►►►►►► Match Ratings vs Manchester City ◄◄◄◄◄◄

[punkisback]

Bloody hell. Anyone would think we'd been totally out played looking at those ratings. All I can think is people's expectations were far too high.

We've just gone to the team which lead the PL, and who have won every game at home, had a right good go, and in the end only random chance dictated whether we came away with 0, 1 or 3 points.

We should be gutted, but surely also proud?

Can I also say that all this unsavoury, over-analysis of single moments in the game, when so and so could have done this or didn't do that, is a bit pathetic.

We were totally outplayed. City got behind us time and time again. We had a lot of possession but no telling penetration.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

Bloody hell. Anyone would think we'd been totally out played looking at those ratings. All I can think is people's expectations were far too high.

We've just gone to the team which lead the PL, and who have won every game at home, had a right good go, and in the end only random chance dictated whether we came away with 0, 1 or 3 points.

We should be gutted, but surely also proud?

Can I also say that all this unsavoury, over-analysis of single moments in the game, when so and so could have done this or didn't do that, is a bit pathetic.

I agree, see the ratings from 'punkisback', I dread to think what his ratings were when we lost 5-1 at home early doors.

 

[Spurs_Bear]

We were totally outplayed. City got behind us time and time again. We had a lot of possession but no telling penetration.

I would advise you to watch the game again.

 

[mpickard2087]

Bloody hell. Anyone would think we'd been totally out played looking at those ratings. All I can think is people's expectations were far too high.

We've just gone to the team which lead the PL, and who have won every game at home, had a right good go, and in the end only random chance dictated whether we came away with 0, 1 or 3 points.

We should be gutted, but surely also proud?

Can I also say that all this unsavoury, over-analysis of single moments in the game, when so and so could have done this or didn't do that, is a bit pathetic.

I think the game in general wasnt the greatest, despite the scoreline, we battled pretty well but it was a game very low on quality throughout which reflects in the ratings IMO.

First half was very cagey and we didnt really create anything,all three goals we conceded were due to mistakes and could have been prevented. We were then in all truth gifted a lifeline and then Bale's goal was the one bit of quality in the whole game.

 

[thinktank]

and wtf was Benni doing not letting that go out for a throw?

Throw would have left us deep in our half with a 50/50 at the ball. Didn't do much wrong there. Defoe should have scored and ledders should not have made that tackle. Simple.

 

[hooty]

Throw would have left us deep in our half with a 50/50 at the ball. Didn't do much wrong there. Defoe should have scored and ledders should not have made that tackle. Simple.

A throw in should not be 50-50, especially deep in our own half. Throw it back to the keeper if necessary.

Anyway, even if it was a 50-50, those are better odds than the hoof up to Defoe, which is approximately 1-99 odds.

Let the ball out for a throw. There were 18 seconds left. It was schoolyard stuff.

 

[thinktank]

A throw in should not be 50-50, especially deep in our own half. Throw it back to the keeper if necessary.

Anyway, even if it was a 50-50, those are better odds than the hoof up to Defoe, which is approximately 1-99 odds.

Let the ball out for a throw. There were 18 seconds left. It was schoolyard stuff.

Disco wasn't to blame for the loss.

 

[hooty]

I didn't say that he was. All of our defence, apart from Kaboul, made silly errors at points in the game which led to goals.

 

[Damian99]

Disco wasn't to blame for the loss.

No he was responsible for giving away possession when he should have just left the ball to run out of play and waste what little time we had left. I doubt very much we would have squandered possession so easily from the resulting throw in.

And yes King made an absolute fucking mess for the penalty. But seeing as his last name isn't Dawson there won't be endless threads going on about how he cost us.

 

[THOWIG]

Friedel-7 Thought he was all over the place for Lescotts goal. His decision making when City attacked was excellent.
Walker-5 He's quick I'll give you that.
Kaboul-8 Best centre back in the league?
King-Ah Ledley we will let you off. Up to that point he deserved an 8, but sadly he finished with a 6.
Assou Ekotto-7 Not sure why he's getting so much stick. I thought he was good defensively today, but today his crossing was below par.
Lennon-5 Poor. I'm not sure he's best out wide anymore.
Parker-8 Run out of superlatives.
Modric-8 I thought it was interesting when Livermore came on and VDV went off. His little dinks and skill to get out of tight positions is exceptional.
Bale-6 Very poor first half, but improved second half. His goal was world class.
Van Der Vaart-6 I felt for him a bit today.
Defoe-5 He scored I'll give you that.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Well played Tottenham.

An absolutely heartbreaking ending should not diminish what was a thoroughly intriguing 90 minutes of football that, for me, had more positives than negatives.

I thought we played the first half tactically superbly. We got on the ball for spells, quietened the game down and made sure that our shaped was for the most part pretty good. I enjoyed the tactical tussle first half and apart from a couple if incidents where Modric allowed City to bypass him through the middle by being positionally indisciplined we were good and solid.

Despite the Sky pundits telling us otherwise, the second half wasn't really vastly different, premium chances were rare and defensive errors really accounted for four of the five goals scored. Hardly surprising as most of us in the Team for City thread picked out defences as being the weakest areas of both teams.

The second half was also a pretty even affair, with the sequence being an almost mirror reverse of the first half, City started brighter, we then came into it and had a spell and the last 5 minutes looked like it was going to just die a death.

I think we looked better when we went to our kind of 433 (I confess, I'm not entirely sure what it was, not for the first time as Bale just seems to do whatever the fuck he likes) when Livermore came, but it was only marginal and tactics wise, this was a game where in general the effort put in by most was, until the final seconds, what influenced the game more than the tactics of either manager. I think we had a chance today because to my surprise Mancini went 4231 and played Milner and Barry in the middle and no De Jong (which is why they didn't dominate us). I really think if we'd have gone 433 we could have dominated their midfield.


The irony is two of the most disappointing players for us scored the goals. Bale was our poorest player first half, wasting positions with poor choices and then not defending diligently enough as per usual. It was Bale's disgraceful ambivalence towards pressing properly that directly led to their first goal, ably assisted by Walker whose inability to read the game proved fatal. Nasri wanders about 20 yards across Walker while he stands ball watching.

Walker was also ball watching for the corner as Lescott wlaks past him to score.

We then got a break as a good looking ball from Kaboul can only be helped by the pace taken off it by Savic, and then Hart does that beautiful thing (when oppo keepers do it) and decides he has to keep coming for something he's never going to get to, and Defoe pounces and buries into an empty net. Up to that point Defoe had been absolutely insipid. Couldn't hold the ball, unintelligent movement and the reason we failed to retain much ball in the final third and build anything meaningful. And it was these two players that contrived to waste the best chance we had in the game. At first I though Bale played a poor ball, but having watched it again, slow, Defoe for some inexplicable reason hesitates when it is obvious that Bale has gone outside, I wondered if he was trying to stay onside, but it wasn't that, he just hesitates. He's an instinctive finisher of high order, but his lack of a brain has always been his undoing.

Lennon was also pretty ineffective, and also wasted a couple of positions with poor choices, but he does track his man better than Bale. But let's be honest, he rarely picks the ball up and does anything exceptional. And doesn't get on the ball as much as Bale does. I like him in the squad, but I really think we need a better option to balance us, and give us some craft.

Kaboul was outstanding, easily our MOTM.

I would have preferred the 433, and would have liked to see Pav instead of Defoe just because he might have given us the ability to retain the ball - marginally, I'm not kidding myself - better than Defoe, maybe bringing Lennon and Defoe on to run at tired legs, but applaud the correct decision to prefer Kaboul to Dawson and the tactics employed - ie people seemed to be aware they had some responsibility and we always kept this a tight tussle. And I agreed with the sub pretty much. I would have been tempted to bring off Defoe and push VDV up front but I can see the logic of what and when he did and it had a good effect.

Webb just can't help being a bad ref. In a game that was easy to ref he gets some big decisions wrong. Why is Clichy not booked for his foul in the opening minutes on Lennon. He gave a few 50/50's City's way, ignores VDV's pen claim (would ove to see again), then decides to "not see" Ballotelli stamp on Parker's head. I am also very suspicious of how much of the pen he saw. The Lino keeps his flag down and Webb is behind play with bodies in and around, and although I think it was a pen, I do not believe Webb could be certain, as King does actually get the only touch on the ball, after he fouls Ballotelli.

The result was very harsh on a good tight performance.

Ratings:

Friedel 8 - Was good today. His starting position when he comes out is worrying at times though. Line huggers just worry me.

Walker 4 - I really hope that the false hype around this guy doesn't mean it takes as long to suss him out as it did with Dawson. And it is not a case of BC making his mind up and refusing to bend, he just keeps doing the things that make me believe he isn't good enough for a team with our aspirations. Apart from pace, he is a very, very ordinary footballer and a poor defender.

Kaboul 9 - Outstanding.

King 7 - Was very good until the last 30 seconds.

Ekotto 7 - A hit and miss game perfectly summed up by the superb Cruyf turn followed by then giving the ball straight to a city player. Wasted a couple of chances to put decent ball in the box and his last minute hump was poorly executed and relinquished possession. If you're going to hump it hit the fucking channel.

Lennon 6.5 - Worked hard, showed good defensive discipline. A bit impotent offensively and did waste a couple of positions by running straight into his man. 22/25 passes. Must contribute more game play and make better choices.

Parker 7 - Solid and workmanlike if unspectacular. Gave what was needed. 38/49

Modric 7 - Not brilliant offensively, but was disciplined enough and worked hard. 56/64 decent return away from home.

Bale 6 - I like the fact that he is more involved in games, seeing more ball, and his goal was superb, and set up what should have been a winner, but defensively he's shocking and lets his team mates down. Doesn't always show intelligence at crucial times. 49/58 very decent return pass wise.

VDV 6.5 - Worked hard and saw a lot of ball but sometimes he's like the only brain in the final third of the pitch. Got no help from Defoe all game. 54/60

Defoe 5 - Took his goal well. Contributed very little for the rest of the game. Touched the ball 5 times in the first 45 minutes. 13/16. Passenger.


Football can be a cruel master.

 

[thinktank]

No he was responsible for giving away possession when he should have just left the ball to run out of play and waste what little time we had left. I doubt very much we would have squandered possession so easily from the resulting throw in.

And yes King made an absolute fucking mess for the penalty. But seeing as his last name isn't Dawson there won't be endless threads going on about how he cost us.

But deep inside people know.

He's saved our arse so many times that all you can do is take a deep breath...exhale and move on with this one.

Focus on CL, that needs to be our target and not let our heads go down about this game as we are probably still gonna be 10 points ahead of the shits when their game is done and that's sgood going for this stage of the season.

 

[OmarsComing]

Throw would have left us deep in our half with a 50/50 at the ball. Didn't do much wrong there. Defoe should have scored and ledders should not have made that tackle. Simple.

I hope you see that from the responses of other people itt, that you are clearly wrong.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

I hope you see that from the responses of other people itt, that you are clearly wrong.

It wasn't what Ekotto did or didn't do - King lost the ball in the air, then allowed it to bounce, then wiped out Balotelli. Ekotto could never of predicted that our best ever defender would do that.

 

[OmarsComing]

It wasn't what Ekotto did or didn't do - King lost the ball in the air, then allowed it to bounce, then wiped out Balotelli. Ekotto could never of predicted that our best ever defender would do that.

A throw in should not be 50-50, especially deep in our own half. Throw it back to the keeper if necessary.

Anyway, even if it was a 50-50, those are better odds than the hoof up to Defoe, which is approximately 1-99 odds.

Let the ball out for a throw. There were 18 seconds left. It was schoolyard stuff.

.

 

[mrbrightside73]

Whoevers saying we were totally outplayed, has either got shit in his eyes,or is completely clueless about football or possibly both.

 

[thinktank]

I hope you see that from the responses of other people itt, that you are clearly wrong.

The implication from the benny-bashing is that he cost us the game. He didn't...king did; defoe did (though JD also got us back into it, so I guess that evens things our for him, and his goal was very well taken). Also, people are making assumptions as to what was likely to have occured in the event of a throw-in in that position. It makes no sense.

As much as the possibility of "playing the ball out" as people have said, we would be just as likely to have been pressed hard by City as they had done all game and ended up clearing it away from danger.

The ball came back in and King made a hash of it. He's the king of the lane and our hero but that was a clanger, can't be ignored. He's entitled to make his mistakes as well as everybody else, though he doesn't make many AT ALL, we know that and love him for it.

Not ready for the title yet but not very far away at all.

If we make CL this season I'll be very happy.

 

[TEESSIDE1]

.

What's with the ssshh?????????

I missed how saying it wasn't Ekotto's fault but poor defending by King constitutes to your sarky reference ...

 

[hooty]

As I said, you don't give them the chance to even get the ball though. There's 18 seconds left and we're close to the keeper so we probably don't have the time to score. They do though. So play it safe.

Let it go out for a throw. Play it to someone deep and then hold possession for all of 10 seconds. Come away with an excellent draw. Instead, it put us under pressure again, King made the mistake of taking out Balotelli in the box instead of Aguero outside it and we know the consequences.

You should never 'assume' as a defender, you go by the worst case scenario. Something you're taught very early on as a kid.

 

[punkisback]

I would advise you to watch the game again.

Post your match ratings if you have the time to ridicule people. You did the same in the Parker thread.