Villas-Boas to start with Tottenham pair Defoe and Adebayor
Thursday 08 November 2012
Andre Villas-Boas is to respond to criticism from Tottenham Hotspur supporters and play both Jermain Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor for the crucial Europa League match with Maribor on Thursday, the Daily Mirror has reported.
The Head Coach’s decision to withdraw Defoe for Adebayor - rather than pair the two together - as Tottenham chased a goal in the eventual defeat to Wigan Athletic at the weekend was met with derision from the fans inside White Hart Lane. A hail of boos greeted the substitution as fans expected to see a change in formation to accommodate two strikers, rather than persistence with one centre-forward.
With Tottenham facing an early exit from the Europa League if they do not beat Maribor at home - Spurs are third in Group J but would take second place and potentially first with a victory and other results going their way - Villas-Boas has said he is considering using both Adebayor and Defoe from the start.
The Portuguese added: “We have had the thoughts in between the technical staff about changing our structure. We have had success in the past with the system that we are playing. We certainly have played 4-4-2 in some games when Ade has come on.
“It’s something we look on because last year this club was successful in this system. We have the players to do it. This (Maribor) is a game we have to win. Even though a defeat doesn’t mathematically disqualify us, it is a game we have to win.”
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