I wonder if Dele asking random questions about nonsense is a bit he decided to do for the doc or just a thing he always does? I feel like he does it a few times so far and it’s always been him when it happens
GLC is the new Eriksen. Without him there’s no creativity. And things get dreadful quick.The first half was alright, I thought Spurs were slightly better although far from dominant, but maaaan, that second half was really dreadful. Despite playing from behind most of the half, they created absolutely nothing and looked like they had no effective attacking ideas at all. Pretty clearly they have not yet solved the major problems from last season. This could be a long year.
First, I doubt they're showing the whole talk. Second, what else is a team captain (as opposed to the manager) supposed to say in a pregame pump up speech? Keep it short and sweet, get me ready to play hard and run thru a brick wall. fin.Kane's team talk is basically
"fucking start fast fucking get the bawl get stuck in come on lads lets fucking goooo"
as he starts clapping faster and faster
Lloris has been the same thing, but in a French accent so it maybe sounds cleverer. I doubt it's uniquely "Kane's talks are simple" and more "captains do not give pump up speeches of great literary sophistication"First, I doubt they're showing the whole talk. Second, what else is a team captain (as opposed to the manager) supposed to say in a pregame pump up speech? Keep it short and sweet, get me ready to play hard and run thru a brick wall. fin.
B/R LiveIs Thursday's Plovdiv match televised/streamed anywhere?
From the group stages onward.Is that right? Isn’t Europa now on cbs all access?
BRING HIM HOME!Serious smoke around Bale coming back (I know, every year)... this time supported by legit ITK. RM paying 1/2 his wage bill while on loan.
Doesn't make a ton of sense, but I love it!
If Dele goes to Madrid they are basically punting on getting anything out of an attacking CM anyway.If Spurs get Bale and Reguilon it really does like a team increasingly suited to a 3-4-3 system. Doherty is really a wingback, Reguilon an attacking fullback, and Bale is certainly not the kind of RW that will track back a lot and cover for a marauding fullback in a four man defense.
I think it could work. Play those wingbacks to provide width, give Son/Kane/Bale some license to move around up front or drop between the lines, then have two from Hojbjerg/Lo Celso/Winks as cover in front of a three man defense. I don't see much role for Dele or N'Dombele but this potentially creates the kind of team Mourinho likes - one with a solidly structured defense and enough attacking talent on the field to figure it out themselves. The biggest issues with this kind of system is that you tend to get overrun in midfield and you don't get much chance creation through the center of the pitch (see Arteta's Arsenal). But maybe that's OK as Mourinho likes to play counter-attacking football and Spurs don't really have that kind of creative CAM player anyway.
I think it would be very risky to play 3-4-3 with three true forwards AND aggressive wingbacks and I can't see Jose doing it, it's just not his style. Also Spurs don't have the personnel for a midfield 2. Hojberg could work in this system but there's no natural partner for him in a 2-man midfield because none of the other candidates can cover enough ground defensively.If Spurs get Bale and Reguilon it really does like a team increasingly suited to a 3-4-3 system. Doherty is really a wingback, Reguilon an attacking fullback, and Bale is certainly not the kind of RW that will track back a lot and cover for a marauding fullback in a four man defense.
I think it could work. Play those wingbacks to provide width, give Son/Kane/Bale some license to move around up front or drop between the lines, then have two from Hojbjerg/Lo Celso/Winks as cover in front of a three man defense. I don't see much role for Dele or N'Dombele but this potentially creates the kind of team Mourinho likes - one with a solidly structured defense and enough attacking talent on the field to figure it out themselves. The biggest issues with this kind of system is that you tend to get overrun in midfield and you don't get much chance creation through the center of the pitch (see Arteta's Arsenal). But maybe that's OK as Mourinho likes to play counter-attacking football and Spurs don't really have that kind of creative CAM player anyway.
That makes sense. Realistically, Bale isn't going to play every match anyway given his injury history. And since Bale and Son could play together in this system pretty well when Kane needs rest or gets hurt you might not need to buy the long sought backup CF.I think it would be very risky to play 3-4-3 with three true forwards AND aggressive wingbacks and I can't see Jose doing it, it's just not his style. Also Spurs don't have the personnel for a midfield 2. Hojberg could work in this system but there's no natural partner for him in a 2-man midfield because none of the other candidates can cover enough ground defensively.
3-5-2 would be more likely, with Hojberg, Winks or Sissoko, and GLC or Ndombele in a midfield 3 behind one of Bale/Son/Dele (if he's still here) partnering Kane. This is more like how they played when they successfully used a back 3 in the 2016-17 season, with Eriksen as the third midfielder in front of two of Dembele/Dier/Wanyama and Dele playing off Kane. There was no obvious role for Son in this side, which led to one of Poch's worst decisions when to shoehorn Son into the side he started Son as a left wing-back against Chelsea in the FA Cup semifinal and Son gave away a cheap penalty.
The Athletic:If Spurs get Bale and Reguilon it really does like a team increasingly suited to a 3-4-3 system. Doherty is really a wingback, Reguilon an attacking fullback, and Bale is certainly not the kind of RW that will track back a lot and cover for a marauding fullback in a four man defense.
https://theathletic.com/2069023/2020/09/16/gareth-bale-spurs-tottenham-real-man-united/?source=dailyemailMost likely as the right-sided attacker in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 (with Son Heung-min on the left), where he would be a big upgrade on Lucas Moura, who currently starts on the right.
Bale can also operate as a centre-forward in a more fluid front three but not as the out-and-out No 9 that Jose Mourinho wants. The manager will still want another striker as back-up for Kane. Mourinho has repeatedly spoken about big clubs needing to have big players on the bench, so he wants the additional competition up front. One side-effect of Bale’s arrival would be moving Steven Bergwijn, signed in January for €30 million (£27.6 million), further down the pecking order.
Pitt-Brooke: The most obvious place for Bale would be in Son’s role on the left of a front three but where that leaves Son — Spurs’ most consistent forward in recent years — remains to be seen. Another option would be for Mourinho to go 4-4-2 with Bale and Kane up front. Managing the relationship with Kane would be interesting too — he’s been the main man almost since Bale left.
Some of that is spot on, but some of it isn't at all. Kane, Son, Dele, Bale, Lucas, and Bergy is a crowded attacking crew, but not impossibly so. The cream will rise and the bottom 2 will likely not play nearly enough to their liking. Since Kane is the only true Striker, he won't be used as an AMF. Dele is probably the best AMF on the squad and while that's where Bergy has played some, I've seen better performances from him on the wing. I think Son is actually serviceable as the backup Striker. Last year he showed he can handle hold up play reasonably well, and he's lightning fast and makes smart runs in behind. The best way to think about Spurs formations is how aggressive Mou wants to be. 4231 is his most aggressive as he deploys 4 players in attack (3-1), 433 is balanced (3 true attackers), and 442 is conservative (2 true attackers). It's best to think about who can play what role in each setup. Here's my best take on it, noting that I didn't focus too much on having the best player for each role listed first:
I agree that he won't play 3ATB, but Mou has shown he's not interested in having both FBs stay home. Last year's strategy was to get Serge the ball as high up the field as possible. This is a terrible plan on many levels, but there's no doubt that Mou made this Plan A-H. Getting another well-rounded FB on the opposite side will allow the team to be much more fluid L-R and when Reguilon pushes high, Doherty will stay home and vice versa.I can’t fathom Mourinho shifting to a back 3. Seems more likely he will just play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and the fullbacks will stay home for the most part. It’s just who he is. Interested to see Bale playing again, this could be a coup for Spurs.
I have to say, the Lo Celso adoration is really strange to consistently read as a neutral. I’ve never watched Spurs play and found him anything but average but you guys seem to love him and usually close fans have better instincts. It’s just so jarring to read come up sofrequently
I agree with this in general; I'm psyched to have Bale back but it wasn't necessarily a weakness this team had that needed to be addressed. That being said, my biggest complaints for the team heading into the transfer window was for Tottenham to upgrade their fullbacks and improve the midfield. With Hojbjerg they added an upgrade at DMF, and with Doherty, and hopefully Reguilon, they will have upgraded the fullback positions as well. That is a pretty successful window, all things considered. If they get Bale on a sweetheart deal and he is suddenly a world class player again, that is just an added bonus. The big question will be how does this team play under Jose and how successful will they be?It looks like Bale is happening. Whether it's a good deal IMO depends on the financial terms, of which I've seen varying reports. But it's an odd thing for Spurs to focus on. Wide attacking players is not really a weakness of the current squad with Son, Bergwijn, Lucas, and Sessegnon. Bale is an improvement, sure, but he's an expensive short-term fix and Spurs have bigger needs at other positions where I wish they'd invest long-term resources.
Yeah, lots of English sources now flipping over to "deal is done" type of tweets.It looks like Bale is happening. Whether it's a good deal IMO depends on the financial terms, of which I've seen varying reports. But it's an odd thing for Spurs to focus on. Wide attacking players is not really a weakness of the current squad with Son, Bergwijn, Lucas, and Sessegnon. Bale is an improvement, sure, but he's an expensive short-term fix and Spurs have bigger needs at other positions where I wish they'd invest long-term resources.
Shifting to a back three would definitely be a departure for Mourinho. But I don't think he has ever regularly fielded a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 team with two wingers as attack oriented as Son/Bale and with two fullbacks as attack-oriented as Reguilon/Doherty. His preference has generally been to have one winger and one fullback more defensive. So continuing to play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 while replacing his harder working winger (Lucas) with Bale, while also replacing his stay-at-home fullback (Davies) with Reguilon, would be a very big departure in its own right. I'll guess we'll find out!I can’t fathom Mourinho shifting to a back 3. Seems more likely he will just play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 and the fullbacks will stay home for the most part. It’s just who he is. Interested to see Bale playing again, this could be a coup for Spurs.
I have to say, the Lo Celso adoration is really strange to consistently read as a neutral. I’ve never watched Spurs play and found him anything but average but you guys seem to love him and usually close fans have better instincts. It’s just so jarring to read come up sofrequently
Agree with this. Son is in the best XI regardless of formation. Bale hopefully becomes an elite option at wing to give Kane and Son some rest. Dele will get PT anyway because he's the best central option at AMF, with Bergy and GLC the only other viable options. All that said, Bale should be considered a luxury, and no way should Spurs pay more than 50% of his wages.One thing to consider is that part of the challenge of playing Sonny as Kane's backup is how much it weakens us on the wing. Getting Bale may afford Son to slot in to the 9 role (though they should still be looking for a target man b/u).
Reguilon is so very needed.
FFS, can we get Sanchez instead of Dier?!??
This would be a super-fun team and it's what Frank Lampard would do if he were managing Spurs, but there's no way Mourinho plays this attacking of a lineup. He will plug in at least one more defensively-oriented midfielder.
oh god bring Amazon back if Balotelli is going to be with Mourinho (again)I think even with all of this, you're going to see a striker come in as well. Whether it's a real name like Belotelli or a couple million deadline day deal on someone like Bad Dost, someone else is coming on that front.
There's some semi-legit links.oh god bring Amazon back if Balotelli is going to be with Mourinho (again)
If you watched the Amazon doc you know why he likes Dier.FFS, can we get Sanchez instead of Dier?!??
It's Belotti.Isn't it Belotti? Or is it actually Ballotelli?
е, това е облекчение!Today's game is streaming free on B/R live.
Because he speaks Portuguese and is a cunt??If you watched the Amazon doc you know why he likes Dier.
More or less. He, according to Mourinho, is the only one that relishes a fight on the field.Because he speaks Portuguese and is a cunt??
I don't even know what you're trying to say here. Managers almost always have reasons for their decisions, I'm questioning Mou's reasons for starting Dier over Dav. Furthermore, with Mou being such a WIN NOW type of manager, why's he playing Dier--who's doing well, but still very much learning on the job and giving away unnecessary pens. So while Mou gets to see them both in training and certainly has a fuller picture of who's better, what's the point of this thread if we're not going to ask questions like this.More or less. He, according to Mourinho, is the only one that relishes a fight on the field.
I don't want to render all discussion boards moot by saying "The manager always knows more", but someone like Mourinho is clearly a WIN NOW kind of guy. There's gotta be a reason he plays him, no?