Next 6 are Big

So a 2-1 defeat away to Liverpool ends our league cup campaign. A good run out for the Youth and a good rest for the Seniors.
Liverpool's quality up top was really the difference between the sides on the night and although its never great going out of competitions we have more important things ahead of us.

The next 6
Leicester
Leverkusen
Arsenal
West Ham
Monaco
Chelsea

After a disappointing draw at both West Brom and Bournemouth a draw with Leverkusen and a loss to Liverpool we really need to start getting back to winning ways.

Since the City game we seem to have slipped into cruise mode and I'm looking at the players available and the style we've been playing with in recent games and I'm beginning to worry that we don't have enough firepower or guile to see us not only take but acquire commanding enough leads to win matches.

We need a fit firing Kane back desperately, Poch needs to work out a system that creates a lot more going forward and start getting more consistency with it.

I'm also worried about this nasty streak we've began to develop, I am all for giving 100% to the cause but with 3 London Derbies on the bounce after what could be difficult European and League ties if things aren't going well is it going to turn into a slug fest with possible bans hindering more games again?

I really think Poch needs to up his game for the next 6 tactically because if we continue this dawdling and ticking over on idle we will soon come unstuck.

Keep hearing about the progress we are making, but at the same time its all still very samey.

Time to step up.

 

Took a while to heat up last season, just the same this. In this instance, however, we are unbeaten in the league, picking up points and in touch at the top while doing it.

We know our first choice players in attack can combine to play scintillating and incisive football. Just need them to regain that cohesion. Saw it against Citeh and then the international break disrupted our momentum from that game...IMHO. Not overly worried.

 

Well, at least Sissoko has been banned, which is the only good thing to come out of the last few games. Average player who doesn't deserve to be at Spurs. Our performances will improve with him out of the team.

 

One or two again shown they are not good enough at this level. Carroll and the operated onomah. Wimmer not surprisingly was very rusty and nkoudou was easily seen off by a young kid and will need to show more as will winks if he wants to get more EPL game time.
It goes without saying that rotation is necessary but you need a default 11 it breeds consistently and provides the lads out of the 11 with a strong message of "your not doing enough". Rotation is an easy lazy option of management hence IMO why Leicester are struggling this time round.
So if were talking best 11 then the best players should be playing in there best position not shoehorned into unfamiliar ones.
For me that means Son plays from the left. Wanyana our player of the season thus far holds alongside box to box dembele. That leaves a straight scrap at no 10 between eriksen and alli with the youngster the clear winner there. Wide right then becomes a choice between the hard working frustrating lamela and eriksen who has always struggled from the right(clearly an area most fans wanted strengthening pre season) so no great options there. That leaves Janssen again up top until Kane returns.

 

Until Kane returns I think Janssen has to start with Son. Against Boro that worked really well and dropping Janssen every other game will just demoralise him. He needs to be playing.

 

It's hard to disagree with any critic given the form we're in right now. For all the possession we held, we never threatened. Janssen had no service inside what's so ever; kid works for hard but if he can't get service inside the box...he can't score.

Tactically, we had no technical players on the field gifted enough to breakdown Liverpool's defense. I had hope Poch would encourage runners into the box with the wingers and backs putting crosses in there, the few that were put in there provided our best chance...even though the quality was lacking. We desperately need Kane & Alderweireld back, hopefully the next transfer window we can sign another playmaker in the midfield.

 

Things can change so fast , the perception just before the last international break was we're looking good , we haven't played great up to this point but we looked close to our best against City and we look like we have some nice options in the squad with the new guys and some of the young guys , a nice blend that should cover most positions ... Couple of weeks later and we look thread bare after a few injuries and a few still haven't found their mojo , the new guys all of a sudden look lost ( early days and they deserve time ) exactly when we need them and not one of the young guys looked up to the challenge on last night's performance so all of a sudden we,re struggling for numbers .....

Seven games in 23 days after the break with only one being played at the Lane was always going to be a tough run but with 4 down , 3 draws and a loss the pressure is building and each game is becoming rather significant now .... Leicester at the Lane on Sat is a biggie , only 3 points will put a stop to the nervousness and frustration of fans and players alike ... You could see the frustration in some of the players in the Bournemouth game .. Erikson seemed to get the brunt of it off Ali , Rose and Walker at different times , that was the way it was coming across on TV and while it's understandable it doesn't paint a pretty picture ... Stick together no matter what , we are a team , and all that ..

It's not all doom and gloom , all our problems are at the top end , the defensive side of team looks as strong as ever and with Moussa back to partner Victor , I don't think there'll be a better or stronger central midfield in the league , that back 7 , including the keeper is as strong or stronger then any I.m.o .... All our problems are at the other side and personally I don't see a quick fix , I just don't think we have the quality , even when they're back firing on all cylinders and Harry is back to lead the line , the three behind him , any combination of 3 out of what we have just aren't good enough I.m.o .... They'll have their moments when they're playing on top form but they won't consistently have the quality to match the rest of the team and that's ultimately what we have to change in the next few windows .. The new and younger guys deserve time , but they're not exactly queuing up at Pochs door to take someone else,s place even when the main guys are playing rubbish ... Time will tell ... Hopefully it will look differently again in a few weeks time because perceptions can change fast in a short space of time ..

Getting back to last night's game , I wouldn't be too harsh given the line up but it was still disappointing .. It looked very lightweight on paper considering the opposition and it certainly came across that way in the game itself .. Again the 3 behind the Striker offered absolutely nothing in creativity and it's hard to see any making an impact anytime soon .. Onomah has sparkled at underage but he hasn't brought it to the table in the first team yet , he was very disappointing last night and was prob the least impressive in the last round also , some say he's played out of position and they might be right but I wonder what is his best position , what is he ... Now I remember saying the same about Rose plenty of times and look how that's turned out so time will tell with Josh , i certainly wouldn't be writing him off , a loan looks like the right way to go for him , he needs to play , needs to find his way in the game .. Carrolls been around for longer then most and again you'd have the same question , what is he .. He doesn't really look like a player that should be playing in the 3 behind the Striker and doesn't really look strong enough to be playing in the deeper role either ... Time for Tom to go and try and make a name for himself in some position because time is ticking for him , he's heading into his mid twenties now and doesn't seem to have developed much over last couple of years .. Nkoudou was very disappointing I taught , he didn't really offer much at all and did a great impression of the guy he replaced over the summer ... Winks did some nice things at times but it was a difficult night for him also and shows he's got a long way to go yet , the same could be said for Carter - Vickers .. Taught both center backs had a tough night to be fair and in hindsight Poch probably should have played with a bit more experience all around but at the same time i can understand why he went the way he did , again damned if you do and damned if you don't ....

Don't think we'll here too many clamoring for Wimmer and Nkoudou this weekend but all of a sudden this has become a very important match for everyone , with the return leg against Leverkusen midweek at Wembley ( dread playing there ) and a trip to the Emirates coming after , things ain't going to get any easier .... It's obviously going to be a crucial week and one that could define our season one way or another .... C.O.Y.S .....

 

The Anfield tie has shown that our youth is not ready for EPL. Spurs must buy players at Jan window. There would be nothing wrong with getting one more striker and one wide MF. Mason shouldhave been kept. For the money he was sold there is nothing on the market to replace him. Eriksen is enigma and so is Lamela. There is no way to change that, but it would be helpful, should Poch have a legitimate bench. Sissoko will be missed, like him or not. GOYS!!!

 

Kane coming back will make zero difference.
We are simply not making chances for any striker.
At the moment we look like we will never score and are becoming the team with possession but no cutting edge.
Teams are happy to let us play the ball around then attack us with speed.
Speed is something as a team we are severely lacking.
We seem to be turning the clock back to AVB's time, mow we are trying not to lose rather than trying to win.
Sissoko, not a good buy for us, we neeed/needed another top striker not another midfielder.
The next six games look horrendous and could easily break our season.
Agree with the comment re out nasty streak, we are actually losing out heads to easily and teams like WH, Chelsea and Arsenal will play on that.
Poch, although my favourite manager for many a manager looks a little lost to me.
We cannot afford to give more time to either the manager or the players, football is a now results game not a perennial wort in progress.

 

totally agree with this. we are just a team who play the ball around between the half way line and the oppo's box. easy to defend against. none of the 3 behind the striker look to get ahead of the play....as they all want to be the one to make the killer pass (to a CF who is marked by two CB's)

lets hope the normal Leicester turn up. the team that like to attack....at least we have a chance to win the game then. If a defensive Leicester turn up....and play on the break....we are in for a tough afternoon

 

Our loss to Liverpool showed us that all the hype around our young kid's and how good they are is miss-placed,now Poch has to adjust his thinking on what we really have,and what he can use,Felon is correct about being concerned that this Nasty streak will be used against us,we will lose player's for bans that should be avoided,nothing wrong with being hard into a tackle but, with the ref's dishing out cards for even the slightest touch and the Gold Medal dive's of the Chav's and Gooner's we could have so many vital player's banned we will be forced to use the kids who are clearly not ready,Poch need's a plan B, But first he must find a plan A some thing he has not had all season,it is time to place his love child Lamela on the bench along side Eriksen both are good player's but show it in short periods,Poch must start this run of games with a win and set us up for our visit to the toilet bowl up the road..COYS..

 

If u bench eriksen and lamela who plays wide right ???

 

I think you can probably say that Lloris, Walker, Dier, Vertonghen, Rose, Wanyama & Dembele will be the defence and midfield. after that you are looking at the 4 ahead.

personally I would play Erikssen just in front of Wanyama and Dembele.....and then play a front 3 of Son, Janssen and Alli.....and tell them they are a front 3....not a 1 up top......a 3 up top
we have plenty of strength with our back 4 and 2 in midfield. let Erikssen play centrally and give him the ball to play the forward 3 in on goal.

let the front 3 keep their full backs in their own half....and also work to prevent their full backs getting the ball into their midfield (to prevent the launch ball to their forwards). win the ball high up the pitch and let our front 3 kill the game. ....if the ball gets into midfield...Dembele and Wanyama win the ball....short pass to Erikssen

 

Good summary. I doubt there have been six more testing fixtures back-to-back in the history of the club than those ahead of us.
What I've feared, about lack of goals, now looks a real risk for us in these matches.
We need the full backs to get forward again, not seen recently, and goals must come from Eriksen, Alli and Son if we are going to prevail.
I'm not knocking Janssen, because he's not another Soldado, but he has to step up....the really good news is that it's not like the old days where there was zero tolerance......
Continuing my "must do better than last term theme", whilst I know a draw would be better, a 1-0 would be fine, thank you.
COYS

 

Eriksen to start, Nkoudou on the Bench. Lamela delivers more minuses than pluses for me.

And no bloody inverted wingers...

Thoughts.....the youngsters.....

Tuesday was a worry. It was right to play them. A good test and failed by most. I thought Onamah was hopeless, poor lad. Mail have him a 7....must be his love child. Poor Tom Carroll.....what can you say.....you feel for him, we love our own, but that was a reserve side mainly and he struggled.

 

I would play Nkoudou and keep the love child Lamela on the bench,Eriksen if he give's the ball forward and shoots when he has the chance,as for Carroll, I fear he will be out come Jan, he has had many chance's to show Poch what he can do but has failed,I don't know enough about the others so I will leave it to others to pass judgement,we need to kick off this run of games with a win otherwise the fan pressure will mount and start to affect the team,COYS....