Good evening.
Time for us to focus our thoughts on what is a massive, massive game. The list of those we failed to replace, the injured and the retired is well documented. The victory against Maribor was welcome of course but needs to be appreciated in the context of – this was an unremarkable Maribor.
That said, it will create a feel good factor. That’s quite rightly how football works.
But how brave will the boss be against the Champions? My suspicion is that the answer is ‘not too brave.’ I don’t believe he’ll play Hugo and I don’t believe he’ll drop Walker and certainly not for Naughton. I believe that showing confidence in players cuts both ways and ‘that’ goal in the Naughton/Lloris fiasco shouldn’t be used as stick to beat either men with.
Carroll has to start. To dare is to naffin’ well do and I think he’s earned this. Against City I believe we need to play with a 3 in the midfield given the resources. Thud and Sandro isn’t enough. It will end up with Mr Beastly doing himself a mischief again. But more so it’s a case of we must be creative and the two Toms between them will give us a fighting chance.
Bale on the left, Azza Lemon on the right and for me it’s Adebayor to start. Do you drop your hat-trick man? The brave do. On the strength of the Europa game Ade is back or at least very close to being back in business. We miss Moussa horribly and between Carroll and Ade we can at least attempt to mend and make do.
I predict a 3-2 win.
Ok.. so it may be fair to state that AVB did not get the players he wanted in the summer transfer window… but he did inherit a pretty good squad with the addition of Demebele and Vertonghen who look good acquisitions.. ( we will not dwell on the likes of Dempsey and Siggurson here :()
He hangs his hat however on being one of the worlds top young tactical coaches and alongside that I would assume he has to be half decent at motivating and inspiring players…
My problem is I am struggling to see exactly what the tactics are in terms of sophistication and substitutions.. and I am failing to see any real fight or spirit in the squad as a whole apart from some individuals like Sandro who seem to be willing to almost die for the cause…
it is muted that he plays a “high line” and possession football like Barcelona.. well I have yet to see us dominate any match under his stewardship where we have been able to push upfield with a high line.. most matches we are pinned back for long periods deep into our own half and hoofing wild clearances anywhere ….
I am no Redknapp advocate and wnated him gone TBH as he became to self serving in the end but we played some of the best possession football I have ever seen under his management far closer to the barcelona model than i have seen under AVB…
so my question is exactly what does AVB bring to the party… if it is not tactics and not motivation and we dont have the world class players we need… the signs are worrying.I really wanted him to be a success prove all the critics wrong and become one of the worlds top young coaches and build a THFC to be proud of…
I should have seen a glimmer of that by now … even if it was just a glimmer and I have not . i am now seeing a very pedistrian and lacklustre looking football team befreft of creativity and flair and team spirit….if I was Levy I know its early doors but the I would be very concerned..
i totally agree,the pros we thought we might get don’t appear to be on view in thinking and attitude or whatever the so called continental stuff,if we aren’t creating it will get ugly too