Team v Manchester City

[ShelfSide18]

No chance mate!

We're the mighty Tottenham H and we don't travel by bus, we travel by motherfucking concorde. Harry loves attacking football and so do I so I hope we dont take that negative approach. ITS ONLY MAN CITY.

I'd happily watch us park a routemaster in front of the goal all game, the Spurs glory, glory way can take a backseat, in the bus if it likes, for this game!

We can't lose, and I really don't care how we do it, and I'm still worrying that the Sheik might be making Steve Bennett a rich man as I write.

 

[JJetset]

I'd happily watch us park a routemaster in front of the goal all game, the Spurs glory, glory way can take a backseat, in the bus if it likes, for this game!

We can't lose, and I really don't care how we do it, and I'm still worrying that the Sheik might be making Steve Bennett a rich man as I write.

If we park the Harrow Hopper in front of goal it will be the most painful 90 minutes of watching football ever! i simply couldn't handle the pressure of inviting them onto us like Inter did against Barca in the 2nd Leg and my nerves/heart/bladder and sphincter simply wouldn't cope.

 

[ShelfSide18]

If we park the Harrow Hopper in front of goal it will be the most painful 90 minutes of watching football ever! i simply couldn't handle the pressure of inviting them onto us like Inter did against Barca in the 2nd Leg and my nerves/heart/bladder and sphincter simply wouldn't cope.

I will be wearing a precautionary nappy at eastlands on wednes... fuck me it's tomorrow now, shit, shit, shit.

If truth be told I chomped my nails down against Bolton, Wednesday will probably kill me - I just hope when I arrive at the Pearly gates God tells me we won 1-0 with an injury time Dawson header!

 

[JJetset]

I will be wearing a precautionary nappy at eastlands on wednes... fuck me it's tomorrow now, shit, shit, shit.

If truth be told I chomped my nails down against Bolton, Wednesday will probably kill me - I just hope when I arrive at the Pearly gates God tells me we won 1-0 with an injury time Dawson header!

:rofl:

Mind you i would prefer to be there than watching on telly as it never seems as stressful when you are there as you feel that you can make a difference and you sing and you are with thousands of other like minded souls suffering with you! AT home or space no-one can hear you scream!

 

[Blockbuster]

I think its time to drop Pav, he just hasn't performed and missed sitters the past few matches, he will be awesome to bring on with 30-20mins to go.

We could bring on Pav & Gud in the second half if we need them.

Crouchy needs a chance as Pav just hasn't done the business like we was.

Defoe hasn't been great and isn't great away from home, but our top scoring who knows how to score has to play.

 

[mil1lion]

I'm still not 100% sure on what we should do :-( I'm just glad i'm not in Harry's shoes.

Bus

Bus Bus Bus Bus
Bus Bus Bus Bus
Bus Bus​

Park the bus, 0-0, then beat Burnley.

I don't know about parking the bus. But, with City in need of a win, we could play counter attacking football. Soak up some pressure and hit them on the break. It could work well with Bale and Lennon on the wings, Defoe up front, and a big man to play off.

 

[InOffMeLeftShin]

I'm not sure we can park the bus. We get ridiculously deep in the last 10 minutes and invite pressure anyway. Usually we end up defending in our 6 yard box and causing chaos. We then give the ball away easily and just try everything to soak up pressure. I don't think we can do that for 90 minutes and I am certain we won't.

 

[kaz Hirai]

team has to be set up defensively to soak up pressure and then hit them on the break for massive damage

---------------Gomes
Kaboul--King---Dawson---Bale

Lennon---Hudd---Palacios--Modric
--------------Ediur

------------- Defoe

 

[haxman]

I'm not sure we can park the bus. We get ridiculously deep in the last 10 minutes and invite pressure anyway. Usually we end up defending in our 6 yard box and causing chaos. We then give the ball away easily and just try everything to soak up pressure. I don't think we can do that for 90 minutes and I am certain we won't.

I agree with this. We have to have a go at them cause I think they'll score - they've only failed to score in 3 of their home games this season, so we'll need to match or better them.

 

[Adam456]

Ok i've made up my mind. If we play with two wingers, i.e. Lennon and Bale, I dont think Hudd and Modric will be able to cope in the middle against DeJong and Vieira. We are going to need to be tough in the centre, and we are going to need to play with a lot of discipline.. That means Palacios and Huddlestone will be needed in the middle. So where does Modric go?

I think people are being very short term-ist when they say Modric is wasted on the left. Remember the first 4 games of the season? ...and the second half of last season? Modric has been Immense on the left. In fact the midfield of
Lennon-Huddlestone-Palacios-Modric has been one of the most balanced midfields we have ever seen at spurs. In this game we are going to need balance.

If Lennon starts, I dont think Bale at LB will be as much as a loss as people are making out. Yes, I, like many, believe the Ekotto/Bale partnership on the left is mint. But if we are going to play 4-4-2, someone has to give way for our most influential players. That for me is Ekotto. Lennon on the right will provide enough width, and with Bale bombing forward on the left Huddlestone can switch play to either wing. IMO Bale at LB only doesnt work when we dont have another wide outlet on the Right.

As for forwards, i want Gudjohnsen to start. We need players who are good at keeping possession. We need players who are committed, will fight for every ball, and keep hold of it bringing our wide boys into play. I wouldnt start Crouch because I feel when he plays we always lose possession. Very rarely does one of his knockdowns find a man in white, and more frequently we lose possession and invite pressure. For me that means Defoe and Gud. Also Gud is too cool for skool. Mr Iceman.. we will need his experience in this game...

So my team would be:

Gomes
Kaboul Dawson King* Bale
Lennon Huddlestone Palacios Modric
Gudjohnsen Defoe​

You wrote all of those words and still came out with a dog's breakfast

Eek

 

[Hoowl]

I'm not sure we can park the bus. We get ridiculously deep in the last 10 minutes and invite pressure anyway. Usually we end up defending in our 6 yard box and causing chaos. We then give the ball away easily and just try everything to soak up pressure. I don't think we can do that for 90 minutes and I am certain we won't.

I agree. We're just not good enough to park the bus for the whole match. Kaboul, Bassong, Dawson, Ekotto and Gomes are all prone to making the odd error and one slip could cost us. I'm not saying we should go for an all our attack and leave ourselves open to counter attacks but we definately need to offer an attacking threat and could well need at least one goal even to get a draw.

We have to play a 442. No other formations have worked for us in the last few years. The decisions are about who plays up front with Defoe and whether Palacios comes in or not. King and Lennon would obviously start if fit, but I wouldn't bet on them playing. I'm incredibly nervous already. Let's hope the players aren't.

 

[whitefish]

i dont believe we will be trying to change up the formation which has served us prtty well this season. not sure we will have the attacking edge that we'd need by dropping bale to left back. i think the same team who played v bolton (swap lennon for bentley- if he is fit enough) and that should be as strong a starting lineup as any. we cannot go there looking for a draw, that would be suicidal.
for me:
gomes
kaboul Dawson King Benoit
lennon Tommy H Luka Bale
Defoe Pav

Come on you Spurs!!

 

[AngerManagement]

I suspect Harry will start with Crouch and Defoe up top

If I was to second guess Harry and predict his line up I would say

Gomes
Kaboul Dawson King Bale
Lennon Palacios Hudd Modric
Crouch Defoe

Looking for Impacts from Pav and Gudjohnson to be used to slow pace if we get a lead to defend.

I could also see him starting with Bentley and bringing on Lennon, but I am assuming he has been saving Lennon for this game and will want him to try and run their back line ragged for as long as possible.

 

[mil1lion]

Whatever team or formation we go with, I just hope we run ourselves into the ground for this one. Press as high up the pitch as possible from the start. This is especially important with the strikers.

If everyone gives 100% and leaves it all out on the pitch, i'll be proud of the lads regardless of the result.

 

[StanSpur]

I think its time to drop Pav, he just hasn't performed and missed sitters the past few matches, he will be awesome to bring on with 30-20mins to go.

We could bring on Pav & Gud in the second half if we need them.

Crouchy needs a chance as Pav just hasn't done the business like we was.

Defoe hasn't been great and isn't great away from home, but our top scoring who knows how to score has to play.

I agree Pav has missed some chances of late but to be honest i think his work in stretching defenders has been exceptional over the past 3-4 months. None of our other strikers are crreating the gaps that he is. If anyone should be dropped it is Defoe. The guy simply doesn't score goals at the moment. How many since Christmas? about 4? I'd rather see Pav and Eidur or Crouch right now or even put Lennon up top to try and hit them on the break.

 

[Hoowl]

I agree Pav has missed some chances of late but to be honest i think his work in stretching defenders has been exceptional over the past 3-4 months. None of our other strikers are crreating the gaps that he is. If anyone should be dropped it is Defoe. The guy simply doesn't score goals at the moment. How many since Christmas? about 4? I'd rather see Pav and Eidur or Crouch right now or even put Lennon up top to try and hit them on the break.

None of our strikers could hit a barn door at the moment. Defoe will be used largely because of his pace and the fact that if he does have a good game he's by far the best forward we have. I can't see Eidur starting such an important game. Crouch might play to give Fulop a hard time on set pieces and crosses. Pavlychenko has been working hard recently. It's a quandry.

 

[Michey]

None of our strikers could hit a barn door at the moment. Defoe will be used largely because of his pace and the fact that if he does have a good game he's by far the best forward we have. I can't see Eidur starting such an important game. Crouch might play to give Fulop a hard time on set pieces and crosses. Pavlychenko has been working hard recently. It's a quandry.

quite correct.......but, what's positive about Pav is that he at least is at the right place when the ball arrives and he seems to want the ball. There's the big difference between our strikers at the moment.

 

[StartingPrice]

I will be wearing a precautionary nappy at eastlands on wednes... fuck me it's tomorrow now, shit, shit, shit.

If truth be told I chomped my nails down against Bolton, Wednesday will probably kill me - I just hope when I arrive at the Pearly gates God tells me we won 1-0 with an injury time Dawson header!

:rofl:mg:

team has to be set up defensively to soak up pressure and then hit them on the break for massive damage

---------------Gomes
Kaboul--King---Dawson---Bale

Lennon---Hudd---Palacios--Modric
--------------Ediur

------------- Defoe

Which is the main argument I would use to not play Crouch...for his other qualities (and he does have some), I would absolutely prefer any of our other strikers chasing down the centre woth Aaaron or Gareth haring down the flank on a quick break - which must be where we are going to reap rewards against Citeh.

I am quite tempted to overcome my principles in regard to Bale, and suggest he play on the wing. Him and Benoit on the left, has to be quite solid defensively, while allowing Bale to still bomb down the wing. Palacios has to be in the centre. Which means the old dream of playing Modric in the hole with one up front could be resurrected (if only his shooting was better). Defoe, of sorts since returning to the side, is still the most apparently lethal of our finishers.

Just for this match...and kinda glad it is 'Arry and not me making the call, 'cos it's a hard one (but wouldn't mind his wages:grin.

 

[haxman]

Harry "confident that Gomes will play" according to SSN.

 

[tRiKS]

King was a very late fitness test for the Chavs game after the Ar5ena1 game which was Wednesday evening to Saturday afternoon (less than 72 hours). It would make sense the Saturday (afternoon) to Wednesday (evening) (more than 96 hours) would give him a decent chance of making it. If King does play then it shows he can do it if need for England and we’ll win the world cup J