Ashley17

It's league 2 ffs, surely the pitches don't allow for much flair?

No he didn't. RVP (1), Djourou (2) & Fabregas (3) got the bonuses.

Even better

Rodallega off! Get in!

Pen to Wigan, think it was a dive...and outside the box. Terrible decision

So Smith goes off and then Tiote gets sent off. Then what? Then we'd have tried and failed, and we'd still be 10v10 and still a chance to get something from it. Now we didn't even try and failed. Tiote didn't get sent off anyway, so I don't really see your argument. He got subbed before he could get sent off. To say he was walking a tightrope is an understatement.

So Smith goes off and then Tiote gets sent off. Then what?

You can't say that, Spurs haven't ever won 3-0!!

So because we let in 5 against Bolton we would have let 5 in against Spurs? It doesn't work that way, you mentioned 4-0 and have proven that it's irrelevant. I think we're losing sight of the point here (and yes that is largely my fault). Teams have achieved success at WHL by playing cautiously. Had we played 4-4-2, we'd be very open, we'd have Carroll and either somebody shite or a relative rookie up front - who has never started a Premiership game. Yes Spurs have never steamrollered anybody but how many have gone out and attacked them? Presumably not that many, KD or any of the Spurs fans will be able to shed more light on that I imagine. Playing an extra defensive midfielder was probably meant to nullify VDV, who was quite quiet. Unfortunately, they have quality all over the pitch, whereas we don't. Williamson could have played, sure. Would it have made a difference? Probably not. Likewise Kadar, who is good physically but lacks pace, would probably not have done any better against Lennon than Perch.

Don't be daft, we've set out a negative team against a Spurs team who before today had only managed to stop the opposition scoring once. They rip teams apart on the counter, and supposedly teams have achieved more success by sitting back at WHL. If we'd had a go and lost 4-0 people would be even less happy. Exactly, thats why we still need to leave Tiote and Smith on because we were always vulnerable on the counter attack. So the game plan was to try and hold on to the 1-0? Anycase if you watched the game, Smith and Tiote played much further forward anycase, so it wasn't even like we played 2 DM's all game. Also Barton & Routledge were playing much further forward than the other 2 midfielders/ So Smith and Tiote were on as DM's but they didnt? And Barton and Routledge were doing what they should be doing anyway? I'm sorry but Smith should have come off for Ranger. might as well lose 3-0 if we're chasing a 2-0 lead Tiote was on the verge of a red, so I think he had to be subbed for the sake of us keeping 11 players on.

Spurs haven't beaten anybody 4-0 so why should that one come into it? They haven't won by more than 2 goals in any league game that I know about. Bolton hadn't beaten anybody 5-1 until we rocked up. But it hadn't happened before so there's no way it should have happened that day. Right?

I don't agree with leaving the two defensive midfielders on at 1-0 down with them down to 10 but Gutierrez is shite. It goes back to the lack of options, maybe Jonas had an injury or was just shagged out (he covers a lot of ground even if he's shite) but either way, Tiote went off shortly afterwards.

Don't be daft, we've set out a negative team against a Spurs team who before today had only managed to stop the opposition scoring once. They rip teams apart on the counter, and supposedly teams have achieved more success by sitting back at WHL. If we'd had a go and lost 4-0 people would be even less happy.

I think anybody expecting a newly promoted team to win at WHL is demanding instant success

Smith - Yes you could leave him out and go 4-4-2, even though KD said Spurs have struggled against teams who sit back. Presumably, the management looked at this and went 4-5-1. It worked for what, an hour? Perch - Your options are to move around the entire back 4 (not recommended) with Taylor going right back and Simpson coming over to the left, or Kadar. Kadar is not a full back, regardless of what he's meant to be. Him vs Walcott in the Carling Cup was a raping, and the same would have happened with Lennon. The squad is tiny, a few injuries and this is what happens. Playing 4-5-1 is ok if you have somebody with either creativity or pace in the middle. Barton couldn't pass water and his set pieces were wank, Jonas needs putting down. But again, there is no replacement, so good luck.

Misses Fitzy baby

Oh why is Smith channeling the spirit of Butt ffs.

Palacios is our best player

Foul ON Smith on the edge of our box.

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+You+Sully+Boy%3B+Spurs+4+Newcastle+2%3A+Robson+blasts+red-card...-a068674467 Game will probably be similar to that.

Ashley will have his Spurs shirt on too, it'll be quite nice for them.

Pretty obvious that Guthrie will be on his way. He surely couldn't be injured, was on the bench on boxing day and would have probably played today - but if a move is lined up, it's too risky to get him injured so he was left at home. So he went to the Casino, obviously.

Everything is shit about Smith, he can't tackle, he can't mark, he can barely pass, his positioning is poor, and furthermore, one of my pet hates with him is he doesn't even go up for corners. His only ever goal for us was a great header in a friendly, but no, he'd rather Jonas was in there. Useless fuck.

What do we reckon then? Routledge off Carroll? Barton off Carroll? The old 4-3-3/4-5-1 with Jonas/Routledge either side of Carroll? An adventurous 4-2-3-1? Alan Smith man marking (crippling) VDV? What a treat we are in for.

Don't worry, it's not like he's captain.