Rival Lines
Match Preview: Spurs v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Windy Coys
Twitter @WindyCOYS.com
Our first Rival Lines this week from a Spurs fan comes from Chris at Windy COYS who is taking me back to my childhood with Windy Miller! The wind is certainly in Tottenham's sales at present and the Cherries need to find a way of slowing down their goal machine of a side that has been chasing the Manchester clubs with some relish. But they have found it a bit harder going against teams like Swansea City so can AFCB give Windy Miller a fright?
CC: What do you think is the main reasons why Spurs have found it difficult to get wins at Wembley so far?
Match Preview: Spurs v AFCB
Blogger Interview: Windy Coys
Twitter @WindyCOYS.com
Our first Rival Lines this week from a Spurs fan comes from Chris at Windy COYS who is taking me back to my childhood with Windy Miller! The wind is certainly in Tottenham's sales at present and the Cherries need to find a way of slowing down their goal machine of a side that has been chasing the Manchester clubs with some relish. But they have found it a bit harder going against teams like Swansea City so can AFCB give Windy Miller a fright?CC: What do you think is the main reasons why Spurs have found it difficult to get wins at Wembley so far?
WC: It's just different. Different pitch, different atmosphere, different changing rooms, different journey, different routines. Plus you've got clubs coming along and upping their games by a certain amount because they're playing at the national stadium. Tactically, our defensive style suits a narrow pitch, and in many ways so does our attacking play (we don't have many touchline huggers), but I think that's the bit we can adapt to more easily. The other stuff will come in time, and we're lucky that our away form has created a momentum which will hopefully translate.
CC: Do you think Eric Dier has not been influencing games as much as he might or is this the system?
WC: He's probably been a bit more low-key this year and it's true that he's not as heralded as Victor Wanyama (who had a sensational first season for us) but I thought he was terrific against Huddersfield, making so many timely interceptions and then putting us on the front-foot quickly with intelligent use of the ball.
CC: Is your biggest fear going to be the prospect of an injury to Harry Kane at some point this season?
WC: Yes, always. He's basically irreplaceable for us. We've got goals in the team elsewhere too, but you can't replace what Kane does. We would just have to adjust. Let's hope it doesn't come to that!
CC: Could we see a weakened side against Bournemouth with Spurs having to play Real Madrid three days later?
WC: I think that's possible. But when I say weakened, maybe a couple of tweaks -- Sissoko may play this one, or Trippier might play one and Aurier the other. That sort of thing.
CC: Do you see October as a crucial month for Spurs with Liverpool and Man Utd fixtures also coming up and are you confident of catching the Manchester teams?
WC: I'm confident of catching United but I think City have another gear to go into and their array of attacking talent is phenomenal. It *is* a big month, though, with Real, Liverpool and United, plus a derby against West Ham in the cup. If we can get positive results in the majority of those it would stand us in excellent stead. A couple of losses could take the gloss off what's been a generally good start.
CC: Which win has given you most satisfaction this season?
WC: Dortmund. It was a cracking team performance – resilient, counter-attacking, vibrant. It felt like a big one.
CC: Ben Davies is playing well, Kieran Trippier is in the England team and Kyle-Walker Peters looks another great prospect - is Spurs becoming a conveyor belt for wing backs?
WC: Pochettino has been referred to as 'The Full-Back Whisperer' in these parts for a while, because look what he did with Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose too. Astonishing, really. Davies has been one of our best players so far this season, and nobody would have predicted that.
CC: Is all the talk about Harry Winks justified?
WC: He's terrific. His injury came at an unfortunate time for him last year as he was just starting to blossom, but Pochettino has brought him back in slowly this year, and now he's fully fit I expect him to take Sissoko's place (with Wanyama still out). He has bags of ability, and he has been training with the first team since he was 16, so though his appearances have been limited, he's more accustmed to the first team than one might think on the surface.
CC: Have you been surprised by Bournemouth's poor start to the season?
WC: Yes, I really thought you'd be flying this year - I predicted 11th for your league finish, which of course is still possible. It seemed as though you'd added well to an already decent squad. Things aren't really clicking, though, and I think Howe needs to tweak things.
CC: I'm going to have to ask for a score prediction? (And at this stage I might have to hide behind the couch!)
WC: I'm feeling really confident at the moment so I'll say 3-0 Spurs. I hope for your sake that your boys turn up at least!
CC: Do you think Eric Dier has not been influencing games as much as he might or is this the system?
WC: He's probably been a bit more low-key this year and it's true that he's not as heralded as Victor Wanyama (who had a sensational first season for us) but I thought he was terrific against Huddersfield, making so many timely interceptions and then putting us on the front-foot quickly with intelligent use of the ball.
CC: Is your biggest fear going to be the prospect of an injury to Harry Kane at some point this season?
WC: Yes, always. He's basically irreplaceable for us. We've got goals in the team elsewhere too, but you can't replace what Kane does. We would just have to adjust. Let's hope it doesn't come to that!
CC: Could we see a weakened side against Bournemouth with Spurs having to play Real Madrid three days later?
WC: I think that's possible. But when I say weakened, maybe a couple of tweaks -- Sissoko may play this one, or Trippier might play one and Aurier the other. That sort of thing.
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CC: Do you see October as a crucial month for Spurs with Liverpool and Man Utd fixtures also coming up and are you confident of catching the Manchester teams?
WC: I'm confident of catching United but I think City have another gear to go into and their array of attacking talent is phenomenal. It *is* a big month, though, with Real, Liverpool and United, plus a derby against West Ham in the cup. If we can get positive results in the majority of those it would stand us in excellent stead. A couple of losses could take the gloss off what's been a generally good start.
CC: Which win has given you most satisfaction this season?
WC: Dortmund. It was a cracking team performance – resilient, counter-attacking, vibrant. It felt like a big one.
CC: Ben Davies is playing well, Kieran Trippier is in the England team and Kyle-Walker Peters looks another great prospect - is Spurs becoming a conveyor belt for wing backs?
WC: Pochettino has been referred to as 'The Full-Back Whisperer' in these parts for a while, because look what he did with Luke Shaw, Nathaniel Clyne, Kyle Walker and Danny Rose too. Astonishing, really. Davies has been one of our best players so far this season, and nobody would have predicted that.
CC: Is all the talk about Harry Winks justified?
WC: He's terrific. His injury came at an unfortunate time for him last year as he was just starting to blossom, but Pochettino has brought him back in slowly this year, and now he's fully fit I expect him to take Sissoko's place (with Wanyama still out). He has bags of ability, and he has been training with the first team since he was 16, so though his appearances have been limited, he's more accustmed to the first team than one might think on the surface.
CC: Have you been surprised by Bournemouth's poor start to the season?
WC: Yes, I really thought you'd be flying this year - I predicted 11th for your league finish, which of course is still possible. It seemed as though you'd added well to an already decent squad. Things aren't really clicking, though, and I think Howe needs to tweak things.
CC: I'm going to have to ask for a score prediction? (And at this stage I might have to hide behind the couch!)
WC: I'm feeling really confident at the moment so I'll say 3-0 Spurs. I hope for your sake that your boys turn up at least!
CC: Superb answers from Chris there. I'm confident AFCB will turn up against Spurs as they have to try and pick up points as soon as they can. Whether they can play as well as a team like Dortmund we'll have to see but I'm kind of hoping Pochettino will want to rest a few star names in this one ahead of Real Madrid. Do drop in on Windy Coys - it's one of my favourite Premier League blogs and there's a Spur's podcast too. called the Fighting Cock, which has a zonal marking episode recently recorded.
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