90sSpursBook
Erik Edman
Just been looking through some recent line up's and matchday squads to better be able to predict how Mourinho might use the squad most effectively throughout the remainder of the season.
I'm plagiarising the Extra Inch podcast (other good podcasts are available including our very own The Game is About Glory) but we seem to have moved away from an 'A' Premier League team and a 'B' Europa Cup team which is neccessary when the standard of opposition improves. Instead it seems that we have our mainstays and then our extra's.
I suspect I'm of the same opinion of many that Jose's 'go-to' players are now established as:
LLoris, Reguilon, Holjbjerg, Son, Kane and Ndombele.
Perhaps there are some specific circumstances that Davies may be selected at left back but as the season has progressed, as long as Reggie has been fit, he has been picked.
Bale looks like he could be about to be added to this ultra-dependable list now.
It's hard to know what his thought process is at Central defence. Sanchez has played in each of the last 6 League games plus the Everton FA Cup tie. Conversely, Dier has now been left out of the last 3 PL starting XI's with Toby starting. I don't yet feel that any of the three of them has won Jose's ultimate trust and I think it could be any combination picked for Woolwich on Sunday or for the cup final.
At right back Aurier's recent injuries mean it's difficult to definitively suggest he's the first choice right back - in reality I think he's probably considered the least worst option of the two rather than a long -term solution.
If you were going to imagine what our Cup Final (or significant fixture) would be I think that means that 9/11 slots are taken and so the gaps to fill are at central defence and in the advanced midfield slot aka #10.
You could therefore break down the squad (in context of the remainder of this season and not beyond as)
A - Ultra-dependable who will always be picked if fit
Lloris, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Son, Bale, Kane, Ndombele
B - Best option in their position and/or trusted to fulfil a functional role
Toby, Sanchez, Lamela, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Lucas, Davies
C - Only likely to be rotated in if others injured/suspended/in need of rest/opposition considered to be sufficiently weaker
Doherty, Winks, Hart, Rodon, Dier, Bergwijn, Vinicius
Dele I think is probably now in a C+ group and Sissoko is arguably now a B-.
This a dynamic assessment and players can move in and out of groups as time progresses.
With the business end of the season now reaching full flow I believe we'll see a number of changes per game but we'll get an indication of how important Jose feels each game is and/or relative strength of opposition based on the number of 'A-list' players in each starting XI.
In the 4 games since Reggie has returned to fitness and Bale has joined the A'-list this is how many of them have started each game:
Wolfsberger (h) 0 started, 1 sub, 5 unused subs
Burnley (h) 7 started
Fulham (a) 6 started , 1 unused sub (Reguilon)
C Palace (h) 6 started, 1 unused sub (Ndombele)
Dinamo Zagreb (h) 4 started, 2 subs (PEH, Bale), 1 unused sub (Reguilon)
Whilst the NLD is of paramount importance to us perhaps Jose will have half an eye on the second leg in Zagreb next week. However, derby aside we need to accumulate a lot of points quickly for the rest of the season so i would predict that all 7 'A' will be in the starting XI.
Last night's first leg win allows the opportunity for a little more rotation - we already know Hojbjerg won't play through suspension but I'd be surprised if any more than one other is not in the starting XI.
These two results, and any fitness issues, will have a bearing on the significance of the Villa away game next weekend but I'd predict, all being well, that maybe 6 of them start that game.
I'm plagiarising the Extra Inch podcast (other good podcasts are available including our very own The Game is About Glory) but we seem to have moved away from an 'A' Premier League team and a 'B' Europa Cup team which is neccessary when the standard of opposition improves. Instead it seems that we have our mainstays and then our extra's.
I suspect I'm of the same opinion of many that Jose's 'go-to' players are now established as:
LLoris, Reguilon, Holjbjerg, Son, Kane and Ndombele.
Perhaps there are some specific circumstances that Davies may be selected at left back but as the season has progressed, as long as Reggie has been fit, he has been picked.
Bale looks like he could be about to be added to this ultra-dependable list now.
It's hard to know what his thought process is at Central defence. Sanchez has played in each of the last 6 League games plus the Everton FA Cup tie. Conversely, Dier has now been left out of the last 3 PL starting XI's with Toby starting. I don't yet feel that any of the three of them has won Jose's ultimate trust and I think it could be any combination picked for Woolwich on Sunday or for the cup final.
At right back Aurier's recent injuries mean it's difficult to definitively suggest he's the first choice right back - in reality I think he's probably considered the least worst option of the two rather than a long -term solution.
If you were going to imagine what our Cup Final (or significant fixture) would be I think that means that 9/11 slots are taken and so the gaps to fill are at central defence and in the advanced midfield slot aka #10.
You could therefore break down the squad (in context of the remainder of this season and not beyond as)
A - Ultra-dependable who will always be picked if fit
Lloris, Reguilon, Hojbjerg, Son, Bale, Kane, Ndombele
B - Best option in their position and/or trusted to fulfil a functional role
Toby, Sanchez, Lamela, Sissoko, Lo Celso, Lucas, Davies
C - Only likely to be rotated in if others injured/suspended/in need of rest/opposition considered to be sufficiently weaker
Doherty, Winks, Hart, Rodon, Dier, Bergwijn, Vinicius
Dele I think is probably now in a C+ group and Sissoko is arguably now a B-.
This a dynamic assessment and players can move in and out of groups as time progresses.
With the business end of the season now reaching full flow I believe we'll see a number of changes per game but we'll get an indication of how important Jose feels each game is and/or relative strength of opposition based on the number of 'A-list' players in each starting XI.
In the 4 games since Reggie has returned to fitness and Bale has joined the A'-list this is how many of them have started each game:
Wolfsberger (h) 0 started, 1 sub, 5 unused subs
Burnley (h) 7 started
Fulham (a) 6 started , 1 unused sub (Reguilon)
C Palace (h) 6 started, 1 unused sub (Ndombele)
Dinamo Zagreb (h) 4 started, 2 subs (PEH, Bale), 1 unused sub (Reguilon)
Whilst the NLD is of paramount importance to us perhaps Jose will have half an eye on the second leg in Zagreb next week. However, derby aside we need to accumulate a lot of points quickly for the rest of the season so i would predict that all 7 'A' will be in the starting XI.
Last night's first leg win allows the opportunity for a little more rotation - we already know Hojbjerg won't play through suspension but I'd be surprised if any more than one other is not in the starting XI.
These two results, and any fitness issues, will have a bearing on the significance of the Villa away game next weekend but I'd predict, all being well, that maybe 6 of them start that game.
