Team vs Manchester United

[Shadydan]

Back 3 of Toby, Jan and Sanchez gives us more flexibility, and allows our wing backs to be just tgst, further up the pitch. The whispers are saying it is Poch’s preference. Will be interesting when the team is announced.

As long as he doesn't play Son at LWB then I might be all for it.

Just a bit concerned about the pace if we play 3 at the back, where does it come from if son is benched?

 

[Trix]

IMO, because I don't like the look of Aurier or Trippier against any one of Sanchez, Martial or Rashford. 3 CBs offers a load more cover and also allows the wingbacks to get at Young and Valencia.

It's just too defensive for my liking. This Man Utd not Man City..

 

[Japhet]

It's just too defensive for my liking. This Man Utd not Man City..

I guess it all depends on whether you see a back 3 as defensive. IMO it's an attacking formation with wingbacks pushing high up the pitch and quite often one of the CBs bringing the ball out as well. We do sacrifice one AM to do it but it looks more balanced space wise across that area of the pitch to me. I'd counteract any loss in that area by putting Eriksen in CM anyway, or at least having that option.

 

[nickspurs]

Back 3 of Toby, Jan and Sanchez gives us more flexibility, and allows our wing backs to be just tgst, further up the pitch. The whispers are saying it is Poch’s preference. Will be interesting when the team is announced.

If that’s been the strategy it would explain why Toby got an outing and Sanchez got a breather.

 

[St José Dominguez]

id be surprised if we suddenly played 3 at back again, think the starting 11 is quite obvious but I'd play this:

Lloris
Trippier Alderweireld Vertonghen Davies
Eriksen Dier Dembele
Lamela Dele
Son​

Vorm, Aurier, Sanchez, Wanyama, Sissoko, Lucas, Kane

 

[cunn1ngstunt]

I think back 3 is ideal as Jan and Toby can step out of defence easily and bring the ball out/look after the ball whilst maintaining Sanchez, physicality and pace. However this system is flawed in my opinion by our full backs final delivery (Tripper aside) and genuine pace and dynamism. With the rose and walker from last year we had both the dynamism and pace to really benefit from that formation. Sometimes the ability to put a good ball in the box is not necessarily in the perfect delivery but in the full back being dynamic and quick enough to stretch the opposing teams and create the spaces behind teams. When we play trippier/davies in behind teams, this is more often than not after 10 or so passes around the penalty box and the only space in and around the box is the space they have found via cute pass or quick switch of play. Then its about putting it on a 6 pence rather than a dangerous area for us attack. Thats taking us to the next level and probably why Pep bought 3 last year for over a £100million !!

 

[ajspurs]

Not sure I would go with 3 at the back, just still don't think we should change what has worked so well for us. Plus Son definitely has to start for me and in the wide left position. I can certainly understand people not putting Kane in, I think he's looked very heavy on his feet and sluggish since returning, is really lacking sharpness right now. Get Son as a threat on the left side and Trippier as a good outlet on the right to stretch them. I can certainly imagine Mourinho trying to cramp the space in the middle, the spaces that Alli, Eriksen and Kane will be operating in.

 

[whitelanefever]

Personally I'd like to see Foyth & KWP get a chance at rb in preseason..they can't be any worse than Trippier & Aurier..you can except mistakes from kids but the amount of goals they've been in some way at fault for is unexceptable their age.. I think KWP or Foyth would do a better job now but it would be to big a risk for this game.. Rose not fit.. Davies looks shot so I'd go a back 4 of Trip,Toby,Sanchez,Jan

4411
Lloris

Trippier
Toby
Sanchez
Jan

Dier....Dembele

Eriksen.........Dele

Son
Kane

 

[spursfan77]

Why would we need to go to 3 at the back. It doesn't suit playing that against Man Utd at all. Usual back 4 with Dier infront

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Cant see Poch going with anything but:

Vorm
Trippier Sanchez Vertonghen Davies
Dier Dembele
Eriksen Dele Son
Kane​

Lloris, Aurier, Toby, Sissoko, Lucas, Lamela, Llorente

 

[C0YS]

Why would we need to go to 3 at the back. It doesn't suit playing that against Man Utd at all. Usual back 4 with Dier infront

This, main advantage of back three is it gives you more control, gives you more passages to play out from the back and gives more options in transitions, against Man utd we should be able to control the midfield, with two central midfielders, I don't think we need someone else back there.

 

[Breezer]

...................Lloris
.......Toby Sanchez Vert
Trip................................Rose (if fit)
...........Dier....Dembele
Eriksen.......................Alli
.................Kane

 

[zoneD]

...can see the reasoning behind a back 3 (i.e. protecting our weak FBs), but it seems counterintuitive against a side like ManU...
...love Toby and hope he stays, but squeezing him in for a start is not a compelling reason for a back 3...
...Kane looks sluggish, admitted - but the way to get him back in form is to play him as much as possible...

COYS

 

[Hengy1]

Lloris
Trippier Sanchez Verts Davies
Dier Dembele
Eriksen Dele Son
Kane

Subs Vorm Aurier Toby Wanyama Sissoko Lamela Moura​

 

[T-Love92]

The fact that he gave Sanchez a rest indicates that he will start imo...

I would stick with 4 at the back with Rose + Trippier and Sanchez + Jan
But then again, knowing Poch preference to absolutely surprise everyone in these kind of games (Son at LWB, etc...) i can see him reverting to a back 3 - Sanchez rested and Toby did well yesterday

Maybe Hugo needs a rest too, and i quite like Vorm so no problem if he starts

Dele Eriksen and Son behind Kane

 

[UncleFool]

If we line up and play as we regularly do, Mourinho will have a plan/trap for us. It’s how he operates and he’s very good at it. He can make the most average of teams very effective for big games and he’s made his name from these high profile moments. Whether it works or not is impossible to say (we have already proven that we have the ability to defeat this type of set up when we beat them at Wembley) but we don’t want to get involved in a slow grind of a game that Mourinho loves (see Old Trafford defeat in October). Our chances of winning reside in a quick tempo and high energy game. Therefore, I think that there is merit in Poch springing a surprise to negate Mourinho’s tactics. Whether that is 3 at the back or not, I’m not sure...

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Back 3 of Toby, Jan and Sanchez gives us more flexibility, and allows our wing backs to be just tgst, further up the pitch. The whispers are saying it is Poch’s preference. Will be interesting when the team is announced.

I think when you’ve got brilliant athletic quick left and right backs then a four is fine

With Davies & Tripps it surely makes sense to play a 3 which means they don’t have to cover so much ground

I would love to see our back 3 of Jan/Davidson/Toby back together for Saturday

 

[kaz Hirai]

I would 100 percent play Toby over Davidson if it was my call.

Purely to counter united's long ball/set piece/long cross/ route 1 footy

 

[Japhet]

Why would we need to go to 3 at the back. It doesn't suit playing that against Man Utd at all. Usual back 4 with Dier infront

We haven't been anywhere near as effective pressing with a back 4. When our wingbacks push up they help the midfield to win the ball back further up the pitch which we haven't been doing lately. Like I said earlier, i also don't want to see Aurier or Trippier isolated against Martial, Sanchez or Rashford.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

Anyone got Aurier instead of Trippier lol.

Given their recent form i’d play KWP lol