However the same tactics are being used this season, although the reality is that without the likes of a Bale type figure the issues or cracks have become more apparent.
Going back through the second half of last season we can see that the wings only saw at worst just under 1.5% of the game and at best around 6.5% of the game.
Most of the game was played in the middle and averaged around 50% of the game.
The reason that this has become a problem is due to the lack of goals. Many fans have been very quick to jump to the criticism of Soldado up front, however knowing how Soldado plays we have bought a player that we are not setup to supply properly and never have been (under AVB).
As the goals have dried up of recent we have now realised just how narrow a game we play as a team, which is not only predictable, but suicidal.
We can blame AVB for this, however there are other people that should also shoulder this blame. The players have not done their part either. Demebele losing too many balls, Sigurdsson always coming inside to leave the left bear, Townsend constantly cutting in and being impatient (resulting in shots form the outside), Dawson losing concentration and Soldado dropping deep instead of holding his position.
We have injuries that have caused us issues at the back (as we have less cover), however in midfield (where the problem lies) we have plenty of players to "mix" this up.
Dembele MUST be rested, he must be given time to recoup as I can not see any other reason for his rapid decline in performances.
Sandro is coming back to fitness again and I am sure he will be deployed as the midfield heart, the man to stop the attacks in midfield and then help to build the play back up.
Lamela YES is finding his feet, but we cannot afford to rush him. I feel that he is likely to start against City due to the simple fact that he has proven his worth (against Sheriff) compared to the likes of Sigurdsson. He can also play in the support role so we need to play him there or on the right and let him develop.
Townsend was marked out of the Newcastle game and has been playing non stop, give the guy a rest and pull Lennon in.
Eriksen hit the ground running but has tumbled of recent. We need to give him the time to pick himself up and assist him with this.
Capoue is on the way back, but is identical to Sandro. If we need to play defensive (likely more away than at home) him and Sandro in a DM role together would be very difficult to break down.
Chadli I am not sure of the issue. He did have an injury, but has found it difficult to break into the team. Again he is likely to need some time.
Soldado has not been given the service and it is ridiculously apparent. We bought a striker that feeds on balls from the byline and low crosses. All his goals last season were from inside the box. DO NOT blame a player that is not supported, blame those around or the tactics. I do blame him for dropping deep and being too impatient with his team mates.
There are so many things as a fan that we can moan about, point out and so on, but what we don't know is what is happening in the background.
Taking everything into account there is one other issue that I had failed to mentioned, but agree with. Impatient play. Watching our play we bring the ball forward quickly and then pass is to the back again quickly. We do not press forward in numbers and commit to the spaces. If we go to an area we do not attempt to build up we pass it back again.
Patience is a vertu we've all heard it, but many of us fail in acting it out (just like the players and staff). As fans we are as much to blame, as the booing does not help.
We must play the right players in the right position and allow them to gel and build up. When we have a regular starting 11 with players in the right position we can then truly begin to build.
Townsend should be on the left (being naturally left footed) and Lamela on the right. Those two for me are dead certs along with Sandro. With that skeleton we can then build and decide on who to place alongside them, even experiement.
I have been repeating myself again and again on this, but we must use the wings! Until we increase our figures of play on the left from a mere 4% and right 3% we cannot expect to dominate and support a lone striker. If we can make these area’s the key to concentrate on then we are looking at a hard team to break down.
Patience I realise is wearing thin, but as fans we have no voice, the clubs do not wish to hear it as they feel it undermines the managers. We can all understand that can't we? However at times like this I feel that the players and staff have to be held acocuntible for something.
Again we cannot afford to be negative, we must cheer the team on as that is our job! Don't moan at the club if you are not doing your job and cheering your team on throughout the game. Constructive criticism is for after the game and to reflect on. We as fans can and do make things worse as booing the players leads to the impatient play that is destroying us.
Let’s have more support on the pitch fellow fans, I will be the first to admit I had bite marks on my lips following the Newcastle game as I did my best to keep cheering the lads on. Sometimes it hurts to be a Spurs fan, but it really could be so much worse.
Who said being a Spurs fan was meant to be easy?
COYS!!!!!
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