VDV is great but...

[NEVILLEB]

He does change our formation to 4-5-1

It's true that our strikers have been poor but can the formation change account for the lack of goals scored at WHL?

He's an amazing player but are we a better team at home yet with him in it?

 

[Damian99]

Once we can get hold of a striker that can play upfront on his own(easy said than done) we're laughing.

 

[Kyras]

It'll just take time for the midfielders to start scoring more goals and learning their roles in a 4-5-1. No-one has really played 4-5-1 in England until recently, most youth teams (apart from England U21s) have played 4-4-2 so it'll inevitably take time to learn these roles. I didn't see today's game but often he plays in a similar position to Robbie Keane in that he's pretty much up front anyway.

 

[Krafty]

We need a more mobile striker, I think we miss Defoe's pace, and we could do with Lennon regaining that top form he showed last winter, but I think we are doing alright at the moment.

 

[ohh_when_the_spurs]

He's rubbish...sell him and play 442 and have crouch n pav up top.....we looked like scoring more with those 2 upfront.....................................NOT

 

[guiltyparty]

Problem today a lot of the time is he drops so deep to pick up the ball, crouch becomes very isolated. VDV basically wants to do everything and is a bit like a school kid in that he constantly runs to where the ball is (and is petulant and gets booked for it). Definitely an off day for him I thought but it's not like he's droppable, he's the only one who looks like scoring

 

[BorisTM]

Problem today a lot of the time is he drops so deep to pick up the ball, crouch becomes very isolated. VDV basically wants to do everything and is a bit like a school kid in that he constantly runs to where the ball is (and is petulant and gets booked for it). Definitely an off day for him I thought but it's not like he's droppable, he's the only one who looks like scoring

The reason he dropped so deep it was that, Modric who was supposed to be our playmaker, was taking too long to get the ball going forward, Sandro came on for Palacios and was our defensive midfielder and he had more offensive game that Modric did and was all over the place, Kaboul on many occasions had to get the ball going forward by making runs. And he has to drop so deep for most of the game then he cant be next to Crouch when he knocks the ball down, which is the only thing Crouch can do. And then when Pav came for Lennon VDV was moved on the left WTF???

 

[jonathanhotspur]

I don't have the luxury of watching the lads train and experimenting with systems. But I am looking at the way we set our stall out and I am not sure that it's viable. I think it's safe to say that Rafa has given Harry the mother of all headaches.

Right now, Harry likes to use two wingers, a playmaker (Modric), and Van the Man. Putting aside the striker problem, I can't help but feel that our defence isn't getting enough protection. Or won't. Is it just going to be the case that we have to score more than the opposition, if you catch my drift?

I like attacking football but I also want to see clean sheets. I can't do these see-saw jobs week in, week out.

 

[Krafty]

The reason he dropped so deep it was that, Modric who was supposed to be our playmaker, was taking too long to get the ball going forward, Sandro came on for Palacios and was our defensive midfielder and he had more offensive game that Modric did and was all over the place, Kaboul on many occasions had to get the ball going forward by making runs. And he has to drop so deep for most of the game then he cant be next to Crouch when he knocks the ball down, which is the only thing Crouch can do. And then when Pav came for Lennon VDV was moved on the left WTF???

The reason why VdV dropped so deep might have something to do with our two central midfielders being outnumbered by their 3. If he didnt drop deep one centre back would have him marked, and Heitinga would have stopped any balls reaching him

 

[Yidiot]

yes the problem is our best player.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

I think Boris is on to something. I felt Modders was very bright in the first half but much less of a force in the second half, I think he was out of gas.

 

[Yidiot]

I think Boris is on to something. I felt Modders was very bright in the first half but much less of a force in the second half, I think he was out of gas.

yes our problem is our 3rd best player

 

[SpurSince57]

I think Boris is on to something. I felt Modders was very bright in the first half but much less of a force in the second half, I think he was out of gas.

Leave out the 'to' and you'll be far closer to the mark.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

Leave out the 'to' and you'll be far closer to the mark.

:lol: Good one.

 

[BorisTM]

I think Boris is on to something. I felt Modders was very bright in the first half but much less of a force in the second half, I think he was out of gas.

No, Sandro came on, took control over the midfield and turned Modric into a spectator.

 

[Monkey Bastard Hands]

Once we can get hold of a striker that can play upfront on his own(easy said than done) we're laughing.

This.

Personally I can't wait until Defoe get's back from injury, he did brilliantly for England in the lone striker role with Rooney playing the VDV bit. I hope it's the same for us.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

No, Sandro came on, took control over the midfield and turned Modric into a spectator.

I thought Sandro looked like he either didn't know his role or was simply displaying a lack of discipline. Looks a fine athlete but yet to see him read a game well and I've seen him take the sting out of a few attacks with a poor choice of pass.

 

[NickHSpurs]

Him and Defoe will love playing together, both pull defenders out of position and create space for people around them, they should compliment each other very well.

 

[bigturnip]

He's scored in every home game he's played in so far, obviously we'll be a better team at home without him. :duh:

 

[woodward]

The answer may be 4-2-3-1 in preference to 4-5-1. Having said that our best performances last year came with Hudd and Modric in the centre, and Lennon and Bale wide.

4-4-2 with VDV playing off of Defoe could be ideal, especially at home.