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Match Threads Spurs vs Palace

Date
Mar 2, 2024
KO Time
3:00 pm
Score
3 - Werner Romero Son
1 - Eze

Match Prediction

  • Spurs Win

    Votes: 91 77.1%
  • Palace Win

    Votes: 12 10.2%
  • Draw

    Votes: 15 12.7%

  • Total voters
    118

idontgetit

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2011
14,493
31,029
Right you slags. I keep getting stick for saying this recently, and I'm sure I will again today, but we actually play better football when go a goal down and the main reason for it isn't because of the opposition dropping off (which is a factor, just not the main one), it's because we actually play better fucking footy.

We hadn't actually played as badly as people were saying today, unlike previous weeks the players were trying to do the right things and it just needed everyone to get on a more aggressive wavelength for it all to click. The elbow to Maddison fired everyone up and going a goal down allowed the team to not be scared, shock horror we were soon all over them.

The secret sauce isn't about who is on the wing, or whether it's Bissouma or Bentacur or Sarr or whatever. It's not because WE JUST NEED BOTH OUR FULLBACKS, or this person up front. We've heard just about every combination of technical bollocks explaining why sometimes it doesn't look right for long periods and no explanation actually matches any real pattern. It's not about half presses or teams parking the bus or getting in our faces either.

What makes Ange's system work, the lubricant, the WD40 in the machine, the KY Jelly in errr umm whatever, is playing with an aggressive mindset and intent to fuck the ball in the back of the net instead of faffing around playing chess from the back. It brings confidence and it wrecks the other teams confidence when we play with that mentality.

We're not actually that much more vulnerable taking risks in midfield than we are hopelessly faffing around at the back inviting teams onto us. We look good when the midfielders play on the turn, either one touch or using the first touch to open up space to play forward between the lines. Sure it's risky and say maybe only pays off half the time, but that half the time we actually really look like stinging the other side. They get stung a couple of times and their confidence drops away and we suddenly get control of the game.

Obviously I'm not advocating Vicario lobbing the ball in his own net at the start of the game. Some teams have a killer mindset and some don't though, so it's something you can instill alongside the technical aspect of your system.
 
Last edited:

Misfit

President of The Niles Crane Fanclub
May 7, 2006
21,243
34,895
Even if it's just to create doubt for the oppo CBs. Do it a couple of times early on and they are going to worry about squeezing too hard. Doesn't even have to come off, just signal that it's something we're willing to do.
Keep 'em honest.
 

spursville

Well-Known Member
May 7, 2019
776
1,214
i would say that's on him then and the players. I can't imagine Klopp and Liverpool's young players using that excuse.
Right you slags. I keep getting stick for saying this recently, and I'm sure I will again today, but we actually play better football when go a goal down and the main reason for it isn't because of the opposition dropping off (which is a factor, just not the main one), it's because we actually play better fucking footy.

We hadn't actually played as badly as people were saying today, unlike previous weeks the players were trying to do the right things and it just needed everyone to get on a more aggressive wavelength for it all to click. The elbow to Maddison fired everyone up and going a goal down allowed the team to not be scared, shock horror we were soon all over them.

The secret sauce isn't about who is on the wing, or whether it's Bissouma or Bentacur or Sarr or whatever. It's not because WE JUST NEED BOTH OUR FULLBACKS, or this person up front. We've heard just about every combination of technical bollocks explaining why sometimes it doesn't look right for long periods and no explanation actually matches any real pattern. It's not about half presses or teams parking the bus or getting in our faces either.

What makes Ange's system work, the lubricant, the WD40 in the machine, the KY Jelly in errr umm whatever, is playing with an aggressive mindset and intent to fuck the ball in the back of the net instead of faffing around playing chess from the back. It brings confidence and it wrecks the other teams confidence when we play with that mentality.

We're not actually that much more vulnerable taking risks in midfield than we are hopelessly faffing around at the back inviting teams onto us. We look good when the midfielders play on the turn, either one touch or using the first touch to open up space to play forward between the lines. Sure it's risky and say maybe only pays off half the time, but that half the time we actually really look like stinging the other side. They get stung a couple of times and their confidence drops away and we suddenly get control of the game.

Obviously I'm not advocating Vicario lobbing the ball in his own net at the start of the game. Some teams have a killer mindset and some don't though, so it's something you can still alongside the technical aspect of your system.
Great post. See Liverpool for example.
 

easley91

Well-Known Member
Jan 27, 2011
19,054
54,720
The Eze free kick was against the run of play in the second half. We weren't at our free flowing best going forward, but we were much tighter at the back than we have been recently. Can't remember too many clear cut Palace chances throughout the game really.

We went behind but still deserved the win.
 

idontgetit

Well-Known Member
Aug 21, 2011
14,493
31,029
Great post. See Liverpool for example.

Perfect example. Late goals aside they also love smashing lots of goals in and putting teams to the sword when they have the opportunity. We picked up a weird habit during the Conte/Mourinho era of going into our shells the second we score as if playing aggressive attacking football is some kind of chore rather than a thing to get up for in the morning.
 

DenverSpur

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2011
1,996
5,617
Quite amusing reading the whole thread. It’s strange how so many people give up so early in games. Yes we didn’t play well in the first half but come on people at least wait till the game is over to have your meltdowns. As the saying goes; it ain’t over till the fat lady sings. That first half performance was disappointing but some of the over reaction was embarrassing and premature.
I think there’s a point to what Ange said in his press conference that the lack of games is affecting our rhythm. If you look at how we started games at the start of the season and compare it to now there is a world of difference. For me the difference is that in those early games Maddison and Bissouma were dominating the central areas. Since then both of them, through injury and suspensions, have lost their mojo which has affected the rhythm of the whole team.
From now to the end of the season until we regain our team rhythm we are going to have more performances like we saw in that first half, especially at home where teams are goin to sit in a low block. It’s all part of the teething phase of the team’s development under Ange. We’ve just got to show some patience and belief.
I believe we’ll beat Villa next week as their style of play suits how we want to play. I also believe that with Europe, which Emery places importance on, they will fall away in the PL as the season winds down.
 
Last edited:

Styopa

Well-Known Member
Jan 19, 2014
5,346
14,796
Really hate when people on here start dismissing any criticism as 'bed wetting' or other childish drivel if and when we are able to turn it around.

I'm delighted we've got the win.

I think the players deserve praise for the resilience and Ange's first sub seemed to spark us into life.

All things to be very happy about together with a hugely important 3 points.

Doesn't mean that there aren't some very valid criticisms and concerns after this performance.

We happily take the 3 points today but there is clearly something not quite right even though we now have the majority of our players back.

I take your point, but what most sensible people object to is the overreacting. The criticism is fine. It’s the reacting like we’re five years into this, rather than nine months, which is tiresome. It’s all the Ange has been found out, we’ll never win anything unless we change, we’re so bad, we’re so naive, kind of comments which people are bored of. Especially since the same people who make those kind of comments are the kind of people falling over themselves to point out how great Arsenal are. We need context and balance. Something I feel is in short supply sadly.
 

Rob

The Boss
Admin
Jun 8, 2003
28,021
65,121
Had what I think was one of the best views in the stadium, middle of the South stand, front of the higher standing section.

We had no movement or ideas in the first half. Werner is open so often and has the beating of his man for pace every time but we won’t play the ball over the top. Instead we play it short to him when he has his back to goal and he just plays it off and it comes back inside then inevitably all the way back to the defence. There’s no creativity in midfield and it’s stifled by the low block.

VDV was sensational.
Emerson was not the problem at all today.
Sonny and Madison were both poor.
Bentancur was non-existent again.
Deki and Werner weren’t getting the service.

Johnson made a big impact when he came on and changed the game. Great to see from him and glad that Werner got his goal.

The scoreline hides what was in the end a pretty bad performance for most of the match again and it’s continuing to be the same problem. We’re barely a threat on goal for most of the match.
 

VoteMe4Prez

Well-Known Member
Oct 6, 2013
2,726
6,850
The Eze free kick was against the run of play in the second half. We weren't at our free flowing best going forward, but we were much tighter at the back than we have been recently. Can't remember too many clear cut Palace chances throughout the game really.

We went behind but still deserved the win.
This is exactly it. We were looking good in the 2nd half. I didn't get to watch the 1st half. Maddison is getting back to his best, Werner looked very good 2nd half, Bissouma looking better today, VDV/Romero imperious, Emerson good too. Positive stuff.
 

McFlash

In the corner, eating crayons.
Oct 19, 2005
12,896
46,121
To be honest we've been shitting on him for a while now. Which top 6 team or squad would he get into?
As a starter, or as a squad option? Because if you mean the former it's unfair and if you mean the latter, I'd say most of them.
Are you expecting us to have a squad full of great players?
 

Komma

Well-Known Member
Aug 17, 2005
210
350
What pleased me most about Johnson's performance was his work off the ball. When we were 2-1 up, he was back helping out the left back and put in a strong challenge and won the ball back. Good to see that he is taking on board game play instructions and developing his all round game.
 

Dannyspur

I just don't know anymore!
Aug 17, 2004
10,143
13,839
Werner and Sonny made run after run, and Kulu was on acres of space out wide on loads of occasions, but we failed to get our heads up at the back and see them. Romero is only allowed to pass to VDV or the midfielder who is nearest to him. Oh to have a Toby or Jan to ping a long ball occasionally. All the first half we were playing walking football allowing palace to get organised into two rows of five. When we upped the tempo we panicked them and that’s how we went on to win the game.
 

DenverSpur

Well-Known Member
Sep 25, 2011
1,996
5,617
OK agreed but where's he going to play? Is he going to alternate with Maddison? Which I'm fine with but that's Man City kind of spending. We are the 9th richest club in the world but don't seem that keen on massive splashes of cashes.
If you build a squad where 16+ outfield players are good enough to start then you can constantly rotate players from game to game keeping everyone match fit fresh and involved. That’s what City have done and it’s why they are so strong in the last quarter of the season. It’s not always how much you spend but that you spend it wisely. Despite all the money City have they rarely pay outrageous fees for players.
 

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