![Image for Player Ratings [The Pomp & Circumstance Edition]](https://cdn.thehotspurway.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/snack-logo.jpg?width=800&aspect_ratio=16:10){kind=logo}
Good morning.
We wake to a new dawn. The mighty Arsenal vanquished by a new…
Look let’s get a few things straight. I have a sore throat from screaming yesterday. I got so wrapped up in proceedings I didn’t even get around to drinking the house dry. But we just beat one of the worst Arsenal teams to play us in maybe over a decade.
Yes I am delighted, but we need to look at what happened yesterday. Enjoy some pomp, but not entirely forget the circumstance.
The team sheet managed to pit Modders and PNB against four and occasionally five of their lot in midfield. I would suggest that Arry actually fielded a side that would appeal to a Lane baying for a wrought rather than one that would be more suited to doing the job. He needed Sandro on from the start and he bottled it.
His line up’s success hinged upon ‘things going our way’ and with some particularly crap passing and a good few insane hoofs at Adebayor that didn’t transpire.
6 An illegal card game was broken up in the Park Lane and it was discovered that Friedel was the dealer. ‘Just wanted some action, man’ the big man told stewards.
8 His goal was ‘spiffing.’ Not my words, but those of What Goal? Magazine. A good shift all around. Brain working much much faster than ever before. More please.
8 Bar that Vin Repast moment he as predicted his teaming up with Ledley King made him a solid as you could want. That’s what she said.
8 I shudder to imagine what we would be like without him after games like that. I guess the real question is who is lined up to replace him? He’s tip top.
6 Mmn. Needs to rapidly turn around recent form. He’s going backwards and Assured and Elegant has become plain old A&E again. Whassssup geeze?
7 Played out of position. So what is he supposed to do, write to his MP? Great finish but we could have had more had he been – played in position. Geddit?
6 Outnumbered and having an off day. What a cracking combination.
9 MOTM faced with a huge burden he got stuck in. Really impressed with his commitment and his seamless transition into the squad. Top charlie banana.
6 Some good runs but fluffed numerous chances this combined with being a defensive passenger made for a pretty lame performance. Must do better.
6 An A for effort but as low as a C+ for achievement. He needs more space and time than Doctor Who. That said a goal, and we’d be all over him, eh?
6 Not at the races. Not at all. Spent all of last week apologizing to Arsenal fans and should spend all of this week apologizing to Tottenham fans.
we are 16:00 on sunday again up in geordie land next game
Not to be too negative, given we took 3 points off the Goons while not playing particularly well, but Harry really needs to make a choice between VDV and Defoe. Our lack of balance with VDV on the right was obvious. Rafa should play off Ade or not at all.
I accept that some games are better suited to a Little & Large act up front and Defoe always looks better with decent partner. That is acceptable and we will get results with that if the game or available personnel calls for that formation. But I think shoehorning both him and VDV into the team smacks of just throwing on the most likely goal scorers and hoping for the best.
Who would have played on the right, or who would you have played on the right? IMO VDV was the obvious (fit) decision, if anyone else was played it would have been a negative tactic, maybe Gio but has no form at the moment!
The sane thing would be to play Modders on the right and VDV off Ade but with Sandro and Pathe News patrolling the midfield the three in front can swap around a bit more.
I think if Lennon was fit it would have been 4411 with VDV off Ade.
Adding Sandro to the mid field at the expense of Defoe ens up as Spurs less attacking, Modric out of position and still out numbered in the middle of the park.
For me Harry got it right on the day and better finishing would have seen us come away convincing winners.
Loving all the tactical nous on here.
But peoples you are missing one huge point.
Since Peter Crouch left, we have one 4 on the spin.
VDV sould be kept off the right mid thingy.
He should just have a license to roam. Ade upfront as the lone striker.
But as long as Crouch isn’t playing we can beat anyone.
6 for Defoe is very harsh.
He worked so very hard to close down the opposition and to do the defending that VDV didn’t do. IMO he was critical to our success as our CM was over run and Walker had no protection but Defoe was the one dropping back to help and getting stuck in, forcing them into misplaced passes. I am willing to bet he ran twice as far as Adebayor and probably covered more gorund than Parker.
:gaehn: