Where is it going wrong in attack?

[Jurgen the German]

I don't think so, I think that he is just easing them in gently. It is exactly the approach that Ferguson used so successfully at United. Give new/young players a few games, gain experience and then drop them for a few games to work on developing their game and to keep the pressure off them.

I could see him sticking with Holtby for Sunday just for his work rate.

 

[onlyme]

There is an elephant in the room.

 

[Nezza]

Let's hope so. It seems to be a case of one or the other between Holtby and Eriksen for example with Eriksen in my opinon being the fall guy for the West Ham result.

That would be a pretty harsh judgment, since West Ham had 4 players round Eriksen every time he got the ball.

I thought it was more likely that since Eriksen had played in the international break, Holtby got the nod against Villa. Presumably Hotlby did enough in that match to keep the spot against Hull. But against Hull, it wasn't working, so Eriksen came on after 60 mins.

 

[superfaisty]

There's a comment in the standard from Kyle which i find very enlightening:

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...-give-fans-plenty-to-shout-about-8913169.html

I've cut and paste the interesting bit:

'Following Villas-Boas’s criticism of the home fans for not giving the team sufficient support during a difficult game against the same opposition on Sunday, it will be interesting to see whether the atmosphere changes tonight. The Portuguese took a gamble in questioning the fans, but he claimed to be speaking on behalf of his squad.

Walker, meanwhile, accepts that supporters are likely to grow frustrated when Spurs struggle to break down visiting sides who adopt defensive tactics.

“It’s difficult,” he said. “People want end-to-end games because they’ve paid good money to watch exciting football but sometimes, it’s not like that. Teams will come and put seven men behind the ball. We do it in training, where we play five against 10, and they never score. We got the win against Hull, which is all that matters. The style of football we are playing now is a little different from a couple of years ago.'


So we clearly do practice the 'park the bus' style - bit disheartening though to hear in training the attackers never score!

 

[Yermiyahu]

There's a comment in the standard from Kyle which i find very enlightening:

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...-give-fans-plenty-to-shout-about-8913169.html

I've cut and paste the interesting bit:

'Following Villas-Boas’s criticism of the home fans for not giving the team sufficient support during a difficult game against the same opposition on Sunday, it will be interesting to see whether the atmosphere changes tonight. The Portuguese took a gamble in questioning the fans, but he claimed to be speaking on behalf of his squad.

Walker, meanwhile, accepts that supporters are likely to grow frustrated when Spurs struggle to break down visiting sides who adopt defensive tactics.

“It’s difficult,” he said. “People want end-to-end games because they’ve paid good money to watch exciting football but sometimes, it’s not like that. Teams will come and put seven men behind the ball. We do it in training, where we play five against 10, and they never score. We got the win against Hull, which is all that matters. The style of football we are playing now is a little different from a couple of years ago.'


So we clearly do practice the 'park the bus' style - bit disheartening though to hear in training the attackers never score!

It's obvious that we have to practice playing against teams that park the bus, imagine the furore if it came out that we didn't! We're kinda damned if we do and damned if we don't as far as I can see. I think we are gonna have to get used to away teams parking the bus at WHL for a long time to come. Sad but that's 'modern' football.

 

[Bullet]

If the 5 scored against the 10 you lot would say our defence is ****

I too would like to see more invention in attack... this might be dribbling past a player or crossing or 1-2s or shots that get parried out back into danger or 1 touch passing... but at the moment there is too much 3-touch passing of the buck.

Take a chance, make it happen, drive into the box and win a penalty, if we get enough men in the box it will break for us eventually, but not if we keep passing back and forth outside the box

 

[superfaisty]

It's obvious that we have to practice playing against teams that park the bus, imagine the furore if it came out that we didn't! We're kinda damned if we do and damned if we don't as far as I can see. I think we are gonna have to get used to away teams parking the bus at WHL for a long time to come. Sad but that's 'modern' football.

Two points:

1) it's actually a positive that teams will come and park the bus - backhanded compliment if you will, they are too scared to try and play football against us for fear of getting absolutely thrashed. Better chance of points by playing defensive.

2) to be fair I don't think the majority of teams in the Premier league will come to 'park the bus' at the Lane, only the ones that are likely to struggle this year / be in the bottom quarter, so we only have to put up with it likely for a few games possibly?

 

[Robspur12]

Two points:

1) it's actually a positive that teams will come and park the bus - backhanded compliment if you will, they are too scared to try and play football against us for fear of getting absolutely thrashed. Better chance of points by playing defensive.

2) to be fair I don't think the majority of teams in the Premier league will come to 'park the bus' at the Lane, only the ones that are likely to struggle this year / be in the bottom quarter, so we only have to put up with it likely for a few games possibly?

But exactly the teams that Arsenal will smash each year to ensure they get into the champs league places and we don't. Worryingly Liverpool are also learning to smash these teams.

 

[Spursalot]

[/B]

But exactly the teams that Arsenal will smash each year to ensure they get into the champs league places and we don't. Worryingly Liverpool are also learning to smash these teams.

True, but neither arsenal nor Liverpool have the defensive solidity that we have had. They have both conceded in the majority of the games they have both played.

 

[scaramanga]

[/B]

But exactly the teams that Arsenal will smash each year to ensure they get into the champs league places and we don't. Worryingly Liverpool are also learning to smash these teams.

And we're taking exactly the same number of points from them winning 1-0 as they are 3-1.

 

[diego_maradona]

So do people still think our lack of goals is to do with teams parking the bus? Hull attacked us last night and we still struggled to create opportunities. Is it as simple as we're just not playing well?

 

[indianspur]

And we're taking exactly the same number of points from them winning 1-0 as they are 3-1.

the points are the same, but it all depends on how you want to achieve those points. Tight, tense, slightly boring 1-0's or more relaxed, free flowing, open 3-1's

i really dont conceding a goal if it means we are more likely to score 3 or more

 

[Robspur12]

And we're taking exactly the same number of points from them winning 1-0 as they are 3-1.

But our luck will run out eventually and we won't get that 1 goal per game or we will concede -better to be able get two or three goals imo.

 

[billyiddo]

If we were winning 3-2 every game would there be the same level of concern for our luck running out in terms of outscoring our leaky defense?

I want to see us score/create more - but at the same time i have a strong confidence in our defense atm and combined with our ability to dominate possession i think we have a good platform to build on.

 

[Baleforce]

If we were winning 3-2 every game would there be the same level of concern for our luck running out in terms of outscoring our leaky defense?

i'd be more concerned in that case

 

[scaramanga]

the points are the same, but it all depends on how you want to achieve those points. Tight, tense, slightly boring 1-0's or more relaxed, free flowing, open 3-1's

i really dont conceding a goal if it means we are more likely to score 3 or more

I'd like to see more goals too, but if we're a work in progress I'd rather the progress was from point to style than from style to points.

 

[scaramanga]

But our luck will run out eventually and we won't get that 1 goal per game or we will concede -better to be able get two or three goals imo.

What if it's not luck? If it keeps happening again and again I'd say it's incredibly unlikely to be sheer chance.

 

[Spursalot]

But our luck will run out eventually and we won't get that 1 goal per game or we will concede -better to be able get two or three goals imo.

Yeah, but then you could also say that teams that win 3-1 might have their luck run out, and what happens when they don't score? They'll lose games.

 

[camspur]

[/B]

But exactly the teams that Arsenal will smash each year to ensure they get into the champs league places and we don't. Worryingly Liverpool are also learning to smash these teams.

1-0 wins over Stoke and Villa isn't smashing them and conceding 2 goals at Swansea and Saudi Sportswashing Machine isn't the sign of a great defence either. We'll see how free scoring they are this weekend against Arsenal.


Our next 4 games are all against teams that will look to attack us let's see if we say the same thing after them.

 

[indianspur]

I'd like to see more goals too, but if we're a work in progress I'd rather the progress was from point to style than from style to points.

yeah i agree with that.....3 pts off the top of the league whilst not playing well is quite an achievement.