The Tottenham Thread (Merged)

[M18CTID]

If I'm being honest, I'm not sure why people are so amused. While those 7 missing players aren't all regular starters the subs would've strengthened last night's bench considerably.

Taking everything into account - missing players, manager being stranded in London, City and United picking up no more than a point each at Anfield this season - that was a good point for Spurs last night. Yes, their starting XI was still strong and good enough to get a win at Anfield but they had next to nothing in terms of experience on the bench so their options to change things round were extremely limited.

As such, it was a case of them not knowing whether to stick or twist. If they've still got designs on winning the title, do they go balls out to try and win the game but increase the risk of other important players getting injured and put themselves in a worse position than they are now injuries-wise, or do they play a percentage game of trying to nab a point at least and so firmly cement their position in the top 3 while nullifying a direct rival for a top 4 spot the chance of closing the gap on them?

Personally, I think they called it right. While I said it was a good point in terms of cementing a CL spot, I do accept it probably doesn't do their gradually waning title challenge any favours but if they'd have seriously gone for it with little back-up on the bench they could've sustained some unwanted collateral damage and not even won the game anyway.

 

[spurspinter1]

In my experience, the majority of Spurs fans on internet forums will never admit they they lost/drew because they were not the better team. There is always an excuse - weather, ref getting a throw-in decision wrong, the press etc.. The list of excuses is never-ending.

Internet-based Spurs fans give the impression that they are the unluckiest club to have ever graced the planet. The attitude of the mentally weak.

Again, I will make the point that in real life, London-based Spurs fans are not as bad as those who stalk the forums. Those who infest the forums tend to be gob$hites from irrelevant towns outside London - Watford, Stevenage, Waltham Cross, Welwyn, Colchester etc....

There hasn't been an excuse from me. Simply an observational on the circumstances that we had coming up to the game.

I'm happy with a draw and although Liverpool had the possession in our half they didn't create that many clear cut chances wheras we had the patience to create a golden chance to win the game ie great ball from Krancjar leading to Bale one on one with the keeper. That was the best chance and we created it, nothing wrong with our approach, as we kept a clean sheet and had the best chance to win the game, just a little better execution of that chance and it would have been pretty sweet but as it stands a point is fine for us.

 

[Boots_]

What would you're starting XI have been against Liverpool if all players had been available?

Is that the question you meant to ask before?

It is a difficult one.


--------------Friedel-------------
---Walker--Kaboul--King--BAE---
-------------Sandro--------------
----------Parker--Modric-------
Lennon------------------Bale------
---------------Ade-------------

with a bench of Cudicini, Gallas, Rose, Livermore, VDV, Saha, Defoe

Sort of a 433/451 kind of thing, with Sandro shielding the back four.

Sandro Kaboul and Lennon would be in there if fit imo. Bench very hard to decide upon. Should probably have Saha there as an option but seems harsh on Krancjar. Ah screw it.

It was the question posed by Matty before I posted on this thread that, until your eloquent response above, had been ignored by you and your comrades.

I think the point being made was that 7 key players was something of an overstatement (not by you, I know), that's all. There's little, if any, chance that those players could all feature in the same side given that you have other obvious 'key' players such as Bale, Modric, Friedel, Ade, etc. Your reply indicates that you would seem to agree.

For what it's worth, I think a point at Anfield is a decent result.

 

[Daveth]

Seven 'key' players go on enlighten me who are these key players???

Younes Kaboul
Aaron Lennon
Rafael van der Vaart
Jermain Defoe
Tom Huddlestone
Sandro and
William Gallas

At least three of those players would have started last night with the other four on the bench.

Assuming everyone in your squad was fit and available, what would have been your starting 11 v Liverpool?

If any of the above players aren't in that 11 then they can't be classed as key players at all.

My take would be that Gallas and Huddlestone as a minimum wouldn't make the starting 11.

Silva, Toure, Kompany, Hart, Aguero, these are key players. Barry, Nasri, Milner, Richards albeit important players most certainyl aren't key. A key player starts pretty much every game when available.

Wrong. Barry is most certainly a key player, hes played every game against the top 6 since Mancini has been manager except two (1 suspended 1 injured).

 

[IBlue]

Lennon VDV Kaboul Gallas are most definitely key players, Sandro would be as well were it not for his injury problems and how well Livermore's slotted it.

I am sure it is still 11 a-side !! So go on pick your strongest team

There isn't really such a thing as a strongest side, for example, Sandro would have definitely played in the middle with Parker if fit at Anfield yesterday. Against Newcastle at home, it makes more sense to play one of Sandro/Parker alongside Modric, therefore what defines a player as Key can't be viewed in the context of whether he would have started just one particular game, it is more of his worth over the course of the season as you face opposition with varying weaknesses/strengths to focus on. Debating with a Spurs fan whether the afformentioned players are key or not doesn't really make sense.

Yes, but the team you put out last night still had its key strength. Your points about a weakened side would have been relevant if you were not able to pick your best players down the spine of your side, Friedel, King, Parker, Modric and Adebayor, anything on the periphery is manageable. Would you agree that the players mentioned would be your first choice?

 

[spurspinter1]

What would you're starting XI have been against Liverpool if all players had been available?

Is that the question you meant to ask before?

It is a difficult one.


--------------Friedel-------------
---Walker--Kaboul--King--BAE---
-------------Sandro--------------
----------Parker--Modric-------
Lennon------------------Bale------
---------------Ade-------------

with a bench of Cudicini, Gallas, Rose, Livermore, VDV, Saha, Defoe

Sort of a 433/451 kind of thing, with Sandro shielding the back four.

Sandro Kaboul and Lennon would be in there if fit imo. Bench very hard to decide upon. Should probably have Saha there as an option but seems harsh on Krancjar. Ah screw it.

It was the question posed by Matty before I posted on this thread that, until your eloquent response above, had been ignored by you and your comrades.

I think the point being made was that 7 key players was something of an overstatement (not by you, I know), that's all. There's little, if any, chance that those players could all feature in the same side given that you have other obvious 'key' players such as Bale, Modric, Friedel, Ade, etc. Your reply indicates that you would seem to agree.

For what it's worth, I think a point at Anfield is a decent result.

Fair enough mate, I hadn't really checked back on the 7 key players comments, and would agree it is an overstatement. As I've said, the terms key players and best XI's have different meanings to everone as well so it is hard to pin down.

 

[IBlue]

In my experience, the majority of Spurs fans on internet forums will never admit they they lost/drew because they were not the better team. There is always an excuse - weather, ref getting a throw-in decision wrong, the press etc.. The list of excuses is never-ending.

Internet-based Spurs fans give the impression that they are the unluckiest club to have ever graced the planet. The attitude of the mentally weak.

Again, I will make the point that in real life, London-based Spurs fans are not as bad as those who stalk the forums. Those who infest the forums tend to be gob$hites from irrelevant towns outside London - Watford, Stevenage, Waltham Cross, Welwyn, Colchester etc....

There hasn't been an excuse from me. Simply an observational on the circumstances that we had coming up to the game.

I'm happy with a draw and although Liverpool had the possession in our half they didn't create that many clear cut chances wheras we had the patience to create a golden chance to win the game ie great ball from Krancjar leading to Bale one on one with the keeper. That was the best chance and we created it, nothing wrong with our approach, as we kept a clean sheet and had the best chance to win the game, just a little better execution of that chance and it would have been pretty sweet but as it stands a point is fine for us.

A draw at Anfield was very creditable, they are really a horrible side on their own patch, nasty fouls on Parker and Bale, though will not mention the dive, and the way the messiah that is Kenny Dalglish reacted when Skrtel clattered Bale was disgraceful, we don't want to see those challenges against great premier league players who we all should enjoy watching

 

[spurspinter1]

I am sure it is still 11 a-side !! So go on pick your strongest team

There isn't really such a thing as a strongest side, for example, Sandro would have definitely played in the middle with Parker if fit at Anfield yesterday. Against Newcastle at home, it makes more sense to play one of Sandro/Parker alongside Modric, therefore what defines a player as Key can't be viewed in the context of whether he would have started just one particular game, it is more of his worth over the course of the season as you face opposition with varying weaknesses/strengths to focus on. Debating with a Spurs fan whether the afformentioned players are key or not doesn't really make sense.

Yes, but the team you put out last night still had its key strength. Your points about a weakened side would have been relevant if you were not able to pick your best players down the spine of your side, Friedel, King, Parker, Modric and Adebayor, anything on the periphery is manageable. Would you agree that the players mentioned would be your first choice?

1st choice in what scenario?

I've given what I think my line up would have been if we had all players available, and I have also describe my understanding of the term strongest XI/key player. I'm not sure what you're asking me

 

[Barcon]

Do you know how immense Mata has been for Chelsea this season week in week out? All he gets is "he's a poor man's Silva".

You won't here me say that mate. He's one of the best players in the league. We should take him off yor hands.

 

[IBlue]

There isn't really such a thing as a strongest side, for example, Sandro would have definitely played in the middle with Parker if fit at Anfield yesterday. Against Newcastle at home, it makes more sense to play one of Sandro/Parker alongside Modric, therefore what defines a player as Key can't be viewed in the context of whether he would have started just one particular game, it is more of his worth over the course of the season as you face opposition with varying weaknesses/strengths to focus on. Debating with a Spurs fan whether the afformentioned players are key or not doesn't really make sense.

Yes, but the team you put out last night still had its key strength. Your points about a weakened side would have been relevant if you were not able to pick your best players down the spine of your side, Friedel, King, Parker, Modric and Adebayor, anything on the periphery is manageable. Would you agree that the players mentioned would be your first choice?

1st choice in what scenario?

I've given what I think my line up would have been if we had all players available, and I have also describe my understanding of the term strongest XI/key player. I'm not sure what you're asking me

This is getting hard work now! Would the 5 players i mentioned be in your 1st choice team in every scenario...whether you were playing Barcelona, Stoke or a pub team on Hackney Marsh.