Spurs Injury's

Keeping Raylor as LB is just asking for us to lose. Our central defence has done great, our fullbacks, less so. Would rather see Santon in place of Raylor.

Why do people keep saying if it aint broke, don't fix it? Our fullbacks are clearly "broke", Wolves had 35 crosses ffs, a change need to be made.

 

This. Come on.. this is Lennon and Bale we are talking about, not Stephen Hunt or Jarvis(who is a good player mind). Bale and Lennon will be more lethal than those two lads mentioned because they are quicker, stronger and better finishers!

 

Bale has scored one goal so far this season, and that was against Wolves ****ty defense, Lennon has scored none. I know this doesn't mean we shouldn't worry about them a bit, but i honest think if we can keep out Gervinho and Walcott, then we can keep out Lennon and Bale.

It will be a tough game, but i think we can do it. We were so close to keeping out Spurs last season.

I'd like to see Santon start, but if he doesn't, there must be a good reason. It wont just be Pardew thinking "lets not change a winning team". Pardew makes some stupid subs at times, but he's definitely not tactically inept, if he thinks Santon isn't ready he wont risk playing him.

I reckon Santon's first game will be the cup game tbh.

 

I'd go:

Krul
Simpson-Saylor-Colo-Raylor
Santon-Cabaye-Tiote-Jonas
Ba-Best

Santon to help Simo with Bale. Play 2 strikers as their defence ia their weak link. Tiote and Cabaye can go toe to toe with Modric and Parker.

 

I'd hate to see us put on a defensive formation, especially at home. If there are going to be changes, let them be Santon/Ben Arfa/Marveaux.

 

Once is too many times.

 

So what formation do you lads think we should put out? 4-2-3-1/4-4-1-1 style or straight 4-4-2 with Ba - Best?

 

Yet we won. Seems as if our central defenders were prepared for that as they did pretty well to stop 34 of them. Maybe it was part of a game plan...

As I said we have the best defence in the league and it's not because we have 4 great defenders, it's because we have a system that's clearly suiting them. Until we get found out (maybe it will be this week) why change it?

 

I still dont see what the fuss is about. Lovenkrands works a lot for the team and earned a run out after scoring two in the cup, and changing your strikers doesnt make you weaker at the back. Cabaye was obviously knackered by that point (he runs 2 or 3 times as much as he did in Ligue 1, and it was boiling hot that day), and it would have given Guthrie a boost to get game time as well. Marveaux for Obertan was obviously to run down the clock as well.

 

My main concern is out wide. Our weakest area is in the full back position. The idea of Bale and Lennon against Raylor and Simpson is frankly quite terrifying. Really hope the rumours about Adebayor are true as well, he's on top form at the minute and could be a real problem.

 

Nice to see you casually forget it is our fullbacks fault they allowed Wolves to put 35 crosses in, which is extremely poor by Simpson/ Raylor. Wolves found us out, surely you cannot deny that, only the ref and the assistant stopped us losing.

 

I don't think you understand; maybe it is part of our gameplan to allow the crosses - we clearly did a good job against Wolves (who are good at heading). My point is we have let in 4 goals in 7 games. Enrique was a better player than Raylor, yet in his last game we let in one less than this entire season with Raylor. Maybe it's because the other defenders pay more attention, maybe it's because he knows the system better. He clearly does something right (even if it's that the other defenders are more aware - it's still working!)

 

I'm pretty certain Simpson is not told to back off so much against attackers and that Raylor isn't told to attempt to tackle but completely miss the player trying to cross. Bit of a stupid, suicidal game plan if that was the case. Saylor(albeit lucky), Colo did a good job against Wolves, our fullbacks did a **** job. But if the Linesman and ref were good, we would of lost.

Changes need to happen (Santon for Raylor or Simpson) and it was clearly obvious against Wolves.

 

Lets be clear if it wasn't for Saylor, Colo & Krul we would have lost to Wolves. I think Raylor needs to be dropped

 

I think Raylor needs to move to right back and Simpson needs to be dropped for Santon

 

you seem to be the ultimate Simpson hater and I seem to be the ultimate Raylor hater

 

Simpson is possibly the worst right back in the league

He ****ing CAN'T defend and offers absolutely diddly squat in attack.

 

I don't really care what team he puts out, football is back followed by better standard of conversation on here, I have been lurking of late!

 

I'd agree Simpson out Santon in as Raylor is the better defender, e.g. block v wolves was incredible, although i could see a case for Simmo playing because of Spuds pace out wide, but like i say Santon and Raylor for me

 

I reckon any team would struggle without a goalkeeper and half their defence