Most would agree that these are our best attacking players. The 4 that you would get out on the pitch as often as you can - The back up in Lamela, Llorente, Lucas can certainly do a job but ultimately these 4 are a class above.
In 26 premier league games and 7 UCL games, this quality quartet have started together just 7 times.
In the league, Kane, Son, Alli and Eriksen have started a match just 6 times, in 26 games. I find that quite astounding. They did not start a league game together until the defeat of Chelsea on 24 November.
League games when they have all started were vs CFC, Arsenal, Everton, Wolves, Cardiff & United, so we've actually lost half of those games.
The whole situation almost defies logic. We've won 19 out of 20 league games when one of more of these players has not started, and lost 3 of 6 when they have started.
In the UCL this 4 have started vs PSV when we won at home, and the draw at Barca.
Kane started every match up to the Leicester game (a run of 20 starts). Has missed 6 games altogether and we have won all 6.
Alli missed 10 straight games after defeat to Watford, we lost 4 of these (albeit Barca, Inter, City, LFC) and missed 6 games since (winning all).
Eriksen missed a run of 4 games after the Brighton(a) win, and we only lost the Barca game. He's started from the bench for 5 games, and we only lost the City game.
Son, was a sub in game 1 before then going on international duty and missing the next 4 games. Since returning, he's started 21 of 29 games, mainly due international duty and general fatigue. He's started in 3 of our 6 league losses.
Overall, it is surprising to see how infrequently these 4 have played together. When you look at LFC for example and their front 3 which have started almost every game together. City have coutless options to rotate a bit more and I suppose with Lamela & Lucas in particular, we probably have better options than LFC so have rotated a bit more (often out of necessity).
It does make you wonder what our best line up is. Most would have it with this 4 in, but this is not supported by the stats.
What it does show is that we able able to rest and rotate in these positions without it necessarily affecting our results. Missing key players has not really hindered our progress, although you would probably say that injuries and a lack of options in CM saw us tire over the Christmas week and lose to Wolves, and the Jan Cup exists also influenced by rest/rotation/injury.
People talk of our squad depth lacking but i think really this now just applies to CM in terms of numbers, with Dembele gone, and FBs in terms of quality.
Kane, Son, Alli & Eriksen
posted on 22/2/19
wait we are on the facking tele again ?
posted on 22/2/19
It's difficult to accomodate all 4 in the first XI.
Kane wants to play up top on his own. Son is good out wide on the left, but he's soo much better in Kane's position.
Dele behind Kane and Eriksen out on the right. Again, Eriksen is wasted in a wide position, his best position is right behind the striker. Dele simply isn't a wide player.
Even if all 4 were 100%, I doubt they'd start many games together.
posted on 22/2/19
Sissoko - Winks - Eriksen
-------------Dele
-------Kane-----Son
Sissoko gets up and down and covers a lot. Doing a lot of great defensive work. Eriksen playing as a playmaker slightly deeper but most advanced of the 3.
Dele making runs in behind Kane and Son. Kane playing as all round forward, Son using his pace.
posted on 22/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 5 minutes ago
Sissoko - Winks - Eriksen
-------------Dele
-------Kane-----Son
Sissoko gets up and down and covers a lot. Doing a lot of great defensive work. Eriksen playing as a playmaker slightly deeper but most advanced of the 3.
Dele making runs in behind Kane and Son. Kane playing as all round forward, Son using his pace.
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Imagine if Davies was left back. We'd get destroyed.
posted on 22/2/19
thats what we have been playing this season, probably why Davies has struggled. We could use the Eriksen money for a Sissoko like LCM who can use the ball better, as well as a LB and RB.
posted on 22/2/19
comment by Phenom (U20037)
posted 2 minutes ago
thats what we have been playing this season, probably why Davies has struggled. We could use the Eriksen money for a Sissoko like LCM who can use the ball better, as well as a LB and RB.
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Suppose. Looks better with Rose and Trips/Aurier either side of them and have 3 at the back.
Have to drop either Dele or Eriksen though..
posted on 22/2/19
interesting article, but some of your stats are not comparing like for like. e.g. you are including cup games when it suits you, and excluding them when it doesn't.
e.g. you talk about losing games when Alli was missing, some being CL games.... but then say we won all 6 without Kane... when we lost 2 cup games...
posted on 22/2/19
I would say that these 4 against the top teams seems like it should be the selection but as LFC & Utd exploited, our FBs have little protection and when they go up field the spaces behind them are vast.
Because Alli/Son come narrow, the FBs have to be advanced to provide the width and we are open in those areas on the counter attack.
posted on 22/2/19
comment by Tottenham Chronic (U3423)
posted 3 hours, 56 minutes ago
interesting article, but some of your stats are not comparing like for like. e.g. you are including cup games when it suits you, and excluding them when it doesn't.
e.g. you talk about losing games when Alli was missing, some being CL games.... but then say we won all 6 without Kane... when we lost 2 cup games...
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I include UCL because more or less we play a strong team. Poch will rest and roatate a lot in the domestic cups and will often see a lot of changes so the team is weaker all round, and not just because one of those 4 is missing.
Kane started his first league cup game this season for 2 years, thats how little he plays in it.
Vs Palace we had Skipp Nkoudou Llorente Lucas KWP, Gazzaniga playing. Comparing that to UCL or league games would not be comparing like for like.
posted on 22/2/19
comment by MKspur (U9129)
posted 19 hours, 27 minutes ago
comment by Sonny Sn❄️wflake (U21889)
posted 1 minute ago
Levy, get yer wallet out.
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It’s all done with online banking now mate
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