Team vs Stoke (away)

[sloth]

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?

Ha! I was just about to say something similar.

Given that Stoke will likely bypass the midfield there's not a lot to be gained by playing an extra tackler in there. In fact, if they play much on the floor it will be down the flanks, where they'll look to go wide with Ethrington and Pennant (if fit and available) and then try and get the ball into the box almost from any angle.

This is one of those games where you don't want to fight fire with fire, but with water. Keep the ball, have Lennon and Bale in the side to occupy their wide men, have Modric in the deep-lying play-maker role which Harry likes him in and let Ade and VdV take up their usual variety of hard to mark positions.

In short play exactly as we have most matches this season.

There won't be much we can do about the barrage on our penalty box, but as you say, a high-line will help with Crouch. Like you I worry a bit about Friedel with Delap's long throws, but I think it's just going to be a case of gritting our teeth and hoping they don't get too lucky.

 

[mpickard2087]

A 4-3-3 may not be the worst option actually come to think of it. I think we played that way last year against them IIRC and it went quite well (It was Jenas, Hudd and Palacios with Lennon and Bale supporting Crouch)

 

[tRiKS]

Annoying. King could play. he could have played last week and had it been Chelsea they would have risked him.. so the fact harry has even mentioned his knock to me is more about how much HR thinks he can get away with being overly cautious with him.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

I agree with the worry about Friedel on this, but there isn't really much you can do. It will be carnage enough in the box without adding Gomes into the mix as well!

 

[tRiKS]

:-|

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.

which is now being reviewed i expect

 

[kaz Hirai]

same team except gomes in goal not that it would ever happen

 

[tRiKS]

I agree with the worry about Friedel on this, but there isn't really much you can do. It will be carnage enough in the box without adding Gomes into the mix as well!

Yeah but off all the GK in the PL over the past few years gomes has looked consistently the best at dealing with stoke. He's like a specialist.

 

[mpickard2087]

I agree with the worry about Friedel on this, but there isn't really much you can do. It will be carnage enough in the box without adding Gomes into the mix as well!

Very true!

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Yeah but off all the GK in the PL over the past few years gomes has looked consistently the best at dealing with stoke. He's like a specialist.

Really???

Like his first year when he literally burst into tears on the pitch and then knocked out Corluka?

Last year we dealt with them because Crouch headed away everything that Delap launched into the box, and then he literally handballed it on the line.

 

[ajspurs]

I agree with the worry about Friedel on this, but there isn't really much you can do. It will be carnage enough in the box without adding Gomes into the mix as well!

This. And even though it's what they mostly do it's not like Stoke only play long balls into the box. The same worries that arise if Gomes is to play any other game still apply to this one.

 

[Blake Griffin]

did you know?

that since being promoted to the premier league in 2008, stoke have only ever once had more possession than the opposing team in a game - away to 10 man norwich this season.

 

[leffe186]

Very true!

I disagree. One thing we can do is play Gomes.

 

[kaz Hirai]

friedel needs to do more than stand on the line sunday. our defense will have to practically stand on top of him while stoke throw and kick balls onto the goal line. if he doesnt claim it will only end in a scrappy goal for stoke

 

[GoldstarYid]

I don't mind Friedel standing on the line, the thing is if he does that then Kaboul, Adebayor, King or whoever, mainly Kaboul has to be told he is winning it.

The old everyone mark up but leave the best header(Kaboul i guess) to just win it, he has no man to mark he just goes for the ball.

Not sure how often it's used in the prem actually, in the SPL it's used all the time to deal with the physical sides(most of them).

 

[felmani26]

This is one game where we will definately miss Peter Crouch in - not for his *cough* attacking prowess, but more for his defensive capabilities in dealing with head height throw's from Delap and through general set piece plays.

As long as we are well organised and everyone know's there job then we have enough height in the team to deal with whatever Stoke can (pardon the pun) throw at us.

In any case, possession is key and if our midfield can get a firm grip on this game and dictate play then we should be able to get at Stoke fairly easily - they haven't been particularly strong at home this season and leaking a fair amount of goals so we will get our chances i'm sure.

 

[Brewster]

did you know?

that since being promoted to the premier league in 2008, stoke have only ever once had more possession than the opposing team in a game - away to 10 man norwich this season.

Thats unbelievable. I hope they get relegated, they add nothing to English football. Infact, theyr'e style of play and therefore presence make English football worse.

 

[Locotoro]

I can understand the calls for Redknapp to rotate and I think it is important that players like Pienaar, Corluka and Kranjcar get some game time before the January transfer window opens to ensure they are happy to stay. But I have to disagree with calls for Bale or Lennon to be rested in this game.

Stoke's main weapon will be the aerial ball, the long throw and the set pieces. When they have these opportunities they will most definately be pushing up Shawcross, Huth, Upson and Woodgate. Stoke will not be shy about getting players forward. What better players to exploit the counter attacks than Bale and Lennon? Bale and Lennon will have a lot of room to move into when these long balls and set pieces are headed away and we will need to capitalise on these chances.

I hope if we go a few goals up then we can bring off Walker to provide a better aerial presence with Corluka, bring off Bale for Pienaar and possibly give Modric a rest if Kranjcar is returning to fitness.

 

[ajspurs]

did you know?

that since being promoted to the premier league in 2008, stoke have only ever once had more possession than the opposing team in a game - away to 10 man norwich this season.

That's an incredible stat. Let's hope we make use of our possession. I think Lennon will be a key player in this game. Those bullies will have to hack him to stop him.

 

[StartingPrice]

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.

This is what I would play.

I know the feeling...

:grin: Beat me to it.

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).

:bang:
He is a squad player, a versatile one, but still a squad player...so if you are expecting him to be better than Bale on the left, better than Parker and Modric in the middle, and better than Lennon on the right (all positions he can play) you will be disappointed.
Having said that, he came ionto the squad in January last year (that's, like, January, not 6 seasons ago) and performed reasonably well across the pitch, to the extent that some of his doubters commented favourably, particularly about his work-rate and tracking back.
Then he got injured...before he had really had a chance to show anything much. And he has been injured, pretty much, ever since. Ah, yeah, he played against PAOK - for my view on how ridiculous it was slagging him in that game, see the appropriate thread.

Here is a wild idea (y'know, crazy, but just thought I'd throw it in) - how about you appreciate that he is a squad player and not someone so fantastically good he is automatically going to replace all of our players in any position he can play AND try, like, actually giving him a chance.

Sorry, M8, but certain folk have been ragging on him since before he even signed - he has hardly had a chance and they are still ragging on him. I can't imagine Redknapp would rate him (who, seemingly, doesn't know anything at all about choosing players - like Parker, who was going to be a Redknapp disaster signing), and VDV, who knows him from their shared Ajax days, if he really was that shite.

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.

And this.
Even if Bale is injured, I would still have Pienaar on the bench - and understanding this takes an indepth understanding of mathematics - we can only have so many substitutes, so having a player who can actually cover right across the midfield is a good player to have on the bench.

 

[Mr Pink]

Can't believe the criticism of Pienaar in this thread. He hasn't even had a proper run of games yet.

If Bale were out I wouldn't mind him starting if he was match fit. However I suspect Sandro would start alongside Parker which I would be fine with but I'm expecting Bale to start.

A high defensive line is exactly the way to deal with Crouch and this is most definitely a game were we'll see plenty of the ball. If we pass it well I think we'll really hurt their back line from wide areas, their full backs arn't exactly lightening...and if our finishing is a little better expect a win.

Hoping this is the team:

Friedel

Walker
Kaboul
King
Ekotto

Lennon
Parker
Modric
Bale

VDV

Ade