I think that attacking down the left could be key in this game, as they don't appear to have a fit right-back. Not sure Vertonghen's the best idea in that situation, though I wouldn't mind seeing him at centre-half, despite their decent strikers. Might be good to give Sanchez a game at right centre-half, where he might struggle to play it out less.
Could be that we switch it up a bit then, with JT at RB, Dave and Jan at CB, and Sess to raid forward from the left - a mirror image of our usual back 4 under Mou that lets Aurier have the freedom with a more defensive LB.
It's quite funny that everyone's already comfortable just sticking Tanganga in anywhere in the back four! He's had quite an impact. Good job we didn't bugger up his contract and let him go for nothing, really.
He’s still raw of course but he does look comfortable even out of position at fullback on his wrong side. If we get a younger left sided CB to replace Jan in the summer then he could be the future after Toby moves on. We’ve a bit of time to phase him in still given Toby’s new contract of course, which is good in the long term.
He's looked surprisingly solid and seems to be getting more comfortable coming forward, too. Struggled against Sarr in his first game at left-back, but he's been fine there in the two games since. Mad that he's been up against Sarr, Mane, Redmond and Mahrez already and come out of it impressing people.
I think Jose likes to have one full back stay back - so if Aurier or Tanganga are the other side, they push and it becomes more of a back three. I think Jan is ideal for that.
Just a reminder, people were saying this before a Stevenage player ruled out Michael Dawson for the remainder of the season...
If they are knackered now, the rest to come won't help them though. But then I guess our strongest 11 probably factors that in.
So who do you think is ok to pick and risk injury with then? Its Football...this is a massive game for us Hopefully Jose thinks like me on this one and not Poch, I mean you.
Just a reminder for you 1.) We're currently fighting to get a place in the Premier League top four 2.) Our Champions League campaign resumes in a couple of weeks 3.) We also happen to be in the FA Cup Not only is playing the exact same team week-in, week-out risking burnout and potential injury that would affect the first two items on the list, but also pissing off players who aren't getting games
Many years ago (of course!) - before I was even middle-aged - I used to play hockey in the winter. The so-called positions had the same names but different functions. I was usually a wing-half: the most defensive position in the team, charged with negating any nifty opposing winger. The centre-half (I played there very occasionally) was like a footballing "libero" (remember them?) with freedom to augment the attack whenever it was deemed appropriate. One key thing about the full-backs was that it was the unwritten rule that only one of them could join the attack at any given time (like our modern-day wing-backs). But, interestingly, if the right back went upfield, the left back was expected to come across to cover the right flank, and vice-versa. In a fluctuating game, this meant that the full-backs actually ended up doing the most running. I played there a few times, and was always exhausted well before the end of the match! Just as a thought, though, I've often wondered if this cross-over arrangement for full-backs would be an interesting tactic to try in football. [Maybe Jose is heading that way? And maybe our beloved Aurier would celebrate it, as he is clearly unable to distinguish between the flanks, as it is......... although on second thoughts I suspect he'd get very confused about the crossing over to cover bit.] Might work with a couple of our fleet-footed youngsters - Tanganga and Sessignon?
I don't get to go to many games, but me and the son (my son, not Spurs' Son) will be there. We have a record in the FA Cup matches we've seen of P1 W0 D0 L1. So sorry in advance. We're in Block 119 so I'll give you all a general wave.
Time to change the record, then! I'll wave back. Look out for me. I'll be the one in the white shirt behind the Paxton End goal.
Amazing when one looks back and realise we won the Double with practically the same team week in week out. "Men were men in those days"!!!!!?
In hockey it is very difficult ( if not impossible ) to play the the cross field ball from my LB area to my RW area or the other way round. So if my LB goes forward and loses the ball , you are more likely to attack down that side-hence why my other back player will switch sides. Hope that makes sense.
