But it suits the defensive players as they’ll all struggle in a back four, aside from Emerson. Most managers want to get a balance, you don’t just put all your best players in a team and expect it to work.

I agree about the squad issues. But the next manager is going to have to make a decision about how they want to use their full backs and work around it. You’re going to be exposed down the right with Romero and Porro in the team as they aren’t very good defensively. So an extra cb, a more defensive left back or a defensive midfield three would be the way to go given most tactical set ups used by coaches now.

Romero is good in a back 4 (in a possession-based system) for Argentina.

Otherwise I think we're agreeing from opposite directions. The squad needs a lot of work whatever formation the new boss prefers. It's badly set up for a back 4 as things stand today, but this season unfortunately shows it's badly set up for a back 3 right now too

You’re going to be exposed down the right with Romero and Porro in the team as they aren’t very good defensively
---

Eh? Assuming you meant Royal, you can't have watched him lately. He's very solid defensively but offers nothing going forward apart from effort.

My concern with 4atb is that we'd have Royal and Davies as natural fullbacks, creating nothing. Porro Udogie and Sessegnon have all played WB pretty well exclusively. Put them in a 4 and we'd get raaped unless we did that CM dropping in thing

-------------------Forster-------------------

Porro - Romero - Lenglet - Davies

---------------------Dier---------------------
--------Hojbjerg --- Skipp----------

--Kulusevski --- Kane --- Richarlison




Don't get me wrong, it's hardly a great team, but probably the best available with current personnel. Zero creativity, which is of course Spurs' main issue. Forster, Lenglet, Davies, all three midfielders and Richarlison need upgrading to make that a good setup.

Still back that side to do better than the current 343 though

Best available 4atb system*

International level isn’t really relevant. Romero struggles in a back three but it suits him better than a back four because of the numerical support. But I agree there are issues regardless of formation.

Bales, no I’m talking about Porro playing in the team at right back. Emerson is the best suited in the defence to play in a back four.

Romero isn't very good defensively? Na mate

I really think that depends on the style of play more than the basic positional setup. Plenty of teams have had ultra-attacking full backs and made it work by keeping the ball to limit the threat of counters.

Granted, those teams tend to have players who are comfortable on the ball and good passers

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 minutes ago
-------------------Forster-------------------

Porro - Romero - Lenglet - Davies

---------------------Dier---------------------
--------Hojbjerg --- Skipp----------

--Kulusevski --- Kane --- Richarlison




Don't get me wrong, it's hardly a great team, but probably the best available with current personnel. Zero creativity, which is of course Spurs' main issue. Forster, Lenglet, Davies, all three midfielders and Richarlison need upgrading to make that a good setup.

Still back that side to do better than the current 343 though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I think putting Dier in midfield is exactly what you were saying about forcing our worst players on the pitch. He's a grate guy but no

comment by Bãleš left boot (U22081)
posted 32 seconds ago
Romero isn't very good defensively? Na mate
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He's rash and tends to over-commit to challenges/tight marking, which are legit weaknesses in his defensive repertoire, but it's definitely harsh to say he's not a good defender.

Yeah Klopp's Liverpool got away with what you're suggesting Amanda but holy chit are they exposed when not everything is working perfectly. It'd be exciting to watch I guess but jeez man. One extreme to the other

He isn’t. He’s rash, poor positionally and poor in the air. One of the biggest reasons your defence is so bad. I don’t understand why Spurs fans fetishise over him. Our fans used to do the same with clowns like Bailly and Rojo as well. Maybe just because some people like overly aggressive defenders.

comment by Bãleš left boot (U22081)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 minutes ago
-------------------Forster-------------------

Porro - Romero - Lenglet - Davies

---------------------Dier---------------------
--------Hojbjerg --- Skipp----------

--Kulusevski --- Kane --- Richarlison




Don't get me wrong, it's hardly a great team, but probably the best available with current personnel. Zero creativity, which is of course Spurs' main issue. Forster, Lenglet, Davies, all three midfielders and Richarlison need upgrading to make that a good setup.

Still back that side to do better than the current 343 though
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah I think putting Dier in midfield is exactly what you were saying about forcing our worst players on the pitch. He's a grate guy but no
----------------------------------------------------------------------
True. I guess ultimately it just comes back to the fact that the squad is absolute garbage for whatever system comes next. This is what happens when the management don't have a facking plan

Regardless whether he's rash or whatever it's not true to say he's not good defensively, he's the best we have. I mean Dier is calm and good in the air but he's an actual liability. Now you could say they're all sheit defensively but that's another thing..

comment by Kobbie The King Mainoo (U10026)
posted 1 minute ago
He isn’t. He’s rash, poor positionally and poor in the air. One of the biggest reasons your defence is so bad. I don’t understand why Spurs fans fetishise over him. Our fans used to do the same with clowns like Bailly and Rojo as well. Maybe just because some people like overly aggressive defenders.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
He plays right on the razor's edge. Fine margins etc. When it works he's phenomenal, but when it doesn't it goes very wrong very quickly.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 2 minutes ago
I really think that depends on the style of play more than the basic positional setup. Plenty of teams have had ultra-attacking full backs and made it work by keeping the ball to limit the threat of counters.

Granted, those teams tend to have players who are comfortable on the ball and good passers
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liverpool are the only team that really play with two attacking full backs and a back four. Style of play is part of it, but it’s about how you attack with a five or defend with a five. It’s fallen apart for Liverpool because of the midfield and attack lacking the pressing ability they once had, however, having a cb as good as Van Dijk was so important to defending counters as well. He’s not the same player he was, so they struggle leaving two cb’s on the defensive line. I don’t think any other coach would play like that nowadays, and especially without a Van Dijk level cb.

They are all shiiiiit defensively.

That's another thing

433 - 6 below-par players in the starting 11 (decided to be generous and say Skipp isn't below-par, cos I like the lad)

343 - 7 below-par players in the starting 11 (Skipp counts as below-par in this system because Bentancur is the only midfielder in the squad with a rounded enough game to play in a midfield 2)

Gash either way

Tbf though all this hand-wringing will look very silly if we have a few decent games and get into good form. Look at how United fans wanted to burn DDG and deport Rashford? Now you've won a cup you're going around telling everyone how great it is. Then Liverpool win 7-0 and they've proved everyone wrong. Then they're sh!t again.

Gash either way
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Not sure how you've done your workings out but Royal is below par as a WB, fine at FB. Same with Davies. Son is below par in a wing back system as they take up his space to run. Tough maths

Does it? Your issues have been there for ages, regardless of what form you may end up in for the remainder of the season. De Gea is still shiiiiit, by the way. Most sensible people were willing to give Rashford the benefit of the doubt because they understood his issues. Yeah there’s a lot of idiot United fans that have got carried away, but like Spurs we’ve still got massive issues in the squad that haven’t gone away.

Sounds like it is Tuchel. Just watch as those unhappy with his name now suddenly change their minds once he’s appointed. Remember how disappointed you were when the name was first mooted. That’s probably the most accurate emotion. Anything else is positive affirmation to make you feel better.

Conte 2.0. Nice one Levy.

I’m out.

comment by Amanda Hugginkiss (U11574)
posted 5 minutes ago
433 - 6 below-par players in the starting 11 (decided to be generous and say Skipp isn't below-par, cos I like the lad)

343 - 7 below-par players in the starting 11 (Skipp counts as below-par in this system because Bentancur is the only midfielder in the squad with a rounded enough game to play in a midfield 2)

Gash either way
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep the squad with the current injures lends itself to playing 5 2 3. We can't play 4 3 3 because it means Skipp, Sarr and PEH will play every game without cover and we can field a decent CB with Romero.

Playing Dier as a CM is pointless because he is not proactive at all.

The new man will have to employ the same formation until the end of the season.

You can see why Touchel would be a decent fit.

One solution could be to swap Romero and Dier. Put Romero in the middle with Dier and Lenglet either side.

Give Romero abit of a licence to step out. Worth a try.

Meant to say we can't field a decent CB with Romero for a back four.