Can Holtby and Eriksen play at the same time?

[Syn_13]

What do we reckon fellow Spurs fans? Is this possible?

They're both hard working players that have great technical ability. Right now it appears that AVB is only willing to play one or the other in his 4-2-3-1 system. It's still early days but I do hope he gives Holtby more of a chance as the boy has been instrumental in goals every game he's appeared in this season. I'd love to see us line up with a midfield 3 of Lamela - Holtby - Eriksen eventually, but understand that it will take time. He's easing Lamela in slowly like he did with Lloris last year, and I've no problem with that. Besides, as seen today it makes for a great impact sub.

My only concern is whether Holtby and Eriksen can compliment each other. They're not quite luxury players as, despite being very technical, they're also very hard working and combative (Holtby moreso), so I'm not worried about the team losing its work ethic. AVB is currently using Sigurdsson as his inverted winger on the left but at times it just doesn't quite work out for the guy. We saw him bag 2 last week and last year he popped up with the odd crucial goal, but like Dempsey last year, he tended to drift in and out of games too much and was often a nearly man (hitting the woodwork, not quite pulling off a key pass, just that bit too slow to beat his marker) such as today. Now I'm not anti-Sigurdsson in any way, I think he's a good useful player that can be a quality squad player for us, but as a starter I'm not sure he has that cutting edge that has been displayed by our other 2 attacking mids, hence why he's been pushed out into a makeshift role.

I'd love to see us try the German and the Dane together but my only worry is who would take the wide position. If AVB likes his inverted wingers then perhaps Eriksen should, but there's a possibility that he may be more effective than Holtby in the middle. As I said earlier, if Lamela picks up the pace of the league then seeing a fluid system with these 3 working their magic in front of a pair of beastly midfielders in Capoue/Dembele/Paulinho/Sandro could be a dream to watch.

 

[tobi]

I think they can if Holtby plays deeper but it depends on the matchups with the opposition.

 

[Bails]

Holtby could be used in the '2' alongside a Sandro/Capoue (or even Dembele and Paulinho against 'park the bus teams') and thereby having Lamela, Eriksen, Holtby and Townsend/Chadli/Lennon/Siggurdson.

I know Holtby has discussed being used as a CM rather than an attacking midfielder.

What a wonderful diverse and flexible squad we have that can be used in a variety of positions when needed.

 

[beats1]

I mean if Chelsea can fit like 6 no. 10's in their 3 places I cant see why we cant as for today if the team is camping in front of their goal there is no reason by both cant play together

 

[OmarsComing]

Absolutely not vs the top teams.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

Yes Eriksen has played a fair bit at LWF. Don't see why this is being ignorrd

 

[TH1239]

It's an interesting point, and something AVB needs to think about. I don't see how you can keep Lamela out of this side going forward. If that means Townsend or Sigurdsson are dropped, so be it. Holtby, too, needs serious consideration. You'd probably see Holtby on the left, Eriksen in the middle, and Lamela on the right. Would be huge for Soldado, too.

 

[dk-yid]

Yes, Eriksen is also very useful when coming in off the left.
He's best at 10 but the two can defo play together.

Just not against the big guns.

 

[dk-yid]

It's an interesting point, and something AVB needs to think about. I don't see how you can keep Lamela out of this side going forward. If that means Townsend or Sigurdsson are dropped, so be it. Holtby, too, needs serious consideration. You'd probably see Holtby on the left, Eriksen in the middle, and Lamela on the right. Would be huge for Soldado, too.

Other way around.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

I've been pushing for this for ages.

Glad others are seeing the light

 

[WiganSpur]

Yes. 4-3-3. Holtby as the most advanced CM with Lamela on the right and Eriksen on the left drifting inside to create for Soldado

 

[laowaiandros]

Would love to see Holtby, Eriksen, Lamela in a 3 behind Soldado.

I think they could all rotate positions and they offer a lot of creativity! The only thing missing would be pace.

To be fair though I think Chadli looked bright but needed match time early on this season so I would like him to get a few chances too. He looked like he could cause just as many problems to other teams as our other options.

 

[idontgetit]

Play Erikson on the left and provided you've got an attacking fullback like Rose it will work perfectly

 

[THFCSPURS19]

We could play Lamela, Eriksen and Holtby as 3 AMs but it means we lose some width unless Rose and Walker are running up and down

 

[Syn_13]

Play Erikson on the left and provided you've got an attacking fullback like Rose it will work perfectly

I think we missed that from Naughton today. I don't think he's a bad player, he's actually pretty decent played on the right when I saw him at Norwich and he rarely ever gets to do that for us. When you've got a full back bombing forward like Rose loves to do then an inverted winger can work so well.

I think that's why Siggy had such a good game last week, Rose was really effective at bossing that flank and so Gylfi could come inside and find goal-scoring opportunities. With a right footer doing that job it just doesn't work as they're less likely to want to overlap, so you really need a naturally left footed winger there who is willing to take that ball to the byline.

 

[mw828]

I've been pushing for this for ages.

Glad others are seeing the light

Holtby joined the club in January and Eriksen joined one month ago. I don't think "ages" can possibly be accurate.

 

[Mr Pink]

Would love to see Eriksen, Holtby and Lamela in behind Soldado at some point. Then you'd really see Soldado fire, the service he'd get would be incredible.

 

[Misfit]

I mentioned this a couple of times in the match thread. The likeliest scenario is one of them starting on the left and cutting in etc but they could easily interchange throughout the game. It will be necessary imo for some games. As much guile and creativity as we can get around Bobby against teams sitting deep the better.

Holtby's long terms future, imo is also deeper in CM.

What really struck me today tbh was that we need one of Sandro or Kapow to start every game tbh. Paul and Moose just aren't brutal enough wrt pressing game, imo. Not that we were at all bad in midfield today, I just felt that the intensity was missing and that Sandro or Kapow in there would have seen us win much more early possession and maybe grind Cardiff down even faster. Keep them hemmed in constantly without a relatively easy out at times.

 

[Spurs 1961]

I think we will see Holtby, Eriksen and Lamela in time, well at least I really hope we will. Holtby please don't forget is still coming back from a long injury; Lamela is still adapting and Eriksen has played a whole three games. So for now let me choose to believe that AVB is gradually integrating players and our first eleven will look different in time

 

[-Afri-Coy-]

I mentioned this a couple of times in the match thread. The likeliest scenario is one of them starting on the left and cutting in etc but they could easily interchange throughout the game. It will be necessary imo for some games. As much guile and creativity as we can get around Bobby against teams sitting deep the better.

Holtby's long terms future, imo is also deeper in CM.

What really struck me today tbh was that we need one of Sandro or Kapow to start every game tbh. Paul and Moose just aren't brutal enough wrt pressing game, imo. Not that we were at all bad in midfield today, I just felt that the intensity was missing and that Sandro or Kapow in there would have seen us win much more early possession and maybe grind Cardiff down even faster. Keep them hemmed in constantly without a relatively easy out at times.

This.

Pauli and Moose are not a bad partnership but when teams park the bus and burst into attack when possible we need our grunt to go back and get our fucking ball. Without Sandro or Kapow we lack that true defensive capability and aggression in midfield and Sandro's forward play has improved a lot too. It is a long season though and Sandro is coming back off a bad injury but I'd like to see him start at Chelscum.