Good morning.
Four o’clock tomorrow and it’s our 4th Premier League outing and 5th game under the human of immense dimensions himself, the Ginger Ninja aka GFG.
It’s not overstating things to say that just about everyone was buoyed by the performance against Lazio, if not the actual result itself. One aspect that merits yet another mention is that we really demonstrated the merits of possession play. It’s stating the flippin’ obvious, but if you’ve got the ball, the other fella ain’t.
The game-play itself is far more demanding. The pressing game doesn’t carry passengers. You can’t drift in and drift out and if the appointment of Azza as captain was a one off or not it was indicative of the message having got through.
Lennon has yet to achieve all he might – no change there, ho ho ho – but he’s noticeably upped his game. He could have scored twice against the Italians and I don’t say that as a dig, rather to underline a positive. His efforts are putting him in the right places.
With Naughton injured a shuffle is required. Hence the annotations on the board.
It seems to me that there are two obvious answers. First is to move Jan out to left back where he is comfortable and bring Billy in. This is not a poor relation of a line up, until you wonder if Vertonghen will be as commanding moving forward from the left. And of course you can argue he might provide killer service to Bale and Moussa.
The alternative which I believe would be braver and more exciting is play Bale as left back, let Dempsey move wide in his stead and let Jan stay put. Bale is as fit as a butcher’s dog so if he wants to go walkies it wouldn’t be a massive gamble. Deuce loves a bit of cutting in off that wing and could really give Mark Hughes a migraine. If you move Dempsey out, then Siggy steps in.
I see no point in mucking Hugo about and would start him again. He didn’t have to do too much midweek but it would be close to churlish to play Brad ‘just so you could say that you did’. Brad is a professional and a sweetie. He won’t sulk.
Up front I’m opting for Adebayor. The reason is that QPR are going to be a pain to unlock. We let the multifaceted Togoan have a go and keep the midget gem up our sleeve for the old ‘impact sub’ gig. Jermain won’t be delighted but such is life. I think it will get congested in the final third and maybe we should kick off proceedings with a player who might just offer more variety.
Prediction? QPR’s season has so far been a fair reflection of the way their team has been assembled. Scrappy. The punt being taken by Tony Fernandez is sizable. And if I was looking to see where Redschnapps might be re-homed I’d look not to St. Mary’s but to Loftus Road. Anyway, Spurs should win this. Ideally of course with a clean sheet so a 2-0 from me.
HH i think you’ve second guessed yourself with your extra arrows! Jan at LB and Billy CB is a safer back four, not sure Balnado has the discipline to stay on the left side of the pitch let alone at the back aswell.
bit worried that QPR held cheatski to a nil-niller – do we have the upfront fire power tactics sorted yet? i fear a 1-2 result
whatever the result COYS
£15 for a set of new wheel bearings..daylight bloody robbery.
Are they to go on the Gents bike?
Get modern E%M, Go on EBay UK-bikes for sale in abundance-wherever that is?
Saw a programme on tv lst night. Not sure if it’s on UK tv or just for us internationals.
They had a segment on Spurs community work. Had Sandro showing some kids his shiny olympic silver medal.
Sandro was talking about his love for GFG. He can talk to him in his own language and he understands his role in the game. Said Redknapped spoke very quickly and he often didnt understand him. He did say he admired Redknapp as he bought him to the club.
Actually think Sandro looked like the player we all hoped he was against Reading.
We may be on the up in terms of performance, but we really could do without the vacant LB position being covered by anyone other than our actual LBs but Vert will almost definitely step in and manage.
But the defence have made costly errors this season and the re-jigging is bound to cause us some problems so a clean-sheet may be ambitious.
Dare I say it?
We’re playing some really good football so we may be looking at the next 3 points and lets face it, we should get a win.
the players seem confident and will want to put the Lazio shambles out of their head by going all out so another 3-1 methinks.
Friedel in goal too.
Howdy lads, what the eyeballer likes about your team selections, harry is that they provide food for thought. . . . Here are The Eyeballer’s:
Grandad will remain in goal for the league games- he deserves to, Hugo gets the cups…
Wow, didn’t realise Kyle minor was injured hmmmm good shout with bale, harry
Would bring back gallas alongside Jan
Play Defoe up top with ade….. Ade slightly withdrawn, linking midfield and Defoe
Toss of coin between gilfy and Clint
Grandad
Bale…. Gallas….. Jan….. Walker
……….Sandro…….moussa
Clint / gilfy……ade…….. Lennon
………………Defoe……..
So, there you have it, pretty much the same team as against Reading
Bale at RB?
The Eyeballer has his wingers the wrong way round methinks?