The right characters

[TaoistMonkey]

what about putting Chadli up alongside Kane and finding a winger from our youth team?? Bobby has had his chances for me!

I think Soldado would be great sitting behind the strikers but may be too late in his career to start suggesting different roles for him.

I clearly have a softspot for Soldado. If we went for your suggestion maybe stick Rose on the left and bring chaldi forward.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

with a DM protecting the defence (at the expense of Soldado) id be quite happy to see that team take the field.

That was my only concern that we have no protection. Kinda wish Sandro was there as he would have been 100% committed. unfortunately I don't think the others we have are as "energetic".

 

[danielneeds]

There are a couple of different types of leaders in a dressing room. You either have the player that is so good, and so consistent he drags an extra 5-10% out of his team-mates because they feel more confident and inspired when they see him on the pitch. I'm thinking - King, Suarez, Cantona, Drogba etc.

Then you have naturally vocal types on and off the pitch, the extension of the manager's will, if you like. They can talk to individual players when they see problems in morale, bully or chastise lack of effort and application, and generally tend to their flock. Think - Adams, Keane, Kompany, Terry.

There's massive hole of both types in our squad at the moment, gonna be easier said than done filling it too.

 

[TaoistMonkey]

There are a couple of different types of leaders in a dressing room. You either have the player that is so good, and so consistent he drags an extra 5-10% out of his team-mates because they feel more confident and inspired when they see him on the pitch. I'm thinking - King, Suarez, Cantona, Drogba etc.

Then you have naturally vocal types on and off the pitch, the extension of the manager's will, if you like. They can talk to individual players when they see problems in morale, bully or chastise lack of effort and application, and generally tend to their flock. Think - Adams, Keane, Kompany, Terry.

There's massive hole of both types in our squad at the moment, gonna be easier said than done filling it too.

Yeah. As much as I feel Vertonghen would make a great leader on the pitch when he's on form. I get the impression he's not the most approachable. Although he was captain at Ajax so there must be a case for him?

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

I think Soldado would be great sitting behind the strikers but may be too late in his career to start suggesting different roles for him.

I clearly have a softspot for Soldado. If we went for your suggestion maybe stick Rose on the left and bring chaldi forward.

not bad we would have a very quick left side that is somewhat defensive also

 

[onthetwo]

That was my only concern that we have no protection. Kinda wish Sandro was there as he would have been 100% committed. unfortunately I don't think the others we have are as "energetic".

Id love to know why Stambo hasnt been given a chance in that role.....one of the strangest transfers in an already weird few year of transfer activity.

 

[danielneeds]

Yeah. As much as I feel Vertonghen would make a great leader on the pitch when he's on form. I get the impression he's not the most approachable. Although he was captain at Ajax so there must be a case for him?

Ajax is quite a unique club in many ways, most of the players grow up together, and you probably don't have to bond the dressing together as in a place like Spurs with its constant change. Also you have the fact that many players expect to move on to the bigger leagues in Europe, so I'd imagine it's more of a collegiate type atmosphere, a footballing university if you like.

 

[prawnsandwich]

One thing I noticed Sunday was that both Lamela and Eriksen were showing far more upper body strength now than in their early days here, Now I'm not suggesting that they have been working out with weights, but simply are adjusting to the physicality. It's all about how you adjust your body to deal with it, I guess a bit like learning to tighten your fists and lock your wrists when you are doing bag work. When you don't do it properly your strike is weak and it can be painful, you don't need to be any stronger to do it right you have to be aware of when you need it and adjust the tension in your body and ensure you are well balanced
It's making it harder for opponents to shrug them off the ball which gives them better chance to retain possession

Best EPL game I have seen from Lamela and I have been saying for a while that Eriksen has improved the physical part of his game.
Don't fancy Lamela against Everton, though.

 

[SteveH]

I like it but isn't that risky as fuck what if no real leaders stepped forward, we would be fucked

A risk, but one he has to take to shakeup this over comfortable squad up!

 

[carpediem991]

I think this is the team I suspect would put the most effort in when called upon.

Lloris

Walker Dier Vertonghen Davies

Lamela Eriksen Mason Chadli

Soldado Kane
​

* Lloris is a leader and would be my captain
* Dier is young and hungry and most likely best pairing with Vert
* Vert is there because with quality around him he is immense
* I put davies in because I think he has the slight edge on rose for quality
* Lamela is there for his energy to chase
* Eriksen because he will pull something out of nothing and
* Mason never gives up
* Chaldi is powerful and has a good shot on him
* Soldado is there because Ade shouldn't be
* Kane has a lot of heart and is a fighter to the end.

Looks like a team Tim Sherwood would have fielded. Mason and Eriksen as a midfield two is not enough. Eriksens tracking back is pretty shocking.
I clearly see the place for Schneiderlin in that team. Bring him in for Soldado and that team could have a good go.

 

[Borks]

OP, Eriksen will give 110% every game? Christ, just shows how fickle our fans are for their favourites. Eriksen has one decent game and now he's gone back to our best outfield players. If we ignore the fact that he generally bottles challenges and doesn't turn up to many matches then I agree, he does quite well. Oh and you can exclude the awful set pieces (bar one this season) as well.

 

[spursbri111]

If you want to start spouting the usual dumbarse reverse xenophobic drivel then at least get his past clubs right.

xenophobic. your obviously on the " oh my god someone called another person foreign so he s a xenophobic racist" wagon.
we had a better player and sold him for another player who is not british. It that more acceptable to pathetic people like you?

 

[Kendall]

Looks like a team Tim Sherwood would have fielded. Mason and Eriksen as a midfield two is not enough. Eriksens tracking back is pretty shocking.
I clearly see the place for Schneiderlin in that team. Bring him in for Soldado and that team could have a good go.

The ultimate insult to TM.

 

[whitechina]

I think this is the team I suspect would put the most effort in when called upon.

Lloris

Walker Dier Vertonghen Davies

Lamela Eriksen Mason Chadli

Soldado Kane
​

* Lloris is a leader and would be my captain
* Dier is young and hungry and most likely best pairing with Vert
* Vert is there because with quality around him he is immense
* I put davies in because I think he has the slight edge on rose for quality
* Lamela is there for his energy to chase
* Eriksen because he will pull something out of nothing and
* Mason never gives up
* Chaldi is powerful and has a good shot on him
* Soldado is there because Ade shouldn't be
* Kane has a lot of heart and is a fighter to the end.

poor Walker doesn't get a mention?
I like this team for now

 

[parklane1]

I think this is the team I suspect would put the most effort in when called upon.

Lloris

Walker Dier Vertonghen Davies

Lamela Eriksen Mason Chadli

Soldado Kane
​

* Lloris is a leader and would be my captain
* Walker is always hungry and 100% committed all the time. One of our better players.
* Dier is young and hungry and most likely best pairing with Vert
* Vert is there because with quality around him he is immense
* I put davies in because I think he has the slight edge on rose for quality
* Lamela is there for his energy to chase
* Eriksen because he will pull something out of nothing and
* Mason never gives up
* Chaldi is powerful and has a good shot on him
* Soldado is there because Ade shouldn't be
* Kane has a lot of heart and is a fighter to the end.

That's not a bad looking team to be honest, I disagree about the capt though who should be Jan ( imo).

 

[lukespurs7]

OP, Eriksen will give 110% every game? Christ, just shows how fickle our fans are for their favourites. Eriksen has one decent game and now he's gone back to our best outfield players. If we ignore the fact that he generally bottles challenges and doesn't turn up to many matches then I agree, he does quite well. Oh and you can exclude the awful set pieces (bar one this season) as well.

You smoking some serious shit aren't you.

 

[lukespurs7]

I think this is the team I suspect would put the most effort in when called upon.

Lloris

Walker Dier Vertonghen Davies

Lamela Eriksen Mason Chadli

Soldado Kane
​

* Lloris is a leader and would be my captain
* Walker is always hungry and 100% committed all the time. One of our better players.
* Dier is young and hungry and most likely best pairing with Vert
* Vert is there because with quality around him he is immense
* I put davies in because I think he has the slight edge on rose for quality
* Lamela is there for his energy to chase
* Eriksen because he will pull something out of nothing and
* Mason never gives up
* Chaldi is powerful and has a good shot on him
* Soldado is there because Ade shouldn't be
* Kane has a lot of heart and is a fighter to the end.

Good looking team except midfield 2 may be a bit light but in terms of personnel can't fault this at all, would love to see it given a go, even against the big teams we are being regularly spanked 3/4's-0 with 2 holding DM's so don't see why this would be any worse and hopefully it would be better as the opposition would have to worry about threats all over with this line-up.

Big fan of this except i'd play Fazio over Dier, I think Fazio will come good.

 

[Locotoro]

Blimy. This is like a book I used to read that went "in a dark dark street there was a dark dark house and in the dark dark house there was a dark dark room and in the dark dark room there was a "....etc etc ect

What was in the dark dark room?!?

I was just getting into that!

 

[Spurger King]

Essentially our entire team would do better if it performed with some confidence and arrogance. It's a chicken and egg situation. Without that confidence the players hide, and don't perform anywhere near their best. As a result, the performances are poor, and the fans (at least at home) add to the anxiety.

Play with a bit of arrogance and the performances would improve and the fans would be more supportive. We need characters that can rise above the negatives surrounding them (Bale being the perfect example) and drive the team forward. Confidence is infectious. It's the difference between a player receiving the ball and trying to make an incisive pass (as well as the target of that pass having the confidence to anticipate it), and passing backwards or sideways because they don't want to risk losing possession.

 

[Phomesy]

One thing I noticed Sunday was that both Lamela and Eriksen were showing far more upper body strength now than in their early days here, Now I'm not suggesting that they have been working out with weights, but simply are adjusting to the physicality. It's all about how you adjust your body to deal with it, I guess a bit like learning to tighten your fists and lock your wrists when you are doing bag work. When you don't do it properly your strike is weak and it can be painful, you don't need to be any stronger to do it right you have to be aware of when you need it and adjust the tension in your body and ensure you are well balanced
It's making it harder for opponents to shrug them off the ball which gives them better chance to retain possession

It's all about core strength. Modric didn't have it in his first season and a half. But when he got it, he turned into a worldy...