Team vs. Arsenal

[Spurs_Bear]

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

I think he was one of those players who people might have been guilty of getting caught up in the tournament. I was with 11 other lads and we all made the same comment after the game which was surprising.

And I'm talking more about basics in regard to just generally controlling a football and being half arsed about defending (this was with 10 men).

 

[vegassd]

Bale should start on the left. He's gonna be moving about all over the place when we counter attack anyway, but if he is central for the majority of the game he will be easier to mark.

I imagine they will use Diaby to cover him as much as possible, so if he spends time down the left that will be pulling Diaby away from the centre of the pitch, making it a more equal match-up between Wilshere/Arteta and Parker/Dembele. It will also put extra defensive pressure onto Walcott, and the thought of Bale running at Jenkinson is pretty nice!

Bale on the left is going to cause them more of a headache than Bale down the middle.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Bale should start on the left. He's gonna be moving about all over the place when we counter attack anyway, but if he is central for the majority of the game he will be easier to mark.

I imagine they will use Diaby to cover him as much as possible, so if he spends time down the left that will be pulling Diaby away from the centre of the pitch, making it a more equal match-up between Wilshere/Arteta and Parker/Dembele. It will also put extra defensive pressure onto Walcott, and the thought of Bale running at Jenkinson is pretty nice!

Bale on the left is going to cause them more of a headache than Bale down the middle.

Totally agree with this, his 'free role' needs to have an element of surprise to it.

 

[Mr Pink]

Bale should start on the left. He's gonna be moving about all over the place when we counter attack anyway, but if he is central for the majority of the game he will be easier to mark.

I imagine they will use Diaby to cover him as much as possible, so if he spends time down the left that will be pulling Diaby away from the centre of the pitch, making it a more equal match-up between Wilshere/Arteta and Parker/Dembele. It will also put extra defensive pressure onto Walcott, and the thought of Bale running at Jenkinson is pretty nice!

Bale on the left is going to cause them more of a headache than Bale down the middle.

Diably probably won't be fit for starters.

I think the bottom line is that Bale will sense the biggest weakness and generally ty and exploit it. Whether he starts on the left or more centrally, it will change as the game wears on....he'll interchange with Sig or Holtby etc

I think what's important is that whoever is doing the interchanging with him is aware of what's going on and can help us keep some balance when Bale is roaming more.

Pesronally I think he'll do more damage from central areas. They probably won't have Diaby so don't have a real enforcer to screen their back four. Shooting from around the edge of the box and bearing down on a vulnerable back line, where we could see a red card on Sunday, looks very daunting for Arsenal IMO.

I'm really not sure who's going to benefit from Bale getting to the by line to whip one in, but drifting in could still cause them plenty of problems.

Keep them guessing is best but Bale is most likely to do damage through the middle IMO, they'll be scared shitless of touching him.

 

[sloth]

I think he was one of those players who people might have been guilty of getting caught up in the tournament. I was with 11 other lads and we all made the same comment after the game which was surprising.

And I'm talking more about basics in regard to just generally controlling a football and being half arsed about defending (this was with 10 men).

I wouldn't push the idea of Coentrao for the reason you suggest - basically I haven't seen that much of him; but are you sure you're not guilty of under-rating him for the same reason others of us might be over-rating him?

The reason I suggest him are as follows:

• A player who can play both LB and LW.
• Good enough to play for Real Madrid, and according to Whoscored's rating algorithm* he has been the second highest rated player in their team this season, after Ronaldo, but above Alonso and Ozil.
• Real Madrid want Bale, and they might see the sale of Coentrao to us as a sweetener ahead of any future purchase of Bale, so he might be available in a way other players of his calibre might not be
• He's Portuguese, so is AVB, not sure how that's relevant though...

Anyway, in essence, I don't really know, but he seemed to be a good candidate, the main point is I think we could do with a good attacking LB.


* Ratings

Player ratings are based on each event recorded in the game calculated live automatically using our own algorithms, which comprise of over 200 raw statistics. All events are valued based on a researched perception of the effect on the outcome of the match. Positive events are valued against negative events.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Lloris​

​

Walker Gallas Caulker Verts​

​

Parker Dembele​

​

Lennon Holtby Bale​

​

Ade​

 

[Yid121]

Lloris
Walker Gallas Vertonghen BAE
Parker Dembele
Lennon Bale Sigurdsson
Adebayor

Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Naughton, Livermore, Holtby, Dempsey, Defoe

 

[trnk]

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Livermore Dembélé​

Lennon Bale Siggy​

Ade​

​

Parker and Dembélé are not good enough together.​

Holtby was very good coming off the bench, he isn't as good since he starts.​

 

[Mr Pink]

The more I think about it the more confident I am starting Sig ahead of Holtby. Have a look at the graphic with our average positions agaisnt West Ham...Holtby 23, Sig 22. Holtby is practically central, no wonder they got so much joy down the right. Sig held the left sided spot a lot better and that's crucial for our balance, and of course when he came on we looked a lot better for it.

http://bet.unibet.com/2013/03/01/premier-league-tactical-preview-spurs-v-arsenal/816?

Bale will be interchanging no doubt and when he's playing more central we need the person playing from the left to stay out there - for balance offensively and defensively. Our game plan should be about setting the team up in the best possible way to ensure Bale can do as much damage as possible - and that requires the right shape.

If Holtby can play with more discipline I would start him - for his industry and passing. Only AVB has the guage on that though.

 

[Gardham90]

Sig to start please, he done great cutting in from the left and getting a shot on goal.

 

[Wardy]

Holtby has to start... everything to prove, loves derby games and he WILL get his 1st goal on sunday

I'm off to lob a wager on it

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I wouldn't push the idea of Coentrao for the reason you suggest - basically I haven't seen that much of him; but are you sure you're not guilty of under-rating him for the same reason others of us might be over-rating him?

The reason I suggest him are as follows:

• A player who can play both LB and LW.
• Good enough to play for Real Madrid, and according to Whoscored's rating algorithm* he has been the second highest rated player in their team this season, after Ronaldo, but above Alonso and Ozil.
• Real Madrid want Bale, and they might see the sale of Coentrao to us as a sweetener ahead of any future purchase of Bale, so he might be available in a way other players of his calibre might not be
• He's Portuguese, so is AVB, not sure how that's relevant though...

Anyway, in essence, I don't really know, but he seemed to be a good candidate, the main point is I think we could do with a good attacking LB.


* Ratings

Player ratings are based on each event recorded in the game calculated live automatically using our own algorithms, which comprise of over 200 raw statistics. All events are valued based on a researched perception of the effect on the outcome of the match. Positive events are valued against negative events.

I am guilty of over-egging criticism as we all are, but I really have never seen it with Coentrao, for me he was another Miguel Veloso, great hair and bit of swagger, but ultimately distinctly average players. I've watched a lot of Madrid this season, and they really are nothing to write home about, it's weird because Essien is the shining example of this. Once the most feared midfielder at least in the Prem if not Europe, and now due to injuries, absolutely shot to pieces as a footballer but still relied on by Mourinho to do a job when one of the others is out.

I'm ignoring the 'WhoScored' rating thing as me and you have been there before many times.

Funny thing in bold though, I did the tour round the Bernabeu too and their museum has a wall with a head shot of every player that has signed for Madrid. Thomas Gravesen...anyone remember him? Signed to play CM after a short-ish time at Everton, but perhaps none so ridiculous as the signing of the one and only Julien Faubert!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Sig to start please, he done great cutting in from the left and getting a shot on goal.

As a sub...starting he's been pony.

 

[Grey Fox]

As a sub...starting he's been pony.

Cometh the time cometh the man he is going to be one of our scorers on Sunday and over night be a cult hero. He also takes excellent corners and that is why I would play Caulker, because he ain't going to miss three headers in a game again.

 

[Dempsey2]

Bale is better on the left.

That being said, now with Bale magically a central player, it could've been a perfect time to play Dempsey on the left at his best spot, but he's injured

 

[rupert miller]

Lloris​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen BAE​

Livermore Dembélé​

Lennon Bale Siggy​

Ade​

​

Parker and Dembélé are not good enough together.
Holtby was very good coming off the bench, he isn't as good since he starts.

Id rather have Parker in a North London derby than Livermore, and considering they are in unbeaten since they have been a partnership they cant be that bad.

 

[tototoner]

I think Defoe will start ahead of Adebayor, especially after just reading Villas-Boas's comments today

 

[tototoner]

Bale is better on the left.

That being said, now with Bale magically a central player, it could've been a perfect time to play Dempsey on the left at his best spot, but he's injured

he has been unplayable since having a free role

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I think Defoe will start ahead of Adebayor, especially after just reading Villas-Boas's comments today

What were his comments mate?

I fucking hope Defoe doesn't start ahead of Adebayor for this one.

 

[Time for Heroes]

Vertonghen will not play.