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.