Good morning.
There will be some feeling as we travel oop north today we have far too much in common with the one legged man who entered into a bottom kicking competition.
Striker-less is an unkind phrase as midget gem and all round diminutive dynamo Jermain Defoe is ready, willing and able. As he proved the other night for England. But is he what we really need? Well, my dears …he’s what we’ve got. On an upbeat note, he’s never in his career have a better opportunity to ‘turn it on’ and really prove he’s worth his place. Nevertheless for me he’s benched.
I’d have to run with a 433 and essentially try to implement a ‘best of’ the preseason formations. This is a Premier League game of course so I’m struggling to see the benefit of Rafa as a substitute. That’s a scenario which says once Defoe’s finished bombing around like a mentalist for 65 minutes we throw on a guy who’s prepared to have a few shots from outside the 18 yard box.
Back four picks itself with Vertonghen and Kaboul standing strong front and centre. Dawson seems to lack the finesse for the Villas-Boas method, but the option to bring him in if he’s needed is a bit of a coup. Let’s hope there’s no hair brained scheme to sell him to Liverpool being considered.
Our midfield needs Sandro like a flower needs water. Despite his unavailability for the preseason the boss said of him, “He has had the best training possible in terms of playing time so you can say that he is one step ahead in terms of physical preparation.” Livermore should find Sandro inspiring company and whilst there is obviously no Modric, we are still fielding four players in advanced positions who I’d deem as intensively creative.
The deep lying front line will let van Der Vaart drift slightly forward of Bale and Gylfi who have clearly been developing an understanding. This could be dependent upon AVB’s instruction of course as close to the 433 High Line™ as we have yet seen. Despite the overuse of the phrase High Line™ the only glimpse we got of it was against Valencia went we went into ‘all hands to the pump’ mode after their second goal went in.
The last words from the boss: “It will be very difficult but we have our ambitions and strengths, which we will look to use. It will be a match fully charged with emotion but we have to be solid and stable. If we do that we can take something from the match.” This says to me he’s minded to avoid a loss, try a nick a win. He may well have got that just about right.
I think he might play a Barcelona-esc type 4-2-4-0 formation, with our strikers on the bench waiting to come on late in the game.
Friedal
Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen, BAE
Livermore, Sandro
Lennon, VDV, Sigurdsson, Bale
Subs
Defoe, Kane, Jenas, Dawson, Rose, Naughton, Cudicini
Sub change: Townsend in for Rose
I would do exactly that just to prove a point. But then I am extremely stubborn
Brad
Walker Kaboul Verts BAE
Sandro
Azza Sigs Bale
Defoe
I think he will leave VDV on the bench.
Any prize for the correct line up Harry?
Missed Hud out of midfield!
Brad
Walker Kab Verts BAE
Sandro
Azza Sigs Hud Bale
Defoe
If there is a prize for only picking 10 players then you get it!
I hope there isn’t. I’m banking on AVB putting 11 out there. Surely he’s not THAT green?
If it’s a choice between 11 players including ***** or 10 players without then I know which I’d plump for.
AVB certainly doesn’t lack confidence and I love they way he’s resting players already-only 10 to start eh?, it’ll never catch on!
There’s no Hudd or Daws in the squad – didn’t travel.
We aren’t going to play 4-3-3 in a fixture we don’t have the best history in. We need five in midfield and to dictate the play. I’d guess we’ll line up..
Brad
Walker Gallas(c) Kaboul BAE
Livermore Sandro
Lennon VdV Bale
Defoe
The GILF will come on at around the hour mark for our tired Dutchman. Vert needs easing in, probably get a start against Reading instead. I think he’ll go with Gallas for a bit of experience in our side.
Where is the squad list available please.
I can only imagine it’s fitness related. But Hudd did make a strange tweet the other day that some people saw as a dig at AVB, but, who knows?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2190019/Spurs-drop-Michael-Dawson-Tom-Huddlestone-Newcastle-clash.html
Thanks for that. Appears that Daws has a family bereavement why he is missing.
Wow! Cheery bunch today! The chuffin’ season hasn’t even started yet and some of you have us down as relegated! Defoe/Rafa up front is just detail. Both were in double figures for the last couple of seasons despite neither often playing the full 90 so clearly they are both capable.
Plenty of goal scorers in midfield too so no worries there.
Bugger all to be overly conserved about I’d say unless some of the names on the team sheet just arn’t glamourously foreign enough for some of you lot!
COYS
*concerned
:daumen:
Mr Villas-Boas’ clean sheet start today as does my judgement of him. He’s the bloke most on here wanted, so we’ll see won’t we? If he cocks up-it’s not Levy’s fault, it’s his-same as last season and those season’s before-you do your best with the tools you’re given. I hated Harry,but defended the teams style and it’s results-and I’ll do the same with AVB. A win doesn’t mean we’ll storm the league and a defeat or draw doesn’t mean it’s all over either, it’s the teams performance on the day, that’ll convince me or not. COYS
i didnt want him, id just like to state that again now, maybe dan has kept his wonga for our next manager :sick:
I wasn’t exactly ‘doing handstands’ myself as I’m a Moyes man for reasons that are well documented, but equally convinced he’ll be Utd’s new manager in a while-great guy-no BS and a grafter, what more could you ask for?
Go for it you young Spurs, despite Levy leaving us short at the start of the season AGAIN.