Team vs Stoke (away)

[felmani26]

Share

Harry Redknapp has a few injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s trip to Stoke.
The manager reports that striker Jermain Defoe has a slight hamstring problem, defender Ledley King is trying to recover from the knee injury sustained in training last Friday and Gareth Bale picked up a slight knock against Bolton last weekend.
“We’ve one or two knocks,” said Harry. “Jermain has had a bit of a hamstring this week, Ledley took a bang on the knee in training last week and Gareth has had a problem this week. We’ll wait and see how they are.”
Better news sees Niko Kranjcar ready to return to full training after a thigh injury sustained on international duty with Croatia in October.
Harry also reports that Michael Dawson is ‘coming back slowly but surely’ from his Achilles injury. Tom Huddlestone also remains out.


Well i'm certainly hopeful on Bale and Defoe being fit this week but I don't hold out much hope on Ledley making it through and will likely pair Kaboul with Gallas again.


What with doubts over Defoe and a fresh VdV ready, without wanting to sound like a broken record, i'd plump for a 4231 approach with the question being whether we look to solidify ourselves against what will be a physical encounter, or keep with the pace that Lennon brings.


Friedel

Walker Kaboul Gallas BAE

Parker Modric

Lennon VdV Bale

Adebayor


Of course, if Bale isn't fit then i'd imagine we could go along with this;


Parker Sandro

VdV Modric Lennon

Adebayor


We shall wait and see...

 

[faulks]

If Bale isnt fit I image he'll stick Modric on the left with Parker and Sandro in midfield?

 

[ajspurs]

If Bale isn't fit I think we'd be more likely to see Luka on the left, Sandro+Parker in the middle with Lennon wide and VDV with Adebayor up top.

 

[Super Tottenham]

Sandro is still struggling with his groin.

 

[gregga]

Sandro is still struggling with his groin.

I know the feeling...

 

[DJS]

I'd rest Bale regardless as if he's carrying a slight niggle as it's a good time to rotate / freshen things a bit and also allows us to have Sandro in the middle and be a bit more solid away from home.


Friedel

Walker Kaboul Gallas Assou-Ekotto

Lennon Parker Sandro Modric

VDV

Adebayor


EDIT: Just seen above re: Sandro.

If he's not fit then I'd bring in Pienaar either in the middle or on the left (he can swap about with Modric).

Not so sure about Livermore at the moment and feel Pienaar might provide more technical ability.

 

[DJS]

Although I suspect Bale will just get through it and Harry will play him and we'll muller 'em with him scoring 2 goals and making my suggestion above look highly daft! :lol:

 

[tommo84]

If Bale doesn't make it, I'd rather put Pienaar in (presuming its too soon for Kranjcar).

Stoke's main threat comes from the air, so we need to give our full backs protection and make it hard for Etherington and Pennant to whip balls in to the box.

Worst case scenario (no King, Defoe, Bale or Sandro)

-------------Friedel-----------

Walker - Kaboul - Gallas - BAE

Lennon - Parker - Modric - Pienaar

--------------VdV----------------

------------Adebayor-----------

 

[Wheeler Dealer]

If Bale doesn't make it, I'd rather put Pienaar in (presuming its too soon for Kranjcar).

Stoke's main threat comes from the air, so we need to give our full backs protection and make it hard for Etherington and Pennant to whip balls in to the box.

Worst case scenario (no King, Defoe, Bale or Sandro)

-------------Friedel-----------

Walker - Kaboul - Gallas - BAE

Lennon - Parker - Modric - Pienaar

--------------VdV----------------

------------Adebayor-----------

What does Pienaar bring to the party?

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

What does Pienaar bring to the party?

He's got an ace Jacko-style Moonwalk and usually comes armed with munchies.

On the pitch, not so much.

 

[Super Tottenham]

I would rather see Townsend on the wing than Pienaar.

 

[jazz15c]

He's got an ace Jacko-style Moonwalk and usually comes armed with munchies.

On the pitch, FUCK ALL.

Fixed :up:

 

[Blake Griffin]

if bale doesn't make it then the team is easy to pick - aslong as sandro is ok. if bale does make it then i guess harry will stick with the usual midfield, i'd rather we had sandro and parker in there for solidity in this one but i won't complain if we don't see that. i'm sure phil 2.0 will wade in here telling people to stop crowbarring sandro into the team despite him actually starting in some of the games on this incredible run we're on.

 

[whitelightwhiteheat]

Fixed :up:

I was just trying to be nice, but you're right! I hate slating our players, but Pienaar's been a massive disappointment for us. Even for just £2.5m (or whatever it was).

 

[Riandor]

Too harsh on Piennar... good player who serves as a very decent utility player when fully fit.

I expect Bale to play, Harry is of the old school opinion that you play your best players even if not 100% and then look to sub them early.

VdV usually always plays and then gets subbed at the 60-70min mark, but with Defoe actually having some form it has given HR some options to rest. In Midfield though Bale is irreplaceable, so unless he is technically injured, he'll play.

If Injured and Sandro fit, then yes, I would expect Modric on the left.

R.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I thought Ledley couldn't train?

Anyway, regardless of Stoke having struggled a bit this season this is a tough game, but I think tough in an unusual sense - I don't think added steel in the guise of Parker and Sandro is the order of the day here, because Stoke never play in the middle of the park. They will sit very deep, with 2 CMs anchored just in front of their back 4 completely nullifying the space between the lines where VDV thrives. Even he can't thrive in a space that doesn't exist, it's why his quietest game so far was away at Newcastle, where Cabaye and Tiote sat very deep.

The trick here is to play well in front of them, move the ball quickly and intelligently probing for gaps, provoking their deep lying midfield out of position in order to create space for a pass. Our FBs should be crucial here, as Bale (if fit) and Lennon should be looking for the run in behind their FB and CB with BAE and Walker providing width, momentum from deep and to overload Stoke in wide areas.

It may be an unnatural position for VDV, but I think he should play deeper alongside Modric and provide the intelligent passing from deep where the space will be. I doubt they will press us in high areas, so we have to make use of the space they give us.

Friedel
Walker King Kaboul BAE
Parker
Modric VDV
Lennon---------------Bale
Ade​

I worry about Friedel's rooted to the line goalkeeping with the infamous throw ins and lumps into the box, but he aint going anywhere soon.

Lastly, if Crouch plays then the simple way to play him out the game is play with a very high line, he can't hurt anyone there.

7 wins on the spin?

 

[chrissivad]

I thought Ledley couldn't train?

:-|

King trains on the Friday or the training just before a game.

Other days he has his own training, so when its said he doesn't train, its that he doesn't train with the rest of the squad apart from just before a game.

 

[Chilli]

Friedel

Walker Kaboul Gallas BAE

Parker Modric

Lennon VdV Bale

Adebayor

Yeah I go with op's fist team and take a chance on Bale's little knock.

That team really is pretty god'damn beautiful

 

[mpickard2087]

The usual if everyone is fit, which is harsh on Defoe but so be it.

If all the injury doubts dont play, then I would go with Sandro (unless still injured, then Livermore) alongside Parker and Modric on the left.

 

[GoldstarYid]

Agree with the line ups mentioned so far generally speaking, If Sandro is out then i'd be tempted to play Pienaar, i know most don't rate him but he can pass a ball and has a good work rate and will help cover BAE.

I'm not sure about Crouch, on one hand i know Kaboul will dominate him in the air, on the other you just know hes going to score against us.