lack of leaders

[Baan]

I miss him...

<<<<.....

 

[Snarfalicious]

We had some early ITK stating we might be looking in the direction of players with leadership qualities. I like what we've seen from Stambouli and Fazio as they appear to have that innate ability to lead men and also put in valiant efforts on the pitch. I see a similar drive in Dier who appears to be in fantastic shape and really does seem to have a lust for the game.

I think Lloris has that in him and I also (personally) believe Soldado has that in him as well but simply isn't on the pitch enough to show it. I still can't fathom how Adebayor is a vice-captain.

I'm simply tired of watching us put out teams that absolutely kicks the pants off of our opponents in terms of talent but they simply appear to buy in to their own hype and can't actually show the pride to put their best foot forward. I see players that care, but not players that can really take the match over or at least drag their slacking teammates into the match. There's just not enough of that in my opinion. I honestly think we are desperate for a talisman, the player we can look to in tough times for a moment of magic, but we simply don't have that right now as Eriksen/Lamela continue to fight for consistency at this young stage of their careers.

 

[nidge]

(I mentioned this in the gameday thread) Although I find Wayne Rooney to be an annoying little tit, you can't argue with his passion. After Leicester equalised he lit up his defence screaming at them. I wish we had someone with that much leadership.

Video of little Shrek yelling at his mates here --> http://www.caughtoffside.com/2014/0...es-for-conceding-goal-that-was-his-own-fault/

Yeah cause that really worked out well for United in that game.

One thing about leadership I find is if you aren't doing your job (aka Rooney not being at his best) then you don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to calling out other players on your team.

 

[nidge]

My above comment is also the reason I would have Lloris as captain as he is the only one that can be relied upon to be doing his job in the majority of games.

 

[Bobbins]

When i see teams like leicester playing i think: yeah that is a group who knows what its all about. On and off the pitch. Our players give me the Impression that we are stopping gap or that is the beat club they can feel to be stars and better than others.

You've hit the nail on the head there. That's exactly what it is.

Spurs are seen as a stepping stone to the big boys, or at least a good club to advertise yourself at for a couple of seasons before moving on to a good deal elsewhere.

It's not just the Modric and Berbatov's of this world who see us like that - Holtby, Stambouli, Chadli, Paulinho, Fazio, Davies, Eriksen, Chiriches etc etc - these aren't players who are going to stay for years and become Spurs legends. These are random blokes bought at good prices to fill a slot and/or appreciate in value. Generally cheap squad-fillers to tide us over interminably as we go through the motions of another new manager, before the current regime comes crashing down and another fresh start is needed.

You get to be paid good money, play in the PL, live in London with all its delights for those with cash, train at a lovely place every day, use nice free kit and stuff. If you stub your toe or strain your thigh then you're looked after by millions of pounds worth of top medical staff and facilities. Club might even pay to send you home for some 'rehab'. Then after a couple of years you get a move to either a bigger club or a club where you can establish yourself long-term. And if you do really well, Levy will get you to sign a new four year contract every summer to fatten you up for the big boys and a huge transfer fee, which your agent will love.

While you're at the club you don't need to put too much effort in, or risk yourself, or be seen, or stand up and be counted. You can just pop into the team now and again, job about for 90 minutes, and someone reasonably talented will probably grab a goal or two and win the game. You'll get some nice bonuses for cup runs and finishing positions, but you'll never be under any real pressure. Playing at home's not much fun as the crowd are miserable but you're not bothered.

Giving everything you've got every week, balling your team-mates out, stretching every sinew to make that pass/tackle/tap-in/run? Fuck that! Not worth it.

What's not to love about joining Tottenham Hotspur?

 

[eddiebailey]

This is why I would have kept Caulker and Livermore rather than signing Chiriches and Paulinho. Maybe they will never be world beaters (as if those two are!), but at least they will always turn up.

 

[Stavi]

I never look at our players and see winners or a strong spine. Our spine is limp, if Tottenham's spine was my spine I'd have a lot of blood rushing to my head.

Look at Chelsea - Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, Matic, Costa. All thumping great blokes who put in 150% cahill's favourite move is saving a nailed on goal (mostly due to his mistake I know) but demonstrates a never say die attitude.

City have Kompany, new French guy, Serbian left footed bloke, Toure, Milner, Fernandinho, Aguero - again, all so much application and toughness. Aguero tries so hard he injures himself every 70 minutes.

These are great teams so unfair to compare, but we're not even close in terms of winning mentality and leaders or even effort. Man Utd seem to have lost their leaders and look at them. Suarez appears to be horrible, bet Liverpool miss more than just his goals and off the ball running though - attitude, mentality, winning approach!

 

[Kendall]

My above comment is also the reason I would have Lloris as captain as he is the only one that can be relied upon to be doing his job in the majority of games.

Yep and plus I don't think being captain would impact upon the performances of a goalkeeper quite so much as an outfield player.

 

[Jimbo78]

Anyone see that battle with Costs and Kompany at the weekend?

This is what football is about. Who of our lazy soft lot could battle like that?!

I will get pelters for this but the one player who truly cared and showed it and would be up for a fight we sold....


Michael Dawson.

Sure passed his best and was a bit of a liability at times sadly. But I know who I would like in my team when the chips are down and we are struggling and it aint Vertnghen or Chiriches.

 

[Kiedis]

Fazio and Stambouli does seem like tough dudes, hope they'll be starting at the Emirates. It'll also be nice to get Walker back. He has his faults, but he's one of the guys that never hides.

And I think we'll have to accept that we may have to grow our leaders ourselves.

I remember AVB had a little project going in his first season where he gave Lennon the captains armband for a Europa game and generally tried to make him take more responsibility in the dressing room. I did work out for a while, but faded eventually.

I'll just trust that Poch has an idea of how he'll make us more gritty and that he'll be allowed to do what he feels he has to do to accomplish it.

 

[Bobbins]

Anyone see that battle with Costs and Kompany at the weekend?

This is what football is about. Who of our lazy soft lot could battle like that?!

I will get pelters for this but the one player who truly cared and showed it and would be up for a fight we sold....


Michael Dawson.

Sure passed his best and was a bit of a liability at times sadly. But I know who I would like in my team when the chips are down and we are struggling and it aint Vertnghen or Chiriches.

Lol, the one time you post something even vaguely not-completely-insane and you think you're going to get 'pelters' for it

 

[Jimbo78]

Zabaleta got a standing ovation when he got sent off on Sunday, Why? Because fans love players like him. Heart and effort.

Could you imagine this happening at Spurs this season?

Nah, me neither.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

yea agree I get pissed off when I see Ade miss or fail doing something and he just smiles grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Kendall]

Anyone see that battle with Costs and Kompany at the weekend?

This is what football is about. Who of our lazy soft lot could battle like that?!

I will get pelters for this but the one player who truly cared and showed it and would be up for a fight we sold....


Michael Dawson.

Sure passed his best and was a bit of a liability at times sadly. But I know who I would like in my team when the chips are down and we are struggling and it aint Vertnghen or Chiriches.

The problem with Dawson was, when we needed fight, he was the one who stood up BUT it used to make him make more mistakes. He tried hard to be the leader and in doing so usually exerted himself and got rolled by someone as cumbersome as Negredo.

 

[Bobbins]

Just picture Rafa doing the 'shhhh' violently at the Gooners, who would do that in our current team? No-one.

Can you imagine anyone in our current mob celebrating at the Emirates on Saturday like the guys above?

 

[Kendall]

Just picture Rafa doing the 'shhhh' violently at the Gooners, who would do that in our current team? No-one.

Can you imagine anyone in our current mob celebrating at the Emirates on Saturday like the guys above?

What absolute melons our boys showed that day. 2-0 down at the emirates and coming back to win. Then it became 2-0 up and lose, now it's go 2-0 down and lose 3,4,5-0.

No bollocks, no belief.

Going 1-0 to a team like West Brom, regardless of how poor we were used to at least stir a fight where we would qucken things and try and throw the kitchen sink at them. On Sunday we kept playing slowly, with the occasional Paulinho ping out to the ball boy. Disgraceful.

 

[mpickard2087]

Leadership is an issue, but something for me, that I have commented on a few times over the last year or so, which is a massive problem is that our players genuinely don't seem to talk to each other out on the pitch. They say nothing constructive. The amount of times on Sunday that a Spurs player took a bad option when they had time, space or weren't aware of a player to pass to was unbelievable. All it took was a call from a team mate. Basic, basic stuff here that would make the game a lot easier...

 

[Kendall]

Leadership is an issue, but something for me, that I have commented on a few times over the last year or so, which is a massive problem is that our players genuinely don't seem to talk to each other out on the pitch. They say nothing constructive. The amount of times on Sunday that a Spurs player took a bad option when they had time, space or weren't aware of a player to pass to was unbelievable. All it took was a call from a team mate. Basic, basic stuff here that would make the game a lot easier...

I agree. When Paulinho misplaced his first wide pass with Rose free on the left, Rose seemed frustrated looked at Paulinho, then looked away. I really do think he should've given him a bit of a bollocking. They're all too nice to each other out there.

 

[Bobbins]

What absolute melons our boys showed that day. 2-0 down at the emirates and coming back to win. Then it became 2-0 up and lose, now it's go 2-0 down and lose 3,4,5-0.

No bollocks, no belief.

Going 1-0 to a team like West Brom, regardless of how poor we were used to at least stir a fight where we would qucken things and try and throw the kitchen sink at them. On Sunday we kept playing slowly, with the occasional Paulinho ping out to the ball boy. Disgraceful.

Used to be Arsenal that were famous for throwing away leads and collapsing (well I suppose after last season and the games against Liverpool, City and Chelsea they still are in a way). That 2-3 result there was the sweetest feeling. We've had the hoodoo over them for a few seasons, certainly giving as good as we got, until last year.

Can't see it now. There isn't a player in our squad who would get near their first 11, except Lloris, and at a stretch, Vertonghen.

 

[mpickard2087]

I agree. When Paulinho misplaced his first wide pass with Rose free on the left, Rose seemed frustrated looked at Paulinho, then looked away. I really do think he should've given him a bit of a bollocking. They're all too nice to each other out there.

Bollockings are a bit different, it would be nice to see some passion but its no good them fighting amongst themselves. I'm more concerned about players not helping the man on the ball when they become unaware of the wider game. For instance, there are a number of times where the ball goes up in the air and one of our players just heads it aimlessly forward again and we lost possession. All it needed was a call that he had time and could take it down, but no... And there's a lot of other silly little things like that which happen constantly. Its an easier game if you do basic things like talk to each other.