Team news and expected line-up against Aston Villa - 02/11/2014

Deja Vu time again for Spurs as a new manager comes in, tells us all how exciting we will be and then the usual reality sets in. We got excited after the win against QPR but since then we have come back down to Earth with a massive bump.

Apathy

It is a long while since I have seen so much fatigue surrounding Spurs and the dwindling attendances and near to non existent atmosphere lead me to feel that an away win now is just what we need to kick start a season that is already looking like falling very flat.

Kane and able

Harry Kane is now our top goal scorer in all competitions and surely he must now get the start that he deserves in the premier league. He does miss chances but he keeps getting into positions and he is likely to score in more games than he is not.
He is maturing quickly now and his strength and forward play is improving all the time. Some may argue that he hasn't scored against the big teams but he hasn't been given that chance.
I also think Soldado should start. He is still struggling for goals but his all round play impressed me against City and a run in the team would build his confidence.
Adebayor scored in our last game, but his overall play so far this season has been underwhelming to say the least.

Inverted wingers......no!!!!

I must say this every week but inverted wingers just do not work. Once a player beats his man and whips a cross in from his natural side, the defence have little time to get back and defend whereas with inverted wingers, the players turns back allowing the defenders to get back and the attack more often than not just fizzles out. Playing with inverted wingers is poor management, so against Villa, I hope this terrible tactic is consigned to the bin where it belongs.

What they said
Pochettino:
“It was an important result against Brighton to recover our confidence and belief”
“We wanted to get into the next round of the Capital One Cup and now we all look forward to Aston Villa.”

Lamela:
“After Wednesday we are looking good in the Capital One Cup and we are doing well in the Europa League – now we need to change our position in the Premier League,” said the 22-year-old.

“We know what we have to do and we are trying and working towards this.
“Aston Villa will be a difficult match but we know we are capable of winning. We have won or drawn most of our away matches and we want to get the three points on Sunday.”

Expected line-up

Kyle Naughton is back from injury and I think he will get the nod over Dier who looks like he could do with a break. My team would be:

Lloris, Naughton, Kaboul, Vertonghen, Rose, Capoue, Mason, Lamela, Chadli, Soldado, Kane.

 

It would seem Capoue is struggling with an injury and is a question mark for the Villa game. I agree with having both Kane and Soldado in and no inverted wingers. My starting XI:

Lloris
Naughton-Fazio-Verts-Rose
Dembele-Mason
Eriksen-Kane-Lamela
Soldado

Hopefully the attacking mids behind Soldado will be fluid and exchange positions similar to what was done at QPR.

COYS!

 

Dude ..agreed on almost everything except I can not have Younes Kaboul in the team!!! He has been woeful since back from injury last season and worse than ever the past 2 weeks!! Fazio to start

 

I agree regarding Kaboul but I just dont think that the manager is brave enough to drop him.

After todays results, we need to win more than ever tomorrow folks!! We are slipping perilously close to the bottom three.

 

With 10 changes to be made this is my proposed starting XI.

Kane
Kane - Kane - Kane - Kane
Kane - Kane - Kane - Kane
Kane - Kane

 

I know that alot of spurs fans aren't feeling entertained at the Lane at the moment. My own brother has started selling own season ticket, through official channels, because he just cant bare it anymore. Hes been a ticket holder for about 30 yrs but prefers to watch it online at the moment because of our performances. Some rejuvination of the team is needed, i know we bought the magnificent seven but it isn't working out the way we would have hoped. I know patience is called for but the club cant take the fans for granted, any business does that at its peril. Lets hope Poch can bring in a few in january, Kane deserves his chance now. But as Pelle' at Southampton proves there are strikers out there, i'd go and get Wilfred Bony in jan as i think Swansea would sell at a good price. Inverted wingers can work, if their two footed ! I'd play Kane and Townsend at villa, Kane because hes the only striker scoring goals and Andros because his pace on the counter could worry Villa. Lloris Rose Fazio Verts Dier Capoue Mason Chadli Kane Soldado Townsend. Coys.

 

Can't take anyone seriously who'd pick Davies over Rose!

Lloris, Naughton, Fazio, Vertonghen, ROSE, Capoue, Townsend, Lamela Erikssen, Soldado, Kane (Yes, it's a 4-4-2, it's Villa for Christ's sake, need a BIG PL confidence boost and Soldado needs goals so I'd go all out on this one and try and win it in the first half)

Subs: Vorm, Dier, Kaboul, Stambouli, Mason, Lennon, Adebayor

 

My starting 11.

Lloris
Naughton, Fazio, Verts, Davies
Lamela, Townsend, Erikson, Stambouli
Kane, Soldado

 

I expect a diamond 442 from us tomorrow,it will provide us with balance between defense/midfield....I know its risky but we're playing against Villa......
My team
Lloris;Naughton,Fazio,Jan,Rose;Capoue;Lamela,Chadli;Eriksen;Soldado,Kane.
Subs: Vorm,Mason,Kaboul,Davies,Stambouli,Mason,Adebayor.
Or Mason could start as CDM ahead of Capoue

 

Based on injury news, recent form, and recent pickings, I'd go with the following:

Lloris
Naughton - Kaboul - Vertonghen - Rose
Stambouli (if not Capoue) - Mason
Eriksen - Kane - Lamela
Soldado

 

OMG !!! WTF !!!! Could anyone who ever is picking Kaboul at centre back over a traffic cone or anything else on the planet please do one ??? He is shocking at defending, shocking at motivating, shocking at organising ....... It's starting to effect results and performances..... Time to wake up Mr P and show the football world that when you make a poor selection as captain you are man enough to admit you are wrong. COYS

 

I agree that Kaboul is frankly an awful choice as captain and not even first choice in my view. I have put him in as I don't see pochettino admitting he is wrong. He is already looking like a man who does not like to be challenged on his decisions but if we lose tomorrow, we will be just out if the bottom three and maybe it will then be time to worry. Hopefully, we will not even need to consider that fact.

 

Two teams that cant score, what's the chance of a goal fest. Villa haven't scored in five but they are a good counter attacking team and will look to get behind our fragile high line. Villa have nothing to lose here and I wouldn't be surprised to see them break their drought and go all out and attack us. Agree that Kaboul shouldn't be first choice but there's no chance that he will be dropped for this game. Naughton slots back into the RB and give Dier a spell. If Capoue is unfit then its Stam for me as I think he is a player that brings the right balance and the right attitude to the holding role. A lot has been said about this teams weak mentality and lack of fight so I want to see someone who can play smart as well as bring some mongrel dog into this team, Mason alongside for pace and distribution. The stars are aligned and this game is primed for Harry to get his first start of the season although if im honest I don't really expect it. Poch has shown a stubborn streak here not unlike AVB. Id also play Soldado which means someone else gets dropped. I haven't been impressed with Lamela of late and I don't think he brings enough to his position and upsets the balance with the lack of width and him constantly playing central and poor defending.
Lloris
Naughton Kaboul Jan Rose
Stambouli
Mason Eriksen
Kane Soldado Townsend

 

As the top teams move away from us and those below move closer to us, games like this are becoming ever more important. Lets hope our fragile superstars can find the bottle to beat a team thats lost 5 on the bounce!
Kane needs to start
COYS

 

Question: What is the difference between inverted wingers and a brain fart's

Answer: Absolutely nothing!

Yes, Kane must be given a shot with Soldato. We signed Soldato for his goals, but I'll take his creativity and assist total if that 's part of the winning formula we seek. Kane seems to have a Defoe-like nose for goals.

Don't know what to say about poor, much-maligned Younis. Maybe Fazio is a better answer to that position. Kaboul does seem to pull off more than his share of howlers, both in the passing and defending categories.

 

What we need is for our manager to be more decisive and choose a team that has the will to win by showing commitment for the duration of the game. Irrespective od the recent lineups or formation we have been dull , predictable and static when we had the ball. The manager should realise that we cannot win with such peedictable tactics and move on...show some courage. Soldado although not scoring should be chosen above Ade as he at least plays link up better and tries with his running off the ball and bringing others into the game. Inverted wingers should be ditched as it looks good in theory but does not translate on the field. We must chose an attacking commited side and dont worry about the opposition and play to our strengths..we might lose ..but then again we are losing anyeay but at least play on our terms. Too much theoretical **** and we losing sight of our main focus ..playing football.My team although I know most wont agree , but at least we will field a team not individuals , is as follows ..
Lloris
Davies Fazio Verts Rose
Erickson Mason Stambouli
Lamela
Soldado Kane

We need to keep playing with same nucleus of a team with minor changes . Focus in results and get rid of players that dint cut it. I cannot undrrstand why we still persist witb Townsend , I have yet to see him make ghe right choice regardung crossing shooting or passing he is predictable and clueless . Lenno cannot cross the ball and that gies for others too. How a professional player cannot kick a ball effectively is beyond me . Indecisive is what we are and that in my opinion is a direct result of having an indecisive manager who fell into the trap of being over rawed by prima donna players who get paid top wages for poor performances.Ade Townsend Lennon Paulinho Chiriches Kaboul must all go for a start. Poch either must man up and be the boss ir he must gi as well else we gonna have an exodus of good players like Verts Lloris Lamela Erickson etc

I hope we can get the right balance on the field and turn this season around in a positive wat

COYS

 

Inverted wingers are pointless. To keep playing with them shows a manager who is a long way out of his depth hence the reason we could end today just above the relegation zone.

 

I recommend that Spurs fans pick up a copy of when Saturday comes, November issue. There is an article on the new stadium and it makes for interesting reading.
Put simply, it questions why it is now ten years since the new stadium was announced and still levy fails to answer the real reason why it is taking so long.
It summises that Spurs will probably move to Milton Keynes and may never return. That may sound far fetched, but I am not sure it is.

 

Agree with that team almost completely. Would like to see Stambouli given a chance with Dembele.

 

Am assuming from the spelling, the fact that you've picked 2 left backs and that you want an attacking team but have picked no players with pace that this post was the product of alcohol and/or drugs. Bit early for that sort of thing on a Sunday!!!