As difficult as it is to prize ourselves away from the rectal probe hijinks of the last blog, away we must.
The big news and big is the right word, is that our valiant boys have been doing something new in training. Here’s the boss from today’s presser, ahead of Sunday’s game:
We’ve trained with 4-4-2 during this international break. We played a game against a local team over here last Friday playing 4-4-2.
We can probably move to it in future, although I’m unsure if this is the right time, bearing in mind the fixtures that we have coming up against Manchester City and Manchester United.
We have been very consistent defensively and offensively in the 4-2-3-1 system – not in terms of goals but in terms of chances created. That’s probably our way through.
What did we work on in the friendly? Just the change of system basically. We tried a little bit with Soldado and Adebayor up front in a 4-4-2 shape.
We did it all of last season so it’s not something that we need to lose lots of time with. It comes naturally, the players know it, it’s also part of this country’s culture and I think when I would want to revert to that system I will.”
But the killer line in there is the one I’ve highlighted. Is the stubborness that the AVB haters have been banging on about, or is André wanting to let the fans know daylight has dawned, yet still wants to keep the opposition in suspenders?
There’s more:
Our likely approach is to go with one up front [at Man City]. It’s a decision that I have to take, which one I will choose. They are very near each other at the moment and it could be a possibility that even Ade could play that game. These are all decisions that we have to take.
We don’t have enough reasons at the moment not to trust Soldado and Defoe because they’ve been excellent, with great performances, goals and great goal tallies, so hopefully it’s a decision that’s best for the team and best for the strategy.”
The killer line, again highlighted, could reflect the spine chilling belief that AVB has in Defoe. Gary Jacobs in The Times this morning was suggesting that Defoe is “valued by Spurs” at £6.5m. Let’s hope that André is simply toeing the company line here. There’s little point in stating publicly that a player is less than brilliant if you’re hoping to sell him in a few weeks time.
My cynical prediction is that we’ll field Soldado on his own, and once the first City goal goes in, he’ll then unleash the Togoan. And speaking of going behind, the betting markets don’t show us in a great light.
Second place in the “big news” stakes is the announcement from AVB that Danny Rose is looking unlikely to feature much before Christmas at this rate:
Danny Rose is still out but making good progress on his injury so we’re looking for a two or three-week period now finally for his return.”
It’s pretty obvious that we need to buy a left back in January. Presumably the boss identified a problem with Benny, but either way, he’s gone and when fit, Rose is good, but it’s debatable that he’s a stand out left back.
Whether Jan likes or dislikes playing in that spot is pretty academic. Jan is hugely talented player, but does he have the pace to recover his position that Bonzo and Rose have, in a system that employs pacy wing-backs? I’m unconvinced.
Yet when AVB was asked if we would buy one in January, he replied:
No, I don’t think so.”
So who should we field? The picks I’ve gone for, I don’t expect the boss to replicate. I’d love him to, but would be astonished if it happened.
From the back of course, and Hugo is back, if that’s okay with the press, The Red Cross and the anyone else still proudly wearing a “He nearly died” t shirt.
The back four doesn’t need Dawson to start. I don’t need Dawson to start. Nobody needs to see him outwitted by Agüero. Kaboul, Vlad, and Verts have all put in substantial performances. Agüero will be looking to nip in behind the back four. We know this is how it will be. It is written.
Against a frequently free scoring Manchester City, we simply cannot afford to have any weak links in the chain. Man City have scored a shed load of goals this season. In fact, 28 of the bloody things.
And if we look at that other, equally important column, “goals against”, the number 12 tells us why City aren’t higher up the table. And there’s the rub. If ever one game this season screams out a warning in advance that things must change, then this is it.
So let’s pray that we have a better plan than Townsend and Siggy both failing to effectively supply Soldado, followed by a pair of last throw of the dice type subs on the 67th minute.
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