leffe186

And shit, Cruyff died while I was writing that? RIP indeed.

You can't get over Alli's punchable face so you pick Ince? I think that's called cognitive dissonance . Alli and Dier could each do a job for England, but you'd have to build a team that works as a team. It's the age-old problem - do you pick the eleven best players or do you look at who's available and craft a style that fits as many as possible? Either way, the press and some fans will be pissed off. I've said this before - Alli has been effective for us because he's been given a fair bit of freedom. Even so, many Spurs fans are frustrated with him and wouldn't actually have him in their first team. I would, because you can afford one player who just runs about a lot and pops up with crucial goals and assists. You just have to recognize that he's still a kid. He's incredibly fit, pretty strong, and skilful; just inconsistent - gives the ball away a lot, flits in and out of the game a bit. Dier has surprised all of us - we were desperate for a DM in the Summer and Poch/Levy got a lot of stick for us ending up with Dier. He really has been a revelation...but the proviso is that he's got a fairly simple job. He's asked to sit in front of the defence for the most part, then when we get the ball he drops back to let the full-backs push on. He's bloody good at that job. If you ask him to do that for England then fair enough, and he's going to look pretty good. If you ask him to do anything else in midfield then you're asking for trouble. One big point in his favour when you're looking at a tournament is that he can do a job at DM, CB and RB.

Can't believe you dropped him against your own team tbh, Neil. Schoolboy error.

I keep avoiding Kane © because I don't want to put the mockers on him. It's costing me.

How much time will Rafa actually get with the team this next couple of weeks? How many players are on international duty?

Aren't you the only one out of the bottom four who get to play Villa again? That's a big advantage.

He never had one outstanding feature though, like pace (Owen) or strength (Carroll). I think that as a young striker, that sometimes means you get underrated. Even the fans of the teams he was on loan at...and tbh, some Spurs fans...didn't really fancy him. He's just good at everything, which coupled with hard work and a clever footballing mind has meant he has got better and better. It also makes it a bit harder for managers to game plan against him - you can't just stick a big guy on him, or a quick, nippy defender.

Worst thing about West Ham getting in is that they have a nice (essentially) free stadium to allow them to fully exploit the situation.

I think most of the bitterness comes from the recognition that with a bit of luck and good management your club (whoever you are) could be in their place. Nowt to do with whether they deserve it or not.

I still want him to win today...sorry lads.

Of course Mr Genius here buried Bellerin on the bench.

Suits me. I'd take Poch over Rafa tbh.

Really wish there wasn't an international coming up.

Well, no, we're desperately trying to move out of the bigger brother's shadow by recognizing our relative financial limitations and trying to find ways around them in the short term (investing in youth) and the long term (investing in a new stadium). Milnertastic answer.

Speaking as an outsider, I'm really looking forward to this.

*sour grapes alert* Kinda. There were definitely some parallels with their game at our place - they won 1-0, with a goal from a set-piece, and only managed two shots on target. Our game was a bit different though. We should have at least had a couple of goals in the first 20 mins but Schmeichel had a blinder. They came back into it for a bit, then we really should have had the game won before the goal. It was a more stark version of their play this year - we had 62% possession, 21 shots, 16 corners. They got everyone back and looked to hit us on the counter with long balls. And yes, the ref was very generous to them, honestly. They are definitely able to switch their game up when required, but it's still the same basic template. Tight at the back, force the oppo into crosses from out wide which the big guys or Schmeichel can deal with. Kante is everywhere. Look to break at speed either with the wingers or with long balls into the channels for Vardy. Everybody working hard and pressing when they don't have the ball, happy to dole out little niggly fouls, happy to play for free-kicks around the box. They are very well-drilled, both at the back and up front, which is greatly helped by the fact that they have been playing almost exactly the same team all year. Eleven players have started more than 20 league games, and seven of those have played at least 28 of the 30. Compare that to your team (five started more than 20, two started at least 28 (Gini and Janmaat).

Do all the basics right. Everything's simple. Like some Liverpool fan said, they're like the best pub team you've ever seen.

Finally.

Fuck me, everybody should have done better there.

Colback should have got the FK on the edge of the area even before the break - Kante just jumped at him.

It's genuinely bizarre looking on from the outside. I mean, I get that Mitro should be good at holding the ball up, and Perez is clever and tricky, but surely you could use a guy who's just quick and direct. Even if only occasionally off the bench.

Come on lads, spawny equalizer please.

Yellow for that, surely?

Missed five mins there. Is Mitro still on? He'll be crawling on his hands and knees soon.

They all are, it's a conscious ploy.