I agree with what you're saying in principal but I really don't see how the inclusion of Gallas is benefitting us at the moment. His knowledge of the game to pass on experience off the pitch on the training ground is worth a wage alone but personally, he looks way past it now for me to say his inclusion has been justified. I don't know what factor picking Gallas has any advantages over of say selecting Dawson. For sure Daws doesn't have the winners experience like Gallas but at 29, he's near enough at his peak, is experienced in the EPL, CL and International and so his experience is still of an extremely valuable level while also (in my opinion) ability wise, he's ahead of Gallas right now. Gallas has been one of the best CB's this league has seen but unfortunately, now at 35, he's a fraction of the player he was and I don't think his experience makes up for that. Dembele needs to be wrapped in cotton wool, if AVB takes him to Lazio I hope he only gives him 15/ 20 minutes at tops providing he is 100% over his injury, even at 99% I wouldn't take the risk. I'd rather he miss one more game than be out for another 6 etc. Though I would say there are other options even if it's a risk, for example Tommy Carroll has fully impressed me and I'd love to see him given more responsibility now especially while Huddlestone/ Dempsey/ Sigurdsson have been so poor.
I think that AVB's first impression of Dawson was that he was not his kind of player, which would not be surprising. It also appears that as he sees more of Dawson he is beginning to value him more. We know Dawsons value but AVB did not. This is one reason it takes time for a new manager to bed, he has to get to know his players. Tom Carroll has been given given the opportunity by AVB who seems to be much more tuned into to our youngsters potential than previous managers. A tick for AVB. My guess is that we will see less of Gallas as the season wears on. For AVB this may have been 'his man' on the pitch, we don't know of course but it's not unusual for a manager to have one player who represents his presence on the pitch. A player that perhaps understands the managers philosophy better then most. I don't disagree with you SoS on Gallas I just think there may be other factors as I have suggested.
Gallas is probably our only 'leader' on the pitch of late. Take him out, and who gee's the team up? I think we're really short of players with that trait, and its necessary at any level. That has showed when things have gone against in games we've petered out in, imo its partly because there's been no drive from anyone, tbh I don't see Gallas as brilliant, but after Daws is all we have. The importance of captain gets dismissed by some people, but I don't think we have one on the pitch atm, we have someone who wears an armband, but thats it!
That's a fair point, although I was surprised and disappointed Dawson didn't start Saturday, he does seem to be getting a few more minutes now and I don't think he done himself any harm when he came on too. I know we conceded two more in the second half but we looked a lot more solid defensively after the break. Yeah, I've praised AVB a lot for his trust in youngsters, something Harry really p*ssed me off with. Carroll is starting to develop into what I think is a real "Tottenham player" with his technique, creativity and vision and credit to Andre for that. Carroll, Townsend and Kane have all made their league debuts this season which does wonders for their confidence and as someone who takes a keen interest in our youth academy, it's great to see that we're finally producing players worthy of challenging for first team places. I hope you're right Spurf, I can live with Gallas being played in cups but in the league, I just don't think he can cut it anymore, the EPL is way too unforgiving for any mistakes, especially as a defender/ goal keeper and unfortunately Gallas has been at fault for many.
We should take into account our defence atm has been far busier than the one this time last year, we were controlling possession by as much as 70% in some games so its inevitable more mistakes will be made. WG has made some, but so have others, and the back4's 'protection' has been left wanting far more than last season too.
Dembele? If he's fit to start against Lazio then he's fit to start against West Ham and I know which I'd rather have him start in. If he plays the majority of the Lazio game so soon after he's been cleared fit he could aggravate what's threatening to become a long term injury and I don't think throwing him straight into starting 2 games in less than 72 hours is a good idea either in terms of putting unnecessary strain on him.
Dembele hasn't played in well over a month. There's no way he'll be match fit. You would want Dembele returning in a London Derby with West Ham nowhere near match fitness? I'd give him 45 minutes v Lazio and then 70/75 v West Ham. There's no way he can possibly be fatigued having not played for this long. He must be as fresh as anyone and has great stamina anyway.
I don't understand. He's not match fit yet is as fresh as anyone and has the stamina to get through 2 matches in a short period? Given that he's been having late fitness tests before some games I think he's probably been doing some form of training over the past month so I'm not concerned with his ability to get through a match or at least the majority of it. Besides coming back from a month off isn't that bad, he's had a full preseason and start of the season in him so it's not like a player turning up for training at the start of the season having been sitting on the bench and eating burgers all summer.
please log in to view this image Famous flop Marco Boogers was never allowed to play in the fixture because West Ham's squad also contained Julian Dicks – Premier League rules state that you can only have one player with a mildly rude name in your starting line up. The same rule prevented German international Stefan Kuntz from signing for the Hammers. Rafa says: “This issa fact!”
This game is one for the purists. Two of the most unattractive footballing sides in the premier, maybe include Stoke in there as well. AVB's new Spurs , side way play, no creativity the worse for many a year ( 0 shots at Lazio) Happy Hammers lump it and kick you all over the place. The neutral must be in fits of joy with this treat coming up. From dashing cavalier play to dullsvillle in a few months.
A 50% match fit Dembele is still twice as good as any other option we have in the CM role alongside Sandro. Plus, we've been so lacklustre without him that although I'd never want to rush anyone back from an injury, in this case, we NEED him back in the team ASAP.
I definitely want Dembele to play in this one Lloris, Naughton, Dawson Caulker JV; Lennon Sandro Dembele Defoe Bale - I can easily think of 10, the 11th is the hard one Probably Hudd, but maybe Townsend and play Bale more central. I so wish Dempsey was the player he was Fulham, how we need him for Sunday, but I can't the use of playing him ATM.
I would advocate a team of Lloris Walker - Dawson - Caulker - Vertonghen Sandro - Carroll Lennon - Dembele - Bale Defoe but I don't think its going to happen
How about Livermore? Is he injured? If so, I'd definitely play Townsend over THudd. He'll come good, in time. He's clearly a class act.
we might not be playing great football, but at least we're working towards trying to do so, SF! "AVB's new spurs" are not actually AVB's new spurs at all, IMO. it's a combination of Harry's spurs, and Levy's Spurs. Sig and Vertonghen were wanted/signed before AVB took over, (especially verts, we wanted him in Jan). Dempsey was a panic buy. The only two that might have been AVB's choice are Lloris and Dembele, IMO. No creativity due to what is now proving to be a horrendous summer window. Ask yourself, did you expect to hear us saying "I really want to see Tom Carroll play in this game" like so many of us are, but so regularly? We all wanted him to feature this season and grow as a player, yes, but there are currently people who are hoping (my self included) he starts over more senior players. That's the sign of how desperate we are for several huge reasons. I wouldn't have chosen AVB as manager. I've remained very open minded, but yes, he has pissed me off with a few decisions. But they are nothing in the grand scheme of things. when all the factors are taken into consideration, I'm amazed he's done as well as he has, to be honest. We're have gone from "cavaliers" to "dullsville" because we have sold arguably one of the top 10 creative players in the world in Modric, and the classy, intelligent, experienced VDV. In addition to that, we've lost the heart of the team in Kaboul, Scott and Benny all season. And the 1 player who we did buy, who's been expected to do a 1 man job of replacing Modric and VDV (which is impossible), has been out for 6 weeks too. Imagine last year, playing for say... 2months, with No VDV, Modric, Kaboul, Benny or Parker or Ade. How does any manager replace that when it's 6 our of 11 first team players?! That's pretty much what it's been like for us this season. I bet no one would have been moaning at harry if he was in this predicament right now. I'm with you on that Huddlefro. Although I think Naughton deserves a chance at RB now, in his favoured position. For me, it's not working for him at LB and walker needs to be dropped.
