At least Soldado has admitted he's not at 100% yet, not that it helps us on the field but it's nice to know some players appreciate they're not playing at the level they should be and seem intent/ hopeful of improving. I thought up until the West Ham game Eriksen had quite a productive start, assist on debut vs Norwich (and contributed to 2nd), superb goal vs Tromso, was down to him we scored against Chelsea, had a few shots saved by Marshall against Cardiff where on another day they could've gone in and has one or two assists in Europa too. It was only West Ham where he had a poor input but to be honest so did every player on the pitch yet that's when he got dropped and has since faltered massively in performances. Massive room for improvement needed and he's not setting the world alight which I admittedly thought he would've done straight away but it has only been just over 2 months since he signed, he's still 21 lets not forget so I'm sure the guy will come good, or at least I bloody hope so otherwise me and Roo might need to pack our bags . There are players who've been here nearly a full season and even more who are still yet to fully impress though, Dembele being the main culprit for me. For a guy who used to play as a striker you'd expect better than one league goal, started off last season great but since his injury has been poor. There are rumours of him wanting out, in all honesty, would anyone here be overly bothered if we sold him? If we could get our money back I personally wouldn't be fussed, I'm sure Holtby could drop deeper and share/ rotate a CM role with Paulinho to partner Sandro/ Capoue and we'll have Carroll back next season too. Dropping Holtby deeper would also allow a potential Holtby and Eriksen link up which some have wanted to see (albeit Holtby playing more advanced than CM).
"Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 12m After an MRI scan it's been determined that @ChrisEriksen8 suffered a sprain of the lateral ankle ligaments playing for Denmark on Friday Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 10m Christian's scan showed no sign of ruptured ligaments which will result in a shorter period of recovery for the attacking midfielder #THFC" Sounds better than the supposed 3 months some reports were suggesting.
sprained ankle? He'll be back in about 2 weeks with all the shnizzle these footballers have access too like oxygen tents
One down, waiting for Roo to tell me to **** off Lol But SOS, all the concerns about Eriksen are because we know he has the ability and you're right about players needing a season to settle. Pires was the same with the goons, first year he looked weak, short on fitness and not interested but slowly adapted, hopefully Eriksen will be the same.
I don't even think Eriksen will need a season to be honest mate, he's got all the ingredients to light up this division and the fact he has impeccable English is always a bonus. I think the system isn't helping him at the moment, not that it's an excuse but things are too compact in the centre, even the wingers are taking up central space and so it's hard for him to pick out the sort of passes he did at Ajax when players aren't making the runs and getting into space. Lamela is the one I was most "concerned" with in terms of settling in but after his Europa display, maybe he can start showing what he's all about if given the chance?
We can hope, but AVB and has been taking 16 months to make certain tweaks so could be a sign "patience is needed" ! But there you go tots, our buddy SOS has practically guaranteed Eriksen will light up the division ! .....jokes aside, alot of what the problems are, stem from them system, as with Soldado so you're correct in saying it isn't an excuse as its reality that both Eriksen & Soldado are suffering from the current set-up.
Looking past performances, the players state of mind is the most important, so I would like to hear from Eriksen. Like you, Lamela concerned me, so I was pretty pleased to here him speak in the newspaper link I put up last week. He has some family here now, and his general outlook is very positive. As for CE, I just can't share your enthusiasm yet, I'm almost glad I didn't see him in the Dutch league tbh. I've seen all the bits you mention so far, trouble is in those games its pretty much all he did do, even that dutch fella Cove says he disappears in games. He'll need a year and more for the very reason you say...he's only 21. I think it'll be next season at the earliest before he's influencing PL games in regular periods, which is what he's been bought for. Oscar looked dodge when he signed so I'm not concerned, he has time and a summer off this year.
I'll wait until we play with a faster buildup for a few games, the way we played in the second half vs. Newcastle, before I get too critical of the new forwards--other than Chadli, who I just don't like, and Townsend, who I think is a good squad player, but not more. I liked what I saw from Eirksen his first couple of games and the last half against Newcastle. And if we don't start playing with a faster buildup, I blame AVB. It's obvious we need more goals at home, and just about equally obvious that the slow buildup is a big factor in keeping us from scoring them. Stick with what we're doing away, and play at home like the last half vs. Newcastle.
I may be wrong but I think most summer arrivals of all clubs have yet to really shine for their respective clubs. Ozil has started brightly for Arsenal but for £42m he needed too, none of our new lads have wowed us consistently, Fellaini has added nothing to Utd, Osvaldo has 1 goal for Soton, Bony has a few tap ins for Swansea, Negredo has a few for City and I don't think Jovetic has even played yet has he? There's not really been any new player that I can think of where the media are getting an early hard-on over (I.E. Michu last year).
To be fair Negredo's been great but yeah, not all/many have settled that quickly. Lovren's another who's doing great and Remy too.
Negredo and Soldado Both played at Real Madrid B in 2005 according to wiki, wonder if they played together? Negredo looks better suited to our game.
Tell you what, I'd prefer a player to start badly and improve as the season progresses than a player starting well and worsening as the season progresses. What would be the advantage of Negredo fading in the second half of the season as Defoe has done quite frequently?
I given up on central midfield being creative , Eriksen out is not such a loss as he has been off form and the system AVB plays restricts creativity. Holtby has been very average at best in the premier league and I don,t consider him good enough as a playmaker or strong enough as defensive midfielder. A sort of an all rounder . Against City , ------Sandro------Capoule(if fit, if not) Dembele------ -------------------------Paulinho --------------------------------- Townsend----------------------------------Pampas Eric ( A little flair with a boring but steady midfield behind him .) ------------------------Soldado-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Avb's system has little time for creativity as it stifles space. Power and possession is his calling card . A very outside chance of a positive result.
Defoes form last year helped us get points on the board so they count. But sure the second half is important as late surges often get the important positions, as the goons have showed. Negredo looks like a player who is just naturally suited so I don't think he will fade.
I knew I'd forgotten someone that had actually impressed, Lovren's in my dream team. I said before they signed him that he'd do well for Southampton, impressed me a lot when we played Lyon last year. Forgot about Remy though, done great for the geordies. Negredo surprisingly has the same goals to games ratio in the league as Soldado at the moment (albeit his weren't mainly penalties!). It's pretty weird though, both Spanish, both 28, both have 4 league goals, both from Real Madrid B, both became successes in Spain after leaving Real... Here's hoping both (or at least Soldado ) will become successes over here.
Defoe carried us with his goals for the first third or so of last season. It wasn't long before Bale decided to turn into Superman that his goals dried up.
I would have preferred Defoe to continue right through the season and as we know it's probably more important to finish well than to start well. We'll have to wait and see about Negredo but I'm certain Bobby will come good as will Coco.
Sandro-Dembele- Paulinho is close with Sandro-Dembele- Holtby in my mind. I just have the feeling we should give Sandro and Dembele a chance to play together again, and this is the game to do it. I definitely like Townsend- -Lennon (Lennon on the right) Soldado though this is game may suit Defoe as well as any. I want Lamela to start, but not this game. If we go behind, I might be tempted to bring him in for Holtby/Paulinho, in the center.
We look to be without Fernandinho Silva Kompany Hart Zabaleta Demichellis Lescott Clichy Milner yaya Kolorov Aguero Negredo Nasri Must win game for City,really need to kick start a run up to Christmas Top 4 is going to be a real dogfight this season,although Spurs have struggled to score with the regularity that they've been accustomed to with Bale and Redknapps style of football,they have become hard to beat and are not the soft touch they have been at times.Soldado seems to be the fall guy for a lot of criticism but what's the quality of service into him been like?
