Team v West Ham

[spurs mental]

Particularly odd coming from someone named after Andy Reid, who was no waif.

Beat me to it

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

His surging runs are nice, but he reverts to those runs all the time verse a simple 20 yard pass that splits the lines and keeps the defense from collapsing.

What I think people are not realizing is space is an issue. When attacking, after winning the ball back, or when the defense is set, there are lines of defense. When a player, Dembele in this instance, is facing those lines they can either pick a pass that slices through those lines, or they can make a run and split them themselves. Now if you choose to do the latter, you need to Coutinho that bitch and continue on with your run and attempt to create cause now you just put an extra body and have forced that line of defense you just broke, to collapse. With Dembele he breaks that line with his run, but then stops and holds the ball or he passes it back. When he does that, he not only forces the defensive lines to become compact, he adds himself into the mix which makes for even less space.

So in short, he eats up valuable space with his constant runs. Sometime you need to break that line with a pass and then run into that area. Not run into that area, pause, and recycle.

As for slowness, I disagree. That again is down to the CM2. Logic follows the same thing above in the sense that we allow teams to get back into shape and then we slowly, self inflicted, force their lines to become so compact that the AM3 have no space to work with. If the CM2 get the ball up the pitch to our Attacking line, with space, we would be seeing more of the Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Son, Kane we would like.

Again, I disagree. We looked a bit better due to Harry being up top as he just adds a different dimension, but I would say our FBs were still the bridge for our attacks, as they have been for a couple years.

BTW: thanks for the debate and discussion rather than "you're wrong. Go cheer on another team you hater" type flaming remarks we sometimes get.

Wise words. I generally think you are correct, the AM3 needs more service and a good defense splitting pass.

But I maintain that I consider them to be too 1 dimensional in attack. Particularly slow and ponderous at times. Yes I agree that getting a better quality ball from the cm2 will help, but they still need to think quicker and move it 1 touch to capitalise on their possession. Which has been woefully absent at times. It's, stop the ball, look, dither, pass (sideways) and I just know it's going to try to go through the middle.

More speed of thought and yes, I'll concede that there ought to be a good cm player who can thread the eye to help. Winks might be that player, but one has to trust Poch's decision to wait.

I'd probably stick with the team we had vs arsenal, barring Lamela if fit for Son.

 

[stevensthfc]

Do we really need so many defensive players at home to West Ham? They are shit.

 

[double0]

Lloris

Walker
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Rose

Dier
Wanyama

Dembele
Alli
Eriksen

Kane

 

[danielneeds]

I agree and disagree. If he plays in the middle he is a detriment to the team. If he plays up the pitch, I am all for it.

I need to really put together an analysis video of Dembele as a CM cause I really do think people are infatuated by his ability to shield the ball and turn, which is all fine and dandy, but it is what he does after that, that has my panties in a bunch.

I ask, cause I don't have to time to sit and edit video, to watch Dortmund, Liverpool, Chelsea, Madrid and the rest of the teams that are banging in goals and ask yourself this. How is their CM pairing playing. Weigel, Henderson, Can and the rest are quicker to move the ball into attack.

Also ask yourself this. Why do we consistently struggle to break teams down? Why do teams always seem to "Park the Bus" against us? Because we play so bloody slow and conservative.

Yesterday, when either Dembele or Wanyama for that matter won the ball, they either 1) played it back 2) played it sideways to the FB 3) held onto the ball and dribbled it forward.

In order to find space and take advantage of the opposing teams holes in their shape, that transition must become lightening quick like Henderson did yesterday or how Weigel does everyday for Dortmund.

Dembele drives us forward when up the pitch, yes. But he slows us down when behind the midline and is a detriment to our goal scoring dreams.


Now negative rep me because I disagree with the majority of you and I talked ill (which I didn't, cause I actually love the man, just think he isn't suited for a CM2) of Dembele.

I think you've got the realise that you are not the only Einstein to realise that he has limitations to his game.

If he had more end product, or passing vision he'd no doubt be playing for the likes of Real or Bayern, that much is obvious.

What you are taking about is the balance of a side. There are things we lack in terms of transitioning the ball, but at the end of the day at the moment we are still a better team with him in it.

 

[Colonel Dax]

Lloris
Walker Toby Vert Rose
Wanyama Dembele
Lamela Eriksen Son
Kane

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Lloris
Walker Alderweireld Vertonghen Rose

Eriksen Wanyama

Lamela Kane Janssen Son

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Sissoko
Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko
Sissoko
Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko
Sissoko

Right, fuckos, try arguing with that...

 

[archiewasking]

Sissoko
Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko
Sissoko
Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko Sissoko
Sissoko

Right, fuckos, try arguing with that...

Then he elbows Noble in the nuts, gets sent off and we have no-one on the pitch. Aside from that it looks promising

 

[wingvaldsen]

Then he elbows Noble in the nuts, gets sent off and we have no-one on the pitch. Aside from that it looks promising

Noble is suspended so it`s all good.

 

[ardiles]

As Rose and Verts are already on four yellows each and our next game, after the spammers,
is against Chelsea, we may have to consider a re-think on which players to use against the spammers.
I wouldn't mind using Wimmer & Davies (if available) with Verts and Rose on the bench or
we could use a back three again with Dier, Toby and Wimmer.

 

[double0]

As Rose and Verts are already on four yellows each and our next game, after the spammers,
is against Chelsea, we may have to consider a re-think on which players to use against the spammers.
I wouldn't mind using Wimmer & Davies (if available) with Verts and Rose on the bench or
we could use a back three again with Dier, Toby and Wimmer.

3 pts is 3 pts regardless who you play. We need the strongest team available.

 

[UpTownSpur]

One bad moment and now lots want Son dropped? No chance he won't start. One of our most important players. Developing an excellent understanding with Kane.

 

[Blake Griffin]

don't get this three at the back obsession.

 

[spurs mental]

don't get this three at the back obsession.

It should be used depending on opposition and who is available. But I don't agree it should be used v West Ham. No way should we be changing formation to deal with West Ham. If anything I'd fully expect them to be changing theirs to deal with us.

Lloris

Walker Toby/Dier Jan Rose

Wanyama/Dier Dembele

Lamela Alli Son

Kane
​

If Toby is fit then I'd like to see Dier alongside Dembele. That combo was our best last season and it's time we hit the form that we know we can like last season.

 

[Mr Pink]

I just want to see this:

Lloris

Walker
Alderweireld
Vertonghen
Rose

Wanyama
Dembele
Eriksen

Lamela
Kane
Son

 

[lillywhites61]

I just want us to win, whatever team is put out.

Ha, I was literally going to write the same thing!!! we just need ro bury these planks.

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Janssen doesn't deserve to be anywhere near our starting line up.He had his chance with Harry being out and blew it big time.Fat waste of space.

Username checks out

 

[theShiznit]

don't get this three at the back obsession.

Yeah don't really want to play the spammers with 7 defensive players. (counting Wanyama and Dembele)
If Wanyama can't so the slot in thing that Dier does when in DM switch Dier into his place, it's the same formation just with more attacking players on the pitch. Rose and Walker's game was effectively the same.

I would be interested to know if there was any difference in our WB's/FB's starting position or heat map...

 

[Sp3akerboxxx]

Rotation needed due to the Monaco and Chelsea games.

Lloris

Trippier Toby wimmer Davies

Wanyama alli

Lamela eriksen son

Kane

I'd want Dembele in the cl and against Chelsea if possible, and Verts and rose are on their 4th yellows.