Team vs Chelsea

[InOffMeLeftShin]

Gomes

Corluka---Woodgate---King----BAE

Jenas---Huddlestone---Palacios
Lennon----------------------------Kranjcar

Defoe

Cudicini, Naughton, Bassong, GDS, Pav, Crouch, Keane​

 

[Green Valley]

Gomes

Corluka---Woodgate---King----BAE

Jenas---Huddlestone---Palacios
Lennon----------------------------Kranjcar

Defoe

Cudicini, Naughton, Bassong, GDS, Pav, Crouch, Keane​

I'm puzzled by your team as you seem knowledgeable. Defoe up on his own away to Chelsea? All because you want Huddlestone in the team?

 

[Green Valley]

Gomes

Corluka Woodgate/Bassong King BAE

Lennon Jenas Palacios Keane

Defoe Crouch

subs:

Cudicini
Hutton
Bassong/Woodgate
Bentley
Krancjar
Huddlestone
Pavlyuchenko​

Jenas is for Huddlestone because as we saw against ManYoo he isn't good enough against a strong midfield. Keane is only in my team as he is undroppable. I would rather see Krancjar on the left but it isn't going to happen unless Keane is injured.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I'm puzzled by your team as you seem knowledgeable. Defoe up on his own away to Chelsea? All because you want Huddlestone in the team?

No, I toyed with Crouch or Pav up top on their own, but decided to stick with Defoe for a couple of reasons. One, because he is the man in form and most likely to snatch us a goal from nothing and two because I don't think we can win if we pump the ball forward and wait for it to come back at us in waves.

I know Defoe might not be big enough or strong enough against two big centre backs but he might not need to be. He is sharp at the moment and will shoot on sight. That might just give us a chance to test Cech.

Huddlestone is in the team because we need men in midfield away at Chelsea. I would play him reasonably high up too, so that we can get the ball to him and he can try and release Lennon, Kranjcar or Defoe on the counter. With Palacios and Jenas doing lots and lots of leg work. But we need definitely try and keep the ball and play it on the floor at least to begin with. If we revert to flipping it in towards the box it won't matter who we play there because the ball will keep coming back and we will drop very deep.

I'm just hoping we can contain them, keep the tempo going and try and snatch something with an instinctual effort. If it doesn't work we have plenty of other options to change to on the bench.

Jenas is for Huddlestone because as we saw against ManYoo he isn't good enough against a strong midfield. Keane is only in my team as he is undroppable. I would rather see Krancjar on the left but it isn't going to happen unless Keane is injured.

I'm pretty sure we won't see Keane on the left. If he plays he will be up top. Harry already stated that he can't see him playing Keane on the left v. Chelsea after the United game.

 

[Spurs_Q8]

Chelsea are using diamond formation, which don't help us to use 4-4-2.

so i would 4-2-3-1 ..

Gomes
Corluka - King - Bassong - Ekotto
Huddlestone
Jenas - Palacios
Giovani - Defoe - Lennon​

Carlo, Naughton, Kranjicar, Bentley, Keane, Crouch, Pav

think Lennon should start on left, as he used his left foot from right side too much recently.

 

[leffe186]

Christ, what a mixed bag of formations. Not surprising really, as no-one seems to have the foggiest idea what to do. O'Hara LM, anyone?

Would be tough to drop Cudicini and Crouch, would be tough to keep Keane and, sadly, the Hudd after Man U. Bosingwa may tear us a new arsehole too. I'd love to play 4-5-1 or similar, but can you possibly drop Defoe?

Cudicini

Corluka King Bassong BAE

Lennon Jenas Palacios GDS

Defoe Crouch

subs:

Gomes
Hutton
Woodgate? If not, then Bentley
Keane
Kranjcar
Huddlestone
Pavlyuchenko​

Run around like bastards, and hope GDS and Lennon keep the full-backs occupied.

 

[guy]

Not sure we'll change formation like alot of you are suggesting.
​

gomes
charlie king bassong bae
lennon jenas palacios ??
keane
defoe
​

we may see jenas hudd and wilson though i think​

 

[israyid]

gomes
corluka king bassong ekotto
palacios Huddlestone Jenas
keane lennon
defoe

 

[Garm]

Cudicini
Charlie-King-Bassong-BAE
Lennon-Jenas-Palacios-Kranjcar
Defoe-Crouch

Subs: Gomes, Hutton, Hudd, Bentley, Gio, Pav, Keane

 

[chileanspursfan]

I remember Harry getting beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with Pompey (3-0) and saying that he learned the lesson and that against Chelsea at their ground you cannot play with just 2 in the middle. I can't remember if he was in charge last season when we played there, but I suppose he'll be aware of that issue, as well as the fact that we can create a lot of damage from the wings.

I think he'll go with something like this:

Cudicini

Charlie Bassong King BAE

Wilson

Jenas Hudd

Lennon Mr Undroppable

Defoe

 

[Garm]

I remember Harry getting beaten by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with Pompey (3-0) and saying that he learned the lesson and that against Chelsea at their ground you cannot play with just 2 in the middle. I can't remember if he was in charge last season when we played there, but I suppose he'll be aware of that issue, as well as the fact that we can create a lot of damage from the wings.

I think he'll go with something like this:

Cudicini

Charlie Bassong King BAE

Wilson

Jenas Hudd

Lennon Mr Undroppable

Defoe

He was'nt. It was one of Juandes famous two points last season.

 

[mil1lion]

Gomes
Corluka....King....Bassong....Ekotto
Lennon....Palacios....Jenas....Kranjcar
Defoe....Crouch​

Subs: Cudicini, Hutton, Bentley, Giovani, Huddlestone, Keane, Pavyluchenko​

 

[mattstev2000]

Gomes
Corluka....King....Bassong....Ekotto
Lennon....Palacios....Jenas....Kranjcar
Defoe....Keane

Subs: Cudicini, GDS, Bentley, Hutton, Hudd, Crouch, Pav

 

[finnoathletic]

can I just throw another idea in there, Stoke at the weekend played 3 central defenders and it seemed to work (until the last minute) all the reports suggested it stopped chelsea playing. So how about a formation like

Gomes
corluka king bassong
hutton BAE
Hudd Palacios
lennon
crounch defoe

Just an idea, probably one we won't go for (in fact almost definitely won't go for) but thought I'd throw it out there, you can either take it or throw it right back

 

[double0]

We have the quality to beat Chelski and I don't think we are good enough to play for a draw against Drogba, Analka, Lampard, so the Stoke set up would not suite us they lost anyway.

I think we need to have the same formation of play as we did last season with one up top. The formation I've gone with is 433/4231 one up front with the damage coming from the support wingers.. Dos Santos and Lennon interchanging will cause mayhem were are a much better team on the attack and counter.

 

[guy]

Could well be the 4-3-2-1 thing. niko didn't look ready to me

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

We went to Chelsea last season, and got a point when everyone said we would get hammered. They had a 100% record then, just as they do now. No reason why we can't do the same this time.

What I think Harry will go with

Cudicini
Charlie King Bassong Benny
Lennon Hudd Palacios Kranjcar
Defoe Keane​

What I'd like to see

Gomes
Hutton Bassong King Benny
Lennon JJ Wilson Kranjcar
Crouchie Defoe​

Hutton in for Charlie, to combat the pace of Cole who attacks at every opportunity. Although Cashley will have to be careful because of Lennon's pace. JJ in for Hudd, we'll need his running and energy against the threat of Lampard, etc. Crouch will be a handful for Terry.

I'd like us to have a real go, cos we have absolutely nothing to lose.

I would play corluka, much better defender in big games than Hutton - let lennon get pressure on Cole to keep him occupied - it is the middle of the park we have to worry about, but if palacios is on form, and JJ played like he did last week, AND Kanjcar is any good at all on the left 9we also have bentley remember) we can get a draw here.

We have many options with Bentley, pav, Crouch, Gio, etc who can win this for us.

For me, the key is we have to press better and defend better - I hope Woddy and King can get back together for this....

 

[sasa_moto]

Gomes​

Corluka---Woodgate---King----BAE​

Jenas---Huddlestone---Palacios
Lennon----------------------------Kranjcar​

Defoe​

Cudicini, Naughton, Bassong, GDS, Pav, Crouch, Keane​

That's my team too. If you play Thudd and Kranjcar together, it has to be 5 man midfield. 4 5 1 against Chelsea is good idea anyway. But, it will take another six months before Keane doesn't start a game, so it would be usual 4 4 1/2 1.

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

That's my team too. If you play Thudd and Kranjcar together, it has to be 5 man midfield. 4 5 1 against Chelsea is good idea anyway. But, it will take another six months before Keane doesn't start a game, so it would be usual 4 4 1/2 1.

You could swap keane for defoe of course

 

[Crash]

If you look at the possible team Chelsea are likely to put out it may affect Harry's thinking:-

Cech
Cole Carvalho Terry Bosingwa
Malouda Essien Ballack
Lampard
Drogba Anelka


They have some real pace in that side and I think Huddlestone (who has the turning circle of an oil tanker and needs time on the ball) will be found out.

Although Jenas isn't my favourite player I think I'd prefer him to partner Wilson in Midfield. For some reason Harry isn't playing GDS so don't see him figuring in a big game like Chelsea

Possible team

Gomes

BAE Bassong King Corluka

Kranjar Jenas Wilson Lennon

Pav Defoe

Please God Harry don't play Keane on the left just because he's captain. I think Corluka needs to concentrate for the whole match as Cole is going to be itching to have a run at him. Hate to say it I think we're going to miss Modric again.

But then again this is football and anything can happen COYS