centre of defence if Walcott started up top, ideally you'd then have Caulker playing, however I'd assume they'll go with Giroud up top and Walcott playing on the right. If so, BAE is the man for left back ahead of Vertonghen to deal with Walcott's pace/threat from a wide position.​

​

If we can have Defoe on the bench, it would be a MASSIVE boost for the players knowing that he could come on towards the end of the game​

 

[Spurs_Bear]

This is a difficult one:

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Parker Holtby/Dembele​

Lennon Bale Siggi/Holtby​

Ade​

Now Bale's been given that free role our left side goes from being a strength to a glaring weakness imo. In the summer I'd like us to get in a left-sided player, if available Coentrao would do me, either to play LB or in front of Rose. If we do get him or an equivalent then I'd sell BAE, who for me is nether an over-lapping FB type, nor a robust full-back; what he is is very good at reading the game, he'll pick up loads of interceptions, he's cultured on the ball and will link up well with a good LW, but his inability to get to the byline and whip in a cross is a big negative, especially when we'll often be playing a narrow attacking three.

Back to the match, Holtby looked a bit at sea against West Ham, in particular when we lost the ball he was often miles from the left-flank, and they had a degree of joy attacking us down that side, he was also peripheral to the game in general. Siggi on the other hand made a difference when he came on and seemed more at home on the left. But we've seen Siggi be ineffective this season when he's on from the start, and equally Holtby has had great cameos when he's come on late, so I'm torn between the two. What I would say is that Holtby's best role is in the centre of the park.

I think Dembele looks like the season has taken it's toll on him so I'm half-tempted to rest him. Parker on the other hand has seemed rusty and short of confidence, however the second half against West Ham he played with much more assurance, almost as if those memories of all the Man of the Match performances he'd had at the Boleyn reminded him how to play and what made him effective. I want his energy and I think he should be given the chance to build on that second half showing. So, perhaps Holtby could partner Parker, and Dembele given a rest? On the other hand this is Arsenal at the Lane, Dembele will get himself up for it, and so in the end I think I'd go for him.

In summary then I'd go for Siggi over Holtby who I'd start on the bench.

The player I'm really looking for a big game from is Lennon, with all the attention sure to be lavished on Bale I'm hoping he'll find himself in space, and with Bale and Ade to aim for in the centre, with support from Siggi or Holtby his contribution could be very significant.

That's a really good post sloth.

The only bit I disagree with is Coentrao. I had the displeasure of seeing him in the Bernabeu against Vallecano a couple of weeks ago. He was (and in my opinion is...) garbage.

 

[worcestersauce]

That's a really good post sloth.

The only bit I disagree with is Coentrao. I had the displeasure of seeing him in the Bernabeu against Vallecano a couple of weeks ago. He was (and in my opinion is...) garbage.

I'm surprised by that, in the euro's he was excellent.