- Apr 16, 2005
- 16,047
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Thought Aurier linked up well, and seemed to have a good understanding with Sissoko when he came on?
It would be great if the new version of the site has a function that enables the site to flash and bleep and log someone off automatically as soon as they use the word "poor" to describe a player's performance. Not because no Spurs footballer ever plays "poorly", but because it is one of those words that is always used as a judgment devoid of analysis.
It's babble, spam, pointless noise. If you think Lloris was "poor", don't say so. Tell us why instead.
Lloris 5.5 He didn't do especially well for the two goals, but his overall play was decent. I wonder what people are referring to when they complain about his distribution. When I do, I'm usually referring to his wayward long-kicking. I suspect that others' reactions are more being conditioned by his short passes to teammates under pressure. They make everyone very nervous, but they rarely, if ever result in a goal - the panic with Rose's back-header being as close as one can come. It's obviously done under instructions and you never see the receiving player complaining, no matter how difficult the position in which they receive the ball. 95% of the time, we play out without incident. It's just that the style of play makes the spectators nervous. But I'm disinclined to blame Lloris for it, because it's plainly an integral part of Pochettino's tactics.
Some of us just don't have the time to expand on our frustrations or elations. SozIt would be great if the new version of the site has a function that enables the site to flash and bleep and log someone off automatically as soon as they use the word "poor" to describe a player's performance. Not because no Spurs footballer ever plays "poorly", but because it is one of those words that is always used as a judgment devoid of analysis.
It's babble, spam, pointless noise. If you think Lloris was "poor", don't say so. Tell us why instead.
Some of us just don't have the time to expand on our frustrations or elations. Soz
We didn't defend badly, that's rubbish. Southampton were well worth their two goals, even though Lloris could have done better. Southampton today reminded me a bit of Swansea when we beat them 5-0: the individual defenders look decent enough and most of their goals conceded don't result from glaring individual errors, but their organisation is all over the place and there are always spacious gaps for us to play into.
It's easy to see why teams come to us and pack 11 behind the ball: because it works. You might lose 1-0, you might get a draw or a win against the run of play, but you won't concede 4-5 goals and get thrashed. Southampton played a great deal of lovely attacking football today. If they had Austin on the pitch, it might have been a more nail-biting match, but you cannot come to Tottenham and play wide-open attacking football unless you are faster to the ball, fiercer in the press and well-organised in defence - like Man City. Southampton were none of those. The result was a great game to watch, but not if you're a Saints fan.
Their goals owed a lot more to their good play than to our mistakes. The match stats are interesting reading: it was a very even game, overall. It didn't look that way when we were raiding through the acreage they left in their defensive half.
Lloris 5.5 He didn't do especially well for the two goals, but his overall play was decent. I wonder what people are referring to when they complain about his distribution. When I do, I'm usually referring to his wayward long-kicking. I suspect that others' reactions are more being conditioned by his short passes to teammates under pressure. They make everyone very nervous, but they rarely, if ever result in a goal - the panic with Rose's back-header being as close as one can come. It's obviously done under instructions and you never see the receiving player complaining, no matter how difficult the position in which they receive the ball. 95% of the time, we play out without incident. It's just that the style of play makes the spectators nervous. But I'm disinclined to blame Lloris for it, because it's plainly an integral part of Pochettino's tactics.
Rose 8 That's the first time we've seen the pre-injury Rose, back to the standard he set last season. Vigorous, direct, capable and threatening.
Sanchez 7 One thing I notice about him frequently is that, when the ball is coming upfield, he lets the opponent get slightly the wrong side of him and relies upon his pace to catch up. Most of the time that works. Today Shane Long's pace nearly exposed him. But it's plain that, at 21, he is the defender whom Lloris most trusts to receive the ball and his overall play continues to be mature and effective.
Vertonghen 7.5 A very good all-round display, the more so because he had to avoid a yellow card.
Aurier 6.5 Some great play on the touch-line, but I often find myself wishing he would make decisions a half-second earlier: attack your man or cross or pass, but don't think so hard about it.
Dembélé 7 We became visibly more porous when he went off. So much that he does isn't visible until he's not there anymore. A lot of our pressure resulted indirectly from Dembélé bringing the ball into attacking positions.
Dier 7 Calm and reliable throughout.
Son 8 Made the fullbacks' lives a misery all afternoon. Got an assist and a goal. Has been sustained his good form now for enough months to make me think that he has taken his overall game up a level.
Dele 8.5 If Kane hadn't got his 3rd goal, Dele would have been the obvious man of the match. Assists, a goal, creative passes all over the pitch, good discipline and very few lapses in judgment.
Eriksen 7 Not the star today, but the others would not have shone without his patient passing and probing. Great pressing game.
Kane 8.5 OK, it's a bit churlish to go here, but I'm going to do it anyway. Obviously, it was great display of all-round striker play, especially finishing, but here's what struck me. Last season there was a personal record to be achieved - he wanted the Golden Boot - and he scored 7 goals in 2 matches. This season there were personal records to be achieved - Shearer's EPL calendar year total and the most prolific striker in Europe - and he scored 6 goals in 2 matches. If I were Harry Kane, I would be meeting with my sports psychologist and exploring how he can achieve the level of intensity that he brings when a milestone is in view in his weekly play. He raises his game. It should be possible for him to analyse what happens when he does that, so he can tap into some of it without the personal milestone as motivation. Just pips Dele to the MotM today.
Sissoko 6 Not as good as against Burnley, but he is passing much more reliably and confidently now - I only saw two wayward balls - and he threw his weight about to good effect.
Lamela 6 A bit quiet. Son was a hard act to follow.
Winks NET
We didn't defend badly, that's rubbish. Southampton were well worth their two goals, even though Lloris could have done better. Southampton today reminded me a bit of Swansea when we beat them 5-0: the individual defenders look decent enough and most of their goals conceded don't result from glaring individual errors, but their organisation is all over the place and there are always spacious gaps for us to play into.
It's easy to see why teams come to us and pack 11 behind the ball: because it works. You might lose 1-0, you might get a draw or a win against the run of play, but you won't concede 4-5 goals and get thrashed. Southampton played a great deal of lovely attacking football today. If they had Austin on the pitch, it might have been a more nail-biting match, but you cannot come to Tottenham and play wide-open attacking football unless you are faster to the ball, fiercer in the press and well-organised in defence - like Man City. Southampton were none of those. The result was a great game to watch, but not if you're a Saints fan.
Their goals owed a lot more to their good play than to our mistakes. The match stats are interesting reading: it was a very even game, overall. It didn't look that way when we were raiding through the acreage they left in their defensive half.
Lloris 5.5 He didn't do especially well for the two goals, but his overall play was decent. I wonder what people are referring to when they complain about his distribution. When I do, I'm usually referring to his wayward long-kicking. I suspect that others' reactions are more being conditioned by his short passes to teammates under pressure. They make everyone very nervous, but they rarely, if ever result in a goal - the panic with Rose's back-header being as close as one can come. It's obviously done under instructions and you never see the receiving player complaining, no matter how difficult the position in which they receive the ball. 95% of the time, we play out without incident. It's just that the style of play makes the spectators nervous. But I'm disinclined to blame Lloris for it, because it's plainly an integral part of Pochettino's tactics.
Rose 8 That's the first time we've seen the pre-injury Rose, back to the standard he set last season. Vigorous, direct, capable and threatening.
Sanchez 7 One thing I notice about him frequently is that, when the ball is coming upfield, he lets the opponent get slightly the wrong side of him and relies upon his pace to catch up. Most of the time that works. Today Shane Long's pace nearly exposed him. But it's plain that, at 21, he is the defender whom Lloris most trusts to receive the ball and his overall play continues to be mature and effective.
Vertonghen 7.5 A very good all-round display, the more so because he had to avoid a yellow card.
Aurier 6.5 Some great play on the touch-line, but I often find myself wishing he would make decisions a half-second earlier: attack your man or cross or pass, but don't think so hard about it.
Dembélé 7 We became visibly more porous when he went off. So much that he does isn't visible until he's not there anymore. A lot of our pressure resulted indirectly from Dembélé bringing the ball into attacking positions.
Dier 7 Calm and reliable throughout.
Son 8 Made the fullbacks' lives a misery all afternoon. Got an assist and a goal. Has been sustained his good form now for enough months to make me think that he has taken his overall game up a level.
Dele 8.5 If Kane hadn't got his 3rd goal, Dele would have been the obvious man of the match. Assists, a goal, creative passes all over the pitch, good discipline and very few lapses in judgment.
Eriksen 7 Not the star today, but the others would not have shone without his patient passing and probing. Great pressing game.
Kane 8.5 OK, it's a bit churlish to go here, but I'm going to do it anyway. Obviously, it was great display of all-round striker play, especially finishing, but here's what struck me. Last season there was a personal record to be achieved - he wanted the Golden Boot - and he scored 7 goals in 2 matches. This season there were personal records to be achieved - Shearer's EPL calendar year total and the most prolific striker in Europe - and he scored 6 goals in 2 matches. If I were Harry Kane, I would be meeting with my sports psychologist and exploring how he can achieve the level of intensity that he brings when a milestone is in view in his weekly play. He raises his game. It should be possible for him to analyse what happens when he does that, so he can tap into some of it without the personal milestone as motivation. Just pips Dele to the MotM today.
Sissoko 6 Not as good as against Burnley, but he is passing much more reliably and confidently now - I only saw two wayward balls - and he threw his weight about to good effect.
Lamela 6 A bit quiet. Son was a hard act to follow.
Winks NET
'Hugo was appaling'
What a load of absolute bollocks.
Quite to the contrary. I wouldn't change one thing about Kane in that regard. The ability to draw from an extra, hidden level that can only be unlocked for something spectacular in sight, that's the shit that's going to win us a trophy. The rest of the team just need to visit their shrinks to find out how they can step up to take us towards a real finish line of any form of substance.If I were Harry Kane, I would be meeting with my sports psychologist and exploring how he can achieve the level of intensity that he brings when a milestone is in view in his weekly play. He raises his game. It should be possible for him to analyse what happens when he does that, so he can tap into some of it without the personal milestone as motivation. Just pips Dele to the MotM today.
poor postSome of us just don't have the time to expand on our frustrations or elations. Soz
Appalling even...poor post