Match Ratings Ratings vs Watford

[southlondonyiddo]

Toby’s post match interviews along the lines of

We are 100% behind the manager and you could see that by how hard we all worked today

Lying ****

That’s the first game of walking football I’ve been to since the invention of walking football!

Pathetic from just about everyone one of them that started the game

I’d also drop Toby, Jan and Rose. Won’t make a huge difference if we perform like that anyway so may as well chuck them all in the reserves and say to Levy, over to you in January me old son!

 

[DannyNZ]

First half was absolutely woeful, brainless formation and matching team selection. Subs made a difference, strange as these have been 3 of our better players and can’t understand why they weren’t starting. Poch 3.

Son, Lamela and Ndombele actually looked like footballers. Dele had a better second half and Aurier battled away. For the rest nothing good to say.

Special mention to Rose who was abysmal and Kane totally ineffective and Sanchez unlucky to be one of the 3 CB’s pulled although only Poch knows why we started with 3 in the first place.

 

[Gareth88]

First half was absolutely woeful, brainless formation and matching team selection. Subs made a difference, strange as these have been 3 of our better players and can’t understand why they weren’t starting. Poch 3.

Son, Lamela and Ndombele actually looked like footballers. Dele had a better second half and Aurier battled away. For the rest nothing good to say.

Special mention to Rose who was abysmal and Kane totally ineffective and Sanchez unlucky to be one of the 3 CB’s pulled although only Poch knows why we started with 3 in the first place.

Agreed I think Verts should have gone due to penalty he almost gave away

 

[pennywise]

Agreed I think Verts should have gone due to penalty he almost gave away

Sanchez was on an early yellow so that's probably why.

 

[Tottenham_God]

Pathetic cowards, the badge is too heavy for most of them.

 

[Gareth88]

Pathetic cowards, the badge is too heavy for most of them.

Pathetic is correct cowards incorrect not arsed seems more accurate

 

[DenverSpur]

Complacent, gutless, avb-slow and clueless.
Blunt. Boring.
And all so predictable.

Sissoko did some running about in 1st half to no real purpose - motm

Sissoko was at fault for their goal. He just stood still and watched Decoure(?) run past him.

 

[pennywise]

Sissoko was at fault for their goal. He just stood still and watched Decoure(?) run past him.

He is probably still tired from playing the diamond midfield against Bayern two weeks ago.

 

[rsmith]

Winks Sissoko).
Their CM partnership, which has cooncided with our dismal run of form / results since Feb, needs to be broken up. It’s a shame, as both players clearly care and put shifts in, but they don’t offer much as a pair either defensively or offensively.

It’s not coincidence. Winks, pre-Sissoko, was tipped as a future England captain. Now he’s chasing balloons in a one man midfield. The sooner Poch pairs Winks with Ndombele the better.

 

[dtxspurs]

It’s not coincidence. Winks, pre-Sissoko, was tipped as a future England captain. Now he’s chasing balloons in a one man midfield. The sooner Poch pairs Winks with Ndombele the better.

Because Ndombele puts in much more effort in defense? Who the fuck ever said Winks was going to be an England captain?!

 

[The Apprentice]

How Lamela isn’t a nailed starter is ridiculous. Our only forward player who has performed consistently this season.

Toby Is getting skinned every game and yet we’re sacrificing the development of Sanchez by continually picking him. Sanchez may not be wonder bread but at least he wants to fucking commit to being here.

Many awful performances but none more so than Rose. He’s been utterly terrible this season. Paceless, lazy, offensively inept.

Pray for Sessegnon and Lo Celso.

 

[Flashspur]

I've watched the game once again. Clearly Dele was the best player out there for us. Found lots of space at times, intelligent runs not often picked up by team mates and a superb effort for the goal. He is an amazing football talent and I hope and pray he gets back to his best because he is indispensible when fit. Surprisingly it was his first start for us this season. Shows you that we have been at sixes and sevens since the start beset by injuries and poor form. Yes I know VAR made a decision for his goal but it clearly hit his shoulder/chest area and he deserved it as he fought for the ball. I'd play Alli instead of Eriksen this season and throw in Lamela who plays for the badge rather the Dane who has fucked off mentally for 12 months now.

We had three stone wall penalties in the game, two against Danny Rose and Jan's trip on Deulofeu, where he caught the player just before getting a toe to the ball. VAR certainly didnt help matters here and it is atrocious decision making even if Deulofeu waited for the tackle. Danny's first tumble from Pereria's push was as close to a penalty as you can get. You can't use the defence that it was a shoulder charge when it is in the box and the opponent has posession. It was a joke decision and so clear cut that you wonder what VAR brings to the game. The second half incident with Danny would have been a penalty in any other game as well. He runs onto a superb backward flick from Delli and gets obstructed and pummeled to the ground. Awful decision making again!

But these VAR decisions dont hide the fact we were laboured. They cut us open repeatedly through the middle and the lack of a proper DM is so obvious to everyone but Pochettino. Sissoko was playing on the right of MF and Winks was basically running around chashing shadows in central MF. Winks is not a ball winner and neither is Sissoko. There is also no one capable of breaking forward with the ball from MF anymore and I dont know whether this player is Ndombele or GLC but it is patenly obvious we need a ball carrying midfielder and that is not Winks. Watch Doucure's breakaway run in the 57th minute if you dont understand what I mean. He did this a few times in the game and repeatedly cut us open. Sissoko was doing it last season but this season he's a quick passing copy of Winks and that is the problem.

We have some awful problems in defence. Rose, Verts, Alderwireld. Awful. Can they all have become shadows of themselves so quickly? There so many times they were late in reacting or gave up the chase as Danny Rose did on Janmaat in the second half who then passed up an opportunity to score. I dont agree with the 'they want a last pay day' argument. Playing the way they are, they'd be lucky to get offers from a Championship club. I thought Aurier was the better of the four and Sanchez didnt have an awful first half so I dont know why he was taken off. Danny is an enigma. He got into good positions on the wing and was twice fouled for nailed on penalties but his defending was awful and his misreading of the flight of the ball for their goal was poor.

Our drive and fight improved with the substitutions. Lamela and Son provided more urgency in CM but it was huff and puff rather then fluidity. But what does Poch do? He moves Dele who is providing all our movement to the left in the second half nulifying the creativity in the middle. Kane was a passenger all match and if he kept Dele in a central role Kane would have received better service. The introduction of Lamela and Son meant that Dele's creativity was sent away to the left wing to languish there. It was only late in the game when Son was moved to the left and Dele was brought back into the center that we became so much more dangerous in front of goal.

But Poch,deary me, how can you keep getting it so wrong. Starting with 5 defenders at home to Watford reeks of weakness. Where is the courage you talk about? We played without any real width in the first half and paid the price. The whole playing system is fucked. First the awful diamond, then changes in formation and tweaks that mostly never work. Then back to the diamond. Its a worry at the moment. Its seems like we are rudderless. At least Poch took the initiative this time and made a change mid game but you can see his in game management is lacking. Its an area he needs to pick up on quickly.

An 8 for Delli, 7's for Son, Aurier and Lamela and 6's for everyone else. Poch gets a 5.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Gazzaniga could do nothing on the goal, but was let off the hook after more than one atrocious clearance.

Alderweireld was poor on the goal, he was the player with eyes on Doucoure and in a three man defence the RCB is responsible for that zone. Telegraphed passing and bullied aerially throughout.

Sanchez was unfortunate to be hooked. Booking aside I’m not sure he did much wrong.

Vertonghen looked very ponderous, both on and off the ball. Lucky not to give away a penalty too potentially.

Aurier’s lack of brain was evident in the goal as he was nowhere to be seen, tucking in whenbeimg attacked down the other side is fullback101 no? Afterwards his lack of any worth in defence or attack was in keeping with his usual.

Rose was pathetic on the goal, as soon as that long raked pass was played I knew a cross was coming in under no pressure too. Throw in a continued lack of impact in either direction and a very obvious dive, and I just wonder how much dirt this guy has on Pochettino.

Sissoko gave the expected level of effort and drive, he can’t be faulted for that, but the quality to complement it was again lacking. Plays with pride but has limitations I’m afraid.

Winks started out ok but as the tension grew and the pressure increased he became erratic and sloppy. Definitely not a system that suits him.

Dele showed some fight and if nothing else, and was the only player offering anything inventive. Composed for his goal too and while the majority of what he tried didn’t come off, without him this game was lost. Deserved to score our goal and if the rest of the team plays well, he’s a maverick rather than a luxury, so I’m more than willing to stand up for him today.

Lucas was a non event, not involved, his dribbles failed, his presence up front non existent and he was smothered out of the game with ease by a defence which conceded 8 recently.

Kane was diabolical, he just looked like he’s downed tools. Even if he doesn’t want to play for this manager anymore, it’s disgusting not to be playing for the club and fans that you owe everything too. I don’t by this ‘he’s just not able anymore’, he was sensational four days early for England and Southgate. I stand up for him more than anybody but that performance was a disgrace.

Son, Lamela and Ndombele all added both energy and a smidgeon of variation to our play.

Pointless discussing manager or tactics, any formation and combination from our squad should be able to toy with a side like Watford. That it produced such ineptitude is proof of the severe rot. Brighton could be mitigated by Hugo’s horror, Bayern you could say a had a good first half but lost our heads, but this match, this is a huge nail. I’m worried, very worried.

 

[sparx100]

Sissoko was at fault for their goal. He just stood still and watched Decoure(?) run past him.

And that's not the only goal this season where that has happened.

 

[sparx100]

It’s not coincidence. Winks, pre-Sissoko, was tipped as a future England captain. Now he’s chasing balloons in a one man midfield. The sooner Poch pairs Winks with Ndombele the better.

It is a one man midfield currently but N'Dombele will give even less than Sissoko in a 2. The way forward for me with the players we have is a 3 with Wanyama/Dier/anybody prepared to screen the defence alongside Winks and N'Dombele.

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Sissoko was at fault for their goal. He just stood still and watched Decoure(?) run past him.

Moussa like every other player that started the game yesterday is not working anywhere near as hard as they were back in the ‘golden days'

One of the big problems with this current team and situation is that the words being spun by all concerned just do not cut it. Most is absolute bollox

We have seen how brilliantly they can all do and come together as a whole. This period shows how far every aspect of the club is from that

We know what they are capable of. We have seen it with our own eyes

They cannot fool us with this less than half hearted effort by all at THFC

I do not include the effort regarding the success of the NFL Integration or the tea ladies but everyone is being a complete **** atm

 

[EastLondonYid]

Sissoko has been our shining light the last few months, but let's be honest with ourselves here, its more to do with how our players have dropped over that period rather he has become world class, he has been great in effort don't get me wrong, but when your best players stats read zero goals, almost zero assists, zero shots on target... You know things have gone abit shit.

 

[Lenn0n]

Ali's goal was a bit lost in all the VAR/Handball discussion - which is a shame, as it was a class bit of skill, control and finish. I feel he really comes into his own when the ball is off the ground. Atm he looks a bit leggy (or dare I say it wimpy). Id like to see him build a little more muscle - to add to his skill and footballing intelligence.

 

[double0]

I've watched the game once again. Clearly Dele was the best player out there for us. Found lots of space at times, intelligent runs not often picked up by team mates and a superb effort for the goal. He is an amazing football talent and I hope and pray he gets back to his best because he is indispensible when fit. Surprisingly it was his first start for us this season. Shows you that we have been at sixes and sevens since the start beset by injuries and poor form. Yes I know VAR made a decision for his goal but it clearly hit his shoulder/chest area and he deserved it as he fought for the ball. I'd play Alli instead of Eriksen this season and throw in Lamela who plays for the badge rather the Dane who has fucked off mentally for 12 months now.

We had three stone wall penalties in the game, two against Danny Rose and Jan's trip on Deulofeu, where he caught the player just before getting a toe to the ball. VAR certainly didnt help matters here and it is atrocious decision making even if Deulofeu waited for the tackle. Danny's first tumble from Pereria's push was as close to a penalty as you can get. You can't use the defence that it was a shoulder charge when it is in the box and the opponent has posession. It was a joke decision and so clear cut that you wonder what VAR brings to the game. The second half incident with Danny would have been a penalty in any other game as well. He runs onto a superb backward flick from Delli and gets obstructed and pummeled to the ground. Awful decision making again!

But these VAR decisions dont hide the fact we were laboured. They cut us open repeatedly through the middle and the lack of a proper DM is so obvious to everyone but Pochettino. Sissoko was playing on the right of MF and Winks was basically running around chashing shadows in central MF. Winks is not a ball winner and neither is Sissoko. There is also no one capable of breaking forward with the ball from MF anymore and I dont know whether this player is Ndombele or GLC but it is patenly obvious we need a ball carrying midfielder and that is not Winks. Watch Doucure's breakaway run in the 57th minute if you dont understand what I mean. He did this a few times in the game and repeatedly cut us open. Sissoko was doing it last season but this season he's a quick passing copy of Winks and that is the problem.

We have some awful problems in defence. Rose, Verts, Alderwireld. Awful. Can they all have become shadows of themselves so quickly? There so many times they were late in reacting or gave up the chase as Danny Rose did on Janmaat in the second half who then passed up an opportunity to score. I dont agree with the 'they want a last pay day' argument. Playing the way they are, they'd be lucky to get offers from a Championship club. I thought Aurier was the better of the four and Sanchez didnt have an awful first half so I dont know why he was taken off. Danny is an enigma. He got into good positions on the wing and was twice fouled for nailed on penalties but his defending was awful and his misreading of the flight of the ball for their goal was poor.

Our drive and fight improved with the substitutions. Lamela and Son provided more urgency in CM but it was huff and puff rather then fluidity. But what does Poch do? He moves Dele who is providing all our movement to the left in the second half nulifying the creativity in the middle. Kane was a passenger all match and if he kept Dele in a central role Kane would have received better service. The introduction of Lamela and Son meant that Dele's creativity was sent away to the left wing to languish there. It was only late in the game when Son was moved to the left and Dele was brought back into the center that we became so much more dangerous in front of goal.

But Poch,deary me, how can you keep getting it so wrong. Starting with 5 defenders at home to Watford reeks of weakness. Where is the courage you talk about? We played without any real width in the first half and paid the price. The whole playing system is fucked. First the awful diamond, then changes in formation and tweaks that mostly never work. Then back to the diamond. Its a worry at the moment. Its seems like we are rudderless. At least Poch took the initiative this time and made a change mid game but you can see his in game management is lacking. Its an area he needs to pick up on quickly.

An 8 for Delli, 7's for Son, Aurier and Lamela and 6's for everyone else. Poch gets a 5.

I thought Dele had a good game too his movement is actually world class. Unfortunately for Dele Alli if he doesn't score a goal its deemed he had a bad game.

 

[ravo]

Aurier’s lack of brain was evident in the goal as he was nowhere to be seen, tucking in when being attacked down the other side is fullback101 no? Afterwards his lack of any worth in defence or attack was in keeping with his usual.

Agree with most of your post, but Aurier was playing wing back is a different position that asks an awful lot of the players deployed there. While I agree that he is defensively brainless at times, he was not at fault. Aurier also made an excellent goal-saving challenge in the second half when Jan got skinned as Toby was nowhere.

The goal should not have happened, as firstly Rose should have not the ball go over his head, and secondly Doucoure's run should have been covered and the cross cut out by the three CBs (Toby in particular). Sissoko probably could have Toby a shout as well, but to be honest, Toby should have had that easily covered. Doucoure was in so much space it was ridiculous.

The formation was fucking ridiculous against Watford at home. The fucking diamond would have been better. He plays 3 CBs so they don't score and then bang, a goal in the first 6 minutes. It's just so shit.