Official Tottenham Hotspur Thread

[Baphomet]

I hate to say it but Sigurdsson needs to be dropped from the first team. Besides his first half against Newcastle and short stretches against Norwich, I've not been too impressed by the lad so far. He's looked sloppy in possession and his passing hasn't been as good as I'd hoped. With that in mind, I agree with your midfield outlook provided you swap Bale and Dempsey. Bale should always be wide on the left flank as an attacking winger next to Ade; it suits his strengths. His lack of involvement in most games is because we seem to be utilizing the right flank a lot more with Walker / Lennon interchanges, and as a result Bale looks isolated and he keeps drifting centrally. I expect that to change when BAE comes back.

Defoe is great as a guy to bring off the bench late to bag a goal when it's needed, but I agree that he is definitely not the long-term starting option if we intend to keep playing 4-3-3, which is highly probable.

There's also the Lloris situation. He looked pretty safe and comfortable against Lazio, but I don't think he was truly tested. With that in mind, his distribution was outstanding and a huge upgrade from what Friedel has to offer in that regard. A few of his throws and long kicks launched direct counter attacks, which is something that's often underrated when people discuss top class goalkeepers.

Jan Vertonghen is amazing, but I think we knew what we were going to get with him the moment he signed. He's proven that he belongs in that upper echelon of defenders already, and his composure on the ball when going forward is rare for a defender. Him and Kaboul will be immense together when he returns.

[and1GS]

Demspey looked lost until he was moved to a kinda CF-ish role in the second half vs. QPR, do you think he'd be able to drift into that area if Bale is slotted wide up top? 100% agree that we should base the team off of what position best suits Bale though and not the other way around. We tried the latter last week and he was largely ineffective for 45 minutes at LB.

Definitely agree about Lloris vs. Lazio. While he wasn't tested he definitely distributed the ball well and I think one poor match from Friedel will signal the end of his first team career. I can't say enough about Vertonghen, he's just awesome. That second goal against QPR was all him and he looked very composed in the attacking third.

BAE seems to be out a month, and while Naughton is good 1v1 offensively he really seems to struggle with distribution and movement in the final third.

I guess my only question is, do you think Dempsey can excel in a RCM/LCM role? He seemed to really do well once he was allowed to drift behind Defoe and join the attack whenever, but he struggled with providing width in that 4-3-3 formation.

[Baphomet]

I think Dempsey can eventually excel in our current midfield setup. He doesn't actually need to provide much width if we keep playing with the high line with Walker and BAE/Naughton pressing the flanks and linking up with our attacking wingers. I feel like he'd also get a lot more space and chances with Adebayor holding up the ball and linking with runners, allowing our midfield to make more goalward pushes.

It's mostly just common sense to me. Dempsey is a player best suited to the middle, and Bale is best suited to playing on the left. Sigurdsson is the odd-man out. I feel like we'd have so much more attacking potency if Dempsey is played centrally as the goalscoring midfielder, the role he's best suited to, and acts as a link between the midfield and Adebayor.

I think Jose Mourinho has the best implementation of the 4-3-3 in recent memory, at both Chelsea and Madrid. Of course, Adebayor isn't nearly the player that a prime Didier Drogba is, nor is Dempsey comparable to prime Lampard, but you can see the similarities in the personnel that AVB has acquired thus far. Dempsey, Dembele and Sandro/Parker are kind of like a poor man's version of the Lampard/Essien/Makelele midfield (not to underrate the quality of our guys, it's just that Chelsea midfield was world class). I can see us eventually functioning similarly to that 05-06 Chelsea team when we're a bit less hampered by injury and players have adjusted to their new role and AVB's system.

[and1GS]

Ya I agree Dempsey should be in the center of the pitch...and I don't get the Gylfi love affair, he's the poor man's VDV. I like the direction the team's going but I think it will be a rough start to the campaign.

What do you think of Caulker? Didn't know much about him before this season but he's looked solid.

One things for sure...Bale at LB is a stupid, stupid idea.

[Baphomet]

Caulker is a very good prospect. He's a big lad and has good defensive instincts and positioning for someone of his age, plus I think the EPL experience for Swansea last season was massive for him. He advanced tremendously as a player when playing for them and I feel like he will end up being one of the future anchors of our defence in the future. Gallas is still good but is slowly on his way out, and Caulker will be the main backup/rotational player for the Vertonghen/Kaboul pairing.

Bale at LB is certainly a bad idea. There was probably a good reason why we had such a poor record with Bale starting at LB early in his Spurs career. I think we went something stupid like 20 games without a win with Bale starting.

[and1GS]

Caulker's only 20...pretty crazy.

Bale plays LB as expected...as a wing forward forced to play LB. Pointless to put him there.

[and1GS]

Does Dembele/Sandro/Dempsey give us enough creative forward passing in the midfield? I think Sandro has looked subpar this season but I have been pleasantly surprised by Dembele, whom I think is our most valuable and versatile CM right now.

[Baphomet]

Sandro's a necessity. He's a bruiser and is a one-man protective line covering the center backs, and I expect that he'll rotate with Parker when he's back from injury. Dembele's great though, he's our most versatile player and can play anywhere in the middle - I expect him to be our main creative source. Whether that's enough creativity is for AVB to decide, I guess.

I'm curious how we'll line up against Manchester United on Saturday. I can't see AVB fielding a very attacking team away from home, I expect that we'll be set up to absorb pressure and hit them on the counter. Man Utd's defence is a little bit weaker without Vidic, which is United's only real weakness at the moment. Rooney and RVP are going to give Caulker/Gallas and Vertonghen nightmares.

[and1GS]

Rooney/RVP is what really worries me so I'd prefer if we kept the ball wide. I assume Ade won't be playing again so it will be tough to take advantage of their CB weakness. It should be very interesting though as it will go down to how we handle counters.

I think in AVB's scheme Dembele + 1 more CAM (maybe that's Dempsey?) is enough creativity in the midfield. Under Redknapp it wouldn't be but it seems this style is predicated more on wing play than creation through the CM, and those fullback-wing link-ups are always great for us. Sandro/Parker will definitely split time, I guess I'm still sour on the former because of how poorly the combo of him and Livermore played. Two CDMs in a 4-3-3 is just awful, but him pairing with Dempsey/Dembele looked good. Doesn't hurt that Dembele can play defensive and attack when needed. I think one thing's obvious thus far, Sigurdsson is not ready for serious first team minutes. FWIW I see the potential, he picks out passes well but his motor is meh and doesn't do much else.

What line-up do you think we'll go with? Some tabloid I read guessed a 4-1-4-1, that's SUPER defensive.

[and1GS]

What a win!

Defoe was complete garbage after 40 minutes and we got dominated in the second half, but we pulled it out. IMO the lack of possession in the second half comes down to two things: not closing down on players and Defoe's inability to hold up the play. He panics and instead of shielding the ball to wait for support he just sprays it wherever. He was spearheading our awful 2 v 4 counter attacks in the second half because he can't hold the damn ball. Where the heck is Ade?

[Baphomet]

Legendary victory. We were under constant pressure in the second half but our magnificent first-half showing was enough to pull us through. Man Utd admittedly should've had clearcut a penalty in the 1st half for the Vertonghen pull back, but after last week's Anfield debacle I have no sympathy for them. Villas-Boas' tactics were spot on, we looked utterly lethal on the counter in the first half and we held Man Utd at bay.

Adebayor is still injured, I think. We could've used him today.

[and1GS]

Ya that's what I assumed, was it a training injury? We really needed him as I think he would be perfect as the centerpiece of our counterattack. We got a glimpse of how good that counter can be and man, it's deadly.

Walker was pretty bad on through balls + crosses in the air, it's starting to be a constant theme for him.

[and1GS]

Forgot to mention Sandro, who was probably player of the match for us. He really proved me wrong.

[Baphomet]

I'm honestly not sure what Ade's injury is... but I really hope we can see him back soon. Defoe is a great finisher but he is SO frustrating to watch sometimes. Watching him go Rambo against a defence is painful to watch sometimes, but you know what? After that win I'm hesitant to criticize anyone, even Defoe despite his invisibility. Vertonghen was a beast going forward, he looked a bit defensively suspect on that left side but he still did what was needed of him. Every time I see him, I grow more amazed by his versatility.

And like I said, Sandro is an absolute necessity in our midfield the way that we currently shape up. He cut a lot of attacks dead with his ball winning ability and held on to the ball with his strength (in the first half particularly).

[Baphomet]

And here's AVB going mental for good measure

[and1GS]

You aren't kidding, Sandro is VERY strong. There was some point in the first half where he had it on the right wing and didn't really know wtf to do so he shielded the ball away from 2 players, who couldn't get anywhere near it, until a teammate came. I see the attacking potential with him as well.

at Defoe going Rambo. I see it coming from a mile away when it's him v. the entire back line. It's especially frustrating when you consider that he's shown a real ability to hold play up and distribute, but just never chooses to do so. Add that in to the fact that at times he seems perpetually offsides and I am just counting the days until Ade returns.

LOL I loved every minute of that celebration, I wish I could find a gif of AVB's power thrust right at the final whistle. I know it's just one match, but I'm a believer in AVB now. That was good football.

[ZedgetRedd]

I know it's just one match, but I'm a believer in AVB now. That was good football.

Agreed. I thought he was going to be canned early but he proved me wrong (hopefully).

[Baphomet]

I watched the game again, and I'm going to take back what I said about Defoe. He did everything he could given the circumstances and obvious lack of viable support in the second half (everybody else was pushed back to defend). His work for the third goal was phenomenal, holding off Ferdinand and then slotting in a perfect through pass to find the cutting Bale, who's shot was of course parried by Lindegaard to find the open Dempsey.

And I love the avatar and1GS

[SunKing]

I hate Villas Boas. I had to said it. I know Friedel has been great for y'all but come on the **** french NT captain and top 5-rated GK is on the bench. I know he's going to start soon or later because someone of his talent can't be left for dead on the bench... but it just make me angry.

His celebration at OT made him hated him even more.

And his nasty accent too.

And his acting towards FC Porto.

Well, I just don't like the guy but he seems like not a bad manager.

[5DOM]

Last time AVB dropped a perfectly fine, respected veteran player in favour of a younger one, he lost his job. I think Friedel's been magnificent and it would be a mistake to drop him now.

Although AVB's passion can be a double-edged sword, he's obviously learned a lot from his mistakes and he got a massive result at Old Trafford last week. The media don't seem to hate him now, and the fans will give him chances to prove himself. Losses against United, QPR and Arsenal pretty much killed his chances at Chelsea, but I think he'll be fine at Tottenham after that historic win