Tottenham always look better playing 4-4-2. This is more or less an indisputable fact. It’s been that way since before Harry Redknapp took over at the club and will likely remain that way for some time. If you need any evidence just look at the way Tottenham demolished Newcastle at the weekend using two strikers. It’s not merely that Spurs utilised two forwards and managed to win by a big margin (5 – 0) it’s also that their strikers were absolutely imperative to the win.
Both Emmanuel Adebayor and Louis Saha were magnificent and a four man midfield was more than enough to keep Newcastle at bay. Surely it’s time to make the relevant changes to this Tottenham side in order to keep up the kind of form they’ve been showcasing in recent weeks?
Though Harry may feel the need to place an extra body in midfield during big games, I can’t help but feel that Tottenham would be better served by having that extra firepower going forward.
Which makes me wonder about the future of Rafael van der Vaart. He hasn’t been at his best for a while now and if Tottenham are to play 4-4-2 more often, I’m not sure where he’d fit in. He’s not going to replace the likes of Scott Parker and Luka Modric in the centre of midfield and Spurs now have two-or-three decent strikers to choose from, so he wont get games upfront.
My main concern with Van der Vaart is that he has a tendency to slam the breaks on Tottenham’s often frenetic and fast-paced style of play. He likes to be at the very centre of every part of the game and thus has a frustrating tendency to drop back and collect the ball from in front of the defence. By the time he’s brought the ball up the pitch, the opponent has had a chance to get back into position and stifle Tottenham’s attack.
There must be a reason why he’s known to be a big-game player. Why is it that he has a tendency to perform against big clubs, but can’t always do it against teams lower down the table? Is it a question of motivation or of struggling to adapt to Tottenham’s system?
If it is a question of motivation, perhaps an extended period out on the sidelines will do him some good. He needs to learn that it’s up to him to perform every week, not just when it pleases him if he wants to keep his place.
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Absolute rubbish article….
Sorry but you’re wrong! There are far too many emotional responses here. If you actually look back at the performances this season where we’ve put teams to the sword, it’s when we played 442. It’s all well and good stating we’re 3rd in defense of VdV but the truth is we could be higher had we scored more or best put converted more of the chances our midfield have created. This article is spot on in questioning how we use his talents. As good as he is, he has stifles outer attack by dropping too deep, and leaving Ade isolated. Just look how we performed with two adult sized strikers this weekend! Considering Saha hadn’t scored for 950 mins before Saturday I’d say that’s a good indication of the benefits of reviewing the system and that will always bring up the question of how to play VdV as for all his talents he’s not versatile and able to play in any other position.
Think this is a little premature…
We were third before Saturday, and VDV has played in most of those matches! The great news is that we have options.
Just because we know that 4-4-2 works, that doesn’t mean that we just dispense with every other option we have. 4-4-1-1 or 4-2-3-1, whatever you want to call it, has worked too, otherwise we wouldn’t be where we are in the table!
Let’s just enjoy the fact that, whoever is fit and available, we have the players to win games. Not many people seem to recognise that fact, so it should be celebrated. To say that VDV isn’t a part of that is just ludicrous.
Can not disagree with you more. I feel that VDV add real quality to our team. I can accept that the 4-4-2 formation worked against a weak Newcastle side who thought they could match us but normally teams look to catch us on the break and there is not much room in the opposition’s box and this is where VDV is invaluable. Of Course we absolutely need him against teams like Man Utd.
Nonsense. VDV has been just about our best player this season. He has his limitations in certain respects but if he was fit, he would be one of the first names on the teamsheet. His accolades for his team mates off the field are inspiring and he is a player we need. Rafa, you are a Tottenham legend in the making !!
Best player this season?! That is just laughable. If he has a good game it only lasts for an hour until he gets too tired and can’t keep up
Its simple VDV is a footballing maestro, of course there is room for him. Spurs now have such tactical options it almost boggles the imagination. The current squad is the best collection of Spurs players I have ever seen and I have been supporting the club for over 60 years.
Pointless article, pointless comments
Go find yourself something to do which doesn’t involve wasting people’s time
More than ever it is imperative to have a strong 25 man squad these days. And not just a strong 25 man squad, but to have different plans/tactics/formations for different styles of opponents.
It’s simply foolish to question the future of a player of such quality, and one that brings such class and skill to a team.
I understand he obviously does not fit into a 4-4-2 formation with the first XI Tottenham have at the moment, but to play 4-4-2 against the likes of MCFC, MUFC, LFC away from home would be stupid. Rafa needs to be in the team for those types of games, simply for his game winning and game changing moments in the 4-5-1 (4-2-3-1) formations.
This article is absolute crap. I know who I would want in the team anyday and that’s Rafa. Even in a 4 4 2 I would prefer him to Krancjar. Although Nico’s good he isn’t in the same class as Rafa. We can’t always play a 4 4 2 as many of the big teams, especially abroad, play a 4 4 1 1 system and with Rafa sitting behind Adebayor we will always be a threat.
i am also hoping Spurs buy Ade for next season as we will miss his comittment and drive if he goes and it will cost us a lot of money to replace someone like him.
guess this was the 1st game VDV wasn’t missed… otherwise his presence has always been inspiring, and is still very much a key player
unless Harry can persuade him to play in a more advanced role and get rid of his dropping deep habit, then he might not be so much of a 1st choice
i can see him up front in a 442, maybe not with JD, but can surely thrive off the kind of Ade assists we saw saturday
been supporting Spurs 50 yrs and agree this is the best crop of players i’ve ever seen
we are that good our manager is about to clear off to manage a bunch of muppets!
Having watched Tottenham regularly this season (and as it happens the previous 55 seasons) I am of the considered opnion that the current team plays far better in a 4-4-1-1 formation One brilliant performance against a team wrongly set up to counter the loss of their two crucial central midfielders, Tiote and Cabaye, doesn’t change that. Had those two been playing, or even had the centre of Newcastle’s midfield been bolstered at the expense of either of their two strikers, then the game would have played out entirely differently. For all Tottenham’s lovely football, Newcastle were wide open. That was blindingly obvious to (almost) everyone watching the game, and their manager admitted as much.
The idea that 4-4-2 should be Tottenham’s standard set-up, except for big games, ignores the obvious fact that smaller teams will flood their midfield against us, knowing that 4-4-2 against 4-4-2 will mean they lose. This has been shown to be the case for the past few seasons, and 4-4-1-1 has been shown to be a successful antidote in the main. It
was only Newcastle’s pre-match hubris which stopped them doing the sensible thing and playing 4-5-1 to make it more difficult for us.
Van der Vaart is an important part of the team and that will continue as long as he maintains his fitness.
EXACTLY! Newcastle did not play like a top 6 team last weekend, because the team that played was not the team that got them so high up the table. We absolutely look at our best when we have BOTH the width on the wings (in Lennnon and Bale) AND the craftmanship of VDV behind Ade, who has proven to be excellent at holding play up and bringing others into the game around him. This also counters other teams trying to pack the midfield against us and gives us the best odds of breaking down those stubborn defences as it offers both blistering pace on the break and great touch and intelligence in the attacking third. Saha had a great game and proved many doubters premature in their views on his signing (myself included), but he still doesn’t get in a fully fit starting line-up for me. We always miss Lennon when he’s out and Niko has stepped in well for the last couple of games, as he always tends to do – another excellent squad player to have in the ranks. VDV has been a superb addition and makes a positive difference more often than not imo, both in terms of his own performances and the tactical option he offers our manager.
Poor,poor,poor.
What complete rubbish, Van Der Vaart is an incredible player and offers more than most. When fit he will be back in the team. Against Wigan before he was injured he looked very very good and it was a real shame he got injured. A world class player who Tottenham are blessed to have. COYS
What John White said: +1
Rafa, if healthy, should ALWAYS be in the side. I love the fact that we have options with the 2 strikers, but like the earlier post stated, one match should not be used to make generalizations. Newcastle were woefully lacking at midfield, and afforded us the luxury of the 2 strikers. VDV has tremendous vision and creativity, usually looking to make a killer pass. Coupled with Luka, that tandem is deadly. Plus they dude can finish.
I agree wholehearteldy with this article. I’ve been saying this for months and getting slated for it. The 2 games where we have been at our best in my opinion was the demolition of Liverpool and the recent Newcastle game. VDV was not in the squad and Niko played both.In both games ADE was unplayable and he had a forward with him to play off his hold up play. We are more dangerous with 2 up top. This is true people and the sooner we all realise it the more goals we’ll score. Modric and parker are more than capable of playing as a 2 in the middle. ADE drops deep and is happy doing do. I love Rafa, he’s a brilliant footballer but there is only 1 position he can play and lets be honest he is no Wayne Rooney.
What a silly article. Newcastle were without Cabaye and Tiote against us. They had bloody James Pearch playing in centre midfield. Just because we had one good game playing 4-4-2 is does not mean we should play it all the time. Yes its a good formation when we are at home and when the opposition may also be playing in a similar formation but it is really hard to play that formation against a 5 man midfield- Like John White said- 4-4-1-1 is the main formation we use- even if you watched MOTD highlights they pointed out that one of our strikers was always a bit deeper than the others/running the channels/picking the ball up in the final third with the other playing further up top. Van der Vaart is an amazing player and he is pivotal in helping us play the football we all like to see being played. He is one of the best hole players around and I am so happy he plays for us not against us. For me Adebayor, JD and Saha are really good when they play together, we still need a more modern striker who is used to be playing on their own like Higuain- that will help utilize Rafa alot better.COYS!
What VDV does helps Modric do his stuff at His best.VDV floats around our box,makes long beautiful passes n then supports Ade well.why should he be left out of the starting team.4-4-2 worked against Newcastle but VDV is a must for spurs.
What a stupid article. Stick to watching the lower leagues because you have just shown yourself to be clueless.
Really do see your point. I do agree with the praising of VDV written above though. The guy is an extraordinary player, and he does perform against weaker teams.
I think we need to thank the heavens that we have such a great squad and not start trying to point out weaknesses. Saha was brilliant and Defoe has been great but that doesn’t mean that VDV should be criticised. I think he’s the bollox.