Switch it up

So we've kicked off the season with an unbalanced squad (again), uncertain of incomings/outgoings (again) the same formation (again) and a loss to a supposed 'rival'.

Stoke are next up with their new line up boasting some quality and power, who will undoubtedly be turning up to WHL in search of a point and probably fancy their chances of at least that.

They did the double over us last season and usually present a tough test but as mentioned they've added some quality also to this, it took a wonder strike from Coutinho to breach their defence last week.

Now im looking at Poch recently and beginning to ask questions over this 'high press' the only high pressing system that manages to produce sideways/backwards safe football and isolate our own striker.

Im also questioning this totally blinkered 1 formation for all occasions.

Especially seeing as it seems the players we have don't seem capable of employing this 'philosophy' with any consistency.

We're not winning the ball high up the pitch, we're not attacking at pace, we're not attacking in numbers, were not really doing much in games other than what seems IMO as going through the motions.

But getting back to 'switching it up' surely a team you have lost to twice in succession have shown that you need a different approach for this game?

Do we have the personnel for a switch up? Does Poch have the ability to switch it up?

If not, then why not? To both of the above questions.

It just seems so totally flawed to have 1 persistent formation, especially when it isn't being executed well, the personnel don't seem to fit it etc. Opposing managers know what to expect, know what to work on, will work on exploiting the flaws and should have a full game plan suited before a balls even kicked without much fuss at all.

Of course its early doors but I am expecting more from Poch and the team this season re Style, Tempo, Flexibility and Results after the drab Utd outing opener lets hope we kick off our home campaign with a better display.

 

NPBs high press does not work and never will. We play a suicidal high line with no real protection and we are embarrassingly lacking in pace, width and guile. Mediocre teams will plat us exactly the same as they did last year and carve us up on the counter. At the end of the year Mopo which I believe is argentenian for muppet will be sacked.

 

Why is everyone so negative. We finished 5th last season and have strengthened a weak defence. No matter what anyone says man utd are a quality team and to come away from Old Trafford having been the better team isn't bad at all. I know it's a results business but this team has potential.

 

I agree that it is time to "switch it up". Why don't our fans try to start a season without completely slating the club! That would be a welcomed change. Man U beat us, sure, we play the same formation, sure...but we have strengthened our defence and we dominate teams. I agree we need more attacking/creative options, but that isn't to say we can get more from the players we have and moving on certain players will help with the overall atmosphere/culture of the club. So what if it takes a season or two in order to strengthen the team as long as we are moving in the right direction. Let's make the Lane a place that Spurs want to play and I'm sure that will make the difference. COYS

 

We Dominate teams? You sure?

 

Yet more negativity!!! The season has just started and we played against a team that has spent millions of pounds improving their squad, did they look millions of pounds better? No!
With regards to pressing high up the pitch - Poch has not signed an attacker yet, every signing has been defensive minded as he is building from the back, sensible. Judge the high pressing once the likes of N'Jie and Berahino are in and lay off Poch - he has done a great job with the squad he has. Answer this truthfully, do you expect us to finish higher than 5th? You need to be realistic and not just have a moan just because you dont like Poch.

 

You have to be realistic. Pressing effectively for long periods doesn't win games, and nor does having possession. Scoring goals wins games.

It is a bit strange to say that our defense looking solid. It looked ok a lot of the game, and Alderereild is a great signing which will improve it a lot, but it went totally missing when we conceded the goal that lost the points. Rooney literally ambled into the huge white shirt-free space that stretched from halfway line to 6 yard box, and waited for the ball. No CB within 20 yards. No solid defense at that point. Defending wise, no clue.

 

This literally, made me laugh out loud. A quality comment that I will be using!

 

So it's a given then, 4-0 to Stoke?!! So negative after great new signings, more to come and one game in. Pathetic.

 

Yes.

 

If you read the article its about the philosophy, the 1 formation for all occaisions and having the personel to compliment this.

Its not negative or because i dislike Poch, its simply looking at the system, parts and performance.

 

It seems to me a lot of fans are backing Poch in the vain hope that we get some stability regardless of what happens. The we finished 5th argument doesnt't hold much water when we've been consistently 4th,5th or 6th over the past 5 seasons. There is no difference between 5th and 6th besides automatic placement into the Europa Group stages.

It's hard to argue with those talking about the lack of plan B, tactical or formation wise or this constant infatuation with the pressing game that AVB and Poch kept tying. We haven't had the players for it for nearly 3 years.

The positive people keep talking about new signings and even about press prospective players we might not even be trying to sign or are able to sign. It's abundantly clear we need to clear out before buying more than a few players and with all due respect we know nothing about this N'Jie other than he's young and quick. Good luck to him and obviously hope he's dynamite but I just don't know.

It's very much juries out for me with Poch. The lack of attacking instinct and intent concerns me and I'm very worried the new look Stoke attack will have a field day against our weak defensive midfield and attacking minded full backs.

I'm never optimistic. That way anything else is a bonus.

 

I just find it rediculous that one game into the season and already people are picking apart tactics/players/manager when actually I thought we layed quite well on Saturday - we are missing creativity and help for Kane which everyon knows about and I am sure will be adressed come 1st September.
Defensivley we looked so much tighter and reduced Utd until over 1 hour before they had their first shot on target. Offensively we will improve, we need pace and numbers - Poch has publically said this so now we shall wait on Mitchell and Levy to produce, lets judge at a later date and get behind the team - COYS!!!

 

I agree it's too early to judge what Poch might achieve this season and it will depend a lot on any new signings that arrive before the transfer window closes. However, the one thing that we have lacked in recent times (probably since the days of the great Dave Mackay) is someone who can instil some passion and courage into the rest of the team when things are not going well. It's all very well playing pretty, pretty football but we need a bit of steel as well. Someone who leads by example and drags every last drop of effort out of his team mates. You may think this is b******s but that's exactly what is missing from our team!

 

Schneiderlin - who incidentally was awful against us - said that Pochettino's press was so complicated it took 6 months for the players to understand it, and they were prepared and buying into the system. With half of the team not doing this last year it would make sense for it to take much longer for players inexperienced with the press and unwillig to buy into it to get used to it

Also, it is somewhat harsh to blame Poch for not making the right signings anymore - yes we need cuttng edge, some pace - but for god's sake Pochettino had publicly recognised this so it isn't down to him if, come September, we have no attacking options other than Kane!!

 

1st. Shagiri? No brainer for 12m, nxt season he will proberly be sold to one of the top four, for 30m cause he is doing so well.
2nd. I like poch and i will back him cause he is the guy in charge, but i dont get what he or anyone really sees in bentaleb, to be fair i felt mason was way more influiatial on the game and when he wasnt in the team we didnt look as good going forward, to much backwards and sideways passing from nabil which ends up gettinh him in trouble cause he seems to think he is to cool on the ball squad player for me same as mason but just think he is better
3RD. Dembele needs to be sold dont really no what his job is in the team,beats players then runs into others then makes a pass he shud have done years ago.
4TH. Lamela works hard when he plays but just not cutting it.
5TH. We need competion for eriksen i feel sometimes he is no where to be seen for large parts of the game great player when he is on it luvly vision great free kick, just feel he needs that competion just to up his game to the nxt level.
6th. Ali looks promising, hopefully pritchard is ready to step up looks good aswell. Random rant but yeah thats what i think.

 

It's virtually impossible to say anything critical about anything to do with Spurs (especially Levy/ENIC) without being engulfed in a firestorm of abuse on just about every Spurs site, bar this one (and The Boy Hotspur, but that's pretty much a private club, outsiders not welcome), and now people like you want to enforce the 'everything's great and getting even better at WHL' party line - why can't ANY dissent be tolerated? Do the ILWT/happy clappers (usually the same people) have so little confidence and faith in their loudly-proclaimed love and loyalty for THFC that any differing views have to be shouted-down? It's amazing that people who declare themselves as 'yids' so loudly are actually fascists when it comes to freedom of speech and opinion.

 

Personally I feel that this team is showing signs of improvement especially defence wise. Not sure about the squad being imbalanced apart from the obvious of missing some width n pace. Njie looks to be signed n sealed and I expect another wide player cum forward to also be signed from berahinho yarmelenko or embolo which would give us what we are missing.

 

Whoa, dude. Let's not get all lathered up here and start making unnecessary inflammatory comments.

I see the other good teams, and they seem to have a way of moving the ball down the field and into the box and creating shooting opportunities that we haven't seen from our team since possibly 'arry and Tim.

As for the shape, call it what you will, 4-2-3-1 at the moment. In essence, is this not about the same as a 4-2-4, popular not that long ago, and which didn't isolate a striker? And what's with the fullbacks who overlap and cross? Stripped of the newer nuances, the center backs are the old fullbacks, and the outside backs are really right and left wingers who have defensive duties. What's really stupid, in my opinion, is that Poch tries using inverted forwards -- right foot on left wing, left foot on right wing. Dembele and Lamela , middle and front, seem to be one-footed players. Do we practice using the other foot during the week? While Mason doesn't and may never have the same skills set as Dembele, at least he drives the area. Yedlin would be a positive force, too, as a sub at this time.

But many of you are rightfully concluding we may not yet have the squad to play the kind of game Poch wants. Do you ever wonder how much better this offense might be with a Modric or VandeVaart in the lineup?

The season is long. Let's look at the bright side. We're already higher in the table than the Arse!

COYS!

 

Felon, you may be right about lack of execution, but we played well. Poch can only get the horse to the water. As to system, youre just wrong. Spurs did not play 4_2_3_1 all along. When MU switched from 4_3_3 to atacking 4_1_1_4, Spurs would go to 5_1_4 as Dier moved to third CB comfortably. Toby was very strong. Verts was on top as well.
Obviously work needs to be done with attackers, but judging from perspective of someone who loses interest to the game as soon as opponent has a ball is just wrong. I liked the way we play when Red Devils were having upper hand, and when we were dominant ( doing classic 4_2_4 in attack and 4_2_3_1 in transition). We were pretty fluid in tactical aspect. I'd give MP credit for that.
As I said, you are correct about lack of finishers, no question there. But it is not HC fault and you know well that Po h is not a manager.