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spurs fans are far too quick to write off players.

soldado wanting to be dropped, lamela getting written off already by some. paulinho being questioned too....

come on guys. look how long it took modric and bale to shine at spurs.... will we ever learn?!

Soldado is a far superior player to Defoe. That is a pretty hard statement to argue with. Just look at their records. The only reason for starting Defoe is Soldado hasn't settled yet and Defoe is currently in form. However, Defoe's first start against a half decent team highlighted his weaknesses. Non-existent link up play and when the big chance came in a big match he fluffed it.

IMO Soldado has shown a lot of promise in his performances and will only improve with more game time.

Lamela has looked nervous in his matches, but he's now been here the best part of two months and imo it's time to throw him into the deep end Siggy has done well, but I'd play Lamela ahead of him on Sunday.

Chronic,

meanwhile when he played in the Europa against the calibre of team defoe has been scoring against then he scored a brace

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Defoe isn't new to this league. He has scored about 150 goals in about 420 appearances (including 5-15 min appearances for a lot of it). He is far more proven against the teams we will face in teh league we play in compared to a player who is yet to hit one single goal from open play, and is totally unproven at this level.

Soldado is the one who has to prove he can score against these teams, we're already aware Defoe can.

For the record, Defoe scored a brace in the exact same fixture as the 3-0 loss - so using that game as a benchmark is a tad silly.



LukaCorluka,

You make a good point about the lack of creation, yet we make excuses for Soldado not converting and pick out Defoe's one missed chance in a 3-0 loss.

When Spurs wanted Defoe to deliver ie last 4 months of last season, he was woeful. That was the reason Spurs brought a new striker FFS. Defoe has had so many chances and never delivers.

Soldado has to be our striker, end of. If Chicken was picking the team, Spurs would be back to mid table mediocrity.

nomadic_spur

I don't think Soldado should be dropped for league matches, it could take half a season or more for him to get comfortable in the Premier League and start scoring regularly but it is worth being patient with him.

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So you think we should just be patient with a player whilst he is getting up to speed, for half a season (or more) .

I think we need a better plan than that - and thats just so we dont get relegated.

We need a striker who is good enough NOW - not after 20 odd games.

Maybe Soldado is that man - but there is no way we should pick him just so he can start to find his feet. I'd rather loan him out than do that.

sandy,

If Chicken was picking the team, Spurs would be back to mid table mediocrity.

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If we stick by a striker who cannot score from open play then i think we'll be lucky to finish mid-table.

Chicken ✔

If we stick by a striker who cannot score from open play



Defoe didn`t score from open play in the prem for about 4 months last season. I assume you are referring to him.

Chicken

How you judge a player after just seven games shows a distinct lack of any real feel for the game. I assume you would have had Bale out the door and Ricky Villa, Pat Jennings etc after the starts they made at WHL.

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Chicken-have a look at Soldado's record. The bloke is a top player. Having seen him this season for Spurs he has linked up play well which has created goals (norwich and Chelsea). His penalties were crucial in winning us games. Say Defoe had been playing would you have any confidence in him stepping up?

In his one game against a pub team he scored twice, so no worse th.an Defoe there.

We paid big money for this guy and need to back him. How many 20 goal premier league seasons has Defoe had? No amount of goals v pub teams is going to change the fact he has never and will never be a top striker

I do not care who plays, I just want 3 points.

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Ricky Villas Boas

I do not care who plays, I just want 3 points.





Agreed. But the team needs to start formulating now that players are coming back from injury, as to what AVB thinks his strongest XI are for starting in the prem.

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I keep repeating this but Lamela for me has to start against Villa. He has not been given a decent chance and the odd sub appearences are not going to showcase the guys superb talent. He needs to start in the league now. I would also definetly get Soldado back in because even though he has not scored for a while, he has been important in a few of our goals of recent with build up play.

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Everywhere you go

Chicken-have a look at Soldado's record.

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Historic records mean absolutely nothing. You can take a goal machine from another league (Shevchenko) and they be totally póop in the league that we play in.

For the record (sandy) i have not written off anybody. I am only defending a striker (Defoe) who has nothing to prove at this level. Defoe has scored against the top teams in the league, and the botton teams. He scores in Europe and scores at international level.

Soldado is still to prove he can score in our league - that is all i am saying. I like his hold up play etc etc but we didnt splash out £26m for a player who can hold the ball up and link play - we needed (and paid that money) for a goalscorer - and if he doesnt score goals (from open play because we cannot rely on 20+ pens a season) then he we are right to question who should start between him, Defoe and even Ade.

We cannot field players on reputation or what they did in a different league - and Defoe is more than capable of scoring goals.