What line up would you play against Spurs then?

I know now until next saturday, 9 days, is a long time when edging towards the end of a transfer window.

But between then and know, I don't see signings really having that much of an impact on the line up we play vs Spurs.

Many would agree that we're in the same league as Spurs, challenging for 4th-7th place in the premier league, so it's an important game.

Our Europa League campaign will be important to us, but our important premier league matches will require us to have a strong team available.

I don't see us signing a striker. If we do sign anyone it will be a defender, that is pretty much certain for me, but it will take more than a few days for them to clinch a starting position over our current defenders, especially if it's a center back.

Anyways, do we risk a more attacking formation? Potentially leaving us a bit exposed to Spurs attacking quality and pace, especially from the wings? Or do we play more solid, more defensively, but still with attacking threat?

If we play our 4-3-3, we will be far more threatening. If we play our 4-4-2, we hold our own against Spurs, but not produce the same threat, not because the line up has changed much, but because of the system.

A 4-4-2 system would be my choice, but It will mean leaving out Ben Arfa for me. Playing Ben Arfa is pointless in a 4-4-2, however, I think it would be best, if we're looking to survive against the quality and pace Spurs have on the wings. Bale, Lennon, Walker ect.

I'd play -

-------Ba-------Cisse---------

Marv--Tiote----Cabaye---Raylor

Santon--Colo---Saylor---Simpson

------------Krul-----------------

We will have the quality to create, but we will be solid enough defensively.

We will have two wingers, whilst not have too much pace, both have good creative skills, and both can deliver a great cross into the box.

Raylor can deliver a good free kick, and we've looked good from set plays in pre-season.

If we need a bit of pace, we can get our fullbacks to over lap. Say what you want about them, but Santon has skill and great pace, he can overlap, and Marv is a hard working place, he can cover.

Simpson is great at making overlapping runs. He may not be very consistent with his crossing, but he gets in good positions, and can play a part in a good piece of build up play.

We can easily change our style by bringing Hatem on later on, and going 4-3-3.

Or if we're defending a win, or settling for a draw, we can bring Shola on, to add some height, plus add a bit of strength up front to further tire our their defense.

Anyone else agree?

Please share your opinions!

 

Does it matter what we play defensively? Do spurs even have a striker right now? I'd go 433 tbh. Probably Marv on the left wing and leave out Ba or Cisse.

 

Adebayor is probably gonna sign for them, but it's not what they have in the center that worries me, it's their wingers.

Walker overlapping from Fullback, Bale, Lennon. We aren't weak at fullback, but we're aren't amazing.

Playing 4-4-2 would be wise IMO.

4-3-3 would be dangerous vs Spurs counter attacks.

 

If Bale plays on the left, Simmo should stand off and force him onto his right. Nullified.
If Lennon plays on the ledt, Simmo's learned his lesson by now, considering it was Lennon who started everyones rage against him in the beginning.

Jonas left wing to help defend. Possibly Marv on the right for his pace. For me their biggest threat is VDV, can't see Ade signing in time for them playing us, and VDV only has half a match in him at best these days, not sure how well his pre seasons gone.

 

The Adebayor move has been officially off for over 2 weeks now Tash, he wanted over 150kpw and the transfer fee, Spurs and City both told him to do one.

IMO we should play our own game, instead of not playing our best player just to do slightly better at countering their threat. 4-3-3 is what we need to do. Ba and Cisse don't really work well together, or at least haven't in the past, and so we need someone else with them, which should defo be Benny, he is technically our best player, and has the pace and skill to annihalate them.

And even if we did play 4-4-2 to try to counter their wide threat, it might still not work. Bale on his own destroyed Inter playing 4-4-2, so it won't make much difference. At the end of the day, whoever scores more will win, so we shpuld pick the team that is most likely to score whilst balancing the need to defend, which is 4-3-3, in the same formation as last season.

 

Tbh, if as you say we look to be more solid defensively, then it is a given that Gutierrez plays?

I WANT:

...............Cisse
..Marveaux ..Ba.. Ben Arfa
..........Tiote Cabaye
Santon Colla Saylor Simmo
................Krul

But I think Pards will go:

.............Cisse Ba
Gutierrez Tiote Cabaye Obertan
Santon ..Colla. .Saylor.. Simmo
.................Krul

Could just as easily be Raylor right mid, but I have a gut feeling Pards wants to give Ober another chance. And with Marveaux, Shola and Ben Arfa to come off the bench, there are loads of ways we can adapt our formation throughout the game.

 

Who's this Colla chap you're talking about?

 

I called for Raylor at RM against Man Utd because it made tactical sense to nullify a specific threat, because Utd's midfield just isn't what it was... Playing him there versus Spurs might be less shrewd because there's a more mobile midfield in general, mostly all capable of being a goal-threat. I think, with that in mind, we may as well just play someone who will cause them problems and try and peg them back, but I could see Pardew trying Raylor to be fair.

Everyone has Santon, but from the Hartlepool game he doesn't seem fit or ready. He was a fresh sub, but when up against fat Hartlepool Wazza he got blitzed for pace, with a head-start... Not good. I reckon Tav stands a good shot at a starting spot you know, else we might be seeing Jonas (who in my opinion must play because of what he offers defensively) or Raylor play LB.

I reckon it'll be this formation:

Ba----Cisse-----Marv

Jonas-Cabaye-Tiote

Tav-Colo--Taylor-Simmo

--------Krul-----------

Ben Arfa looked short of match sharpeness, so I think he'll be on the bench, with Marvy as a starter. Obertan will get a run-out late on if we are drawing or losing.

 

If he really wanted to go defensive, he COULD stick Santon on one of the wings in 442. Could go ultra defensive with Cabaye and Tiote in the middle, Santon and Jonas on the wings, Raylor and Simmo in defence, And Tiote and Cabs in the middle. I don't think Spurs have enough of a threat to warrent going that defensive though, especially if they don't get a striker in time. It's all well having wingers, but if you can't put the ball away in the end, there's no point.

 

Watch them sign 3 brilliant strikers before the match now

 

We shouldn't worry that much about what they have we have great players too. If HBA is fit he'll occupy both BAE and Bale when in possession.

 

BA - Cisse - HBA

Tiote - Cabaye - Obertan

Santon - Colo - Taylor - Simpson

Krul​

Cabaye as AM and Tiote in a DM position

 

Bet you a tenner we don't play that formation.

 

Also Jonas must play.

 

Would think so.

 

I'm pretty sure you'd win it at any other day, with any other team, with any other manager.
Ever seen a English manager/coach field a 4-3-3 with attacking midfield in the EPL?

 

It's been done but it's more likely to be 4-4-2.

 

yea, foreign managers, most likely Ruud Gullit, Guus Hiddink or maybe a Spanish/Portugese coach, but someone from GB?
I think that day has yet to come

 

Some good news and looks like we wont have a problem in midfield


http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/aug/09/tottenham-scott-parker-ruled-out

 

Doubt it

All the strikers they want are asking more than they can even consider affording, unless they sell Modric.