Pushing back some times and dropping back others is exactly what rope-a-dope is, because one minute the team is invited onto us and the next we're pushing them onto the back foot just as they're getting comfortable coming forward - which sows doubt in the opponents minds about whether to commit to going forward The last couple of games have seen us pressed so we drop deep...and that's it, which really stood out against Newcastle because we were getting at them for 15-20 minutes but once their press was tweaked we retreated, and you don't break a press by retreating - you just get pressed more, but closer to your goal line If we balanced when we drop back and when we take the game to opponents, that's how you suckerpunch them - and not in the sense of the Geordie coward on Sunday, either
Completely agree. 352 places even more emphasis on the WBs than 343, as they have to help the front 2 press and also have to defend and help us progress the ball. It’s clear after the last few games what while the switch in formation might work situationally against some teams who play into our hands, or when opposition players are getting tired, starting in that way with a knackered set of midfielders and inappropriate set of WBs doesn’t work.
If we play 352 there should be less emphasis on the wing backs needing to defend, especially as all four of our senior midfielders aren’t known as being attack minded or creative but more combative and all action, so whichever three start will result in roughly two being able to cover the forward runs of WBs - and that’s where Spence would be perfect opposite Perisic, as he can attack with his pace and take on opposition FBs down the right whilst Perisic has the crossing ability threat from the left. But when we play Sess and Royal like we did the other night, we have two players that can’t beat a man, can’t cross a ball and in fact can only just about kick a football. So when those two play with three in midfield, we essentially have 8 outfield players that aren’t known for their attacking quality/ don’t specialise in attacking quality plus a keeper that definitely can’t kick a football.
This is mainly why I find myself annoyed with Conte recently. For all the talk and signings, it just seems that Spurs rely on Kane or Son to create some magic to win games. He doesn’t have the players to play the system he wants but he keeps persisting with it anyway.
Well even if the worst happens tonight at least I’ve learnt more about the phrase rope-a-dope than I ever thought possible.
To an extent, he does. But he sent one out on loan to Atletico and the other comes on in the 89th minute every five games.
The persistence with Emerson is the one I find most strange. Sessegnon is awful don’t get me wrong but he is essentially a WB so I can understand why he has to play when Perisic can’t. Emerson though isn’t a WB and his performances this season has made me question if he’s even a footballer. Doherty, like Sess, is a WB, just another terrible one. How both have played over Spence is something that genuinely puzzles me, as Spence seems most tailored to Conte’s WB style and provides that raw pace that can be both exciting and useful. He’s also playing Bissouma as a DM when he’s probably the closest midfielder we’ve got to a Mousa Dembele type, not a patch on the Belgian but he’s in the midfield controlling/ ball carrying type of midfielder role, it’s what he done a lot with Brighton. It was his performance against us last season in the FA Cup that also got a lot of Spurs fans talking about how he’s someone we could do with… Very, very odd decisions.
He clearly wants to play the 5-2-3 that he had some success with last season, to be fair. Kulusevski's injury and that of Moura, to some extent, have damaged that possibility. Sticking Richarlison there didn't work, somewhat predictably, but Conte seems stumped. He has other options, but he seems to have just had a strop and moaned about signings.
Skipp is comfortably the best tackler of our midfielders in my opinion, the fact he can also pass quite crisply makes me think he’d be the best one to play deepest. I think Bentancur would be the next best candidate as he often receives the ball deeper and plays it forward, isn’t bad in the tackle himself. Bissouma is who I’d want Skipp/ Bentancur passing too most of the time when playing it centrally as he’d be able to get the ball moving nicely, carrying it further and then either playing in Kane or the WBs out wide. Hojbjerg is then the one who does a bit of everything. We’ll need him back defensively whilst also aiding in attacks, he’s got the best engine of our midfielders, that’s for sure.
Wasn’t Bissouma mainly a central 6 in a midfield 3 at Brighton though? Don’t get me wrong I think he hasn’t set the world on fire for us so far in a 3 but when Conte says he’s still adapting, it’s to the demands of playing in a 2 more than anything else. As for tonight, I reckon Romero is fit and maybe Højbjerg too. So 343 for me with a few curveballs. It won’t happen obviously. Lloris Romero Dier Davies Spence Skipp Højbjerg Sess Perisic Kane Son
I really would love to know just what it is Doherty and Emerson do in training and matches that makes Conte think “yeah I’ll stick with these two, the other one ain’t needed”… Lucas over Gil - disappointing. Certainly hope Romero and Hojbjerg are 100%. If we’re risking further injury to them then Conte really does need to give his head a wobble.
Conte usually doesn’t rush players back but Lucas is right in to start when the better option was Bryan Gil. Dier badly needs a rest but starts again.
As I said elsewhere, it's odd how the other day Conte spoke of Romero and Sanchez as Dier's understudies but not Lenglet, given he has the toolset to play CCB
I wouldn’t say Lucas has been rushed back. Been on the bench loads the last few weeks and been getting minutes as he managed his tendon issue.
