2015-16 Pre-Season Matches

[LexingtonSpurs]

Not necessarily. We've seen pictures from two games showing a third centre back on the pitch, but we've no real solid ground to guess what formation or position they played in.

Thats not entirely true - the match write-ups on the OS have referred to a "back four". Now, they could be intentionally misleading, but that seems unlikely.

So, with Dier in particular, the evidence is strong he was playing in a CM/DM role. With CCV, the evidence is a little different, but given Dier's role, and with Mason not playing yet, CCV probably got a chance to play in a CM/DM role also.

 

[nicdic]

Thats not entirely true - the match write-ups on the OS have referred to a "back four". Now, they could be intentionally misleading, but that seems unlikely.

So, with Dier in particular, the evidence is strong he was playing in a CM/DM role. With CCV, the evidence is a little different, but given Dier's role, and with Mason not playing yet, CCV probably got a chance to play in a CM/DM role also.

Why is the evidence strong that Dier played in midfield?

 

[Spursidol]

Why is the evidence strong that Dier played in midfield?

Maybe a slight diversion, but there was a suggestion that Dier might have been playing as a DM in the last match

 

[Dundalk_Spur]

Maybe a slight diversion, but there was a suggestion that Dier might have been playing as a DM in the last march

Maybe it was like playing under 11s when you were thrown on as sub and told to run around and get the ball.

Also known as the Harry Redknapp school of management.

 

[nicdic]

Maybe a slight diversion, but there was a suggestion that Dier might have been playing as a DM in the last march

I saw the picture with him appearing to stand in a midfield position, but I wouldn't call that strong evidence to say he was playing midfield. You could show me a picture of him rounding the 'keeper at Upton Park on the first day of last season. Would that be strong evidence to suggest he was playing upfront?

All we know is that we seem to have a third centre back on the pitch at some point in both of the last two games. We can't really read much more into it than that.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Why is the evidence strong that Dier played in midfield?

Well the evidence is as follows:

1. OS reports that Wimmer played in a back-4 with Walker, Fazio, and Rose.

"The 22-year-old centre-half lined up in our back four during the first half of Saturday’s 1-0 win at Hotspur Way, joining Kyle Walker,Federico Fazio and Danny Rose on rearguard duty."

2. We know from the video that Dier was in the game at the same time as that back-4.

3. We also know that Poch's preferred line-up is a 4-2-3-1

4. We can also see from the video that Dier's positioning is level with Bentaleb - and where you would expect to find a right-side CM in a CM2 formation.

5. We also know that Dier played DM at Sporting.


There are enough dots to connect here that Dier was playing one of the CM2 positions against Reading. No, we don't have the line-up sheet listing him as a CM, but we certainly have enough evidence to reasonably conclude that he played as a CM.

 

[Spursidol]

I saw the picture with him appearing to stand in a midfield position, but I wouldn't call that strong evidence to say he was playing midfield. You could show me a picture of him rounding the 'keeper at Upton Park on the first day of last season. Would that be strong evidence to suggest he was playing upfront?

All we know is that we seem to have a third centre back on the pitch at some point in both of the last two games. We can't really read much more into it than that.

The only real evidence is that in both matches we seem to have 5 defenders on the field rather than 4, but even in PL matches that sometimes occurs with subs

 

[AJW]

Has Soldado been involved in any of these games so far?

 

[nicdic]

Has Soldado been involved in any of these games so far?

I don't think so, no.

 

[AJW]

I don't think so, no.

Wasn't sure if there was a reason why he wouldn't be.

 

[nicdic]

Wasn't sure if there was a reason why he wouldn't be.

Particularly given that there was ITK saying that Poch is happy to keep him around, how well liked he is, and how good he apparently is in training. Either he's got a knock, has been given leave for some reason, or he's out.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I don't think so, no.

Soldado played in the first game:

"Andros Townsend and Roberto Soldado both went close from a similar position in the right channel in the opening stages before we took a 19th minute lead when Oduwa invaded the area on the left side and slid the ball across the six-yard box for Onomah to fire home."

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Looks like Soldado tweeted on the 12th that he was back on holiday with his kids...after the 1st closed-door game. Not sure what to make of it...

 

[nicdic]

I'd read someone posit that he might be on holiday, that is interesting.

 

[SamR]

Playing players in new positions makes sense - gets players more comfortable on the ball and improves different skills. Dier might benefit from working on interceptions and anticipation playing DM which would then benefit his overall game at CB. I'm sure Ajax do that throughout their academy as a learning curve.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

Adam Osper ‏@AdamOsper 3m3 minutes ago
Nearly forgot ... Dier played Centre mid today.... #thfc

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Dier as DM is also confirmed by Brentford's match report. I'm pissed off. He was our natural back up forward FFS.

 

[jedimonkey]

Having not seen the players available for each game, could it not just be that Poch is trying to get as many first team players some game time as possible and a lack of central midfielders has meant Dier played there.

Probably nothing else in it as I would ex I expect someone like Dembele to start the first game of the season in midfield alongside Bentaleb if Mason is not fit or we don't sign a DM in time.

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Having not seen the players available for each game, could it not just be that Poch is trying to get as many first team players some game time as possible and a lack of central midfielders has meant Dier played there.

Probably nothing else in it as I would ex I expect someone like Dembele to start the first game of the season in midfield alongside Bentaleb if Mason is not fit or we don't sign a DM in time.

But CMs are being used as AMs. If anything like you suggest, Dier is CM because we indirectly are short of AMs.

 

[jedimonkey]

But CMs are being used as AMs. If anything like you suggest, Dier is CM because we indirectly are short of AMs.

As I said I haven't seen the players available for the games so far, but that would make sense as well. Cheers for letting me know.

At this stage of preseason it is all about getting time on the pitch and if we don't have the normal personnel for those positions then it doesn't matter too much if people are played slightly out of position.