To dare is to turn up avoiding any lasagne pre-match
Friday, September 24, 2010 at 11:34AM We've discussed plenty of times how we have been Jekyll and Hyde so far this season. Because of our stop/start play, we've yet to really stamp down an authoritative swagger on a match from start to finish, convincingly and emphatically.
City Home Draw 0-0 - Breathless first half, stagnating second half.
Young Boys Away Loss 3-2 - Keystone cops first half, dug deep second half.
Stoke Away Win 2-1 - Beastly first half, holding onto dear life second half.
Young Boys Home Win 4-0 - Probably the most comfortable 90 minutes of the season.
Wigan Home Loss 1-0 - Hangoverish. Got worse in the second half until disappearing completely
WBA Away Draw 1-1 - Mish mash.
Werder Away Draw 2-2 - Best 44 minutes you could ask for. Lacklustre defending, but not a terrible second half all things considering.
Wolves Home Win 3-1 - Laboured a little what with finishing, but had all the chances, and in the end, endeavoured to finally make the break-through. Not a win to be dismissed in terms of once more digging deep.
Scum Home Loss 4-1 - Second/third string that hardly performed and yet could have won. In the aftermath, it's quite cute how hard them lot are trying to justify the significance of the win as something tangible. The fact that it wasn't our first team should therefore have no negative impact on the mentality of the side that plays on Saturday.
Looking at the EPL games only, that's DWLDW. It's a case of C+ when we were hoping for more of a B, B+. But to be completely fair, had we won the Wigan home game, I'm not sure many would be that concerned, probably preferring to cite how we are not playing brilliantly but still picking up the points - a sign of a dogged side that churns out the results. Instead, we find we are lingering on a few worrying aspects of the performances. For example, our lack of grip on the second half of games. The struggle to be clinical in front of goal. The form of some of our players (Corluka, Palacios, Lennon), the loss of Modric (be it for a few games) and also the signing of Rafael van der Vaart.
Now the latter is not actually a worrying aspect at all. It's inspired. Levy bagged an extra dimension in Rafa for Harry, which will allow for decisive depth which IMO spoils us. We could, for example, rest Luka and play Rafa. Or play them both. Or have at least one available if the other is injured. Thus no reason to be down-hearted if we are missing one of them but including both in the starting line-up should be nothing less than majestic. Of course, there are tactical responsibilities to be understood in terms of what to do if the opposition attempt to flood the midfield or nullify one or both of our lefties.
Both are quite similar in terms of being able to play out on the flank and through the middle. Modric, a crafter of creation, dinking in and around the box with sublime touches and passes. Rafael, a technician of tricks, offensive-minded and equally superb in play-making, with the added bonus of knowing where the back of the net is.
Both (regardless of the obvious difference in physical stature) know how to handle themselves on the pitch. Modric can get stuck in. vdV is also not afraid. For anyone who had reservations about his work-rate, re-watch the first half v Werder Bremen and how superbly he covered the pitch, closed down opposition players and took responsibility with wanting the ball. He was equally important in the Wolves win. A touch of leadership about him in terms of how he's always looking to push the team forwards.
So nothing worrying about the inclusion of vdV in our squad. Of course, Harry has to be certain of the mechanics of the team and how they can work best. Fluid functioning 451 success isn't going to happen over-night. 15 games in, if it's still fragmented and we are not progressing too well, then sit yourself in the corner and do that back and forwards slow movement, staring blankly into space, foaming at mouth thing you do when you know a transitional season is on the cards.
So is all the lingering doubt really worth it? The scratching of heads? It's not exactly Everton all this. Or Liverpool. Not that we should ever want to be using other clubs problems as a gauge of how well we are doing in comparison. We can see what's not quite right, and it's all fixable. Look up, not down brothers.
Talking of looking down. It's vital we win on Saturday. The main reason being, it's two wins from five, and this would make it three wins in six. It will be a testament of our guile and determination. Had we not lost Modric at WBA, the game might have turned out differently. My point being, it's time for some convincing football, across 90 minutes, away from home. There is no room for the team, the players out on the pitch, to knee-jerk if say a player goes off injured. We've seen that happen this season, so time for Harry and players to excel and look towards that B, B+.
It's swagger time. Screw B. I want A+ with distinction.
West Ham, no matter how abjectly shit they are, which they are most of the time, always turn up for this fixture. Well, I say always turn up, they still had around 1,500 tickets available for the game earlier in the week. I guess some are holding out for a seat in the Olympic Stadium.
Their players rarely fail not to play with fire in their belly at Upton Park. No matter their form in prior games. And what with their woeful start to the season, they've apparently half turned a corner with their point away to Stoke and the cup win at Sunderland. A win for them would be deemed an important kick-starting turning point. Historically, for all their plucky efforts, it hardly ever goes their way. Unless of course we get poisoned.
I've got to be honest. Anything less than three points will be massively disappointing.
We are better than them on paper, on form, in Football Manager 2010, better than them even when we are abjectly shit. Losing this will hurt just as much as losing to Wigan because it's completely avoidable and unnecessary. Losing to Wigan is probably worse because that was a home match, but you get what I mean.
We always take points off them. And we never take it for granted, so no change in attitude is required. Our players are just as aware of how high tempo these games can get and that there is - like all London derby matches - the matter of pride. Be it far less important than Arsenal and Chelsea. It can turn out to be tenacious and ferocious and their players via the vocal power of home support, can elevate themselves onto a higher level playing field and blah blah blah.
I don't care. Ruin them thank you very much. Take those lingering worrying aspects we've kept in our possession since the opening day, stick 'em in a box, and throw it into the canal.
Things I want to see:
Bale marauding through the West Ham defence like a hot samurai sword through butter. Although to be fair, you could blunt a knife or just replace it with a feather, you'd still manage to get through their defence. Very accommodating, knees up and such.
Start Hutton. Bench Corluka.
Our midfield dominating the midfield. Scott Parker does a sterling job, but if we can't go to Upton Park and strangle the life out of them, then shame oh shame.
Crouch looping header of a despairing Rob Green.
If a DM is to be used at some point. Use Sandro, not Wilson.
I'd drop Lennon, but I'm struggling to work out if that would be more so detrimental to the side even with his current form being very average, because the alternative(s) are not great. Lennon, at least manages to assist. He might actually re-discover something so, in conclusion. Play Lennon.
No. More. Fitness. Issues.
Attack. Attack. Attack. Attack. Attack.
So something sexy like this will do me just fine:
Gomes
Hutton King Bassong BAE
Lennon Huddlestone Modric Bale
vdV
Crouch
COYS.
Reader Comments (44)
you'll be able to hear the collective groan of spurs fans everywhere at about 2.40pm as the team sheets are handed in and Bale is playing at left back :(
Such a massive game this one. 3 points is all that's acceptable. No favours from Harry for one of his old clubs. No injuries. Lots of spurs goals especially from VdV and Bale for my fantasy team.
COYS
Doctor Jekyll. Day of the Jackal. Who cares? 3 Points please.
I want Ledley fit for Twente, so not sure he'll play tomorrow , maybe Gallas and Bassong.
Hope Sandro makes the bench, he is top class. 2-1 Spurs
Spooky
I like to look of that.
I agree Charlie needs a rest. I'd actually play JJ over on the right or even Bentley (his proper position - did well there earlier this calender yesr) instead of Lennon at this point. Do you think he'll have a pyschological issue going back to West Ham, scene of the injury he picked up and thus loses form?
Cant say I'm thrilled with option up top but with Defoe out Crouch is the only viable option. Pav and Keane need a fucking good fire lit under them.
About Keane. When we were over in NY at the NY Challenge he was off his face in the Mean Fiddler one night. And I mean off his face....nobody else from the squad was there either. A mate eho just got back from working there for the summer told me that. There is no suggestion that he cheated on Claudine though.....
He's a fucking disgrace at this point.
It would be in keeping with our less than overwhelmingh start ,which you so clearly outline, for this to to be a tedious draw.( 1-1 probably) which wouldn't suit either of us.
That swaggering feeling from the run in has ebbed away and we need a crushing victory on Saturday toi revive it.
It's as good a time as any, like now.
Gomes should be back but who will be saved for Twente?
Another forehead wrinkling concern for Harry who does not really do thinking.
Talking yes, thinking ,no.
id take out benoit and have bale at left back and just include sandro in the middle :-)
but yes great article
I live in Chadwell Heath which is West Ham territory . It is their Cup Final and I would take a draw . I think CL will have a major impact on sides picked either side in the Premiership . I think King will be saved for Tuesday - I hope Bale plays midfield and Hutton plays right back . Is Gomes anywhere near fit as he is far superior as a keeper to the other two ?
Forgot to insert,' Harry our saviour, 2 points from 8 games, triffic team, top top manager, Harry for England'
King won't play, I'd hazard a wee guess. I'd also start Lennon. He's likely to have a go at WH's defence and with Bale on the opposite side, can't see us losing this. Will create far too many chances for them to cope with.
3-0 Spurs
I know it's CL, but EPL is just as important. Three points is needed. We need to start breeding confidence in performances and results which we can take onwards into the next game.
Gallas for King is a good shout. I'm trying hard to just focus on the weekend rather than having one eye on mid-week, which again might be the problem with our stop/start play.
westham gonna thrash your medicore overpaid bunch of nonsense players , and then we will see what kind of excuses u come up with may b players who were playing were 4th string team or wait may b they were wives or girlfriends of the players ha ha ha ha ha teeny tiny totts, cant suck up a fair thrasing........
LOL
spooky i thought that among all of them u had some brain left and inspite of u being a spud , enjoyed ur blog but ur match assesment let me down big time..
pivotal game this i fear, not for the team just my sanity.....we have to win - surely, and yes, hope/pray that there is a healthy dose of swagger but once more i fear.....i am regressing, i am reverting to type, I am a Tottenham fan :$
I yearn for swagger, a brace from VdV, one from crouchy and perhaps a goal for lennon and bentley, just for their confidence.....is 5 too much to ask??? Would I swap 4 of them for a clean sheet without ledders? I think I might. I'm in a spin, I need a win, convince me, evince thee, demonstrate that WE are considerably better than to date.
is gomez back?
The premiership is MORE important than the champions league. Yes we don't want to be made to look like lugs in the CL but in all fairness we probably won't be at any stage. 4th this season is there for the taking for whoever wants it the most. Last season will be for nothing if we don't build on it and that means another top4 finish in the league.
Forget Twente on Wednesday, play the strongest possible team tomorrow and on Wednesday morning assess what team you're going to play against Twente. With 4 days to recover it'd probably be the same team anyway.
Winning is a habit which we seem to have lost because we're fiddling about with formations and players too much. What's the reason we've only kept 1 clean sheet in the league this season? Because the defence is different every bloody game.
COYS
oh, and Gomes isn't fit for those that are asking.
Billy. Go on then mate. What did you not like? I thought I did well actually, not going for the usual 'Cup final' comments. Was an honest assessment, guv.
por delooded hamerhed cant spel cant talk footbal is gona b cryun in his bubbl gun tmoro
All depends on what Spurs turn up. All depends on what West ham turn up.
Could be a classic. Or it could be like that bore of a game from last season that we won. Which I'll happily take again.
Is Gomes 100% out then? Don't have much faith in the back ups.
Hey, spooky, remember this?
http://www.dearmrlevy.com/dml/2007/5/26/bale-signs.html
He won't be playing.
strategy must be to put the best side out on all fronts..........CL EPL Cup etc
is it me or years ago the players were able to deal with europe pressure as well as domestic......?
dont remember anyone not able to do both...
accepting redknapp has to try the new players and get them fit.......too many wheels turning?
keep same team.......as much as possible .......being proffessional is one thing
but key players were missed against arsenal and it showed and the reason.......to have a look at others ? didnt that get sorted in the reserves?? before the main games
it must be difficult keeping all the players happy...........but the club requires to keep moving ahead on from last year or we are back where we were .......nearly rans
People forgetting that we went to Stoke an WBA and got decent results. Unless West Ham play completely out of their skin I can't see anything less than a win for us.
You've gone and jinxed it now Killjoy !
DOOMED
thfc1882 speaks words of wisdom
Confident of this one. Usually WH put us under a lot of pressure and we go 1-0 down. I can see us really taking the game to them. Can't see them coping. Would actually opt for 442 for this game. Two upfront. Crouch and Keane and Bale left back with vdv left wing, Mod in the middle with Hudd.
C O Y S
Connie - yes. I do. I honestly wasn't sure at the time, mainly because of the hype and the fact I hadn't seen much of him. He then impressed me, and then he got injured. The rest is...history.
Bale at left back? I wish people would stop suggesting such stupidity. Completely wasted back there. Dont understand Harrys continued suggestion that lb will be his best position. Develop his attacking qualities. Job done. World Class within 2/3 years.
I'd be happy to see his defensive abilities tuned up. He will be monstrous if he can play in both positions for us. Tactically would make us very strong.
You mean tactically would make Man Utd very strong.
3-0 to Spurs
Man Utd? Red nose can fuck off.
Cudicini
Kaboul-Gallas-Bassong-BAE
Hutton-Hudd-Modric-Bale
VdV
Crouch
Would like to see Sandro again. Looks like a proper destroyer. Wish Palacios would find his form again. Having both players in prime condition would be such a blessing.
I wouldn't think sandro will play a major part for us for a while yet. A game here and there, probably at home.
"had we won the Wigan home game, I'm not sure many would be that concerned"
Yup. Kabul over Hutton though.
think hutton should get a run in the team although needs to concentrate on his defending much more but better than charlie or kaboul in that position. lets ripped the irons apart, tottenham we expect no we demand 3pts COYMFS!!!!!
spooky, well done on sorting out the comments section in just 1 page. Makes it much easier on your mobile phone to read.
If Kaboul is fit, I expect him at the back instead of hutton away from home. To be honest, I reckon we have looked better away from home this year, so looking forward to this one.
COYS.
It's only 50 comments per page I'm afraid. Asked the developers to see about having them all on the one page though, so fingers crossed.
"They still had around 1,500 tickets available for the game earlier in the week. I guess some are holding out for a seat in the Olympic Stadium".
@Spooky: has anyone ever told you that yure a dry sarcastic bastard??? Kiss me you fool!
Today's match is absolutely crucial... We need to make a clear statement. Like you said, attack... attack... attack. That's when we play our best defence anyways.
COYS!!!!