Match Ratings Ratings vs Wolves

@mpickard2087 I know you are really worried about our press this season, and our gear change, but I really believe the problem we have is due to the WC, and this period of numerous games in a short period, that apparently isn't going to stop as at the moment we will be playing 2 games a week till mid January. on top of that we haven had 1 week where we haven't been able to field our strongest XI due to injuries.

I really think Poch is send them out at the moment and asking them not to do a full press to try and conserve some energy, we can't afford any more injuries, and with the WC and preseason I don't think the fitness is there to do it.

we all want to see what we had 2 seasons ago, but at the moment we don't have the players (wing backs) to do it

Lighty64 said:

@mpickard2087 I know you are really worried about our press this season, and our gear change, but I really believe the problem we have is due to the WC, and this period of numerous games in a short period, that apparently isn't going to stop as at the moment we will be playing 2 games a week till mid January. on top of that we haven had 1 week where we haven't been able to field our strongest XI due to injuries.

I really think Poch is send them out at the moment and asking them not to do a full press to try and conserve some energy, we can't afford any more injuries, and with the WC and preseason I don't think the fitness is there to do it.

we all want to see what we had 2 seasons ago, but at the moment we don't have the players (wing backs) to do it

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Which might be the case, but a lot of the time I'm seeing no balance or discipline to what we are doing off the ball. If we aren't going to press high and are instead looking to soak up a bit more pressure, we've got to be better than what we are doing in terms of our shape.

In most games so far we have allowed teams far too easy passage up the field. Our defence seems to just retreat back, people like Kane, Son, Eriksen are just putting in a token effort, others like Lamela are just chasing around to all areas of the pitch instead of his own, and our central midfielders aren't faultless at all are but left covering big gaps. And what I've seen in most games so far this season are far less compactness than previously, huge spaces between the lines, and teams able to pick the ball up in front of our defence and get at them. Things that really weren't happening so much in seasons gone by.

Again tonight when we're under the cosh there was no discipline and seemingly no plan to my eyes as to what we were doing. Wolves play with width and switch the play - we just stayed narrow in defence, I saw no attempts to sit in a more rigid two banks of four etc. and for our wide players to help the full backs, you had the likes of Lamela doing whatever he wanted, strollers like Eriksen and Son, and it just looked like no attempts to address what was happening on the pitch.

Luckily, we're now at a level as a club that we can see off 75% of the teams in the league and whatever we do we'll almost certainly finish top 6, at the least. Even if we don't get out of second gear for god knows how many months. But every single game we're giving up big chances and if we do want to do something this season, and especially against the bigger teams, there's got to be a bit more organisation to what we are doing without the ball. If we don't press high then we need to rethink things. Some of what's happening so far I'd go as far to say (and risk being negged into oblivion.....) is starting to resemble a Redknapp-era team right now. I didn't like it then and said so, a lot, so I'm hardly likely to be impressed with hints of it's return......

Didn't see the match today.

Had a look in here at the ratings. There's some really wildly differing opinions!

mpickard2087 said:

Which might be the case, but a lot of the time I'm seeing no balance or discipline to what we are doing off the ball. If we aren't going to press high and are instead looking to soak up a bit more pressure, we've got to be better than what we are doing in terms of our shape.

In most games so far we have allowed teams far too easy passage up the field. Our defence seems to just retreat back, people like Kane, Son, Eriksen are just putting in a token effort, others like Lamela are just chasing around to all areas of the pitch instead of his own, and our central midfielders aren't faultless at all are but left covering big gaps. And what I've seen in most games so far this season are far less compactness than previously, huge spaces between the lines, and teams able to pick the ball up in front of our defence and get at them. Things that really weren't happening so much in seasons gone by.

Again tonight when we're under the cosh there was no discipline and seemingly no plan to my eyes as to what we were doing. Wolves play with width and switch the play - we just stayed narrow in defence, I saw no attempts to sit in a more rigid two banks of four etc. and for our wide players to help the full backs, you had the likes of Lamela doing whatever he wanted, strollers like Eriksen and Son, and it just looked like no attempts to address what was happening on the pitch.

Luckily, we're now at a level as a club that we can see off 75% of the teams in the league and whatever we do we'll almost certainly finish top 6, at the least. Even if we don't get out of second gear for god knows how many months. But every single game we're giving up big chances and if we do want to do something this season, and especially against the bigger teams, there's got to be a bit more organisation to what we are doing without the ball. If we don't press high then we need to rethink things. Some of what's happening so far I'd go as far to say (and risk being negged into oblivion.....) is starting to resemble a Redknapp-era team right now. I didn't like it then and said so, a lot, so I'm hardly likely to be impressed with hints of it's return......

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I agree, but my views are at the moment we are scrambling, with a group of players that play together in training more regular than they do on the pitch. rotation is a great thing but it brings in rustiness and mistakes, and this season I think has see Poch experiment with different set ups to accommodate our weaknesses. we just don't have the strength and depth and unfortunately the quality that City has. when Leicester won the league, and the season after with Chelsea they both won it playing the same style they were used to with very little rotation.

every season especially the last 2 and a bit we have had injury concerns, yet finished 2nd and 3rd, but we had a pretty settled side the last 4-5 months 2 seasons ago, that saw us full press along with pretty football. this season we haven't really had the team to play a solid formation. Trippier & Davies looks better in a 3 at the back, but the 1 game that was possible we had no DM on the field. the injury to Wanyama has rocked us this last season and a bit, and on top of that with Dembele going downhill fast, we have lost the spine. I don't think Dier can do the same job, and at the moment Winks is a little inconsistent to fill Dembele's role.

we seriously need to find 2 WB's a better and more mobile DM, and a better CM (though with a better DM, Winks might do the job). unfortunately this preseason due to the WC and the amount of games we are playing with injuries, our players just are not working as 1 unit. to be honest I can't wait for this season to be over, with the hope Levy does something in January, and sets us up for the summer. it would be great for just 1 summer to be starting preseason with an assembled squad, and very little injuries. the only thing with Poch I don't agree with sometimes is the rotation when there isn't an injury.

I'm dreading playing Palace next week because Trips will be facing Zaha, I just hope Zaha is his usual no end product

Birdie - Lloris, Lamela, Foyth (1st half)
Bogey - Trippier, Foyth (2nd half)
Par - everyone else

The first two goals were created by Sonny,
players like him, Lamela and Moura will never have a high passing percentage because they try to make plays

Lighty64 said:

@mpickard2087 I know you are really worried about our press this season, and our gear change, but I really believe the problem we have is due to the WC, and this period of numerous games in a short period, that apparently isn't going to stop as at the moment we will be playing 2 games a week till mid January. on top of that we haven had 1 week where we haven't been able to field our strongest XI due to injuries.

I really think Poch is send them out at the moment and asking them not to do a full press to try and conserve some energy, we can't afford any more injuries, and with the WC and preseason I don't think the fitness is there to do it.

we all want to see what we had 2 seasons ago, but at the moment we don't have the players (wing backs) to do it

Click to expand...

what problem do we have? We're off to our best PL start ever

Lloris - 8 Saved our asses a ton. Thank fuck for him

Trippier - 1 Avoids a zero thanks to the cross. Always been a good crosser of the ball but he continues to be horrific defensively and just when you think he cant get any worse this season, he manages to get worse. New rock bottoms from him every game. Pathetic attitude too today to go along with his tragic "defending." He should be dropped for a good while now. Aurier and KWP to rotate.
Foyth - 6 Was good. Penalties not his fault at all. Feel bad for him.
Toby - 7 Good performance trying to cover for the shambles we call full backs
Davies - 3 Another very poor performance but somehow not as bad as Trippier.
Dembele - NET Injury didnt look good at all. We now have 1 fit CM and a youth player whose played all of 4 first team minutes. Not ideal.
Winks - 5 Was good 1st half, but boy he faded and it all went wrong
Sissoko - 7 Im so confused by these last 3 performances. Been horrific his whole Spurs career but he seems to be finally finding his niche for us recently.
Lucas - 6 Scored but wasnt particularly great besides.
Lamela - 8 MOM. Never stops running. Fantastic work rate. Great in attack. Love him.
Kane - 6.5 Finally saw some glimpses of old Kane from a few years ago today. Finding the extra half yard of space, on target from anywhere, not giving up on a shot and got a goal. On the whole, a bit leggy though. But very good signs.

Son - 6.5 Did well in attack coming on for Dembele but not enough work rate. DOnt think he should ahve been subbed off.
Eriksen - ummmm, 4? I dont know barely noticed him besides for a few give aways. Not to blame though for me. Total wrong sub. Needed to get hold of the game. Should have bought on the lone hoding midfielder we had on the bench, Skipp.
Sanchez - 5 Shored things up a bit

Poch - 5 Right sub for Dembele. Slow to react to Wolves battering us. Reacted with the wrong sub. Should have hauled off Trippier after his massive fuck up for their first.

yankspurs said:

Lloris - 8 Saved our asses a ton. Thank fuck for him

Trippier - 1 Avoids a zero thanks to the cross. Always been a good crosser of the ball but he continues to be horrific defensively and just when you think he cant get any worse this season, he manages to get worse. New rock bottoms from him every game. Pathetic attitude too today to go along with his tragic "defending." He should be dropped for a good while now. Aurier and KWP to rotate.
Foyth - 6 Was good. Penalties not his fault at all. Feel bad for him.
Toby - 7 Good performance trying to cover for the shambles we call full backs
Davies - 3 Another very poor performance but somehow not as bad as Trippier.
Dembele - NET Injury didnt look good at all. We now have 1 fit CM and a youth player whose played all of 4 first team minutes. Not ideal.
Winks - 5 Was good 1st half, but boy he faded and it all went wrong
Sissoko - 7 Im so confused by these last 3 performances. Been horrific his whole Spurs career but he seems to be finally finding his niche for us recently.
Lucas - 6 Scored but wasnt particularly great besides.
Lamela - 8 MOM. Never stops running. Fantastic work rate. Great in attack. Love him.
Kane - 6.5 Finally saw some glimpses of old Kane from a few years ago today. Finding the extra half yard of space, on target from anywhere, not giving up on a shot and got a goal. On the whole, a bit leggy though. But very good signs.

Son - 6.5 Did well in attack coming on for Dembele but not enough work rate. DOnt think he should ahve been subbed off.
Eriksen - ummmm, 4? I dont know barely noticed him besides for a few give aways. Not to blame though for me. Total wrong sub. Needed to get hold of the game. Should have bought on the lone hoding midfielder we had on the bench, Skipp.
Sanchez - 5 Shored things up a bit

Poch - 5 Right sub for Dembele. Slow to react to Wolves battering us. Reacted with the wrong sub. Should have hauled off Trippier after his massive fuck up for their first.

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Think you nailed it, surprised to see people hailing Winks for his performance and slagging off Toby.

fortworthspur said:

what problem do we have? We're off to our best PL start ever

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I know it's weird, but 2 seasons ago as 1 game was finishing, the next game couldn't come quick enough.

this season the excitement factor just isn't there. think the games we are winning we are scrambling and not dominating, we look unorganised and have worries defensively. think the new stadium and lack of summer activity has also dampened it for me.

might also be struggling a little in life which is dampening the football I don't know. this last 4 weeks has seen the loss of a family member, a heart bye pass for another, Hoddle, and today a friend had a minor heart attack and is in hospital, and I'm having a pretty shit life health wise myself lol

Lighty64 said:

I know it's weird, but 2 seasons ago as 1 game was finishing, the next game couldn't come quick enough.

this season the excitement factor just isn't there. think the games we are winning we are scrambling and not dominating, we look unorganised and have worries defensively. think the new stadium and lack of summer activity has also dampened it for me.

might also be struggling a little in life which is dampening the football I don't know. this last 4 weeks has seen the loss of a family member, a heart bye pass for another, Hoddle, and today a friend had a minor heart attack and is in hospital, and I'm having a pretty shit life health wise myself lol

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You know Lighty i would never have suspected all of the challenges you experiencing.. Its because of your positive disposition. I've watched you debate many posters on varying aspects of our play, squad depth, TW shambles, stadium delays, Enic & Levy and in all of those threads you remain positive an BELIEVE in good.

You'll get through the health issues with your fighting spirit.

kaz Hirai said:

Lloris 8- excellent

Toby -6 poor to average
Foyth -4 poor second half, exacerbated by the world cup superstar next to him constantly out of position

Davies 6 - typically solidly average
Trippier 2 - typically shite, didn't help foyth, left massive gaps, woddles back into position at least Davies somewhat holds a defensive shape...sigh tired of him

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Whatever the circumstances (and this was an away win), i would never, ever describe any of our players as "typically shite".

It's a derogatory term, made in this instance against one of our very own, that i would guess was made by someone who have never played football at the highest level.

Tripper may not have had a good game (he was not alone in that) but to describe a Spurs player as "typically shite" is just not on in any circumstances in my humble opinion.

Constructive criticism is all well and good, but just to castigate one member of our team that you supposedly are a supporter of shows you for what you truly are.

Lighty64 said:

I know it's weird, but 2 seasons ago as 1 game was finishing, the next game couldn't come quick enough.

this season the excitement factor just isn't there. think the games we are winning we are scrambling and not dominating, we look unorganised and have worries defensively. think the new stadium and lack of summer activity has also dampened it for me.

might also be struggling a little in life which is dampening the football I don't know. this last 4 weeks has seen the loss of a family member, a heart bye pass for another, Hoddle, and today a friend had a minor heart attack and is in hospital, and I'm having a pretty shit life health wise myself lol

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Im sorry those things are happening. Life just keeps coming at us.

That was an intriguing game for the neutral in boxing terms we were on the ropes and saved by the bell. We also just about deserved to win as we showed a level of clinical finishing not many teams in the premiership are capable of however in the same act we are absolutely vulnerable if teams pin us back Wolverhampton exposed us so badly it was interesting to learn and at times horrible to watch. My damming conclusion is that our full backs / Wingback are not to the required standard collectively.

Our pressing game has completely disappeared by design of our manager for reasons explained well by post above.

Lloris 7.5 Can be world class when concentrated and focus really saved our bacon with some fabulous saves but I never have any confidence in him when faced with penalties.

Trippier 2 absolute crap Alan Hutton in disguise a player believing the hype needs to be dropped unforgiveable he's cock up for the first penalty, I dread every time I see his name in the starting 11.

Alderweireld 5 ok generally but did not stand as a leader and take ownership on field to calm us down when we were pinned back.

Foyth 5 he was outstanding honestly gutted for the lad with the penalties. I hope this was a brutal learning lesson for him about pro football and doesn't curtail he's confidence, clearly has potential was absolutely livid Trippier put him in those position.

Davies 4 not as bad as Trippier.

Winks 5 played safe, needs to improve defensively might be a bit of a harsh statement. Dier's work was clearly missed.

Sissoko 5 Ran well with the ball and relieved pressure at times as a senior pro he could of done more but may not of been able.

Lamela 8 motm serious work rate read some say he was sort of Ill disciplined with the press ( failed to understand that or might have misunderstood) beautiful goal scored.

Son 5.5 attacked well but was a bit lazy defensively

Moura 6 Nice goal and assist still believe there's more to come

Kane 7 better imo getting into scoring positions is a wonderful sight

Eriksen 4 needs a run of game we haven't seen for a while his better games.

Sanchez 5 difficult game to come into.

After all is said great result very impressed by Wolverhampton hope they stay up like there style.

Worrying that SC is finding a way to absolve Foyth and hang the blame for the penalties on Trippier, the de rigueur scapegoat. He didn’t have the best of games to be sure but whatever, he didn’t make two poor challenges and he certainly didn’t have an arm up Foyth’s arse compelling him to such.

When Lloris got sent off in Eindhoven we didn’t see Eriksen blamed by many for the mistakes preceding the event and when we conceded the equaliser guess which scapegoat of choice got the blame for that too. It’s an outright poor trend.

Archibald&Crooks said:

Laughable. Fucking laughable that SC is finding a way to absolve Foyth and hang the blame for the penalties on Trippier, the de rigueur scapegoat. He didn’t have the best of games to be sure but whatever, he didn’t make two poor challenges and he certainly didn’t have an arm up Foyth’s arse compelling him to such.

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The second penalty was rash and naive from Foyth, but it was still the millionth attack down Trippier’s side, and came about through a combo of winks hitting a bad pass and Trippier being lazy. Kid did badly though no doubt.

The first penalty absolutely Foyth should absolved, and if it wasn’t him it was going to be Winks or a certain goal. Trippier did the thing that over the years we have crucified the lines of Atouba and Kaboul for ( it Ekotto as he actually pulled it off every time). And it’s synotomst of the Trippier we’ve had all season, stupid stupid stupid. This compounded with the fact that he has become the obvious target for opposition to attack us says everything you need to know. Davies has his flaws but at least he’s robust and can put in a fucking tackle. Trippier has an occasional good cross in him but so far this season that’s it. I’d feel better with Sissoko at right back.

People used to complain about Walker’s brain farts, I’d wager that Trippier has been responsible for more goals conceded so far this season than any full season of Walker.

BringBack_leGin said:

The second penalty was rash and naive from Foyth, but it was still the millionth attack down Trippier’s side, and came about through a combo of winks hitting a bad pass and Trippier being lazy. Kid did badly though no doubt.

The first penalty absolutely Foyth should absolved, and if it wasn’t him it was going to be Winks or a certain goal. Trippier did the thing that over the years we have crucified the lines of Atouba and Kaboul for ( it Ekotto as he actually pulled it off every time). And it’s synotomst of the Trippier we’ve had all season, stupid stupid stupid. This compounded with the fact that he has become the obvious target for opposition to attack us says everything you need to know. Davies has his flaws but at least he’s robust and can put in a fucking tackle. Trippier has an occasional good cross in him but so far this season that’s it. I’d feel better with Sissoko at right back.

People used to complain about Walker’s brain farts, I’d wager that Trippier has been responsible for more goals conceded so far this season than any full season of Walker.

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Worrying that SC is finding a way to absolve Foyth and hang the blame for the penalties on Trippier, the de rigueur scapegoat. He didn’t have the best of games to be sure but whatever, he didn’t make two poor challenges and he certainly didn’t have an arm up Foyth’s arse compelling him to such.

When Lloris got sent off in Eindhoven we didn’t see Eriksen blamed by many for the mistakes preceding the event and when we conceded the equaliser guess which scapegoat of choice got the blame for that too. It’s an outright poor trend.

Archibald&Crooks said:

Worrying that SC is finding a way to absolve Foyth and hang the blame for the penalties on Trippier, the de rigueur scapegoat. He didn’t have the best of games to be sure but whatever, he didn’t make two poor challenges and he certainly didn’t have an arm up Foyth’s arse compelling him to such.

When Lloris got sent off in Eindhoven we didn’t see Eriksen blamed by many for the mistakes preceding the event and when we conceded the equaliser guess which scapegoat of choice got the blame for that too. It’s an outright poor trend.

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Oh absolutely Eriksen was to blame, and he too has been atrocious this season. I’m not scapegoating Trippier, ultimately there is little to scapegoat him for as we’ve won most matches, but to say he’s been anything other than abysmal this season, I won’t do it. Considering the pelters Harry is getting despite scoring 1 in 2, and Lloris despite the fact that he still saves us regularly, and Dele despite the impact he has every time he plays, Trippier is getting off lightly. If two high profile mistakes (you can’t say the first wasn’t, he tried to nutmeg as the last man) in two consecutive league matches both costing goals doesn’t open the door for Aurier v Palace then something is very wrong.

Look, I appreciate that I’m fighting a fight that I’m never going to win because the urge to put the boot into Trippier is so ingrained and strong, so I’ll just say this before I withdraw gracefully to tend my collection of Razzle magazines.

However the ball arrives anywhere, Foyth still had the opportunity to put in a good challenge. He didn’t. Twice. Facts. Rafastyle. Anything else is just a fetish for Trippier bashing. He had a poor game? Fine. The penalties were his fault? No.

Had the roles been reversed the ritual Trippier bashfest would have gone into a frenzied overdrive. And we all know it.

Have to agree with last post. Objectively speaking Trippier in fact had a good game. Lots of involvement, a fair share of good passing, plenty of tackles and high energy. I'm uncertain what more one can expect from a wing back, apart from 5 goals, 4 backflips, 19 assists and a moonwalk. Before half time.