Tottenham (H) 27/12 Build up

[YoungWolf]

No one else has dared start this thread so I will!

Quite nervous about this one (and the lack of preparation/recovery time for the following game at United). Spurs have however tended to struggle against teams who look to contain, frustrate and deny space.

Obviously, the ridiculous (though perhaps unsustainable) form of Kane and Son is a big threat. No Lo Celso, and Bale a doubt so imagine Bergwijn comes back into their team, as will Ndombele (big fan of his) and Aurier unless Jose goes full Cyber and expects Doc to score against his old club.

I think we will go with this:

Patricio

Boly Coady Saiss

Semedo Moutinho Neves Marcal

Neto Silva Podence

Subs: Ruddy, Kilman, Hoever, Ait-Nouri, Otasowie, Dendoncker/Perry, Corbeanu, Traore, Vitinha
​

If it wasn't for the threat of Son down our left I'd be tempted to go 4231 to be fair. But as Traore isn't fully fit, and Donck is unlikely to make it in the squad either, don't think we have the options to do it anyway.

Nuno may/probably go with Podence centrally behind Silva and Neto, but I think if he wants to contain Reguilon/Son down that side you have to go 343 (or 541 out of possession).

 

[Tony Towner]

Difficult to suggest an improved side, but those 2 in cm don't seem to work together any longer. Neves' best games these days are without Moutinho, so I'd be tempted to go Saiss in midfield and Kilman LCB

 

[YoungWolf]

I don't really see a benefit from Saiss being in midfield, especially as he's barely played there in two years. Not sure Moutinho/Neves pairing can't work (did plenty last season, less so after lockdown I suppose), just think it's more about how we play. The two were excellent in both games against Spurs for example.

Do you mean Kilman at centre back or instead of Marcal?

 

[prawnking]

Patricio

Boly Coady Saiss

Semedo Otasowie Neves Marcal

Traore Silva Neto​

 

[Tony Towner]

I don't really see a benefit from Saiss being in midfield, especially as he's barely played there in two years. Not sure Moutinho/Neves pairing can't work (did plenty last season, less so after lockdown I suppose), just think it's more about how we play. The two were excellent in both games against Spurs for example.

Do you mean Kilman at centre back or instead of Marcal?

Sorry, yes LCB. Swiss would be a needs must pick for me, him or Otosowie we have to get the best out of Neves, that's not happened alongside Moutinho for some time

 

[prawnking]

Accidentally posted before giving my reasoning... Toyed with Kilman instead of Saiss but in the end stuck to what should be an experienced and reliable back line.

I'd like to see more of Otasowie next to Neves (not up front!) and would be looking for some strength, running and dynamism from him in the middle.

Reliability from Marcal on the left, and I want to see Semedo and Traore (if fit) trying to get a partnership going.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

I just hope it isn’t Neves and Moutinho in midfield. Hopefully Nuno will remember how Moutinho coming on as sub changed the game at Wembley two years ago. Having him as a sub would then keep him fresh for OT on Tuesday. If Donk isn’t fit I’d go with OO alongside Neves. If Spurs show a bit of ambition I think they will have too much for us but hopefully Mourinho will revert to type and play his usual conservative game in which case we might just get something.

 

[Throbber3]

Patricio

Boly Coady Saiss

Semedo Otasowie Neves Marcal

Traore Silva Neto​

This team but with Podence for Traore working behind Neto and Silva in a 3-4-1-2.

 

[prawnking]

Whoever plays up front I'd love to see signs we're trying to play as a team again occasionally rather than a bunch of individuals. All the wide forwards are guilty of this a lot of the time

 

[Paul]

Whoever plays up front I'd love to see signs we're trying to play as a team again occasionally rather than a bunch of individuals. All the wide forwards are guilty of this a lot of the time

I think more playing without purpose rather than as individuals, they're doing their bit but it's not coming together

 

[sycophantia]

Don't think they set out to play as 'individuals' just think that the way we set up sometimes leaves them isolated, often the only way to relieve pressure at the back or create something going forward involves either humping it forward or giving it to Neto/Podence/Traore and hoping they can produce a moment of brilliance.....sometimes they do but too often it just peters out.
personally I think when Silva is on the pitch our forward play looks more 'joined up'

 

[prawnking]

I think more playing without purpose rather than as individuals, they're doing their bit but it's not coming together

I think they have purpose, but it's unrealistic... Usually that purpose is 'take on the opposition all on my own', and none of them are really good enough to do that with regularity. We need some of the interplay of old.

It's one of my biggest frustrations with this transitional period; in my eyes we've toned down or even lost some elements of our previous success, without replacing them with anything as potent... so far

 

[prawnking]

Don't think they set out to play as 'individuals' just think that the way we set up sometimes leaves them isolated, often the only way to relieve pressure at the back or create something going forward involves either humping it forward or giving it to Neto/Podence/Traore and hoping they can produce a moment of brilliance.....sometimes they do but too often it just peters out.
personally I think when Silva is on the pitch our forward play looks more 'joined up'

I agree to a point, but there are still plenty of opportunities in games when those players can do something different, it just seems to me that they don't see it or choose to ignore it. Too often it's either pass back or hog the ball!

 

[sycophantia]

I agree sometimes its 'white line fever' they're all players that love to take on the opposition but I feel often its a lack of options. Yes even when they have options, they sometimes ignore it, thats been a feature of Nuno's Premier league times, Raul and Jota were all guilty at times, can't believe thats coached though. Maybe if options were available more often, they'd be less greedy.

 

[Jinky]

I just hope it isn’t Neves and Moutinho in midfield. Hopefully Nuno will remember how Moutinho coming on as sub changed the game at Wembley two years ago. Having him as a sub would then keep him fresh for OT on Tuesday. If Donk isn’t fit I’d go with OO alongside Neves. If Spurs show a bit of ambition I think they will have too much for us but hopefully Mourinho will revert to type and play his usual conservative game in which case we might just get something.

Agreed re; Neves & Moutinho.

I’m still waiting for whoever it was who said they’d put a thread together to disapprove this theory. But based on what my own eyes have seen, I’d much prefer Neves + A.N. Other (Donk if he’s fit? Or Owen).

 

[sycophantia]

Agreed re; Neves & Moutinho.

I’m still waiting for whoever it was who said they’d put a thread together to disapprove this theory. But based on what my own eyes have seen, I’d much prefer Neves + A.N. Other (Donk if he’s fit? Or Owen).

Yeah it would be interesting to see figures during our 21/2_ seasons in the Premier league proving or debunking this theory

 

[Tony Towner]

You could easily debunk it over that period. Doubt you could using this season alone though. As a two I believe they've started 3 and lost all of them, as a 3 with Donck we were losing at the point Neves was hooked

 

[YoungWolf]

Agreed re; Neves & Moutinho.

I’m still waiting for whoever it was who said they’d put a thread together to disapprove this theory. But based on what my own eyes have seen, I’d much prefer Neves + A.N. Other (Donk if he’s fit? Or Owen).

it wasn't me but when I have some time this week I'll try and do some analysis on it (rather than trying to disprove).

As TT says it would be easy to debunk over a longer period, but whether the issues are them two together this season I am less sure. It certainly wasn't the problem against Burnley IMO.

I'm not convinced by throwing Otasowie into a game like this, against Ndombele, his appearances have had encouraging signs but also signs he isn't quite ready IMO. Obviously would love him to start and have a stormer today

 

[jd1981]

I think this fixture will be prioritised over the Man Utd game on Tuesday. PL in its ultimate wisdom and fixture schedules really has hamstrung us going into Tuesday.

 

[Templeton Peck]

Rui
Boly Coady Marcal
Semedo Otasowie Moutinho RAN
Neto Silva Podence