Football Focus

[Otta]

Different folks different strokes. I'd rather see them have a real go at the big boys.

[Alan Medic]

I think WH would consider Arsenal to be one of the big boys and being at home a more winnable fixture. This is an era where squads count for a lot particularly when there are a lot of games in a short space of time. Besides WH didn't exactly lie down against Chelsea. They gave it a go and it wasn't enough.

[maxxi]

red devil Wrote:

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> It's also called squad rotation. With 4 games in

> 10/11 days and then a difficult away FA Cup tie to

> follow, as a fan I would expect players to be

> rested, with priority given to the more winnable

> games...

Except BFS will bale on the cup game as well (like last season), and as for resting Song and Sakho - they leave for the Africa Nations Cup (along with Kouyat?) in a couple of weeks (possibly even earlier if WH don't get an appeal to keep them a little longer accepted) and they're hardly going to come back from that rested.

I'd rather he 'gave it a go' from the start (instead of resorting to "defence versus attack" for the first half) and use them as much as possible before they go.

[????]

Well, BFS masterfull Christmas plan sure went well....

[aquarius moon]

Xmas over. Joke over. Think it's time he left.

Need a new manager (again)

[titch juicy]

Half-Term Reports. Something I do elsewhere with friends- i've written one for Spurs and if others have the time and inclination i'd love to read them for other clubs. Surely a West Ham fan would like to write one?

Tottenham

So, half term and after a poor few months the tide is beginning to turn.

A half decent run in all competitions- beaten only twice (once by Chelsea and once in a dead-rubber away at Besiktas) in the last 11, winning 7 and drawing twice.

But, more than the results it's the attitude of the players and style of play that have changed. Players that don't like the hard working regime have been sidelined - rumour round the campfire has it that Adebayor, Kaboul and Lennon complained they were being worked too hard. In the next game none of them featured, with Kaboul (club captain) making the bench only because we were particularly short of fit centre-halves. Apparently Lennon has quickly realised which side his bread is buttered and is giving it 100% in training. Kaboul will stay on the sidelines and Adebayor has played his last game for Spurs. Lloris is now recognised Captain and has only lost once in the 8 games he's had the armband (away at Chelsea).

Pochettino's methods seem to be paying off- at Southampton he got the most out of the young players and now Kane, Mason and Bentaleb are all flourishing under him. Eriksen has been superb, Lloris is arguably (stats back it up) the best keeper in the league and even Lamela is putting in some performances.

Ben Davies looks like a proper full-back, unlike Danny Rose. Kyle Walker is slowly coming back after 8 months out. After a shaky start Fazio is beginning to look solid and Vertonghen has started to look like the player we bought from Ajax.

I feel a bit sorry for Daniel Levy. He has the club at heart but a lot of his managerial gambles haven't paid off; however, Pochettino seems to have his backing and with a couple of wise purchases in January (hopefully Paul Mitchell has had enough time to identify another striker and right back) we will kick on even further and challenge for the top four places.

You have to think that West Ham and Southampton will fade, so 3rd to 6th seems to be between Man United, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool with United and Arsenal still having the edge.

[Jah Lush]

"hopefully Paul Mitchell has had enough time to identify another striker and right back."

1. Where does that leave Franco Baldini?

2. Andre Yedlin is joining in January so that's right back sorted.

3. I'd like Swansea's Wilfried Bony but not sure if he'd fit our system under Pochettino.

[titch juicy]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> "hopefully Paul Mitchell has had enough time to

> identify another striker and right back."

>

> 1. Where does that leave Franco Baldini?

> 2. Andre Yedlin is joining in January so that's

> right back sorted.

> 3. I'd like Swansea's Wilfried Bony but not sure

> if he'd fit our system under Pochettino.

Not sure about Baldini, and of course re- Yedlin. I'd forgotten about him.

Bony would be a good signing I think, but i'd be amazed if Swansea let him go in January. It looks like Jackson Martinez is joining Roma. Berahino perhaps?

[Jah Lush]

Berahino is a no for me. Still very much a work in progress, though having said that I think he could work well with Harry Kane as they have done so at Under-21 level. Bony would cost us a fortune as Swansea would definitely not want to let him go and January sales can be very expensive. I would very much like us to be rid of Adebeyor though, that's for sure.

Optimistically, I think 5th is the best we can hope for this season, 4th is probably stretching it a bit. Realistically, I think sixth would be our level going on our season so far. Hopefully, a cup win will suffice and redress the balance of my negativity for now. It's been a very tough year to be a Spurs supporter throughout 2014.

[Otta]

It's amazing what a difference a win can make. After last night I am starting to feel a lot better about Liverpool. Still desperately need a fit goal scoring striker that works with our system (or Rogers needs to change things to suit what he's got, but he's too stubborn / pig headed to do that - which is my main criticism of him), but the forward line last night (midfielders) looked pretty good, and Lallana is starting to fit right in.

No idea what we can hope for this season, top 4 not out of the question, but will be a big ask, especially if West Ham, Saints and Swans keep playing the way they have been.

[Mick Mac]

Judging from match of the day highlights only, it seems Spurs had little to offer against MU and id be worried about that as a test of their current capabilities, despite the game ending in a draw and therefore continuing the good run.

[????]

I'm not thinking in the past....more about the next ten years :)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2891062/West-Ham-players-huge-fan-base-new-stadium-horizon-no-reason-t-return-glory-days.html

[titch juicy]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Judging from match of the day highlights only, it

> seems Spurs had little to offer against MU and id

> be worried about that as a test of their current

> capabilities, despite the game ending in a draw

> and therefore continuing the good run.

Watched the whole match and it was classic game of two halves. They dominated the first we dominated the second. Closing stats in terms of possession and chances was about equal. Could be argued that they had sligtly better chances but we had two very good ones (Kane header past the post and Mason over the bar) to win it.

Man Utd are still the better side though and so they should be after a ?200mn spend in the summer.

[Mick Mac]

Cheers. Interesting how MOTD can mis represent then. Looked like it was MUs game for the taking.

[Jah Lush]

We had a stonewall penalty not given too.

[titch juicy]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> We had a stonewall penalty not given too.

Yes, Rooney on Kane

[red devil]

titch juicy Wrote:

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> Man Utd are still the better side though and so

> they should be after a ?200mn spend in the summer.

It was nearer ?150m, but pedantics aside, that doesn't tell the whole story. The start of the recent unbeaten run also coincided with the players bought in the summer all being out injured. LVG has managed to get much more out of the Ferguson era players and the players Moyes signed, than Moyes ever did. Young has been reborn as a wing back, Mata is being played in his proper position, and even Fellaini is only half useless. Rooney has become an even better player since being made captain. We're still crying out for a commanding centre half and another defensive midfielder, which hopefully we can sign next summer. A shame we're not 4 or 5 points closer to the top two, as I think we could've challenged a la Liverpool last season. But after last season, a top 4 finish would be most welcome. All in all, moving in the right direction..7.5/10

[Otta]

Robbie Savage on what the PL Clubs need in this or the next transfer window.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30592653

Think he's got it pretty right.

[LouiseC]

Pretty much agree re: Liverpool, centre half and GK are priorities but also centre back to fill the gap (again) that Loveren has failed to fill. We just can't seem to get the back line sorted, Toure best option currently, that in itself is a worry!

[LouiseC]

Sorry 'centre forward' not 'centre half'!

[camberwell70]

Robbie who???

[camberwell70]

Hahahaha

[Alan Medic]

Match report Stoke v United

Mostly boring. Result 1-1.

[Mick Mac]

Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur.

[titch juicy]

Dare I say that Kane has a touch of the Drogba about him?