Yeah, amidst a general fear that AVB is not and will not be the manager to get the best, or even close to the best, out of this squad. I'm actually wondering how someone can explain to AVB that,
a. in the first place, two defensive mids at home against any teams but the best few is unacceptable and will result in your head on a platter, and
b. hey, you're a young guy, it's time for you to show you can come up with a system to match your players, not jam your players into the one system you like...
I'd go for the "fabled" 4-1-4-1 70% of the time or so (at home/against weaker teams) and the 4-2-3-1 otherwise (away/against stronger teams).
Lloris
Beni-(Dawson/Caulker)-Vert-Walker
(Sandro/Parker)
Bale-Dembele-Dempsey-Lennon
Ade
With Bale and Lennon both playing well, Spurs great advantage is width. AVB sacrificing it would be stupid. Gylfi looks off for the moment, so start Dempsey, maybe in the slot behind Ade. Make Gylfi the first sub, so he plays every game for either Lennon, Dempsey, or possibly Dembele. If he looks as good as he did at first, start him, and make Dempsey the first sub. Build the team around Dembele, who looks to be the closest thing we've got to a Modric-level talent (other than Bale), even though he's a different kind of player. Use Ade's playmaking skills as much as possible. Switch to 4-2-3-1 to kill a game off.
4-2-3-1
Sandro-Parker
Bale-Dembele-Dempsey
Ade
Dempsey starts here since width will be less, and Dempsey excels on the counter. He's also a tough, scrappy player who will make life harder for top players. Gylfi the first player off the bench to replace Dembele, Dempsey and maybe Bale (can he play on the left?). Livermore to sub for either Sandro or, probably, Parker.
