Brilliant result Saturday. Obviously not the one man team we've been made out to be. We got away with it against Southampton without Kane according to Souness and we were still tipped to miss out on the top four. Results like Saturday will hopefully go some way to give us the credit we deserve. Not that we will from some quarters of course, but that's nothing new. We're a cracking team at the minute. The players believe it and so do the fans. What a fantastic season it would be if we managed Champions league football again next season with a Wembley final to boot. Great progress.
Onto a tricky one Wednesday night. Mixed results over the years at the Liberty. Hampered with injuries this time as well.
Can't make my mind up who to play at the back but I would still go with the 3: (If all the injuries are confirmed)
Lloris
Walker
Carter-Vickers
Alderweirald
Vertonghen
Davies
Dier
Dembele
Eriksen
Dele
Son
Bench will make for grim reading but that team should handle it with Walker, Son and Dembele fresh enough. No confidence in Sissoko to come into the team in Midfield from the off at the moment. Sad, but true. With our home record the way it is this season and Chelsea City on the same night we should go as strong as possible on Wednesday.
Swansea
posted on 3/4/17
It is relevant, if you watch the two play it is hugely different.
Wanyama presses high, and is very box 2 box.
Dier when in midfield likes to sit back and often fill in as another defender when in possession of the ball, something that even Pochettinho confirmed after the game.
With Wanyama playing and 3 CB's we have a defensive minded midfielder. With Dier playing and 3 CB's we almost play like we have 4.
posted on 3/4/17
I think if Dier did play with 3 behind him it would give Dembele more license to stay further up the pitch. Not a terrible issue to have a compact back central unit away from home.
posted on 3/4/17
At this stage in the season the injuries might even be encouraging the rest of the team to work harder to get the job done in their absence. Hope so.
Good sign of the quality and spirit of the team whatever the case may be.
posted on 3/4/17
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 4 minutes ago
It is relevant, if you watch the two play it is hugely different.
Wanyama presses high, and is very box 2 box.
Dier when in midfield likes to sit back and often fill in as another defender when in possession of the ball, something that even Pochettinho confirmed after the game.
With Wanyama playing and 3 CB's we have a defensive minded midfielder. With Dier playing and 3 CB's we almost play like we have 4.
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interesting.
wanyama is certainly more box to box, but I would say Dier is just as comfortable / progressive on the ball as wanyama is, if not more so.
Regarding Dier dropping back almost making another CB.... he did that a lot last season, which I assume was under instruction.. we played with 2 CBs but both full backs bombed on, so he was the insurance policy.... hence he often dropped in to make a third CB.
with 3CBs behind I don't think he would naturally drop back, as I don't think that is particularly natural to him, when on the ball he tends to try and make things happen I think... hes no carrick in that role, but he can spray it about a bit.... he also scored last game... with a beautiful finish. he has ability on the ball and is not as naturally defensive minded as I think you think he is...... after all he does seem to want to play in midfield more than CB.
as I said at the start.. hengy's side I would have no qualms with, but I personally like the shape of the 3 at the back and would try to start with it if personnel allow... which I think it just about does...
you disagree, which is fine...
posted on 3/4/17
Poch himself said we played 3 at the back in possession last season, with Dier dropping into the back line
With 3 CBs behind him he won't be able to do this. He would have to position himself higher up the pitch which he is unsuited to
posted on 3/4/17
Regarding Dier & Wanyama in midfield, I think they are two very different styles of defensive minded midfielders. To use pretentious football terminology:
Dier is very much more of a 'Regista' along the lines of a Xabi Alonso, Carrick etc. His job is to sit back and act as the 'quarter back' playing passes from a position just infront of the defence where he acts as a 'shield' protecting the defence. He rarely adventures into the final third, and rarely carries the ball often acting as an extra centre back.
Wanyama, acts as more of a 'destroyer' much like a Mascherano or Kante. His job is to counter-press and often run to close down the ball/tackle the opposition. When in position he has similar attacking duties to Dembele, can often be found in the final third and likes to run with the ball at his feet often. When collecting the ball he will always be in the midfield to receive it.
As a DM Dier's best qualities are to do with the level of adaptability he has being able to move into CB & DM almost effortlessly. Having 3 at the back it requires him to use different aspects of his game that he just isn't as adept at. A back three with Eric in midfield is just TOO defensive, in my mind. Add onto that one of our best attacking players (Walker) is out of position and arguably our best is injured; would be Mourinho levels of negative football.
posted on 3/4/17
Can only see a Spurs win, if Middlesborough drew then we will win. Injuries aside we have the winning momentum which will continue.
posted on 3/4/17
3-4-2-1 team (all fit):
Lloris
Dier - Alderweireld - Vert
Walker - Wanyama - Dembele - Rose
Eriksen - Kane - Alli
4-2-3-1 team as an alternative formation:
Lloris
Walker - Toby - Vert - Rose
Dier - Dembele
Eriksen - Alli - Son
Kane
Wanyama misses out... 4-2-3-1 seems much more attacking. Lots of defensive options on the bench. Not many attacking options.
posted on 3/4/17
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 5 minutes ago
Regarding Dier & Wanyama in midfield, I think they are two very different styles of defensive minded midfielders. To use pretentious football terminology:
Dier is very much more of a 'Regista' along the lines of a Xabi Alonso, Carrick etc. His job is to sit back and act as the 'quarter back' playing passes from a position just infront of the defence where he acts as a 'shield' protecting the defence. He rarely adventures into the final third, and rarely carries the ball often acting as an extra centre back.
Wanyama, acts as more of a 'destroyer' much like a Mascherano or Kante. His job is to counter-press and often run to close down the ball/tackle the opposition. When in position he has similar attacking duties to Dembele, can often be found in the final third and likes to run with the ball at his feet often. When collecting the ball he will always be in the midfield to receive it.
As a DM Dier's best qualities are to do with the level of adaptability he has being able to move into CB & DM almost effortlessly. Having 3 at the back it requires him to use different aspects of his game that he just isn't as adept at. A back three with Eric in midfield is just TOO defensive, in my mind. Add onto that one of our best attacking players (Walker) is out of position and arguably our best is injured; would be Mourinho levels of negative football.
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Probably more Anchor Man and Ball-winning midfielder
#footballmanager
posted on 3/4/17
Saw an interesting stat earlier. The team that most would agree is our strongest XI
Lloris
Dier - Toby - Vert
Walker - Wanyama - Dembele - Rose
Eriksen - Kane - Alli
We've only fielded this team TWICE all season in the Prem. Couldn't believe it.
Bench of:
Vorm
Wimmer
Davies
Trippier
Sissoko
Son
Winks
Lamela
Jannsen
isn't so bad either..