Article: Tottenham Hotspur v Blackburn Rovers Match History 1897 to 2011 | Football, Tottenham Hotspur

In the long term, I still think it'd be interesting to get Kranjcar back out there on the right.
Not a position that's really suited him in the past, but with so many other real footballers in the side and Walker on the overlap, I think it looks really dangerous.
If Parker can keep his place, then having five midfielders that are all extremely comfortable on the ball and can get forward well, playing behind a striker that's highly skilful and can hold up play brilliantly could be devastating.

 

Possibly PNP, always difficult to call such future possibilities. The more fit, top players we have the better. Pienaar, on top form, could in many cases do a better job than either Lennon or Niko.

But unlike many, I'm not concerned about this right side issue. To me, the way forward is Parker and Sandro holding, Walker getting forward and those two covering his runs as and when. With Walker Bale and BAE we have plenty of width. Naturally, each game has to be seen it own context, but I think Sandro will be fit enough to start, so that's the option for me tomorrow. If he's not fit, I'd go for Livermore or Defoe, but if Harry went with Lennon it wouldn't shock or annoy me.

 

The only problem with Parker and Sandro holding is that means moving either Modric or both Modric and van der Vaart out of position, in my opinion.
As you say though, each game should be assessed on it's own merits and it's nice to have these options available.

I don't think that I've ever seen Pienaar have a good game on the right, though.
He always seemed to play his best stuff moving inside from the left wing at Everton, creating space for Baines on the overlap and making himself very hard to pick up.
Very similar role to how Modric played for us for most of the season before last, when he was fit.

If we can progress in the Europa League, then I'd love to see this XI being used, once everyone's fit:
Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Gallas, Rose; Huddlestone, Sandro; Lennon, Dos Santos, Pienaar; Defoe.
Just goes to show how many injuries we've had so far this season, doesn't it?

 

I don't think we should leave Defoe out, 442 with VDV on the right for me.

 

Fair comments again PNP and SF

We'll see how Harry calls it, as long as VDV AdE Parker Bale and Modric are playing, I can live with whoever he chooses to make up the final '6th position'

 

Fair enough, I think most Spurs supporters think that. I don't doubt his talent / technique etc I'm just not sold on his fitness / conditioning & his natural athletic ability. For example against Arsenal we suffered down that side with him on the right, Walker was left exposed. That would improve if we paired Sandro & Parker in the middle, but then where does Modric play? If it's on the left where does Bale play?

So usually we fit vdv in just behind Ade. But for me, although a more limited player, Defoe's natural inclination to run in behind creates space for the likes of Bale and Modric to move into, whilst vdv's tendency is to fill that space.

I'm not saying he shouldn't be in the team, i just don't think it's a given. I'd suggest Ade Luca Parker & Bale probably get written down first for four of the front six positions, then is two from Sandro vdv & JD, horses for courses.

 

A sound argument DK, but I'd suggest that most of our side shouldn't be automatic choices.
It'd be harsh to drop quite a number of them, but we've got a lot of good players.

You could make an argument for dropping Assou-Ekotto and playing Bale at left-back, for example.
Parker's place could easily go to Sandro, when he's back to full fitness or even Livermore, if he continues to improve and impress.
Kranjcar can push for a starting place in the middle, in van der Vaart's role or on either wing.

I think that our current problem is that the XI that Redknapp would like to pick don't fit into an effective system very naturally.
That's resulted in the manager moving people around to see if he can still get every player giving peak performances, despite not being in their preferred position.
We've still been getting the results for the most part, which is extremely encouraging, but at some point Redknapp's going to have to make a difficult choice, I think.

 

Yeah that's well said pnp. I'm not sure whether the constant changing is beneficial in that our players will become more adaptable, or whether we're maybe losing a bit of consistency through it. The Parker / Modric axis that was so good against Liverpool hasn't been as effective or seen regularly since & subsequent games have maybe given Harry the idea that we're stronger with 2 destroyers in the middle. I'm sure it'd have been Sandro / Parker against Newcastle had Sandro been fit.

So maybe Harry is thinking at home go with Modric and one other and in some away games go with the two destroyers. But that means our style changes week to week so there's pro's and cons to it.

I wonder whether we'll see Modric in the vdv role sometime soon if Harry does play Sandro & Parker together away. Because he really is better when he's in the thick of things.

 

Fair comments DK, but as you can tell to me VDV is every much a given as the four you mention. Indeed for me, VDV is more of a give than Bale, that's how much I rate him.

 

Hi DK, fair comments again But for me Modric shouldn't be in the VDV role, because VDV is better than him at it. Such is my regard for VDV, if it was ever a choice between Luka and VDV for the 6th 'spot', almost certainly I'd go for VDV, he hurts teams more, IMHO.Modric shouldn't be in the VDV role b

 

I see where you're coming from. The way i see it is at key moments in games vdv rises to the occasions, you'd back him to stick the ball away if given a chance and to make the right decision / be in the right place around the box. But for me it's the bits in between the key moments that he's not always as effective. Conversely Modric knits it together for us over 90mins well but isn't as clinical as vdv but i think he's fitter / got more energy than vdv and certainly in end to end games where we're breaking he could do a lot of damage in that position. Not in the same way as vdv, but by carrying the ball, drawing defenders and sliding people in. Modric had a go in the hole where Harry first arrived and he wasn't great there then, but he's improved since then, i think he'd do better in there now.

We see things differently but It's good we can have such discussions, it means we have a really talented squad with lots of options.

 

Fair comments again DK

 

Well the Pool result has given us a tremendous boost, win tomorrow and I expect us to be favourites for 4th spot on Monday morning

 

Friedel; Walker, Bassong, Kaboul, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon, Modric, Parker, Bale; Van der Vaart; Adebayor.

As I said , VDV to definitely start, he's one of our best players. To me, it's an easy decision like Bale and Modric.

I see PNP's preference for the '6th position' in the front six has come up trumps. The return of Lennon.

 

Lennon starts? that's a bit of a surprise. I rate him but he tends to need to play himself back into form after injury. Should give us a nice balance though. C.O.Y.S!!

 

It's the side that I wanted to see, but I didn't think that Redknapp would select it, in all honesty.

 

Yeah, everyone's playing in their best position.

 

No proper defenders back for this. Lets pray nothing happens to Kaboul and Bassong!

 

Anyone got a better stream than this one? http://www.sportlemon.tv/v-2/10/198/v-319895.html

 

Just because nobody else has mentioned it, 1-0 to Spurs.
Van der Vaart from Walker.