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AVB clearly picks the team depending on the opposition. Yesterday he was confident enough that Vertonghen could play LB rather than putting him in the middle. I thought he was great yesterday, getting forward to help Bale out and pull players out of position, which gave Bale space. Likewise Bale gave him space as he seemed to have two players on him as usual - which gave Vertonghen room to cut inside.
We need a third striker who offers something different to Defoe and Adebayor. Not to replace either, but to give us another option or different style of play if things aren't working out.
Lennon was a little anonymous. We've seen him cut in a score some great goals in the past. Although this season he seems to be playing really well, i just wish he used his ability and had a pop a little more often. He could easily get in to double figures each season. This also means he would be marked more heavily, which again takes another defender or midfielder out of position, which helps give us more space in the middle.
I said it on Twitter yesterday - we just lack a creative midfielder. We have lost two. VdV had the creativity and desire to just make things happen, and Modric was like a puppetmaster, just quietly going about his business pulling the strings. Dembele is different to both and can really carry the ball forwards, but we need someone to play tika-taka in the middle of field to control things. AVB will spot this - just a question of whether we can get that player in January.
I don't think yesterday was that bad. Stoke have conceded 13 goals this season. They have the best defence in the Premier League and we haven't done well against them for a few seasons now. We drew at home 1-1 last year, and lost 2-1 away. AVB isn't the only premiership manager that struggle sto break down a team that sticks 11 men behind the ball when not in possession, then just punt it forwards when they do.
We need a third striker who offers something different to Defoe and Adebayor. Not to replace either, but to give us another option or different style of play if things aren't working out.
Lennon was a little anonymous. We've seen him cut in a score some great goals in the past. Although this season he seems to be playing really well, i just wish he used his ability and had a pop a little more often. He could easily get in to double figures each season. This also means he would be marked more heavily, which again takes another defender or midfielder out of position, which helps give us more space in the middle.
I said it on Twitter yesterday - we just lack a creative midfielder. We have lost two. VdV had the creativity and desire to just make things happen, and Modric was like a puppetmaster, just quietly going about his business pulling the strings. Dembele is different to both and can really carry the ball forwards, but we need someone to play tika-taka in the middle of field to control things. AVB will spot this - just a question of whether we can get that player in January.
I don't think yesterday was that bad. Stoke have conceded 13 goals this season. They have the best defence in the Premier League and we haven't done well against them for a few seasons now. We drew at home 1-1 last year, and lost 2-1 away. AVB isn't the only premiership manager that struggle sto break down a team that sticks 11 men behind the ball when not in possession, then just punt it forwards when they do.
I think you watched a different game.
AVB said:
How cool would it be if he actually said "Woolwich"?!
I hate their style of play, but they're exactly the opposite of what is wrong with modern football. In fact they are a very old school style of club
You lot are sounding like Gooners.
"Stoke are bastards, coming here and stopping us scoring, how dare they!"
We stopped us scoring. No cutting edge. Little competition for places. Stoke aren't good to watch, but why should they be?
"Stoke are bastards, coming here and stopping us scoring, how dare they!"
We stopped us scoring. No cutting edge. Little competition for places. Stoke aren't good to watch, but why should they be?
All the bitching, moaning, and whining is really making what was one of the most perfect forums ever, shitty. Not even enjoyable to discuss Spurs anymore.
DISCLAIMER: This post was not directed at anyone in particular. It might have been, but I don't want to be bitched at. I'm a lover :adebaehug: not a fighter
DISCLAIMER: This post was not directed at anyone in particular. It might have been, but I don't want to be bitched at. I'm a lover :adebaehug: not a fighter
Ah Stoke
the embodiment of all thats good in professional football
passion, flair, freeflowing open football all played with a spirit of fair play
it must fill their supporters with such pride.
the embodiment of all thats good in professional football
passion, flair, freeflowing open football all played with a spirit of fair play
it must fill their supporters with such pride.
Tottenham Hotspur host Stoke City at White Hart Lane on Saturday 22nd December 2012 (KO 15:00) in the 18th round of 2012-13 Premier League matches.
Spurs come into the match in 4th place in the Premier League on 29 points with Stoke in 9th place on 24 points.
This will be the 84th time the two teams have met.
The first ever meeting came at the Victoria Ground when Stoke City were playing as Stoke FC in the old first round of the FA Cup in February 1896 in a match Stoke won 5-0.
Stoke had become one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888 and the clubs were drawn together in the third round of the FA Cup in February 1899 at the Victoria Ground with Stoke winning 4-1.
The first match at White Hart Lane between the clubs was a friendly played in March 1900 with Spurs, then Champions of the Southern League, beating Stoke 6-0.
Spurs joined the Football League for the 1908-09 season, replacing Stoke who had resigned at the end of the previous season for financial reasons. The clubs didn't meet in a League match until April 1920 in the Second Division with Tottenham winning 2-0 at the Lane and 3-1 at the Victoria Ground.
The first meeting in Division One came in March 1923 at Stoke which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Spurs won the reverse fixture at the Lane a week later 3-1.
The clubs met for five seasons in the Second Division between 1928 to 1933 and for two seasons in Division One from 1934 to 1935.
After the Second World War, the clubs met in the modern FA Cup third round in January 1947 at White Hart Lane which resulted in a 2-2 draw with Stoke winning the replay 1-0 thanks to a Stanley Matthews goal.
Three years later, Spurs beat Stoke 1-0 away in the third round.
Spurs were Football League Champions in 1950-51 and beat Stoke 6-1 at home but could only draw 0-0 away during that season.
Every League game played between Spurs and Stoke since WW2 has taken place in the Top Flight, except for season 1977-78 when Spurs spent a single season in Division Two, beating Stoke 3-1 in both matches.
The clubs met in the FA Cup in January 1976 with a 1-1 draw at the Lane followed by a 2-1 win for Stoke in the replay.
Tottenham Hotspur were founder members of the Premier League in 1992-93 but Stoke City's first season in the competition only came in 2008-09 with Stoke winning 2-1 at the Britannia Stadium and Spurs winning 3-1 at the Lane.
During 2009-10, Stoke won 1-0 at White Hart Lane with Spurs winning 2-1 at the Britannia.
In 2010-11, Spurs did the "double" over Stoke, winning the away fixture 2-1 with a brace of goals from Gareth Bale and the home fixture 3-2 in April with a double from Peter Crouch and a Luka Modric goal.
The teams met for the first time in the Football League (Carling) Cup 3rd round in September 2011 at Stoke and the match finished in a goalless draw after extra time. Stoke went on to win the penalty shoot-out 7-6. Spurs youngster Massimo Luongo penalty was saved by Thomas Sorensen.
The 2011-12 Premier League game at the Britannia Stadium in December was won 2-1 by Stoke with a Matthew Etherington brace putting the Potters 2-0 up at half-time. Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor pulled a goal back from the penalty spot after 62 minutes but defender Younes Kaboul was sent-off after collecting two yellow cards.
The match at White Hart Lane in March 2012 resulted in a 1-1 draw. After a goalless first half, Cameron Jerome put the visitors ahead after 75 minutes but a Rafael van der Vaart header in the dying moments of the game ensured that honours were even.
Overall, Spurs have won 41 games, Stoke have won 23 games and the remaining 19 matches of the 83 played have been drawn.
Paul Allen
Garry Brooke
Joe Brough
George Clawley
Garth Crooks
Peter Crouch
Matthew Etherington
Ray Evans
Márton Fülöp
Eiður Guðjohnsen
Ken Hancock
Archie Heggarty
Stephen Kelly
Fred Latham
Billy Leech
Gerry Mahon
Ian Moores
James Morton
Wilson Palacios
Tony Parks
Jimmy Robertson
Hans Segers
Paul Stewart
Charlie Wilson
Jonathan Woodgate
It won't take you long to twig that I am Stoke fan. For what it's worth, as a rule we pretty much like you Spuds !
All the crap you must have taken from those arse holes at the Emirates over the years.
We hate the Arse for several reasons. Firstly, it goes back to when the cheating sods robbed us in 2 FA cup semi's on the trot, in the 70's (although the 2nd one was the linesmans fault who mistook a programe seller in a white coat for one of our defenders and so played on when the Arse striker was a country mile offside).
And yes, recently it stems from the dross that Wenger spouts when ever he opens his mouth.
And the Woolich fans being complete tossers !!
Lets hope for a good game....... although I doubt it as we'll settle for another defensive masterclass with little or nothing up front............. and Woolich to continue their downward spiral !!
All the crap you must have taken from those arse holes at the Emirates over the years.
We hate the Arse for several reasons. Firstly, it goes back to when the cheating sods robbed us in 2 FA cup semi's on the trot, in the 70's (although the 2nd one was the linesmans fault who mistook a programe seller in a white coat for one of our defenders and so played on when the Arse striker was a country mile offside).
And yes, recently it stems from the dross that Wenger spouts when ever he opens his mouth.
And the Woolich fans being complete tossers !!
Lets hope for a good game....... although I doubt it as we'll settle for another defensive masterclass with little or nothing up front............. and Woolich to continue their downward spiral !!
I'm not convinced Charlie Adam has deliberately tried to end anyone's career, he's just very slow and not very good at playing football.
I don't think he's malevolent, just shite.
I don't think he's malevolent, just shite.
I cant stand this Adebayor and Defoe pairing up top. It is fucking worthless. All they do is run around and then give the ball away. Adebayor lost almost every aerial duel and Defoe wasted possession again and again with his useless long shots and terrible first touches. If I have to watch this all season I'm going to go crazy.
**waits for inevitable post from
Carlito Brigante
about how shit we are under AVB** 
Carlito Brigante
about how shit we are under AVB** First how could you feel sorry for that little cunt of a man. They should have had at least one red card and we should have had a penalty.
Second. Tactically wooden? a couple of weeks ago everyone was whingeing about him only playing one up top. Now he is wooden for playing two up top. The poor bloke can't win with some of our support.
Lennon ran and ran and ran some more, but it was all meaningless, he kept getting forced inside where he is as useful as a chocolate tea pot. Gylfi nearly won us the game, if it wasn't for that Begovic wonder save he would have scored.
Stoke and Swansea have both come to the Lane and stuck 10 men behind the ball with absolutely no intention of winning the game. The aim was to get a 0-0, it worked for Stoke and damn near worked for Swansea.
They stick their defensive line so far back that our problem becomes unpicking their defence. We need a spark of magic, a defensive error or a goal from a set-piece, and once we've taken the lead it becomes much easier to stretch and exploit them because they're forced to come forward and look for the equaliser. It was the set piece last week but there was nothing doing today. Last year we would've had Rafa who was the kind of player who could've found that defence splitting pass and gotten us a goal today.
This brings me on to Defoe. He doesn't work in these kind of games. Our weird problem is that he's been too good to drop. He usually works much better away from home where teams don't stick all men on their 18 yard line in front of their own fans, or in games where there's space behind the back 4 to exploit. A front two pairing of Ade and Siggy or Dempsey is probably much more likely to crack a defence like Swansea or Stoke's, then once the game has opened up a fresh Defoe can be brought on to devastating effect. Defoe, sadly, is unlikely to take well to this (he's thrown wobblers more than once when not selected for a few games in a row). Moreover, the fans who aren't sold on AVB would massively get on his back if he dropped the red hot Defoe for the luke warm Adebayor.
I think that if we want to be a top club we have to be prepared for this sort of mentality from smaller teams. They come to WHL thinking that a point would be a great result and aren't interested in attacking at all. It's all very well blaming them for being shitcunts but we need to learn to deal with this kind of football. Early goals make a huge difference.
They stick their defensive line so far back that our problem becomes unpicking their defence. We need a spark of magic, a defensive error or a goal from a set-piece, and once we've taken the lead it becomes much easier to stretch and exploit them because they're forced to come forward and look for the equaliser. It was the set piece last week but there was nothing doing today. Last year we would've had Rafa who was the kind of player who could've found that defence splitting pass and gotten us a goal today.
This brings me on to Defoe. He doesn't work in these kind of games. Our weird problem is that he's been too good to drop. He usually works much better away from home where teams don't stick all men on their 18 yard line in front of their own fans, or in games where there's space behind the back 4 to exploit. A front two pairing of Ade and Siggy or Dempsey is probably much more likely to crack a defence like Swansea or Stoke's, then once the game has opened up a fresh Defoe can be brought on to devastating effect. Defoe, sadly, is unlikely to take well to this (he's thrown wobblers more than once when not selected for a few games in a row). Moreover, the fans who aren't sold on AVB would massively get on his back if he dropped the red hot Defoe for the luke warm Adebayor.
I think that if we want to be a top club we have to be prepared for this sort of mentality from smaller teams. They come to WHL thinking that a point would be a great result and aren't interested in attacking at all. It's all very well blaming them for being shitcunts but we need to learn to deal with this kind of football. Early goals make a huge difference.
Alan Hutton beat him up?