Lloris definitely, Dele maybe but I think we have enough quality in attacking midfield to get by when one's out. Although Poch's selection today was just dumb in my opinion, three CMs, one CAM and one RW? Yet leaves two wide players on the bench. The tinkering with formation needs to stop, we've changed our formation in every game so far, it's not helping the side to get into a rhythm. With Winks, I did want him starting today as I'd rather we utilise Dembele from the bench but it was another one of those performances where I sit there and think "what is the point of you?". He can pass the ball side to side and isn't afraid of a challenge but that's just not enough for me. He's now into his third season as a first teamer and I've yet to personally see any progression. Mason done far more for us in his two seasons with the club than Winks, yet we sold Mason to accommodate Winks into the side. Also making our decision not to sign Grealish look even more ridiculous in my opinion. Agree on Vic coming in for a game now. Lamela also has to start, drop Eriksen, maybe it'll give him the kick up the arse he needs.
I did see an interesting comment on r/coys about Dier's form, suggesting the reason he's plateaued over the past year is that he was initially deployed as a midfield hatchet man and did very well, but Poch's been trying to adjust him into more of a Scott Parker-type who can win the ball but also play it, and that's where the issues stem from. What this doesn't explain is why he's good for at least one horrendous backpass per match...
Poch shouldn't be exempt from criticism though, mate. I ****ing love the bloke but he's messing about with the formation too much. How can any player get into a rhythm when their role is changing every week? In five games, Eriksen has played CAM, CM and LW/RW, the fullbacks are going from FB to WB in alternate matches and Lucas has been used as a second striker and RW/LW... It's not helping the players in my opinion. We've probably tinkered with the formation more times in the first five games of this season than we did for all of the ones last season.
Totally agree re Winks. Looked great when he first emerged, but now I don’t know what positivity he offers the team. As for Eriksen, I think he’ll be far better when there’s some more movement in front of him. He must be fed up of looking for Kane who is glued to CB’s at the moment. And despite how poor Eriksen has been, it would worry more if he wasn’t in the team. We are even worse without him, and often say how instrumental he is.
Think we're somewhat becoming victims of our own success. The Poch revolution began with many academy players taking the spots of more established players and they helped propel us into a top side, we owe so much to the likes of Kane, Mason, Bentaleb and Townsend. But now we're a side who can't just keep playing an academy player because they're half decent or passionate about the club, to play for this Spurs team nowadays you need to be a 7.5, maybe even an 8/10 calibre player. Winks is generally a 6, he can be a 7 on a very good day but they're few and far between. Agree that we seriously lack creativity when Eriksen doesn't play but when he's in this sort of form, he's creating nothing anyway so we're somewhat damned if we do and damned if we don't drop him. Tough one. He rarely dipped last season yet has been fairly anonymous in our five games so far - although he's not the only one.
Guess I am on my own with winks...think he made space for himself and others to receive the ball but was one oth the only ones doing so it didn't help us create...that's my take but like I said...think I'm alone on that one so we'll just have to agree I'm right and you lot know sod all
I thought that we were poor today, pretty much throughout the game and through a lot of the team. There was an awful lot of ****ing about with the ball at the back, misplaced passes, running into blind alleys and going backwards. Liverpool didn't have to play that well to beat us and it could have been a lot more than 2- 1, although had Lucas' shot gone the other side of the post, we'd have been right back in it, albeit unddeservedly. Whilst Eriksen was dreadful again, there's no getting away from the fact that Harry Kane has ceased to exist as an attacking threat or even as someone who can hold up the ball and bring others into the game. It was painful to watch him today. I'm not going to criticise him, but the time has come to call it and take him out of the team and address whatever is wrong. If he's playing injured or excessively tired, it isn't working and I'd rather he had some rest or surgery or whatever is needed, because today he looked a full 5 yards off the pace. He's carried the team on occasions but we would have been far better off with Sonny and Lucas up top today. Given that Lucas was the only out ball for an hour, I'm less inclined to criticise Winks. it was in his first game back and was lacking in runners in front of him - it must be the most static that I've seen us in a long time. The way he's playing, it won't be long before Skipp makes the bench and possibly the team. He does drive forward with the ball and we badly need that kind of play. Lamela was a significant improvement in the second half on what had been offered up to then.
Kane's been so bad I've forgotten to criticise him. Ever since that early return towards the end of last season he's been a shadow of the player he usually is. It's a credit to him that he's still managed a very decent strike rate in that period - which incredibly includes a golden boot at the World Cup - but this ain't the Harry we know.
Re Kane. I actually think Spurs play better and score more goals when he's out injured. But Poch won't drop him.
As there was talk of Troy Parrott getting called into the senior Ireland side recently, we might end up with one completely out of left field
Normally, I'd agree with him but there's no getting away from the fact that he was a passenger today. He didn't threaten the goal or bring players into play and his lack of movement is causing the midfield to slow up possession even more than we normally do. It's not like it's a one off. His performances have been getting worse and worse since he returned from the last injury, although it's hard to see how much worse he could be than today.
He’s not a striker. Yes he can add a goal or two, but we need a good quality striker to step in when Kane is out.
I think Lloris has had so much on his plate he just wanted a night out. We've all done it.....most haven't been caught! But doing 15 mph in a 30 mph area......should have parked the bus and caught one!
We had this convo already on the Prem board, mate. You're of the opinion a top striker will want to sit on our bench, it just won't happen. Teams with a world class striker don't have great back ups.
