Apologies for another Lewis Holtby story but it’s worth recording Andre Villas-Boas’ comments about the German and the impression he has made at White Hart Lane this season. Holtby came to White Hart Lane in the January transfer window – originally it was intended that he would join up with the club this summer but a deal was rushed through after a number of midfield injuries.
However, Lewis didn’t really answer that injury crisis as he was kept on the bench for much of the remainder of the campaign and it was predictable, if disappointing, to see a host of rumours linking him with a move away from Spurs, permanent or otherwise.
Holtby has always said that he relishes the competition for places and AVB’s words show how valuable he will prove to be for the club.
“This season, because we are playing with three in the middle, he is showing the reasons why we bought him,” he said,
“Last season we were playing differently with two strikers, so that left him with fewer possibilities and whenever he came in he had to play off the channels.”
Andre has previously pointed to a change in formation making us hard to beat and the switch is clearly benefiting Lewis Holtby. Will it be enough to see him in the starting XI for tomorrow’s Derby?
The thing is Holtby is a no.10 and thats where he should be used, if he is played wide left then he wont be effective and we will slate him………he should be on the bench if he doesnt start in the no.10 role.
The only option you have is moving Eriksen to wide left and allowing the pair to float in and out, that could be effective as in my opinion Holtby does deserve to play, my team tomorrow would be:
Lloris
Walker Dawson Vertonghen Rose
Paulinho Dembele
Lamela Holtby Eriksen
Soldado
Friedel, Chiriches, Sandro, Chadli, Sig, Townsend, Defoe
Good point.
Do you feel that this line up would lack height and midfield strength?
He would’ve started tomorrow, if Eriksen wasn’t at SPURS.
So he would probably be a substituion.
Lewis is better suited playing in the hole, last season the whole team was geared to supplying Bale who drifted Left, Right and Centre. I like Holtby’s attitude, work ethic and vision, he has a good pass in him but being LFD he has skied shots or struck hopelessly wide too often. He is however a good back up for Eriksen and a good alternative for the Cups. The whole team is playing better without the Welsh Wizard transversing our momentum, at the moment we don’t even seem to miss Lennon.
I agree with JayJay,. The only problem we may have jayjay, is whether Lamela is ready to start yet, also,.. If we started either Chadli or Townsend,.. Then, the thoughto having Holtby Lamela and Defoe on the bench to change the game is massively re-assuring!! COYS!!!!!
Start lamela he has already given us two assist he is more of a team player. Andros looks good running at players but not very often does he give you that end product
Holby is the middle man in a three not a no 10. No 10 when he came on last saturday in the dying mins, paulinho swaped positions with eriksen
Agree with jayjay’s lineup. Townsend and Defoe can be brought in as subs if we’re pressing for a goal later in the game.
Townsend has more shots then any other player in the premier league, gone passed his man more times than any other player in the premier league but has one assist and no goals his cross completion woeful. He has to be benched till he improves this stat. As a team we have had more shots than any other team but have only three goals from open time.
At the top level the movement of eto, oscar and hazard maybe too much for dawson. Like giroud did him at the emirates. However our eissen might dominate the center souch that this might compensate. Dembele is simply a awseome holding midfield player. Soldado to score tomorrow.
I think Townsend should start. Those who watched the chelski vs basel game saw that cashley couldn’t handle Salah’s speed when he continued to run at him. Townsend does need to make better choices with the ball but I do think that he could put a lot of pressure on Chelsea’s right wing.
Sandro is the key. Played so well against Villa and is more disciplined to sit than Dembers or Pauline. With Capoue out, then he must start.
Townsend sure is lively, but what is the point of shooting at every opportunity if you only hit row Z !
Lamela is getting into it now, and as a team player he may well have more guile and trickery in his locker to upset Cashley.
As for Holtby ,we ll I really like him but if you play him and Erikson together then that would mean either Dembele or Paulinho being benched. Will be an interesting call from AVB as to how he will go. One thing is for sure both Paulinho and Erikson will be the first names on the attacking teamsheet.
Are you an Arsenal fan? Only Arsenal fans that called Ashley Cole as “Cashley”. Ashley Cole has nothing problem with Tottenham club as far as I know.
Whatever…… COYG!
I like jayjay’ line-up. There’s a lot of movement in there and it would give Chelsea a lot to deal with. Add to that the runs of Soldado and we could have J.Terry’ head spinning. Gonna stick my neck out here and go for a heart dominated decision of 2-0 to us. Soldado could be the man today! COYS!!!
I agree with Jajjay’s team but I think Holtby needs to be more disciplined. Against the bigger teams he has a tendency to go looking for the ball and so he receives it more often than not with his back to the goal. He needs to get the ball facing goal so he can lay on those wonderful balls we know he capable of.