Spurs vs Chicago Fire

[Snarfalicious]

Dont know about anyone else but i think im done watching the Dawson/Fryers experiment.

i wonder whether they practise driving a bus between them in training?
Alan Hansen would be frothing at the mouth if he hadnt just hung up his microphone

If Pochettino is a smart man, he will continue to play them together. No better way to show Levy where the money needs to be spent.

 

[Yid]

I also forgot their GK, Sean Johnson. He's on the shortlist of goalies to by in the USMNT squad with Tim Howard's likely absence in 2018. Very athletic, will make ridiculous saves, but then will let in a softie.
I will be attending this match (as well as the training tomorrow, and Q&A hopefully), and I am very excited. First Spurs match ever. I'll try and report back as much as possible.
Good news: field is grass.
Bad news: expecting showers and thunderstorms.

Guzan will be the man by then surely?

Oh yea, almost guaranteed. Johnson will be in the conversation for the 2nd or 3rd GK.

To be fair (all due respect to SJ), Guzan 2nd to succeed Timmy H., and Rimando 3rd pretty much guaranteed unless Rimando ends up having a real shit year. I could be wrong though.

 

[eddiebailey]

Does anyone know if Chicago are more likely to be up for this than Toronto were?

 

[ilikeost]

If Pochettino is a smart man, he will continue to play them together. No better way to show Levy where the money needs to be spent.

It's incredible how solid Kaboul and Veljkovic looked compared to Dawson and Fryers, it's not like Kaboul and Veljkovic are amazing players either.

 

[Strikeb4ck]

Does anyone know if Chicago are more likely to be up for this than Toronto were?

Yeah. In levels of motivation for the friendly, Seattle had by far the most and Toronto by far the least. Chicago is in the middle.

 

[Snarfalicious]

It's incredible how solid Kaboul and Veljkovic looked compared to Dawson and Fryers, it's not like Kaboul and Veljkovic are amazing players either.

Two things at play (in my opinion): The high line and Fryers being used to playing a LB, giving attacking players too much space as it's what he's used to be able to allow. Creates a perfect storm of acres of space and gaps in which Dawson is too slow to put out the fire effectively. Also, the giveaway by Ceballos on that first goal was pretty horrendous.

 

[idontgetit]

Swop Ceballos for Townsend and you will have had it!

Certainly wouldn't mind that! I was tied between the two. Someone's got to be the runner though, otherwise it might be a case of 'too many chief and not enough indians'. Arsenal had that problem last year when Walcott and Chamberlain got injured, midfield full of creative midfielders who didn't run behind the oppo defence or stretch them on the break

 

[Yid]

I wouldn't mind seeing this starting XI (in a 4-2-3-1) during the 1st Half:

And then follow up with this (4-4-1-1) in the 2nd Half:

COYS!

PS. I know Vorm isn't in Chicago, but still, wishful thinking.

 

[eddiebailey]

I wouldn't mind seeing this starting XI (in a 4-2-3-1) during the 1st Half:

And then follow up with this (4-4-1-1) in the 2nd Half:

COYS!

PS. I know Vorm isn't in Chicago, but still, wishful thinking.

After watching us being over-run by Toronto's youth team the only thing I want to see less than Fryers partnering Dawson in central defence is Holtby partnering Carroll in centre midfield.

If we must play different teams in both halves - and by now we should be looking for players to last out more than 45 minutes - then play Fredericks at RB, move Walker to centre half and push Veljkovic up to anchor midfield.

 

[mpickard2087]

I'd like to see Walker tried at centre back at some point. He's at least have the sheer pace to potentially recover from his mistakes. Got to be better than seeing Dawson struggle his way through another 45 mins.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

To be fair (all due respect to SJ), Guzan 2nd to succeed Timmy H., and Rimando 3rd pretty much guaranteed unless Rimando ends up having a real shit year. I could be wrong though.

Rimando is likely done with the USMNT, maybe a spot appearance here or there, but he is already 35 so he will not be in the conversation for the next starting keeper.

 

[L.A. Yiddo]

Press Conference is being streamed live here:

http://www.chicago-fire.com/live

 

[robertgoulet]

XI based on training today: Kane, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Capoue, Walker, Rose, Kaboul, Dawson...I can't make it the last guy because I forgot my glasses!

Seems as if Zeki and Carroll (i think it's Carroll, again glasses) are nursing injuries. They are working out on the side.

 

[robertgoulet]

Appears to be Mason finishing it the XI.

 

[robertgoulet]

Rimando is likely done with the USMNT, maybe a spot appearance here or there, but he is already 35 so he will not be in the conversation for the next starting keeper.

Yea Rimando will likely be out due to age.

Cropper is one to watch tho.

 

[EQP]

XI based on training today: Kane, Holtby, Lamela, Townsend, Capoue, Walker, Rose, Kaboul, Dawson...I can't make it the last guy because I forgot my glasses!

Seems as if Zeki and Carroll (i think it's Carroll, again glasses) are nursing injuries. They are working out on the side.

Cool, can you record and upload any training vids.

 

[Fig Newton]

Cool, can you record and upload any training vids.

There wasn't much worth recording tbh. Best part was the intrasquad scrimmage at the end. Kane scored twice in it for the yellow jerseys and Townsend scored once. Kane looked like a world beater against the improvised CB pairing of Naughton and Milos.

As was mentioned earlier, Zeki and Carroll didn't participate in practice because of apparent injuries of some kind.

 

[Mikegold]

Kane,

Holtby, Lamela, Townsend,

Capoue, Mason

Walker, Rose, Kaboul, Dawson

Friedel

Something like that? Or do you think Mason will play further forward (his usual position) or CM like he has done so far

 

[Yid]

I thought this was airing on ESPN2 (for the US market), just like the other two matches?
However, when I looked at my DVR today (my scheduled recording has been cancelled in place of some Cross Fit Games or some bollocks like that). Anybody know what's going on? Has it been postponed or rescheduled perhaps?

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I thought this was airing on ESPN2 (for the US market), just like the other two matches?
However, when I looked at my DVR today (my scheduled recording has been cancelled in place of some Cross Fit Games or some bollocks like that). Anybody know what's going on? Has it been postponed or rescheduled perhaps?

Listed on ESPN @8:00 EDT