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AVB & Spurs Tactics and Formations discussion thread

mudshark said:
I think you've already identified what it is that's missing—pattern of play. So often with Spurs, there's far too much reliance on individual initiative, and not enough on developing coordinated attacks. When the first-choice XI are playing, it's much less in evidence, but in a game like yesterday's, you're left more-or-less with the impression of a group that literally don't know what they are supposed to be doing. One of the most obvious failures, for me, is the lack of pressure on the ball from us in the opponent's half, especially when our possession has just been overturned. When the first initiative fails, we're almost always on the back foot again immediately, and if there's a second-ball situation, we hardly ever seem to win it.
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Agree - we've got where we have, partly by having three special players in Bale, Modric and Van Der Vaart, partly because we've played a relatively simple system which all players can understand and partly because in those areas where we lack cover (esp on the wings) we've avoided injuries. Harry's big strengths (motivating players, getting the most out of them, getting players to play to their potential) was instrumental in driving us up to the top level however his limitation (any tactical knowledge whatsoever), which I've been banging on about for ages, is being highlighted now. When he came in he played round pegs in round holes but now he seems ot have abandonned that and coming up with random selections. Look at teams with a system (whether Barca, Arse, Manure or Everton, Swansea etc) - players can replace each other and because they know what everyone is doing, its an easy change. Its why I'm not too bothered about is losing Harry to England - he's done well and taken us on further and now we're in a position where we could attract a top class manager with a tactical brain. I struggle to see Harry moving us up further

My other big concern about Harry is that we're moving more and more to a squad full of short-term or old players and when he leaves the next manager has to overhaul the squad. Nelsen, King, Gallas, Parker, Saha, Freidel, Cudicini will all need shipping out soon and Adebayor is obviously only on loan
 
I don't think he stumbled across it at all, he was always aiming towards a Lennon/Parker/Modric/Bale/VDV/Ade front 6. Kranjcar has done well slotting in for Lennon and we have easily good enough backup for Parker. But now Harry's repeating the same mistake he made last season, he dropped the VDV/Crouch combo for no reason and tried several partnerships upfront in a 442, which then saw us collapse and barely fought off Liverpool for 5th when we should've been in and around the 3rd and 4th spots.
 
We should have just done something ridiculous like:

--------------------Freidel-------------------------
-----------Walker-----Kaboul----King--------------
----------Modric------Parker------Sandro---------
----------------------VdV------------------------
----------Defoe--------Saha---------Bale----------
 
diego_maradona said:
We should have just done something ridiculous like:

--------------------Freidel-------------------------
-----------Walker-----Kaboul----King--------------
----------Modric------Parker------Sandro---------
----------------------VdV------------------------
----------Defoe--------Saha---------Bale----------
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Bielsa? Is that you?
 
Maybe if Rafa was on form or keeping himself fit, then this thread would be relevant.

Everyone knows Harry prefers Rafa in his system, but if his form drops or he is injured then what can you do ?

It doesnt help that Adebayors form has also dropped. Obviously gutterman is going to blame Redknapp/Defoe, but his personal favourites arent doing the job lately.
 
If Rafa stays fit we'll get CL, maybe even 3rd. If not I fear we don't have the winning mentality to overcome this mini slump.
 
GK: Friedel

RB: Walker
CB: King
CB: Kaboul
LB: Bale

CM: Parker
CM: Modric
CM: Sandro

CF: Van Der Vaart

ST: Adebayor
ST: Saha

I would like to see Bale drop back to LB to make him ready for the move next season as Hazard will want to play LM. :lol:
But seriously, Try Bale at LB as this will stretch teams even more.
 
milo said:
It's not Harry, it's the players whose form has dipped. Now it might be that they think he is off and they have stopped trying so hard...
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i agree it is down to the players. Two many of them are currently off form (Ade, Modric, Parker, Kaboul,) or not fully fit (VDV, Bale, King). To compete with the best at the highest level we have to have our best players fully fit, in form and in their best position. As i said at time of the last window, we desperately needed a direct replacement for Ade (Saha isnt it) and for Lennon (to protect against injury). This oversight and our inability to score from dead ball situations is likely to come back to haunt us (regretfully)
 
mick cooper said:
Why bother dressing this post up as something worthwhile? Its just yet another opportunity for you to slate Defoe.

You're just a Danish Gutterboy

sad, really sad.
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Thank f*ck we have a internet genius like you telling other people what they really mean with their posts.

Great slant at the nationality too. Classy.
 
mudshark said:
I think you've already identified what it is that's missing—pattern of play. So often with Spurs, there's far too much reliance on individual initiative, and not enough on developing coordinated attacks. When the first-choice XI are playing, it's much less in evidence, but in a game like yesterday's, you're left more-or-less with the impression of a group that literally don't know what they are supposed to be doing. One of the most obvious failures, for me, is the lack of pressure on the ball from us in the opponent's half, especially when our possession has just been overturned. When the first initiative fails, we're almost always on the back foot again immediately, and if there's a second-ball situation, we hardly ever seem to win it.
Click to expand...

I agree with this.

This is our one biggest single problem against sides like Everton, not individual players or formations, really.

We have to accept, that we can't always play thrilling football - but at least we can get to the ball first when it breaks.
 
The transfer window like many past windows was a fudge up as we hadn't improved our squad. We always do this, when we can really push on and cement our position we fail too.
 
Three at the Back

Having just watched Wigan's impressive performance against Norwich, I'm wondering if playing three at the back might be a good option for us whilst Lennon is injured? Something like this:

------------Friedel------------
----Kaboul -- King -- Gallas----
------Modric --- Parker-------
Walker -------------------Bale
-----VDV ---------- Kranjcar--
------------Striker------------

Normally I'm not a fan of the idea of Spurs playing three at the back, or indeed any big departure from our usual system(s). But a) this system worked really well for Wigan, b) We don't have a direct replacement for Lennon in a 4-4-2 , and c) in this system all players would be playing more or less in their natural position. I would feel less keen on playing it in tough away matches, as it would mean Bale, VDV and Niko all having more defensive responsibility than ideal (Wigan generally dropped into a 5-4-1 when defending). But at home against relatively weak teams, where we're expecting to dominate possession, Walker and Bale would push right up as wingers (as Beausejour and Boyce often did today), and VDV and Niko would play more centrally.

Home against Stoke might be the ideal game for this system, as we would have more height to deal with their aerial attack.

Thoughts?
 
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Positives - It gets Ekotto out of the side, which can only be a good thing.
Negatives - It still has a place for Walker, and Kaboul would almost be guaranteed a spot....
 
This would only work if Scotty can play a deeper role, with the licence to get forward, but can run back quickly
 
elltrev said:
Having just watched Wigan's impressive performance against Norwich, I'm wondering if playing three at the back might be a good option for us whilst Lennon is injured? Something like this:

------------Friedel------------
----Kaboul -- King -- Gallas----
------Modric --- Parker-------
Walker -------------------Bale
-----VDV ---------- Kranjcar--
------------Striker------------

Normally I'm not a fan of the idea of Spurs playing three at the back, or indeed any big departure from our usual system(s). But a) this system worked really well for Wigan, b) We don't have a direct replacement for Lennon in a 4-4-2 , and c) in this system all players would be playing more or less in their natural position. I would feel less keen on playing it in tough away matches, as it would mean Bale, VDV and Niko all having more defensive responsibility than ideal (Wigan generally dropped into a 5-4-1 when defending). But at home against relatively weak teams, where we're expecting to dominate possession, Walker and Bale would push right up as wingers (as Beausejour and Boyce often did today), and VDV and Niko would play more centrally.

Home against Stoke might be the ideal game for this system, as we would have more height to deal with their aerial attack.

Thoughts?
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Modric,Kranjcar and VdV in the same midfield?Yes,please
We would still have alot of pace on the wings provided by Bale and Walker and we would dominate possession almost like Barcelona.VdV,Kranjcar and Bale are all capable of scoring alot of goals and I see this system working against most of the teams in the league.The only downside to this system is that teams that have alot of pace on the wings would be able to hurt us,but other than that we would be just fine in defense.
 
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