Or cover for the left wing, which is why I can't understand why Townsend was allowed to leave, as he is more then capable of providing cover.
I think that could work too, i've said something similar in another thread. People keep saying that Bale is doing well because of the strikers making runs and pulling people away, but Bale is such a talent (and good football brain) that i think he could also thrive as the striker. Even as the striker he could roam about and cause havoc. A striker isn't just constrained to the width of the 18yd box. Arsenal used to play with just Henry up, he was hardly a goal hanging striker was he?
Hi Bossy, I think the impressions that AVB gives off aren't entirely true. I expect he's had to make those comments as the powers above him have perhaps told him what they is available to spend, that it will be controlled, and he knew a striker wouldn't be coming in as other areas were a priority. - so therefore hesaid what he did. Holtby should be playing in the supporting role behind the striker. But for me, it comes back to the strikers. They don't work with each other. and in general they don't work with anyone. Therefore Bale has gone central due his own ability and being able to produce magic, which has meant that holtby has had to go out on the bench, or on the left. Carroll is a good replacement, but he's still young and i think AVB is right to have protected him by bringing him in slowly. - we need to wait till next season before we get too shirty with that on, IMO. I want to see him get more opportunities now, but ican see why he hasn't up until this moment. I agree, I think there are many players in the squad who don't suit the vision, and yes, Levy had a right to be cautious as AVB was a gamble.But if the manager hasn't necessarily got the players he wants, how can he set up properly? surely it is squad dictating as he can only work with what he's got?
Livermore, Gallas and the two up top may as well not have turned up. You've got to expect a hiding when 4 players are well off their game. Defoe is absolutely pointless unless he scores. Other strikers still contribute even if they don't score themselves. The only positives I can take from the game is that, as some have already said, it highlights that there are players in our squad that are not good enough. Hopefully AVB has now seen that the likes of Livermore and Gallas should not feature again this season unless absolutely necessary. Anyway, we should have expected a result like this, it's what we do........THFC: Inducing heart attacks since 1882!
totally agree. perhaps an alternative could be: Lloris Naughton Daws Verts Benny Parker Holtby/Dembele Lennon Holtby/Dembele Sig Bale ?
Precisely. I think Holtby as "the 10" or whatever that position is. He looks tricksy in the final 3rd and has goals in him from advanced/central positions (i believe). Dembele excels deeper, more so with Sandro, but still with Parker. I would leave him there. We have so many options for "the 10" too should we want to mix it up, Bale/Holtby/Dempsey/Siggy/Dembele. Well, not Bale if he is striker.
I think you're all being too critical. I know it's our job to pick the bones out but take a step back and look at the result. We won over two legs. We are through to the next round. Ade, although a donkey for most of the game, used his long legs to get in the right place at the right time and scored the goal that put us through. Inter were always going to score. It wouldn't have mattered if we had the best players and the best tactics, Inter were always going to score. Scoring four was unpredictable, but that was their target for the game and they achieved it. Scoring one goal was our target and we achieved that too. The days of us playing attractive football and the games finishing 4-5 are over. Although they were entertaining, the results weren't. I'll pick results over style for the rest of the season.
If you was a manager, would you set up the team to suit the natural game of the squad, or use a system which doesn't suit the natural game of the squad? if you can understand where I'm coming from, as thats why Avb has to take blame (or part blame) as he doesn't show enough tactical nous to adjust the team to the right balance. As for Carroll, I'm a big fan and if Livermore is deemed good enough to start, then I can't agree that Carroll should be made to wait, as he has shown he is capable when called upon from the bench so last night was the ideal game for him to start, but Avb took the safe option and thats his choice, not the squad. I understand you want to blame Levy, but Avb has to be strong enough to stand up for players he needs, as its his neck on the line if results don't go his way. remember when Redknapp wanted parker, it took him a while to convince levy to part cash for a player with no resale value, but redknapp got is way in the end. So Avb has to be stronger, if its the case Levy is trying to dictate what players are signed.
I thought your performance in the game was apalling, but am glad you went through since it seems the Inter fans were dishing out racist abuse to your players. UEFA needs to start swinging the banhammer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/15/tottenham-racism-internazionale-europa-league
It seems to be so common I find it hard to even get worked up about it anymore. Lazio had to get fined for racist abuse 4 times in their Europa League campaign this season for them to finally face some proper action against them, I just don't think that the rest of Europe cares nearly as much as they should. UEFA probably think it's a great money spinner though, hand out ineffective fines and they'll keep doing it while the club keep sending cheques and empty apologies.
Our strikers are not productive enough to warrant a first team place. In many ways they are a hindrance and shackle the team. They constantly lose possession and don't score goals. The whole flow of the team breaks down at their feet. Just let Bale roam , a total attacking free role with no responsibility to defend as we have a 5 man midfield behind him. Yes he may better suited on the wing but this is completely wasted as we have no one to put the ball in the net. With his movement and playing right across the front he would pull defenders all over the place. At the moment we have a **** attack. A decent midfield if the right players are picked and played in correct position, A good defence if the right players are selected, very good keepers Levy's ***in policy has not addressed the obvious striker shambles, so yes he is to blame. AVB hands have been tied by our great El Supremo.
They were 4-1 drubbing bad in my eyes mate, players 'not turning up' is one view, but when they are put in unfamiliar territory, stifling their good points and exposing their bad, its bound to look terrible. 'Slightly incorrect' tactics is far too kind but I understand your use of that as your post is looking to motivate the way forward from here. I don't understand Holtby, he looked so good in those first couple of cameos, but has since been hardly used and just looks out of sorts. Brad has been defended but I'm afraid you have to look further than being culpable for the goals, in the first half Mr. Stayonhisline got lobbed and only the bar saved us. If he'd stayed stood up Cassano's header would have bounced up into his hands, didn't cut the angles for one, and the last header went straight through him! The highline tactic is also exposed when he plays, not anywhere near Lloris at coming out and sweeping up danger, I think this puts extra doubt in the defence, same arguments used to install Lloris as No.1 a while ago. He looked flat footed and unagile.
I wouldn't read too much into this game at all. 2 leg Eurpopean ties very often produce strange results. Referees from leagues adopting different standards, the travel itself, and in this case going into a game 3 up will all produce the wrong mindsets in players. This referee insited that the game be played at high tempo booking two of our players for time wasting was a bit unfair IMO. Spurs needed a calm controlled game Inter needed a high tempo dash the ref ensured it went the Inter way. Our forwards were brought down frequently with no foul given and the reverse was true at the other end. I'm not suggesting the ref was bent just that he had a diffent way of viewing football. As for our players they put in a lot of effort but Naughton was out of position far too much, Parker had a mare, Ade strolled about with little sense of urgency and Friedel IMO is beginning to look a little past it. Despite all that we are through to the next round.
of course you'd use a system that suits. But what is that system? our left winger is playing up front and it's the knock on effect of that which is casusing problems. It will apply to many, if not all formations. We don't have the balance IMO mate, so again, this is full circle! As for Carroll, that's a fair point and i agree, but in the same way that Huddlestone has been pretty much axed, maybe AVB is now seeing whether Livermore can cut it? I wouldn't be surprised if we see very little of Livermore from now on, especially as we're now entering the business end of the season. As of this summer, yes, AVB has got to say it how it is. "I need X Y and Z". I expect that his situation prior to signing with us (the chelsea saga) didn't really help him when he spoke to levy about players. In the same way Levy said to Modric, "give us 1 more season", I wouldn't be surprised if he said "let's see how you get on this season" to AVB before he was going to sanction any net transfer spend, let alone anything significant.
I haven't mentioned Friedel yet and i agree with notso. He has to take some of the blame for the shakiness in defence. There was a very near fatal cock-up between Gallas and Friedel which we were lucky to get away with (yes, could have been Gallas but the keeper should be shouting his arse off to get his point across about what is happening). He is also wobbly on pass backs, which we have come accustomed to using with the cooler head of Lloris in goal. These sorts of incidents will excacerbate (yes! Used it again!) any nervousness in the team. It seems most people disagree with most my views on last nights game notso, maybe i was watching the wrong channel? Lol
The other thing is the Friedel situation. I've never got on Brad's back but there's no doubting that he's not of Lloris' quality. - Although still a good goalkeeper, obviously. Now we're in the 1/4's what is going to happen? I'm with notso in that Brad doesn't instil confidence in his defence in the same way Lloris does. There's been a fair few occasions where he's looked uncomfortable, or has been to blame perhaps. Does AVB stick with him, as he's the "cup goalkeeper", or does he revert back to Lloris to give us the best chance of winning the thing? I have a feeling that AVB will keep things as they are and let the 41 year old have the chance at some glory. - should we get there that is. To me, that's not the greatest decision if that is the case. It's about winning the thing, not necessarily being Mr nice guy. This sounds harsh towards Brad, as I'm still a huge fan and think he's a true pro, but Lloris is the better keeper. surely to win a competition we should be putting our best team out when it gets serious? Which is now! (actually it was 2 rounds ago)
...its not that bad, its not like you said there was ' lots of positives and desire'! Re. Brad, I'm not sure he should be used other than to cover injury. Its the business end of the EL now and it is there to be won, if we're serious, its Lloris in goal from hereon imo.
I think the defence played as if Lloris was in goal. Friedel was reluctantly having to come off his line as Lloris would have done and he was not happy with it.
Agreed and same for Gallas. Unless maybe we get Basel and even then I'd only play them in the home game.
Lloris is a better keeper than Brad no question, but for all his calmness and speed off the line, it didn't prevent defensive nightmares costing us a result on Sunday, did it. Brad was hesitant and more stuck to his line than would be ideal, but he was on a hiding to nothing with Walker, Galls and Naughton in front of him last night. He made 3 excellent saves which arguably kept us in the competition and it is harsh in the extreme to find him culpable for all bar arguably the 2nd goal and even that was an excellent calm finish. The first was down to Naughton going missing at RB leading to a cross to an unmarked striker as Walker had switched off again. The third was a ridiculous freekick given away by Walker and a pinball shot where he had no chance. The 4th was again an unchallenged cross to the far post where Verts had switched off - powerful header which he got a firm hand to but couldn't keep it out. Lloris comes back in now for Sunday and it may well should be the case that he now retains the jersey for the rest of the season. But any keeper would suffer with the type of defending in front of him last night.
