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Leicester vs Tottenham: Match Thread

As it stands, where do you think we will finish this season?


  • Total voters
    190
  • Poll closed .

diamondlight

Well-Known Member
Nov 16, 2006
1,263
1,326
I wanna see Son and Lamela given a chance. The likes of Alli and Eriksen need a time out
I'd like to see us play 5 3 2, with Son playing as a striker and the rest of the midfielders competing for a spot in the three. That formation suits our squad much better. At the moment, we're leaving one of the world's best strikers of the ball on the bench so that we can play a bunch of centre midfielders in attacking roles behind Kane. Doesn't make sense. Especially when one of of the centre midfielders being asked to play as an attacker can't even control the ball (mentioning no names).

I hate to say it, but the problem with Spurs right now is the problem England had for years - good players being shoehorned into bad formations.
 

montylynch

Fandabeedozee
Jun 23, 2005
5,817
3,988
Lol....so so depressing. My god, anyone would think we'd turned into WHU over night.

There is still such a long way to go, so many points to play for. I think i read somewhere yesterday that before the game we had exactly the same number of points as we did last year.....i'm sure a statto will either confirm or send me to hell for misquoting a stat....

We're just going through a bad trot, we're not bottom, we haven't got a chump in charge. Its unfortunate that our top players are all going through a bad patch at the same time. You can always afford to carry one or two, but when 4/5 aren't hitting their straps, it shows.

I've got no worries that we'll come good again, we have enough games coming up to play us back into form. Watford will be tough though, the crowd will get at us and pounce on every mistake we make, which is quite a few at the moment.
 

Spurs 1961

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
6,665
8,739
I think our problems come largely from the untimely injuries and illness in recent weeks allied to the longer term ones. Clearly missing Wanyama, Toby, an unfit Dembele reduces our chances to rest and rotate players. Rose of course is not fully match fit yet so is bound to be inconsistent and not producing his best ... let's forget other possible issues ... so Davies has not had the rest he would usually get. As for Aurier, well he is currently not reliable so Trippier has to play more than planned. Maybe Poch should use KWP more than he clearly wants to, I am not sure he could be any worse. Then of course Winks has only just come through so is very much learning his craft and needs to be handled carefully through injuries. With Lamela out for so long it leaves us pretty much having to play Eriksen, Dele and Kane always. Son comes in from time to time but as good as he is, and he is very good, he rarely lasts a full 90minutes.

Ideally we would want to use Eriksen, Dele, Lamela, Son and Kane plus one other (which we don't have) in the attacking roles and be able to rest players as necessary. Poch wanted Barkley and a winger/forward knowing we needed this. Obviously that did not happen, indeed looks unlikely to happen in January, so we are in a difficult moment. Perhaps we have to take a long view and rest a few players over the next couple of games putting in some kids in the hope that we can recover impetus. Ten days off may be all the likes of our key creative players need to refresh and re-focus

Anyway I have written far too much and it's probably rubbish anyway since I am simply speculating from what I see from the stands
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
7,182
16,793
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We didn't take them. That's why we lost. Not because of the line-up, not because Eriksen, Dier or Dele, the current scapegoats of choice did or didn't do this that or the other, not because we're suddenly a bad side and not because of any the 101 pet theories being floated about as SC's sport of choice, the blame game goes into overdrive.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

You know it's getting ridiculous when the kid on loan at Villa is being touted as our saviour :D
This.

Eriksen miss from 3 yards, Sissoko from 8, Llorente from 4, Alli from about 8 yards, all clear cut chances that, had we taken 50%, we win.

Add into that Kane’s shot when he could have squared to an unmarked Alli and the penalty, and it was a stone cold penalty, and we win comfortably.

We might not have shown the flowing Football we’ve come to expect, but we were the better side by a distance, apart from the finishing.
 

sebo_sek

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
6,023
5,168
I didn't watch the game, but things started going wrong after Real - Man United, Arsenal, WBA, Leicester and a jammy win against Crystal Palace. Maybe the lads believed that other teams would bow down to our glory and let us steamroll them. REALITY CHECK lads.
We are predictable for ENGLISH teams. They haven't worked us out in Europe yet, so I say milk that cow for as long as we can. If this form in the Prem continues, it will be our only avenue into the CL next year - to win it this time round.
 

Jamturk

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2008
9,871
22,934
I thought Lamela played better yesterday than he ever has before for us, maybe playing within himself and not overtrying is the way to go for him.
 

Colonel Dax

Well-Known Member
Jul 24, 2008
2,946
12,289
There is still such a long way to go, so many points to play for. I think i read somewhere yesterday that before the game we had exactly the same number of points as we did last year....

That's true, but this season we are dealing with a different set of circumstances going into the winter period:

1. Our storming run last December and January coincided with the return of injured players. This time around we are without arguably our best defender in Toby and our best defensive midfielder (Wanyama). Without that defensive wall we look brittle at the back.

2. Last season we had Fortress White Hart Lane. This season picking up maximum points at "home" against inferior opposition is proving quite challenging. It will be difficult to build momentum if we keep dropping points.

3. Our rivals are doing much better than last season.
 

DCSPUR

Well-Known Member
Apr 15, 2005
3,918
5,415
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We didn't take them. That's why we lost. Not because of the line-up, not because Eriksen, Dier or Dele, the current scapegoats of choice did or didn't do this that or the other, not because we're suddenly a bad side and not because of any the 101 pet theories being floated about as SC's sport of choice, the blame game goes into overdrive.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

You know it's getting ridiculous when the kid on loan at Villa is being touted as our saviour :D

As I (a) haven't seen the highlights (b) think you have a balanced take when you aren't taking the mick (asking for it I know) my decision is to take this as the last word on that game. Cheers matey!!!
 

mattie g

Well-Known Member
Jun 27, 2007
935
2,168
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We didn't take them. That's why we lost. Not because of the line-up, not because Eriksen, Dier or Dele, the current scapegoats of choice did or didn't do this that or the other, not because we're suddenly a bad side and not because of any the 101 pet theories being floated about as SC's sport of choice, the blame game goes into overdrive.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

You know it's getting ridiculous when the kid on loan at Villa is being touted as our saviour :D

Bang on the money.

We weren't poor by any stretch. We have obviously had some trouble creating chances against teams that play a deep block against us, but last night wasn't one of them. We convert a normal percentage those chances/expected goals and we win that game with ease.
 

hughy

I'm SUPER cereal.
Nov 18, 2007
31,842
56,935
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

We had more shots last night than we've had in any PL away game this season apart from the Newcastle game, which we also had 18.


So yeah, you're right. Plenty of chances, shit finishing.
 

jolsnogross

Well-Known Member
May 17, 2005
3,730
5,431
This.

Eriksen miss from 3 yards, Sissoko from 8, Llorente from 4, Alli from about 8 yards, all clear cut chances that, had we taken 50%, we win.

Add into that Kane’s shot when he could have squared to an unmarked Alli and the penalty, and it was a stone cold penalty, and we win comfortably.

We might not have shown the flowing Football we’ve come to expect, but we were the better side by a distance, apart from the finishing.

The other aspect is our lack of urgency. You and A&C are right about missed chances and misplaced scapegoating. But Poch is also on the money about the lack of urgency we're showing for long stretches of games. We seem so aimless at times and ultra safe in possession. Our attitude and tempo on and off the ball need to ramp up, and that's a collective issue (especially on the ball IMO). At the end of last season, we were barely conceding and winning by big margins because we went into every game trying to score as often as possible. It seems like a few successes in 'game management' have led to a collective backing off for periods of games now and we're being punished for it at the back and being wasteful in front of goal ourselves. Watford looks daunting now and we need to move on from the points gap with City now and just get back to a more aggressive and purposeful team ethic.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I didn't watch the game, but things started going wrong after Real - Man United, Arsenal, WBA, Leicester and a jammy win against Crystal Palace. Maybe the lads believed that other teams would bow down to our glory and let us steamroll them. REALITY CHECK lads.
We are predictable for ENGLISH teams. They haven't worked us out in Europe yet, so I say milk that cow for as long as we can. If this form in the Prem continues, it will be our only avenue into the CL next year - to win it this time round.

Funny that because last season we were prectable in the CL and English teams couldn't hack us.

Somehow I don't think that's the case.
 

sebo_sek

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
6,023
5,168
Funny that because last season we were prectable in the CL and English teams couldn't hack us.

Somehow I don't think that's the case.
No, last year we were inexperienced in Europe. And, as I said post WBA, teams won't sit back aagaint us in Europe. In the Prem, they have discovered the golden method. We like to dominate possession - fine, let us have it, they sit back and hit us. Soak up the pressure - like we did against Real and Borussia.
Sadly we find ourselves on the receiving end this time in the Prem.
Why don't we turn the tables and sit back ourselves. When our opposition realise we will not play into their tactics they will have to open up and then BAM, we're in... Simple
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We didn't take them. That's why we lost. Not because of the line-up, not because Eriksen, Dier or Dele, the current scapegoats of choice did or didn't do this that or the other, not because we're suddenly a bad side and not because of any the 101 pet theories being floated about as SC's sport of choice, the blame game goes into overdrive.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

You know it's getting ridiculous when the kid on loan at Villa is being touted as our saviour :D


Good players take those chances. Not having those good players who can finish (aside from Kane) is the reason we lost. I think (and i stand to be corrected on this) it has been over 450 minutes of PL first half play since we have scored a goal. Any manager of a team purposing to want CL football must realise that it is unrealistic to do so with a woeful record such as that.

It may well be ridiculous to suggest that the kid on loan at Villa is our saviour, but i don't see one currently available in our side, and if you take Kane's goals out of our results we'd be in deep shit.

Wanyama and Toby are two key players that are clearly being missed, but for my money even if they had been playing this past few PL games then we would still not be scoring. Dropping over a point a game is a huge loss to make up but we will have to ride this out because Levy won't be buying and so it's just a case of rinse and repeat through to the Summer.

All teams go through bad spells and i think the Madrid result (and they had a very bad week leading up to our meeting) has papered over more cracks in the side than a lot of fans thought that we had.

This will be a test for Poch and his management team, but the side have stopped pressing, scoring goals and defending and that is the crux of the matter. One upside from this is that Lamela is back and now Eriksen can and should have a breather and Wanyama is close to return.

Losing three away games on the trot is a first for Poch at Spurs, and he sounded very disappointed in his post match press conference last night. This is his biggest test to date, and his problem fixing it is that he has little if any, alternatives. Our biggest ever run of wins was when we payed 4-2-3-1 and i think he should return ti that at least until the team gets some confidence back.
 

Sweetsman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2011
6,673
6,588
I'd like to see us play 5 3 2, with Son playing as a striker and the rest of the midfielders competing for a spot in the three. That formation suits our squad much better. At the moment, we're leaving one of the world's best strikers of the ball on the bench so that we can play a bunch of centre midfielders in attacking roles behind Kane. Doesn't make sense. Especially when one of of the centre midfielders being asked to play as an attacker can't even control the ball (mentioning no names).

I hate to say it, but the problem with Spurs right now is the problem England had for years - good players being shoehorned into bad formations.
Who are you referring to as one of the best strikers of the ball in the world?
 

Sweetsman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2011
6,673
6,588
For all the posts about how bad we supposedly were, we created enough really good chances to have won that game.

We didn't take them. That's why we lost. Not because of the line-up, not because Eriksen, Dier or Dele, the current scapegoats of choice did or didn't do this that or the other, not because we're suddenly a bad side and not because of any the 101 pet theories being floated about as SC's sport of choice, the blame game goes into overdrive.

We just didn't take our chances. That's it.

You know it's getting ridiculous when the kid on loan at Villa is being touted as our saviour :D
I don't know where this Aegina place is, but it sounds like an island of equanimity and inner peace.
 

Streetspur77

Happy Clapper
Jul 20, 2017
2,792
9,404
I think we have blown our chance to win anything with this group of players, I can hear people saying it now "kneejerk!" but seriously, hear me out.

The manner of our performances in the league is worrying, it's not the results per say, it's the manner in which we are playing, we are lacking fight, belief, care or urgency, all the things we have been known for under Poch have only shown themselves in the CL games this year and that tells me a number of things.

1.We do not have the depth to fight in multiple competitions.

2.Players have given up on the league and as a result the players are not putting the effort in, our pressing is non existent and we have been figured out tactically as well,

3.Some of our players are not fully committed right now, you can tell and I am willing to bet more than a few are already thinking of moving after seeing what Walker is doing this season, to think otherwise would be delusional, get paid more for less strenuous work and get trophies?

Even the most optimistic of spurs fans must know that unless we are moving forwards constantly our top players will go, the promise of trophies are probably the only thing keeping them here right now.

I think Poch has got a big job on his hands to get these players motivated now, we aren't in a title race and many of them probably won't be wanting to fight for a 4th placed finish, our only hope of trying to get something positive from this season is the FA Cup or winning the CL, the latter of which is looking a very difficult task right now.

Personally I don't think the players give a shit right now (other than Harry and a few others) if they did they would have addressed the sloppy start we made against WBA and rectified that against Leicester, instead it was more of the same.

I feel for Poch because I think he is trying his best to get them going but he seems unable to do so right now, the fact he almost seemed desperate for Lamela to come back in hope it might inspire us is even more concerning.

We have to stop the rot and stop it quick because this is pretty alarming form as things stand, worst I have seen us under Poch in terms of commitment.

I'm not saying your wrong but do you not think you're going a bit early? Maybe if we're still in this form by Christmas but at the moment it's very much a blip and I remember people saying the exact same thing this time last year after a poor run
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
No, last year we were inexperienced in Europe. And, as I said post WBA, teams won't sit back aagaint us in Europe. In the Prem, they have discovered the golden method. We like to dominate possession - fine, let us have it, they sit back and hit us. Soak up the pressure - like we did against Real and Borussia.
Sadly we find ourselves on the receiving end this time in the Prem.
Why don't we turn the tables and sit back ourselves. When our opposition realise we will not play into their tactics they will have to open up and then BAM, we're in... Simple

Teams were doing that last season mate, the difference is that we miss a bug units to win the ball back (Wanyama/Dembele). Watch the games against West Brom, Watford, Stoke etc...last season, they're not doing anything different, they just didn't have any time on the ball to get out of their half.
 
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