Dinamo Tbilisi Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[Acid]

Second the above, any full match rips of this? Couldn't get back in time to catch it

 

[peteblue]

Great performance away from home. Townesend was superb today. A alternative to Lennon, who can cross the ball a lot better than Aaron.

 

[CosmicHotspur]

As several people have already observed, whilst Townsend will get a lot of deserved attention from today's display, the players who really deserve the credit for the overall performance are Capoue and Paulinho. I lost count in the first half of the number of times one or the other of them simply nicked the ball off whichever Dinamo player happened to have it. We stole possession at least 12 times before half time and probably more often in the second half.

It was conspicuous after the substitutions that, for the first time, the opposition were able to play through our midfield and attack our goal in groups. For as long as Capoue and Paulinho were on the pitch, they couldn't get anything coordinated started, because those two disrupted every single possession they had. It was relentless: challenge after challenge, with one of our two enforcers emerging with the ball. It must also have been demoralising and exhausting - you think you have control and then you're chasing possession yet again.

Dinamo also defended badly, specifically in terms of positioning, but that doesn't make any of our 5 goals a bad goal. They were all high quality moves finished in style. There may have been wide open spaces in their penalty box, but we still had to cross accurately and finish cleanly and we did.

The only down-side of that performance was the fact that Kaboul is still visibly unable to play effectively for 90 minutes. He made it to the end, but he was really struggling for the last quarter-hour. And I suppose Dembélé was also a bit disappointing, but playing him in the the hole was obviously an experiment, so I'll cut him some slack.

Some praise is also due to Naughton, Rose and of course Soldado, who looks more like van Nistelrooy every time I watch him play.

Let's not forget Lloris.

 

[tevezito]

Special mention to our keeper. Pure class. I wouldn't swap him for any other keeper in the world.

Me neither! How much do I love Hugo! Not sure if some of this is down to the way Freidel never came off his line, so Hugo looks even better than he is, but (as DM pointed out on Sunday and I didn't get around to replying) he's just so QUICK. Quick witted, quick reflections and quick feet. He'll cock up at some point I'm sure, but I just love watching him play and I'm sure our defenders love having him behind them. So glad he played tonight - there's no reason not to play him all the way through this year really. All our defenders will get better playing ahead of him whenever they can.

Let's not forget Lloris.

Sorted

 

[TheGreenLily]

Okay, posting a few hours late.

So we didn't play the greatest team in the world. But damn did we play well and a result like that is a real confidence boost.

Played some great football that tore them apart.

Great result, shame I had to read the ITK and kill all my joy.

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

The way Capoue looks and plays he heavily reminds me of when we first signed Sandro

 

[Shadydan]

I like what Mr Villas Boas is creating here, he is giving the players that winning mentality in every competition. The players look hungry and ruthless and has created a competitive environment. Competition for places is very very healthy which is down to the fact that we have some highly talent players coming off the bench as well, no room for complacency at Tottenham and no room for favoritism either.

 

[Dare!]

Thought we were really impressive.

COYS.

 

[stormfly]

Despite the awesome result there was a bit to much last ditch defending for my liking and Hugo was called upon too much. We have a solid screen of midfielders now and our defenders are good so why do we still look so shaky in defence?

 

[Wardy]

Despite the awesome result there was a bit to much last ditch defending for my liking and Hugo was called upon too much. We have a solid screen of midfielders now and our defenders are good so why do we still look so shaky in defence?

I think it's down to lack of concentration. In the last couple of games they've not really had to do too much and when they have, they've looked a bit stunned

 

[SteveH]

Gylfi? Gylfi? what to do?

 

[ziggy]

Recorded this and watched it late last night. Was very impressed with the whole team bit strange though felt like a friendly what with the subdued celebrations after scoring

 

[sim0n]

I love slaughter matches and Spurs put them to the sword to be sure,.... well done lads!! I did enjoy that and now more good news for the team. Nice to hear Holtby healthy and playing well -- 82 minutes played for the U-21s last night. Love to see him start the second Tblisi leg at WHL!!!

(bring back the clapping smilie)

 

[king26]

was impressed great performance