Thank you kindly, Bri, and nice of you to stop by. I think Holtby deserves a run at CM, just as Townsend earned a run in the team. He's been good for us this year IMO after a season where he was hard-working but ineffectual in a deeper lying role a handful of times. He's got an absurd number of assists in Cup games this year, as well as a couple of the neatest moves. He's still largely unproven for us and may not pan out, but we owe it to ourselves to see if he can replicate his cup and Germany u21 form. God knows we need someone to step forward and produce goals. He looked good for Germany playing something of a deeper role, but hasn't impressed me anywhere but CAM here. He said he wanted a deeper role last year because Bale had become the CAM. He's the kind of guy who would say he wants to play goal if it would get him on the field. To his credit. Walker Chiriches Kaboul Naughton Sandro Dembele/Paulinho Lamela Holtby Soldado Lennon 4-2-4 Soldado has been poor as a striker but good as a midfielder. Tempting to start Gylfi instead. Lamela is a calculated risk--a good choice for an open game, not otherwise. As must of a win as this is, Fulham was even muster. Above all, attack, run. We'll get better at it with practice.
Who watches Spurs TV?, the Holtby Family Holtby never arrived with a big reputation, which is why there was never a true excitement about his signing as the only way Holtby can create excitement is to perform to the best of the ability, performances that haven't come overall but the ability is there. Eriksen arrived with the YouTube backing, instant excitement and drooling from his performances in the Dutch league so thats why there was more of an excitement. Eriksen also has the ability but because his ability has been "over promised" the chances are he will under deliver (even if hes talented), Just like Lamela, both come with reputations ahead of what they can produce now. However like I have said before, Holtby, Eriksen & Lamela are all talented players and until Avb goes they won't have the chance to fully prove themselves, and then their futures will depend on who the new manager is, their faces may not fit. Ideally we would like to see all live up to their potential but the law of averages with foreign signings say one will be a flop, one will be a steady eddy and one will be a great signing.
Just read that Verts is out, ankle ligament trouble- probably where Dawson kicked him for his couldn't give a toss performance! So that leaves us with Naughton or Fryers - oo eck!
I don't know how long Verts will be out for, but I am also concerned that Dawson is on 4 yellows. It is highly possible we could be missing Dawson and Verts soon. Where's Bongani Khumalo when you need him ??
Sorry Spurcat quite accidentally I reported that last comment on my phone. Mods please ignore! Anyway does anyone know if we have the option to recall Benny anytime soon? Is Rosé even training?
Fryers, the Utd youth player who was ridiculed for his defending but we signed him because Levy would love to say he got a bargain and one over on Utd. Shame for us he is ****
Villas-Boas said that he should be back in training before the Sunderland game a few days ago. No idea if he is, though. If Naughton starts then we really need to pick Townsend down the left so that we have some sort of natural width on that side. I doubt he will though, unfortunately.
No Sandro and Naughton starts at left back! Lloris; Walker, Capoue, Dawson, Naughton; Dembele, Paulinho; Lennon, Holtby, Chadli; Defoe Friedel, Fryers, Lamela, Sandro, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Soldado
Where have our defenders gone? No Vertonghen, which we knew about, but no Chiriches or Kaboul and Sandro on the bench? Oh dear.
