***TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs WOOLWICH ARS*NAL OMT***

[Spurs7891]

I miss Rafa when it comes to the NLD. He got the passion from the off, think Holtby will replace in the passion stakes, although I doubt he will be matching him goalwise

We do miss the passion of VDV. Just can't see any of our new players like Dembele, Dempsey, Vertonghen or Holtby having such passion in matches like London derbies.

 

[Pirate55]

Andre Villas-Boas reckons the north London derby will be won by emotion and not tactics.

And the Tottenham boss has urged his side to use the pain of missing out on the *Champions League last May to inspire them in the run-in.

February’s Manager of the Month can celebrate the first anniversary of his Chelsea sacking by further increasing the lead over his troubled former club tomorrow.

And AVB wants his current players to show the same passion displayed by Gareth Bale after his late goal *celebration against West Ham on Monday night.

“We have to play this game with lots of emotion,” he said. “In the end it will be emotion that will decide the game, not any tactical preparation.”

Tottenham finished fourth last season but missed out on *the Champions League after Chelsea won the tournament.

“Last season I was focused on other things – I was almost out of a job,” said AVB, who was sacked on March 4 after 40 games at Stamford Bridge

“The Spurs players who felt that in their skin definitely take it as an example. They lived it and I think you’ve seen that it makes a difference in their performances. Everybody learns from experience. I feel like a different manager and a different person.”

In his 40th match in charge, AVB will be seeking a fourth straight win to extend Spurs’ unbeaten run to 12 games. But he insisted he was not motivated to finish above Chelsea.

“I don’t see it in that way,” he added. “Obviously it will be excellent because it would mean we have qualified for the Champions League, but the fact we’ve achieved it as a club means much more to the fans.”

oh No....

 

[BrainOfLevy]

I'd be perfectly fine with a draw. I don't think we've been performing that well as a team, esp when it comes to creating team chances, and our CMs have been pretty iffy while Arse's attack is one of the most suited for passing around high pressure. I'd also be slightly worried that a victory in a game everyone's calling 'the Decider' would help us lose our focus afterwards, when victory here guarantees absolutely NOTHING (obviously I still want us to win most of all, I just don't think a draw is the end of the world either because it keeps the tension up and denies Arsenal the underdog mentality).

I think you're being a bit harsh on us there, we created a good amount of chances against West Ham, and while the Saudi Sportswashing Machine game wasn't easy we eventually opened them up and could have won by 4. Norwich and West Brom are tough places to go but we scored there, and in spite of an injury to our only striker in one of those games.

 

[Pirate55]

.......................Lloris
....Walker Caulker Vertonghen Ekotto
................Parker Dembele
.....Lennon........Bale..........Sigurdsson
.......................Ade

1. At left back, play a left back. Benny Back in for me.
2. Caulker more of a threat going forward and Arse don't have the same physical presence up front as some teams so for me Daws out and Verts in.
3. I have to say, i would happily drop Parker (not because of the penalty, these things happen) but he is so lacking in creativity, but what is the alternative? Holtby out of position or Livermore. He keeps his place due to a lack of an alternative.
4. Siggy was better when he came on than Holtby has been in the last couple of games. Add Siggy's goal and he'll be on a high. AVB should use that and also use it as an opportunity just to put a shot across Holtby.
5. Ade up front is just a nightmare, but no choice. Need a striker and he is one, at least in name.

This. Sig deserves his chance to start.

 

[Rossi22]

We do miss the passion of VDV. Just can't see any of our new players like Dembele, Dempsey, Vertonghen or Holtby having such passion in matches like London derbies.

Holtby strikes me as the kind of player who would.

 

[El Guepardo]

We do miss the passion of VDV. Just can't see any of our new players like Dembele, Dempsey, Vertonghen or Holtby having such passion in matches like London derbies.

I'm guessing that no one knew how VDV would react to those fixtures! Here's hoping the players realise the significance of the game and play to a higher level!

 

[Mumorn]

holtby was born for this. youve seen how he's reacted just playing for us, he will LOVE tomorrow.

 

[SpurMeUp]

holtby was born for this. youve seen how he's reacted just playing for us, he will LOVE tomorrow.

Just make sure he doesn't see red - for the third game in a row would it be?

I think this game will be about the how well we can keep them out. If we defend as a team and restrict them to one or no goals, we'll win. They have a brick defense at the moment but they will threaten to score.

 

[diego_maradona]

Just make sure he doesn't see red - for the third game in a row would it be?

I think this game will be about the how well we can keep them out. If we defend as a team and restrict them to one or no goals, we'll win. They have a brick defense at the moment but they will threaten to score.

They still have one of the best defensive records in the league but that's not because they are great defensively. Because they dominate most games, similar to us, they have a decent defensive record. But like us, when attacked, the defence usually cracks

 

[SpurMeUp]

They still have one of the best defensive records in the league but that's not because they are great defensively. Because they dominate most games, similar to us, they have a decent defensive record. But like us, when attacked, the defence usually cracks

Exactly. That's where this one could be won and lost. A defensive slip up. Both teams will try and take the game to the opposition. Hopefully we'll crush them. Do miss VDV and Modders. But if Dembele is fresh and Parker plays as he did in the last quarter of the game against Wham, we'll be okay in the middle. Lennon needs a good game, and Ade needs a goal!

No pressure!

 

[SPURSphenomenon]

This is all about the midfield. Stay disciplined and dont over commit because they do have the pace and the players to play that final ball that can ruin us. They'll be scared to come out to us to much because of the counter attack threat we've got.

We have to respect that they have the midfield thats capable of keeping the ball better than us. So discipline is so important. No more Ade moments otherwise we could get done again!

 

[onlyme]

I'd be perfectly fine with a draw. I don't think we've been performing that well as a team, esp when it comes to creating team chances, and our CMs have been pretty iffy while Arse's attack is one of the most suited for passing around high pressure. I'd also be slightly worried that a victory in a game everyone's calling 'the Decider' would help us lose our focus afterwards, when victory here guarantees absolutely NOTHING (obviously I still want us to win most of all, I just don't think a draw is the end of the world either because it keeps the tension up and denies Arsenal the underdog mentality).

I would settle for a draw but I believe we will win. I agree that individually and collectively we are not playing as well as we possibly can (even Gareth said in the Lyon game his only 2 good touches were the goals!)but disagree about chances created.
Still 3 goals in our last game despite all that!

 

[shaney]

It worries me this talk of a draw nonsense. We are the better team, we have better players, we are at home, we should win. Anything else is failure.

Lets tear them to shreds !

 

[diego_maradona]

My rational approach to this game has gone. All I see is the hurt of last season. and the two 5-2 defeats. If I feel like this, I can only imagine how pumped those players must feel. I hope we really are just absolutely 100% focussed and motivated to put them to the sword tomorrow. COME ON YOU SPURS! Cannot wait.

 

[onlyme]

I was very pleased when AVB said after the away game that we should have won. Some mocked him but the result belied the fact we had a right go at them unlike the shameful surrender under Redknapp last term.
11 against 11 we won't lose this game.
I don't really care if we finish 4,3,2..that does not get us a trophy it is only an indication of progress..if we get better as this season goes on I will be happy

 

[glorygloryeze]

All of a sudden i have just got some major jitters about tomorrow!

Can anyone rationally allay my fears on the following:
- we NEVER keep a clean sheet against that lot
- Walcott's pace between the left side and our CB (v. scared he'll be up agaisnt a lax vertonghen..)
- We now can't just sit deep and force them to cross from wide (Giroud good in the air, Podolski and Cazorla VERY dangerous when shooting from outside the box)
- Arsenal have spread their goals around whilst we are ending up having to rely on Bale
- AVB's record against Wenger!

Please RATIONALLY tell me how I am over-worrying![-o<

 

[shaney]

All of a sudden i have just got some major jitters about tomorrow!

Can anyone rationally allay my fears on the following:
- we NEVER keep a clean sheet against that lot
- Walcott's pace between the left side and our CB (v. scared he'll be up agaisnt a lax vertonghen..)
- We now can't just sit deep and force them to cross from wide (Giroud good in the air, Podolski and Cazorla VERY dangerous when shooting from outside the box)
- Arsenal have spread their goals around whilst we are ending up having to rely on Bale
- AVB's record against Wenger!

Please RATIONALLY tell me how I am over-worrying![-o<

Gareth Bale.

 

[milo]

Wouldn't it be a great game for Holtby to get his first goal for us?

 

[thfcsteff]

i can see Holtby and Parker really throwing Wheelchair and Cazorla off their game...in fact, I think Wheelchair is a flashpoint waiting to happen. He's been a lucky fudging boy this season, what with his big gob and shoving people around off the ball, perhaps tomorrow he will be the one to get himself i to early hot water! Holtby has to be careful too, he's a livewire. I think this could be the ugliest derby in years...I fudging hate them!

 

[thejazzman]

All of a sudden i have just got some major jitters about tomorrow!

Can anyone rationally allay my fears on the following:
- we NEVER keep a clean sheet against that lot
- Walcott's pace between the left side and our CB (v. scared he'll be up agaisnt a lax vertonghen..)
- We now can't just sit deep and force them to cross from wide (Giroud good in the air, Podolski and Cazorla VERY dangerous when shooting from outside the box)
- Arsenal have spread their goals around whilst we are ending up having to rely on Bale
- AVB's record against Wenger!

Please RATIONALLY tell me how I am over-worrying![-o<

- I dont think keeping a clean sheet is a necessity. With the form Szczęsny is in I fancy a combination of Bale and Sig/Defoe [when they come on] to outshoot them. They dont keep clean sheets against us, even when they have got a keeper who can stop a moving ball.
- For all of the talk about Walcott's pace, and as dangerous as it is, they still have to make use of it; this is easier said than done. Lloris is gonna have a big part to play in this as well, but I think Bayern showed that its possible to stop Walcott without stopping him [if that makes sense]; they seemed to accept that he's gonna get in behind your defence, but as long as the centre backs and goalkeeper maintain a decent position the onus is still on him to do something with it. He hasnt been in fantastic form recently, has he? And if you close down Arteta, something Holtby looks like he was born to do, they struggle to find a rhythm.
- HUGO F**KING LLORIS. BAWSE
- I think this is one game where we CAN rely on Bale. Arsenal can be startingly inept at closing people down, or tracking people when they lose the ball...this, coupled with Szczęsny's recent vulnerability in shot-stopping, should mean that he gets a few opportunities, and his accuracy has been astonishing recently.
- I think the game at the Emirates showed that AVB can outthink Wenger.

Your concerns are reasonable, but this game is about what WE do...its on OUR patch, its US that are 4 points ahead. COYFS!!!!!!