Going forward?

[ItsBoris]

What do people think our team should be for the rest of this league campaign? I'm not really sure, biggest question marks are midfield, left back, and Bale's position.

The one thing I'll say really, is I think that if Adebayor continues to start, we should play Bale on the left again in a 4-3-3 with 3 of Dembele, Parker, Hudd, Carroll, Holtby, and Sigurdsson in midfield, perhaps depending on the opponent. I just think this is how the team would be the most balanced. At least in a 4-3-3 Bale would be playing an inside forward role and not completely out on the wing.

Anyway, I really think Hudd and Carroll have put themselves in contention for starting places, and Holtby and Sigurdsson have been impressive recently. Tough choice for the City game and the rest of the reason.

 

[spivmaster]

---------Lloris
Walker - Dawson (Kaboul when fit) - Vertonghen - BAE
-----Holtby - Carroll (Hudd maybe?)
--------Dembele---------
Lennon - Bale - Sigurdsson

I'd just be curious to see how it worked to be honest, might fail epically.

 

[ravo]

For me it revolves around one question - can Bale play up front? My personal opinion is no. But, if that was the case, then I would play a front 5 of:

Parker - Holtby​

Lennon - Dembele - Siggi​

Bale​

Realistically, I think it will be:

Parker - Dembele​

Lennon - Bale - Siggi​

Ade​

Reasoning is that I think AVB has realised that Ade is more important up front than Defoe, in terms of bringing others into play.

 

[shelfboy68]

---------Lloris
Walker - Dawson (Kaboul when fit) - Vertonghen - BAE
-----Holtby - Carroll (Hudd maybe?)
--------Dembele---------
Lennon - Bale - Sigurdsson

I'd just be curious to see how it worked to be honest, might fail epically.

I dont think it matters now all the big prizes have gone we are playing for fifth in all fairness because we will just be deluding ourselves if we think we can go to chelsea and win or beat city.

The summer will be the time when some will have to to take a long look at themselves plus bale may well be off as he is sure to want to win things

 

[Legend10]

I dont think it matters now all the big prizes have gone we are playing for fifth in all fairness because we will just be deluding ourselves if we think we can go to chelsea and win or beat city.

The summer will be the time when some will have to to take a long look at themselves plus bale may well be off as he is sure to want to win things

For Gods sake!

With 9 away wins in the prem and a win against the champions to be I'll be deluded then and I'm sure so will the management and players.

 

[shelfboy68]

For Gods sake!

With 9 away wins in the prem and a win against the champions to be I'll be deluded then and I'm sure so will the

I think some of the players and management will look back and reflect that yet again we can't see things through when the pressure is on its obviously a collective mentality wouldn't you agree.

Its the same shit different year always and our form is shit lately and our defending is comical as we are averaging two goals a game that is not good enough if you have designs on top four.

 

[sweyid]

I'd like to see a midfield three of Dembele - Holtby - Siggy. Don't think we'll need a pure DM because all three of them put in good defensive shifts and it would give us more fluidity. Parker is good at breaking up play, tackling etc but he's quite cumbersome on the ball and slows down our counters.

Siggy is creative and technical enough to work as a playmaker, as he does for Iceland (but Iceland are starting to build there team around him, Lars Lagerbäck has refered to him as the Zlatan of Iceland). Holtby is a hard worker as is Dembele, so having both of them in box-to-box-ish roles with a good mix of offensive and defensive duties could work well.

For the front three I'd go for Lennon - Ade (Defoe when back) - Bale.

I'm imagining something like this:


---------Dembele----Holtby---------
-------------Sigurdsson-------------
Lennon-------------------Bale-------
--------------Defoe-------------------

Bale with permission to go more centrally and Siggy filling in on the wing when he does so. I pick Defoe over Ade due to speed and because Ade's constant drifting to the wings leaves us with nothing little central threat and crowded wings. Leave the wings to the fullbacks and wingers.

 

[ItsBoris]

---------Lloris
Walker - Dawson (Kaboul when fit) - Vertonghen - BAE
-----Holtby - Carroll (Hudd maybe?)
--------Dembele---------
Lennon - Bale - Sigurdsson

I'd just be curious to see how it worked to be honest, might fail epically.

I was thinking this kind of thing too, I think the strongest midfield 3 would be Holtby, Carroll, and Dembele. Holtby in the Parker/Sandro role, Carroll as the Modric type player we've been missing, and Dembele as the box to box. Then front 3 of Lennon, Bale, and Adebayor or as you say if Adebayor is useless then drop him and move Bale to the middle and Sigurdsson on the left.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

I'm coming around to the idea of Bale upfront, he's our best finisher, best dribbler, better in the air than Defoe, and won't have the crowd on his back like Ade does. For me we have looked much better with a midfield 3. Carroll's cameo performances has shown he at least deserves a chance to start imo. So when the main guys out are back I'd go:

Hugo
Walker Daws Vert Bae
Dembele Holtby Carroll
Lennon Bale Gylfi

Away from home or if we need to solidify then swap Holtby for Parker.

 

[TheAmerican]

If Bale were up front, you would need someone that has strong movement (Holtby) at the cam, otherwise he would be marked out.

 

[Babylon22]

The thought of bale playing with his back to goal and holding the ball up depresses me. Such a waste.

 

[Legend10]

Not sure what you did with your post but no I don't agree at all. Players change frequently and we have a different management team so I don't see it as a flaw with our collective mentality. You could easily view it anther way in that a couple of years ack in the run in we picked up wins against arse, Chavs and city to make the top 4!

People should remember we did finish 4th last year and we are trying to finish in the top 4 for the 3rd time in 4 years and given our budget compared to our competitors it's an incredible fight we put up year in year out at the moment.

I'm immensely proud of our team and club these days, I think we are the example to every club outside of the super wealthy in showing that it is possible to consistently compete with the financial super powers of the premiership.

Weak mentality? I don't buy that at all!

 

[talkshowhost86]

The thought of bale playing with his back to goal and holding the ball up depresses me. Such a waste.

Completely agree. Playing Bale upfront completely nullifies his most dangerous asset which is running at people.

I think last night both Holtby and Carroll put their hands up for more regular appearances, whilst on the other hand Dembele really looks like he needs a couple of games to rest, and Naughton should never be played at left back again.

In the next game I'd go (if everyone is back from injury):

​

Lloris​

​

Walker Dawson Vertonghen Ekotto​

​

Parker Carroll​

​

Lennon Holtby Bale​

​

Adebayor​

​

If Ekotto is offering some width on the left then Bale doesn't need to stay out there and him and Holtby can rotate, meaning Bale will still be in his most dangerous position.​

 

[shelfboy68]

Not sure what you did with your post but no I don't agree at all. Players change frequently and we have a different management team so I don't see it as a flaw with our collective mentality. You could easily view it anther way in that a couple of years ack in the run in we picked up wins against arse, Chavs and city to make the top 4!

People should remember we did finish 4th last year and we are trying to finish in the top 4 for the 3rd time in 4 years and given our budget compared to our competitors it's an incredible fight we put up year in year out at the moment.

I'm immensely proud of our team and club these days, I think we are the example to every club outside of the super wealthy in showing that it is possible to consistently compete with the financial super powers of the premiership.

Weak mentality? I don't buy that at all!

Your entitled to your opinion of course but our mentality is weak and has been for years we cant keep making excuses for the club with lack of financial clout etc.
A few years back Liverpool won the champions with a average squad and one player in gerrard who was quality so it can be done.
But I am a proud fan of the club like yourself but can't be proud of that last night .

 

[Legend10]

Your entitled to your opinion of course but our mentality is weak and has been for years we cant keep making excuses for the club with lack of financial clout etc.
A few years back Liverpool won the champions with a average squad and one player in gerrard who was quality so it can be done.
But I am a proud fan of the club like yourself but can't be proud of that last night .

As you will about the finance but it doesn't change the fact of how huge a factor it is!

If we were mentality weak we wouldn't be competing, simple as that really!

 

[shelfboy68]

As you will about the finance but it doesn't change the fact of how huge a factor it is!

If we were mentality weak we wouldn't be competing, simple as that really!

How would you explain the constant imploding in any high pressure games over the last few years etc like two semi finals two nil up against arsenal last season and lasagne day.
These are not one offs they are regular patterns of behaviour at spurs and not bad luck.

 

[talkshowhost86]

How would you explain the constant imploding in any high pressure games over the last few years etc like two semi finals two nil up against arsenal last season and lasagne day.
These are not one offs they are regular patterns of behaviour at spurs and not bad luck.

How would the mentality spread across the years to different players and through different managers?

Does Levy appoint each manager by saying, "This is a mentally weak club. Make sure you instil that in the players as soon as possible...especially the new ones that we've brought in."

Anyway you are cherry-picking certain incidents.

Were we mentally weak when we destroyed the European Champions at WHL?

Were we mentally weak when we went to the San Siro and won 1-0?

Were we mentally weak when we went to Man City and beat them on their own patch to secure Champions League football?

 

[shelfboy68]

How would the mentality spread across the years to different players and through different managers?

Does Levy appoint each manager by saying, "This is a mentally weak club. Make sure you instil that in the players as soon as possible...especially the new ones that we've brought in."

Anyway you are cherry-picking certain incidents.

Were we mentally weak when we destroyed the European Champions at WHL?

Were we mentally weak when we went to the San Siro and won 1-0?

Come on who's cherry picking now we do blow the big games and I don't like it anymore than you.

Were we mentally weak when we went to Man City and beat them on their own patch to secure Champions League football?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Jesus christ Shelfboy learn how to quote properly

We have blown some of the big games. We've also won some of the big games (beating Arsenal, Chelsea and City on the way to 4th, beating Chelsea at Wembley etc etc).

To suggest it's a club wide losing mentality is just ridiculous.

 

[Francis Gibbs]

How would the mentality spread across the years to different players and through different managers?

Does Levy appoint each manager by saying, "This is a mentally weak club. Make sure you instil that in the players as soon as possible...especially the new ones that we've brought in."

Anyway you are cherry-picking certain incidents.

Were we mentally weak when we destroyed the European Champions at WHL?

Were we mentally weak when we went to the San Siro and won 1-0?

Were we mentally weak when we went to Man City and beat them on their own patch to secure Champions League football?

you cant judge mental strength on ad hoc games across different seasons - it should be judged on performances at the business end of the seasons when under pressure through injuries or when actually chasing down a target such as top 4 or qualifying through the latter rounds of cup competitions.

I cant work out why we fold like a cheap suit more often than not as it defies logic given change in players/managers etc but it happens time and time again so there must be something to it.