Missing Lennon

[wadewill]

I presume this has been pointed out already, but I really think we miss Lennon a hell of a lot.

We are a different team without the two wide men and teams with managers who have a bit of nouse can easily deal with us in the final third when we play a CM out of position on the right (or left).

Its not even necessarily Lennon that we are missing, its someone with a bit of skill and pace out wide on both flanks, we are very good at switching play and pulling defences across the pitch when our wide me are direct and Modric/VDV or whoever fills in there just naturally isnt able to do this.

I think Harry needs to get a bit more bollocky and start giving people like Rose a chance out there, or Townsend a go.

 

[Kingstheman]

I think we are really missing Lennon too.

Lennon on the right and Modric on the left - like the Man Utd match has more 'shape' if you will than what we put out at Everton to start with.

We need to manage these players with hamstring problems better in our run in.

 

[kungfugrip]

He's a big miss. His pace scares the crap out of defenders. I've always been impressed by Townsend when I've seen him, but that's been in the Europa League which is a different scenario than the final few games in the Premier League when you're chasing third. Not sure he can play on the right though? Leftie only I thought.

 

[Kingstheman]

He's a big miss. His pace scares the crap out of defenders. I've always been impressed by Townsend when I've seen him, but that's been in the Europa League which is a different scenario than the final few games in the Premier League when you're chasing third. Not sure he can play on the right though? Leftie only I thought.

When Bale AND Lennon play, the opposition full backs are quite retricted - I have felt - physically yes, but also psychologically.

They are caught in two minds and have to revert to safety... i.e. defence, which pushes their team back and allows us to play much further forward, plus with more options of a counter attack.

When all are fit, this is a very effective strategy.

 

[charliemouse]

We really should have got Hoillet in January, or maybe even give GDS a proper run out when Lennon is injured , as he may well not be the answer but at least we wont have to to change way we play when Lennon is missing.

 

[RJ1882]

We miss a player liek Lennon at his peak. But Lennon too has been mediocre at times this season, and throughout his career.
What we are missing and need is a consistent performer, or genuine competition for Lennon.
If fit, would Giovani and Bentley either provide a genuine replacement for Lennon, or at least genuine competition to ensure Lennon doesnt rest on his morals?
Both players are crap IMO but might provide the necessary push for Lennon to up his game.

 

[JohanTheYid]

Try telling the guys who sit behind me that we miss him, you listen to them and he is responsible for world famine and was also the gunman on the grassy knoll !

He is massively important to our style of play.

 

[BPR_U16]

There is no doubt that we miss him and the option he provides.

Which makes it all the more galling that we did not get cover in the January window..........

 

[EastLondonYid]

There is no doubt that we miss him and the option he provides.

Which makes it all the more galling that we did not get cover in the January window..........

Julien Hoilett was the answer for cover.....but hey, lets get on with what we have and stay positive.

 

[bubble07]

we do miss him big time. But he is the only injury we have that is an automatic starter so we cant really complain too much. Should have got cover

But we did try for Remy so it wasnt as though we didnt want a right sided winger/forward

 

[HappySpur]

We are built for pace on the wings and explosive counters. With Lennon out, it hurts. With Bale playing wherever he seems to feel comfortable, it kills.

 

[Riandor]

We miss pace down both flanks at the same time keeping the opposition in check and not allowing them to over protect one flank (like when only Bale or Lennon plays).

Lennon has not been at his best, but he doesn't always need to be, the balance of the team and thus the overall performance is improved by having both wingers on at the same time. It creates space in the middle for Modric and VdV to influencde the game.

THAT is why he is missed.

The Mourinho principle of 2 players per position is what we are missing at this club. Too many average in all position players on the bench. This in turn means we have no faith in them to come on and do the job earlier in a match or from the start.

We shift the entire team around almost to accomodate this.

R.

 

[bubble07]

problem is when Lennon is out we reshuffle the whole team to compensate

 

[Mr Pink]

problem is when Lennon is out we reshuffle the whole team to compensate

we do and it is a problem, but away from home we should be playing Modric in the centre with two others around him...two from...Parker/Sandro/Livermore..

I don't get the fascination with a totally unbalanced 4-4-2 away from home.

 

[bubble07]

we do and it is a problem, but away from home we should be playing Modric in the centre with two others around him...two from...Parker/Sandro/Livermore..

I don't get the fascination with a totally unbalanced 4-4-2 away from home.

But then theres the issue with playing VDV out of position and having Modric in a position where you need to have a knack of scoring goals or having the instinct to which he doesn't

Also with Modric and 2 DMs we tend to be a very flat 3 man midfield isolating the striker in the process and making it easy to defend against

VDV IS ABSOLUTELY KEY BEHIND LONE STRIKER

 

[Misfit]

VDV, when fit, needs to start every single time. Everyone and their dog can see this, Shirley?

He's one of our 2 best CMs and one of our 2 best strikers all in one gorgeous little package with the touch of a footballing God and a stubble of a slightly hungover market stall holder.

Even if he can only put in a good 60 minute shift, he's worth it.

I mean, the 4-5-1/4-3-3 variants we played, even when we were missing BAle on the left through injury, meant we were still solid and picking up 3 pts, even if some of the perfomances weren't exactly breath-taking.

Modric looks a little lost without him also.

 

[Mr Pink]

But then theres the issue with playing VDV out of position and having Modric in a position where you need to have a knack of scoring goals or having the instinct to which he doesn't

Also with Modric and 2 DMs we tend to be a very flat 3 man midfield isolating the striker in the process and making it easy to defend against

VDV IS ABSOLUTELY KEY BEHIND LONE STRIKER

I agree with VDV being in the hole, its his best position. Also not saying it should be used for every game, and Modric can excel in that formation with two others doing the leg work.

Its not that VDV is playing out of position like he would be in a 4-4-2 on the right, the front three are fluid and are playing with more freedom.

It worked very well against Norwich, and I still see that as our best away performance of the season by a distance.

 

[Blake Griffin]

we miss him but if harry had left the team alone and simply put niko in lennon's place then we won't look so disjointed.

 

[Spurs_Q8]

I've always believe that missing Lennon or Bale difficult to deal with even if they are out of form, they keep fullbacks very busy which important for us, may be if Lennon played vs Everton, then Baines had more work to put instead of playing Bale or playmaker upfront of him

I'm aware of Redknapp plans about using left-footer on right, that's OK but prefere it if it was 4-3-3 not 4-4-2, in 4-3-3 the winger must have an eye for the goal, while in 4-4-2 support CM or RB
Some people could argue if Lennon succesed as LM in 4-4-2 before, but remember that's could work when you are behind, not to start a game with it, or vs average teams like Wolves.

I wished if Redknapp used 4-2-3-1 rather than using 2 upfront.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I've been saying for the last 3 or 4 windows that getting another winger with pace should have been one of our top priorities. When either Lennon or Bale is out we have no other wide player with pace that Harry trusts to come into the team.

It's all well and good playing Krancjar but a lot our successful play has been when we have just given the ball to Bale or Lennon early, let them beat a man and try and cause problems with a ball into the box.

Rose/Townsend/Gio all have a bit of pace but we have yet to see them play as wingers with the rest of the 1st team. Putting Krancjar/Bentley/Modric/VdV out wide doesn't give us the directness which means most of our attacks will only come down one side making us more predictable.