What's going on?

[Shanks]

We are still 3rd.

Whilst it could well be by 1 point coming into next weekend, after the Chelsea game, we've got a decent run of games.

That Chelsea game is probably now, our most important game all season.

Win, we can pretty much cement a CL spot. Lose, we could end up out of the CL spots.
I'd say the distraction of the england job could be key, but we've played some tough games.

We always knew March would be our hardest month and it's no surprise that it actually is.

Chin up, we are still 3rd - I'd have snapped anyones hand off at the beginning of the season to be in this position.

 

[midoNdefoe]

We outplayed united and lost to some clinical finishing, we also outplayed Everton but failed to score...

This doesnt really make Modric shit, or kyle walker or mean Ledley is finished...you people are fucking crazy!!! Its a blip, a really fucking hard to take blip, but we all knew it was going to be a difficult patch with this little run of games...Things are going to ease off after the chelsea game, in terms of opposition, so i think we need to take a breather and comprehend the season we have had so far and get behind the team...

The one thing which really got to me in the game yesterday, as a side note, was Bale not playing on the left wing...He was there, picked up the ball and whipped a cross for the first time on about 87minutes which we almost scored from...WHY WASNT HE DOING IT ALL GAME???
I think the answer lies in the fact that last time we played everton P Neville had him in his pocket....but i still wanted him to have a go!

 

[Shanks]

Lets be honest, Bale has been coming in far too much of late, and it's not working.

However when he goes wide, it works.

Quite simply for me.

He done the same against Stevenage - didn't go wide until the very last few minutes and we all os a sudden looks stupidly dangerous.

 

[Super Tottenham]

Worrying that Harry hasn't moved him back to the left, Lennon is needed back to stop Harry putting Bale on the right.

 

[Mr Pink]

We are still 3rd.

Whilst it could well be by 1 point coming into next weekend, after the Chelsea game, we've got a decent run of games.

That Chelsea game is probably now, our most important game all season.

Win, we can pretty much cement a CL spot. Lose, we could end up out of the CL spots.
I'd say the distraction of the england job could be key, but we've played some tough games.

We always knew March would be our hardest month and it's no surprise that it actually is.

Chin up, we are still 3rd - I'd have snapped anyones hand off at the beginning of the season to be in this position.

I would say the Stoke game is even more important, its a must win. Can't even think about Chelsea until we beat Stoke, an beat them we have to do or the pressure will get to much for us IMO.

 

[Shanks]

Yeah sorry forgot about the Stoke game

 

[Mr Pink]

Yeah sorry forgot about the Stoke game

Really need WHL to be noisy for the Stoke game....a nervy atmosphere will just make matters worse, we need to drag the team through this poor spell.

 

[dav3j]

I hate to be involved in, or instigate any sort of knee-jerk reaction, which is why I don't rush onto here as soon as we've played, but I am finding myself genuinely concerned about our recent form.

Bale pretending to be Leo Messi clearly isn't working.

Being without Lennon is beginning to affect us, and without a threat from Bale on the left we have more or less lost one of the most powerful attacking strategies in our armoury. His repeated lapses into injury aren't helping matters.

We are still playing 4-4-2, despite being trashed in our last two games using this formation. I cannot for the life of me understand why VdV didn't start against Everton (injured?), and why someone like Kranjcar could not take his position in a 4-5-1.

I really, really hate to say it, but Ledders does seem to be having lapses in his concentration that have cost us. I'm not for one minute saying he's finished, but I do wonder why we have let in some bloody silly goals - for Jelavic's on Saturday he was caught ball watching big time and left the Everton striker completely unmarked in the area.

All in all, I think there's currently a major lack of discipline and focus in the squad. There is no set piece priority or strategy, and given our appalling record with them, the lads ought to be made to practise them. Bale needs his leash reining in by the coaching staff, which I fear may be slow to happen given Arry's laissez-faire approach. He is not skillful or experienced enough to take a free role and needs to be given more defined roles in terms of both attacking and defensive strategies. Our defense needs to be drilled far more as we have been letting bucketloads in recently. Most impoortantly, we need to get back to what has worked - a consistent team, strategy and attitude, which whether enforced or through circumstances, has been chopped and changed around far too much.

 

[Kingstheman]

Really need WHL to be noisy for the Stoke game....a nervy atmosphere will just make matters worse, we need to drag the team through this poor spell.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I consider myself fortunate to be able to see Tottenham play Norwich and Blackburn.

I will shout/sing/read poetry until my voice departs my body.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

Someone told Bale he was the best in the world i think he belives it now, needs to back to basics, hug the line for the 1st half hour, if you get no joy start drifting in, mix it up a little,

i also think Ade needs a seat on the bench for a game or two just to get his focus/touch back looks like a player thats playing cause he cant be dropped

 

[Misfit]

Really need WHL to be noisy for the Stoke game....a nervy atmosphere will just make matters worse, we need to drag the team through this poor spell.

Yep and we could always hope for miracles that the West stand could even join in occasionally.

We need to create not just an atmosphere for our lads but a nasty one for the Stoke players. Hostile as you know what.

 

[dav3j]

Yep and we could always hope for miracles that the West stand could even join in occasionally.

Perhaps they could throw the crusts from their prawn sarnies at the Stoke players?

 

[Misfit]

Perhaps they could throw the crusts from their prawn sarnies at the Stoke players?

Steady on, I was thinking of some placards to start off with. This kind of thing, we can then build up to the thrwoing of food stuffs.

 

[kungfugrip]

Nice to finish above the scum and after doing so well for half the season it would be a shame to let it slip but top 4 is the goal

Let's be honest if your not going to win the league or finish runners up who gives a toss whether you finish 3rd or 4th

Some even believe its more important to win a cup than finish in the top 4

For me finishing 5th this season would be pretty much a disaster but top 4 was always the goal

If the scum were mid table nobody would care less finishing 3rd or 4th as long as we had CL football next season

We can still finish 3rd, might well finish 4th but hopefully pull ourselves together to finish comfortably above Chelski in 5th

3rd means automatic qualification for CL. 4th we have to qualify, and whilst you'd like to think we could get through that, think back to Villa Real dumping out Everton, and last year - how stressful was that first game against Young Boys!!! Also it's an extra two games in the calender we could do without. 3rd please.

 

[mpickard2087]

I hate to be involved in, or instigate any sort of knee-jerk reaction, which is why I don't rush onto here as soon as we've played, but I am finding myself genuinely concerned about our recent form.

Bale pretending to be Leo Messi clearly isn't working.

Being without Lennon is beginning to affect us, and without a threat from Bale on the left we have more or less lost one of the most powerful attacking strategies in our armoury. His repeated lapses into injury aren't helping matters.

We are still playing 4-4-2, despite being trashed in our last two games using this formation. I cannot for the life of me understand why VdV didn't start against Everton (injured?), and why someone like Kranjcar could not take his position in a 4-5-1.

I really, really hate to say it, but Ledders does seem to be having lapses in his concentration that have cost us. I'm not for one minute saying he's finished, but I do wonder why we have let in some bloody silly goals - for Jelavic's on Saturday he was caught ball watching big time and left the Everton striker completely unmarked in the area.

All in all, I think there's currently a major lack of discipline and focus in the squad. There is no set piece priority or strategy, and given our appalling record with them, the lads ought to be made to practise them. Bale needs his leash reining in by the coaching staff, which I fear may be slow to happen given Arry's laissez-faire approach. He is not skillful or experienced enough to take a free role and needs to be given more defined roles in terms of both attacking and defensive strategies. Our defense needs to be drilled far more as we have been letting bucketloads in recently. Most impoortantly, we need to get back to what has worked - a consistent team, strategy and attitude, which whether enforced or through circumstances, has been chopped and changed around far too much.

I agree with a lot of this, with Lennon out it is imperative that we have some threat from out wide. We have enough central players that can do the job, and can do it even more so if Bale sticks to his wing and drags opposition players out towards him. He needs to stay out wide rather than stroll around in a congested centre.

I think you are harsh on Ledley for the goal, yet again we have a massive gap between defence and midfield for a player to pick the ball up, Kaboul then gets skanked and the guy is in on goal. Ledley had no choice but to go across towards the ball. If anything BAE should have been round on the cover behind King and been the one who went towards Jelavic, but he was nowhere to be seen from recollection.

The last paragraph I agree with completely.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Someone told Bale he was the best in the world i think he belives it now, needs to back to basics, hug the line for the 1st half hour, if you get no joy start drifting in, mix it up a little,

i also think Ade needs a seat on the bench for a game or two just to get his focus/touch back looks like a player thats playing cause he cant be dropped

Well if you believe recent quotes then his agent probably has had alot to do with this. Bales agent also told him that he would be better to play in a 'free role'.:roll:

 

[kaz Hirai]

"I've always played out wide,'' he reflected of his career.

"I've played up front for wales once or twice but that was about it. I've never really thought about playing through the middle. But since people have been double-marking me or even triple-marking me it's something that I've had to bring into my game.


"It's exciting. Over the last 12 months, I've had to mix my game up because people are double-marking me on the wing so I've come inside a lot now.
"I'm improving all the time, especially with the free role, it's allowing me to do that. I've had to change my game, which has made me a better player."


Redknapp believes Bale is the complete player, blessed with the right attitude as well as aptitude.

"He's 6ft 2in, he can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble, shoot, he can do the lot,'' said the spurs manager. "I played him in a free role. He pops up in positions in between the midfield and defence."

 

[hellava_tough]

"I've always played out wide,'' he reflected of his career.

"I've played up front for wales once or twice but that was about it. I've never really thought about playing through the middle. But since people have been double-marking me or even triple-marking me it's something that I've had to bring into my game.


"It's exciting. Over the last 12 months, I've had to mix my game up because people are double-marking me on the wing so I've come inside a lot now.
"I'm improving all the time, especially with the free role, it's allowing me to do that. I've had to change my game, which has made me a better player."


Redknapp believes Bale is the complete player, blessed with the right attitude as well as aptitude.

"He's 6ft 2in, he can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble, shoot, he can do the lot,'' said the spurs manager. "I played him in a free role. He pops up in positions in between the midfield and defence."

If we had 2 great wingers and a brilliant striker, then I'd be tempted to give Bale a free-role behind said striker

But as it stands we need him on the left of midfield, hugging the touch-line

We also need someone to give him a slap and tell him to get his arse into gear