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Pre Season 2013

I thought we looked very good for about 30 mins and then it sort of reverted back to pre-season friendly mode for the most part. Loads of subs killed the flow of the game 2nd half, but there were lots of positives to take from the match. Soldado looks a proper number 9. Chadli and Paulinho looked good. Dembele was excellent as was Walker except for a couple of moments.

I do agree with some of the previous posters that we need a number 10 or something of that ilk. Siggy was OK but if we want to truly challenge at the sharp end then he needs dictate the attacking play from that position, which he didn't. Also Rose is not good enough at the moment. He has too many loose moments and that will cost us dearly in the PL.

Overall I was happy though.
 
We are not a great passing team. It has been our weakness for a while, pre AVB. There are spells in matches where we put it together, have good shape and keep the ball moving with crisp passing. But all too often our passing and team shape is not good enough. imo.

We have a team of dribblers and athletes, if we can develop to do the thing Spurs are famous for, pass and move, we'd be scary.

2011/12 season we were an excellent passing/posession team. Second half of last season we were pretty decent too. What we haven't been since 2001/02 is a good passing team WITH a fast tempo in the final third.
 
Positives for me today:

Soldado scored on his Spurs debut.

Chadli looked very useful.

Having Kaboul & Sandro back in action is like signing two new players.

Huddlestone's passing was sublime.

We didn't pick-up any injuries - the cut to Rose aside.

At times, we looked excellent going forward.

Agree.

Was a boring game..didn't understand all the niggly fouls...on the subject of which.. Rose again getting nasty.

He was great going forward but a fudging liability in defence.

Siggy was getting clogged every time he went near the ball.

WE NEED CREATIVITY.

Only came near it a bit when big Tom came on.
 
2011/12 season we were an excellent passing/posession team. Second half of last season we were pretty decent too. What we haven't been since 2001/02 is a good passing team WITH a fast tempo in the final third.

We are a completely different team to 11/12 and most definitely 01/02. We play a completely different style with a different manager, different tactics and different players. What exactly were you expecting?
 
I cant see anyone but Bale in our current squad playing in that position behind Soldado effectively.

The idea all summer has been we're moving to 433 because of all the central midfielders we have but we have so many attacking midfielders now that we must be planning on using 4231 again.

I cant the point in us having Bale, Lennon, Holtby, Siggy, Chali and possibly Townsend if we're gonna be playing 433.
I think we'll only end up have Sandro, Paulinho, Dembele and Capoue as central midfielder this season with Parker, Hudd and Livermore getting sold and Carroll going on loan.
 
I thought we did well. Soldado was pretty good and managed to tuck away a penalty which will help his confidence, Chadli was skillful on the ball and Paulinho did well too. Gave all of the new boys a game together at WHL which is good.

Only slight downers was Rose being a bit sloppy and Gylfi being a bit indecisive. I think we definately need a new left back (especially if Ekotto is leaving) and another defender (Capoue?) obviously we are still waiting for Gareth to come back into the team [-o<

My first choice team at the moment would be Lloris, Walker, Ekotto, Vertonghen, Kaboul, Sandro, Paulinho, Lennon, Dembele, Bale, Soldado.
 
Fair comments. We are a decent passing team. Under Rednapp with Modric we'd control possession quite often. But the full package - shape, movement and accurate fast passing is what we're missing.

Some of our passing is very sloppy. I'm not sure if its players forced into trying to make tough passes - due to lack of shape - where no one is available to recieve an easy passl. Or if its some of the younger players technical ability that can be wanting.

Espanole were far more comfortable passing the ball around than we were and in truth, we are nowhere close to the scums level of passing. We rely on individual runs with the ball far more. Put the powerful dribbles together with a pass and move game and shape, and we could be mighty.
 
I cant see anyone but Bale in our current squad playing in that position behind Soldado effectively.

The idea all summer has been we're moving to 433 because of all the central midfielders we have but we have so many attacking midfielders now that we must be planning on using 4231 again.

I cant the point in us having Bale, Lennon, Holtby, Siggy, Chali and possibly Townsend if we're gonna be playing 433.
I think we'll only end up have Sandro, Paulinho, Dembele and Capoue as central midfielder this season with Parker, Hudd and Livermore getting sold and Carroll going on loan.

I think Holtby should be considered an option for one of the deeper central roles in a 4-2-3-1 or as one of the central trio in a 4-3-3 ahead of being an option for one of the wide roles in a 4-3-3 and arguably ahead of being played in the hole (cue gif) in a 4-2-3-1.

I also think it's at least somewhat reasonable to think that Sig could do a job centrally in a 4-3-3.

We have the option of playing either formation as well as a more 4-4-1-1 looking setup, and if Ade stays around or we bring in another complete-ish forward we'll also have the option of playing a 4-4-2.
 
Once again enjoyed Townsend's tenacity when he came on - such a shame that strike wasn't a goal. He's so much more direct than Azza, something that may help him push for a start in the team.

Hudd looked so slow... one side of him I like is that he can play ugly when he needs to (a bit like Walker).

So so pleased to see Kaboom and Sandro on the pitch again, wow, didn't Sandro give the whole place a lift when he came on!!

And Stewart... Looks a bit like Naughton but does more work on his eyebrows and eyelashes :D
 
I thought we looked very good for about 30 mins and then it sort of reverted back to pre-season friendly mode for the most part. Loads of subs killed the flow of the game 2nd half, but there were lots of positives to take from the match. Soldado looks a proper number 9. Chadli and Paulinho looked good. Dembele was excellent as was Walker except for a couple of moments.

I do agree with some of the previous posters that we need a number 10 or something of that ilk. Siggy was OK but if we want to truly challenge at the sharp end then he needs dictate the attacking play from that position, which he didn't. Also Rose is not good enough at the moment. He has too many loose moments and that will cost us dearly in the PL.

Overall I was happy though.

Yeah..but I think 3 of their players would have been yellow carded for their treatment of Siggy if this was an EPL game.

I feel a bit deflated TBH because I was expecting a lot from this game after the first 20 minutes.

Only a friendly..let's move on.
 
Disappointment is natural - we've missed competitive footie and we have new signings, you just want it to all fall into place immediately.

My only real disappointment is not seeing BAE today.
 
I think Holtby should be considered an option for one of the deeper central roles in a 4-2-3-1 or as one of the central trio in a 4-3-3 ahead of being an option for one of the wide roles in a 4-3-3 and arguably ahead of being played in the hole (cue gif) in a 4-2-3-1.

I also think it's at least somewhat reasonable to think that Sig could do a job centrally in a 4-3-3.

We have the option of playing either formation as well as a more 4-4-1-1 looking setup, and if Ade stays around or we bring in another complete-ish forward we'll also have the option of playing a 4-4-2.

That's forever the theory but AVB never seems to want to play either of them there.
 
Disappointment is natural - we've missed competitive footie and we have new signings, you just want it to all fall into place immediately.

My only real disappointment is not seeing BAE today.

He was asked on twitter whether he's fit, he said yes, then asked why he's not playing and he said "not good enough LOL".
 
That's forever the theory but AVB never seems to want to play either of them there.

Holtby played a deeper role against Basel in the away game last season and I think it was one of his better games for us.

I'm not convinced about Sig in that role yet, but we'll see.

Both are young and relatively new at the club, our pre-season has been a bit of a mess due to the injuries and stuff. Either way, like I said, we have the option of either of the formations and will probably use both.
 
I thought Fryers did OK. He made a couple of decent stops.but when Kaboul came on the difference in class was obvious.

Sandro eased himself back nicely.
 
I personally rate Benny higher than Rose. Rose is good going forward but is a red card waiting to happen at the back.
 
What annoyed me the most was the singing, why do we always sign stand up if you ate arse, it sound bad when we don't play them and worst in a friendly game.
 
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