Your Expected Lineup Come September

[cahspur]

Sorry, maybe it's on the right he's most comfortable. But one of the flanks right infront of the sitting midfielder in a 4-3-3 is a perfect position for a btb midfielder, which is my point. That's where he'd be comfortable, not in the attacking 3...

Ah, gotcha. Then yes, it seems I entirely questioned the wrong post as you're spot on.

 

[Team Tanguy]

Why so many formations with Holtby on the wing?

He doesn't have the pace or trickery to play there. For so long we've had to put CMs on the wings and now we got a few decent wingers people still want a CM there.

lloris

walker kaboul vertonghen davies

capoue dembele

townsend lamela eriksen

ade

Is what I hope to see. Expect Lennon to start on the left (in place of Townsend) with Eriksen on the right. Lamela is x100 more effective centrally. Eriksen with better defending will be fine on the wing, will be interchanging anyway.

 

[cahspur]

Why so many formations with Holtby on the wing?

He doesn't have the pace or trickery to play there. For so long we've had to put CMs on the wings and now we got a few decent wingers people still want a CM there.

lloris

walker kaboul vertonghen davies

capoue dembele

townsend lamela eriksen

ade

Is what I hope to see. Expect Lennon to start on the left (in place of Townsend) with Eriksen on the right. Lamela is x100 more effective centrally. Eriksen with better defending will be fine on the wing, will be interchanging anyway.

Completely agree on Holtby. I think Eriksen wide is an absolute abuse of his talents, but I'd still prefer him wide over Holtby, and for the exact reasons you cite.

I think the setup of Lamela just right of center ("heart of the offense" position I call it), with Eriksen central, has worked very well. It's gives Lamela more space to operate from with his drives across the pitch, distance shooting ability, and precise passing; and Eriksen makes himself more available to the deeper players by playing slightly more reserved than he has in the past (also thereby affording Lamela yet more space to cut across). This, along with the fact they rotate so much as is, I think has and will work quite nicely. Very, very excited to see how it will work in the Prem.

 

[Macch]

Why so many formations with Holtby on the wing?

He doesn't have the pace or trickery to play there. For so long we've had to put CMs on the wings and now we got a few decent wingers people still want a CM there.

lloris

walker kaboul vertonghen davies

capoue dembele

townsend lamela eriksen

ade

Is what I hope to see. Expect Lennon to start on the left (in place of Townsend) with Eriksen on the right. Lamela is x100 more effective centrally. Eriksen with better defending will be fine on the wing, will be interchanging anyway.

Because the three behind the striker aren't really wingers. There are three CAMs that hopefully will move around with Fluidity. Our LB and RB act as wingers in Poch's system.

 

[fossphate]

--------------------Lloris------------------------
Walker----Vert---------Musacchio---Davies
----------Schnie----------Paulinho-------------
---Lamela---------Holtby------------Eriksen--
-------------------Adebayor----------------------
Leaves us with a pretty solid bench: Vorm, Chiriches, Rose, Dembele, Lennon, Townsend, Soldado

 

[cahspur]

Because the three behind the striker aren't really wingers. There are three CAMs that hopefully will move around with Fluidity. Our LB and RB act as wingers in Poch's system.

Indeed, but as we've seen with Poch's previous arrangements, including in the friendlies with us, he typically rolls with creative output as well the pace of a genuine winger/wide forward. That way, the rotation constantly keeps the opposition thinking (hopefully overthinking) and disrupts structure. If you have three flat similar players across, it eliminates this advantage.

 

[Macch]

Indeed, but as we've seen with Poch's previous arrangements, including in the friendlies with us, he typically rolls with creative output as well the pace of a genuine winger/wide forward. That way, the rotation constantly keeps the opposition thinking (hopefully overthinking) and disrupts structure. If you have three flat similar players across, it eliminates this advantage.

Yes you're right that's what we've seen so far, but that could be Poch just trying things out. Lennon and Townsend have been give the opportunity, but have they really done anything to warrant a starting spot? Lennon has looked decent, but you can tell he's still having trouble in a role where positions are interchanging.

Holtby doesn't have the speed of either but more technical ability than both combined. He seems comfortable on the right side. Against most teams we should dominate possession so Lennon and Townsend's speed wouldn't be as useful anyways.

 

[cahspur]

Yes you're right that's what we've seen so far, but that could be Poch just trying things out. Lennon and Townsend have been give the opportunity, but have they really done anything to warrant a starting spot? Lennon has looked decent, but you can tell he's still having trouble in a role where positions are interchanging.

Holtby doesn't have the speed of either but more technical ability than both combined. He seems comfortable on the right side. Against most teams we should dominate possession so Lennon and Townsend's speed wouldn't be as useful anyways.

What we've seen an increased emphasis on forward passing from deep, and a continuation of a disordered front four. These are core essentials to Poch's systems in the past, and from what we've seen I expect them to be continued. I've actually been rather impressed with how Lennon's adapted in, as his performances as an inverted winger in the past have just been shockingly poor. But he seems to be enjoying contributing to the very different and intriguing style Poch's system creates offensively.

Especially given the interest in J Rod, I think it much more likely we see either Lennon in the role to continue Poch's plans or another left winger brought in, rather than Holtby or Eriksen playing wide. Certainly think that would have been tried out by now in the friendlies were it to be under consideration.

 

[arngspurs]

.....................Lloris
Walker.....mateo.....jan.....Davis
.....schniederlin.....paulinho
Lamela.....Eriksen.....Chadli
.................Adebayor

Would prefer another left winger to chadli but can't see that happening at this point
Eriksen should be in the middle of the three behind the striker as a number 10 imo

 

[Macch]

What we've seen an increased emphasis on forward passing from deep, and a continuation of a disordered front four. These are core essentials to Poch's systems in the past, and from what we've seen I expect them to be continued. I've actually been rather impressed with how Lennon's adapted in, as his performances as an inverted winger in the past have just been shockingly poor. But he seems to be enjoying contributing to the very different and intriguing style Poch's system creates offensively.

Especially given the interest in J Rod, I think it much more likely we see either Lennon in the role to continue Poch's plans or another left winger brought in, rather than Holtby or Eriksen playing wide. Certainly think that would have been tried out by now in the friendlies were it to be under consideration.

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one. I understand Poch's system, the problem is you can't compare Rodriguez to Lennon. The only thing they have in common is speed. Lennon has shown little end product. He's looked decent during preseason, but I don't think he's shown enough to win a starting spot.

 

[arngspurs]

So it's now looking like Chadli could be replaced with Depay here.

Just taking that potential team and breaking it down a bit:

Lloris
Walker Mussachio Vertonghen Davies

The defence looks good. Not "top drawer" imv but not far off. Potentially a top four defence.

Schneiderlin Paulinho

Well... Needs someone more creative than Paulinho there but pretty good especially if we had Schneiderlin there. I'd prob still go for Dembele alongside a DM but granted either way it isn't the strongest.

Lamela Eriksen Depay
Adebayor

Seemingly decent goals potential there. A front four you could see in the top four, provided Lamela's encouraging preseason form continues, and Depay was rotated effectively you'd think. Except I would have thought that rotation would have been with Chadli tbh but not now it seems

Yeah pretty much agree with everything there. I think schniederlin would add slightly more creativity in terms of his passing ability instead of Sandro/capoue. I honestly don't think we'll end up getting Depay (as much as I think we need him or another left winger) so chadli seemed the most suitable. Yeah I just hope lamela can really kick on this year and have an impact in the league.

 

[Norwegian Jim]

Lloris
Walker - Musacchio - Vertonghen - Rose
Dembele - Capoue
Lamela - Eriksen - Lennon
Adebayor​

The situation with Musacchio reminds me of Soldado last year so I'm gonna assume it gets wrapped up in the end. I'm thinking Rose might get another chance to impress at the start of the season, new contract and all. Still, 50/50 who will start, him or Davies. I'm a big fan of Dembele when he's fit and in good form, so my hope is that Pochettino will be able to make him shine again. Should Schneiderlin come in it will change things, but I'm not so optimistic about that deal. Our LW is an issue..but I'll go with Lennon for the time being. Could end up with Eriksen though, and Holtby in the middle. Ade up top for his allround qualities.