3-5-2 + one sub = 0-0
Sunday, May 10, 2009 at 12:52AM Everton 0 Spurs 0
Wasn’t a great game, was it? Started well, dropped off the pace, Everton had the better of a dour second half. Happy with the point in the end. All pales into insignificance with Wilson Palacios absence from the squad due to devastating family reasons.
I don’t particularly feel the necessity to analyse the performance in microscopic detail or read too much into Harry’s tactics and lack of early substitution(s). We have a side that has been in fairly decent nick recently. We are far from being a soft touch (excluding the issues experienced at Ewood and OT), and lacking keys players at Goodison we played well enough to come away with a point.
Ok, Harry doesn’t always seem to react to how a game is or might develop. Sometimes you need to think ahead and change formations/player positions. It’s a weakness, more so because we don’t have the quality in depth to dominate games on the strength of the starting line-up. But even the strongest sides sometimes need aid from their manager to change things, and mix it up a little.
But complaints aside, what else do we expect when lining up in a 3-5-2 formation? We did get a point out of it. Even if we didn’t appear to ‘go for the win’ which is something we tend to do often at Goodison Park and with Fulham trouncing Villa, we should have been more on the offensive, especially in the second half. Which is where the ‘why didn’t Harry change it?’ question crops up.
But then this was against a side who have been top 6 for most of the season, with three of our top players missing. In the pouring rain. In a game that was far from great.
Sorry, I just can’t be that critical. Regardless of all the Lets Finish 7th fanfare. It was a crap match, with several players under-performing. Not that much any manager can do when the standard of the game is lacking quality.
Our forward line is not sparkling. JD is back from injury and is doing just fine (shame the season ends in two games) but is not at his sharpish best. Keane isn’t his usual self and hasn’t been for a while but isn’t half as bad as he looks. People tend to dwell on the hands in the air moaning than some of the more gritty work he does. But a forward should be forward more often than not rather than playing from midfield. Can I tell my deeper than Linda Lovelace joke again?
As for Pav forever struggling to start a game and Bent out injured – it’s not a perfect unit. We haven’t done badly recently, so once everyone is in tip-top shape and competing things will improve tenfold. More on this in a second or two.
Our midfield had no panther or greased lightning. Luka had a quiet afternoon. Sure, a substitution would have possibly given us something different (obviously) far earlier than when Roman came on in the 81st minute as Everton were controlling the game and looked the more likely to score. But it’s all well and good to sit here in hindsight and suggest that, I don’t know, bringing on Bentley or the youngster Rose or maybe even Campbell might have made a significant difference. I equally might have backfired. People need to relax on the knee-jerk that Harry doesn’t make tactical changes when required to help change the course of the game.
Had we shifted back to a 4-4-2 and made two changes there is no guarantee it would have made a difference. Same goes had we started the game with 4-4-2. I’m not disputing Harry has to be more pro-active, but this is just a single 90 minutes. Had, for example, Defoe scored we’d be revealing in Redknapp’s genius. I know he's been guilty before, but again, it's something I prefer to place aside until the start of next season, post-transfer window.
If we want to step up, there are fundamentals that need fixing.
The midfield.
The balance has to be redefined a little. Spoke about this in the Conundrum series. It’s either going to be a left-winger with Modric moving to central midfield or we buy a more dominating box to box player to replace the inconsistent Jenas.
Far too much running before walking. We have some good players at Tottenham. We have one or two who are great. We need to consolidate and improve on some key positions. This is nothing new. Been here before plenty of times. We should have bought the right type of players last summer, and failed to do so which resulted with the departure of Ramos. Harry has the perfect opportunity to spend wisely as there is no need to overhaul the squad.
We need botox. Not plastic surgery.
Great to see Bale back and playing well today. Huddlestone struggled. Hutton needs the fresh start a new season will bring. Hope to have Aaron, Benoit and Wilson back for the City game.
We are 8th. Above West Ham. Which should keep the people that worry about that sort of stuff content.
Reader Comments (9)
it woz good to get a point at goodison, againt a side who put alot of pressure on us in the second half and yet failed to put us away ha ha ha ha ha ha..well done the d fence.....but i meself would like to have seen a bit more tinkering from sir h in the last 30 min of the game. i didnt understand the swap of pav 4 moders? should av took hutton of at 60 min mark n put chimbonda on plenty of pace gets forward...n bugger me bale looked ok n i would like to c if bale could be coached to play as a left sided midfielder and left there week in and out...i reckon he is wasted at left back..
If reports about King are true there will be many who are angry and frustrated by his stupidity. By all means have a social life, but whilst Palacios shows dignity, respect and guts, King gets arrested for ABH. All Tottenham fans will be comparing the two. Ledley, get your act together and show some respect to your manager, team-mates and fans.
Good article, it is easy to start criticising Harry for getting a point away at Goodison?? That was a decent result, yes we could have been more offensive BUT i felt that in the 1st half we were offensive and due to some great defensive tackles from their back four we might of scored.
We needed a point, IF we beat Man City I still think that we can get 7th. In my opinion I do not like our front line apart from Defoe. We need a quicker stronger target man. Pav i think is not suited to the EPL. Keane I love but at the moment he looks like a link man rather than a striker who will score goals.
As for King, I bet some idiot was out of order and instigated the assault, not defending him but I can't see Ledley looking for trouble on a night out.
Finally, let's keep our faith in Harry, he has done wonders, we look like a strong talented team. Few new quality additions and we might do something next year.
We were ok but with defoe, modders and keane on the pitch we were constantly outmuscled by a much bigger, solid defence who were always there in numbers. Maybe if Everton were more adventurous it would have provided more room. It is a bit of a concern that the goals have dried up - modders may be a great player but he doesnt seem to be finding his teammates enough with through balls. I'm not sure who Harry could have brought on who would make a real difference, especially as he doesnt want to take keane off under any circumstances.
unfortunately Ledley is a piss head and i'm his biggest fan........I've seen him out on many occasions down west and he's been literally stumbling, eyes rolling in to the back of his head f**ked!!!! May be down to his mates, my mate a couple of yrs ago tried to tell him to fix him up outside a club and one of his mates started on my mate!!!
After watching the game I think the 3-5-2 worked quite well. I think Hutton and Bale looked great in the wing back slots. Both looked like they had renewed confidence, with both of them taklng on their respective fullbacks at every opportunity.
Hutton looked shattered at the end and needs the summer break to recoup his energy levels. Bale looks like he needs more games to get his confidence levels up, at times yesterday he looked like the Bale of old and I reckon he's definitely on the path back to his old self.
Yobo and Lescott outmuscled Keane and Defoe BUT they also outmuscle most strike partnerships, Keane looked much improved on his recent appearances but I still feel he could be more of a threat.
Overall though our first half showing was very impressive, I felt if we'd got an early goal then we would of racked up 2 or 3 by half time. It's also good to know that we can switch formations and styles without losing our attacking style.
A draw at goodison is a good result and had it not been for Fulham's freak result against Villa (i thought it'd be a draw) we would've had a great weekend.
Onto Citeh then Pool away. COYS
Anyone know when the new shirts will be unveiled???
thought harry could and should have made more subs Hutton was obviously knackered and thudd was looking sluggish and ineffective against an everton midfield that likes a scrap. We need to do away with jenas and put modders there and bale who has been ripping it apart in the reserve matches should be re tested again on left mid.
I would like to point out that i thought JJ had another solid performance yesterday. Man of the match in what was a pretty scrappy affair. The boy's been coming good lately. Would hate to seem him leave once he finally seems to be showing some consistancey !
Fair point by Mike G. As club captain Ledley needs to set an example and this is happening a bit too often... Especially given the events of earlier in the day regarding Wilson, being out on the razz didn't exactly ooze class. Ledley has everything going for him to be around for years at THFC and a great ambassador for the club, so it's high time for DL to take him to one side and point out that he's still playing for his Spurs future... Even if it's not on the pitch.