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* / OMT - Tottenham Hotspur vs Saudi Sportswashing Machine / *

Yep, it'll be Defoe there for VDV. I guess it's better to bring Rafa on for 30 minutes rather than take him off after 30 minutes.
 
Yep, it'll be Defoe there for VDV. I guess it's better to bring Rafa on for 30 minutes rather than take him off after 30 minutes.

He hasn't had many minutes this pre-season has he? Definitely don't think he will be starting ahead of Sig on that basis.
 
A few weeks ago.

I meant during competitive/PL games

The fact Redknapp used to take him off around 60 minutes for his default JD sub has created some kind of a myth for a terribly unfit player when in fact he's been consistently one of the Top 3 distance runnners in just about every game.
 
I'm not doubting that ... but the only time he's played this pre season for us, he went off after 30 minutes, so I wouldn't trust him to last if he started tomorrow - which I doubt he will.
 
I'm not doubting that ... but the only time he's played this pre season for us, he went off after 30 minutes, so I wouldn't trust him to last if he started tomorrow - which I doubt he will.

I see what you mean - thought you were pointing out a chronic shortcoming in his game, week after week.

Having said that - it happened 2-3 weeks ago and he could well have recovered/improved his fitness by now.
 
-----------------------------------Friedel-----------------------------------

Walker------------Kaboul---------------Vertonghen-------------Benny


----------------------Sandro-----------Livermore-----------------------

Lennon---------------------Sig-------------------------------Bale

--------------------------Defoe-------------------------------------------

Not a bad team that, by any means. Just looks a bit more unexciting since we haven't signed anyone, but we didn't have a bad team to begin with.

I feel a point that has been missed is that did Defoe not play as the one striker up top for England - and the side continued to look good, keep possession, and he was able to create chances? We really don't need to worry too much. Sure it would be nice to have Ade, but I think with AVB's high line reducing the space between defence and attack, we will be keeping the ball on the floor almost all of the time which will really suit Defoe. And I am fairly impressed with Kane this pre-season, he seems to have found a bit more pace or was simply faster than I remember...I think he will do a decent job if called upon.

Looking at that side, we need a Modric replacement to come in for Livermore...but Livermore will be buzzing from his England debut and seems to suit AVB's gameplan. Would be nice to see more cover for Lennon and Bale although VDV can do a job there and hopefully a place on the bench for Townsend. Another goalkeeper will probably get sorted before the deadline too.

Needs the Hudd in there as 1 of the 2. Sorry Jake.
 
I would have said that too a couple of weeks ago, seems he needs to gain a bit more fitness or simply isn't quick enough to do what AVB wants, even though he should have the passing ability.

Agree with this - Livermore should start ahead, imv - Hudd has to earn his place back, not take it on past merit
 
I would have said that too a couple of weeks ago, seems he needs to gain a bit more fitness or simply isn't quick enough to do what AVB wants, even though he should have the passing ability.

Then AVB has to change his system. If we can't sign the players ideal for how he wants to play, then surely he has to play in one of the numerous other effective ways of playing this game. I'm sure he isn't going to play the way everyone assumes he is, as the squad is so unsuited to it, but if he does, I find it amazing that a manager could be so inflexible. In fact it just doesn't seem plausible. I can't see how he could have looked at our squad before he joined and thought it would be ideal for the way he's famed for setting up teams. I doubt he has only one way of playing and if he does we've just hired the biggest dud in football history.
 
This is triple header by the way, u18s, new u21 league and first team all on the same day.
 
Then AVB has to change his system. If we can't sign the players ideal for how he wants to play, then surely he has to play in one of the numerous other effective ways of playing this game. I'm sure he isn't going to play the way everyone assumes he is, as the squad is so unsuited to it, but if he does, I find it amazing that a manager could be so inflexible. In fact it just doesn't seem plausible. I can't see how he could have looked at our squad before he joined and thought it would be ideal for the way he's famed for setting up teams. I doubt he has only one way of playing and if he does we've just hired the biggest dud in football history.

Also add AVB's comments from yesterday about trying to make the changes too quickly at Chelsea and making them more slowly with us.
 
Then AVB has to change his system. If we can't sign the players ideal for how he wants to play, then surely he has to play in one of the numerous other effective ways of playing this game. I'm sure he isn't going to play the way everyone assumes he is, as the squad is so unsuited to it, but if he does, I find it amazing that a manager could be so inflexible. In fact it just doesn't seem plausible. I can't see how he could have looked at our squad before he joined and thought it would be ideal for the way he's famed for setting up teams. I doubt he has only one way of playing and if he does we've just hired the biggest dud in football history.

I think he will be fine, and we don't need to worry about him being inflexible. But all managers have a preferred style of play, and if he wants to pressing high to be a big part of his game, then he has the players to do that too. And Livermore is here, ready and available to do that.

Managers having different opinions on players and preferring one type to another isn't anything new really.
 
Also add AVB's comments from yesterday about trying to make the changes too quickly at Chelsea and making them more slowly with us.

Also in the last pre season game I didn't think we played with a high line. At times we did, but so do all teams. It's just when an AVB team pushes up, fans see it as evidence of him playing a definite high line, which just isn't the case.
 
I meant during competitive/PL games

The fact Redknapp used to take him off around 60 minutes for his default JD sub has created some kind of a myth for a terribly unfit player when in fact he's been consistently one of the Top 3 distance runnners in just about every game.

Distance run and stamina to last 90+ minutes are two very different things
 
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