- May 26, 2004
- 4,797
- 2,139
When looking at the people in attack and defence, we should be OK.
The strikers we have can score goals, they offer a few different options and obviously need time to settle, but I think they have the ability to do the job we require of them. In the defence individually we have quality, it’s a matter of playing together and growing as a unit (and keeping them fit)
However, I am getting alarmed at how easily teams are slicing though our midfield. And when the midfield includes Jenas, Zokora and Lennon, we should not be talking about giving them time to settle.
The wingers (Lennon especially last night) are marking their players too tightly, exposing the central two. When we are defending we are covering the whole width of the pitch, which is simply impossible to do.
The central two are getting stretched, making it difficult for them to cut out any of the balls, meaning that the opposition strikers are being picked out far too easily. They could stop this by pressing the opposing midfielders as soon as they get the ball so they cant make a pass, but they (and the rest of the players) are not pressing as a team, only in ones which any decent team can easily deal with. Two passes and they are past the player and we are on the back foot.
Jenas and Zokora have played together for how many games? Yet there is no partnership there at all and no communication.
Add in a disturbing lack of tracking back and marking of midfield runners, and its clear that the midfielders we have tried out in the centre of the park have not worked out.
To my mind there are two options:-
1. Quantity not Quality – we play a 4-5-1 as we did against Chelsea. While we still lack that leader, or a tough tackling defensive midfielder, we can plug some of the gaps through sheer numbers. The wide men can mark the wide men, and the spare man allows the other two central midfielders press forward knowing they are being covered. However, this is not advisable with the attacking team we have, especially when teams come to the Lane looking to get a point.
2. Give one of the younger players the responsibility of leading the midfield - While there are no exceptional candidates I think Jaime O’Hara has the most attributes that would suit this role. He has a very good engine, his positional sense defensively is sound, he never stops working, he is vocal and can pass the ball. In a midfield two he is also comfortable going forward once in a while. And, for what it is worth, he is a Spurs fan. Maybe it means he gives that extra percent, maybe it means nothing, but it seems to reassure the fans.
Someone has to take responsibility, someone needs to lead, and the more experienced players have not shown they can do this. The midfield is where the battles are won and lost, and far too often we are losing the battle, and the war.
The strikers we have can score goals, they offer a few different options and obviously need time to settle, but I think they have the ability to do the job we require of them. In the defence individually we have quality, it’s a matter of playing together and growing as a unit (and keeping them fit)
However, I am getting alarmed at how easily teams are slicing though our midfield. And when the midfield includes Jenas, Zokora and Lennon, we should not be talking about giving them time to settle.
The wingers (Lennon especially last night) are marking their players too tightly, exposing the central two. When we are defending we are covering the whole width of the pitch, which is simply impossible to do.
The central two are getting stretched, making it difficult for them to cut out any of the balls, meaning that the opposition strikers are being picked out far too easily. They could stop this by pressing the opposing midfielders as soon as they get the ball so they cant make a pass, but they (and the rest of the players) are not pressing as a team, only in ones which any decent team can easily deal with. Two passes and they are past the player and we are on the back foot.
Jenas and Zokora have played together for how many games? Yet there is no partnership there at all and no communication.
Add in a disturbing lack of tracking back and marking of midfield runners, and its clear that the midfielders we have tried out in the centre of the park have not worked out.
To my mind there are two options:-
1. Quantity not Quality – we play a 4-5-1 as we did against Chelsea. While we still lack that leader, or a tough tackling defensive midfielder, we can plug some of the gaps through sheer numbers. The wide men can mark the wide men, and the spare man allows the other two central midfielders press forward knowing they are being covered. However, this is not advisable with the attacking team we have, especially when teams come to the Lane looking to get a point.
2. Give one of the younger players the responsibility of leading the midfield - While there are no exceptional candidates I think Jaime O’Hara has the most attributes that would suit this role. He has a very good engine, his positional sense defensively is sound, he never stops working, he is vocal and can pass the ball. In a midfield two he is also comfortable going forward once in a while. And, for what it is worth, he is a Spurs fan. Maybe it means he gives that extra percent, maybe it means nothing, but it seems to reassure the fans.
Someone has to take responsibility, someone needs to lead, and the more experienced players have not shown they can do this. The midfield is where the battles are won and lost, and far too often we are losing the battle, and the war.