And so it begins...
Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 9:53PM Here we go then. Season 2013 is upon us. You ready?
Modric is still with us. Just about. Should be gone any day now if you believe the latest 'news' suggesting Madrid upped their bid (a day after we supposedly accepted a far lower one) and that Spurs are asking for some time to confirm a replacement. Which sounds ridiculous. None of it matters really, aside from the official club statements which will tell all. I'm still confident Luka will be gone, Adebayor will arrive and another player or two. But for now, we look forwards with what we definitely know to have in Lilywhite.
Couple of things here to discuss then.
Firstly, patience. Without it we're doomed (I'm being over-dramatic because we don't do things by half measures). It's going to be bad enough to have Redknapp's soundbites and the media's agenda on our back - let's not meltdown early doors. A lot being discussed about how we've massively cocked-up by not getting all our business done before the first game of the season and how we could lose several points like we did against the Manc sides. Except this season is not in any way comparable to the last. We have a new coach, therefore all the prep work and training ethics will take time (hopefully not too much time) to bed in. There's so much you can get out of pre-season. It's also not comparable because Villas-Boas is unlikely to start a player equivalents to Niko in the middle of the park and leave us beyond light-weight in a key position.
Positivity is the key on and off the pitch. VB will hopefully not fully commit to the high-line set-up (mainly because we still don't have a keeper that can play it). I think the main difference I'm hoping to see is the player instructions and how the team push up, pressure and pass the ball. What type of tempo we'll be playing with and how we counter attack. For example, will Bale stay on the left, swap wings, roam? How will Sig or vdV fit into the hole behind the lone forward? How will that lone forward link in with the midfield? No Adebayor (not yet, any day now), who was superb at dropping deep and holding the ball up. We've got Defoe, altogether a different type of forward, not as complete and robust as Adebayor and for some arguably not a long term first team choice (has he ever been that?). Still he's one with confidence after his England goal. Kane will be on the bench. That more or less illustrates the work required for the next couple of weeks.
Plenty of questions then, although it is only the first game and it is away at a place where we traditionally don't get too much from. It's going to make great viewing. That goes without say. It's Spurs.
So how should we shape up for it?
Defence selects itself with Brad, Walker, Kaboul, Vertonghen and Benny. Sandro (or Livermore) as holding midfielder alongside either Livermore or Tom Huddlestone (as a replacement of sorts for Modric). He's not a like for like replacement obviously but he's got a range of passing that will add an offensive touch to our player in what would otherwise be a pedestrian central midfield. No Luka to recycle possession so Tom will give us another type of dimension to our play. Alternatives? Jenas? I won't go there. Of course, there's a chance Sandro won't play as his pre-season consisted of a silver medal and not much training field work with the gaffer. But his quality should be enough to allow him to 'get stuck in' for the shirt. Livermore can stake a claim off the back of last season's mature performances (on occasions) and his England call up. Would still opt for Sandro.
The three players sitting behind the forward will be Lennon and Bale on the wings and either van der Vaart or Sig spearheading the threesome. Perhaps for continuation of familiarity, he'll opt for Rafa. Will have plenty of work to do, supporting Defoe. The good thing here is, both Rafa and Sig are not goal shy players and are sweet at positioning and finishing.
The rest, the flow and pace of the side, the movement...that's for us to sit back and be entertained with. Either way or draw, I'll be getting smashed afterwards.
Enjoy your Saturday.
COYS
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Follow me on Twitter @Spooky23
Reader Comments (46)
Brad
Walker Kaboul Vertongen Benny
Livermore Sandro
Lennon Siggy Bale
Defoe
Brad
Walker Kaboul Vertongen Bale
Huddlestone
Livermore Sandro
Rafa Defoe Gio
Something tells me that Viz Boaz teams are going to be a fair sight easier to predict then old arry's. No more 442 @ old Trafford or the emirates. I think we will have to get used to some common sense management. Not that pre season means a lot but it appears we might have practiced a set play or two. Full backs seriously push on and the two wingers get into goal scoring positions more often. Double training sessions seem to have paid off and I think we can expect to see the lads pressing hard when not in position. Interestingly AVB's Chelsea tore Newcastle apart @ st James park last year. Defoe is a weak link but we have as a good a chance as we ever had of winning up there, it's a bogey ground for us.
Love the article as ever spooks.
COYS
Tipping a brace from siggy stardust
Hmmm.... That was a bit harsh on Harry with that Niko in the middle thing. The other alternative at the time was probably Gio! Sandro, Pienaar, Hudd, Jenas, Modric were all unavailable at the time.... Harry bought Parker and saved the season. Make or break for AVB..... although I will let him off any criticism (or praise) until we have a more normal complement of attacking options!
We would have accepted a bid from them, not "excepted." For future reference.
Brad
Kyle Unit Jan Benny
Sandro livermore
Azza Rafa Bale
JD
I would, under normal circumstances, play Thudd over Jake but seeing as hr hasn't played a competitive match in a year I think he needs to be eased into matches before he gets a start, plus, Jake has done well and shows consistent improvement
Brad
Kyle Unit Jan Benny
Sandro livermore
Azza Rafa Bale
JD
I would, under normal circumstances, play Thudd over Jake but seeing as hr hasn't played a competitive match in a year I think he needs to be eased into matches before he gets a start, plus, Jake has done well and shows consistent improvement
Firstly, patience, us yids have more than a patience than a mind-reader at a stam, stam, stam, stammerer's convention! Secondly I started drinking Sunday, and it aint helped.
Thanks Joe. For future reference perhaps I shouldn't expect auto corrections.
I meant accept.
Why wouldn't Dawson be starting. He is captain after all.
Is he injured ?
Brad
Walker Kaboul Dawson BAE
Sandro Siggy
Azza VDV Bale
Defoe
has to be
brad
walker,vert,bull,bae
sandro
lennon,sig,vdv,bale
defoe
Whatever the line up choosen by AVB, the keywords must be Positivity & Patience!
COYS!
I find myself fantasizing that AVB will somehow find a way to unlock the frustratingly elusive talents of GDS.
Then I slap myself awake and promise myself to cut down on the booze.
.....................Butland..........................
Walker.....Kaboul...Caulkner......Assou Ekotto
.................Sandro...M'Villa....................
Hulk.........................................Bale
....................Sahin...............................
....................Llorente..........................
Subs: Friedel, Vertonghen,Livermore,Lennon,Sigurdsen, DeFoe.
COYS, In Levy we trust and AVB forever. Don't you just know that DL's going to bring off a range of masterstroke signings before Saturday's 5.30 kick-off.
Whoever play this weekend, the most important thing to bear in mind is that HE MUST WANT TO PLAY FOR THE SHIRT.
Coys.
If jenas starts on sat I'm writing the season off straight away
sign BERBATOV.
he will come back, he will have a point to prove, he will be humbled and he will be devastating.
do it do it do it.
I'd play Carroll over Hud or Livermore any day, but expect that he may only see a few minutes 2nd half if we are behind.
I think that with Carroll playing regularly alongside Sandro, Modric would not be missed that much.
Anyway, something's wrong because I'm optimistic we will win tomorrow....how the hell do you explain that?
I'm sure AVB will do a good job, but how good depends upon better support from our bin-end buying Chairman.
LIAK
Redknapp is now a pundit on Match of The Day. I hope we win.
Since when do we have Adebayor? Newcastle are going to take the piss out of us on Saturday, just as we have taken the piss out of ourselves all summer. Cant wait to hear AVB's excuses and reasons why it wasnt his fault on MOTD
<yawns and stretches arms above heads, waking from summer hibernation>
So then guys did I miss much over the summer?! Bet Arry's got your lot fired up again, can't wait to see if RVP will bang another 30 in for us this season and with Modric supplying the ammunition for Adebayor you should be okay for goals too!!
Here's to another 'banter' filled season, can't wait to fight it out with your lot again for the top four, joy! I may even set up a parody twitter account as that seems popular at the moment (god I hate cricket!).
Everything changes but it all stays the same.... Enjoy.
Welcome back Dan.
I'm seething myself. Harry Redknapp signed to MotD?
End of days.
AVB has a point to prove and hopefully he'll start by collecting all three on Saturday, a very tricky opener against the toon so I'll try my hardest not to be too judgmental, far too early in the day to be thinking that way imo. Good luck for the new season Tottenham Hotspur, wiv ya all the way. TTID COYS!!!!
I think we can really get at Newcastle tomorrow. We know the back 4 will be Walker, BAE, Kaboul and either Dawson or Vertonghen. Either way it's a pretty solid back 4, with Hellboy behind them.
I'd go with Sandro & Livermore in the middle of the park. Would rather 2 defensive midfielders away from home than just the one (let one deal with Ba or Cisse).
Bale, Lennon & VdV in advanced roles and Defoe up front.
For me there's plenty of pace and creativity in there which will trouble a Newcastle midfield and back 4 struggling with injuries.
I'll be happy with a point tomorrow, even more so if we come away with all 3.
Gomez
Naughton-Dawson-Bassong-Rose
Townsend-Carroll-Jenas-GDS-Bentley
Kane
They'll never see it coming! And by the time they figure it out the game'll be over. 0-0 and we bring a sweet point home. Ta-Dah!!
Caterham7 - lol!! A cunning plan indeed!
A new season and hope springs eternal....Good luck boys and especially to AVB....play for the shirt and COYS!
ps - PLEASE sign a striker!
We look poor against newcastle - just about half-time
I feel a lot more positive about Spurs than I did a few hours ago. Then again I had very low expectations and was expecting a thrashing at SJP. I honestly don't think Modric would have made any difference today.
We are going to be fine ...
Bring back Harry!!!
Anyone know why Vert didn't play today?
Probably to ensure he doesn't get his confidence knocked back by a tough opening fixture at SJP; the Prem isn't the crappy Eredivisie and will take some adjusting to. Interesting to see how AVB wants his players to close down all over the pitch. I wonder if this spells the end for VdV and Huddlestone.
Why can't VDV fill in the deep play making role that Modric's absence has created?
Oi centurion, pass another nail.....
Some things at Spurs are bad
They can really make ya mad
Levy makes me swear, and curse, and scream
When you hear the final whistle
And you tell the world to swivel
This'll help things turn out for the best...
And..Always bank on Spurs to fcuk up ya night...da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum
Like playing catch with 12 inch butchers knife.. da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum
If the team are playing rotten
Like there’s something they’ve forgotten
And that's to play with style, and guile, and zing.
When you’re screaming at those cunts
Don't be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle – and maybe sing.
Supporting Spurs is the same as doing life..da dum, dad um..
Locked in a cell - morning, noon, and night.. da dum, da dum..
Sacking Redknapp was absurd
he’ll have the final word
You must always set your ducks up in a row.
Forget champion’s league with no forwards on the scene
Enjoy it? - it's was your last chance anyhow.
So, is, Levy ,Blind, mute, and death? da dum, da dum...
I dreamt last night he took his terminal breath da dum,ha ha, da dum, da dum...
His Transfer policy's shit
When you look at it
Brinkmanship’s a joke, and this it's true.
You'll see it's all a show
He’ll never let Modric go
Just remember that the last laugh is on you.
And..Always rely on Levy to cause you strife...
And..Always rely on Tottenham to fcuk up ya night...
(Come on guys,sing up!)
And..Always rely on Levy to provide a knife..
And..Always rely on Tottenham to leave it to late..
(Worse things happen in Mogadishu , you know.)
And..Always rely on Levy to leave it to late..
(Come on - what have we got to lose?)
(You know, we came from mid-table – we’re going back to mid-table .
What have we lost? Nothing!)
Always rely on Levy to make ya railed...
Always rely on Levy to fcuk up in style...
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@nycid
I agree. I thought we looked great. We stuffed them the first half and were unlucky not to score. I thought Gallas went missing second half; and he was late shutting Ba down on his goal before ducking out of the way. Defoe was offside on his and that chicken-shit PK wash each other out. So it was 1-0 and could have easily been 1-2. SJP is a hard place to go and win away. For a first effort I see a lot of positives.
I think we see Vertonghen next week for Gallas. Hopefully, Ade will be our target up front now that Modric is gone. Although, full credit to Defoe, he looked all kinds of dangerous today. Maybe THudd for Livermore? It's gonna be a great season...
@Whisky Tom
Not for the first time, you have written what amounts to utter, senseless, nonsense DRIVEL and I am being polite.
Perhaps your style of 'humour' is over my head, but I will take a punt and say that most will agree with me when I say
that most who frequent this site, do so to read about our TEAM and the MATCH we have just played and not to be sub-jected
to what you might term, poetry. The only poetry I want to see is that which occurs on the pitch, or not as the case may be.I like
this site, mostly for the quality of Spookys writing, but why so few comments about the opening game of the season?
Do we all have to wait for Spookys assessment before we feel we can give our tuppence worth? Spookys musings will be all
the richer if he has something to feed from and in the hours following the opening game of the season, he has had nowt to speak
of.
Poetry? No wonder it went over your head mate. In future, just skip my posts...I SKIP YOURS!
He's not a poet, he's a very naughty boy.
I liked it actually. Levy liked it too. So much so that to celebrate, we're going window shopping. We'll be looking at strikers. Not buying mind you, just looking.
Hi Guys,
I just wanted to take the time to say... Just like it pisses us off when Sandro thinks he is Luka and tries to be uber-creative, or when Bale wants to be David Silva and plays in the middle, it also pisses us off when 'you' think you're Spooky and try to write ridiculously creative and/or witty posts.
If you quack, you're a duck, if you can't pass or dribble you're Palacios and if you can't blog, you're a reader.
Thanks,
I. Was. Pissed. And. I. Thought. It. Was. Hilarious. It. Was. A. Pardoy. Of. Always. Look. On. The. Bright. Side. Of. Life. I. Think. You. Are (why are you reading this 4M) angry. Because. We. Lost. And. We. Are. Down. To. Bare. Bones. And. So. Have. Decided. To. Pick. On. The. Mad. Kid. Shame. On. You. If. You. Quack. You're. A. Duck. Wow. Let. Me. Try.
If you have to hide behind a false name to protect your idently - you're a fcuking idiotic chicken shit mug. Cliffyboy, or should I say, dirty arry, or should I say M intellect, or should I say - I know your true idently you mug, but I wouldn't want to OUT YOU and make you run screaming into the street.......that's because I'm emotionally intelligent! What happened mate, did the other children run and hide from you? Call you names? Or were you HOME schooled!
Pack the midfield and attack on the break - hardly a new dawn of tactical nous.
It made for a scrappy midfield battle with neither ever getting any rhythm.
Lesson of the day - a club with one striker may struggle to score, who would have thought.
There are so few comments about the game because most people are probably thinking the same thing but are afraid to speak it - Here it is:
"Wow so is AVB really going to fail at Tottenham? I hope not, I hope he is not Ramos #2. IS IT TOO EARLY to judge? Even though we lost, there were good things, ...right? But is this loss reminiscent of the losses under Ramos,, where we would have some good moments in the game but always seemed to lose by some unfailing stroke of bad luck or mistake? Is it too early to make such comparisons? Will we regret losing Harry? OK, it's too early, I'll reserve my comments for now. But a winning start wuld have been better for more confidence behind our unproven and much maligned coach."
I travelled up to Newcastle yesterday and even though we lost the match I saw enough to assure me that we have the capabilities to have a decent season. Sure, there are key positions in the side that that AVB needs to address and I woud have much preferred to have seen Vertonghen play at the expense of Gallas who was at fault for Ba's goal, slack marking imo. There is a thin line between success and failure as we all know, the width of post and cross bar on two ocassions played their part yesterday, we had a lot of ball possesion and that has to considered a good thing. So with that in mind I'd much prefer to remain optimistic regarding AVB's appointment as opposed to taking the, ' I told you so stance'. The positives far outweigh the negatives as far as I'm concerned and I have no doubt that all will fall into place.
On a personal note, I saw Danny Rose outside the ground at the end of the game and managed to get a photo, I asked him if he coud score a few more goals like the one he scored against the gooners. "I'll try my best", came the reply. Summed the day up in one comment. TTID COYS!!!
@nochman
Too early for that mate though you may be able to say 'I told you so' sooner than most.
Our only real striker is JD. Don't see how you can judge AVB until we get much needed replacement for strikers.
But you can judge Daniel Levy right now for leaving it late.
Of course he's had some family problems to factor in. But the fact that we went to Newcastle with an incomplete team
and actually did okay leaves me optimistic.
*Typo*- wrote the word ,'that' twice in second sentence...Pardon the error Spooly.