Lewis Holtby

[Spursh]

Think he needs to come in and play alongside Sandro & Paulinho.

Loved Dembele last season, but doesn't look 100% fit to me, almost like he's lost that vital yard of pace that made him so formidable in the tackle and going past players last term.

Holtby looks fit now to play, and with his better passing range and vision, along with his desire and aggression, he may just compliment the two mentioned above a little better. Should get the ball forward a little quicker, and spot some of Soldado's runs, and will probably prove to be a bit more of a goal threat too.

 

[Krafty]

I think one of the three midfield space needs to be open to one of Eriksen/Holtby/Carroll, as we need a passer or no.10 in there.

 

[CheeseGromit]

I like Holtby but just wonder if he really fits AVB's model in that he is not big enough
I would play him front of Dembele at the moment

 

[DaSpurs]

I like Holtby but just wonder if he really fits AVB's model in that he is not big enough
I would play him front of Dembele at the moment

That's all speculation generated on Spurs forums and on his recent buys. Holtby is a full two inches taller than Moutinho, who AVB probably still has a hard-on for.

The international break comes at a good time, as it allows Holtby to return to full fitness and gives Eriksen some time to settle into his new personal life, which will help on the field.

 

[Damian99]

Don't think Holtby has anything to prove, he needs a good run of games imo. I have seen enough from his brief appearances to believe he is a very capable player. Plenty of energy and aggression, always happy and looking to receive the ball and two good feet by the looks of things.

Give him some games ffs AVB.

 

[Blake Griffin]

holtby and eriksen should both play. what is the point in soldado if you're just going to stick a bunch of limited hard-workers behind him?

 

[Gringospur]

I like Holtby but just wonder if he really fits AVB's model in that he is not big enough
I would play him front of Dembele at the moment

Modric was never "big enough" either

 

[beats1]

He should of been brought on instead of defoe imo

 

[Spursh]

He should of been brought on instead of defoe imo

Agreed

Another striker wasn't what we needed, we needed someone in midfield who could put their foot on the ball and look up. Bringing on Defoe just exaggerated the gap between the midfield and attack.

 

[WiganSpur]

Should be this next week:

Sandro​

Paulinho Holtby​

Lamela---------------Eriksen----------​

Soldado​

​

That would give us the perfect balance.​

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Agreed

Another striker wasn't what we needed, we needed someone in midfield who could put their foot on the ball and look up. Bringing on Defoe just exaggerated the gap between the midfield and attack.

Agree also, was so surprised by that decision. Kind of made a bad situation worse, if Harry had made that decision people on here would have been ready to lynch him let's be honest.

I'm not saying Holtby is a saviour but we need a forward thinking passer on the pitch at all times, someone who sees a picture of what's going on and can circulate the ball quickly. Dembele just ant do this and dwells on the ball too much before doing nothing significant with it. I don't know why avb didn't give Holtby some minutes to try and unlock Arsenal. We hadn't looked like doing it at all.

 

[Spursh]

Should be this next week:

Sandro​

Paulinho Holtby​

Lamela---------------Eriksen----------​

Soldado​

​

That would give us the perfect balance.​

Yep, that would be my preferred midfield & attack too, although I'd prefer Holtby to be a touch deeper, almost alongside Sandro, to get the ball moving quickly from defence to attack, allowing Eriksen & Lamela to create in the final 3rd, with Soldado & Paulinho our main goal threats.

 

[Lufti]

Nothing much to add here. Can only hope he wasn't played because he's only just back from a long injury, otherwise I'm worried

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Nothing much to add here. Can only hope he wasn't played because he's only just back from a long injury, otherwise I'm worried

His physical condition looked fine on Thursday, he was on the bench ahead of Carroll so assuming he was fit. Don't understand why he didn't get half an hour.

 

[thinktank]

Agreed

Another striker wasn't what we needed, we needed someone in midfield who could put their foot on the ball and look up. Bringing on Defoe just exaggerated the gap between the midfield and attack.

He should of been brought on instead of defoe imo

It really should have been him for Bele at half time and lamela for Townsend at 60mins.

It was lamela that gave them the jitters near the end and gave us our chances. He gonna be amazing. AVB made the wrong decisions today for sure. Hope he corrects this side of his game.

 

[thinktank]

Nothing much to add here. Can only hope he wasn't played because he's only just back from a long injury, otherwise I'm worried

If that's the case then don't put him on the bench. I actually think AVB needs to man up a little in this department be bolder with his subs...it's a weakness of his.

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Should be this next week:

Sandro​

Paulinho Holtby​

Lamela---------------Eriksen----------​

Soldado​

​

That would give us the perfect balance.​

I'm not sure if we will see this for our next game but definitely within 3-4 weeks this is what I expect. Maybe Avb won't want to throw both Lamela and Eriksen in from the start so soon.

Avb needs to make a decision on how he wants us to play and what system and stick with it.

 

[WiganSpur]

I'm not sure if we will see this for our next game but definitely within 3-4 weeks this is what I expect. Maybe Avb won't want to throw both Lamela and Eriksen in from the start so soon.

Avb needs to make a decision on how he wants us to play and what system and stick with it.

I know the team needs time to gel but Sandro/Capoue Dembele & Paulinho doesn't really work for me. Dembele and Paulinho are reluctant to make incisive passes and there is no need for that much physicality in the midfield. 2 dynamic midfielders and a playmaker is definitely the right way to go in the midfield 3, I just don't think AVB sees it that way tbh.

 

[thinktank]

I know the team needs time to gel but Sandro/Capoue Dembele & Paulinho doesn't really work for me. Dembele and Paulinho are reluctant to make incisive passes and there is no need for that much physicality in the midfield. 2 dynamic midfielders and a playmaker is definitely the right way to go in the midfield 3, I just don't think AVB sees it that way tbh.

Paul'o Sandro​

Lamela Eriksen Chadli​

Soldado​

​

That's what I want to see in the next game. And I'd expect Paul'o to join in in attacks when poss.​

 

[DEFchenkOE]

Paul'o Sandro​

Lamela Eriksen Chadli​

Soldado​

​

That's what I want to see in the next game. And I'd expect Paul'o to join in in attacks when poss.​

I don't think Chadli deserves to keep his place ahead of Townsend tbh.