True re vert...and he owes us a performance....as fof high line I hope we aint stupid enough to try that!
Sunderland played a 5-3-2 tonight to ensure they never got thumped but knew they couldn't win the match. We can't be too focused on Liverpool if we want to win but agree no high line. I would play a 4 4 1 1 and someone has to get on Gerrard as he is like Pirlo at times, starting moves from deep.
Just a thought....wonder where Spurs would be in the league if we had Liverpool's two goal scorers? I've said it before,goalscorers can make a manager look like a genius. Talking about goalscorers,I thought Rooney's two against West Ham were bloody lucky.He first fouled his opponent and,thinking the ref would blow for a foul,Rooney casually lobbed a ball towards the West Ham goal,hoping to give his defence time to mark up from the free kick (that didn't come!).He did look rather embarrased when he found out he had scored!Then walked onto a miscue that pretty much hit him on its reroute into goal. Why are Spurs persisting with Naughton? I wonder if his dad was a member of those past comedians named "the Crazy Gang"? Chelsea....10 goals v Arsenal and Spurs.Strange that both teams got a red card each.Was this prearranged...? I hope Lloris isn't dreaming of a return to France.He must be wondering why a PL team does not have a PL defence in front of him......our present one is Pretty Lousy!
This high line stuff is really confusing me. If we press their midfielders and defenders when we lose the ball then either our defence stays back and gives Sturridge, Sterling and Suarez space to turn and run at them, or it moves up and tries to limit their space with the risk of a ball being played through. Why is everyone so sure that the first outcome is better than the second or that the pressing game (which all the most successful teams play) is silly?
Its not so much the high line system isn't effective, its more we don't have the squad to implement it effectively. Yes the high line tactic/system is effective, as outlined by the fact the majority of successful teams in world football now play a high pressing game. If you close down your opponents you stop them playing and if you win the ball high up the pitch, you're nearer the goal when in possession. Smart Tactic. Southampton have beaten the bigger clubs, or teams in form, with their high pressing game and defeated Liverpool but they have masted the system, but just lack consistency. With us, do you have faith in our defence to push up correctly? play offside? close down in tandem with the midfield? We dominated the goons at home but first half they opened us up by simple lobbed balls because we didn't press them quick enough. If we're conceding cheap goals agaisnt teams like Benfica, Chelsea, Hull, Southampton etc then what hope would we have playing a high line away to a team that have scored 84 goals this season? Everton went to Liverpool and played their usual system of attacking full backs pushing up high and they lost 4-0, simple balls over the top and that was a team who had been playing a system which gained them rave reviews. Hopefully I've set-up myself up here to be proved wrong and Sherwood goes to Liverpool and shows them who is boss, presses them high and pulls off a shock win...just does anyone really have much confidence? I doubt it!
Could you just give us until the second half? Make it look like a tough game for a bit. Maybe start that Aspas fella and bring Suarez on at half time.
You lot will prove tough opposition, no easy win here we'll have to be on top form to get 3 points. Our defence will have to tighten up I can't see you lot not scoring.
If Eriksen and Chadli can keep up their form then I'd like to think they'll create or score a couple but our defence is nowhere near 100% yet and that's a major problem when it comes to facing you lot. Both Vertonghen & Kaboul are building their match fitness up after injuries, Rose is possibly the worst performing LB in the Prem and Naughton is obviously our second choice RB so having that up against the best strike partnership in Europe... Doesn't bode too well. I can see it going 3-2/ 4-2 in your favour.
worst performing L/B a bit harsh,i'm sure ther are some performing worse in the teams around the bottom of the P/L
I'll take your score prediction right now! I've no idea as to how this is going to go. The City and Chelsea results on Saturday may well have a major effect.
If it goes like the rest of our season we are in for a hammering but it's just possible thet we have made some progress under Sherwood and a 'team' is emerging. Hoping for a good football game whatever the score.
To be honest mate I really can't think of anyone worse than him right now. On his day he is a half decent player as he proved at the start of the season but his form over the past 3 or so months has been dreadful. I'd rather play a pissed off Vertonghen there or give Zeki more run outs. If we can carry the second half performance from Soton then we'll definitely make a good game of it, though I do think Pool will take home the 3 points.
It would be quite remarkable if we didn't slowly get better as the new players settle in. The only things of note that Sherwood has done are to bring back Adebayor and promote Bentaleb. It will be a long time before we know whether either of those is in the best interests of the club.
My only fear is that we start to try and become pragmatic from here on in - ie any scrappy win will do. I'd rather go down to defeat really scrapping for it. So I want us to make it a shoot-out as I believe we'll win - and that's no disrespect to Spurs.
