Dawson

[dvdhopeful]

Dawson's reaction for the first goal seemed to be in slow motion. Firstly I have no idea why he took up the position he did instead of immediately going over to back up Ekotto as there was no other WBA player any where near our area, and then he seems to react incredibly slowly and then dives in and sells himself no where near the ball ?

He also had a spell around the 70th minute when he was superb. He flew into a couple of good tackles, and made a couple of sweet passes.

I think our ability to defend properly is costing us almost as much as strikers.

Completely and the fact our strikers have had a massive part in our underperformance to this point is hiding the fact that our defense has been woeful recently. We went through a period of real defensive stability, keeping clean sheets but not being able to make that count at the other end.

Blackpool (A) 3-1 L
Wolves (A) 3-3 D
West Ham (H) 0-0 D
Wigan (A) 0-0 D
Stoke (H) 3-2 W
Arse (H) 3-3 D
WBA (H) 2-2 D

That is a truly frightening run of results. When our strikers cannot find the net, our defense is solid, then our strikers start finding the net, our defense crumbles.

No idea if it was this thread or another B-C, but I'd agree with you that some of the decisions yesterday were completely mind boggling. Bale behind Lennon will work as well as Johnson and Lennon, putting VDV, in theory, in front of Kaboul who wasn't getting back quickly enough was asking for trouble and taking Pav off rather than Defoe.

After Arse I truly thought we'd see:

-----------Sandro----------
VDV Hudd Modric Bale
------------Pav------------

But we reverted to 4-4-2. I think I saw a criticism about Hudd/Modric from you in another thread B-C, but I'd suggest their ineffectiveness yesterday had as much to do with VDV on the left then Hudd/Modric themselves.

Unless you play Sandro, VDV should not be in the midfield of a 4-4-2. VDV needs to play, but if you go 4-4-2, you play VDV off the striker - he simply doesn't have the discipline to help out defensively. When I say that, I don't mean running about like a busy ****, I mean patrolling the right hand side, giving the RB some protection, which he doesn't do and why would he? He want him to roam and influence. If you put three across the middle, VDV tracking back isn't as much of an issue, although obviously, he does need to continue to work as hard as he does anyway.

I'd like to see the above next season, from the start. For me, VDV, Modric, Sandro, Bale. Out of 6 up front, those are 4 guarantees. We need a striker who runs the line, provides and links and gets a goal - Berbaesque, lets call him. That leaves one more position alongside Luka. We need a mobile, athletic player, with a good work ethic, able to distribute and with an eye for a goal. Those are the two positions we need strengthening over the summer imo.

I've rambled sorry, I'm so fucking wound up about Spurs, I'm obsessed, I've been thinking Spurs solidly since 16:53 yesterday - lost opportunity this last year.

edit: bollocks, this thread is about Dawson, sorry, like I said I just started rambling, that was almost like therapy.

 

[WhiteStripe]

What I will say about our defence is two things;

1. We do not have a keeper who can read the game from the back and organise the defence when needed.

2. We are far too weak in the middle of the park, at times needlessly allowing the opposition a free run at our back 4.

These are not excuses, but rather huge causative factors that have an affect on our defensive consistency. I think point 1 is very often overlooked.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

What I will say about our defence is two things;

1. We do not have a keeper who can read the game from the back and organise the defence when needed.

2. We are far too weak in the middle of the park, at times needlessly allowing the opposition a free run at our back 4.

These are not excuses, but rather huge causative factors that have an affect on our defensive consistency. I think point 1 is very often overlooked.

3. We have a captain/CB who reads the game poorly, makes fairly big mistakes on a game by game basis that have a direct impact on those around him and shows virtually zero leadership.

It's a bit harsh blaming your Brazilian goalkeeper for not "organising" the defence when your English captain CB can't do it isn't it ? I'd be more miffed that Gallas isn't doing more organising than Gomes.

As for reading the game ? I think Gomes reads what's going on pretty well. His decision making is pretty good. If you are saying you want Gomes telling every one who they should be marking at set pieces then the coaching staff should be sorting that out - but why does Dawson not do this ? he's perfectly placed as CB and captain.

As for your second point, I couldn't agree more, and have been saying the same for as long as I can remember, but since this time last year to dare to suggest that Hudd/Mod was not even better than sliced wonder bread, was heresy and incurred ridicule from many on here.

Since I've been on this forum the one thing I have consistently said, from Jol onwards is that we do not press the ball from the front to back. It is a basic trait that is coached into any team with aspirations of achieving anything. It is fundamental (but not the only criteria obviously) to success.

 

[felmani26]

3. We have a captain/CB who reads the game poorly, makes fairly big mistakes on a game by game basis that have a direct impact on those around him and shows virtually zero leadership.

It's a bit harsh blaming your Brazilian goalkeeper for not "organising" the defence when your English captain CB can't do it isn't it ? I'd be more miffed that Gallas isn't doing more organising than Gomes.

As for reading the game ? I think Gomes reads what's going on pretty well. His decision making is pretty good. If you are saying you want Gomes telling every one who they should be marking at set pieces then the coaching staff should be sorting that out - but why does Dawson not do this ? he's perfectly placed as CB and captain.

As for your second point, I couldn't agree more, and have been saying the same for as long as I can remember, but since this time last year to dare to suggest that Hudd/Mod was not even better than sliced wonder bread, was heresy and incurred ridicule from many on here.

Since I've been on this forum the one thing I have consistently said, from Jol onwards is that we do not press the ball from the front to back. It is a basic trait that is coached into any team with aspirations of achieving anything. It is fundamental (but not the only criteria obviously) to success.

This is spot on!

These are traits that all top teams possess and is encapsulated totally in how Barcelona play.

It's also why Manchester United have been so dominant over the years - it's not just the fact that they have had fantastically gifted players in Rooney, Ronaldo, Giggs, Scholes etc, it's because they have a work ethic ingrained into them that they have to earn the right to play their football by grafting for the team and is lead by the front right through to their defence. It is also why they can rotate the squad without much variation in the way they play, not because they are all the same talent wise, but because they have been fantastically coached and well drilled from youth all the way to the first team.

It just seems to me that we spend little to no time in coaching what we do as a team OFF the ball, which is just as important a factor as what we do with possession. It's all very well letting the players express themselves and in some respects this does lead to very entertaining football which is accustomed to the 'Tottenham way' but for me, I want to see us winning trophies and being a top team year after year and ultimately develop a brand of 'winning football' which us bourne out of hard work and a strong team ethic.

 

[WhiteStripe]

3. We have a captain/CB who reads the game poorly, makes fairly big mistakes on a game by game basis that have a direct impact on those around him and shows virtually zero leadership.

Yes, you have your views on this I know, but my points are in addition to what you think about Dawson (and regardless of captaincy a far far more experienced Gallas)

It's a bit harsh blaming your Brazilian goalkeeper for not "organising" the defence when your English captain CB can't do it isn't it ? I'd be more miffed that Gallas isn't doing more organising than Gomes.

You are missing my point. My point is regarding the fact that all top keepers organise the 4 players (and more specifically 2 CB's) protecting them. Take a look at any of the modern greats of the game...VDS, Schmeichel, Buffon...all bark commands and shout directions to their back four. I am merely pointing out that another causative factor to our inability to keep a clean sheet has to go with our keepers inability to organise what he sees in front of him. As for Gallas, yes I agree, he needs to take a leading role (I always said he was a good captain and Redknapp was inspired giving him the armband and possibly should never have taken it away).

As for reading the game ? I think Gomes reads what's going on pretty well. His decision making is pretty good. If you are saying you want Gomes telling every one who they should be marking at set pieces then the coaching staff should be sorting that out - but why does Dawson not do this ? he's perfectly placed as CB and captain.

I'ts not just set pieces, and yes the captain should be taking some responsibility. My point is more the fact that our Keeper should be organising what is in front of him more. I don't think Gomes can do this, and we suffer.

Since I've been on this forum the one thing I have consistently said, from Jol onwards is that we do not press the ball from the front to back. It is a basic trait that is coached into any team with aspirations of achieving anything. It is fundamental (but not the only criteria obviously) to success.

Spot on. Redknapp even alluded to the fact that this was essential after we played Barca in the Wembley Cup. They pressed us all over the pitch and he commented that this would be what he expected from his team. We do not do it nearly enough, and not nearly consistently enough to win key battles on the pitch. It is why we are always open to a pop shot from the edge of the area....we don't close players in possession of the ball down enough.

Someone needs to explain to our players that defending doesn't start in the penalty area.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

You make some valid points. I'm going to watch what Gomes and other good keepers do at set pieces for the next few games.

Since the Madrid debacle I've been watching what we do at se pieces - and even saturday was amazed to see how poor our marking was. Dawson is regularly left about 5 yards from his marker at every single corner, and he's not the only one.

I did see Gomes berating the defence a couple of times on Saturday - notably after their second goal - but this isn't organising.

Again, the over-riding question here is what is being coached ? Some people scoffed when VDV was quoted earlier in the season as saying we practice nothing and Redknapp never issues instructions - but I think this is finally dawning on everyone.

There is absolutely no preparation put in to who marks who, who should be organising, and that's just on set pieces - which should be basic, let alone giving people roles and instruction for the game in running, like "when player A does this, player B must do that etc etc.

It sends a chill down my spine.

 

[Mr Pink]

It is pretty evident that we dont press and work hard enough off the ball. Organisation, or lack of, is definitely a problem too.

Do they really work on things they need to be improving on, because it sure as hell doesn't look like it, we are always the same looking with the same old problems.

I think we have our routines in training and they probably dont change that much, thats the only logical conclusion I can come too.

Now what they encompass exactly I dont know, I mean the fine details so to speak.

 

[kishman]

Again, the over-riding question here is what is being coached ? Some people scoffed when VDV was quoted earlier in the season as saying we practice nothing and Redknapp never issues instructions - but I think this is finally dawning on everyone.

I don't remember VDV saying that? But very worrying if true.

 

[felmani26]

It is pretty evident that we dont press and work hard enough off the ball. Organisation, or lack of, is definitely a problem too.

Do they really work on things they need to be improving on, because it sure as hell doesn't look like it, we are always the same looking with the same old problems.

I think we have our routines in training and they probably dont change that much, thats the only logical conclusion I can come too.

Now what they encompass exactly I dont know, I mean the fine details so to speak.

I think it might have been jonathanhotspur who put up quotes from Van der Vaart about our 'relaxed' training methods and that very little emphasis is put on set-pieces which unfortunately is clearly evident in our feebleness in creating anything of note from such.

You reap what you sow.