Also: Cardiff have already shown that they will be a test at home, the fans seemed great on the stream i watched. With Palace, while not really a force, we played them on the opening day, away, which is always a banana skin as the team plays out of its skin. They also held their own pretty much at old trafford. We couldn't beat Norwich last year and we were lucky not to get doubled by them. Arsenal away is one of our toughest games. Swansea - good top half team In the cup the teams haven't been great, but we've put them away. Last season we were bore drawing our way along (or was that the year before?)
Too many new players still getting used to each other. One thing that is apparent is you are a lot more solid in the middle, which is enabling you to retain good possession and help control games and keep clean sheets. The main issue is the creative players and forward line need to establish a better understanding. Once this happens then the goals will come more frequently.
The solid midfield is an absolute necessity on which to build the creativity. I've lost count of the number of posters who don't like us playing with two holding midfielders because we lose creativity. But if we have not got the ball it doesn't matter how many creative players we have. I really approve of AVB's approach this season.
Yes, it works this season because one of them is Paulinho (and the others to a certain degree too) who is also a credible creative/goal threat. The 2 DMs categorically did not work last season when the 2 were Parker and Livermore.
Obviously our players in those positions are better this season but I'd still argue that irrespective of personnel, the first priority is having/winning the ball.
Last year we won the ball and then twiddled around the centre circle not doing anything unless we could get it to Bale. Now, despite playing with 2 DMs (sort of) still the oppo don't know where to mark and concentrate and thusly have to concentrate everywhere, including both full backs when its walker and rose. Marking 4 attackers, plus 1 mid coming from deep plus 2 advancing full backs is a bloody tough ask and it isn't helped by the fact we get the ball back regularly before it gets to our half.
I wonder where we would have finished had Sandro not got injured? He's a machine and it's a long time since we've had a player like him.He seems to be everywhere!
"Marking 4 attackers, plus 1 mid coming from deep plus 2 advancing full backs is a bloody tough ask and it isn't helped by the fact we get the ball back regularly before it gets to our half." Spurs are basically applying a choke on the opponent MF supply and pressure release. They cannot get hold of the ball enough, and when under pressure the release clearances means the attack comes straight back at them. Barca do this too, but with even better possession and faster return attacks.
"I wonder where we would have finished had Sandro not got injured?" If you believe Spurs lost 2-7 PL points in total over the PL games he did not play, then the answer is anywhere between 2nd and 4th.
Are we winding Spurm up? Can't see it as funny, except that AVB is looking away. If we're winding Spurm - yeh, that's hysterical
Lol. I meant picture 4! Not my day it would seem. Glad to have inadvertently wound Spurm up a little though
