I know it wasn't the toughest game and I'm not saying the stats prove anything cocnrete but I always think they're quite interesting. Walker - Had the most touches of the ball with 132, more than double the highest Blackburn player... as was Modric with 128. It was also Walker's 2nd shot on target of the season which drew his second goal, he's had 20 shots in total this season. A few more on target please, Kyle. Rose - In his first league start of the season, Rose led our interceptions with 7. Only one player has got more in a league game this season, Parker with 8 against Swansea(h). Fullback? Winger? Seemed to fit into his role seemlessly despite not starting a game since we were knocked out of the Europa League, although he also did well when he continued a run into the box - something that isn't in the fullback's job description. Rose and Walker - Had 5 crosses each and Rose only managed to get 1 to another Spurs player, whilst Walker drew a blank in that area. Food for thought for those(including me) who pitched either of them as a winger earlier in the season. For perspective, Bale saw only 1 of his 8 crosses find a target, although he was often double marked and many of his crosses were blocked in his defence. Sandro - Made exactly half of our 22 tackles with 11, committing no fouls in the process. Staying on fouls, he drew more from Blackburn players than any other Spurs player with 4. Looked very good attacking and defending yesterday, if he can turn in these kind of performances consistently it's going to be very difficult to keep him out of the team. Adebayor - Failed to make a single shot on goal, a match for the entire Blackburn team, and it's not the first time he's done it. As we all know, Ade gives us more than goals but at a time where we're struggling to score goals I'd like him to take the lead in trying to score as the only out and out striker on the pitch.
I thought that Adebayor's movement was good yesterday, but it was a little telling that his best contributions were often when he didn't have the ball. He created space for others on a number of occasions, especially when we had rare breaks from our own half. The Lennon left-footed shot into Row Z was one good example. Sandro was excellent yesterday. Hard to tell whether it was because he knew what he was supposed to be doing, his sharpness is back due to playing a fair bit recently or Blackburn's ****eness, though. Overall, I thought that we had a much better shape than we have recently, but we still didn't create enough chances. Best player? Sandro, probably. Worst player? Leaving aside Friedel, as he may as well have not been playing, except for the odd catch, I'd have to say Bale.
Yesterday's game highlighted our desperate need for a 'complete' striker. If only we could combine the strengths of Adebayor and Defoe
We'd still end up with a player who doesn't really lead the line I'm not saying I want him to shoot on sight like Defoe but I think he could do with sticking to his role more when we're on top. I think he could work on his strength a bit more too but I agree with PNP that he did do a fair amount of important work for us yesterday too.
It's telling that when we played with one defensive midfielder, instead of trying to play with Parker and Sandro in the same team as we have recently, the team have kept a better shape and the players stuck to their best positions.
Totally agree. I was still annoyed at Bale and Lennon switching again, it was a good job that Blackburn were so poor and it didn't matter. But even against arguably the worst side we've seen all season at the lane, they both looked terrible on the opposite flanks! time to put that tactic to bed, IMO. gotta reiterate your comments on Sandro, PNP. he was superb. we needed someone to come in and play like parker has for us; Sandro played like parker at his best. haven't seen him play as well as that, since he scored against Chelsea.
When we signed Parker my greatest concern was that this would slow down the development of Sandro. And (against v weak opposition, mind) Sandro showed why I had that concern in the first place. Whilst Parker has been great for us Sandro is surely the future. As for Ade I noticed many times that he was drifting into space out wide (as he likes to do) but often he was drifting into the space on the left where Bale should have been. I know I'm not saying anything original but really I don't want to see him with the ball on the left and Bale wandering around somewhere in the middle - I want it the other way round. I also noticed that many of Rose's passes went astray. Haven't seen the stats though. I think that the argument for both Walker and Rose playing more as wingers if/when necessary is weakened in light of their lack of quality on their final balls.
Rose's crosses were cack to be honest, weren't they? His passing was good though. I like Lennon and Bale switching wings from time to time but it happens too often for me and even when Bale is on the "left" he's often nowhere near the touchline. I get the feeling Bale gets a bit bored of playing as a winger which is really frustrating as it's clearly his best position.
Thanks for the stats YV. I'm a big fan of Ade, and was so pleased he was back after our toothless no show at QPR. It'll be a lot harder on Wed than v Rovers, but we can do it. Pleased Sandro had no fouls, one of my biggest beefs against him is the silly fouls and yellow cards he picks up. I accept his role means the occasional foul/card is inevitable, but not the amount and needlessness of some/many of them that he's committed. Surely Sandro has to play v Wanderers, and if that means him and Parker so be it.
Sandro & Parker in the same team? PROVIDED they had clear tactical roles might work, but as we know our manager prefers the 'get out there lads and express your self tactic' which I like tbh, so Sandro & Parker and Harry no thanks unless we are parking a bus. The only bus I want to see is the open top variety with the team waving silver at me.
No! If fit, Lennon and Bale again with Modric and Parker/Sandro in the middle. I would give Sandro another game, he was very impressive on Saturday, and let's face it Bolton are no better than Blackburn. Certainly they will be more up for the game than Blackburn, but we beat them very easily in the recent cup game.
Yes Ade holds the ball up well, and his overall contribution is good. However, it still beggars the question, as we saw yesterday, where are the goals going to come from? Blackburn were so poor we should have beaten them by a far wider margin than we did
Sure, and so it works we can drop Modric to accommodate the pairing without tinkering with the system that clearly worked against Blackburn and for 2/3 of the season. No? Then don't advocate something that has caused us problems in recent games.
If Lennon hasn't recovered from his ankle knock, we play Gio on the right and stick with Sandro in the centre. If Sandro is tired, we take him off for Parker. The team knocked the ball around well on sunday, we should try not to change it. Rose, Kaboul, Sandro, Gio and Ade are all "fresh" in theory, as they've either not had much game time, or had a break due to injury. It was a winning side too.
We also have a few youngster back now as well - Kane, Carroll, Mason, Falque and Bostock have finished their seasons with their respective clubs (annoyingly, Townsend hasn't) so they may be in contention. Well, Kane and Carroll may be on the bench...
Here's an interesting question: We are agreed that it doesn't work when Parker and Sandro play as defensive midfielders simultaneously. If we were to go with a central pairing of Parker and Sandro, and lose Modric from the team altogether, which roles would you assign to each player (defensive vs creative)? Sandro has the Brazilian flair about him which gives him a certain amount of attacking guile, but Parker has been used as a more advanced midfielder by other clubs and done well.
I think they are two too similar players, Sandro probably has more going for him overall but I can't see either of them stepping into the 'creative' Modric role. If Modric leaves, which he most likely will if we don't get 4th, then it will be interesting to see who starts next season. Let's not forget we've got Huddlestone to come back (again, he's not an attacking midfielder as such, but he's more creative than Sandro/Parker). On the subject of Huddlestone, I wonder just how big his afro is going to be by August...
If we did play that pairing, I'd have Parker stay back and Sandro drive forward - mainly because Parker seems to have forgotten to bring his shooting boots with him from West ham, whilst Sandro does look more threatening around the area.
Certainly interesting what stats show - but they seldom match the reality.... Sandro was immense yesterday for sure and Walker, apart from his goal, had one of his best games in recent weeks. But Rose was average at best. He had virtually no defensive responsibilities and the principal area that he should have influenced, coming fwd, he failed to get any useful crosses over. He will never play in a game where he has more space to work in. We need him to develop and I hope he does, but yesterday proved absolutely nothing.
