Team vs Stoke (away)

[walworthyid]

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

This is the key I feel! Whenever we played a team that had the confidence to push up, Crouch was next to useless. There will obviously be occasions we are defending on the edge of our box, but in open play we need to push right up as they have no real pace to get in behind.

I reckon we may well surprise a few people and win comfortably. Man U do it to stoke every year, they defend well and just keep the ball and stop them from getting a momentum.

I think we will win.!

 

[Hoddle_Ledge]

physioroom PhysioRoom.com Ltd
Tony Pulis to assess the fitness of #Delap #Wilkinson both players are suffering from a minor back problem @OfficialSCFC

 

[ajspurs]

Everything annoys me about Stoke. From that Delap throw to that stupid tap on the ball they do before free kicks :bang:

I'm also surprised at the crticism towards Pienaar but in a sense I'm not 'cos I've seen it all on here before :roll: :wink:

 

[Mr Pink]

Although I wouldn't be surprised if King doesn't play, have a feeling Harry is going to wrap him in cotton wool until the Chelsea game and play Gallas in the next two, which will get him up to speed in terms of match sharpness.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

This is a battle first, a game second. If we play the four man midfield with Modric in CM, Lennon & Bale, then I fear we could have another Fulham, West Brom, Blackburn on our hands, and soon our luck will run out.

 

[ajspurs]

To be honest our performance was more effort related than selection related in the West Brom game, in my opinion. We woke up in the second half and were better because of it, not to mention we had Sandro + Parker in the middle for that game also. There was a slight naivety about us in the first half.

 

[Kendall]

Friedel

Walker Kaboul King Assou-Ekotto

Lennon Sandro Parker Modric

van Der Vaart

Adebayor​

 

[SydneySpur]

Friedel​

Walker Kaboul King Assou-Ekotto​

Lennon Sandro Parker Modric​

van Der Vaart​

Adebayor​

This team for me. I think Arry will play Bale though if he is fit and Sandro wil start on the bench.

 

[ajspurs]

Bale should start if he's fit though.

 

[OmarsComing]

look at the team we used when we beat them away last season

 

[ajspurs]

Ah yea, that's when we used what really appeared to be a 4-3-3. Our midfield trio seemed to have good balance and although Crouch was useless as an attacking threat he held the ball up fairly well or as well as one could expect him to.

No surprise on the fouls ratio there :lol:

 

[stevenqoz]

Over the past few seasons Stoke and to a lesser extent Bolton have distorted their matches down to a series of set moves stemming from throw ins. Home and away these two have taken maximum opportunity/time to set up their aeriel bombardments from throws on/ corners/freekicks. One result of this is a distinct reduction of the amount of 'open play' time in their matches. A result of this is the way that the opposition struggles to get momentum because of the breaks in play. As one poster said they end up most games with less possession than their opponentsbut in reality the coach has already decided to cede open play time for set play time. Ugly but at times effective and requiring all opponents to plan for periods of aeriel bombardment. For us today Livermores height and strength would see him chosen ahead of Pienaar because we too will have to defend it.

 

[Gbspurs]

Scary how much better out team is compared to last season. I can't see anything other than a win tomorrow but I'm always apprehensive before every game as I want our winning streak to continue

 

[Mullers]

Pienaar on the left, if he can't a game now he never will. That would mean VDV and Modric can play in their best positions and if Pienaar plays well he keeps his place.

 

[CJMurray]

Would much much rather Townsend on the left for Bale than Pienaar. Like for like player, and can play on the right, so could still switch with Lennon. Offers far more than Pienaar.

 

[Chimbo!]

A number of people are backing Stoke for this one. It is a tough game but one that has proven fruitful in the previous two seasons. I think many are backing Stoke not because they think Stoke will out-do Spurs but because they feel Tottenham's luck is about to runout.

Even our most optimistic fans will accept that our current run of form will end at some point. Stoke are just coming back to form after a surprising dip and will be up for it. Their style does not suite us and we have been fortunate away from home on a number of occasions.

If we want 3 points from this fixture then we need our best players in the starting line-up.

Ideally:

Friedel

Walker Kaboul King Ekotto

Lennon Parker Modric Bale

VDV

Adebayor

If King is not fit then Gallas should come in. If Bale is injured then Modric should be pushed out wide and Sandro brought into the middle to add more aerial presence in the middle of the park because we are going to get peppered with long balls.

There might even be a case for starting with this lineup just to neutralize their imperious set-piece threat:

Friedel

Corluka Kaboul King Ekotto

Lennon Parker Sandro Bale

Modric

Adebayor

 

[MR_BEN]

I'd totally forgot about palacios until I see the line up above. He's only made 2 appearances for stoke... Yet some people will still claim he should be in our team. Lol

 

[mpickard2087]

I'd totally forgot about palacios until I see the line up above. He's only made 2 appearances for stoke... Yet some people will still claim he should be in our team. Lol

Its been discussed already but Pulis' selections can be a bit funny. He tends to ignore more talented footballers etc in favour of his tried and tested.

As he likes to play two wingers, plus a spot in midfield needs to be allocated to Delap for his long throws then it leaves one spot to fight over, Palacios has had injury problems and hasnt got his chance really yet.

 

[Kendall]

Pienaar on the left, if he can't a game now he never will. That would mean VDV and Modric can play in their best positions and if Pienaar plays well he keeps his place.

When was the last time Modric played well in the middle away from home?

 

[StartingPrice]

I'd totally forgot about palacios until I see the line up above. He's only made 2 appearances for stoke... Yet some people will still claim he should be in our team. Lol

He is a busy <CENSOR EVASION> :wink: