What's new

Tottenham Vs Aston Villa: Match Thread

DiscoD1882

SC Supporter
Mar 27, 2006
6,934
14,669
What today has proved is that being a squad/backup player isn't as easy as it looks. You cannot just get up to the speed of the game straight away. With a team of 11 other players who also haven't played competitively together. So slamming players who aren't fitting into a first team is wide of the mark. Jansen is a worry. But forwards thrive on goals. And the longer you fail to get a goal. The smaller the goal gets. He badly needs a goal. And a run in the team. But can I see that happening? No. No I can't.
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
7,182
16,793
Why not just get the same coach who has Dele scoring seven in four games or the one that had got Kane hitting fifty nine in ninety eight? I guess that would be Poch the defender?

Over the past two seasons the coaching staff have done a remarkable job, but all of a sudden we need a different coach to sort out one player. Perhaps the player needs a different club, environment and to play in a league with less pace and intensity?

Soldado has scored almost as many goals at Villarreal as he did for us in half as many games, and that alone should tell anyone that not every buy we make works out.

Soldado was an established international at the peak of his career, totally different scenario to a 22 year old at the start of his career.

I take your point with Kane and Alli, but that didn't happen overnight with them either. VJ has less than 10 starts in a new country, in a new league, which happens to be the most competitive in the World.

You big up the remarkable job our coaching set up has done but want to write off Janssen before they've had a proper chance to work with him? It may be that they can coach better movement and decision making into him over time, but they may send him on to a specialist. Whichever route they take, it makes sense to persevere with the lad because he WANTS to improve.
 

KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
7,808
14,449
Yep, that is the only reason I can think he did it. Still doesn't explain to me why he didn't change it at half time.

I don't like three at the back unless Its a Dier or Wanyama dropping into the back three and into midfield, I know it worked really well against Chelsea but I don't want it to become our first choice formation. It should be a tactical option.
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
I don't like three at the back unless Its a Dier or Wanyama dropping into the back three and into midfield, I know it worked really well against Chelsea but I don't want it to become our first choice formation. It should be a tactical option.

I think it depends on who we are playing and which players we select. Agree that Dier is the perfect player to play as the spare man in the three.

I will also say that to play 3 at the back at least one of Rose or Walker has to play.
 

Kiedis

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2013
2,926
8,490
In regards to Janssen, I think he was better in the start of the season. He was getting shots off and it seemed like that first goal was just a waiting game. But he seems pretty stressed out on his rare camos these days, and rarely end up in the box when the ball is about to be played in there.
And I think he may be struggling with getting to terms with the tougher training.

Hopefully Poch can get him firing in due time. He made Rickie Lambert one of the better strikers in the PL ffs.
 

nightgoat

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2005
24,604
21,898
I don't like three at the back unless Its a Dier or Wanyama dropping into the back three and into midfield, I know it worked really well against Chelsea but I don't want it to become our first choice formation. It should be a tactical option.

Especially against teams parking the bus like Villa did, and like West Brom will. It's overly cautious. We can still get the fullbacks high up the pitch playing 4-2-3-1 with the DM dropping back between the centre backs.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
Not long back from the game and only read the last few pages of this thread. Seems to be all about Jansenn and the wholesale changes, but nothing about the formation.

I know we have had some degree of success with 3 at the back, but I can't possibly see the need for 3 CB's to mark Agbonlahor, particularly when they had everyone else behind the ball. In fact we spent most of the game with 6 defenders on the pitch if you count Dier.

Surely Poch must have known that Villa were going to be putting everyone behind the ball? And if he didn't it was painfully obvious after 20 mins that our formation was wrong. Just find it baffling it took 70 mins to change to a back four, and then a minute later we scored.

Doesn't matter as we won the game, but I just found it odd.

I agree, especially with playing Dier who could have dropped deep at times to create a back 3. I said at half time we should go 433. Hey presto, we do and score immediately.
 

Hercules

Well-Known Member
Jul 23, 2014
5,694
156,565
If you nailed your colours to the mast
you might be able to see a little more clearly.

Let the guy down gently why don't you.
I have stated my opinion after many months now. Woujd I love to be proved wrong? Yes! I 100% would.
 

DiamondLites

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
4,630
13,062
Seen a lot of people, on here and various social media bemoaning 3 at the back as too defensive. Playing 3 at the back isn't a defensive set up though, on the contrary. It utilises many of our best player's best assets - notably our full backs, Eriksen and Alli and to a certain extent Dembele, Wanyama. Also all of our CBs are comfortable in possession and joining the forward play, which is a nice variable to have which is more restricted in a 4

It can become defensive if you're playing with 2 dedicated DMs as well, or your wing backs are playing as orthodox full backs

For our squad , I think the 3 at the back is ideal. We have little pace outside of our fullbacks, so it lets them be our width and outlet. We have a clutch of cultured CBs, maximise them. We have players that need to be central and allowed to find and make space in Eriksen and Alli, the positions they find themselves in in our recent set up has allowed both to occur where as before it was one or the other. It's even found a role for Sissoko to be effective

So people saying they hope this doesn't become our default set up, but I would be shocked and somewhat disappointed if it didn't
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
Seen a lot of people, on here and various social media bemoaning 3 at the back as too defensive. Playing 3 at the back isn't a defensive set up though, on the contrary. It utilises many of our best player's best assets - notably our full backs, Eriksen and Alli and to a certain extent Dembele, Wanyama. Also all of our CBs are comfortable in possession and joining the forward play, which is a nice variable to have which is more restricted in a 4

It can become defensive if you're playing with 2 dedicated DMs as well, or your wing backs are playing as orthodox full backs

For our squad , I think the 3 at the back is ideal. We have little pace outside of our fullbacks, so it lets them be our width and outlet. We have a clutch of cultured CBs, maximise them. We have players that need to be central and allowed to find and make space in Eriksen and Alli, the positions they find themselves in in our recent set up has allowed both to occur where as before it was one or the other. It's even found a role for Sissoko to be effective

So people saying they hope this doesn't become our default set up, but I would be shocked and somewhat disappointed if it didn't

None of those players highlighted were in the line up today and we were playing at team that parked the bus and were far inferior to us.

Both those things combined made it a very defensive and unnecessary set up imo.
 

DiamondLites

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
4,630
13,062
None of those players highlighted were in the line up today and we were playing at team that parked the bus and were far inferior to us.

Both those things combined made it a very defensive and unnecessary set up imo.

Well no, but if this is our de-facto set up going forward we need to ingrain it onto the squad not just the first XI. The key to today being defensive was a) Davies instead of Rose as you need fast, dynamic full backs b) playing Dier, don't reckon you need a DM at home vs bus parking championship plodders, c) the front '3' not being in sync at all and d) Janssen not having the mobility to be the spearhead of that attack

So it was a defensive personnel rather than a defensive system in my opinion
 

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
In my opinion playing three at the back is a good option to have. This season Poch has experimented with formations and used them more than once as he tries to ingrain several formations into the players. In order to be able to switch easily I can see that they need to become comfortable in playing in match situations.
What I do think is that Poch is educating players so when the crunch come at the sharp end of the season they will be able to intuitively find solutions, on the pitch, to problems. Last season, especially at the end, we looked to have only a plan 'A' with players looking like they had no idea how to change things.

Anyway that is my take on things
 
Last edited:

Khilari

Plumber. Sort of.
Jun 19, 2008
3,461
5,287
I don't like three at the back unless Its a Dier or Wanyama dropping into the back three and into midfield, I know it worked really well against Chelsea but I don't want it to become our first choice formation. It should be a tactical option.
Why? We've played well when we've played it (Hull, Chelsea, Arsenal) - I don't really mind what formation we play as long as we play well and especially if we do it and win!

Today was always going to be difficult, as almost the entire team was different, so fluidity and spontaneity was going to take time. I don't think our formation was to blame but you're right that we looked better when Toby was replaced by GKN and we went to a flat back 4. Whether it just gave us more width with both Davies and GKN on the left and Trippier and Sissoko wider on the right given Villa packed the middle or that getting Son more centrally (and Janssen off) opened them up, hard to say.
 

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
I remeber watching us play on skysports a couple of years ago and hoddle put what team he'd like to see us play and how.
He put three at the back and many on here slated him for it.

Not saying that it's the wrong system to use just find it funny how the views on this forum change.
 

arunspurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
8,807
35,543
Three at the back is the way to go for Tottenham. Being saying for a long time.

The reason is simple : We have the best defense in the league & best full back pair & the best back up full back pair. Our defense is our strength. We are not gifted in the wingers but we have great wingbacks. We genuinely put our Wingbacks as high as possible & take the game to opposition.

But the biggest factor for a 3-4-3 will work wonders for us is ability of our back 3 itself. Usually back 3 fails if CBs in that formation are reluctant to be dragged out to wings. But its so happens, Dier is good at RB, Wimmer at LB and Vertonghen & Toby played consistently for Belgium at FB. They can handle situations even if they are dragged wide by opposition and have the ability to put a cross field ball to start a counter

When a 3-4-3 clicks, not may teams can defend against it.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,956
Three at the back is the way to go for Tottenham. Being saying for a long time.

The reason is simple : We have the best defense in the league & best full back pair & the best back up full back pair. Our defense is our strength. We are not gifted in the wingers but we have great wingbacks. We genuinely put our Wingbacks as high as possible & take the game to opposition.

But the biggest factor for a 3-4-3 will work wonders for us is ability of our back 3 itself. Usually back 3 fails if CBs in that formation are reluctant to be dragged out to wings. But its so happens, Dier is good at RB, Wimmer at LB and Vertonghen & Toby played consistently for Belgium at FB. They can handle situations even if they are dragged wide by opposition and have the ability to put a cross field ball to start a counter

When a 3-4-3 clicks, not may teams can defend against it.

I agree with what you're saying and it's the reason why I've wanted us to try it,, but yesterday it was the wrong way to go I reckon.
 
Top