Mainly as they did not put the same level of effort in as the league 2 opposition players did. Yesterday was about heart and grit. Luckily we finally showed some second half after an astonishingly pathetic first half from all of the team.
Kudos to Newport - they outfought and outplayed us first half, and dug in deep second half. They will get a well deserved cash windfall in the replay!
They were rampant in the first 45 when KWP was playing and on the back foot for the 2nd half when the set up was changed. It's not a case of saying KWP was worse than anyone else. It's simply the fact that they were getting a lot of joy down that side and we needed to shift things around. Poch did the right thing and Son put them on the back foot down that flank.
Even if it means we lose and go out of the cup? He made a tactical change, we got the draw. KWP deserved to be pulled.
They were getting a lot of joy whatever they did first half. They were getting joy down that flank, they were getting joy down the other flank, they were getting joy hoofing the ball or launching long throws into our box all game, they were getting a lot of joy pressing us and making us resort to hoofing it to two isolated strikers.
They were, but they were still getting more out of the right:
So that was all because of KWP? And not factors like tiredness, or nerves, or a massive result getting nearer and nearer, kicking in and they naturally dropping deeper to protect the precious lead?
They were getting a lot of joy whatever they did first half. They were getting joy down that flank, they were getting joy down the other flank, they were getting joy hoofing the ball or launching long throws into our box all game, they were getting a lot of joy pressing us and making us resort to hoofing it to two isolated strikers.
It is perfectly possible that KWP would have continued with more of the same in the second half, it's also possible he'd have 'done a Foyth', enjoyed the game more when we were on the front foot, and finished strongly. Just my opinion and outlook that I'd much rather have found out, either way, rather than persisting with a Trippier, or a Dier, even a Vertonghen, or any of the turgid midfield trio. We learnt nothing from keeping those players on, especially when they did fuck all to get us back in the game in any case.
You seem to be hung up on the idea that KWP was being blamed for something and was taken off because of that. The fact was that they were playing the ball behind him continually (far more than on Trippier's side) and we needed to change shape to deal with it. As I said before, I wouldn't have minded at all if Trippier had gone off and KWP had gone on the right. It's got nothing to do with blaming the kid but everything to do with a tactical change that got us back in the game. We could have taken off Dier or Dembele or Wanyama or Sissoko but we needed the bodies in midfield. Bringing Son on pushed them back on our right hand side and sorted the problem out. They produced virtually nothing down that side in the second half and we got them going backwards immediately.
But the reason they were getting joy down the right was because of Pochettino's tactical set up, which had two narrow CM's, Sissoko in the centre and two narrow CF's, it was fucking atrocious tactically :
View attachment 35516
And don't forget that positional map is influenced by the fact that Vertonghen spent 45 minutes as a LB/LW and Dier as LCB - in reality you can move both of those 5 yards right for the time KWP was on the pitch and it tells you how exposed he was.
It was really poor tactically to expose any FB to that, let alone a rooky RB playing at LB. There were several, much better tactical solutions to start or correct this with, and there were players who were much less exposed by Pochettino's tactical clusterfuck who performed even worse - in terms of their remit - than KWP, who actually showed intelligence when getting forward, took up several great positions, but because neither of Dembele or Sissoko could get their heads out of the arses and pass to him when he was in space, went to waste.
It wasn't just that it was the cowardly decision - we all know Poch shits himself about subbing people, especially his favourites, he's even said so in his book - it was wasn't even tactically the smartest thing he could have done by a long stretch.
As has been said, Our front players were fluid and swapped sides so that positional map doesn't tell the whole story. It's also for the whole game, not the first half. I'm not blaming KWP. He was out of position and is still young, however he was a weak point and I don't blame Poch at all for pulling him. He had plenty of cover when he was exposed for the play that led to their goal. He was being targeted and had to come off.
I could show you about 100 clips of other players having similarly bad moments. (If I knew how to do it...)
Just saying our front players were fluid doesn’t change the fact that the selections and tactical application were poor, and exposed KWP particularly.
He’s not the first of our fb’s To have a couple of iffy moments this season either. He’s the first to get hooked though.
Pochettino’s tactical application was piss poor, his panicked reaction to it lacked wit or bollocks. IMO.
(How did you implant that video by the way?)
I could show you about 100 clips of other players having similarly bad moments. (If I knew how to do it...)
Just saying our front players were fluid doesn’t change the fact that the selections and tactical application were poor, and exposed KWP particularly.
He’s not the first of our fb’s To have a couple of iffy moments this season either. He’s the first to get hooked though.
Pochettino’s tactical application was piss poor, his panicked reaction to it lacked wit or bollocks. IMO.
(How did you implant that video by the way?)
If you are picked for the first team you need to stand on your two feet and be counted. You keep reiterating that KWP was exposed. Almost as if Poch had to cover him because he is a rookie. OK I agree it was his wrong side but that was the challenge for the lad. Well there were a number of areas where we were exposed. But KWP’s incapacity to cope was what caused the switch. He looked overawed. That is not a good look from a coach’s standpoint. I think Poch made the right decision.
really harsh on the kid Llotente by far the worse playerKWP was equally dreadful.
As if starting wasn't enough of a challenge on its own.If you are picked for the first team you need to stand on your two feet and be counted. You keep reiterating that KWP was exposed. Almost as if Poch had to cover him because he is a rookie. OK I agree it was his wrong side but that was the challenge for the lad. Well there were a number of areas where we were exposed. But KWP’s incapacity to cope was what caused the switch. He looked overawed. That is not a good look from a coach’s standpoint. I think Poch made the right decision.
really harsh on the kid Llotente by far the worse player
If you are picked for the first team you need to stand on your two feet and be counted. You keep reiterating that KWP was exposed. Almost as if Poch had to cover him because he is a rookie. OK I agree it was his wrong side but that was the challenge for the lad. Well there were a number of areas where we were exposed. But KWP’s incapacity to cope was what caused the switch. He looked overawed. That is not a good look from a coach’s standpoint. I think Poch made the right decision.
On top of all the other players who were overawed, like Dier, Dembele, Llorente, Kane etc you can add Pochettino, who was also overawed, made an absolute digs dinner of his job and then threw the kid under the bus to cover his own arse.
Loving this brave new world.