Vincent Janssen signs for Spurs!

[Neon_Knight_]

If Janssen performs well enough could anyone see us setting up like a 4-2-4, similar to how City did at times when they were at their absolute best a couple of years ago. We could even see Dier and Wanyama partnered to give us a bit more licence to use out attacking players with a bit more freedom. Something like:

Lloris
Walker - Toby - Jan - Rose
Dier - Wanyama
Lamela Eriksen
Janssen - Kane​

With Eriksen drifting central to build up play like he did a lot of last season and Rose and Walker with even more licence to push further up with the knowledge that they've got the two dedicated DM's behind them. I guess it's similar to how we set up last season but with more attacking licence given to the forward players and full backs and with two dedicated DM's rather than a DM and a transition player like Dembele.

I remember seeing a few graphics showing that from goal kicks we would often sit Dier and Dembele close to the CB's with the full backs and forward players pushed right up the pitch, effectively splitting the defensive half in 2, turning the most advanced area into, at worst a 4 on 4, at best a 6 on 4, near their half. The two additions so far could perhaps allow us to implement that particular tactic more effectively.

​

You want Dembele and Alli to be dropped? The two players who provide our thrust in possession and that our team looked flat without last season.

I expect the three of Dier, Wanyama and Dembele to be rotated, with Janssen starting his time at Spurs as a back-up for Kane and regularly coming on towards the end of games. I think it would be difficult to justify anything else, after the success of our formation last season.

 

[glospur]

You want Dembele and Alli to be dropped? The two players who provide our thrust in possession and that our team looked flat without last season.

I expect the three of Dier, Wanyama and Dembele to be rotated, with Janssen starting his time at Spurs as a back-up for Kane and regularly coming on towards the end of games. I think it would be difficult to justify anything else, after the success of our formation last season.

Nah, of course I don't. I wasn't advocating that team, just thinking about what could happen if both Janssen and Kane are playing well and deserve to be in the first team.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

All this talk of two upfront frustrates me. Perhaps sometimes towards the end of games, when we are chasing a goal, but not as a starting formation.

We now have a second out-and-out striker in the squad. To play two upfront for a whole season, we would need three, if not four, strikers!

Two upfront would not allow us to play the same style of football as last season, because we'd have fewer midfielders on the pitch. If 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 was the way forwards, why aren't all (rather than almost none) of the top teams doing it?

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Nah, of course I don't. I wasn't advocating that team, just thinking about what could happen if both Janssen and Kane are playing well and deserve to be in the first team.

I'd say that if they're both playing well they will both be given opportunities and will both be kept fresh. Plenty of games to go around!

If we play CL on the Tue/Wed, we ideally wouldn't start the same striker for both PL games either side of it.

 

[Yid-ol]

All this talk of two upfront frustrates me. Perhaps sometimes towards the end of games, when we are chasing a goal, but not as a starting formation.

We now have a second out-and-out striker in the squad. To play two upfront for a whole season, we would need three, if not four, strikers!

Two upfront would not allow us to play the same style of football as last season, because we'd have fewer midfielders on the pitch. If 4-4-2 or 4-2-2-2 was the way forwards, why aren't all (rather than almost none) of the top teams doing it?

also means we can use more attacking midfielders....I think we have a few of them in our squad just now!

 

[npearl4spurs]

The last bit says why Poch chose him.....

There are not many strikers in the Netherlands who play like Janssen. He is a one-man army, a team player and a goalscorer rolled into one. Ruud van Nistelrooy seems the best comparison. Vincent says with a smile: “He’s from the town of Oss, just like me. Well, I understand that comparison, although clearly I’m not at the same level as he was at his best, of course. He was also not supertechnical but tremendously focused and driven. I’m going to do everything for a career like he had. Even if I have to put my hand into fire.’

Damn! The next thing you know he'll be selling his soul to Satan to win Champions League

 

[rio bryan]

Everyone is putting Kane as no.1 and Janssen as no.2, playing Devils advocate, what happens if Kane doesn't start the season too good and Janssen comes in and starts scoring, does Janssen become our no.1 ?

To be fair I couldn't see Poch playing 2 up front but i could see him playing Kane as a no 10.

 

[voxy28]

I don't think VJ is similar to Kane, VJ is a poacher and a conventional CF. Kane plays deeper, holds up for key passes for quick breaks. Kane shoots outside the box while VJ always shoots inside the box. I think they are complementary.... So a 4-1-3-2 when we are a goal down mint be a good plan.

 

[yankspurs]

I don't think VJ is similar to Kane, VJ is a poacher and a conventional CF. Kane plays deeper, holds up for key passes for quick breaks. Kane shoots outside the box while VJ always shoots inside the box. I think they are complementary.... So a 4-1-3-2 when we are a goal down mint be a good plan.

A complement to Kane would be someone who can make those runs in behind the back 4 and stretch them out, thereby opening space for Kane.

If Janssen is a poacher, it doesnt exactly fill me up to the brim with hope. Poachers need chances for them to be successful. We dont exactly have much luck creating chances against teams who sit back against us, which as it turns out, most teams do.

 

[tiger666]

I don't think VJ is similar to Kane, VJ is a poacher and a conventional CF. Kane plays deeper, holds up for key passes for quick breaks. Kane shoots outside the box while VJ always shoots inside the box. I think they are complementary.... So a 4-1-3-2 when we are a goal down mint be a good plan.

You've just described Soldado.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I have not seen much of Janssen, but, I thought one of the things that hurt England when Kane and Sturridge played together is that they both had a shoot first mentality - which hurt both of them because they each need someone to feed them the ball, not take shots. I thought it led to a lot of poor quality shots rather than working the ball in. Its ok to have one guy with a shoot-first mentality, but two can really kill the play.

 

[glospur]

I'll admit I've never seen him play but didn't he create something like 60 chances last season? That doesn't indicate that he's just a poacher to me.

 

[mattie g]

Damn! The next thing you know he'll be selling his soul to Satan to win Champions League

 

[Nine while nine]

The last bit says why Poch chose him.....

There are not many strikers in the Netherlands who play like Janssen. He is a one-man army, a team player and a goalscorer rolled into one. Ruud van Nistelrooy seems the best comparison. Vincent says with a smile: “He’s from the town of Oss, just like me. Well, I understand that comparison, although clearly I’m not at the same level as he was at his best, of course. He was also not supertechnical but tremendously focused and driven. I’m going to do everything for a career like he had. Even if I have to put my hand into fire.’

Interesting turn of phrase from Vince as it recalls the story of Gaius Mucius Scaevola who, when caught trying to assassinate an enemy of Rome, thrust his right hand into the fire to show he had no fear.

This scene was brought into more modern times in Lawrence of Arabia when Lawrence extinguishes a match between finger and thumb. Another character tries it and shouts out in pain, leading to this exchange.

Potter: "Ooh! It damn well 'urts!"
Lawrence: "Certainly it hurts."
Officer: "What's the trick then?"
Lawrence: "The trick, William Potter, is not minding that it hurts."

Now if that isn't a metaphor for coping with Pochettino's training methods, I don't know what is.

He'll fit in fine.

 

[mil1lion]

My worry is that they will be like Defoe and Bent, just too similar to play together.

I think they're far more intelligent and versatile than Defoe and Bent. Besides those 2 never really had chance to at least work a good understanding because they were always in the shadow of Berbatov and Keane. I'm trying to recall how often Defoe and Bent played together, I don't think too many.

 

[The Feet of Hoddle]

Nah, of course I don't. I wasn't advocating that team, just thinking about what could happen if both Janssen and Kane are playing well and deserve to be in the first team.

Kane ------------- Janssen
Alli
Eriksen ---------------------------- Lamela
Dier

Rose ----- Vert ------ Alde ----- Walker
Lloris
​

That IMO would be far better if you wished to use both Kane and Janssen in the same team.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

We don't have any wingers!

That's because it's not 1970 any more.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Given that Kane can also play 10 well enough another Kane would be just fine. Not sure Janssen can play behind though?

Kane can't play as a 10.

 

[npearl4spurs]

Kane can't play as a 10.

He can, but that's called using your resources inefficiently

 

[Sweech]

A complement to Kane would be someone who can make those runs in behind the back 4 and stretch them out, thereby opening space for Kane.

If Janssen is a poacher, it doesnt exactly fill me up to the brim with hope. Poachers need chances for them to be successful. We dont exactly have much luck creating chances against teams who sit back against us, which as it turns out, most teams do.

So if most teams sit back on us and we don't create chances against those teams, then why were we the highest chance creating team in the PL?