Fulham Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

Doctor Dinkey said:

There we go.
What a fucking surprise.

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So much so that I had fiver on it at 6/1

slartibartfast said:

If you've called that I'll piss myself

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Half right. @shelfboy68 called our draw though...

Archibald&Crooks said:

So much so that I had fiver on it at 6/1

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Amazing how obvious it is isn't it?

VegasII said:

I think we'll be at home to Millwall.

That's my guess over with!

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Genius, join me in the mystic Meg corner!!!

JUSTINSIGNAL said:

Winks is so, so ready to start league matches for us - it almost makes me wish Dembele gets another injury so we can give the kid a run of games

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Did that post sound good when it was in your head?

jammiest scums...

Tucker said:

I agree with most of what you're saying, but he was against a very open Championship team today. I rate Winks very highly, but let's not get too carried away. I agree Dembele's form has been suffering too though. Maybe he just needs a rest, rotating with Winks for a couple of games here and there will do them both the world of good.

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I am not getting carried away. You can say its just Fulham. He played so well against Atletico & Juve in preseason & did ever so well in games against when he was started in PL against WestHam & Burnley. End of the day, he can only play when he is given the chance.

At the moment, he is in far better form than Dembele. With so many games being played at this time of year, Winks has to get starts sooner than later

To anyone who went to the Pompey or Chelsea semi-finals at Wembley, what was our allocation, and what's the ticketing process?

I know we need to get there first, so im not getting too far ahead of myself but I've just realised I'm on holiday the semi-final weekend and I want to know roughly my chances of getting a ticket before I rearrange.

Mr Pink said:

Dembele is amazing when in beast form, absolutely phenomenal player imo.

However, when he's under par, like he's been recently and sporadically here and there this season, you can't help think those long term niggling injuries play a big part.

I think Winks has to play alongside side Wanyama, it's a lovely balance and especially at home against lower table opposition.

For me the selection issue would be Son or Dembele in the three behind Kane.

Obviously when Rose returns, and assuming we revert to three at the back, then the it will only be one spot beside Wanyama that will need to be decided - imo anyway.

In the bigger games, and away from home, I'd play Dembele instead of Son if we're playing 4-2-3-1. And at home I'd maybe go with the more direct Son.

Anyway, it's good to have these options.

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I really like this post. I find it very funny that one of the best CM in Europe last year who hasn't been as shocking as some make out should now be dropped for Winks. Don't get me wrong i love Winks and think he is currently playing very well and will be a really top player for us. But its all about game selection for me. In the big big games i like Dembele in there as CM when teams go for us, this is usually when he really performs or when we have gone to a back 3 and have him and Wanyama as protectors because our wing backs are a lot higher up the pitch, this is when he should definitely play. I do however agree against the lessor teams that sit, he isn't great and Winks would be a much better option. Due to speed of thought and creativity.

But the main thing for me is I feel a lot of our play this year has been affected by the 3 behind Kane.

They have been our major weakness and an area that the City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool piss over of us, because they have way better variation and much more pace/directness in these positions. This therefore disrupts our team as when our three AM aren't at the races we are so poor and that's been happening lately - they lose the ball alot putting way too much pressure on a 2 CMs and they lack good movement giving our players not much to really pass too. And i'm only commenting on when we go with the 3 behind Kane and not when we play 3 at the back as that means we go with two and Alli and Eriksen really thrive more centrally behind Kane.

I know people don't fancy Zaha (there will be similar options out there - Kieta at Lazio) but finding a Mane type player is very difficult, but if Poch is to go with the two formation variations, we really need to invest in this type of player, in a big way in the summer. My two cents anyway.

I thought today was a good performance and Eriksen was great, but this game allowed Eriksen to be great and he we really need him to step up in the City / Liverpool away games where he is toilet. I thought Son overall was very ineffective and didn't really pose any threat against Fulham who were so easy to attack. Our lack of quality in these positions is our current biggest flaw.

Tucker said:

The only time he's fielded a weakened team was against Dortmund? Don't make me laugh. He's done it twice this calendar year.

Wycombe, 9 changes to the team http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38700672
Villa, 8 changes to the team http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38481612

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RicOfPeace said:

Wycombe... Arsenal last year in the league cup, Liverpool league cup, some of our champions league games where we embarrassed ourselves and so on...

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Guys it would be great if you understood the context of the argument before wading in...we are talking about cup matches that he's apparently "thrown" i.e where we've been knocked out due to Poch playing a completely weakened team against our opposition.

TheHood said:

Much like how you said Sissoko was starting to answer his critics on the basis of 2 decent games, how is that one working out for you?

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That doesn't really make any sense in relation to what I said but okay...yeah I was wrong about Sissoko as I thought he'd come good but I can hold my hands up and say I was wrong.

You on the other hand...

Vincent30 said:

I really like this post. I find it very funny that one of the best CM in Europe last year who hasn't been as shocking as some make out should now be dropped for Winks. Don't get me wrong i love Winks and think he is currently playing very well and will be a really top player for us. But its all about game selection for me. In the big big games i like Dembele in there as CM when teams go for us, this is usually when he really performs or when we have gone to a back 3 and have him and Wanyama as protectors because our wing backs are a lot higher up the pitch, this is when he should definitely play. I do however agree against the lessor teams that sit, he isn't great and Winks would be a much better option. Due to speed of thought and creativity.

But the main thing for me is I feel a lot of our play this year has been affected by the 3 behind Kane.

They have been our major weakness and an area that the City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool piss over of us, because they have way better variation and much more pace/directness in these positions. This therefore disrupts our team as when our three AM aren't at the races we are so poor and that's been happening lately. And i'm only commenting on when we go with the 3 behind Kane and not when we play 3 at the back as that means we go with two and Alli and Eriksen really thrive more centrally behind Kane.

I know people don't fancy Zaha (there will be similar options out there - Kieta at Lazio) but finding a Mane type player is very difficult, but if Poch is to go with the two formation variations, we really need to invest in this type of player, in a big way in the summer. My two cents anyway.

I thought today was a good performance and Eriksen was great, but this game allowed Eriksen to be great and he we really need him to step up in the City / Liverpool away games where he is toilet. I thought Son overall was very ineffective and didn't really pose any threat against Fulham who were so easy to attack. Our lack of quality in these positions is our current biggest flaw.

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Son was definitely ineffective. Davies offered slightly more in attack on that left side and he wasnt great either. Probably could have gotten a few more goals if we had an effective left side. Trippier and Eriksen were doing work on the right.

Oh and who else finds it hilarious every time we get a freekick and the commentator goes on about how much of a specialist we have with Erisken, a freekick wizard that hasn't scored from one for over a year. Every game they do it, i can't be the only one shouting and making weird noises at the TV when they do it?! Can I.....

hughy said:

To anyone who went to the Pompey or Chelsea semi-finals at Wembley, what was our allocation, and what's the ticketing process?

I know we need to get there first, so im not getting too far ahead of myself but I've just realised I'm on holiday the semi-final weekend and I want to know roughly my chances of getting a ticket before I rearrange.

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About 30k and I think the members cut off for loyalty points was around 190-ish. I'd suspect it'd be higher now as we're quite good and people attend more regularly

L-man said:

About 30k and I think the members cut off for loyalty points was around 190-ish. I'd suspect it'd be higher now as we're quite good and people attend more regularly

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Ahh it'll be touch and go for me then. Shit sticks.

Thanks for the info.

hughy said:

Ahh it'll be touch and go for me then. Shit sticks.

Thanks for the info.

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The final 2 years ago was 185 - http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/cup-final-loyalty-points-information-160215/

Touch and go for me also, hopefully should have more than that by April

Gaz_Gammon said:

Did that post sound good when it was in your head?

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Ha! I dunno why everyone is getting their knickers in twist tbh. Maybe people missed that I used 'almost' as an operative word.

Either way, I stand by what I said - Winks needs to be starting more games in the league. Regardless of whether Dembele is injured or not.

Bummer, i should have about 140 by the time the potential of a semi arises.


(Oooo)

Shadydan said:

That doesn't really make any sense in relation to what I said but okay...yeah I was wrong about Sissoko as I thought he'd come good but I can hold my hands up and say I was wrong.

You on the other hand...

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The point wasn't about Sissoko, the point was about the absurdity of using a such a small sample (with respect to this discussion one game or 2 games in Sissokos regard) as a means to invalidate previous concerns and to close down future discussion.

Hazardousman said:

I think having Verts back means it works better, however, I still think against better opposition we will struggle to make chances and be effective in attack with this formation.

The sooner Rose gets back the better as well, I don't think there is any doubt that we play better with 3 at the back, today was a good performance but I feel against better opposition we would still struggle lined up like this, like we did earlier in the season.

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Trippier made a huge difference. Defo a serious challenger to Walkers position atm.