Tottenham Vs Swansea: Match Thread

[yankspurs]

Same team as the final. But, I dont get why he's dropped Dembele and Lamela for Townsend and Chadli. I probably would have started Dembele for Mason also today. Mason hasn't done so well as of late. Would have done:
Dembele Bentaleb
Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Vlad being on the bench signals to me that there is worry about Walker's fitness after taking a knock in the final. Also, not sure why Paulinho makes the bench over Stambouli.

 

[Chris12]

So I guess everyone has forgotten about Dembele's last performance then?

Was poor but before that was decent. So if it takes one poor performance to be dropped, then why is it same team starting today as the team from Sunday

 

[DaSpurs]

me too but i wanted to keep quiet so that i didnt jinx him. Think Townsend biggest problem is he is a winger who has been told to play a wide forward role and atm he is caught in between.

I think he's also at a complete loss for confidence. Remember the goal he scored against Monaco in preseason two summers ago? I don't even remember the last time we saw Townsend play so crisply and decisively. I think he's now terrified of failure, just like the rest of our attackers.

 

[JerryGarcia]

I like the team tonight, no problem with Townsend starting either. He (technically speaking) can cross and he can score goals but he obviously needs a run in the team to get to his best so I won't judge him on his season so far. He's desperate to play for us and loves the club, this isn't enough on its own but for me it at least earns him the chance to up his game.

 

[Monkey boy]

Yes me too, i dont't like his game, no tak tik en plus il court et s'errête n'importe où.

J'aurais aimé voir Dembélé coté de mason et nabil.

dommage

This post is so spursy........... start off giving it a good go then decide to just give up halfway through

 

[prawnsandwich]

10 of the XI I would have picked. Why again Soldudo and Lame-la on the bench?

 

[Syn_13]

Same team as the final. But, I dont get why he's dropped Dembele and Lamela for Townsend and Chadli. I probably would have started Dembele for Mason also today. Mason hasn't done so well as of late. Would have done:
Dembele Bentaleb
Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Vlad being on the bench signals to me that there is worry about Walker's fitness after taking a knock in the final. Also, not sure why Paulinho makes the bench over Stambouli.

I think Poch feels that Mason and Bentaleb are his best midfield pairing, if you take into account the way he wants the players to press and work hard. Also, I think he feels that Townsend is currently in better form than Lamela. Neither are doing much to flatter right now, to be honest. This is probably Poch's first XI as far as he's concerned.

Agree with you on the Chiriches thing. Definitely in there in case Walker isn't fully fit. Also, I think he's got Paulinho in there because he's the backup attacking mid, as opposed to Dembele who would be the backup centre mid.

I think the team is good, it's always good to have players like Dembele and Lamela on the bench who can try to provide something different.

 

[mpickard2087]

Was poor but before that was decent. So if it takes one poor performance to be dropped, then why is it same team starting today as the team from Sunday

I think its obvious he wants the 'losers' to get Sunday out of their system, and so he's picked the same team again tonight so they can get straight back in the thick of it. Poch made a lot of trying to pick them up after the game, with talk about how this was just the beginning of things etc, this is just another way of boosting confidence of the players.

I don't necessarily agree, but I can see why he's doing it.

 

[jezz]

Not the team I would have picked.
But as long as we get the points, that's all that matters now.

 

[Setzthree]

2-1. Shelvey screamer from 30 yards, Eriksen freekick and Shelvey owngoal.

 

[allpaths]

I think he's also at a complete loss for confidence. Remember the goal he scored against Monaco in preseason two summers ago? I don't even remember the last time we saw Townsend play so crisply and decisively. I think he's now terrified of failure, just like the rest of our attackers.

it's actually quite sad he is the total opposite type of player that he was last year. Now he passes safely and never shoots. Think he needs to find some balance to his game and not stick to the outside so much. He needs to start making some runs across the back four like walcott does.If he gets in better positions then his confidence will rise. It's the samething that happened to Lennon.

 

[Zlatan]

I want Lamela on the pitch...

 

[allpaths]

2-1. Shelvey screamer from 30 yards, Eriksen freekick and Shelvey owngoal.

i love a 2-1 , still better then avb's dreaded 1-nil's i guess

 

[DaSpurs]

it's actually quite sad he like the total opposite type of player that he was last year. Now he passes safely and never shoots. Think he needs to find some balance to his game and not stick to the outside so much. He needs to start making some runs across the back for like walcott does.If he gets in better positions then his confidence will rise. It's the samething that happened to Lennon.

Yeah absolutely agreed. The best thing about him initially last season was his fearlessness. Now he's even more scared of taking risks than Lamela.

I hate to say it, but I think the only thing that's going to save his career is a change in scenery and the relief of some of the pressure on himself. I like the lad a lot and love his commitment to Spurs, but I think it's that overwhelming desire to succeed at Spurs that's providing the foundation for that massive mental block in his mind. Would love for him to find a way to get around it at Spurs though.

 

[nicdic]

I think this is good management from Pochettino, I wouldn't have done it, but then I'm not head coach of a Premier League football team. Hope the faith he's put in the players, and the disappointment from Sunday comes together in a big performance.

 

[Phomesy]

10 of the XI I would have picked. Why again Soldudo and Lame-la on the bench?

This really isn't necessary is it?

Fine that you don't think players offer much but silly name-calling?

 

[Syn_13]

it's actually quite sad he like the total opposite type of player that he was last year. Now he passes safely and never shoots. Think he needs to find some balance to his game and not stick to the outside so much. He needs to start making some runs across the back for like walcott does.If he gets in better positions then his confidence will rise. It's the samething that happened to Lennon.

Play him on the left and make him run at his his man. He's got a decent cross on him, and Kane's the perfect type of striker for that. I don't have a problem with inverted wingers, but I find that if both your wingers are inverted you're just making yourself too narrow. It means your width has to come from the full backs and ours just don't do enough offensively.

 

[yankspurs]

I think he's also at a complete loss for confidence. Remember the goal he scored against Monaco in preseason two summers ago? I don't even remember the last time we saw Townsend play so crisply and decisively. I think he's now terrified of failure, just like the rest of our attackers.

The last time I saw him play like that is probably for England.

 

[Shadydan]

Was poor but before that was decent. So if it takes one poor performance to be dropped, then why is it same team starting today as the team from Sunday

Because maybe Poch wants more of a goal threat?

 

[Spurger King]

The last time I saw him play like that is probably for England.

Against world titans Montenegro. Surely if he can do it against those legends he can do it against anyone?