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Spurs' Man of the Match


  • Total voters
    322

DiamondLites

Well-Known Member
Jul 29, 2011
4,630
13,062
You could get away with Walker's lack of footballing intelligence (relatively speaking) if Lennon made up for it, which sadly he does not. Corluka, for all his perceived faults, was a clever footballer and it's no coincidence Lennon played his best football with Charlie behind him. Like BC, I find it a bit worrying regarding the footballing IQ of our side, especially in a system which requires a certain degree of intelligence to make it work to its potential. Hopefully the players will grow into the system a bit more, but there are a couple I wonder whether they can (not to have a pop at Walker because last year he was very good, just seems to have gone backwards so far this season)
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
How the fuck did the top teams let us get away with buying Vertonghen :ROFLMAO:

Now they'll have to spend £25m+ to drag him from Levy's cold, dead hands. :dead:
 

ItsBoris

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
7,467
8,604
You could get away with Walker's lack of footballing intelligence (relatively speaking) if Lennon made up for it, which sadly he does not. Corluka, for all his perceived faults, was a clever footballer and it's no coincidence Lennon played his best football with Charlie behind him. Like BC, I find it a bit worrying regarding the footballing IQ of our side, especially in a system which requires a certain degree of intelligence to make it work to its potential. Hopefully the players will grow into the system a bit more, but there are a couple I wonder whether they can (not to have a pop at Walker because last year he was very good, just seems to have gone backwards so far this season)

I sort of agree with this, but it is also a point used to advocate Harry's sort of tactic-less and system-less to a certain degree, philosophy. But if you have a bunch of dumb players, ideally you would want an intelligent manager who can put them in a system and give them instructions they can understand (btw I don't think our players are as football-stupid as some people make out - adjusting to a new system isn't easy). But if a player lacks football intelligence you can't just tell him to go run around and do his thing, although that may be easier to do in the short term.

But for instance if you have an office full of dummies you don't want the manager to also be a dummy, or else you end up with a situation like the Office. lol. Same with a football team imo. (On a side note I was watching that documentary 'Being Liverpool' and Brendan Rodgers makes me think of David Brent doing football management lol - there's a kind of overconfident, cocky, extroversion about him that just reminds me of that haha).
 

ItsBoris

Well-Known Member
Jan 18, 2011
7,467
8,604
Sigurdsson is a footballer without portfolio. He is not technically bad. But he is tactically a gypsy. He belongs nowhere. he's no where near good enough to play as playmaker (or in the hole or VDV position if you like) and he's too flaky to play in the middle three. Always looking uncomfortable and never seemingly in the right place doing the right thing.

I agree with almost everything you've said BC, except this. Sigurdsson is quality I have little doubt about it, and I think he will show that in time. I would just warn people against judging after only a few games. It's not an easy transition for a young player to make.

Other highly rated "creative" players who have come into the top teams in the league (Kagawa, Hazard, etc), have not looked as good as they were supposed to be yet. But they are quality and it will show soon enough. Even David Silva on the evidence of the first few games this season, you could say is "no where near good enough" to play as a playmaker. But we know that's not the case based on past seasons. We know that for Sigurdsson too, because he was absolute quality at Swansea and in other teams.

I don't have passing stats, but Sigurdsson only had 18 touches in 45 minutes. But Defoe only had 17 touches in 90 minutes. That means that service to our two front players was NOT GOOD ENOUGH. And of course that was evident during the game, especially the first 45 minutes. IMO, this will change when Ade comes into the team, because we will have someone who can receive the ball and lay it off to an attacking midfielder.

What I have seen from Sigurdsson so far is good vision, skill and movement. I still believe that he hasn't clicked with other players in our team yet but he will. His "profile" I would say is pretty similar to Lampard. I think the subtleties are positive, but it will take Adebayor playing up front to turn the subtle positives into actual strengths, and that's a shame for Defoe because he's been playing very well but I don't think it works to have a player who is basically anonymous until he scores a goal, because we need more than that from a CF. That's no criticism of his ability but it is his style of play.
 

Chinaspur

Well-Known Member
Oct 1, 2005
2,913
5,280
4231 .... 0
442 .... 10

Looks like Harry was right all along ;)

In all seriousness credit to AVB for changing the system effectively.

Defoe haters gonna hate, but he's carried on where he left off from last season. Last season he played only 1240 minutes scoring 11 goals (112 mins per goal). This season 4 goals in 427 minutes is a goal every 107 minutes. A ratio that puts him below only RVP and Rooney
 

jamesc0le

SISS:LOKO:plays/thinks/eats chicken like sissoko!
Jun 17, 2008
4,974
944
i thought dempsey was moved to sigs position and that he did what you are supposed to in that position, i.e get close to and support the striker on occasion, not 442/4411?
 

AberdeenSpur

Member
Aug 31, 2012
60
18
Friedel - 7 - Could do better with the conceded goal but really can't complain bout that

Walker - 7 - Keeps the ball alive in many occasions and solid

Gallas - 5.5 - hes losing it and didn't really shows the "leadership" AVB sees in him

Vertonghen - 9 - Man of the Match display

Bale - 7 - Still trying to work on his "free role" he needs to run at people and dribble more

Lennon - 7.5 - Good game kept the ball well

Sandro - 6.5 - Dropped a bit made a couple wayward passes that could prove fatal against Utd next week

Dembele - 7 - Missing the touch he showed in the past two games but still kept the ball well

Dempsey - 6.5 - Presence too little should have played further up, improved 2nd half

Sigardsson - 5 - Disappeared completely

Defoe - 8 - Long may his scoring streak last

Subs:

Caulker - 7.5 - Thought he did brilliant bar two or two glitches, future star

Huddlestone - ? - Too little time to show what he can do, should have started imo in a 3-4-3, quarter-back!

Townsend - ? - Did he manage to get a touch?
 

jonnyp

Well-Known Member
Jun 11, 2006
7,149
9,628
Friedel - 8 - great saves

Walker - 6 - not at his best and responsible for their goal by playing Zamora onside.

Gallas - 7

Vertonghen - 8.5 - MoTM for me. I was sceptical but I'll admit it, he's taken to the EPL a lot faster than I thought.

Bale - 7 - OK game once he was pushed further up.

Lennon - 6.5 - did alright

Sandro - 8 - not far behind Verthongen

Dembele - 6 - ineffective.

Dempsey - 5 - did nothing. Never understood his signing, we require better quality than this. Fulham must be laughing, we got Clint and they got Berba.

Sigardsson - 3 - I will never understand this signing either.

Defoe - 7 - won us the match again but how is it possible to get worse at understanding the offside rule as you get older?

SUBS:

Caulker - 7

Huddlestone - NET

Townsend - NET
 

Gilzeanking

Well-Known Member
May 7, 2005
6,093
5,019
Few thoughts . Vertonghen showed Bale what an attacking LB looks like . We have several CBs and no LB (amazing to remember that Bale was once a devastating LB ) , reckon he should stay there at least til Benny returns . I like the idea that Verts can use his attacking skills at LB ,because he's obviously very good at both defending and attacking .

Overall I think AVB will learn that going for a European title as well as wanting to be successful in the Prem is a very tricky balancing act . Wenger makes this point regularly . Maybe this was easier to do when the home league is in Portugal . I reckon that there was a Lazio hangover yesterday . AVB will need to use his squad for these midweek games . I want a lot of first teamers resting for the Carlisle match plz .

Finally Defoe's form continues on a level a bit above that we often see , which is great ....but ye gods we need a performing Ade back asap .
 

sim0n

King of Prussia
Jan 29, 2005
7,947
2,151
Generally i thought we were slow in all aspects of our team game today. Passing was slow and laboured, movement was poor and players were slow to make the runs, we were slow to close down the opposition and slow to the second ball.
An un-spurs like performance, hence very pleased with the result.

Friedel 5 - a couple of very good saves, but responsible for allwing QPR to bully us with set-pieces. A number were flung into the 6 yard box and Friedel was nowhere to be seen. Though he was very poor in that respect today.

I must say, everyone else praised Brad and the ratings here are all 7-8 from SC folks. 5 for Friedel yesterday, really?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I do not see any evidence to support your very low rating for a Spurs player who performed well yesterday. Just an observation, no other agenda at play from me. Since it was the only one like it, your rating caught my eye.

COYS!!! :chicken:
 

stevenqoz

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
2,776
553
Brad - 7.5 Fine saves obviously relishing the challenge
Walker - 5.5 Great athlete but must stop hesitating before delivering the ball...misses the runs by doing so
Gallas - 6.5 Fair game
Verts - 8 Liking this bloke more and more....he is a footballer, has a fine touch, reads the game well and can be our captain
Bale - 6.5 Appeared to sulk a bit 1st half and was ineffective....when unleashed he did the business
Sandro - 5 Honest but has a worse touch than Palacios....every time he receives the ball we lose time because he struggles to control it
Sig - 5 The new Ralph Coates for us? Struggling to make an impact but at least doesn't have to worry about the comb over....
Lennon - 6.5 Quite lively today and put in a good shift
Dembele - 6 Not his best game but has magic in his feet.....paired with Sandro is not the way to go....probably better behind Defoe in a drifting pick the ball up where you like type role....Like United play Rooney sometimes
Dempsey - 6 Looked better for every yard we pushed him forward....first goal will be important for him
Defoe - 6.5 Our midfield yesterday was incapable of finding him with a pass.....fortunately he stuck at it and could have had a couple in the end

Caulker 6.5 A good prospect....our future, did ok

I think the Bale left back situation hid a larger problem for us yesterday. Of course he has developed into a world clss wing back but the problem...even if he had started out there who in this side would deliver him the ball? Sandro cannot control it let alone pass......Dempsey is not a central midfielder....Demble is a runner dribbler ....Sig is not a central passing midfielder either. The choice will be Hudd Jenas Carroll.....I know who I, and for that matter BC:) ,would bring in, if only for part of the game
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
Verts as MOM but I am surprised Brad has been rated more highly - he was crucial to keeping us in the game
 

Yid-ol

Just-outside Edinburgh
Jan 16, 2006
31,097
19,276
Friedel - 7 - great saves, still think he could have come off the line quicker for ther egoal though
Walker - 6 - Not his best game, but played ok
Gallas - 7 - did what was needed
Vertonghen - 8 - MoTM . CB or LB he is class! can we try him as a creative CM next? :cautious:
Bale - 7 - didnt do anything first half, second half alot better (the guy behind me had it in for bale, saying he was out of position...... just after he had taken a corner on the other side of the pitch! )
Lennon - 6 - did alright, at times he past the ball back to walker and stopped when he could have just turned and ran into a masive space!
Sandro - 6 Broke up a few plays, still think we should be seeing more from him though.
Dembele - 6 - First half i was disapointed, picked up second half and good with the ball at his feet.
Dempsey - 5 - did well for 20 minutes in the second half when he almsot pushed up behind Defoe, and then dropped back and went missing again (how many times does he pop up by the CBs to take the ball just to pass it back to them and turn and run away again?)
Sigardsson - 4 - Close call between him and Dempsey to come off at half time, just now done it for us yet.
Defoe - 7 - played ok, first half didnt get much (too many long balls) haf a few chances and should have scored more

SUBS:
Caulker - 7 - good player and think he can do well for us.
Huddlestone - NET
Townsend - NET​
 

Danny1

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2006
5,622
17,171
Bradley - 7 - Made 2 great saves and is just a steady eddy!
Kyle - 6 - Not a great game for our young RB, needs to concentrate a bit more defensively!
William - 6 - Not a great game either, was saved by Verts great challenge as he had completely switched off!
Jan - 8.5 - Excellent match from our newbie! Game saving challenge, created the winning goals, excellent!
Gareth - 6 - Poor at LB but he isnt a LB! Played a lot better when switched to his natural position!
Aaron - 6 - Ok but didnt really attack Onouha as much as id liked to see!
Mousa - 7 - Keeps the game ticking over nicely, id like to see him demand the ball a bit more at times though but thats just me being picky!
Sandro - 7 - Not great first half but none of the team were, second half much improved and run his socks off, opta stats shows that he run over half a mile more than any other player on the pitch!
Gylfi - 5 - No good today, needs to impose himself on the game more! Still learning with us!
Clint - 6 - Ok performance with a couple of decent shots, still learning with us just like Gylfi!
Jermain - 6 - Ok he scored again, but unfortunately just doesnt really suit our system, he was non existent for the rest of the game and due to his inability to hold the ball meant we kept on being put under pressure.

Steven - 7 - Another fine performance from our youngster who looks like he has the world at his feet, brilliant in the air!
Tom - 6 - Didnt really have much to do but didnt lose it once!
Andros - 6 - Good run and pass to set up Defoe in the final minute!
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
How the fuck did the top teams let us get away with buying Vertonghen :ROFLMAO:

Now they'll have to spend £25m+ to drag him from Levy's cold, dead hands. :dead:

I think we know the answer to this, from Vertonghen's own lips. Spurs carried out a major charm offensive on him, brought him over to see the new training facilities (I suspect that he will not be the last players to take us more seriously as a result) and infused him with a sense that the club had a clear idea of where it wanted to go. Other clubs, including Arsenal, made offers and tried to sign him, but by that time he had made up his mind that he wanted to come to Tottenham. Vertonghen held out for several weeks, refusing any other moves, during which time I recall a lot of people were spitting bullets here about the imminence of us being gazumped and our 'failure' to complete a deal that we now know had already been settled with the player, until Ajax came to terms with us.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,800
23,813
i thought dempsey was moved to sigs position and that he did what you are supposed to in that position, i.e get close to and support the striker on occasion, not 442/4411?

Agree, he was too isolated out on the left, and looked much better in behind could see it becoming either/or with Siggy and Dempsey...

Our front three yesterday just had too little intelligence, Defoe runs about but was never really an option into feet, Lennon may well have only passed to Walker until the opposing Penalty box which is not acceptable, and Bale seemed like Forest Gump, "Run Gareth"... (but also pass please)

Still, yesterday's cloud had a Vertonghen lining. and 3 points attached.

AVB is still trying to forge a system mid-season on the fly with new players which is not going to be easy, but i'm sure he'll learn which players can play to his style or if not which style can be most effective.
cup games could be crucial to speeding up this process.


How long is Ade out for?
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
No it was number 28 walker playing everyone on. Though Ble was pants as LB.

I'll stand corrected but at the time I thought the last man wasn't Walker and last night on MOTD it looked like no11 Bale was last man at the back post playing everyone on???!!!

EDIT Just looked on the net. Was Walker near side Doh!!!
 
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