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Ramos Rotations Send Spurs Dizzy...
Eight games, five formations, 22 changes and just two wins against poor opposition - that's the story of Tottenham's season so far. Does Juande Ramos have a clue about his best line-up? Not a chance...
Middlesbrough 2 Tottenham 1 (August 16)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Line-up: Gomes; Zokora, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto (O'Hara); Jenas, Modric; Lennon (Bale), Dos Santos (Berbatov), Bentley; Bent.
A clearly-on-his-way Dimitar Berbatov was left on the bench for much of the game along with Gareth Bale while the lightweight Modric was inexplicably used as a holding midfielder, allowing the Spurs midfield to be over-run despite enjoying numerical advantage. They needed a late own goal from Robert Huth to take even a little consolation.
Tottenham 1 Sunderland 2 (August 23)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-4-1-1
Line-up: Gomes; Zokora, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto (Huddlestone); Lennon (Dos Santos), Jenas, Modric, Bale; Bentley; Bent.
Two changes saw the return of Ledley King for Michael Dawson and Bale in for Dos Santos, who came off the bench to replace the ineffectual Lennon early in the second half. The centre of midfield was again underwhelming despite once again facing a standard 4-4-2 and the defence looked distinctly ponderous for Djibril Cisse's winner.
Chelsea 1 Tottenham 1 (August 31)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-5-1
Line-up: Gomes; Gunter (Huddlestone), Woodgate, King, Bale; Dos Santos (Lennon), Jenas, Zokora, Modric, Bentley (O'Hara); Bent.
Two changes to personnel but several more to position as Chris Gunter came in at right-back to allow Didier Zokora to move into the middle of the park and add some much-needed steel as Bale moved to left-back. Dos Santos came back in to replace Lennon but ended up being replaced again from the bench. It was a much-improved performance and a goal from Darren Bent earned them their first point.
Tottenham 1 Aston Villa 2 (September 15)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-1-3-2
Line-up: Gomes; Corluka, Woodgate, Dawson (Dos Santos), Bale; Zokora (Bentley); Lennon, Huddlestone, Modric (Jenas); Pavlyuchenko, Bent.
So after the most encouraging performance of the season, Ramos made five changes, with only of them enforced by injury to Ledley King. New signings Vedran Corluka and Roman Pavlyuchenko came straight into the team while Bentley, Jenas and Dos Santos had to drop to the bench. The lack of width saw Villa dominate down the wings in the first half and only a change to a 4-4-2 stemmed the flow after the break. A late goal from Bent was scant consolation.
Tottenham 2 Wisla Krakow 1 (September 18)
Competition: UEFA Cup
Formation: 4-5-1
Line-up: Gomes, Gunter (O'Hara), Woodgate, King, Bale; Zokora; Bentley, Jenas, Dos Santos (Assou-Ekotto), Lennon (Campbell); Bent.
Three days later and there were five changes made once again with Gunter replacing Corluka, King returning and Lennon, Bentley and Jenas coming back into the starting line-up. What ensued was the first win of the season with goals from Bentley and Bent, though the performance was hardly convincing.
Tottenham 0 Wigan 0 (September 21)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-4-2
Line-up: Gomes; Zokora, Woodgate, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley (Lennon), Jenas, O'Hara, Bale (Huddlestone); Bent, Pavlyuchenko (Campbell).
After victory of course came changes (three this time) - with only Jonathan Woodgate retained from the back four that played Krakow. Jamie O'Hara came into the centre of midfield for his first start of the season while Dos Santos continued his in/out pattern with another stint on the bench. Pavlyuchenko started but came off at half-time after being entirely ineffectual.
Newcastle 1 Tottenham 2 (September 24)
Competition: Carling Cup
Formation: 4-5-1
Line-up: Gomes; Corluka, King, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto; Lennon (Campbell), Jenas, Zokora, O'Hara, Bale (Dos Santos); Pavlyuchenko (Modric).
Just the two changes to personnel though Corluka and Zokora changed positions as once again Ramos opted for a more defensive formation away from home. Bent was given a rest while Lennon once again replaced Bentley. Tottenham were rotten but Newcastle were worse and Pavlyuchenko and O'Hara scored the goals to take Spurs through.
Portsmouth 2 Tottenham 0 (September 28)
Competiton: Premier League
Formation: 4-5-1
Line-up: Gomes; Corluka, Dawson, Woodgate, Assou-Ekotto; Bentley, Jenas, Zokora (Dos Santos), O'Hara, Gilberto(Lennon); Pavlyuchenko (Bent)
After victory came the inevitable changes - three this time with Dawson replacing King, Bentley replacing the by-now-presumably-dizzy Lennon and Gilberto making his first start in place of the injured Bale. Pavlyuchenko remained isolated up front and playmaker Modric remained on the bench, while Bent only came off it to look equally isolated in the lone striker role.
