Tottenham vs the Toon

Play at a high tempo from the off and you might gain some advantage...we are slow off the block.

2nd half...can’t promise you much joy

 

There’s some wet pussy here

 

High tempo?

How about hoofball

 

Surely he's learnt

Although i think I'm giving him too much credit there

 

Not one aspect of our squad is good for hoofball bar Carroll.

It is absolutely inconceivable that he would continue down that avenue.

If we played ball on the floor like Brighton did against us we'd be a very tough side to face.

Instead we sorta just **** around.

 

We have a fantastic set up for attacking at pace, it's the ****ing dilly-dallying with the ball that drives me mental, as if Bruce listened to the criticism of possession and decided it would be better if we passed it slowly around the defence for over 50% of a match. It's like he looks at management as a means to appease people, rather than having a clear vision for what he wants to achieve with his players to get the best results.

When we get the ball from defence, it should ALWAYS be spun out fast. Always. That should be our DNA. The like of Max, Almiron, Murphy, Fraser & Wilson are all fast facing the opponent, not one are any use tracking full backs. We should have 2 CM's whose sole purpose is to get the ball to whichever one of those is free, every single time. No dallying, no waiting for Shelvey so he can launch another long bomb, just be available for the defender/keeper, turn and release it forward.

I wouldn't give a **** if we had 20% possession, if we spent all of that time hurtling towards the opponents goal to have a shot. We don't have the players for 'possession at all costs' or building up on the edge of a box, we have dynamite players who are better off not thinking. When we lose it, drop back and start again. Would be immense to watch - teams thinking "jesus, we better not lose possession else we'll be in trouble" would be awesome, just become a lethal counter attacking force, but with MUCH better pressing to force an issue (I disagree with Rafa's 7-2-1 formation, inviting the opposition on).

 

We should be exercising the constant closing down and pain in the arse play Liverpool show, we have the pace and mentality for it.

We should as you say always be blitzing the opposition defence.

Its the only way we should be playing, any other is just suicide

 

Yep, he's got defenders who are ****ing atrocious on the ball, like Fede/Lascelles and you can add Clark/Dummett in that, playing 10 yard passes. You know how bad they are, because they never play a pass to space, it's always cautiously slow, and to feet. Puts you in all kinds of problems. Shelvey then always drops too deep to do anything.

I personally think the Shelvey who top-scored could do a job here. He can play excellent forward passes and would be MUCH more effective always receiving it 20 yards from the defence, instead of parallel with the CB's. He always wants to go front foot and pass forward, it's the defensive slow-ness that kills us because it means Shelvey drops too deep - we need him further up, central, to get it, pivot, release our pace. On repeat. Hendrick's pretty useful at that, Longstaff could do a job too. The three players in front, any three from those I mentioned, thrive on running at a defence, at pace. I'd want two up at all times, probably asking Mig to drop deeper with the wide players holding position to break.

 

I think Murphy should start this game! Fur me max almiron and Murphy should play as a 3 behind Wilson with Fraser on the bench.

 

If we don't start Miggy I'll be apoplectic with Brucey. Laying on and scoring goals all over the place this season. Need more energy in the midfield - Hayden and Longstaff starters behind him.

Wingers is a tough call but I'd honestly give Murphy a run out with possibly Fraser opposite and look to replace Fraser after 60mins for ASM and let him run at tired legs.

 

Miggy looks great

ASM hasnt impressed me at all tbh

 

Yeah I mean he looks miles off the pace atm but I'm willing to give ASM time as its beginning of the season and he doesn't look fully fit yet but I think as an impact sub (a bit like Wolves were using Traoure at the end of last year) could be a match winning idea.

 

max got kicked all I've the pitch vs West ham.. He was limping from the tackle on the touch line, he's not be right since... I suspect he's expecting to be kicked and its playing on his mind a bit... He was fine vs West ham, got a knock vs Blackburn, played poorly vs Brighton having been asked to play left back by our manager and got an ankle injury in the process... He's still mint based on all last season..

 

Longstaff or Shelvey with Hendrick in the middle, think we're all agreed on the front 4 (no ****ing Carroll)

 

Who's you front 4


Frasers not ready Murphy deserves a shot


Wilson
Max almiron Murphy

 

Wouldn't be against that, Fraser if fit Murphy otherwise

Gillespie
Manquillo Fernandez Clark Lewis
Longstaff Hendrick
Fraser/Murphy Almiron Max
Wilson​

 

Obviously he has to get his quota of ****e in there so expect Darlow Lascelles and Hayden to be in

 

Almiron has to play, he even admitted that he should have played him against Brighton.

I reckon he'll be in the 11 for the rest of the season now.

If not I give the **** up.

 

He'll start surely, but I hole he plays 3 behind Wilson... I have a bad feeling he's going to drop his arse and go 5 at the back...