"We forgot how to lose for a very long time?" Exactly. Actually Spurs are now in the PL where they were exactly 12 months ago. But with much greater wholesale squad changes to assimilate this year.
"Well actually he is." That is probably more "decision by default" rather than first CB on the teamsheet when all squad CBs are fully fit and available.
Yes, I thought someone would say that. It's a decent point for debate actually, because I think up until the Newcastle game, Dawson was our most consistent CB. I thought he was good yesterday, but he had certainly had a dodgy spell in the games between Newcastle and yesterday. As I said the other day, it will be interesting to see what happens if Daws gets another yellow and is then suspended and if AVB brings him straight back into the side.
personally i'd be selecting based on whoever is the best person to partner chiriches. edit : if verts and vlad could work defensively then that would be perfect.
If Rose returns and he regains his place at left back then I would go with Verts and Chiriches in terms of taking us forward but Dawson is still very much in the picture, since he won his place back last year he's virtually the first name on the team sheet.
"Yes, I thought someone would say that." Which does not mean Dawson is not a valuable asset to have in the squad, playing regularly enough to always be ready to enter the fray. Every player has strengths and weaknesses. The managers' job is to exploit the former and work on / minimise the consequences of the latter.
"i would also add that i can see suarez taking daws to the cleaners next week" And I can also see the CB pairing that play, frustrating Suarez into his usual antics.
why ? considering that that happens once or twice a season and the rest of the time he's like mustard, what gives you confidence that whatever centre back partnership we pick, they will ensure that it's the once or twice a season suarez ? strikes me as clutching at straws.
"why ? considering that that happens once or twice a season and the rest of the time he's like mustard, what gives you confidence that whatever centre back partnership we pick, they will ensure that it's the once or twice a season suarez ?" Previous games against the Poool when Suarez has played ?? So flick of a coin likelihood of Suarez being silent, rather clutching at straws. We shall see next weekend ...
What, you mean to say that our beloved 'impartial' BBC and co would mislead us by pushing imbalanced, biased news? It could never happen surely!
Make sure Sandro starts, a couple of decent tackles and Suarez with lose his rag, his Achilles Heal is his temperament. A few other niggly tackles and he will be nullified.
Suarez had a stinker away to Hull, He is a fab player but can be contained. I'm more worried about the prospect of feeling red faced from Joe Allen scoring!
Re Suarez. It goes without saying that he is a genuine world class striker. On his day, he is virtually unplayable, by any defence! My concern is more the other end. Our continuing inability to take our chances is putting a strain on the whole side. The longer we go in a game, without scoring, the more risks have to be taken, more men committed forward, etc. A top class, clinical striker would give the whole side more confidence, IMO.
Best I've seen us all year, between an opening when I was afraid we'd gone back to the slow buildup, and an end where we did go back into our "defend" our lead shell. I love the Paulinho, Holtby, Dembele trio exchanging roles fluidly. Lennon on the right and both Chadli and Townsend on the left were excellent as well. If we had someone who could knock the ball into the net, we'd be dangerous. Time to try that Owen Goal fellah. He's got two in four. TBF, Defoe's fast, well-timed runs were important in our improved play. I'd love to see more of Dembele dribbling far into the box. It's a defender's nightmare. I can only hope we continue to remember to cut the ball back as well, for the same reason. It was against one of the weakest teams (albeit on an up and away) but we're suddenly looking easy on the eye and decent in our prospects.
Fulham may have been weak under Jol, but they look a very different prospect under Meulensteen. The fight has returned in them and he's choosing a pretty different team, too. Berbatov looks like a new man, though that might just be to get a better move next month.
Its been an interesting post match read this, as much as there still is to moan about, you have to also say if you're looking for reaction following a drubbing (6-0) 7pts from 9 is very good. I could, but I'm not going to spoil that thought atm
