So how DO we defend against Bale et al?

I don't know, he seems less daunting now... more like the kiddie off that Merlin show, or a new member of McFly

 

No Obertan for me. We need someone who is good defensively to help out Simpson and is good enough in possession to allow us to retain the ball. I think Santon is the perfect fit for the RM position as he is good defensively whilst also good at attacking as he used to be a winger.

We cannot play a 4 man midfield, even if it is with Ba dropping back to link with the midfield. IMO, Benny has to start as Spurs will allow us to have possession because we are not a big side. Benny can exploit the space Spurs will leave us. And then either Ba or Best up front.

 

We are at home, take the game to them, for as good as modric and vdv are they cant defend only parker in their mid can defend

Play obertan and give him the freedom to attack BAE

Kaboul is clumsy exploit that he'll foul best and ba all day if they play it clever

As for jonas unfortunately I would be asking him to stay on a string with raylor to yet again save his blushes

Tiote can cope with modric man marking him , cabaye can break up and link

Not saying we can just easily attack dominate and win as they are a great side and a point would be awesome
All im saying is would rather we have a go at them and try to cause them problems than try and plug holes all over the pitch until they break through

Best form of defence is attack ! FACT

 

I would normally agree. But unfortunately I have more faith in their attack than ours. I think in this instance that approach would just lead to them dominating the game. Definately a grinder for me.

 

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Ladies and Gentleman.... Tony Pulis/Mick Mcarthy at your service.

I hate anti-football - we did alright against them last year without this approach, though Modric was immense.

 

Learn to read

 

So I take it from what most people are saying that we aren't going to try and win the game?

edit: (This sounds sarcastic but it's not)

 

A yellow card for either full backs early on would be terrible.

Would just encourage Lennon and Bale to run at them and then they would end up getting a red card sooner or later.

 

You've got to have a go for me. If you sit in, and try and soak it up, VDV and Modric will eventually pick a pass. They are very adept at this. I realise Spurs are very good on the break with Lennon/Bale so going at them would seem a bit crazy. I just think we might as well have a go. All of our success against them has come when we've got after them early, and played aggressive attacking football. We're at home and if the lads get the crowd going with a couple of crunching tackles, SJP can be the last place you want to be. I expect the worst so I always think in those games, you've got nothing to lose.

 

The Scott Parker threat will be null and void in this fixture.

EVERY TIME Parker comes up against a better player than him in midfield he goes missing for the entire match. Tiote is an animal and will eliminate any threat from Parker. If your other midfielders and defenders can take care of Modric then I can't see how much Spurs will threaten away from home.

 

Yeah! Its McCarthy actually!

 

I can see where its heading with Demba after the other day. I think he has the hump!

 

http://nooooooooooooooo.com/

 

Wow... Chill out kidda, was only kidding.

There's a difference between "attacking" and "aggressive" by the way.

You're tactics sound like wolves/Stoke tactics that's all, so I disagree. I forgot you don't like that do you?

Oh and sorry to the spelling police *rolls eyes*

 

Loving this thread thanks guys.
My boyf is an ardent NUFC supporter and although I respect his opinions its interesting to hear others views and learn other peoples tactics. Although I worship the ground the boyf walks on, I cant see me gazing adoringly into his eyes and saying yeah all the time is necessarily a good thing. Im trying to develop my own opinions here... and all input is good at this point

So basically a toss up between close them down completely, and sod it go all out for goals...
Oh and wind Tiote up to possible homicidal levels... hmmm... does blood come off grass easily?

As I said, thanks guys, opinions are all taken in and valued.

 

Instead of worrying about defending against them, let them worry about defending against us.

 

1) Play Cabaye and Tiote deep to stop any passes from Modric/to Bale or Adebayor etc, possibly man-marking VDV or Modric
2) Retain possesion for maximum amount of time
3) Play Ben Arfa in between Huddlestone and their CBs, dragging them out of position and creating space for Ba
4) Use Cabaye to distribute balls out to the wings, but mainly try and attack down the middle and play the passing game between our wingers, HBA and Cabaye because we won't really be able to cope with the pace of their fullbacks
5) Keep a solid backline, sit deep and don't try and press for the ball


In my humble opinion

 

Ha ha, lucky guy! Most girls try to avoid their bf's obsession with football like the plague. I'm fortunate enough that mine likes footy too, but I do take the mick out of her when she tells me football related stuff (My fave text from her when she was at the game and I wasn't "3-1, Martins, he ran through and he kicked it and it went in the goal")

Hope this has been helpful then - lots of people with conflicting opinions ha ha, at least you can play devils advocate with whatever approach he says ;-)

 

That must have been when he actually blasted it into the goal. I had a few £ to pick up off that game.