Team vs QPR

[SamR]

My team would be:

Lloris​

Walker Gallas Vertonghen Bale​

Sandro​

Sigurdsson Dembele​

Lennon Defoe Dempsey​

I like this team, but I think he will stick with Friedel. I think playing bale left back allows us to play another goal threat (dempsey) so at home I'd go we your team and friedel as our starting line up!

 

[brasil_spur]

My team would be:

Lloris​

​

Walker Caulker Vertonghen Bale​

​

Sandro​

Sigurdsson Dembele​

​

Lennon Defoe Dempsey​

For me it's a toss up between this and having Sandro, Hudd and Dembele in midfield for me. I think i would start with the above line-up, purely because Sigurdsson is keen for a goal, but i'd look to sub him off at circa 60mins for Hudd.​

​

Both Lloris and Caulker deserve their chance in the PL after last night, Bale might actually make some more bursting runs forward from LB in the absence of a proper LB right now and Dempsey seems to always cause teams like QPR a bit of trouble in the box.​

​

I would also like to see Townsend be given a good 20-30 minutes in place of either Lennon or Dempsey, he looked like he could open up a defense a bit late in the game when he came on last night.​

​

​

 

[Mr Pink]

Definitely Bale at LB for me. We are at home and will have the majority of possession, and Bale getting more space to surge from deep might just get him going a bit more as well, and as Bear pointed out before, Dempsey has good work rate to give him a little protection as well when needed.

Either of Bear's or Mpickard's team will do me.

Think I would probably bring Gallas back in alongisde Vertonghen, just to inject a little freshness.

I think Friedel will come back in, but honestly I would so much prefer Lloris - already feel far more confident from watching him command his box, albeit he didn't have too much to do.

 

[felmani26]

I remember him doing very well when he first broke into the team when Assou-Ekotto was injured before moving into left midfield. He can definitely do a job there, especially at home to QPR.



The same Lennon who has been one of our better players so far this season, already clocking up two assists from crosses?

And how many chances weren't converted either by poor selection of pass or foresight?

Dempsey arguably offers more goal threat - his record underlines this fact.

However, like I said before I wouldn't be upset seeing Lennon out on the right but I do have doubts about our forward three's ability to get us goals regularly.

 

[mpickard2087]

Definitely Bale at LB for me. We are at home and will have the majority of possession, and Bale getting more space to surge from deep might just get him going a bit more as well, and as Bear pointed out before, Dempsey has good work rate to give him a little protection as well when needed.

Either of Bear's or Mpickard's team will do me.

Think I would probably bring Gallas back in alongisde Vertonghen, just to inject a little freshness.

I think Friedel will come back in, but honestly I would so much prefer Lloris - already feel far more confident from watching him command his box, albeit he didn't have too much to do.

Yes I put Caulker in the team but it could be him or Gallas as far as Im concerned, I just thought a home game vs QPR is maybe a good game to give him his bow in a league game for us but I would have no problems with Gallas being selected.

Lloris though has to start.

 

[Matt_Spurs]

Think Bale at LB would disrupt our team too much. I see the arguments but feel we need his threat further up the pitch. We are struggling to create as it is. Think it would disrupt the balance of the team too much. His defending is poor too. IIRC he was run ragged by Seamus Coleman at Goodison in 09/10 in a 2-2 draw. Admittedly it was a while ago but he hasn't played too much at left back since.

 

[Spurs Chink]

----------------Llrois-------------------
Walker Caulker Gallas Vertonghen
----------------Sandro-------------------
---------Sigurdsson--Dembeley------
-------Dempsey--Defoe--Bale----

 

[mpickard2087]

I have to disagree about playing Bale at LB. We need his threat further up the pitch. We are struggling to create as it is. Think it would disrupt the balance of the team too much. His defending is poor too. IIRC he was run ragged by Seamus Coleman at Goodison in 09/10 in a 2-2 draw. Admittedly it was a while ago but he hasn't played too much at left back since.

There's a difference between a tough game away to Everton and a game at home to a team where I would imagine we will have the majority of possession and our fullbacks will spend more time going forward than running back towards their own goal.

It allows us to get another attack minded player in the team, without completely disrupting the shape, and may give Bale more space to pick the ball up and run at the defence. Its worth a try again.

 

[Yid121]

Friedel

Walker Gallas Vertonghen Bale

Sandro Dembele
Sigurdsson

Lennon Defoe Dempsey

Subs: Lloris Dawson Huddlestone Jenas Carroll Townsend Adebayor

Injured: Gomes Naughton Assou-Ekotto Kaboul Livermore Parker

I would play Vertonghen LB against more difficult/away opposition. Bale will be more threatening from LWB in my opinion as he can generate pace before arriving at the full-back. Dempsey gives us extra goal threat from the midfield too. Bale and Dempsey will be a great attacking partnership, and with Dempsey's work ethic Bale hopefully won't be too exposed defensively.

 

[mark87]

If Naughton is out I think we will go.

----------------Freidel---------------

Walker---Caulker---Gallas---Verts

----------Sandro---Dembele--------

Lennon---------Sig------------Bale

----------------Defoe----------------


Subs: Lloris, Smith, Dawson, Thudd, Townsend, Dempsey, Ade (if fit)

 

[Matt_Spurs]

It's a possibilty but don't see Villas Boas starting the game that way. Maybe something to try as the game goes on. Think the team after upheaval is starting to look settled in playing a certain way with people knowing their positions.

 

[Gb160]

Lloris​

Walker Caulker Vertonghen Bale​

Sigurdsson Sandro Dembele​

Lennon Defoe Dempsey​

​

Is a team I think we should consider, especially at home.​

Me likey,
Couldn't care who he puts in goal ,Hugo and brad are both great keepers,
And when bale wants to belt forward,Sandro drops back in the middle,and jan covers left back.simples.
Spurs 3 - 1 QPR

 

[jimbo]

What about Adam Smith?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lloris​

Walker Caulker Vertonghen Naughton​

Sandro Dembele​

Lennon Sigurdsson Bale​

Defoe​

​

Friedel Gallas Smith Huddlestone Dempsey Townsend Mason​

​

If Naughton is injured then I'd move Bale back there and put Dempsey in. I don't like the idea of moving Veronghen away from centre back while he's still improving there and looking increasingly like making the position his.​

​

As for Lloris and Caulker coming in, as this is probably the most contentious point for most people, I just think that Lloris becoming number 1 is an inevitability (surely we all think this) based on the fact that he is the better keeper, so regardless of Brads feelings/ what he's done for us so far I just believe that it doesn't make sense to delay putting Hugo in. If we know that he's going to be the better choice in 2 months time, then we know that he's the better choice now. We're not dealing with a young kid who needs to acclimatise, we're dealing with one of the worlds top goalkeepers with a lot of League, Champions League and International Tournament experience. As for Caulker, we're once again not exactly throwing in someone at the deep end, he's played all of last season as first choice in the Premier League and he did remarkably well, as he has done at every level he's had to take on so far. The only argument in keeping Gallas ahead of him is experience and helping Vertonghen acclimatise, something which I think ignores the fact that Vertonghen looks to be our best defender already, has captained one of Europes biggest clubs before we signed him and looks like a Marvel super hero to boot.​

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

Friedel

Walker Gallas Caulker Bale

Sandro Dembele
Sigurdsson

Lennon Defoe Dempsey

Subs: Lloris Dawson Huddlestone Jenas Carroll Townsend Adebayor

Injured: Gomes Naughton Assou-Ekotto Kaboul Livermore Parker

I would play Vertonghen LB against more difficult/away opposition. Bale will be more threatening from LWB in my opinion as he can generate pace before arriving at the full-back. Dempsey gives us extra goal threat from the midfield too. Bale and Dempsey will be a great attacking partnership, and with Dempsey's work ethic Bale hopefully won't be too exposed defensively.

Vertonghen isn't in your squad

 

[brasil_spur]

Think Bale at LB would disrupt our team too much. I see the arguments but feel we need his threat further up the pitch. We are struggling to create as it is. Think it would disrupt the balance of the team too much. His defending is poor too. IIRC he was run ragged by Seamus Coleman at Goodison in 09/10 in a 2-2 draw. Admittedly it was a while ago but he hasn't played too much at left back since.

I think you contradict yourself though (unintentionally) - we are struggling to create and Bale is one of those who is struggling, he may struggle less from the LB position and thus solve two problems.

 

[Yid121]

Vertonghen isn't in your squad

I know. I've dropped him.
.
. sarcasm alert
.
Good spot, I've changed it.

 

[Matt_Spurs]

I think you contradict yourself though (unintentionally) - we are struggling to create and Bale is one of those who is struggling, he may struggle less from the LB position and thus solve two problems.

Don't think Bale is struggling particularly. Thought he played well v Reading and scored his first goal for months. Decent performance last night too. He is widely regarded as one of the best left sided players in the world so putting him in another position doesn't seem to be the best plan at the moment.

 

[Blake Griffin]

i'll be surprised if it isn't this

friedel​

walker gallas vertonghen naughton​

sandro dembele​

lennon sigurdsson bale​

defoe​

 

[sloth]

No surprises in with AVB's Europa League team, for me the need for our team to get competitive playing time and so gel out-weighs the requirement to rotate which will surely be important later in the autumn. The good news is that players key to that rotation who are currently injured, should be fit by then (Parker, Adebayor, BAE).

I'd go for:

Lloris​

Walker Caulker Vertonghen Naughton​

Sandro Dembele​

Lennon Dempsey Bale​

Defoe​

I guess that AVB will go:

Friedel​

Walker Galla Vertonghen Naughton​

Sandro Dembele​

Lennon Dempsey Bale​

Defoe​

Unfortunately, I think the second team is far weaker than the first against the specific dangers QPR offers. QPR, are an old-school PL side who will rely on balls into their big striker to get them goals. The Gallas-Vertonghen-Friedel combo is going to be far more exposed than the Caulker-Vertonghen-Lloris combo would be, imo. In Friedel you've got a guy who will not command his six yard box, let alone his penalty area, and in Gallas you've a man who can be bullied by powerful centre forwards and who will prefer to drop off and try and nick the ball, than win the header.

The big mistake AVB made was going public with his backing of Friedel on moral grounds, he cannot drop him now without doing harm to team morale, whereas before he spoke so publicly on the subject I think Freidel was resigned to the fact that his career as a first choice GK was at its end.