A team full of new players and minus some old ones can really use someone who takes charge, if he proves up to the task. Holtby passed the test for me. I wouldn't mind Lamela starting right away, but I'd ease Eriksen in slowly as we may have just found a number ten who can lead us successfully. If Eriksen proves better, fine, but let's start Holtby at least against Norwich to see how things go.
The trouble with Holtby is hes been fantastic on his debut and fantastic against one of the worst teams in Europe. Outside of these two games he has been largely anonymous and looked slow and short of ideas. This isn't to say he is the latter, as there may be various reasons as to why he struggled last year and I believe he could be a top player. Norwich would be a good time to start him especially after his recent form and then Eriksen can have a cameo role.
I think a few are getting a bit too excited over Holtby's Europa performance. It needs to be appreciated this was a very poor team compared to what we're used to facing. We had a second string side for the home leg yet they made our players look far better than what we were. Yes Holtby looked great and was clearly the MOTM but the likes of Townsend, Defoe, Sig, Carroll and Walker made it look way too easy and looked twice as good as they would against a Prem side. What also needs to be appreciated is Holtby has only had 3 games so far, one EL game and two U-21 matches and no pre-season. In my opinion he's still at least another 90 mins short of starting a premier league match. I personally want Eriksen to start but can appreciate those saying he should be eased in which is fair enough, but then I'd rather start Sigurdsson in the number 10 role against Norwich purely because he's got more match fitness. I think starting Holtby could have adverse effects for the guy as if he has another poor showing which could possibly be down to lack of fitness and his lack of fitness could also result in a higher chance of getting another injury. The medical team will obviously know a lot more than me if he's ready or not though but I just think Norwich is a bit too early for him to start.
AVB and the coaching staff need to see our new additions for a couple of weeks on the training pitches to see who does best and where, a PL game is not the time for experimentation, it'll get punished.
It's only one player and 4231 gives a shape that's more familiar to our players. It's not exactly a huge gamble, get him to run his arse off for 60 minutes and if it's not working then send Eriksen on.
Anyone think Kaboul will start? I put him in my hopeful line-up for the game. He's had an extra EL match than Holtby plus 45 minutes vs Espanyol and a 10 minute cameo vs Palace. Really want to see a Kaboul-Vertonghen partnership in the league. Two fantastic yet completely different style of CB's who I think would compliment each other brilliantly. Is Norwich too soon do you reckon?
Last season, apparently, he wasn't fit. Hence why he may have looked off the pace. Yes, tbilisi were poor, but that doesn't detract from the fact he showed he knew how to play the position which is more than anyone else i've seen in a Spurs shirt do since VDV.
'Only one' weak link is all an opponent needs, its not a good mantra at this level YV, so I still agree with SoS. If however our staff agree Holtby is fit, and he's on form, I'd have no problem, but until he or the noobs show AVB something I wouldn't disagree with him using Sig for this 'one game', better the devil you know!
I think it's a gamble not worth taking, if anything more so for him than us. IF he does start, while still not being 100% and looks off the pace, it'll do him no favours in the future when AVB has a number of options for the number 10 role. It'd be different if we didn't have any other attacking mid options but seeing as we've got Sig and Eriksen plus the likes of Paulinho/ Dembele/ Chadli/ Lamela who can all play there, I think starting a guy who to me, isn't a 100% fit in a position where we're going to rely heavily upon can prove too risky. Holtby's the type of guy that tries too hard as well, if he's not fully fit and he starts busting a gut he could end up pulling a muscle which will only halt his progression.
Why would he not be 100%? He's played 3 games(maybe more) and unlike Sandro and Kaboul, who need slowly bringing back, he hasn't had longterm injury. How many training sessions are Lamela and Eriksen likely to have had with our squad? They're good but they're young and putting 2 new players into our attacking line when they've only had about 3/4 training sessions with the squad seems like it's asking for trouble. For me, they'd have to really pull up some trees in those handful of training sessions for them to be even considered for a starting spot. Dembele looked ****e at number 10 against a ****e team, Chadli's hardly setting the World alight and Paulinho? I thought people wanted more creativity, Norwich aren't going to play an open game against us. Holtby is the one that makes sense to me, although I wouldn't be surprised if AVB decides to leave him out of the side.
Whilst I can see why people are hesitant to play Holtby, siting match fitness as an issue the alternative of playing Siggy hardly fills me with confidence. Siggy is not a play maker and when played against the team everyone is slating (and using as a counter arguement for playing holtby) was rubbish. He is not a winger either, so Chadlli should be played. Townsend and Chadli for me without a doubt, with Lemela replacing whoever us underperforming. If Errikson is fit then so be it, but for me siggy is not an option atm.
He's had 75 mins vs Dinamo Tbilisi and two appearances for the U21's (not sure how long he lasted) with no pre-season, to me, that doesn't make him match fit and while we've got other options available, it makes more sense to me to play one of them rather than risk Holtby. I'd have him on the bench to come on against tired legs but I think starting him is too big of a risk at the moment especially while we do have other options available. We've seen implications of rushing players back too early, Kaboul mentioned that he was trying to rush back for the end of last season but then suffered a set back which is why he's only nearing fitness now.
I'll like to see him given a chance, just there is pressure on him to perform and unlike Dembele he won't be allowed to play poorly and still keep his place,that's why I don't see much of. future with us.
I don't think that's what match fitness is. If it is then how on Earth is he supposed to get match fit? He's come through his games fine and playing well, I don't know what more he has to do. It's not like he's got an in form player ahead of him in the pecking order.
By playing once or twice more in either the EL or U-21s. I'm more concerned for Holtby than I am for the sake of the position in the team, IF he starts, goes all out and gives 110% which he always seems to do (even if not always effective) and then goes and pulls a muscle, it messes it up for him and goes back to square one. I personally don't think he's fit enough to start a league game, he tired against Dinamo and got subbed on 75, against Norwich it's going to be a lot more physically challenging and he won't have the space Dinamo afforded him so he'll need to be on his toes. I don't want to "waste" a starting place so to speak on someone who will likely not be able to finish 90 mins. I'd have him on the bench and bring him on around the hour mark if need be but I think starting him is too big of an ask right now.
He was still going strong when he was withdrawn against Tbilisi. Just as the sub was warming up he sprinted back about 60yds, dispossessed someone and sprung another attack. I think he was withdrawn in that game as he was being considered for some minutes against Arsenal.
