Match Ratings Ratings vs Arsenal

Bus-Conductor said:

Maybe you missed this bit:

Dembele very good. And if Dembele can maintain this kind of form through to the end of this season, he'll have a major part to play, because phases like this he really can be an asset. His head still doesn't come up quickly enough for my liking and didn't always today, but during that middle phase it did, he did move the ball more efficiently, and when he combines that with his indefatigable ability to keep shrugging off opponents he's definitely a plus.

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Bus-Conductor said:

This is where the heaping of praise for Dier and Dembele is a little misplaced. First half they were their perfunctory selves. When we needed inspiration they provided perspiration. Not a travesty. But not magnificent. And when we needed to be clever, keep pressing and most of all, very much most of all, keep wanting the ball and giving defenders - and each other - options - these two should be leading the way, they are our engine, but instead they led the shell.

In between act 1 and act 2 they were pretty good, Dembele very good. And if Dembele can maintain this kind of form through to the end of this season, he'll have a major part to play, because phases like this he really can be an asset. His head still doesn't come up quickly enough for my liking and didn't always today, but during that middle phase it did, he did move the ball more efficiently, and when he combines that with his indefatigable ability to keep shrugging off opponents he's definitely a plus. But as for Dier, I'l, still take the indomitable impetus of Wanyama, every day.

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Bus-Conductor said:

But as for Dier, I'l, still take the indomitable impetus of Wanyama, every day.

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Bus-Conductor said:

Three Act Play

Act 1 (The Importance of Being Earnest)

This was a fairly standard first 45 minutes against a bus park opponent, just one that carried a little more jeopardy in terms of their counter attacking threat than we usually come up against. We dominated the ball, but it was lots of A to B to A to B passing as Dier and Dembele did their thing. Kane put himself about, but their CB's seemed to have him boxed, Alli put himself about a lot, Son was very lively but bumbled a lot, and Arsenal looked dangerous on the counter, as Son repeatedly failed to track back and protect Davies from Bellerin's forward surges.

Act 2 (The Tempest)

45-75 Minutes.
This was where the game was won. And to be honest it was as much about what they didn't do as what we did do. What they didn't do was continue to get their "creatives" to do the ugly stuff, and suddenly we were finding gaps between lines and channels, and what we did do really well was make some hay. Firstly Davies put in an absolute peach of a cross and Kane rose like the proverbial salmon, hung for an eternity and bosh - scored the type of goal the like of which has not been seen since the eighties, when all centre forwards were Joe Jordon. It was a throwback goal of simplistic beauty.

And as we often do, once we have got that first bite in, we continued to set about the wounded prey as they desperately get caught between fighting back and defending themselves, finding against a predator like us it's hard to do both, unfortunately we are a shark that has a few teeth missing, we are great at the mauling but often fail to find the jugular, and this has been a feature of the last few games. Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Trippier and Dier all created wonderful chances only to see those chances squandered time after time after time.

I'd be more worried if we weren't creating these chances, but it so nearly cost us today. Some of the football we played in this phase was exceedingly good though. You do have to take stock sometimes of just what a good side we've become, when performances like today can be tinged with disappointment that we didn't kill this game off with a couple more goals, such were the quality of chances we created.

Act 3 (The Comedy of Errors)

The last 15 minutes of this game grew increasingly bad with every ticking minute. Ok, now we've got the points and our sphincters have opened like a petal in one of those time lapse videos, we can pretend this phase didn't really exist. But it did and it was fucking horrible. There is never a time in a game where playing a high line and not bothering to press ahead of it is a good idea. When you are only 1-0 against a team with the creative wit of Arsenal, a team who have almost patented the last minute, barely merited salvation goal, it is positively tragic. And if we are honest, we know we could and maybe should have been punished for what was a terrible 15 minutes. It's easy players coming out afterwards and saying "we toughed it out" - this is bollocks - because if Lacazette does something that is beyond the control of any of our players - and scores - we have for the second week running pissed away a glorious chance to take points out of one of our direct competitors for that CL place, after putting in a lot of effort and deserving more.



This is where the heaping of praise for Dier and Dembele is a little misplaced. First half they were their perfunctory selves. When we needed inspiration they provided perspiration. Not a travesty. But not magnificent. And when we needed to be clever, keep pressing and most of all, very much most of all, keep wanting the ball and giving defenders - and each other - options - these two should be leading the way, they are our engine, but instead they led the shell.

In between act 1 and act 2 they were pretty good, Dembele very good. And if Dembele can maintain this kind of form through to the end of this season, he'll have a major part to play, because phases like this he really can be an asset. His head still doesn't come up quickly enough for my liking and didn't always today, but during that middle phase it did, he did move the ball more efficiently, and when he combines that with his indefatigable ability to keep shrugging off opponents he's definitely a plus. But as for Dier, I'l, still take the indomitable impetus of Wanyama, every day.

I thought this was a game that was far more about the collective than any individuals. This was about our ethos, our character, our mentality. Every single player did good mostly good things for most of the time. I would struggle to pick out a single outstanding 90 minute performer, but I couldn't pick out one that didn't turn up and give something to the game either. And I kind of love that about this side. We aren't a one man team.

I do want to give a couple of honourable mentions though. First up is Sanchez, the boy's had a tough couple of weeks, but I though he was outstanding today. That Cruyff turn when hemmed in on the touch line was a jismic thing. But just generally he was superb today. Alert, aggressive and composed on the ball under pressure.

One facet of this team that often doesn't get much mention is the superb synchronicity of our defensive line. This is requires real coaching and intelligence by all the back line, and I can remember watching Italian football and even Graham's Arsenal with envy for their ability to play the system, when Spurs sides up until AVB and then Pochettino much preferred the lottery method of defending. I know it can risky and occasionally it gets sprung, but for me It's so heartening to watch us defend properly, with brains, organisation and discipline. Its. thing of beauty when it works.

Individual

Lloris - I though he was dreadfully slow off his line for that Lacazette chance. Harsh ?

Trippier - Really good game. Such a consistent player, not so many chances to get the ball in today, but his game play is vital, unlucky not to score.

Sanchez - Great game. Quick, aggressive and great on the ball today, stepped past pressers with aplomb.

Vertionghen - Good game.

Davies - Very good game. Love his quiet aggression. Great ball in for the goal.

Dier - Solid for 75 minutes. Did put a lovely ball in for Kane. Poor last 15.

Dembele - Great middle phase of the game where he grabbed it by the hair and did it doggy. First half was a bit stodgy and last 15 he was whirling round in ever decreasing circles. Good game overall though.

Eriksen - Good game, played a couple of wonderful passes, and worked hard to augment the midfield when they were getting outnumbered by Arsenal's 3.

Alli - Worked hard, played some good football, helped us create, and he's producing much less silly fuckery lately, which is nice, but did waste a glorious chance. Good generally though.

Son - Lively but quite frustrating again. If he could just learn to do simple things as well as he does the sublime he'd be golden.

Kane - Loved the vintage late seventies goal. Grafted pretty well. Good game.

Lamela - Nice little cameo featuring the full Lamela repertoire, a clever through ball, a yellow card for a rash challenge and a couple of missed chances.

Pochettino - I think there are facets of his stewardship that can be criticised. Tactically he doesn't get everything right (who does), he isn't the egalitarian he likes to think he is, his in game management (good subs today by the way) is actually pretty poor, but what he has brought to this club is methodology, a working practice, a mentality that pervades everything we do and it, more than any one thing is why we are a good team. A team with no inferiority complex. A team that isn't always brilliant, but nearly always turns up. A team with an identity and some bollocks.

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seanwhite1961 said:

"Assists" are garbage. They are absolutely nothing to do with football.

No one ever signed anyone based on "assists". This crap was only referenced after fantasy football league.

An "assist" isn't the creator. You should be able to spend a day with Poch to clear your mind of this internet tripe.

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Nine while nine said:

He should be done by now though.


Unless he's watching the video of it afterwards and critiquing his missus' performance.

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Mr Pink said:

Mrs BC probably getting proper nailed after that second half lol

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Nine while nine said:

He should be done by now though.


Unless he's watching the video of it afterwards and critiquing his missus' performance.

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matthew.absurdum said:

Onomah and Lesniak could do what his missus could do

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Mr Pink said:

Ten page dossier incoming!

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mill said:

Be ironic if he criticises dembele for not releasing it early enough

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glospur said:

Decent post all up, but these paragraphs and blaming Dier and Dembele for that last period is categorically, absolute nonsense and typical of your penchant for finding anything you can to criticise the two of them, even if it's not warranted.

It is not their responsibility to lead the press. That is the job of the front 3/4. If Dier and Dembele had have, in your words, 'keep pressing' while the front 4 sat off then it would have left a gaping hole in midfield and no protection for the defence. Also, this notion that they can keep pressing right until the end when they've done it for 80 minutes on a wet, heavy pitch shows a complete lack of understanding of a simple concept like fatigue, not to mention that if they had have done so it would have left all kinds of holes for Arsenal to play into.

Did you give any thought to the fact that Pochettino instructed the team to sit off and stay compact for that last 15 minutes in order to minimise their chances? Something that would have happened if it wasn't for Sanchez's mistake (who, incidentally, you go out of your way to praise despite the fact that he made more mistakes than Dier and Dembele did combined) to let Lacazette through for his gilt-edged chance.

Also, I find it interesting as well that you posted in the match thread when the teams were announced about how it was a smart tactical decision for Wenger to play 3 in midfield against our 2 because it will overload them, yet you give no praise to those two completely nullifying the opposition 3 when it was the thing you yourself implied you were concerned about. Dier and Dembele utterly dominated the midfield, and didn't give any of their three the slightest sniff.

The criticism of Dier when it's completely unwarranted and when he was excellent throughout and the backhanded compliments to Dembele when he was almost overwhelmingly considered the best player on the pitch by all involved, even Arsenal fans, is so fucking tiring.

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seanwhite1961 said:

What would cause you to think I did not?

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Bus-Conductor said:

Three Act Play

Act 1 (The Importance of Being Earnest)

This was a fairly standard first 45 minutes against a bus park opponent, just one that carried a little more jeopardy in terms of their counter attacking threat than we usually come up against. We dominated the ball, but it was lots of A to B to A to B passing as Dier and Dembele did their thing. Kane put himself about, but their CB's seemed to have him boxed, Alli put himself about a lot, Son was very lively but bumbled a lot, and Arsenal looked dangerous on the counter, as Son repeatedly failed to track back and protect Davies from Bellerin's forward surges.

Act 2 (The Tempest)

45-75 Minutes.
This was where the game was won. And to be honest it was as much about what they didn't do as what we did do. What they didn't do was continue to get their "creatives" to do the ugly stuff, and suddenly we were finding gaps between lines and channels, and what we did do really well was make some hay. Firstly Davies put in an absolute peach of a cross and Kane rose like the proverbial salmon, hung for an eternity and bosh - scored the type of goal the like of which has not been seen since the eighties, when all centre forwards were Joe Jordon. It was a throwback goal of simplistic beauty.

And as we often do, once we have got that first bite in, we continued to set about the wounded prey as they desperately get caught between fighting back and defending themselves, finding against a predator like us it's hard to do both, unfortunately we are a shark that has a few teeth missing, we are great at the mauling but often fail to find the jugular, and this has been a feature of the last few games. Eriksen, Alli, Lamela, Trippier and Dier all created wonderful chances only to see those chances squandered time after time after time.

I'd be more worried if we weren't creating these chances, but it so nearly cost us today. Some of the football we played in this phase was exceedingly good though. You do have to take stock sometimes of just what a good side we've become, when performances like today can be tinged with disappointment that we didn't kill this game off with a couple more goals, such were the quality of chances we created.

Act 3 (The Comedy of Errors)

The last 15 minutes of this game grew increasingly bad with every ticking minute. Ok, now we've got the points and our sphincters have opened like a petal in one of those time lapse videos, we can pretend this phase didn't really exist. But it did and it was fucking horrible. There is never a time in a game where playing a high line and not bothering to press ahead of it is a good idea. When you are only 1-0 against a team with the creative wit of Arsenal, a team who have almost patented the last minute, barely merited salvation goal, it is positively tragic. And if we are honest, we know we could and maybe should have been punished for what was a terrible 15 minutes. It's easy players coming out afterwards and saying "we toughed it out" - this is bollocks - because if Lacazette does something that is beyond the control of any of our players - and scores - we have for the second week running pissed away a glorious chance to take points out of one of our direct competitors for that CL place, after putting in a lot of effort and deserving more.



This is where the heaping of praise for Dier and Dembele is a little misplaced. First half they were their perfunctory selves. When we needed inspiration they provided perspiration. Not a travesty. But not magnificent. And when we needed to be clever, keep pressing and most of all, very much most of all, keep wanting the ball and giving defenders - and each other - options - these two should be leading the way, they are our engine, but instead they led the shell.

In between act 1 and act 2 they were pretty good, Dembele very good. And if Dembele can maintain this kind of form through to the end of this season, he'll have a major part to play, because phases like this he really can be an asset. His head still doesn't come up quickly enough for my liking and didn't always today, but during that middle phase it did, he did move the ball more efficiently, and when he combines that with his indefatigable ability to keep shrugging off opponents he's definitely a plus. But as for Dier, I'l, still take the indomitable impetus of Wanyama, every day.

I thought this was a game that was far more about the collective than any individuals. This was about our ethos, our character, our mentality. Every single player did good mostly good things for most of the time. I would struggle to pick out a single outstanding 90 minute performer, but I couldn't pick out one that didn't turn up and give something to the game either. And I kind of love that about this side. We aren't a one man team.

I do want to give a couple of honourable mentions though. First up is Sanchez, the boy's had a tough couple of weeks, but I though he was outstanding today. That Cruyff turn when hemmed in on the touch line was a jismic thing. But just generally he was superb today. Alert, aggressive and composed on the ball under pressure.

One facet of this team that often doesn't get much mention is the superb synchronicity of our defensive line. This is requires real coaching and intelligence by all the back line, and I can remember watching Italian football and even Graham's Arsenal with envy for their ability to play the system, when Spurs sides up until AVB and then Pochettino much preferred the lottery method of defending. I know it can risky and occasionally it gets sprung, but for me It's so heartening to watch us defend properly, with brains, organisation and discipline. Its. thing of beauty when it works.

Individual

Lloris - I though he was dreadfully slow off his line for that Lacazette chance. Harsh ?

Trippier - Really good game. Such a consistent player, not so many chances to get the ball in today, but his game play is vital, unlucky not to score.

Sanchez - Great game. Quick, aggressive and great on the ball today, stepped past pressers with aplomb.

Vertionghen - Good game.

Davies - Very good game. Love his quiet aggression. Great ball in for the goal.

Dier - Solid for 75 minutes. Did put a lovely ball in for Kane. Poor last 15.

Dembele - Great middle phase of the game where he grabbed it by the hair and did it doggy. First half was a bit stodgy and last 15 he was whirling round in ever decreasing circles. Good game overall though.

Eriksen - Good game, played a couple of wonderful passes, and worked hard to augment the midfield when they were getting outnumbered by Arsenal's 3.

Alli - Worked hard, played some good football, helped us create, and he's producing much less silly fuckery lately, which is nice, but did waste a glorious chance. Good generally though.

Son - Lively but quite frustrating again. If he could just learn to do simple things as well as he does the sublime he'd be golden.

Kane - Loved the vintage late seventies goal. Grafted pretty well. Good game.

Lamela - Nice little cameo featuring the full Lamela repertoire, a clever through ball, a yellow card for a rash challenge and a couple of missed chances.

Pochettino - I think there are facets of his stewardship that can be criticised. Tactically he doesn't get everything right (who does), he isn't the egalitarian he likes to think he is, his in game management (good subs today by the way) is actually pretty poor, but what he has brought to this club is methodology, a working practice, a mentality that pervades everything we do and it, more than any one thing is why we are a good team. A team with no inferiority complex. A team that isn't always brilliant, but nearly always turns up. A team with an identity and some bollocks.

Click to expand...