Leave that the the pundits - they seem to question when we'll collapse, even when we're 2-1 up against Arsenal or 3-0 up against Inter!
Can't blame the pundits for that, we only have ourselves to blame for people thinking that. Heck, i think that half the time based on the last 20 or so years.
When the commentators do it, though, it's utterly ridiculous - Jonathan Pearce, I'm looking at you for that hatchet job during the NLD a couple of MOTD2s ago...
Thanks mate, completely missed that thread. Absolutely gutted. Sods law that one of our best players are always injured for the majority of a season. Will we ever see a fully fit, strongest Spurs XI side?!?!
He was unbelievably biased Croydon, but there's been worse. Whoever it was that exclaimed "Oh no!" when Stalteri put the winner in at the Boleyn, for example. We seem to suffer quite badly with ****ty punditry. The choices recently have been ridiculous. It seems to be either Alan Smith or Tony Gale during the game and a host of Goons before and afterwards. When you pick Judas to represent Spurs though, then you're clearly taking the piss. When your own show's host points it out in the introduction, then you've a **** running your programme.
There is a case for Naughton in his favoured position to be given a chance, but not while Lennon is out (any news?) I think Walker has had a big lesson from that error, let's hope he can take it on board, because he does offer a better forward option than Naughton. I wouldn't mind the Corluka option right now.
We won't collapse if we win the next two. Besides the auspices are completely different now. We have a new coach and no England speculation and nobody in the CL to stop us if they win it. I cannot see us collapsing this time. We played well last Sunday and that should continue to the Fulham match at home. As I remember we beat them away quite well so I foresee no problems. We'll now see how AVB copes with the last part of the season which is new ground for him. He looks more like a winner now than at the start of the seaon.
Spurs and Chelsea should win, it's Arsenal with the toughie this week, Swansea away after a midweek venture to Munich has banana skin written all over it.
How motivated are Swansea now, though? You'd hope that they'd be up for a visit from the Goons and Wilshere's out, but they've not really got much to play for. Hopefully Michu will get at their back line again and they'll at least nick a draw, though. Could go below the Scousers, if that happened.
Dunno there, I'd like to think there's players there who are unlikely to see European football elsewhere, so will want to perform and stay in the team, don't think Laudrup is one for a drop in standards either. So far, I don't think the League Cup hangover has happened, they were unlucky with the disallowed goal which would have been a good draw at the Hawthorns...or do I just live in hope!
At home I'd expect them to be highly motivated, still only lost two at home (Everton and Norwich I think). Away from home I'd expect them to take their foot off the gas a bit. Can't see Swansea not scoring so Arsenal will need to score 2. Not easy to play a team like Swansea away from home after a midweek excursion in Munich. Two teams that will dominate possession against Arsenal for sure.
Swansea have a good home record that i reckon they want to keep,so i think they will be motivated,they can als play the goon's at their own game,keeping the ball,i can't see Swansea losing at home,in this one
Really hope Lennon returns for Inter, apparantly AVB has said he's likely to but I reckon it's touch and go, so with Bale suspended, I'm worried at the potential lack of pace we'll have in wide positions. Maybe sticking Naughton RB and Walker RW for that one could be an alternative? As for the league RB position, I just think Walker needs time out, I think his confidence has taken a hit as he still looks way off the standard he was last season and so for me personally, I think time out of the team will do him better than more starts, just so he can have break, freshen up and then realise there really is a fight on for his position as he's had no real competition since we loaned Corluka in the Jan 2012 window (and then eventually sold him in the Summer). Speaking of Corluka, I actually really miss the guy, I know he didn't represent the typical modern day full back of being able to bomb back and forth each game with speed and crossing ability but he was a fantastic defender and I think as of right now with the position we're in and games that are coming up, like you, I'd take a Corluka option in terms of a more solid RB than an attacking one.
"I'd take a Corluka option in terms of a more solid RB than an attacking one." Is Naughton not in that vein (faster than Corluka, but doesn't try bombing down the flank all the time) ??
I think Naughton is better at left back than right back despite not being his "orthodox" foot. I hate watching him at right back he drifts inside for no obvious reason, it is one of the most bizarre feature i have seen a professional footballer do. God forbid if Naughton is partnered at some point next to the also badly positioned Gallas, clever midfielders would have a field day picking through that side of defence!
Ermm I suppose so in a sense, Corluka was a fantastic defender in my opinion but offered little going forward, Naughts seems steady at defending but has more going forward than what Corluka offered, I remember seeing a few crosses Naughton made for Norwich last season - very, very good, great curve and was ideal for the likes of Holt and Morison, we haven't really seen it though as he's been deployed more often on the left so doesn't get to whip 'em in first time. Corluka - great defender, poor going forward. Naughton - ok defender, decent going forward. Walker - below-par defender, great going forward (when on form!!!). Naughton to me seems the most all-round full back of them. Though personally, I really hope Smith comes back next season and stakes a claim, very impressed by him. Has a great engine, gets back and forth well and has a tenacity like Scotty P to win the ball. If Walker's form continues, I really think Smith could become our 1st choice RB if given the chance.
It's his passing that tends to get to quite a few of us on here, he slows everything down whenever he gets the ball and then passes it backwards or sideways. I can't say I've noticed him cutting inside from the right but I can only remember 2 games where he's played there for us this season, Fulham(where he did pretty well) and Leeds(total fault for the first goal and generally useless). I'm still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he's been finding his feet so far and the thought of Walker being up against Cassano doesn't fill me with any great confidence either. Welcome to the board, by the way
