Lamela

[Bus-Conductor]

To be fair, Townsend's assist rate might improve with Adebayor to aim at ?

 

[Spurs_Bear]

To be fair, Townsend's assist rate might improve with Adebayor to aim at ?

Not really sure, I don't think Adebayor is a natural finisher like someone in the mould of Soldado, my issue with Townsend was his aimless shots from 30 yards and the fact when we were trying to pick a lock he was usually playing his own game.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Lennon has 1 goal and 1 assist in 12 games. That gives him an 84% ineffectiveness rating.

And I'm guessing the assist was the one against Palace where Defoe still had to plough through two tackles to score.

 

[felmani26]

Townsend on the left can be a big player for us and after the start he had, i'm surprised so many people are down about him.

Raw, yes but undoubtedly talented.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Not really sure, I don't think Adebayor is a natural finisher like someone in the mould of Soldado, my issue with Townsend was his aimless shots from 30 yards and the fact when we were trying to pick a lock he was usually playing his own game.

No argument there, but him on the left worries me no less than Lennon on the right. I actually think Townsend could be at least as effective as Lennon as a wide player, which could allow us to get Lamela and Eriksen on the pitch, thus maybe increasing our football intelligence quota by almost 50%. Keeping a nice balance of one wide attacker, one central brain and one cut inside type.

I still maintain that our attacking would improve by immense dimensions if we had two full backs who were not only quickish, but could deliver some consistent quality end product to our attack.

Everton, ManC, Chelsea and Arse all have at least one full back who are really good and consistent at this, some have two.

 

[Kendall]

No argument there, but him on the left worries me no less than Lennon on the right. I actually think Townsend could be at least as effective as Lennon as a wide player, which could allow us to get Lamela and Eriksen on the pitch, thus maybe increasing our football intelligence quota by almost 50%. Keeping a nice balance of one wide attacker, one central brain and one cut inside type.

I still maintain that our attacking would improve by immense dimensions if we had two full backs who were not only quickish, but could deliver some consistent quality end product to our attack.

Everton, ManC, Chelsea and Arse all have at least one full back who are really good and consistent at this, some have two.

This is important.

Funnily enough I think Walker has been better at both this and defending since Lennon came back. I don't know if that's just a coincidence or not. But yes, generally our fullbacks haven't been able to deliver good crosses consistently like some of the teams above us and Everton have been able to do.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

No argument there, but him on the left worries me no less than Lennon on the right. I actually think Townsend could be at least as effective as Lennon as a wide player, which could allow us to get Lamela and Eriksen on the pitch, thus maybe increasing our football intelligence quota by almost 50%. Keeping a nice balance of one wide attacker, one central brain and one cut inside type.

I still maintain that our attacking would improve by immense dimensions if we had two full backs who were not only quickish, but could deliver some consistent quality end product to our attack.

Everton, ManC, Chelsea and Arse all have at least one full back who are really good and consistent at this, some have two.

I think Townsend offers more of a goal threat than Lennon for sure, and I think the fact that he is exceptionally comfortable with both feet could make him a nightmare for defenders. I posted in the team thread for City I wouldn't mind seeing something like this with a fluid front 3:

Dembele Bentaleb Eriksen
Adebayor Soldado Townsend

 

[danielneeds]

Why Townsend? He is so wasteful & ineffective. He dazzles but is ineffective. Don't confuse his raw talent with his effectiveness. He has talent but is not effective enough. Too many hit & hopes, and poor last passes.

What's the difference between him and Lennon in that sentence? I think playing him on the left and encouraging him not cut inside so much will help. Also Sherwood's acknowledged in quotes that Townsend needs to work on his excessive shooting:

"He needs to slow himself down on his shooting and he knows that, but he is probably one of the most two-footed players in that squad. He cuts in from the left and shoots with the right, he does the same on the other side and is probably more accurate on his right side than he is on the left."
http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...y-tottenham-manager-tim-sherwood-9058000.html

To me he has a higher potential gain to Lennon in terms of chance creation and goals. Obviously Lennon is still a valuable option in the squad too.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

The caveat to Townsend on the right no worrying me

I think Townsend offers more of a goal threat than Lennon for sure, and I think the fact that he is exceptionally comfortable with both feet could make him a nightmare for defenders. I posted in the team thread for City I wouldn't mind seeing something like this with a fluid front 3:

Dembele Bentaleb Eriksen
Adebayor Soldado Townsend

The caveat to Townsend on the left not worrying me any more than Lennon on the right is that we haven't seen much of (the new Townsend, the old one looked pretty headless anywhere) Townsend there, so he may worry me more when we have.

I'd rather:

Dembele Bentaleb
Eriksen
Lamela Townsend
Adebayor​

 

[idontgetit]

No argument there, but him on the left worries me no less than Lennon on the right. I actually think Townsend could be at least as effective as Lennon as a wide player, which could allow us to get Lamela and Eriksen on the pitch, thus maybe increasing our football intelligence quota by almost 50%. Keeping a nice balance of one wide attacker, one central brain and one cut inside type.

I still maintain that our attacking would improve by immense dimensions if we had two full backs who were not only quickish, but could deliver some consistent quality end product to our attack.

Everton, ManC, Chelsea and Arse all have at least one full back who are really good and consistent at this, some have two.

In fairness both of our fullbacks were heavily involved in goals yesterday. Hopefully with the side starting to settle they can be more confident getting forward.

100% agree about the top part though, couldn't say it better myself Townsend, Lamela and Erikson all offer direct goal threats and are more than capable of setting each other up. Woud be such a good front line with Adebayor up top.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

The caveat to Townsend on the left not worrying me any more than Lennon on the right is that we haven't seen much of (the new Townsend, the old one looked pretty headless anywhere) Townsend there, so he may worry me more when we have.

I'd rather:

Dembele Bentaleb
Eriksen
Lamela Townsend
Adebayor​

Seems like a lot of worrying you are doing there.

I think I would prefer a:

DM
Dembele Bentaleb
Eriksen
Lamela Adebayor
​

If we have to shoehorn Lamela into the team right at this minute I would prefer it like that than an alien inverted winger position to him.

 

[dagraham]

I think Lennon will play against City and he'll tear Demechelis a new one. What worries me is we need Sandro back and fit. We may have got away with his absense up until now but against the better teams we really miss him.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

This is important.

Funnily enough I think Walker has been better at both this and defending since Lennon came back. I don't know if that's just a coincidence or not. But yes, generally our fullbacks haven't been able to deliver good crosses consistently like some of the teams above us and Everton have been able to do.

I wish I could agree about that, but I don't. I think Walker had a little spell of 4 or 5 games where he defended solidly and didn't do anything daft, which was an improvement, but creatively I don't think he's contributed very much at all. The trouble is he gets himself into some great positions and it catches the eye but the end product is invariably woeful. Even yesterday, he seems to look up, see Adebayor and another player in the pull back position and then just whacked it straight ahead where we had no-one. Miraculously their defender did the job under no pressure from any of our players.

And Rose is invariably just as bad. Since he came back there have been numerous occasions when he's had time to look up and try and pick out a team mate, instead he buries his head and just drills an aimless cross into a supposed dangerous area. The fact is two yards from the goal is less damerous than 8 yards from the goal if that's where our player is stood.

Recently I highlighted the way Kolorov on a few occasions gets into similar positions but always looks and tries to deliver to a team mate. Zabaleta is the same. These two have 9 assists between them. Our two full backs have 2. This despite having people like Soldado and Adenbayor to aim for.

 

[tiger666]

I wish I could agree about that, but I don't. I think Walker had a little spell of 4 or 5 games where he defended solidly and didn't do anything daft, which was an improvement, but creatively I don't think he's contributed very much at all. The trouble is he gets himself into some great positions and it catches the eye but the end product is invariably woeful. Even yesterday, he seems to look up, see Adebayor and another player in the pull back position and then just whacked it straight ahead where we had no-one. Miraculously their defender did the job under no pressure from any of our players.

And Rose is invariably just as bad. Since he came back there have been numerous occasions when he's had time to look up and try and pick out a team mate, instead he buries his head and just drills an aimless cross into a supposed dangerous area. The fact is two yards from the goal is less damerous than 8 yards from the goal if that's where our player is stood.

Recently I highlighted the way Kolorov on a few occasions gets into similar positions but always looks and tries to deliver to a team mate. Zabaleta is the same. These two have 9 assists between them. Our two full backs have 2. This despite having people like Soldado and Adenbayor to aim for.

Imagine if Walker could put a ball in like Eriksen. Some player he would be then.

 

[Kendall]

I wish I could agree about that, but I don't. I think Walker had a little spell of 4 or 5 games where he defended solidly and didn't do anything daft, which was an improvement, but creatively I don't think he's contributed very much at all. The trouble is he gets himself into some great positions and it catches the eye but the end product is invariably woeful. Even yesterday, he seems to look up, see Adebayor and another player in the pull back position and then just whacked it straight ahead where we had no-one. Miraculously their defender did the job under no pressure from any of our players.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. He put the ball between the keeper and the defender on purpose IMO. It's an absolute nightmare to defend because defenders hate defending when they're facing their goal and can't be sure Ade/Chadli aren't ghosting in behind them. I think Walker knew that.

 

[$hoguN]

To be fair, Townsend's assist rate might improve with Adebayor to aim at ?

You will probably need to give Ade a ladder first….

 

[Kendall]

Imagine if Walker could put a ball in like Eriksen. Some player he would be then.

He'd be Zabaleta on roids.

This is why I think Coleman is hideously underrated by many on here at the moment. His delivery is very good.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Seems like a lot of worrying you are doing there.

I think I would prefer a:

DM
Dembele Bentaleb
Eriksen
Lamela Adebayor
​

If we have to shoehorn Lamela into the team right at this minute I would prefer it like that than an alien inverted winger position to him.

It's inverted forward/wide - not winger - and that was his default at Roma loads. Go through Roma's season on whoscored.com. It is a forward position, but that is how it was often set up, in a 4231. I'm sure he effectively became an auxiliary striker in that structure, just as he could for us in the same structure, just as inverted wide forwards often do (Hulk, Ronaldo, Bale etc) as Chadli was supposed to be yesterday (according to Sherwood pre match).

They way you've set it up there is no width from attacking positions, which isn't obligatory at all, but I thought was purpose of this exercise.

 

[tiger666]

He'd be Zabaleta on roids.

This is why I think Coleman is hideously underrated by many on here at the moment. His delivery is very good.

Chips in with the odd goal too.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I think Lennon will play against City and he'll tear Demechelis a new one. What worries me is we need Sandro back and fit. We may have got away with his absense up until now but against the better teams we really miss him.

Capoue is fit.