- Jul 28, 2004
- 27,719
- 54,929
Not exactly vintage today but at least we won...
I think it would be easy to be overly critical here, and yes we didn't play well, but credit to Stoke for doing what they do best, which just so happens to be what we struggle with most. We never enjoy playing against a side cast aside any concern for their opponents physical well being, and when it's a side who are fighting to stay in the division it becomes double dangerous. That said, considering our players had been off for the past week I was surprised by what looked like legginess from a lot of them. The changes shouldn't have had much of an effect, particularly as the worst culprits were the four up front who are used to playing with each other, but I think today falls under the 'winners win when they don't play well' category. I can live with that, it's a world away from the Spurs I grew up with. Aside, I was pleased to see the switch to 433 in the final third of the match, it helped us see out the match in relative control and get Eriksen on the ball in more space.
Lloris - I think the time has come where we need another goalkeeper who can at least push Lloris for his spot, he's made a lot of mistakes this season and almost all of them are down to make a poor decision. He was fine positionally, fine in rushing off his spot, but lacked any composure in whacking the ball straight at Diouf. If today's opponents go down as expected, then their goalkeeper in place of a departing Vorm makes a lot of sense, but if not him then we need someone. Lloris is no longer consistent enough, nor is he making enough by way of brilliant saves, to justify him being untouchable as he has been for so many seasons.
Aurier's energy up and down the flank was great, he didn't err defensively and he was a genuine threat all game long. Unfortunately he wasted every single crossing opportunity so all his good work in getting into those positions was left wasted. Still a decent performance though.
Sanchez was good, he used his physicality well in the face of Stoke's rugby tactics and knew when to play out, when to clear his lines. He has improved visibly over the past month.
Vertonghen was foot perfect I thought, some great interceptions in there, brought the ball out nicely a couple of times and imperious in the air.
Rose improves as the game went on. He didn't look overly susceptible defensively while going forward, like Aurier he offered a threat throughout, albeit without end product. Seemed to wind up the Stoke players without doing anything wrong really, which I enjoyed, and won several free kicks in dangerous positions.
Wanyama had a decent game on and off the ball, showed good energy and linked well with those around him. Seemed to tire, his withdrawal was probably at the right time.
Dembele was my man of the match. He won't get the plaudits because of Eriksen's brace but defensively he showed for the ball and carried it forward when we were under pressure, he took Stoke players out of the game constantly outmuscling some very brutish challengers and he brought our attackers in from the periphery throughout.
Eriksen scored a lovely first and a lucky second, but that aside I was a little disappointed. Maybe it's because he has set such high standards, but I found him wasteful (for him) and he made a few poor decisions.
Dele wasn't great either, he never really found a rhythm and was also pretty wasteful, but like Eriksen he was effective when he needed to be, playing very intelligently to hold the ball up and assist Eriksen for the opener. I can think of others in the side who would have hit a hopefuly cross to Kane where there was not gap, or wildly thrashed at the ball hoping for a lucky goal.
Son, if you hadn't guessed, is the target of my final comment in Dele's paragraph. Too often he made poor choices, he didn't link up well with anybody, and he seemed to find the least effective option and apply it every time he got the ball in a dangerous position. Unfortunately his sparkling form appears to have dissipated somewhat. Rightfully subbed.
Kane was a mixed bag. When he was in advanced positions he was cumbersome and his touch was heavy, he has definitely lost a bit of sharpness both in mind and body over the past month. However, when he dropped deeper he did hold the ball up well and play some lovely passes to bring others into play. Hopefully now all rustiness has been shaken off ahead of the final stretch of games.
Lamela came on and added some sharpness and variation to our attack, definitely a threat, but he was frustrating in dallying a few times when an early ball could have secured a third. Still, he looked better in half an hour than the other three attacking midfielders did all game long.
Dier came on didn't perform well in my opinion, dragging our midfield too deep when we should have been pinning Stoke back and almost making one very costly mistake with an under hit back pass.
Sissoko came on and had little time to do anything positive or negative.
I think it would be easy to be overly critical here, and yes we didn't play well, but credit to Stoke for doing what they do best, which just so happens to be what we struggle with most. We never enjoy playing against a side cast aside any concern for their opponents physical well being, and when it's a side who are fighting to stay in the division it becomes double dangerous. That said, considering our players had been off for the past week I was surprised by what looked like legginess from a lot of them. The changes shouldn't have had much of an effect, particularly as the worst culprits were the four up front who are used to playing with each other, but I think today falls under the 'winners win when they don't play well' category. I can live with that, it's a world away from the Spurs I grew up with. Aside, I was pleased to see the switch to 433 in the final third of the match, it helped us see out the match in relative control and get Eriksen on the ball in more space.
Lloris - I think the time has come where we need another goalkeeper who can at least push Lloris for his spot, he's made a lot of mistakes this season and almost all of them are down to make a poor decision. He was fine positionally, fine in rushing off his spot, but lacked any composure in whacking the ball straight at Diouf. If today's opponents go down as expected, then their goalkeeper in place of a departing Vorm makes a lot of sense, but if not him then we need someone. Lloris is no longer consistent enough, nor is he making enough by way of brilliant saves, to justify him being untouchable as he has been for so many seasons.
Aurier's energy up and down the flank was great, he didn't err defensively and he was a genuine threat all game long. Unfortunately he wasted every single crossing opportunity so all his good work in getting into those positions was left wasted. Still a decent performance though.
Sanchez was good, he used his physicality well in the face of Stoke's rugby tactics and knew when to play out, when to clear his lines. He has improved visibly over the past month.
Vertonghen was foot perfect I thought, some great interceptions in there, brought the ball out nicely a couple of times and imperious in the air.
Rose improves as the game went on. He didn't look overly susceptible defensively while going forward, like Aurier he offered a threat throughout, albeit without end product. Seemed to wind up the Stoke players without doing anything wrong really, which I enjoyed, and won several free kicks in dangerous positions.
Wanyama had a decent game on and off the ball, showed good energy and linked well with those around him. Seemed to tire, his withdrawal was probably at the right time.
Dembele was my man of the match. He won't get the plaudits because of Eriksen's brace but defensively he showed for the ball and carried it forward when we were under pressure, he took Stoke players out of the game constantly outmuscling some very brutish challengers and he brought our attackers in from the periphery throughout.
Eriksen scored a lovely first and a lucky second, but that aside I was a little disappointed. Maybe it's because he has set such high standards, but I found him wasteful (for him) and he made a few poor decisions.
Dele wasn't great either, he never really found a rhythm and was also pretty wasteful, but like Eriksen he was effective when he needed to be, playing very intelligently to hold the ball up and assist Eriksen for the opener. I can think of others in the side who would have hit a hopefuly cross to Kane where there was not gap, or wildly thrashed at the ball hoping for a lucky goal.
Son, if you hadn't guessed, is the target of my final comment in Dele's paragraph. Too often he made poor choices, he didn't link up well with anybody, and he seemed to find the least effective option and apply it every time he got the ball in a dangerous position. Unfortunately his sparkling form appears to have dissipated somewhat. Rightfully subbed.
Kane was a mixed bag. When he was in advanced positions he was cumbersome and his touch was heavy, he has definitely lost a bit of sharpness both in mind and body over the past month. However, when he dropped deeper he did hold the ball up well and play some lovely passes to bring others into play. Hopefully now all rustiness has been shaken off ahead of the final stretch of games.
Lamela came on and added some sharpness and variation to our attack, definitely a threat, but he was frustrating in dallying a few times when an early ball could have secured a third. Still, he looked better in half an hour than the other three attacking midfielders did all game long.
Dier came on didn't perform well in my opinion, dragging our midfield too deep when we should have been pinning Stoke back and almost making one very costly mistake with an under hit back pass.
Sissoko came on and had little time to do anything positive or negative.
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