In many ways I would agree with your sentiments, but we are looking at the best options for, at most, 3 must win games. Before yesterday I would have opted for the Defoe option too, but the side looked livelier and better balanced when Adebayor came on. So if that version appears to work then I would rather stick with it than change again.
The bold text is what determines the outcome of the game for me. Their mid 3 of Hazard, Mata and whoever else plays mustn't be allowed to dictate the flow of the game - we've done this against Chelsea and Arsenal too many times - go all out attack with a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, get passed around in the midfield and lose heavily. We've got to set up as a 4-5-1 pretty much and stifle their passing/creativity. Parker has been crap for the past 2/3 months but he needs to play over Huddlestone in my book. I'd stick Holtby or Sig into the midfield too - so a mid 5 of Bale, Holtby, Parker, Dembele, Lennon. If we don't go with 5 in the mid then we don't get anything from the game in my opinion.
To dare is to do, mate. I get what you're saying about balance, but again, it really doesn't make much difference. It might change things slightly, but we still look average. It's bales's solo efforts that'll save us. Gotta keep Dempsey way away from the team too, IMO. I honestly don't know what AVB sees in him, in order to keep starting him each week. We need our best technical players available for this one. (As well as back 4 protection)
Yesterday we needed four wins, today we need three. If either past records or present form continues, Chelsea will win easily. Luckily, both can and do change rapidly and unpredictably. I agree we need to start fit players. Our best hope is to outwork a Chelsea team that, (we can only hope) is taking a breath, at some level, in the knowledge this isn't a must win any more. I also think Huddlestone will look like a statue when faced by Mata, Hazard, Oscar, etc. I'd seriously consider bringing him on at the seventy minute mark if it's tied, or maybe even earlier if we're behind, though. Holtby is our best hope of winning the midfield battle, which we'll have to do. I'm glad Levy found the money under the seat cushions to get him now, that's for sure. Without Dembele otherwise it would have looked even darker. I also feel it's time to throw Carroll to the lions. We need another quick player who can pass effectively in midfield, and he's the only one who fits that description. Width would be great to have, but it looks like our only wide forward is crocked. Beni and Walker will have to do what they can. Walker Dawson Jan Beni Parker Holtby Carroll Bale Adebayor Gylfi Dembele and Lennon are crocked, I believe. Is Defoe healthy? If he is, I'd consider dropping Parker and playing him with Adebayor, though that does seem kind of insane. I hope we remember that while we'd normally be overjoyed with a point, nothing but a win is at all likely to do us any good now.
I'd go with that too if Dembele's not fit. I worry about our aerial threat though, part of me would like to see Caulker start with Vertonghen at left back, or maybe even midfield, or go 3 at the back with wingbacks but then my head starts to hurt and I'm just glad I don't have to work out how we're going to play this one.
Caulker instead of Dawson, and/or Jan wide left is interesting, and is proabably worth trying late. I like playing Beni, though, for some reason. I guess my idea is clog the midfield, and hope that Bale or maybe Jan can come up with a moment of magic, or that Gylfi or Ade can bang one in. This game doesn't actually drive me as nutty as some to plan for, though. Most of the choices have been limited by injury. The big thing I would hope for is that everyone comes out ready, willing and able to work their socks off.
Is Lennon definitely out? Cole looked vulnerable today- with no protection in front of him either. Utd had a lot of joy on Chelsea's left, but Valencia wasted every opportunity he got. Playing Bale on the right, with Walker looking to push forward, might get results. Chelsea will probably rotate their squad again on Wednesday. Hazard had an injury today, but should be fit for Wednesday. The three amigos will proably play, so Spurs need to track the runs of Mata, Oscar and Hazard. Two holding players in front of the back four (Dembele, Parker) is essential. 4-2-3-1 would be the right formation to match up with Chelsea.
I don't know if Dembele is out, but knowing that he's got a tweaked hamstring, as does Lennon, I think we'd be better off with healthy players. Other than Bale, of course, who on 1 1/2 legs is still our best goal threat.
A draw is a win for me, the thought of losing, guaranteeing their CL spot and rubbing our noses into the EL...ughhh!
Every player has to be at his best,and there is no reason why they shouldn't be.This is the decider in my opinion,and a win will put the pressure on the goons and off us.the players should know how important this is,let's hope they want it as much as the fans,we have as much quality as Chelsea, and need to show it
really doesn't make much difference mate. In a week or so's time Both Chelsea and Arsenal will be doing the same to us anyway. All we're doing is delaying the inevitable!
Cup Final day... Without the cup. If there was a time to break our hoodoo and beat Chelsea at the Bridge, this was it. The players shouldn't need any motivational speeches from AVB for this, it's simple, win and chances of CL is greatly boosted, lose and that's it (in my opinion). Team I'd like: Lloris, Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Ekotto Hudd, Dembele, Lennon, Holtby, Bale Defoe I usually stick a score prediction after what team I'd like to see but tomorrow's game is just too hard to call and I don't want to jinx the result. COYS!
To be fair Shearer calling us the English Barca was the funniest thing I've heard. Seems to be the only pundit that has a strange soft spot for us. You would be correct if Arsenal were to win both their games but it isn't as straight forward as that. The battle at the bottom will directly affect the battle at the top. If Wigan win tonight they can probably afford to go to the Emirates and lose/draw, that will not be good for Spurs irrespective of the outcome tomorrow. As far as finishing above Arsenal goes. A draw tonight and a Sunderland/QPR win on Sunday is good for Spurs as it means Wigan and Newcastle will throw everything at Arsenal and are probably down if they don't. Arsenal will not be good enough to beat either of those sides (highly motivated) unless they improve their level of performance. At this stage it's all about motivation. On the last day of last season we saw a 10 man QPR side that needed to win come within minutes of beating a City side that needed to win so anything can happen.
I honestly believe that Wigan and Newcastle will be a lot tougher than the Arsenal fans are making out. A couple of my mates have already started with few complacent comments. - Nothing directed towards spurs, just a sense of arrogance that the 6 points from those 2 games are already in the bag. - Very surprising considering the way Wigan end each season and the fact that Newcastle could be fighting against their arch rivals for a place in next seasons EPL.
I agree with you (although I suspect Wigan will still be highly motivated if they win tonight, they will only be out of the bottom 3 by a couple of goals). Hopefully Stoke feel they are safe, and then we have Sunderland - which is likely to be one they need a draw in at least.
Yeah that's what I was trying to say on the "Capitol" thread last week. The league table is irrelevant at this time of year. Teams with something to play for (Wigan, Sunderland etc) are always going to be more physical, aggressive and focused than teams with nothing to play for (Man U, Swansea, WBA), who despite having more technical quality will be more submissive hence no more difficult to play than the former.
I had no idea that Chelsea had been awarded 11 pens and only had one given against them. Awarded come first in the table below. I can't tell you how surprised I am that no Man U opponent has been given one. Chelsea owe part of their high number to the fact that they've created a lot of chances in the penalty box. But 11 to Man U's 6? And only one given against them? And Stoke given 5, and Swansea and Spurs 0? It certainly is an interesting table. What does it correlate with? Chelsea 11 2 missed 1 1 missed West Bromwich Albion 7 2 missed 6 1 missed Manchester United 7 3 missed - Fulham 6 6 3 missed Liverpool 6 1 missed 5 1 missed Manchester City 6 2 missed 2 1 missed Arsenal 6 1 missed 6 2 missed Stoke City 5 2 missed 6 Newcastle United 4 1 missed 3 West Ham United 4 2 Sunderland 4 4 Reading 4 4 Aston Villa 3 8 1 missed Queens Park Rangers 3 3 missed 2 Southampton 3 5 3 missed Norwich City 2 1 missed 7 3 missed Everton 2 2 Wigan Athletic 1 7 1 missed Swansea City - 5 1 missed Tottenham Hotspur - 3 The big winners are Chelsea +10 Man U + 6 Man City +4 West Ham +2 The big losers are Wigan -6 Swansea -5 Norwich -5 Aston Villa -5 Spurs -3 Southampton -2 In any case, the chances of winning via a pen for Spurs don't look too sunny.
