Totally depends upon the fitness of our squad players, for me. Dawson, Caulker, Huddlestone, Sigurdsson, Townsend and Lloris all have to start. If Naughton's recovered from that over the top tackle by Cavanda that wasn't even deemed a foul, then I'd put him back in at left-back and give Smith a chance in the other full-back role. Walker's form has been a little off, so it'd be good to see a couple of players challenging for his position and pushing him, while also giving him an opportunity to rest a bit. If Adebayor could make it back for this one, then I'd be extremely happy to see him get a game.
HI PNP, from what I'm reading, Naughton has no chance for Thursday and I can't see Ade being ready to play either. He's probably best off at home getting towards some fitness so he can be on the bench v Villa. In truth Naughton isn't anywhere near as good as JV, nor is BAE for me either, but I know a lot of people will argue with that idea. If we had 3 points in the bag, I think it would be realistic to rest JV, but I think we can't afford to, be interesting to see AVB's call on this. The other changes you mention are all good shouts I reckon, though maybe Townsend and Hudd is one change too many. If either Sandro or Dembele are ready after the OT epic, I'd want one of them on the pitch. Given both have missed games during the season, (AFAIK) I'd play both of them if they're both ok. I'd leave Lennon at home with Gallas and Friedel, but he keeps performing way better than I think he will, so just as at OT, I would say he deserves to start. Though maybe AVB will rest him for this one, I think he'll do far more damage to Villa at the Lane than to Pan's men in Athens. This will be a harder game than Villa at home I think, and if we're serious about winning the Europa we have to put a serious team out, IMHO.
"In truth Naughton isn't anywhere near as good as JV, nor is BAE for me either, but I know a lot of people will argue with that idea" Comparing Verts with BAE is like comparing apples and oranges. Verts - who has been absolutely brilliant so far - is primarily a CB who can perform at LB. Benny is an out and out LB. No doubt this comment will elicit the usual comments about Bennies 'regular' lapses of concentration, but Verts has looked much stronger going fwd than defending at LB. And as PNP has pointed out, Walker (who 1 am a big fan of) seriously needs to up his defensive game. His own personal lapses of concentration / poor positioning have already cost us 3 or 4 goals this season. For this reason I would definitely give Smith a run out at RB on Thursday.
If no one talks to Walker about his lack of defensive awareness then he will spend the rest of his career just being an attacking full back that always makes errors at the back, as considering he learnt his trade as a defender, he should be more aware of his mistakes. He had some cheek on Saturday to clap Lennon, when they both messed up and allowed the utd player a free header, he turned around and gave lennon a look and clapped!
Thinking the attacking Walker is a conflict of interest with Lennon. Unless Spurs are going "total football" and Lennon is dropping into RB. Tis one reason I think the Corluka/Lennon combo worked so well. Really need Naughton performing at RB to force Walker to raise his game. But the squad is so light re LB cover now.
Wasn't Lennon tracking back with Evra into the box and not only wrong side, but just stopped? Not that you want Lennon competing in the air but he could have put him off and made it more difficult, the chance went away anyhow, but I think thats what Walker meant, Lennon just dumped Evra on him.
Yes, that was the one, however if the team clapped Walker sarcastically each time he messed up they would have sore hands! teams must look at our right hand side and be scared of the pace, yet also know we're dodgy defensively. In saying that, someone here mentioned (think it was lennypops) that lennons tracking back is under rated as he does have the stamina and pace to harass the opposition...JUST NO JUMPING!!.
I take your point Relayer, but at the end of the day they're both playing at LB, and to me JV gives the team far more than Benny. I think BAE is a decent Prem LB, but I've never rated him as one of the top 6 LBs in the country, whereas JV I do. He's a step up on Benny for me. He heads the ball better, he has a better goal scoring record, I suspect he has a better assist record in Holland, and I would expect him to be the same here, if he stayed at LB, and he doesn't lose concentration the way BAE does. Probably a top winger like Nani can get past JV easier than BAE, but I would be very happy to see JV keep his place at LB, though doubtless he'll go back to CB, when Benny returns. With regard to Thursday I can see a case for Smith, but he hasn't impressed me so far, so I don't know how to call that one. If Lennon starts on Thursday, yep then maybe play Smith. If he doesn't and we play an extra mid like Siggy or Hudd, i'd say play Walker.
That's an issue we now have - Verts is a quality centre back and the rightful replacement for Ledders...yet he's also a step up at left back. So which should he play at? Of course, if we went three at the back with Kaboul - Gallas - Verts we'd answer both questions at once.
Yeah agree on that, Lennon tracks back very well down the wings and channels, I have to say he doesn't make too many errors there, just displayed a bit of a forwards defensive error in the box on this occasion. Agree also that Walker was and has been terrible, but he does have cause to be excused that one...just! Getting turned inside out by Kagawa was poor though.
It would be great if Verts turns out to be one of the top LB's in the PL and as I say, so far he has been brilliant, but you surely cannot come to that conclusion after only 3/4 games? And certainly not by comparing him against a player who has been virtually ever-present during the last few seasons in one of the best Spurs teams of the last 50 years. And I would have thought that actually dealing with a 'top winger' is a fundamental skill for any LB!! Oh well, I suppose its just as well that Benny is at least not depriving Lloris of a place in the team........
Hi HBIC, I'm glad to see someone else thinking that JV is a step up from BAE at LB It's very tempting with the players we have to think wing backs is the way to go with Bale and Walker. For whatever reason(s) though it seems three at the back in the Prem is taboo these days, for the top teams anyway. I wonder if it will come back in fashion anytime soon
the only reason Benny has been ever present is because he was the only natural L/B at the club for some strange reason.Still the weak link in the team for me
JV is too good a player to be playing him in a weaker position. He may be darn good at LB but CB is where he should be.
