90 mins against Qarabag mate, new Ledley already surely?
I swear I read on here at the weekend that Tom Carroll is now one of our senior players.
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90 mins against Qarabag mate, new Ledley already surely?
I think the system we played against Qarabag was reasonably effective without Kane, not sure our attacking system would have been more effective with some of the names that were thrown up like Austin. Obviously Berahino would have been ideal, but could not get the deal over the line.Because if Kane gets injured or stays goalless we will struggle.
He scored 30 goals last season. If he can even half that, we will benefit greatly.
And that CB is doing a stellar job at CB. Your disregard for steady partnerships and stability at the back is FMesque...yeah just throw Wimmer in, nothing will change. Sigh
Rate him highly. Backed him waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back when he was just Tims son and getting games to spite Holtby and AVB.
But Dier is a far superior DM. As proven by our ineffectiveness there last year
How can you say you rate Bentaleb when you say we didn't even have a double pivot last season and say that he isn't backup to Dier at the very least?
Yeah I think he'd be better used in the Mason role if Dier is fit. But he's fine backup if Dier is injured or needs to be rested in the DM role, that was the role he played last season. Bentaleb alongside Dier does allow both Alli and Mason to get further forward, which could be interesting. Not sure if Mason and Alli could both fit into the attacking 3.I think Bentaleb is a different type of player. He's not a defensive player who will protect the back four the way that Dier does. I'd like to see Bentaleb have a couple of games alongside Dier to see what he can do when he is set free, much the same way Mason has looked better than last season, now that he's allowed to get forward.
I think the system we played against Qarabag was reasonably effective without Kane, not sure our attacking system would have been more effective with some of the names that were thrown up like Austin. Obviously Berahino would have been ideal, but could not get the deal over the line.
I'm not advocating that we move Toby to DM, just saying it is an option if worst comes to worst. How can you say you rate Bentaleb when you say we didn't even have a double pivot last season and say that he isn't backup to Dier at the very least? Yes Dier has looked better than Bentaleb so far this season. I'm sure we would prefer to play Vertonghen over Fazio as well, but these players are squad players and are cover.
Yeah I think he'd be better used in the Mason role if Dier is fit. But he's fine backup if Dier is injured or needs to be rested in the DM role, that was the role he played last season. Bentaleb alongside Dier does allow both Alli and Mason to get further forward, which could be interesting. Not sure if Mason and Alli could both fit into the attacking 3.
I think a lot of that is just our shit finishing. Far often last season it was Kane, Chadli and Eriksen or nothing. Hopefully Son addresses some of this, along with more contribution from Lamela, Alli and Mason getting more as well. Part of the reason I don't rate Dembele as much as some. Yes he holds the ball well, very well but has almost no forward impetus. I do see his value in big games though.It is pretty clear that we are not interested in Austin, so it is a bit academic, but for me the issue is in games where we have a lot of the ball in and around the opponents box and the score is 0-0. We have been in those positions many times in the last couple of seasons.
In a game like that, would he force one in? Because 1-0 changes the whole pattern of the game for teams that try to sit deep and play us on the break ... which is about two-thirds of the teams in the league.
Yeah I wouldn't replace Dier with Bentaleb at this point at all. Not with how Dier has been going.I don't quite agree. I felt a lot of the time last season that Mason would sit back and do the dirty work or both Mason and Bentaleb would sit back, which would then stifle our own midfield. But if Bentaleb puts the work in in training and learns from how Dier is playing the role, I'd be more than happy to see him play that role and prove me wrong.
It's not that I would flat out refuse to play him alongside Mason or Alli, I just think all three of them would do better alongside Dier or an alternative defensive midfielder.
to be fair we did nearly keep a clean sheet against them90 mins against Qarabag mate, new Ledley already surely?
. But if Bentaleb puts the work in in training and learns from how Dier is playing the role, I'd be more than happy to see him play that role and prove me wrong.
I just think all three of them would do better alongside Dier or an alternative defensive midfielder.
I think the system we played against Qarabag was reasonably effective without Kane, not sure our attacking system would have been more effective with some of the names that were thrown up like Austin. Obviously Berahino would have been ideal, but could not get the deal over the line.
I'm not advocating that we move Toby to DM, just saying it is an option if worst comes to worst. How can you say you rate Bentaleb when you say we didn't even have a double pivot last season and say that he isn't backup to Dier at the very least? Yes Dier has looked better than Bentaleb so far this season. I'm sure we would prefer to play Vertonghen over Fazio as well, but these players are squad players and are cover.
Was more talking about our attacking front 4 in the qarabag game. Even if they were defensively pretty poor, we still did well to take our chances. Disagree that they looked like they could give us some problems, we were thoroughly in control of that game. Yes it's not the best benchmark, but it's the only one without Kane so far that I can use. We'll see how we go without him soon enough. Yes he's a valuable focal point, but it's not as if he's been smashing them in in the Prem.Qarabag tore us apart on the counter with some very fast, incisive moves several times but lacked a finish.
Look at Son's goals, unmarked from a corner at 5yds out and the Alli cut back (suspicions of offside in the build up). They were defensively pretty poor.
Really not a great benchmark of a game. Not sure we'll play anybody at their level all season and still they looked like they could give us some problems.
As for if 'worst comes to the worst', that happens as soon as Dier and/or Kane don't play. It's pathetic to be having to draft in emergency/makeshift options as literally a second choice. Could be in any crucial game at any time all season - regardless of the past 3 wins it remains a huge negligence.
They are OK, but Southampton last year and Swansea this year are better. I don't understand why people are wanking over them, it is the Chelsea win I guess. Otherwise their points are from wins v Norwich and Villa.
Qarabag tore us apart on the counter with some very fast, incisive moves several times but lacked a finish.
Look at Son's goals, unmarked from a corner at 5yds out and the Alli cut back (suspicions of offside in the build up). They were defensively pretty poor.
Really not a great benchmark of a game. Not sure we'll play anybody at their level all season and still they looked like they could give us some problems.
As for if 'worst comes to the worst', that happens as soon as Dier and/or Kane don't play. It's pathetic to be having to draft in emergency/makeshift options as literally a second choice. Could be in any crucial game at any time all season - regardless of the past 3 wins it remains a huge negligence.
Was more talking about our attacking front 4 in the qarabag game. Even if they were defensively pretty poor, we still did well to take our chances. Disagree that they looked like they could give us some problems, we were thoroughly in control of that game. Yes it's not the best benchmark, but it's the only one without Kane so far that I can use. We'll see how we go without him soon enough. Yes he's a valuable focal point, but it's not as if he's been smashing them in in the Prem.
I didn't see anyone complaining about an emergency and makeshift option when Mason and Bentaleb were our double pivot last season? Now all of a sudden it's panic stations if he's injured or needs a rest, just because he's playing well. What player could we have bought that would have been down the pecking order to Dier? Bentaleb is absolutely fine as back up to Dier.
Anyway, fuck all this, we're all on the same side, especially the next 24hours!