Match Threads Spurs vs Manchester City - Match Thread

[mpickard2087]

This wont be popular at all and trust me im ecstatic about us winning but that first half in particular was awful in an attacking sense. Defensively we have improved although we still give away chances but this is Man City but going forward we had no idea particularly first half.

People keep saying this, but I'm not sure what you and others are expecting?

When you employ tactics like that - and lets be clear it wasn't drop off a little, invite the opposition forward, and then when they cough up the ball spring counter attacks on them like Southampton last weekend. Today and vs. Liverpool was, until the red card, pure park the bus defensive stuff - you simply aren't going to get any decent football. How can you when your two banks of four are stuck in their own penalty area and the vast majority of the time scrambling away an awkward bouncing ball under pressure, just having to clear their lines. Often the players are weary from minutes of tracking runners, trying to stay alert, and doing their defensive duties and are just glad of the brief respite and a chance to take a breather and reorganise. No one is passing out and playing out from there.

It is an approach with no real interest in attacking or using the ball. You soak up pressure and see what you can steal. You will get half a dozen counter opportunities in the game, the opposition might make a mistake and gift you something (this was pretty much what changed the game today, the error from the corner allowing Winks to go steaming off up field and the subsequent red card) which led to a totally different last quarter of the match), or make the most of set pieces. Playing football takes a back seat.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

how refreshing to have a new signing make an immediate impact, and not spend 6 months ‘settling in’ ??

Kinda helps that he's (a) not injured and (b) has been playing every week all season. See also: Sessegnon, Lo Celso, Ndombele, Lucas.

 

[VegasII]

I just realised we have finally won a game when Dean has guffed

 

[@WHL]

Are you saying it should be a red because son was sent off?

For me, Son's wasn't a red either. It was a freak accent (easily a foul and yellow) that led to the horrible injury.

But anyone saying putting a player in danger has to say son's was a red, right? Even though, as you say, the fa overturned it

But sons tackle didn’t cause Gomes to break his ankle and was a yellow at most, sterling’s was much worse

 

[scat1620]

People keep saying this, but I'm not sure what you and others are expecting?

When you employ tactics like that - and lets be clear it wasn't drop off a little, invite the opposition forward, and then when they cough up the ball spring counter attacks on them like Southampton last weekend. Today and vs. Liverpool was, until the red card, pure park the bus defensive stuff - you simply aren't going to get any decent football. How can you when your two banks of four are stuck in their own penalty area and the vast majority of the time scrambling away an awkward bouncing ball under pressure, just having to clear their lines. Often the players are weary from minutes of tracking runners, trying to stay alert, and doing their defensive duties and are just glad of the brief respite and a chance to take a breather and reorganise. No one is passing out and playing out from there.

It is an approach with no real interest in attacking or using the ball. You soak up pressure and see what you can steal. You will get half a dozen counter opportunities in the game, the opposition might make a mistake and gift you something (this was pretty much what changed the game today, the error from the corner allowing Winks to go steaming off up field and the subsequent red card) which led to a totally different last quarter of the match), or make the most of set pieces. Playing football takes a back seat.

I'm fine with these tactics against sides better than us (like Man City undoubtedly are) and I like counter-attacking at speed against sides who we could dominate posession against if we chose to too. I prefer Mourinho football to Poch football - nothing more thrilling than a quick break that ends in a goal, IMO.

 

[chrissivad]

But sons tackle didn’t cause Gomes to break his ankle and was a yellow at most, sterling’s was much worse

So what caused Gomes to break his leg?
And how was it much worse?

 

[spud]

I know what your saying but to quote souness “his momentum took him down, because he moves a such a high pace”. Absolute bollocks.

I agree: complete bollocks. Yet when people made the same fatuous excuse for the times that Bale threw himself to the floor playing for us any dissenting voices were roundly abused.

 

[Bobbins]

Imagine how good we might be if NDombele was able to play more than 7 minutes of football a week.

 

[@WHL]

So what caused Gomes to break his leg?
And how was it much worse?

Certainly wasn’t son’s challenge and you don’t think sterling’s challenge on dele was worse than the tackle son done in Gomes? If you watch the Gomes challenge the break happens later(maybe auriers tackle) where as sterling’s made your grimace

 

[mpickard2087]

I'm fine with these tactics against sides better than us (like Man City undoubtedly are) and I like counter-attacking at speed against sides who we could dominate posession against if we chose to too. I prefer Mourinho football to Poch football - nothing more thrilling than a quick break that ends in a goal, IMO.

I don't prefer Mourinho football to Poch alternative football, but the very defensive tactics today are acceptable against City, Liverpool, and some of the CL ties. We're also whether I like it or not going to get plenty of 'rope a dope' like last weekend, which can be very successful if executed properly (ie. they manage to kick the ball in the back of the net, unlike last week....), and as a Spurs fan I hope is successful.

What I don't get though is I see a lot of the same fans who were all for Mourinho also on the other hand complaining about style. They must have all known what they were signing up for, you'd get uber pragmatic performances, the ball would be treated as the enemy in lots of games, etc. Complaining now isn't much good......

 

[rez9000]

Ahh, the non-sequitur gambit. Played, Sir.

It was Saturday yesterday!

 

[chrissivad]

Certainly wasn’t son’s challenge and you don’t think sterling’s challenge on dele was worse than the tackle son done in Gomes? If you watch the Gomes challenge the break happens later(maybe auriers tackle) where as sterling’s made your grimace

The break happens because of son's foul. He gets his studs caught into the ground and collides with Aurier.

Son was never going to win the ball from where he was. He doesn't slide in, Gomes doesn't break his leg.

To me they were 2 different challenges that aren't comparable. The ball was there for Sterling to win.

 

[Nicki78]

He was a lot better in the 2nd half.

I think its clear now that he plays much better centrally when there is no clear target man (i.e. Kane). I was at the game today and I actually thought Son ran his socks off - yes not always effective in the first half but much better in the second as you say.

 

[Ronwol196061]

I'm fine with these tactics against sides better than us (like Man City undoubtedly are) and I like counter-attacking at speed against sides who we could dominate posession against if we chose to too. I prefer Mourinho football to Poch football - nothing more thrilling than a quick break that ends in a goal, IMO.

Poch it seemed wanted to start playing on the front foot but couldn't get himself to actually move in that direction even if we did buy 4 quasi attackers in the summer.
When we have Dembele who was at CM,he offered no creativity just more strength and ball retention. We always lacked creativity up to the AM's
I think the big difference between Poch and Mourinho is I think Mourinho is capable of learning he isnt stuck up his own backside. He is honest in his interviews and he will change things. Poch is much more conservative and though everything he did was good and couldnt understand why at the end it wasnt working.

 

[dondo]

I agree: complete bollocks. Yet when people made the same fatuous excuse for the times that Bale threw himself to the floor playing for us any dissenting voices were roundly abused.

Not from me I always thought bale was a bit of a diver

 

[scat1620]

What I don't get thought is I see a lot of the same fans who were all for Mourinho also on the other hand complaining about style. They must have all known what they were signing up for, you'd get uber pragmatic performances, the ball would be treated as the enemy in lots of games, etc. Complaining now isn't much good......

Misguided as they are, they're still welcome to see the light and join me, @Gb160 and the gang in our clubhouse.

 

[Thenewcat]

When we have Dembele who was at CM,he offered no creativity just more strength and ball retention. We always lacked creativity up to the AM's

I’d find it difficult to disagree more with a statement. Dembele was the best midfielder in the league at playing through the press, and our decline mirrored his. He started so many attacks, just like Modric did before him

 

[Ronwol196061]

I’d find it difficult to disagree more with a statement. Dembele was the best midfielder in the league at playing through the press, and our decline mirrored his. He started so many attacks, just like Modric did before him

I was a fan of Dembele. But while he started many attacks his creative output wasn't especially good,Hardly any telling passes to speak of.
Ndombele is totally different. Hit a beauty pass for Son in this one in the CM position despite a host of attacking midfielders.
Dembele was a stalwart Im not blaming Dembele but rather Poch for being stuck more on the press than any creativity. Look to Klopp for balancing the press with creativity as they have both.

 

[Chris12]

Kyle Walker can fuck off, wagging his finger in Hugo's face.

 

[guy]

So what caused Gomes to break his leg?
And how was it much worse?

They're completely different. Gomes got his studs caught in the turf, plus had aurier sliding in. Son was behind him . Sterling hit deles ankle from front on