For me the Everton and Sheriff games this week have been much more enjoyable to watch than the awful Hull and Sheriff games that preceded. We're showing signs (albeit small) of improvement and I hope for this to continue. I hope that the Sheriff goal last night doesn't make AVB go all defensive again though as he seemed pretty grumpy about it post match.
Mothman, My view is that the performance last night was largely down to confidence - both in themselves, the system and each other. The football we were playing at 2-0 was actually really good, and they were going for it whilst maintaining AVB's system. However.... as soon as they scored we went back to sideways passing, boring boring blah blah blah - which is what makes me think it is confidence as much as tactics.
Unbelievably we've gone 4-4-2 with Ameobi up top. No Colloccini or Anita in our starting eleven added to the fact that we're playing right in to your hands with this formation has removed any pre match hope or confidence that I did have.
"we're playing right in to your hands with this formation" Just do what the herd have been doing. Don't overstretch yourself in attack. Organise yourselves into 2 lines of four while Spurs play the slow sideways passing game from the back four into CM.
Friedel; Walker, Vertonghen, Dawson, Chiriches; Paulinho, Dembele, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Townsend, Soldado. Subs: Gomes, Kaboul, Lennon, Lamela, Holtby, Defoe, Sandro. Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon; Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran; Shola Ameobi, Remy. Subs: Elliot, Coloccini, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Cisse. No holding player, no Lloris, Holtby benched and Lamela fails to start, despite his midweek performance? Not happy.
The Lloris decision yet again seems to be AVB pandering to media handbags over last Sunday. Unless he says there are medical reasons for Lloris not to play, or he wants Brad to get more PL game time this season under his belt.
"With only four in midfield you'll over power us." Two lines of four is not bus parking. If Spurs play too slow to prevent you (re)organising yourselves in defence, they only have themselves to blame.
Can I change my prediction to 3-3 Lol....... Lamela will be disappointed not to start and concerns are Newcastle on the counter and Remys pace.
Well it looks like there's going to be a few goals in the game today. Lloris is a big miss but I just don't understand why Sigurdsson starts, that's a bad call in my opinion.
Friedel; Walker, Dawson, Vertonghen, Chiriches; Paulinho, Dembele, Eriksen, Sigurdsson, Townsend; Soldado. Gomes, Kaboul, Lennon, Lamela, Holtby, Defoe, Sandro
Could you imagine if Friedel gets a knock? I've not had that stomach-churning feeling every free kick, corner etc against us for what, three or four years?
Brad gets the chance to **** up for a third time. Lamela to come on later when the game is stretched.
