team vs swansea

[Blackcanary]

I think the bigger problem was the complete lack of tactics. I don't think our players are in any danger of burning out right now.

I think Eriksen is, and Kane to a lesser extent. Mason's recent form also smacks of tiredness to me.

 

[Mr Pink]

Correct. But I, none the less, have an opinion about what call he should make. As I'm sure you will in a later thread.
All though, I don't expect he'll listen.

Goes without saying, we all have our opinions.

 

[Mr Pink]

People need to realise as well that the likes of Kaboul, Capoue and Adebayor were all playing regularly for the first third of the season so burn out shouldn't be too much of a factor at this stage.

Naughton was also filling in at RB at times, as was Dier, when Walker was out. Lennon had his spells in the side as well.

Its not like this is an Harry job, where pretty much the same eleven has been played all season.

 

[onthetwo]

This thread has taken a really weird turn.

im waiting for more freakishly accurate retrospective predictions........quietly hoping the list isnt limited to football!

 

[Blackcanary]

People need to realise as well that the likes of Kaboul, Capoue and Adebayor were all playing regularly for the first third of the season so burn out shouldn't be too much of a factor at this stage.

Naughton was also filling in at RB at times, as was Dier, when Walker was out. Lennon had his spells in the side as well.

Its not like this is an Harry job, where pretty much the same eleven has been played all season.

I think you do have to take two things into consideration there though:
1) The high energy pressing game
2) That several key players are in their proper full season as a top level player (or, in Eriksen's case, have significantly altered their application level during matches).

 

[nicdic]

I think you do have to take two things into consideration there though:
1) The high energy pressing game
2) That several key players are in their proper full season as a top level player (or, in Eriksen's case, have significantly altered their application level during matches).

And you'd be right if they'd been playing every game. Except that isn't the case. Nearly everyone has had decent rests throughout the season.

 

[balalasaurus]

I think the bigger problem was the complete lack of tactics. I don't think our players are in any danger of burning out right now.

Hence his over-use of Bentaleb. No tactics = resorting to what he knew best which was to use Bentaleb. Unfortunately the youth leagues and the premier league are two different beasts as his record at Villa has shown so far.

 

[Spurger King]

And you'd be right if they'd been playing every game. Except that isn't the case. Nearly everyone has had decent rests throughout the season.

Interviewer: "So you've got a bit of time before the next match. Will it be rest, rest, rest?"

Pochettino: "No, it's train, train, train."

 

[balalasaurus]

And you'd be right if they'd been playing every game. Except that isn't the case. Nearly everyone has had decent rests throughout the season.

It's hard to adequately rest players when their alternatives aren't really viable. I mean we could have used Paulinho a lot more if it was a simple matter of rotation. That we haven't shows that we're limited in options.

 

[Blackcanary]

And you'd be right if they'd been playing every game. Except that isn't the case. Nearly everyone has had decent rests throughout the season.

Okay. But I still think quite a few of them look knackered. This past couple of months has been particularly intensive so it's little surprise, really.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

This thread has taken a really weird turn.

@Everlasting Seconds predicted that yesterday...

 

[talkshowhost86]

It's amazing how some fans can get it so spectacularly wrong.

He's not 'wrong' about it though.

I think it's fair to question whether there's a better alternative available, but considering how often our midfield gets bypassed, you can hardly say that Mason and Bentaleb are a rock solid midfield partnership.

I think both should play, but I don't think it should be as part of a midfield 2.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think you do have to take two things into consideration there though:
1) The high energy pressing game
2) That several key players are in their proper full season as a top level player (or, in Eriksen's case, have significantly altered their application level during matches).

I think Pochettino considers all relevant factors evidenced by the frequency he rotates.

It has been quite a grueling month so there may be some fatigue this week, only Pochettino and those around him are in a position to judge that, but as for the rest of the season there shouldn't be a problem - particularly being out of the Europa League.

 

[Mr Pink]

He's not 'wrong' about it though.

I think it's fair to question whether there's a better alternative available, but considering how often our midfield gets bypassed, you can hardly say that Mason and Bentaleb are a rock solid midfield partnership.

I think both should play, but I don't think it should be as part of a midfield 2.

I think the problem has been more down to individual defensive mistakes, coming from defenders. Whiz back to the Liverpool game, the cross for their winner? Against West Ham, again crosses coming in that should of been closed down and prevented or dealt with better once they arrived in the box.

Even against Arsenal, which was a lucky goal - the problem came down our left when Welbeck got past Rose pretty easily.

Carling Cup final two deflected goals?....

Fiorentina at home, lucky ricochet at a corner?

Fiorentina away, Vertonghen mistake for Salah's goal?

I honestly think its taking the easy route just to say the midfield are too open mainly. I don't think its the case, maybe at times but I don't think its the main problem. I think its decision making from our defenders.

 

[Dan Yeats]

I think we need Dean Austin at RB, or we're going to be torn to pieces.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

@Everlasting Seconds predicted that yesterday...

I knew you were going to say that.

 

[talkshowhost86]

I think the problem has been more down to individual defensive mistakes, coming from defenders. Whiz back to the Liverpool game, the cross for their winner? Against West Ham, again crosses coming in that should of been closed down and prevented or dealt with better once they arrived in the box.

Even against Arsenal, which was a lucky goal - the problem came down our left when Welbeck got past Rose pretty easily.

Carling Cup final two deflected goals?....

Fiorentina at home, lucky ricochet at a corner?

Fiorentina away, Vertonghen mistake for Salah's goal?

I honestly think its taking the easy route just to say the midfield are too open mainly. I don't think its the case, maybe at times but I don't think its the main problem. I think its decision making from our defenders.

I've said this before (so apologies to those getting bored by it!) but I completely agree that we need to be cutting out the individual errors, and that's obviously a problem. Ultimately though you can often say about every goal conceded.

But I think generally teams are able to get at our defenders too easily and that is caused by the midfield. Whether that's because of the personnel or the numbers (we often end up 2 v 3) I don't think our current set up works well defensively, and the more pressure you allow the defenders to be under, the more mistakes they are going to make.

 

[dondo]

Dier has been good. Fazio offers an arial power no other defender in the league – in the league – can offer. Mason is not one of the most important players. He is of squad rotation quality. And yes, I agree from a general perspective that he is better than other options. But from a more specific point of view taking the last several matches into account, the line up doesn't work as well anymore as it did earlier in the winter. A little bit of change and fresh approach is needed. Seeing that Pochettino is incapable of making sound substitutes during the match, maybe shaking up the CM duo from the start is the way to go. Stop overrating players to such a high degree that you overlook when a small (maybe temporarily) change is needed.

Kompany , shawcross , colins , huth , mertersacker, terry, and I'm sure there are many more I can't think of.
Fazio is good in the air but he is nowhere near the best and I can't remember him having a header at goal from a corner or free kick

 

[zicomerc]

Not sure it's been mentioned yet as I've only just logged in today but it's Lamela's birthday so hopefully he starts and scores a goal for himself.

 

[SPURSFANfrance]

the big problem are the defenders and not the midfielders, because they do many individual mistakes and isn't the fault of the midfielders!

also the strikers waste the opportunities that the midfielders create!

and we can see it in all the games with different midfielders

for Bentaleb it's not his fault if the strikers that receive his passes and lose the ball and create problems for the midfield and the defence.

and capoue isn't a good defender and often leaves the other defenders do it on their own same for dembele, good pace, but he can't defend. The best is Nabil, he has to do everything, defence, midfield and help the attack, and the others?

Sorry for my English, I'm French.

Thank you