I think when it comes to facing top opposition, so needing to be really solid defensively and to play out through a sophisticated pressing system, an FB combo of Spence on the right and Udogie on the left is going to be big for us.
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I think Porro has improved defensively & is good when we've dropped into our defensive shape. His tracking back in transition hasn't been rapid enough, but I put that down to exhaustion/injury prevention & possibly expected positional rotation in transition.
Porro's crossing is the best of the 3 & he may be best at passing out of an opposition's press. Both valuable against top sides.
The 3 are close enough defensively, with Spence able to play both sides, that Ange may go with whomever is fresh/sharpest in that moment or for a specific matchup.
I think Lange should be already agreeing a move for Aït-Nouri. Imagine having a fast and strong dueller full-back and a highly technical creator full-back for each side.
Feel like, for squad space, we can go with Porro, Udogie and Spence and beyond that make proper use of Davies or next year’s LB/LCB, Gray and then a player from the academy.
If we rotate carefully and well there are minutes for all and we develop players.
I like Ait Nourri, but 4 FBs aged 24-28 feels like a lot if we’re not in Europe, and I’d worry it would impact things like our Club Trained options in 27/28 etc as we’re suffering now.
Of course, if Porro goes then we’d need to reinvest.
While I'm all for finding a good way to get both of them on the field at once, Porro plays great on the right, defends heroically in the box, and actually scores some. Tough to justify benching that. Perhaps rotate the 3 to keep them all fresh? (luxury!)
Do you think Ange sees Spence as a first choice right back option. Going by how he speaks I think he only views Spence as back up to both. Which for me is crazy.
Depends on the opponent. Porro is one of our most threatening creative players. He's one of the Premier League's more threatening creative players. Perhaps AP will use Spence in more games where a sturdier defence needed, playing out, and transitions, and Porro against low blocks.
It's possible I guess. I think more likely he'd simply be rotated in/out as a tactical option in a similar way to TAA at Liverpool. Not a bad problem to have.
Fans need to stop thinking in terms of first XI/second XI, and realize that rotation and tactical fit are more important that just playing the first XI every game. Also, being able to bring Spence/Porro/Udogie off the bench to change tactics is a huge competitive advantage
I think the squad needs a destroyer tbh. I know Ange prefers to be on the front foot at all times but he needs to see some games out sometimes and having a proper defensive midfield player will help.
Thinking more of a player like Rodri who can break game up and generally boss the midfield. Maybe Gray can grow into that role I guess. We’ve seen that Spurs(even when he had all the players fit) tend to lose control of the game and can’t seem to wrestle it back.
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The 3 are close enough defensively, with Spence able to play both sides, that Ange may go with whomever is fresh/sharpest in that moment or for a specific matchup.
If we rotate carefully and well there are minutes for all and we develop players.
Of course, if Porro goes then we’d need to reinvest.