The Mighty Poch Men vs. Everton

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[formation=4231, Lloris, Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Rose, Dier, Alli, Lamela, Kane, Eriksen, Janssen][/formation]


I'm going for a 0-2 away win with Janssen and Kane grabbing a goal each.
Would love to see this especially away from home, show em we mean business
 
Aside from his pronunciation of pluralised words, it did just strike me how much his English seems to have developed over the last two years.

Not perfect, but definitely better.

To be honest.... I think he has always been able to speak pretty good English...
Don't be fooled by the "Me speaka da not very good ze Engleesh" at Southampton... he was merely bluffing!
 
Either they start a left back out of position or it will be a 19 year old, Mason Holgate, by the look of it.
Isn't Holgate a centre half? Checking their squad, looks like it might be Browning at right back who played a few games last season. Can't take these young players for granted though. Coleman made his debut against us and ripped us apart.

Lukaku, regardless of his inconsistencies, will be a massive miss.
 
New manager. Great home support and opening day. Everton will be up for this. But I just feel that plays into our hands. Koeman will want to make an impression, but if he's missing his best defence and main focal forward, it'll be tough for him.

Just want the game to start!
 
Isn't Holgate a centre half? Checking their squad, looks like it might be Browning at right back who played a few games last season. Can't take these young players for granted though. Coleman made his debut against us and ripped us apart.

Lukaku, regardless of his inconsistencies, will be a massive miss.
Can play either right back or centre back according to their home page. I have no idea, never heard of him.
Mason Holgate | Everton Football Club
 
Everton Preview

Club football returns but Mousa Dembele does not. Neither, seemingly, does half the Everton squad.

Given time I have little doubt Koeman will instil a defensive stability built upon a back three that progresses in to wide counter-attacks. But for now Everton seem to be coming into the start of the season lacking fitness, depth and practice in the new system.

So instead Koeman will likely settle for the 4-2-3-1 formation that he is also keen on. Given the complexity of fitness issues addressing the Everton line-up is a bit sticky but this would be the best the Toffees can realistically hope for.

screen-shot-2016-08-11-at-20-16-34.png

Here's a brilliant focus by @LukeBBurgess on how to create opportunities against Everton if they do manage to field three centre-backs. Quick Preview – Everton v Spurs 13/08/16

Although Koeman is already a fairly defensive coach I think that focus will be doubled for this opening game. A clean sheet will give them something to build off and the talent in the squad will mean they will always be a threat on the break.

Still, Baines and Coleman are not defensive full-backs. By using Walker and Rose to pin back the Everton wingers; Spurs can concentrate on isolating Lamela and Alli against the opposition full-backs.

Belgium wasted Lukaku this summer using him almost exclusively as a targetman. Romelu is powerful forward but his game is much more well rounded than that and when he is on poor form his touch can be atrocious. Koeman is surely the superior coach to Wilmots but his football is often reliant on wide crosses into a tall forwards. Although this method of attack can generally be quite fruitless Tottenham are one of the teams most vulnerable to it with Jan Vertonghen especially pone to losing out in the air.

Meanwhile Spurs face the first in four Dembele conundrums. The obvious replacement is new signing Wanyama. Wanyma offers physicality and defensive reliability. Otherwise Pochettino seems to remain confident in Mason in the 8 role while fans do not.

I sent out a tweet the other day addressing the excitement around youngster Harry Winks. Comparing that excitement with the disdain for Mason despite, what I suggested was, a similar playstyle and set of strength and weaknesses.

I was quickly, and rightly, shot down. Winks, despite being younger seems to have become physically superior to Mason over the summer and boasts a better defensive understanding of the game. So I've shamelessly gone full circle and would quite like to see Winks get at least a few minutes on Saturday.
More on that: The Case for Harry Winks Over Ryan Mason

Winks represents the most creative option to start in Dembele's place and as Everton are likely to play a low/medium-block defence, starting Wanyama along side Dier may leave us desperately lacking creativity from deep.

On the other hand fielding two defensive mids gives more licence to Walker and Rose to get forward, stretch the opposition and provide more space for Eriksen to playmake from.

screen-shot-2016-08-11-at-20-58-19.png


While we're on Wanyama. At the beginning of the window I said that there are always unexpected drop-offs between seasons and Spurs should at least attempt to improve the first team in order to maintain. I'd like to give myself a bit of a get-out for that. Although we've not likely bought a player who will enter the first XI we have provided Dier and Kane with rest - which makes them better players. I also specifically labeled Wanyama as a poor target due to being overly limited and I'm starting to think I'm wrong about that too.

I feel there's a bit of negativity in the predictions going in to this game from Spurs fans, at least in my corners. Maybe it's been so long since we played that we've reset to the Spurs default of pessimism. Maybe we're still struggling with last season's finish. But we're good, honest, if you don't remember, now's a good time to re-read my season review: The Tactical Principles of Pochettino’s Title Challenging Tottenham Hotspur

Finally, a bit of admin. Due to other commitments in both my writing and real life I might not be able to put out an article ahead of every game this season although I will make sure major games are covered and try to get a few videos out again too.
 
Starting to get excited!
I have a feeling we will smash Everton. It doesn't sound like they are quite ready, they have a few injuries, and I think Poch will have us wanting to remind everyone who is doubting us how good we really are. I'll take 1-2 scratchy win though if that is what happens instead.
 
Everton Preview

Club football returns but Mousa Dembele does not. Neither, seemingly, does half the Everton squad.

Given time I have little doubt Koeman will instil a defensive stability built upon a back three that progresses in to wide counter-attacks. But for now Everton seem to be coming into the start of the season lacking fitness, depth and practice in the new system.

So instead Koeman will likely settle for the 4-2-3-1 formation that he is also keen on. Given the complexity of fitness issues addressing the Everton line-up is a bit sticky but this would be the best the Toffees can realistically hope for.

screen-shot-2016-08-11-at-20-16-34.png

Here's a brilliant focus by @LukeBBurgess on how to create opportunities against Everton if they do manage to field three centre-backs. Quick Preview – Everton v Spurs 13/08/16

Although Koeman is already a fairly defensive coach I think that focus will be doubled for this opening game. A clean sheet will give them something to build off and the talent in the squad will mean they will always be a threat on the break.

Still, Baines and Coleman are not defensive full-backs. By using Walker and Rose to pin back the Everton wingers; Spurs can concentrate on isolating Lamela and Alli against the opposition full-backs.

Belgium wasted Lukaku this summer using him almost exclusively as a targetman. Romelu is powerful forward but his game is much more well rounded than that and when he is on poor form his touch can be atrocious. Koeman is surely the superior coach to Wilmots but his football is often reliant on wide crosses into a tall forwards. Although this method of attack can generally be quite fruitless Tottenham are one of the teams most vulnerable to it with Jan Vertonghen especially pone to losing out in the air.

Meanwhile Spurs face the first in four Dembele conundrums. The obvious replacement is new signing Wanyama. Wanyma offers physicality and defensive reliability. Otherwise Pochettino seems to remain confident in Mason in the 8 role while fans do not.

I sent out a tweet the other day addressing the excitement around youngster Harry Winks. Comparing that excitement with the disdain for Mason despite, what I suggested was, a similar playstyle and set of strength and weaknesses.

I was quickly, and rightly, shot down. Winks, despite being younger seems to have become physically superior to Mason over the summer and boasts a better defensive understanding of the game. So I've shamelessly gone full circle and would quite like to see Winks get at least a few minutes on Saturday.
More on that: The Case for Harry Winks Over Ryan Mason

Winks represents the most creative option to start in Dembele's place and as Everton are likely to play a low/medium-block defence, starting Wanyama along side Dier may leave us desperately lacking creativity from deep.

On the other hand fielding two defensive mids gives more licence to Walker and Rose to get forward, stretch the opposition and provide more space for Eriksen to playmake from.

screen-shot-2016-08-11-at-20-58-19.png


While we're on Wanyama. At the beginning of the window I said that there are always unexpected drop-offs between seasons and Spurs should at least attempt to improve the first team in order to maintain. I'd like to give myself a bit of a get-out for that. Although we've not likely bought a player who will enter the first XI we have provided Dier and Kane with rest - which makes them better players. I also specifically labeled Wanyama as a poor target due to being overly limited and I'm starting to think I'm wrong about that too.

I feel there's a bit of negativity in the predictions going in to this game from Spurs fans, at least in my corners. Maybe it's been so long since we played that we've reset to the Spurs default of pessimism. Maybe we're still struggling with last season's finish. But we're good, honest, if you don't remember, now's a good time to re-read my season review: The Tactical Principles of Pochettino’s Title Challenging Tottenham Hotspur

Finally, a bit of admin. Due to other commitments in both my writing and real life I might not be able to put out an article ahead of every game this season although I will make sure major games are covered and try to get a few videos out again too.
I read that Wanyama is not at Spurs to be a squad player and will expect to play. So I feel he will start , hopefully hes so good he becomes a regular.
 
I read that Wanyama is not at Spurs to be a squad player and will expect to play. So I feel he will start , hopefully hes so good he becomes a regular.

He can EXPECT all he likes.. He has to earn his place like everyone else..

I'm confident, as long as he sorts out his temperament, that he will be a great addition to the squad but if he starts throwing his toys out the pram if ever he is on the bench or left out then he can do one..

He's at a proper club now..
 
Some quotes from an Everton fan forum:

I wouldn't be surprised if we do Spurs. It's the Everton way really, we will do Spurs, get our hopes up and take 2 points for the bext 3 or something.

I'm more nervous than excited for Saturday though.

Excited for this but I don't have a good feeling about the match. We are going to have multiple new faces to integrate in a matter of days.

with the departure of stones and williams just getting back to fitness i'm thinking this might be it



Stekelenberg
Coleman Holgate/Jags Mori Baines
Gana Barry
Gerry Barkley Mirallas
Lukaku

coleman and lukaku out, so here are my 2 new lineups:

4231

Stekelenberg
Holgate Jags Mori Baines
Gana Barry
Lennon Barkley Mirallas
Gerry


352
Stekelenberg
Holgate Jags Mori
Lennon Gana Barkley Barry Baines
Gerry Mirallas

Looking forward to getting back to Goodison and seeing the people I sit by. However, I'm not looking forward to the actual game.

For all my crying, fuming and moaning, half serious and half in jest I actually think Spurs will have too much for us on Saturday and beat us easily.

I've a fewling things are going to get much worse before they get better under Koeman.

Fully expect us to get beat. New managers take time to stamp their mark on a club, we're nowhere near finished out transfer business and the teams being bandied about on paper don't look anywhere near good enough to worry Spurs, who I think are a good outside bet for the title.

Will judge where we are at Christmas, expect it to be a struggle the first couple of months.
 
He can EXPECT all he likes.. He has to earn his place like everyone else..

I'm confident, as long as he sorts out his temperament, that he will be a great addition to the squad but if he starts throwing his toys out the pram if ever he is on the bench or left out then he can do one..

He's at a proper club now..
Wanyama is going to get 4 games. If we win them and he does well then the shoe is on the other foot -- Dembele has to show why he should come back into a winning team.
 
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