Team vs FC Twente

[ravo]

I quite like the idea of a diamond, but Hudd would have to be able to cover the flank every time Bale or Hutton bombed forward, or at least drop into centre back Barca Busquets style so that Corluka and Bassong could cover the flanks, and I just don't think he has the pace to do it if we're counter attacked quickly. You don't need to be that quick, but quicker than he is.

The presence of Sandro will eventually make this system perfect for us in my opinion.

Agree - I thought of swapping Hudd and Jenas. Also agree that Sandro would be ideal if he could play...

Still reckon it could be worth a shot. I'm worried that one striker isn't working for us at the moment, as none of them seem to be good enough to consistently play on their own up front.

 

[tRiKS]

shocking run of injuries to CB's, our season will be over by Xmas at this rate.

what an anti climax

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Agree - I thought of swapping Hudd and Jenas. Also agree that Sandro would be ideal if he could play...

Still reckon it could be worth a shot. I'm worried that one striker isn't working for us at the moment, as none of them seem to be good enough to consistently play on their own up front.

In the league I definitely share your concerns about any of our strikers playing alone up front, but in this competition Crouch has already shown that he's got the measure of opopsition centre backs, at least at this stage. Admittedly, come the inter game, Lucio and Samuel will be a different proposition.

Problem is, JJ may have the pace and energy for the role which Hudd lacks, but he doesn't have Hudds size. This is why players like Toure and, though I dislike him, Busquets are so good at this, not to mention Mikel. One needs to remember that a 442 diamond, because of how the fullbacks play, is almost a 352, so the defensive midfielder needs to be a centre back and a dm all in one. Ledley, if he had two knees, would be perfect for it, Carrick too. Sandro looks like he'll be able too eventually.

If Palacios was on form, I'd say try him there. He isn't big, but he has got a leap on him, and one thing he does not lack is energy.

All of this is down to Lennons poor form I'm afraid. If either he or Bentley were playing well, our usual would be just fine.

 

[rockyhotspur]

With some of the better news coming out of training this morning I would like to see -

Gomes
Kaboul King Bassong BAE
Lennon Hudd Modric Bale
VDV
Crouch

 

[Mr Pink]

Sanro can't play in the CL.

Keane on the right is a very scary thought.

I'm constantly changing my mind about what I want to see. I reckon that our three most on form players, Bale, VDV and Modric, need to play in the positions that they have shown themselves to be best in. That means Bale on the wing, Modric dead centre and VDV in the hole. The rest of the team, keep round pegs in round holes as much as possible. Hudd in the middle because he's shown himself to be the best partner for Modric, no other reason. Hutton at RB because he's playing far better than Corluka is there. Ekotto at left back because Bale is on the wing. The best fit centre back combination possible (so Bassong and King if King is fit, otherwise, Bassong and Corluka I'm afraid). Gomes in goal if he's ready, and Crouch up front because, at least in this competition, he's the lesser of three evils of our fit forwards.

That leaves the right wing. Maybe Bentley should get a chance. Maybe Lennon should be given yet another game to try to play his way into form. I'd say that Jenas should go there, he is probably the player who would complement Hutton the best, he has both pace and ability, and he's on decent form. Harsh on him to shaft him out to the wing when he's done well in the middle, but Modric is better than him there, and Jenas with Modric has yet to be tested, while Hudd and Modric seems to yield both good results and performances on the whole.

Gomes
Hutton Corluka* Bassong Ekotto
Jenas Huddlestone Modric Bale
VanDerVaart
Crouch​

Cudicini Palacios Kranjcar Lennon Keane Pavlyuchenko Bentley*​

Quite simply, if King is fit, he goes in, Corluka drops to the bench and Bentley is nowhere to be seen.​

Nice...pretty much agree with it and I hope King is fit so we dont have too much to contend with. The only thing I could be tempted to do if King doesn't make it, and that is slot Hudd in beside Bassong, and move Jenas in beside Modric - allowing Lennon or Bentley to come in on the RW. Bentley would compliment Hutton well if he can avoid the fancy stuff and keep it simple.

I know Corluka has more experience at CB than Hudd, but he really is a disaster on legs at the moment. His positional sense and reading of the game are suffering at the moment and he turns like an oil tanker. Hudd has done alright before at the back and can bring the ball out and spot a clever pass quickly to get us on the front foot. Ideally I want him with Modric in the centre but Jenas deserves an opportunity and the RW will limit him. Balance and shape are crucial at this level.

I wouldn't expect Harry to put Hudd in at CB, with Corluka at RB and Lennon ahead of him but we shall see. He probably will go with Corluka at CB if King doesn't make it.

That said, lets pray that King makes it :wink:

 

[Mr Pink]

With some of the better news coming out of training this morning I would like to see -

Gomes
Kaboul King Bassong BAE
Lennon Hudd Modric Bale
VDV
Crouch

Dont tease, what news....link????? Kaboul and King passed fit?

 

[WexfordTownSpur]

If Ledley is unable to play against twente and villa then he should be rested against twente and play against villa depending on the fitness of the other centre backs for the twente game. The premier league must take proirity over the champions league.

Kind of agree, I want to play the strongest team possible, but not at the detriment of the premier league - If the strongest team can play both games great, if not, I would play the stronger team on Saturday. We still have a chance of finishing fourth, but lets face it we won't win the Champions league - if we can get out of the group, all well and good, but as I said not at the detriment of the PL.

Strongest (on form) team for me (at the moment) is

Gomes
Kabul King Gallass Ekotto
Sandro Huddlestone
VDV Modric Bale
Crouch
​

 

[MsLouMaria]

I'm not even going to try. With so many question marks over so many players, it's impossible. Having said that, the news that Kaboul, Ekotto and King were training today makes me feel a whole lot more positive about the options we have. Still - I'll believe it when I see it and I'll assume the worst for now. I'll be holding my breath for the next 24hrs. COYS!

 

[DJS]

-----------------Gomes-------------------

Corkula Huddlestone Bassong Assou-Ekotto

---------Jenas--------Modric--------------

Lennon---------van der Vaart----------Bale

------------------Crouch------------------


Going for Huddlestone at centre back if King / Kaboul still unavailable as with the slower paced Europe he should be okay there.

Was a toughie between Corkula and Hutton for right back as Hutton may leave Huddlestone a bit exposed, but Corkula and Huddlestone are not the paciest. But I feel Corkula will stay back and support Huddlestone better.


Or maybe, just maybe...

Gomes

Corkula Huddlestone Bassong Bale

Lennon Jenas Modric van der Vaart

Keane Pavyluchenko

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Taking into account King, Kaboul and BAE could be fighting fit:

Gomes

Hutton Kaboul King BAE

Lennon Hudd Modric Bale

VDV

Crouch

 

[bubble07]

Gomes

Kaboul King Bassong Bale

Huddlesone Jenas

Lennon VDV Modric

Crouch

SUBS: Cudicini Corluka Assou-Ekotto Palacios Kranjcar Keane Pavlyuchenko (Hutton Giovani and Bentley in reserve)

INJURED: Dawson Woodgate Gallas O'Hara Defoe
​

 

[Maske2g]

When will people learn. Bale at left back, while Lennon is shit, = paceless, pedestrian attack.

 

[bubble07]

When will people learn. Bale at left back, while Lennon is shit, = paceless, pedestrian attack.

Modric is best on the left of a 3 and VDV is best in the centre of a 3. If Bale plays in modric position then VDV or Modric would have to play on the right and that won't work

 

[$hoguN]

Gomes

Corluka King Kaboul Bale

Huddlestone Jenas

Lennon Van Der Vaart Modric

Crouch

Subs: Cudicini, Bassong, Assou-Ekotto, Krancjar, Palacios, Keane, Pavyluchenko

OR

Gomes

Corluka King Kaboul Assou-Ekotto

Huddlestone Modric

Lennon Van Der Vaart Bale

Crouch

Subs: Cudicini, Bassong, Jenas, Krancjar, Palacios, Keane, Pavyluchenko
​

 

[SimpleSimonSays]

How about this

----------------------------Gomes--------------------------------


--------Kaboul----------------King-------------Bassong


Hutton-----------------------Huddlestone----------------------Bale


---------------Van Der Vaart-------------------Modric


--------------------------------Lennon


-------------------------------------------Crouch

 

[ardiles]

If King is fit and sufficiently rested, then he should start the game.
He has been a loyal and long-term servant to the club and I'm sure he has waited for this opportunity to play in the CL.

He can have his rest after the Villa game. Afterall, he has shown that he can play two games within a week on more than one occasion before.

 

[spursandbarca]

4-4-2

gomes

hutton king bassong bae



vdv thudd mod bale

pav crouch

 

[Mr Pink]

Bale at LW is a must and a cert I would say, Ekotto to come back in at LB. Why break that combo up again...

If thats the case keep Jenas fresh for Villa...unless he's shunted out to the right.

 

[whl_yid1982]

Gomes

Hutton King Bassong BAE

Lennon Hudd Modric Bale

Van Der Vaart

Crouch

 

[BringBack_leGin]

http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-n...ottenham-get-major-boost-trio-return-training

Tottenham have received a triple injury boost after Heurelho Gomes, Ledley King and Younes Kaboul returned to training on Tuesday morning.
Goalkeeper Gomes has been out for a month with a groin strain, while Kaboul has also been missing with a hamstring injury.

King continues to struggle with knee injuries and was expected to miss Tottenham's Champions League clash with FC Twente on Wednesday along with Gomes and Kaboul.

But Harry Redknapp was a relieved man on Tuesday morning after seeing the trio train ahead of their first ever Champions League group game at White Hart Lane.

The Spurs boss was forced to deploy full-back Vedran Corluka as a central defender for Saturday's 1-0 loss to West Ham following a defensive injury crisis that continues to rule out William Gallas, Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate.

If this is true, then everything becomes much simpler:

Gomes
Hutton Kaboul King Ekotto
Jenas Huddlestone Modric Bale
VDV
Crouch

Cudicini Bassong Palacios Kranjcar Lennon Keane Pavlyuchenko​