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Match Ratings Ratings vs Crystal Palace

MOTM

  • Lloris

    Votes: 4 1.4%

  • Aurier

    Votes: 18 6.1%

  • Sanchez

    Votes: 58 19.8%

  • Dier

    Votes: 72 24.6%

  • Davies

    Votes: 27 9.2%

  • Wanyama

    Votes: 8 2.7%

  • Dembele

    Votes: 14 4.8%

  • Lamela

    Votes: 16 5.5%

  • Eriksen

    Votes: 12 4.1%

  • Dele

    Votes: 11 3.8%

  • Kane

    Votes: 47 16.0%

  • Moura

    Votes: 4 1.4%

  • Son

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Total voters
    293
LexingtonSpurs

LexingtonSpurs

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
13,456
39,042
Basil Brush said:
I am a Dembele fan and I actually thought he was better than Eriksen.

I don't want to start an argument re Eriksen but i think he is extremely overrated.

Onions and all that.

Edit: Watch me get "disagrees" from the Eriksen fan boys without them giving any reasons.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure that is the reason for any/all "disagrees" from everyone...
 
S

SpursDave88

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
2,193
5,831
Bus-Conductor said:
Death and Taxes - Embrace the Grind

Weirdly, I enjoyed that game. I think we actually played very well in two thirds of the pitch against an incredibly well drilled unit and but for abject wastefulness, poor decisions by the ref and a bit of rub, we'd have won a very tricky game more comfortably.

Selection wise I didn't really understand the logic of Aurier for that one, I'd have had Trippier in there, and I don't understand the logic of Sissoko on the bench instead of Winks when you also have two other attacking options on the bench as well, if Wanyama or Dembele needed to be replaced (a not unlikely event seeing as both have had their injury issues) who would we rather bring on as a CM, Sissoko or Winks? But I did like the inclusion of Lamela over Son, in this type of game it makes sense to have someone who sees a clever through ball and can often play it, especially as Eriksen has to spend a lot of time being a CM as well these days as we don't have an incisive passer there.

It was great to see Wanyama back properly today, I thought he had a really good game, and demonstrated why he should always be in that midfield ahead of Dier, he's tenacious, dynamic, can press properly, expedient and efficient with the ball, and on the odd occasion a team breaks on us, he is the only one of the three (Dier/Dembele/Wanyama) that really has the energy and dynamism to get back quickly. He genuinely gives us a proper double pivoting CM2 instead of the much more inflexible deep Dier and half deep Dembele.

Games like today are the ones that the Dembele fans like to pretend don't exist or matter. But the trouble is they are far more frequent than the world beating games. He wasn't bad or anything, he was perfectly competent, but in games like today, which is what the vast majority of our games are, when we are up against the stiflers, the obdurate deep blockers, you need a player who sees a pass quicker and makes that pass quicker.

I though Eriksen was also really good today. I know many were bitching about him in the match thread but I just don't understand what they are thinking. If you extract Eriksen from that game it becomes so different, in fact, it becomes Southampton or Newport, a game bereft of any tempo or direction or creativity at all. Eriksen saw more midfield ball than Dembele FFS, he also set up the goal (and that was no fluke, that was the third time him and Kane had tried it) and set up Kane and nearly Alli with superb passes. That was another masterclass. Constantly on the ball, tick, tick, feeding Davies, feeding Aurier, feeding it into Alli or Lamela and then popping up in the final third too. If you can't appreciate what this fella is bringing to the party you really aren't paying attention. There are so few players who do what he does, play as CM, ACM, ARM and ALM in the same game.

Against an opponent like this, who are organised and disciplined, sitting very compact centrally, our approach play was actually spot on. We constantly got the ball out to FB's in very good positions, the shame was that neither of them delivered a single decent cross or pass from this great positions all game, Aurier in particular was incredibly wasteful from some exceptionally good positions, you just know Trippier would have done a shitload better.

And that was the one area of disappointment today, our decisions and executions in that final third, because our approach play actually did create numerous situations that should have yielded more. Kane misses two absolute sitters, Eriksen shanked badly when in another position, Alli should have two penalties but his own tomfuckery is now inevitably costing him. But it's not so much your CF missing sitters, it's annoying, but it happens, as long as he keeps getting into those positions, you know he'll get one, it's more the repeated waste of the situation before the situation in that final third that's killing us as much as anything. And this is why I don't understand why Pochettino continually seems to prioritise "quick" over "wit" every transfer window?

Eventually death (Kane) and taxes (Eriksen) did arrive for Palace and there are few sweeter feelings in football than a very hard earned 88th minute winner. It was thoroughly deserved, we'd dominated, we'd created openings and chances, got behind them whilst at the same time rarely allowing them in our half.

Individual

Lloris - SFA to do really.

Aurier - It's just pretty much Walker all over again. Defensively pretty similar, pretty sound, and he does get up and down energetically but his delivery in good forward positions is as bad as Walker's was - maybe even worse today. He's not a terrible RB, any more than Walker isn't, but Would we really have been worse off if we'd given KWP his development time ?

Sanchez - Good game.

Dier - One very careless pass out of defence aside, good game. He has got to eradicate those from his game though.

Davies - Similar to Aurier really. very involved, got into some good positions, wasted all of them pretty much. Unlucky not to have a penalty though.

Wanyama - Very good game. Saw more ball than anyone, moved it quickly and efficiently, which exactly what you need, and his ability to cover ground gives us a genuine double pivoting CM pair which is much harder to play against. VICE-MOTM

Dembele - Against tough opponents, when he's at it, he can be a don, but games like today when what we need is more vim and less dawdle, he can just slow things down. Thought he was very laboured today, especially second half.

Lamela/Alli - Worked hard, played their part in the build up play, which was important, but creatively a bit wanting. Alli's diving bit him in the arse big time today, because he should have had two pens.

(The Tax Man) Eriksen - Like the taxman, some don't really see what he does, but like the taxman, he's everywhere, quietly, Insidiously and constantly taking little bites out you, and even the killer brown envelope at the end of the year that finishes you off often arrives without you hearing it glide through your letterbox. He's constant. Great ball for the goal, should have had another assist at least. MOTM

(Death) - Kane - you might have one lives, he doesn't care, he'll get you on the tenth.
Click to expand...

Think you've being harsh on Davies - he should have had our assist after a good cross had Aurier been able to score from a yard.
 
Basil Brush

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
npearl4spurs said:
Wait we do have some common ground - I rate Dembele over Eriksen too. But that doesn't mean he is over-rated.

Of course I can't put life on ignore. I don't. As a nurse I deal with a lot of bullshit daily and meet it head-on. Hell, I welcome it - makes life more interesting.

But this is an optional fan forum. Completely for fun. Doesn't have to be part of my life at all. My life was just great before I found this forum and then had to endure my wife's eyerolls every time she sees me on this site. But I enjoy reading what fans who have supported Spurs for 30, 40, 50, 60 years have to say about the team because as I said, I don't know much of anything about Tottenham Hotspur and didn't see anything of Tottenham Hotspur before 2009. Hell, I was just like every other American who gives me the o_O "who?!" when I tell them my favorite team in all of sports is Tottenham Hotspur, even more than my alma mater UNC Tarheels basketball.

What I don't enjoy is reading people slag off our players. Of course at times it is funny like Aurier, Sissoko, Townsend, even Soldado, etc. In the precious little time I have to spend on this site and read what yall have to say, I prefer to fill my time with thoughtful, well-reasoned, mostly supportive posts of our players. I don't have anything personal against you - your post was just another one in the mold of Eriksen and Lamela. Not just a critique but a criticism - in an arrogant manner. It just had an edge to it in what you wrote that I didn't like. That I didn't prefer to read. Then you left out the disagree bait and I was stupid enough to bite.
Click to expand...
Cheers buddy.

The internet is for weirdos and trolls.... and i am both ;).
 
npearl4spurs

npearl4spurs

Believing Member
Sep 9, 2014
4,250
11,111
Basil Brush said:
Cheers buddy.

The internet is for weirdos and trolls.... and i am both ;).
Click to expand...

Glad you can admit to being a troll so I have absolutely no remorse to put you on ignore because I'm okay with missing the maybe 2% of good posts you write.
 
Basil Brush

Basil Brush

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
1,691
3,080
npearl4spurs said:
Glad you can admit to being a troll so I have absolutely no remorse to put you on ignore because I'm okay with missing the maybe 2% of good posts you write.
Click to expand...
And you have to stop being so sensitive.

Life is too short.

Up to you if you put me on ignore.
 
Phomesy

Phomesy

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
9,188
14,102
Bus-Conductor said:
I was just genuinely intrigued to know how anyone saw him as MOTM today? Just seemed so random.
Click to expand...

You're suffering confirmation bias again, BC.

In a game where, it seemed, most of our team were continually making small frustrating errors, Dier made one and then was an absolute rock thereafter.

If you can't understand that then you really need to have a good long hard look at yourself :D
 
Phomesy

Phomesy

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
9,188
14,102
SpursDave88 said:
Think you've being harsh on Davies - he should have had our assist after a good cross had Aurier been able to score from a yard.
Click to expand...

Said it elsewhere: Davies was MUCH better than the Match Thread seemed to believe. Was constantly trying to create movement and space and the whole team had trouble passing today - he could have had a penalty; a goal and and assist. Was actually a very good game.
 
mpickard2087

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,889
32,560
Yes on the balance of play and the chances that came our way we deserved to win, and more than the 1-0 it ended up as, but the general passages of play for most of it was fucking turgid and a real bad game to watch. Yes it's hard graft up against a well organised team, which Palace credit to them were, but we were very slow, lacked any spark in most aspects of the play, and were quite sloppy and frequently over ambitious trying to force the play with our choices with the ball at our feet. With 75% of the ball and such territorial domination you will get chances, but these kind of fell in our lap so to speak every so often rather than us putting any sequences of play together and opening them up.

The turning point happened with around 15 mins left to play. Both teams played a part in this - we upped the urgency a little as it reached desperation stage, and Palace seemed to reach breaking point in terms of their physical and mental resolve, along with having to reshuffle their defence, and so more the frequency of chances and goalmouth action increased.

And yet we still hadn't found the goal. We were desperate. We needed a hero. Thankfully someone stood up in our hour of need. Found that one play that turned the match for us when it was needed..... A big thanks to Wayne Hennessey, who managed to implode with perfect timing. Going walkabout at a corner and then somehow completely missing a fairly tame nod back across goal and so into the net. Wayne, we salute you.

I wasn't too impressed with much of what we did, and could say more, but I'll end it there. Some lackadaisical ratings to match the performance.

Lloris - Fuck all to do.

Aurier - One good last ditch tackle, the rest was piss poor. Some abysmal crossing and failed to make use of the acres of space he was getting in the final third. If he attacked space and could take the ball on the run instead of to feet he'd be able to make much better use of it.

Sanchez - Solid enough game.

Dier - Ditto.

Davies - Went a bit more under the radar than his compadre on the opposite flank, I thought he was equally as rubbish though. He also would be much better, and more effective for the team, if he could attack space and take the ball on the run in front of him.

Wanyama - Kept going. Pretty solid game.

Dembele - Offered little of purpose this week. Was completely fucked by the 50th minute and should have been off much earlier.

Eriksen - First half was some of the poorest use of the ball I can recall from him. Second half was an improvement, but still not one of his vintage efforts today.

Lamela - Was busy enough trying to pop up and get on the ball, I'd like to see a bit more efficiency in his game at times though and he's so one footed (not just at physically kicking the ball, with his movements and body positions) he often misses some really promising scenarios.

Alli - Got crowded out a lot I felt, though that wasn't down to lack of effort.

Kane - For 75 minutes he was crap in all truth. Offered very little on the ball, off it, or even looking for work. Barbequed two chances (he has been a little less clinical in recent weeks) and that really was about it from him. In those late stages though he suddenly woke up, got involved, and ultimately, as mentioned massively helped by the keeper, popped up with the vital winning goal.

Subs:
Moura - Some stuff worked, some didn't.

Son - n/a.
 
cozzo

cozzo

Well-Known Member
Jan 2, 2005
3,552
6,252
The tackle that Aurier made is worth the three foul throws and the miss. That basically saved us.
 
elDiablo

elDiablo

SC Supporter
Feb 2, 2005
4,579
2,950
Bus-Conductor said:
Selection wise I didn't really understand the logic of Aurier for that one, I'd have had Trippier in there, and I don't understand the logic of Sissoko on the bench instead of Winks when you also have two other attacking options on the bench as well, if Wanyama or Dembele needed to be replaced (a not unlikely event seeing as both have had their injury issues) who would we rather bring on as a CM, Sissoko or Winks?

.
Click to expand...
Don't disagree that winks is more of a metronome type, but i would speculate poch is dropping winks to give him a lick up the ass. Looked poor recently against lower opposition.

Edit: kick :cautious:
 
Spurs_Bear

Spurs_Bear

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2009
17,094
22,286
Turgid game of football. Bailed out by best striker in the league.

Nobody higher than a 6.

MOTM Aurier. Not for being the best but for being the only one who did anything that means this game will live longer than 5 minutes in the memory. 3 foul throw ins takes me back a few years to U10’s football with matching shirts shrunk in the wash by some kids tosspot of a mum who’d had the temperature up too high.

Exceptional game of BC bingo which didn’t disappoint.

Thank fuck we’ve got another game in a few days.
 
whitesocks

whitesocks

The past means nothing. This is a message for life
Jan 16, 2014
4,652
5,738
Frozen_Waffles said:
Agree with everything there especially the KWP bit, but I have to disagree with Wanyama, he was good with his pressing but under pressure he is a liability.

Hodgson clearly had his players pressing our central trio. Which helped to slow our attacks, while Dier and Dembele were generally solid without being exceptional, I thought Wanyama cracks a bit under pressure as his first touch is not always great.

Conte targeted him earlier in the season and I can imagine other teams doing it too.
Click to expand...
Wanyama is still hurting in my opinion - far from 100%. He went down like a bag of nails at one point after a fairly innocuous challenge.
In any case I am not sure why we had him and Dembele as a pair in game like this - Wanyama offered nothing.

The meant Eriksen had to drop deep to collect the ball, leaving just 3 in attack - up against 11. I'm not sure what he was expected to do.

All the same, he eventually conjured up an assist - 2nd in the spurs all time prem assists now, behind anderton, if you can believe the BBC, and so is my motm. Although a good case can equally be made for Kane once again, because without him we'd be midtable.
 
Bus-Conductor

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Phomesy said:
You're suffering confirmation bias again, BC.

In a game where, it seemed, most of our team were continually making small frustrating errors, Dier made one and then was an absolute rock thereafter.

If you can't understand that then you really need to have a good long hard look at yourself :D
Click to expand...

As long as you’re around to explain to me the stuff I don’t understand like Sissoko being the crucial piece of Poch’s tactical jigsaw and a CB being MOTM in a game where the opposition were in our half for about 12 seconds, I’m sure I’ll be ok.
 
Phomesy

Phomesy

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
9,188
14,102
Bus-Conductor said:
As long as you’re around to explain to me the stuff I don’t understand like Sissoko being the crucial piece of Poch’s tactical jigsaw and a CB being MOTM in a game where the opposition were in our half for about 12 seconds, I’m sure I’ll be ok.
Click to expand...

I've never explained or tried to explain why Sissoko is part of Poch's tactical jigsaw - just pointed out that he is and complaining about it and making shit up about his performamces says more about the people making shit up (you) than it does about Sissoko.

As for a CB being MOTM "in a game where the opposition were in our half for about 12 seconds" the two leaders, tied on 43 votes, are Dier and Sanchez. Both our Centre Backs.

So it's good to know you think the vast majority of SpursCommunity posters are fucking mugs.

You really are a breathtakingly arrogant twat at times aren't you?! :D
 
Bus-Conductor

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Phomesy said:
I've never explained or tried to explain why Sissoko is part of Poch's tactical jigsaw - just pointed out that he is and complaining about it and making shit up about his performamces says more about the people making shit up (you) than it does about Sissoko.

As for a CB being MOTM "in a game where the opposition were in our half for about 12 seconds" the two leaders, tied on 43 votes, are Dier and Sanchez. Both our Centre Backs.

So it's good to know you think the vast majority of SpursCommunity posters are fucking mugs.

You really are a breathtakingly arrogant twat at times aren't you?! :D
Click to expand...

I don’t get what you mean, think?
 
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