What have we learned in pre season?

[spids]

We will be a lot fitter than last season.
We will play 4-3-3.
We will make less mistakes in defense.
The players have been coached in patterns of play.
Skipp can be our anchor in CM.
Moura has improved his end product and can spot a pass.
Dele, whether he ultimately succeeds or fails with us, has grafted over the summer and given it his very best shot.
Ndombele hasn't.

 

[Japhet]

I'm encouraged that Nuno seems to be trying to use formations and tactics that suit the players we have, or are trying to get. By contrast, Mourinho had his preferred style and tactics and tried to get totally unsuited players to adapt to that, with pretty dire consequences. I'm hoping Nile John makes a breakthrough of some sort, probably in the ECL.

I've confirmed that Match threads are not the place for me.

 

[Spud82]

From what I have seen so far:

- Dele has been smashing the creatine for breakfast
- Mountain wine still can't shoot
- Frodo looks solid but we need to see more
- Gollini's showed more personality in 90 mins than Hugo has in 9 years
- I'd settle for Forest Whitaker as our backup RB (with consistency he could be 1st choice)
- On a more serious note, our "go to" formation will be 4-3-3 for the season
- Reggie bombing on in possession to make a 3-4-3 and give us more control and options with the ball
- We'll have one of our best seasons defensively in terms of goals conceded
- We'll see a lot more wing play with combos involving fullback, midfielder and attacker
- We'll attempt to play out from the back but nothing silly, diagonal pings will remain
- High press from midfield/attackers will be a heavy feature winning ball back in final third
- We need to add quality at CB, RB, CM and upfront in order to have a chance at top 4

 

[spurs mental]

what have we learned?

We're going to win the league

 

[carpediem991]

Completely disagree here.

I think most people don't understand the role Dele is playing under Nuno. He is an 8 - not a 10. His position requires a lot of the dirty work, and less of the flair.

I have seen each of the games, and bar one, Dele has worked hard in his position. He came to pre-season fit, and appears to be one of the players Nuno trusts the most right now.

Dele is not going to put up huge attacking returns from this position - because he is no longer playing as a 2nd striker, nor does he have the freedom to roam around a bit. But, as we say against Arsenal, he is getting scoring chances by arriving late in the box, and I think he will play a big role for Spurs this season.

But - people have to understand the difference in his current role, and those roles he played in a 4231 - and adjust expectations accordingly.

It may be a different role, he may be working hard but I don't think he is the man for this position. We need some sort of playmaking, dictate of play in this position I guess. Most of the hard work should be left with Pierre and Skipp. We need someone who is quicker in possession and not slow us down too much. Dele was not horrible, just not my man for this role. I have far more hopes that Lo Celso can fill this role. But I will obviously be super happy if Dele smashes it wherever he plays.

 

[van_Pommel]

Fluid 433 is the setup. Happy with that.

On Sanchez, yes he's looked decent but some of the mistakes he made last year were shocking and I won't believe he's got rid of that until I see it over a season. We still need to bring in a first choice next to Romero - ideally left footed so they can do the left back role when Sergio pushes on and it becomes a 3 at the back.

 

[van_Pommel]

It may be a different role, he may be working hard but I don't think he is the man for this position. We need some sort of playmaking, dictate of play in this position I guess. Most of the hard work should be left with Pierre and Skipp. We need someone who is quicker in possession and not slow us down too much. Dele was not horrible, just not my man for this role. I have far more hopes that Lo Celso can fill this role. But I will obviously be super happy if Dele smashes it wherever he plays.

Agree with this. Gio is the man for the left of the three. Same role he played for the Argie's in the Copa. Dele needs to challenge him for that role.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

It may be a different role, he may be working hard but I don't think he is the man for this position. We need some sort of playmaking, dictate of play in this position I guess. Most of the hard work should be left with Pierre and Skipp. We need someone who is quicker in possession and not slow us down too much. Dele was not horrible, just not my man for this role. I have far more hopes that Lo Celso can fill this role. But I will obviously be super happy if Dele smashes it wherever he plays.

Thats just not how the team has set-up so far this pre-season.

Its a holding CM at the base, and two 8s on either side - both cogs in the machine, not simply creative outlets - but true box-to-box CMs on either side, expected to help out in defense, pressing, and ball retention.

 

[Japhet]

Thats just not how the team has set-up so far this pre-season.

Its a holding CM at the base, and two 8s on either side - both cogs in the machine, not simply creative outlets - but true box-to-box CMs on either side, expected to help out in defense, pressing, and ball retention.

Exactly what I wanted us to play last season with the players we had, but Mourinho kept on and on with the pivot and ACM setup which saw us overrun and outfought in midfield time after time.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

1. 433 obvs
2. Dele looks hungry to take responsibility for driving the team forward.
3. We’ll be trying to overload opposition fullbacks with 2, sometimes even 3 players, when on the attack.
4. The 2 8s in the CM3 are going to be doing wingback levels of running up and down so will have to be extremely fit.
5. Højbjerg continues to be our best passer of the ball.
6. Skipp needs top level matches to get to the top level.
7. Tanganga looks equipped to really challenge as first choice right back.
8. Gollini looks a very able successor to Hugo.
9. Scarlett and John can start contributing from now.
10. Nuno will have us playing higher up.

 

[Goobers]

I've been quietly impressed with much of it. I always like the way that Nuno used the last two matches like proper warm ups with not too many subs and high tempo. I don't love Sonny through the middle but he will still cause problems.
I love Dele and always have and have always supported the notion that his personality and attitude weren't the main issue. watching him now ( and he has clearly got very fit over the summer ) I do, however, think there are things his body won't let him do that it did 4 years ago. I know he is till. very young but I do wonder if he has lost his ability to change direction as quickly as he used which made him so dangerous in the box. He does seem to move a little differently and not as smoothly.
I think we will grow over the season but there may well be times of some bad results as Nuno learns more.

 

[robhumphreys]

Dele has worked his arse off but still is looking for a role. I'd go with Lo Celso against City
Lucas was great and should start
Dier and Winks are not as bad as people think.
Tanganga decent option at full back
Gollini Looks an upgrade on Joe Hart
Ndombele should be sold.

 

[walworthyid]

I've learned that I thought Jose was an absolutely shocking choice of manager who would suck the very life out of our club and alienate our fan base, and I was bang on!

We seem to have an actual plan when we have the ball!

The players don't just stand in our half hoping that the other team gives the ball away at some point.

We are at least semi-fit compared to last year

We look like some actual coaching takes place

That I want to watch us again

Did I say that Jose was an appallingly bad manager?

That's it!

Rant over!

 

[spids]

Thats just not how the team has set-up so far this pre-season.

Its a holding CM at the base, and two 8s on either side - both cogs in the machine, not simply creative outlets - but true box-to-box CMs on either side, expected to help out in defense, pressing, and ball retention.

Exactly. This is the formation we have been playing:

Lloris
Tanganga Sanchez Dier Reguillon
Højbjerg Skipp Dele
Moura Son Bergwijn
​

There is a chance that Lo Celso will come into the midfield, Romero at CB and Gil on one of the flanks. And Kane at CF obviously if he stays.

 

[mattstev2000]

Our squad still has some massive gaps that need plugging.

 

[Nerine]

What I’ve learned is that I’m pleased Spurs as a club keep our powder relatively dry.

So many huge footballing institutions are on their knees.

With Levy at the helm, I feel in very safe hands.

I quite like the quite insular feeling around Spurs at the minute. Let us get on with our transitional season and rebuild and leave us alone.

The rest of the footballing world outside of our club feels like the Hunger Games, right now…

I think Levy has always been waiting for this moment, to be honest. I’m sure he has been interviewed previously (some time ago) about this kind of thing and remarked that he would be ready for it.

 

[ultimateloner]

What I’ve learned is that I’m pleased Spurs as a club keep our powder relatively dry.

So many huge footballing institutions are on their knees.

With Levy at the helm, I feel in very safe hands.

I quite like the quite insular feeling around Spurs at the minute. Let us get on with our transitional season and rebuild and leave us alone.

The rest of the footballing world outside of our club feels like the Hunger Games, right now…

I think Levy has always been waiting for this moment, to be honest. I’m sure he has been interviewed previously (some time ago) about this kind of thing and remarked that he would be ready for it.

Bargain-hunting time.