I think that we will have, once everyone's bedded in. Lamela's a better passer than Townsend and Rose is just better than Naughton and Fryers at left-back. We haven't seen enough of some of our signings to know whether they're good enough for our first XI, but I think that communication and familiarity are things that will come with time. The team are still feeling their way around and getting used to how the others play. We've had a lot of changes. There were a few backheels, feints, blind passes and neat moves yesterday, but I don't think that you can pull off too many of those things without stability in the side. Knowing where someone's likely to be and the run that they'd like to make is very important to getting a good, flowing game going.
yeah there is definitely more to come and am not taking away from the promising signs. My main concern about Avb is how he views the team so only time will tell if he can get the best performance out of this squad. this goes back to last season, I wasn't convinced about the team setup and lack of creativity, this year we have many more options so Avbs job should be easier.
I thought we lacked creativity too, but I think we've addressed that in the summer. Time will tell, of course. Eriksen, Lamela and January signing Holtby look most likely, but Paulinho, Capoue and even Chadli look like they'll contribute from their positions. We won't be starting all of them, but it's good to have options.
Pity the poor people of Tokyo who'll be hearing me yell "Have it, you Spammer ****ers!" at a computer sometime on Monday...
Yup, I'd pick Defoe for this one. Soldado's had his chances and hasn't taken them. We don't want to waste Defoe's few months of good form by not selecting him.
Bobby has barely registered a shot on goal in 6 games. The guys around him are clearly still adjusting, and while they do it will be better for the team to have Defoe up front as he knows what he wants (see him directing play vs Malmo the other night). For me Anzi team should be: --------------------------Friedel----------------------- Naughton-----Kaboul-----------Chiriches-----Fryers -----------------Sandro-------holtby----------------- -------------------------Kane-------------------------- Lamela-----------------Bobby------------------Chadli Then Spammers: ----------------------Lloris------------------ Walker--------Daws----------Verts----Rose -----------------Dembele--Paulinho------- --------------------------C E--------------- Townsend--------------Defoe---------Gylfi If we are dominating vs WHAM but can't penetrate we can always bring on Lamela, Holtby and Bobby 60mins +. I think the Europa league players still need to find there feet (Chadli, Lamela and Soldado) but Kaboul and Sandro should be looking at some Prem time soon.
While we still aren't scoring too many, it's been a different team to me in terms of creativity since Eriksen began playing. Now we're creating a decent number of chances with creative attacking play. Against Chelsea, aside from the goal, Defoe, Gylfi and Paulinho all missed good chances. I'm okay with Soldado to start as I think he's been involved in most of our goals. While I like Defoe, he's the kind of player who will score much more against weaker teams. He thrives on loose defending and pounces on mistakes. I see Soldado, Eriksen, Lamela, Gylfi, Paulinho, Holtby and maybe even Dembele as being the ones with the creativity to unlock tight defenses. Still, mixing it up and giving Soldado a chance to bag a couple and reward Defoe for a good start wouldn't be a terrible idea.
West Ham look pretty dire at the moment but if there's a game for them to step up it'll be us. Confident of a win though providing we play like we did against Norwich and 1st half vs Chelsea. Team I'd like: Lloris, Walker, Dawson*, Vertonghen, Rose** Paulinho, Dembele Lamela, Eriksen, Sigurdsson Defoe *If Kaboul is fit I'd really like to see him start ** If fit, otherwise Vertonghen LB with 2 of Kaboul (if fit)/ Dawson/ Chiriches at CB Subs: Friedel, Dawson, Sandro, Holtby, Townsend, Chadli, Soldado There isn't a better league game to get Defoe fired up for, I've wanted him to get a starting chance in the league after Soldado's dry spell and West Ham is a perfect one for JD. Dembele's performance against Chelsea "earns" him a start, I've wanted to see Sandro start soon but it'd be unfair to drop Dembele and despite Paulinho's below par game against Chelsea, he's been immense elsewhere. Dawson, I love the guy as a pro and player but I think he underperforms in big games, plus I also rate Kaboul the better player and if he's fit, I'd love to seem him partner Vertonghen. Townsend looked better against Chelsea (was surprised we subbed him) but Lamela needs proper game time if we're to see him reach his potential, 10-15 mins in league games isn't enough, plus keeping a £30m on the bench is a strange decision in my opinion.
The flip side is he can try too hard in such a game, becomes selfish and less aware of other situations around him such is his desire to score. Fine if he's on a roll, (PL roll!) but when the shots are scuffed or end up in the crowd...annoying!
Oh yeah without a doubt there's always the risk that players who want to do too much end being ****e but I just think Defoe would relish the chance to play against this lot, I think dropping Soldado could actually end up getting the best from him too, we all know he will be our number 1 striker in the long run but making him work for it and earn it rather than just giving him the start will hopefully see him kick on. Defoe scored one of our goals of the season last year against them when he came inside from the wing, hopefully he can repeat it
Agreed. imo there are only 3 players that can "Expect" to start: Lloris Walker Verts Everyone else should be open to rotation and European football. TBH rotation is a good thing, as our players would end up burnt out come the end of the season as we have done for the last 3 years. Defoe to start, will be fired up and this of any could be seen as a gift/reward for his other games as he gets alot of stick from the hammers fans. the other point is that the Hammers will be one of the most defenseive displays we face all year and defoes pace and confident movement will be necesary, Soldado's movement has not really been worked out by the mid players yet.
You not seen West Ham's away record? It doesn't matter if you go to Russia midweek, you've now got the squad to cope with it. West Ham will be fired up for the game undoubtedly but any team you put out should comfortably beat them away from Upton Park. Dreadful side away from the Boleyn.
I wasn't trying to say we don't have the squad to cope just that it is an annoying distraction ahead of what could be a very tough game. I expect AVB will field some players in both games though which I think is a mistake. Have you seen their away record? 3 games played, none scored, one conceded which naturally means that they've had 2 0-0s already this season. I don't base my opinion on that though but what I see is a Spurs side that is not full of goals, up against a naturally defensive side who are playing away and have striker issues. It's a different game against them if we score an early goal but that's easier said than done for us at the moment.
That happened in recent seasons, think it was stoke, when we had VDV, Stoke couldn't buy a win away from home and basically turned up at our ground and bossed the game so i appreciate West Ham are dreadful away from home but all it takes is one goal, one great move and a back to the walls defensive performance for them to gain a result. This is why I never fully write off any team, regardless of their record.
Appreciate what yourself and YV have said. If Fulham beat Stoke at home then West Ham are in big trouble. They'll be in the relegation zone with: Spurs (A) City (H) Swansea (A) Villa (H) then games against Chelsea, Arsenal and United to negotiate in December. Allardyce is already under pressure after that loss against Hull.
