I've been trying to wrack my brains to answer that. The last time I think we started with two up front in the PL was when Harry started with Adebayor and Saha against Ars*nal at the Emirates. 2 up in 10 mins then look what happened. I'm not convinced 2 up top is the answer. How many of the top teams play with 2 up now?
As for Soldado, did he play as a lone striker for Valencia? Genuine question as I hadnt seen an awful lot of him before this season.
There's no doubt there's pretty major issues that need sorting. 6 goals from open play in the PL this season is the telling statistic. Just not good enough.
Can't stand him, but Stan Collymore got it right on Sunday, the system and the players in that system don't matter when you play with the complete lack of pace and energy Spurs are currently playing with. They are playing at such a pedestrian place, everybody taking too many touches and too much time to then just pass the ball square.
The result is that by the time they get around to actually looking to deliver the ball the opposition are already waiting, hence no supply line up front. Also that's why the wingers end up in the middle of the pitch, they and Saldado end up going looking for the ball as it's never delivered to them.
So what is needed isn't a change of system, but a shift in tempo, press the opposition quicker, pass the ball quicker and create the space Saldado needs.
Soldado - another Spanish player who I thought would be perfectly suited to the premiership, a la Morientes, but just doesn't look like he cuts it.
Yet players like Mata and Silva, who I thought would both struggle, have been a success.
Most of Spurs' problems stem from a total absence of anything approaching intent in their midfield. They're good at the back, but don't transition well from defence to attack, and there's no point having a striker up on his own if you don't have either a supply of crosses into the box with late arriving midfield runners to pick up knock downs, or a player sitting in behind him creating chances for him and bringing others into play around him.
they have just conceded 6 in one game
...and until that game had the best defensive record in the premier league.
It can't help that we are a third of the way through the season and AVB has not got a clue what his best XI is. You look at the top 5-6 teams in the table and they all pretty much know their best XI barring injuries/suspensions. I've no doubt if you asked 10 Spurs fans to name the lineup for their next game, they'd all come up with different options.
I think you mean Franco Baldini. You could've done with Baresi at the back yesterday though!!
I understand he did with success but played better with another striker.
Decent players but Spurs team is less than the sum of its parts. This is AVB's fault. Appears no real plan B. Again AVB's fault. Thought AVB was a decent manager poorly treated by Chelsea. Now wondering if he is a manager who got lucky at Porto and is now getting found out.
Not all new signings will fit a club / a league. FB's signings were praised at the time of signing. FB should be judged over a longer period of time.
Playing upfront on your own in the Premier League is a different kettle of fish to la Liga. The Spanish league allows the ball into the strikers feet, there's plenty more room and your not likely to get rattled by someone like Ryan Shawcross.
It's asking a lot of Soldado and I actually feel a bit for him.
Can't stand him, but Stan Collymore got it right on Sunday, the system and the players in that system don't matter when you play with the complete lack of pace and energy Spurs are currently playing with. They are playing at such a pedestrian place, everybody taking too many touches and too much time to then just pass the ball square.
The result is that by the time they get around to actually looking to deliver the ball the opposition are already waiting, hence no supply line up front. Also that's why the wingers end up in the middle of the pitch, they and Saldado end up going looking for the ball as it's never delivered to them.
So what is needed isn't a change of system, but a shift in tempo, press the opposition quicker, pass the ball quicker and create the space Saldado needs.
Good point by Collymore, they do play at a very slow tempo.
Bale was a massive source of goals for them, and with all their expenditure they managed to find nobody to anywhere near replace him. They also let Clint Dempsey leave, another positive goalscoring midfielder.
Problem is, Eriksen isn't playing and he is the creative spark. Holtby, Sandro, Paulinho and Dembele are all quite industrious, but lack attacking flair. Townsend is hit and miss, Lennon has no end product and Lamela looks lost. Soldado isn't fitting in to the system and AVB hasn't changed the way they play. People were falling over themselves to praise their transfer dealings, but I have yet to see any of them prove their worth
Soldado scored bundles at Valencia but only one was from outside the box. Sounds like he is a finisher but needs service from wide areas. Spurs need to address this and fast.
Strong rumour going round AVB gets the chop at 4pm
I've heard it too.
Have seen elsewhere in the last few hours that a number of players have leaked that AVB has lost the dressing room. Levy has shown in the past he isnt a patient man.
Not much point paying 20mil+ for a striker if he never sees the ball. Watching game against Tromso, play to slow and to complex stuff. You can see why they struggle to score.
Have Liverpool now scored more goals from open play than Spurs at whl?
Suarez has scored more goals than Spurs in the PL this season...
Has he not been sacked yet? If he's still in the job by the end of this week, I'll be amazed. The one thing that could save him is that we've got a cup quarter-final on Wednesday night against West Ham. If we contrive to throw that away, I can see him gone before midnight on Wednesday.
Comments
As for Soldado, did he play as a lone striker for Valencia? Genuine question as I hadnt seen an awful lot of him before this season.
There's no doubt there's pretty major issues that need sorting. 6 goals from open play in the PL this season is the telling statistic. Just not good enough. Oops, yeah, Baldini. Thats what I meant. Thanks for the correction
The result is that by the time they get around to actually looking to deliver the ball the opposition are already waiting, hence no supply line up front. Also that's why the wingers end up in the middle of the pitch, they and Saldado end up going looking for the ball as it's never delivered to them.
So what is needed isn't a change of system, but a shift in tempo, press the opposition quicker, pass the ball quicker and create the space Saldado needs.
Decent players but Spurs team is less than the sum of its parts. This is AVB's fault. Appears no real plan B. Again AVB's fault.
Thought AVB was a decent manager poorly treated by Chelsea. Now wondering if he is a manager who got lucky at Porto and is now getting found out.
Not all new signings will fit a club / a league. FB's signings were praised at the time of signing. FB should be judged over a longer period of time.
It's asking a lot of Soldado and I actually feel a bit for him.
Have seen elsewhere in the last few hours that a number of players have leaked that AVB has lost the dressing room.
Levy has shown in the past he isnt a patient man.
I'm far from convinced myself but surely that alone means he should be given a chance?
Watching game against Tromso, play to slow and to complex stuff.
You can see why they struggle to score.
Liverpool? ... Henderson is making a very strong claim for an England World Cup place
He must have been watching a different game.
Has he not been sacked yet? If he's still in the job by the end of this week, I'll be amazed. The one thing that could save him is that we've got a cup quarter-final on Wednesday night against West Ham. If we contrive to throw that away, I can see him gone before midnight on Wednesday.