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Thinking outside the box

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Is it time Pochettino needs to look for a radical solution to our CM. For me this is where all our issues are stemming from. It doesn’t feel like we have had control of a game all season. Even our 3 wins have been a tad fortunate. We also seem very easy to get at through the centre. Dier now seems a complete waste of space he has no control of the game, creates nothing and doesn’t even shield the back 4 well. Dembele is dembele although he has looked good in flashes, I think it’s a tad criminal that your more advanced CM creates no assists and scores no goals. I hoped winks would be a solution but that doesn’t seem the case right now. Imo the main issue is DM if we can feel really secure there then maybe we can think about playing dele or eriksen or both alongside a solid commanding DM. Obviously a lot depends on wanyama, but going on what I’ve seen in last 12 months can’t say I’m hugely optimistic he will come good. So are there other solutions, could Pochettino be radical in a pep way and find a player to fill that void as he originally did with dier. I think there’s 2 or 3 options.

Trippier- he has great technique can collect ball off back 4 and pick a pass, he is tenacious and has defensive awareness. His biggest flaw is a straight foot race over 20-30 yards but I think in more nimble situations over 10 yards in CM his pace wouldn’t be so exposed. IMO he would add a lot of control in the centre of the pitch much like how Lahm was converted to a DM. And we also have decent cover at RB.

Toby- having x3 quality CB gives us that opportunity. It’s not that far off playing 3 at the back but it’s almost inverted. I just can’t believe he’d be worse than dier.

Foyth- Obviously this is all a bit guess work but he looks to be very calm quick and have great technique and looks a much better footballer than dier. Would be much like when Pochettino played dier there originally.

I currently think any 3 would be better options than Dier and offer much more defensively and all 3 are able to pick a pass and break lines with surging runs. It’s a shame it’s probably a season too early for Skipp.
 

gerishep

Connected to the Spurs.
Aug 2, 2004
1,159
1,955
Is it time Pochettino needs to look for a radical solution to our CM. For me this is where all our issues are stemming from. It doesn’t feel like we have had control of a game all season. Even our 3 wins have been a tad fortunate. We also seem very easy to get at through the centre. Dier now seems a complete waste of space he has no control of the game, creates nothing and doesn’t even shield the back 4 well. Dembele is dembele although he has looked good in flashes, I think it’s a tad criminal that your more advanced CM creates no assists and scores no goals. I hoped winks would be a solution but that doesn’t seem the case right now. Imo the main issue is DM if we can feel really secure there then maybe we can think about playing dele or eriksen or both alongside a solid commanding DM. Obviously a lot depends on wanyama, but going on what I’ve seen in last 12 months can’t say I’m hugely optimistic he will come good. So are there other solutions, could Pochettino be radical in a pep way and find a player to fill that void as he originally did with dier. I think there’s 2 or 3 options.

Trippier- he has great technique can collect ball off back 4 and pick a pass, he is tenacious and has defensive awareness. His biggest flaw is a straight foot race over 20-30 yards but I think in more nimble situations over 10 yards in CM his pace wouldn’t be so exposed. IMO he would add a lot of control in the centre of the pitch much like how Lahm was converted to a DM. And we also have decent cover at RB.

Toby- having x3 quality CB gives us that opportunity. It’s not that far off playing 3 at the back but it’s almost inverted. I just can’t believe he’d be worse than dier.

Foyth- Obviously this is all a bit guess work but he looks to be very calm quick and have great technique and looks a much better footballer than dier. Would be much like when Pochettino played dier there originally.

I currently think any 3 would be better options than Dier and offer much more defensively and all 3 are able to pick a pass and break lines with surging runs. It’s a shame it’s probably a season too early for Skipp.
Often thought about Trippier in the middle with his range of passing.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
Is it time Pochettino needs to look for a radical solution to our CM. For me this is where all our issues are stemming from. It doesn’t feel like we have had control of a game all season. Even our 3 wins have been a tad fortunate. We also seem very easy to get at through the centre. Dier now seems a complete waste of space he has no control of the game, creates nothing and doesn’t even shield the back 4 well. Dembele is dembele although he has looked good in flashes, I think it’s a tad criminal that your more advanced CM creates no assists and scores no goals. I hoped winks would be a solution but that doesn’t seem the case right now. Imo the main issue is DM if we can feel really secure there then maybe we can think about playing dele or eriksen or both alongside a solid commanding DM. Obviously a lot depends on wanyama, but going on what I’ve seen in last 12 months can’t say I’m hugely optimistic he will come good. So are there other solutions, could Pochettino be radical in a pep way and find a player to fill that void as he originally did with dier. I think there’s 2 or 3 options.

Trippier- he has great technique can collect ball off back 4 and pick a pass, he is tenacious and has defensive awareness. His biggest flaw is a straight foot race over 20-30 yards but I think in more nimble situations over 10 yards in CM his pace wouldn’t be so exposed. IMO he would add a lot of control in the centre of the pitch much like how Lahm was converted to a DM. And we also have decent cover at RB.

Toby- having x3 quality CB gives us that opportunity. It’s not that far off playing 3 at the back but it’s almost inverted. I just can’t believe he’d be worse than dier.

Foyth- Obviously this is all a bit guess work but he looks to be very calm quick and have great technique and looks a much better footballer than dier. Would be much like when Pochettino played dier there originally.

I currently think any 3 would be better options than Dier and offer much more defensively and all 3 are able to pick a pass and break lines with surging runs. It’s a shame it’s probably a season too early for Skipp.
The only thing about playing players out of position in CM is, that it's a totally different game.

Toby plays with the whole game in front of him, and Trips with the whole game to the left of him, receiving a ball in those areas is much easier than receiving the ball with players coming at you from potentially 360*

Still think Winks will come good, but if players start hiding from the ball we will see lots of situations like yesterday where the player in possession has no out and has to take risks and that's when playing out from the back starts to look very risky.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
Often thought about Trippier in the middle with his range of passing.
A lot of the time the reasons players get moved to wide positions in youth football is either size, or lack of peripheral awareness. Obviously Trippier probably would have always been a small kid, but it’s that spatial awareness that is key when playing in the middle.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,512
Trippier has good technique with his crossing, and can play certain passes like clipped balls for a runner into the channels, don't think his short passing is particularly outstanding or incisive though. His game is suited to playing in wider areas.

The other two would just have the same problem as Dier. You'd at best get a competent job out of them, if they had games where they could just sit behind the ball and play simple passes and break up play, but getting hassled, having to receive the ball on the half-turn, make quick decisions with a sure touch and spot passes, it's a whole different game. And I don't see how Toby would be mobile enough to play in midfield and press players.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
There's a whole new level of skill playing in midfield, it's the hardest area on the pitch to play in.

If Dier who is a natural defender has struggled to play in midfield then there's not much hope for Trippier, Foyth or Toby.
 

Swalien

Well-Known Member
Aug 22, 2014
1,138
1,322
Ive got a radical idea. Why dont we use some of our plethora of central midfiled players in CM ? Instead of filling this wishy washy CAM position with our best central midfielders. I personally like watching Dele Alli in central midfield for us and could see him potentially becoming the same type of player Bryan Robson was for United. Leaving players on the pitch to just close down the opposition and try win back the wall in the final third is good when its working but surely its better to het players who that side of the game is not their natural game. Dele Alli looks like proper cm to me and should be used as like. Eriksen could play there too in a three, but football seems to have moved on from when our 4-2-31 formation was effective a few years back.

Good thinkning outside the box but Id prefer to see midfielders put in there. We are supposedly a top 4 team. Filling in such a crucial position with defenders for a club with such a rich history of midfield players would be embarrassing to me. We are spurs not west brom. Maybe he could try it in u23 games if he fancies it.
 

ljinko888

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2016
2,080
5,376
Just play an academy midfielder if it comes down to it.

Amos did well on loan. Give him a chance.
 

Dzejkob

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2012
785
3,215
A still have a lot of faith in Wanyama. He was great in 16/17 season. And he was also getting better with every game playing forward. It was such a shame he had that injury. I have problem with Dier. I can see what he brings to the team. He's great in positioning, covering defence, always running. But he is usually useless when it comes to play forward. Sometimes all he do is back pass. And it's so f..ing annoying. Like yesterday I remember that one action, he received ball from defence, no one attack him. He could turn around, find a teammate, do ten push ups, touch the ball three times and pass. But hell yeah, let's pass straight to Davies who's covered by 3 Inter players. And he was always like that. I thought he will develop but unfortunately he barely made any progress in last 3 years...

But generally I agree that our midfield is very bad since the start of the season. To be honest I would be happy to see Wanyama and Winks as our starters for few games.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Just realised Skipp was 18 few days ago. Would be a big call, could see him being involved for Watford.
 
D

Deleted member 27995

Thinking outside the box while a central mid in Onomah is out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday ... My mind boggles.
 

shelfmonkey

Weird is different, different is interesting.
Mar 21, 2007
6,690
8,040
There's a whole new level of skill playing in midfield, it's the hardest area on the pitch to play in.

If Dier who is a natural defender has struggled to play in midfield then there's not much hope for Trippier, Foyth or Toby.

I would say Foyth is young enough and good enough to learn that role.
 

SlotBadger

({})?
Jul 24, 2013
13,751
43,099
I'd quite like Kane to think outside of the box.*


*This is a pun related to the decreased number of long range shots Harry Edward Kane is currently taking whilst playing football for Tottenham Hotspur FC and is no way meant as an acerbic stab at his character.
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
We just need to work hard and eliminate silly errors and for a period of games Poch should stick to a 4231 formation. We have the players to do really good this season and I stand by that in Eriksen Kane Son Moura Alli Lamela Dembele Winks Vertonghen Sanchaz Lloris Alders Dier Wanyama etc. belief is a massive problem this club has forever seemed to have suffered from, now we are rock bottom in terms of result and maybe confidence it's time to really show metal....I look at Chelsea they've had wayward seasons followed by winning the league confidence is key.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
Some telling stats here, almost double shots against. Generally you would put that down to CM who aren’t protecting the back 4.

 
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