Cheers GH. Being right is overrrated. The article was interesting mostly for confirming what I'd thought about how effective Dembele and Sandro have been.
Yep, I'm not sure how useful a lot of these tactical articles are, but I think they give a different view to the way I, and doubtless others, normally think about the game. I'm old school, but I don't think that tactics are mints for dyslexics. However, I thnk primarily the result tomorrow will depend on AVB picking the right team, the officials, bits of luck, our home support (or lack of it) - to me the finer aspects of tactics come way down the list as a key game changer. Obviously you play goalies in goal, defenders in defence etc, but a lot of the subtler stuff, not sure how important it is. If the refs **** us over like they have done time and again against Chelsea, all the turnover stats and defending zones and whatever are so much feathers in the wind. similarly IMHO if AVB picks players who aren't as good as others in contention, I doubt his tactics will see us through. We shall see what we shall see.
Lucky inasmuch as we had deflections against Utd and Villa. Defoe's wasn't going in and the first against Utd wasn't either. I can never remember how to spell his name. Purley,Utd were unlucky against us. It was hardly a convincing win over Villa seeing as where they are in the table.
TMT - we simply weren't lucky against Villa, I've put the stats down for you, we deserved to win simple as. If you keep having shots like we did, there's always a chance you'll get a deflection. What about the shot from Bale that hit the post or the dangerous crosses we put in but just eluded our attackers? There is no way whatsoever we were lucky to beat Villa, you might not think it was convincing I think it was - that's a matter of opinion. but we definitely weren't lucky to beat Villa, that's a matter of fact.
Ok GHoddle,we weren't lucky overall apart from the first goal so maybe I'm being a bit harsh but I stand by unconvincing. We've not bossed a complete match this season as often they're a tale of two halves but ok.
Fair enough TMT - all I can ask from you is please don't be too harsh on Spurs it's very hard to boss a game for two halves in the Prem, I'm sure you know that lots of teams, including your current faves Chelsea along with utd and city will often win games without dominating two halves. The prem is incredibly tough and competitive. I could list endless games where teams like Chelsea and utd have ground out results without dominating for anywhere near 90 mins. Some of those results have come against us - look at that ridiculous 2-1 win Chelsea had against us a couple of years ago. Who is the only team Chelsea have dropped points this season to, yep relegation zone Rangers - the same team that we were lucky to beat, and I will agree we did get lucky that day I'll predict now, no team will boss both halves in tomorrow's game, it'll almost be certainly fine margins that decide the game. I think a lot of Spurs supporters think teams like Villa West Brom Norwich are there for the taking, and then they get frustrated when we struggle. We simply don't have a divine right to beat anyone, which is why I always love and praise all our victories, prem wins are like gold dust, for a team like ourselves they're not easy to get. here's the all-time prem table http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/premier-league/all-time-table/pl-years If my maths are correct ONLY THREE of the 45 teams who have played prem football have won over 50% of their games, that's how hard it is to win in the Prem, let alone win convincingly and boss both halves. Only 7% (6.66%) of Prem teams have won more than half their games, I suspect zero per cent have won more than half their games convincingly.
This piece of journalism by the Mail http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ayor-holds-crisis-talks-Tottenham-future.html smells somewhat fishy to me. It implies with its use of the present tense that these talks have happened very recently TBH - I don't believe this to be the case Mind you if Ade doesn't start tomorrow - then I'll be in Daily Mail 'outrage mode'
I don't know but i posted that I didn't think Ade was an AVB type player. Let's see what happens. I'd prefer him to start over Defoe and Lloris too.
Hi TMT - you may be right re Ade and AVb. For all I know the Mail story is correct too, but it doesn't ring true to me We'll see in something like twelve hours time - if Ade doesn't start then something is seriously wrong between AVB and Ade Naturally, if we win then AVB is proved correct and all plaudits to him, but i can't see us winning without Ade and Lloris starting. Not long till the posturing is over and the game commences
Adebayor hasn't even been fit enough to make the bench for most games and the article even accepts this. Clearly it's utter nonsense and giving it any credit would be foolish.
Whoah! I am scratching my head at that one. I have never heard that phrase and have no idea what it means. But I agree with your gist. I think that having excellent players play well is so much more important than how you set up or what formations are etc. How you get them to play well has something to do with tactics, something to do with personalities, something to do with the player's temperament, something to do with the atmosphere in the stadium etc etc. I think the reason we did so well under Harry is that we happened to have very, very good players whilst he was here and seemed to get them to enjoy playing and hence play well. It wasn't cos the tactics were anything special. I'm sure that's something I can agree with the Harry-bashers about.
Fair comments YV, that tends to be my view, as I say there is something that doesn't ring true about this article.
I'm all for getting your tactics right. Fail to prepare, etc...However, so long as it's not over complicated. In which case the players can suffer from Paralysis by Analysis, as it's called in Rugby.
Friedel; Walker, Caulker, Gallas, Vertonghen; Sandro, Sigurdsson; Lennon, Dempsey, Bale; Defoe From the official twitter. Interesting to see Sig deep next to Sandro, clearly Dembele not fit. Could be a crucial miss for us. Also obviously controversial that he's dropped Lloris and not restored Ade to the team. There's gonna be a fair bit of media 'interest' in this line up for sure.
Friedel Walker - Caulker - Gallas - Vertonghen Sandro - Sigurdsson Lennon - Dempsey - Bale Defoe Terrible, awful team, don't een fancy watching the game now, but I will Obviously Dembele was injured as Belgian manager said but Friedel instead of Lloris - ridiculous -ditto - no Ade Lloris is the biggest miss for us, not Dembele (IMHO) defeat for Spurs and I just have no time whatsoever for AVB now obviously if we win, i'll change my mind
Cheers GH. Personally I would of preferred Lloris too but Friedel is a good keeper so not the end of the world. Not sure about the midfield with Sigurdsson alongside Sandro. Defoe deserves to keep his place up top even of Adebayor is fit again.
Dembele is not even on the bench Subs - Lloris, Dawson, Naughton, Falque, Livermore, Townsend, Adebayor Clearly not just precautionary taking him off at half time against Scotland then. Damn.
