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OMT Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea, WHL, Sat 28 Sept

A bit surprised that so many have Sandro out of our team, in my opinion, he must play. He wins the ball so well and seems to always make the right decision with it when he gets it. The only way he shouldn't play is if he can't physically, due to his comeback from knee surgery. Assuming he can play, I'd have him and Paulinho in there as the double pivot. I think Eriksen and Holtby can interchange and play somewhat centrally w/ Walker getting forward to provide width. Get Andros on his natural side to get balls into Townsend and give Rose some help.

------Lloris--------
Wal--Vert-Daws-Rose
--Pauly----Sandro----
Holtby--Eriksen---Townsend
-------Soldado---------
 
You cant play Holtby and Erikssen - granted im just a fan not a football tactican and im not employed as such but I want pace in our team to carry the ball. Dembele and Townsend carry the ball fairly well which enables us to counter. Holtby isnt the quickest and he is at his prime up front behind striker who he can play the intricate balls to. The same with Erikssen.
 
DHSF said:
You cant play Holtby and Erikssen - granted im just a fan not a football tactican and im not employed as such but I want pace in our team to carry the ball. Dembele and Townsend carry the ball fairly well which enables us to counter. Holtby isnt the quickest and he is at his prime up front behind striker who he can play the intricate balls to. The same with Erikssen.
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I agree that Holtby and Eriksen may not be able to play together. However, you don't need players with pace to carry the ball in order to counter. If anything, carrying the ball slows down a counterattack.
 
Can't believe how many people have Lamela in their starting 11. I must be watching a different player. He obviously is extremely talented and you can see flashes of brilliance, however he does not look close to being adjusted to our team. I think AVB is right in giving him second half sub cameos for now as he is capable of turning a game with a moment of brilliance. That being said he is giving the ball away an awful lot and to start him against Chelsea is suicide imo.
 
DHSF said:
You cant play Holtby and Erikssen - granted im just a fan not a football tactican and im not employed as such but I want pace in our team to carry the ball. Dembele and Townsend carry the ball fairly well which enables us to counter. Holtby isnt the quickest and he is at his prime up front behind striker who he can play the intricate balls to. The same with Erikssen.
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I'm not either, but I wonder why you feel like we can't. Both are extremely busy players (esp Holtby), who can get a foot in if need be. I think that Holtby can do a lot of the same things that Gylfi can do, but he is more creative. Chelsea worked a treat playing both Oscar and Mata last season, neither of whom are the quickest and both would rather play behind the striker.

I could be wrong, but I think that Holtby and Eriksen together could terrorize teams with their passing and movement, while Andros (or Lennon or Chadli) can do the work out wide. Holtby looks like such a good footballer, who could really link w/ Eriksen.
 
From what I've seen on some of the Chelsea Forums, they all seem very confident of a win on Saturday.

I think Spurs are playing better football than Chelsea at the moment, so I would expect all three points.
 
THFC6061 said:
From what I've seen on some of the Chelsea Forums, they all seem very confident of a win on Saturday.

I think Spurs are playing better football than Chelsea at the moment, so I would expect all three points.
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tbf they should be confident they have paid for a world all star team, they should be embarassed we are above them in the table even this early

I really hope we **** up these ****s
 
This actually made me chuckle

http://www.sportsdirectnews.com/pre...-size-up-weak-spurs-midfield.php#.UkRc9hAhHyA

Chelsea could target what appears to be a lightweight Tottenham Hotspur midfield line-up ahead of their Premier League clash at White Hart Lane on Saturday.

Following injury to Etienne Capoue, the France international signed form Ligue 1 side Toulouse this summer, Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has had to re-jig his midfield line-up.

Capoue has been Spurs' most consistent defensive performer in midfield with an average contribution of three tackles per game, but picked up an ankle problem in the 1-0 defeat away to Arsenal in early September.

Fellow new arrival Paulinho, who has started each of Spurs' five early season fixtures, is once again expected to shoulder Capoue's defensive responsibilities in midfield, as he did in the Premier League fixture away to Cardiff City on Sunday.

Paulinho's partner will likely be Belgium international Moussa Dembele, the only other Spurs midfielder to have played in every Premier League match so far.

With the pairing of Dembele and Paulinho, Spurs may still be expected have considerable strength in the middile of the park.

But without Capoue, Spurs' average tackle rate in midfield tells a different story.

Dembele has thus far contributed an average of 1.2 challenges per game, while Paulinho has a slightly better average of 2.2 tackles each match, a combined total of 3.4.

Chelsea by contrast, are able to call upon midfielders Ramires, who has an average tackle rate of three per game, and John Obi Mikel, who makes an average 2.7 challenges per match.

With a potential combined average tackle rate of 5.7, Chelsea may look to take advantage of Spurs' comparative inferiority in the midfield battle at White Hart Lane.

What is ordinarily a fiercely contested affair is also likely to benefit from the added drama surrounding the two sides' respective league positions.

Chelsea are currently off the pace - by the standards of billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich - sitting in fourth with ten points from five games.

Spurs meanwhile, joint top with 12 points, will be looking to surge ahead of north London rivals Arsenal, who play away to Swansea City late on Saturday afternoon
 
SpurSF said:
I'm not either, but I wonder why you feel like we can't. Both are extremely busy players (esp Holtby), who can get a foot in if need be. I think that Holtby can do a lot of the same things that Gylfi can do, but he is more creative. Chelsea worked a treat playing both Oscar and Mata last season, neither of whom are the quickest and both would rather play behind the striker.

I could be wrong, but I think that Holtby and Eriksen together could terrorize teams with their passing and movement, while Andros (or Lennon or Chadli) can do the work out wide. Holtby looks like such a good footballer, who could really link w/ Eriksen.
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This is also to Fishyboy above.

I guess I like direct type players, players with pure pace who can carry the ball 50-60 yards - thats why I love Lennon. Im very close minded in that I dont see the likes of Holtby as one of those players and see that the only way we can counter is the likes of Lennon (as Lennon is injured then Townsend).

You could be right and I could be wrong.
 
I agree direct running players will unsettle Chelsea and Townsend can certainly do that but he MUST get his head up and look for a pass, his shooting is very erratic.
 
DHSF said:
This is also to Fishyboy above.

I guess I like direct type players, players with pure pace who can carry the ball 50-60 yards - thats why I love Lennon. Im very close minded in that I dont see the likes of Holtby as one of those players and see that the only way we can counter is the likes of Lennon (as Lennon is injured then Townsend).

You could be right and I could be wrong.
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Interesting. Are you also one who hasn't been impressed with Lamela, so far? For me, he has looked class when he has come on, thanks to his quick, intelligent passing and deft movement.

What I like about Holtby and Lamela are the speed of their decision making and forward passing. Though they may not be as quick as Townsend/Lennon, their brains works quickly and they make decisive decisions, and while Holtby has been very crisp in his executing (see: the last two minutes of the match on Sunday), Lamela is a bit rustier at this point in the season.

What I like about Lamela, Chadli, Eriksen, and Holtby (Siggy, too) is their footballing intelligence. At Roma, Lamela scored many of his goals by positioning and quickness of thought (though he has pace, as well), and I'd think when they are all firing and on the same page, we will be difficult to stop. Also, AVB's philosophy is all about keeping the ball, and while Lennon and Townsend's directness is exciting, neither will keep it as well as Lamela, which is why I think in a lot games, we'll see this formation:

----Paulinho (Dembele)---Sandro(or Capoue)---
Holtby (or Siggy)-----Eriksen----Lamela (or Chadli)
----------------Soldado----------------------

I also think a striker as intelligent as Soldado will really benefit from intelligent supporting players, like the aforementioned.

Again, not saying I am some tactical smart person, but it's how I'd imagine our team will play.
 
SpurSF said:
Interesting. Are you also one who hasn't been impressed with Lamela, so far? For me, he has looked class when he has come on, thanks to his quick, intelligent passing and deft movement.

What I like about Holtby and Lamela are the speed of their decision making and forward passing. Though they may not be as quick as Townsend/Lennon, their brains works quickly and they make decisive decisions, and while Holtby has been very crisp in his executing (see: the last two minutes of the match on Sunday), Lamela is a bit rustier at this point in the season.

What I like about Lamela, Chadli, Eriksen, and Holtby (Siggy, too) is their footballing intelligence. At Roma, Lamela scored many of his goals by positioning and quickness of thought (though he has pace, as well), and I'd think when they are all firing and on the same page, we will be difficult to stop. Also, AVB's philosophy is all about keeping the ball, and while Lennon and Townsend's directness is exciting, neither will keep it as well as Lamela, which is why I think in a lot games, we'll see this formation:

----Paulinho (Dembele)---Sandro(or Capoue)---
Holtby (or Siggy)-----Eriksen----Lamela (or Chadli)
----------------Soldado----------------------

I also think a striker as intelligent as Soldado will really benefit from intelligent supporting players, like the aforementioned.

Again, not saying I am some tactical smart person, but it's how I'd imagine our team will play.
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I don't like it. Holtby disappointed me every time he started out wide last season. He excels in the centre.

Added to siggy being the other choice on the right, he cuts in and shoots, that's his best strength, he can't do that if he's stuck out on the right.

We have three natural right sided players, one is injured in Lennon then lamela and Townsend, yet you want to stick square pegs into round holes and play players who have never impressed out there?

It baffles me a little bit.
 
DHSF said:
This is also to Fishyboy above.

I guess I like direct type players, players with pure pace who can carry the ball 50-60 yards - thats why I love Lennon. Im very close minded in that I dont see the likes of Holtby as one of those players and see that the only way we can counter is the likes of Lennon (as Lennon is injured then Townsend).

You could be right and I could be wrong.
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Fair enough. I've always preferred counterattacks that involved quick passes into open space, relying on intelligent positioning and anticipation. The ball moves a lot faster when it's not being carried. That's not to say certain players can't make it work, like Bale, but overall I think the team generates better opportunities on goal when the ball doesn't stop at one player.
 
SpurSF said:
Interesting. Are you also one who hasn't been impressed with Lamela, so far? For me, he has looked class when he has come on, thanks to his quick, intelligent passing and deft movement.

What I like about Holtby and Lamela are the speed of their decision making and forward passing. Though they may not be as quick as Townsend/Lennon, their brains works quickly and they make decisive decisions, and while Holtby has been very crisp in his executing (see: the last two minutes of the match on Sunday), Lamela is a bit rustier at this point in the season.

What I like about Lamela, Chadli, Eriksen, and Holtby (Siggy, too) is their footballing intelligence. At Roma, Lamela scored many of his goals by positioning and quickness of thought (though he has pace, as well), and I'd think when they are all firing and on the same page, we will be difficult to stop. Also, AVB's philosophy is all about keeping the ball, and while Lennon and Townsend's directness is exciting, neither will keep it as well as Lamela, which is why I think in a lot games, we'll see this formation:

----Paulinho (Dembele)---Sandro(or Capoue)---
Holtby (or Siggy)-----Eriksen----Lamela (or Chadli)
----------------Soldado----------------------

I also think a striker as intelligent as Soldado will really benefit from intelligent supporting players, like the aforementioned.

Again, not saying I am some tactical smart person, but it's how I'd imagine our team will play.
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I agree with everything you said except for your formation. Lamela is wasted on the left. Every time AVB has subbed him in for Siggy or Chadli on the left he has been a ghost. He seems a natural fit on the right, much more comfortable.

I also don't think you can play Holtby and Eriksen together. At least not yet. Last time they were in at the same time it seemed like they were afraid to step on each others toes because they both perceive themselves as playing the same facilitating role in the center.
 
Spursalot said:
I don't like it. Holtby disappointed me every time he started out wide last season. He excels in the centre.

Added to siggy being the other choice on the right, he cuts in and shoots, that's his best strength, he can't do that if he's stuck out on the right.

We have three natural right sided players, one is injured in Lennon then lamela and Townsend, yet you want to stick square pegs into round holes and play players who have never impressed out there?

It baffles me a little bit.
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Whoops, I actually flipped the left and right on the diagram. I would have Lamela on the right and Siggy on the left, my mistake. I think that sometimes that an overfocus on positional rigidity is a problem in the final 3rd. For example, let's look at Chelsea. When Mata and Oscar played so well together last year, both he and Oscar played infield at times and sometimes each would pull outside. Sometimes Hazard would pop up in the middle too. When you look at your Barcelonas, Madrids, and Munichs, there is always a premium on fluidity. Just because Hotbly may start out "left" in the program, doesn't mean he needs to stay out there. Some players are too one-dimensional to play like that, but I think that we could see Chadli coming inside some, Eriksen drifing outside some, etc. It makes it so much more difficult to mark when a team plays like that.
 
And obviously, footballing intelligence and being multi-talented are the keys to playing a system like that. I think many of the players that Andre has brought to the club in the last two years have those qualities.
 
I can’t make my mind up about this game. Chelsea were not good against Fulham but won easy. They won easy against Swindon. But they lost the previous 2 games against Basle at home and Everton away.
They parked the bus in the previous game against United.
If we score first we win. If Chelsea score first I think we can still get a draw.
Let’s hope AVB can control his emotions. He had a “Get out of jail free” card last year with Bale not playing. This year he has to earn his corn.
 
Spurs team against Chelsea last year at WHL

Friedel
Walker - Caulker - Gallas - Vertonghen
Huddlestone - Sandro
Lennon - Dempsey - Sigurdsson
Defoe​
 
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