Cheers for the good wishes, AG. We didn't use an outright 4-4-2 very often last season, but it was part of some of our more memorable performances, both wins and losses. The 4-0 win over Liverpool and the 5-0 win over Newcastle were both with that system, but it was also how we started in the 5-2 loss to Arsenal.
I think we have to be a little patient with both Dempsey and Sigurdson who have both stepped up a level by joining Spurs, especially at a time when the team is in transition. Like any new job it takes time to bed in and perform at your best. You could argue that Dembele has hit the ground running but I think most would agree that he is a class above anyway and we have not seen his best yet. A sweet thought!
Hi Spurf, I agree in principal that any player joining a new club will need bedding in time. Though Dembele like you say is a class above and has settled immediately as has Vertonghen, who's taken very little time to adapt to a new league and country. But Dempsey is pretty much a "veteran" of this league and has come off the back of his best season yet for Fulham with something like 17 league goals (I think?). Someone like him you'd expect to be able to make a decent impact from near enough the start. Sigurdsson is a little more understandable, he's young and only had half a seasons' experience in the Prem prior to joining but you'd still expect to see glimpses of what he offered Swansea last season, he even looked impressive pre-season for us yet so far, has looked very much out of his depth which is a concern. The worst thing is, we all know how good these two players are/ can be and so it's frustrating to see them perform like how they have been without any glimpse or hint they're about to turn a corner any time soon and hit the ground running. Lets hope they can get their ars*s into gear!
With reference to Dempsey look at the reverse case with Zamora who struggled at Spurs but became a star at Fulham. I think it's all down to being surrounded by players at a similar level to yourself, step down, you shine step up, you struggle. Dempsey needs to raise his game, we all hope he can.
Zamora totally changed his game from his time at Spurs though, Spurf. He was signed as a goalscorer and a pretty effective one he was at lower levels, too. He just couldn't cut it as that type of forward in the top flight though, so he flopped at WHL, went away, adjusted his game into a more physical, hold up style and proved himself. Whilst he seems to have disappeared up his own arse recently, I think that he did very well to address his weaknesses and force his way back. A lot of players have fallen foul of being too good for the Championship, but not good enough for the Premier League. Darren Huckerby would be the most glaring example, for me. Looked incredible in the 2nd tier and absolute ****e in the 1st.
Thinking more about Dempsey he was at Fulham a few years gaining a reputation as a half decent PL player, but with no interest from other clubs to sign him. It could well be the case he had one purple patch of a season, it does happen.
Fair enough PNP but Dempsey comes to Spurs with a couple of different approaches in his locker i.e. striker or midfielder the stepping up may be to decide which of these he is going to concentrate on as the higher level will require a measure of expertise in one rather than being ok at both.
I agree, but the way that we've set up when he's been selected hasn't helped him, as we've lacked creativity in midfield and a striker capable of holding the ball up well. The same would apply to Sigurdsson, in my opinion.
I've never thought United were stylish. Substance yes but not style. They've always been a counter attacking team that breaks out wide.
Hey, let's not knock Rio's style. He signed up Francoise Boufhal for his magazine, so he can't be all bad. please log in to view this image 28H, if anyone's wondering.
