Match Ratings Match Ratings vs West Ham (H)

[Thenewcat]

9s - Bentancur (MOTM), Romero
8s - Dier, son, Kane, Davies, Hojbjerg
7s - everyone else

 

[sammyj]

Shame about the wing backs but everyone else excellent

 

[Tucker]

Kane edges motm for me, Bentancur, and Kulusevski deserve mention though. Romero and Hojbjerg both played very well too.

Despite us all shitting ourselves in the match thread, I don’t think that result was ever in doubt. West Ham created very little, and we completely controlled the game. It was an impressive performance.

Lloris 8 Fantastic kick out for the third goal.

Doherty 7 An up and down performance.
Romero 8 He really set the agenda with his aggressiveness, didn’t allow West Ham to win the physical battle.
Dier 8 Solid.
Davies 8 Consistent.
Reguilon 6 Needs to improve in the final third.

Bentancur 9 So cool and so calm. Brilliant signing.
Hojbjerg 8

Kulusevski 9 Pure Class, that flick for Kane was beautiful.
Kane 9 Ran the show.
Son 7 took his goals very well, and keeps making those runs, but think he was poor in our own half. Really looks knackered to me, needs a break.

 

[kd2000]

I know he scored twice but feel some are getting a little carried away.
I'm not a fan of Son and today was a shining example of why.
Unless he is on with a chance of scoring himself he always slows the game down. His passes were always a second or more too late. He dalies on the ball doing step overs and such when a simple pass opens up the space.
An example of this, he was in on the left hand channel (offside but he didn't know).
He could have squared across the box for a possible Tap in. Instead he dallied and ran it out

Having said that.
Romero and Bentancur were both exceptional. I actually think Bentancur will come on further with Skipp alongside him

 

[dricha1]

I know he scored twice but feel some are getting a little carried away.
I'm not a fan of Son and today was a shining example of why.
Unless he is on with a chance of scoring himself he always slows the game down. His passes were always a second or more too late. He dalies on the ball doing step overs and such when a simple pass opens up the space.
An example of this, he was in on the left hand channel (offside but he didn't know).
He could have squared across the box for a possible Tap in. Instead he dallied and ran it out

Having said that.
Romero and Bentancur were both exceptional. I actually think Bentancur will come on further with Skipp alongside him

Yep agree with this regarding Son, in fact our left side was arguably poor today considering the number of chances both Son and Reggy had. Seems harsh criticising a 3-1 win but I was surprised Son got MOTM on sky

 

[BSJ93]

Some great performances.

Shame about the wing backs but everyone else excellent

Wasn't all bad, sure they were a little wasteful at time but Doherty did really well for the first goal.

 

[SonicSarr]

Bentancur just edges it from Romero. Both were a pleasure to watch today.

 

[Japhet]

Bentancur for me. Ran the midfield. Romero excellent at the back. Son bagged a couple but should have had more. Kulusevski gives us such good balance up front.

 

[theShiznit]

Bentancur, Kane and Romero and Zouma (one goal and an assist) share my vote.
Thought Son was pretty poor other than the goals, gave the ball away too much when coming deep, lost his man at the corner for their goal and after Doherty's brain fart, needlessly gave away another corner at 2-1

I know he is coming deep and showing as it's something Conte wants him to do but he needs to start showing some improvement with what he does with the ball when he shows for it.

Reggie and Doherty not good, although I think Doherty's level dropped after his error led to the goal.
Everyone else solid to good.

 

[CantSmileWithoutYou]

I know he scored twice but feel some are getting a little carried away.
I'm not a fan of Son and today was a shining example of why.
Unless he is on with a chance of scoring himself he always slows the game down. His passes were always a second or more too late. He dalies on the ball doing step overs and such when a simple pass opens up the space.
An example of this, he was in on the left hand channel (offside but he didn't know).
He could have squared across the box for a possible Tap in. Instead he dallied and ran it out

Having said that.
Romero and Bentancur were both exceptional. I actually think Bentancur will come on further with Skipp alongside him

Not a fan of Son???!!!

Oh just fuck off.

 

[TheSpillage]

Bentancur for me. The fans were superb tonight too. Best atmosphere of the season

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Amidst all the justified narration about our inconsistency, there is a different way to look at this, which is that we have won 4 of our last 5 league matches (5 of our last 7), during which time we have scored 16 goals and conceded 4 in the last 5.

Perhaps more importantly, we have started to see a consistent style of play during the past 7 matches that resembles Conte-ball as we know it. Gone are the 20-minute periods in every match when our midfield would be incapable of completing two simple passes in succession, with minimal movement off the ball and players constantly being caught in possession.

As others have implied, the two new players have made a great difference because of their composure and calmness on the ball, but the improvement has affected everyone, as the passage of play in defence on the right during the second half showed today - no panic, just keep passing the ball until a route appears to clear it to a teammate.

Bentancur epitomised that today: I reckon he was channelling Luka Modric today. He was often to be found in a Modric-like lake of space in the centre of the pitch, with enough time to consider whether to run or pass, but whenever he received the ball under pressure, he always had the first step away from potential trouble planned out - very Modric in style.

We haven't had someone who can retain the ball under pressure like that since Dembélé left. The difference in grip was drastic.

Kane, Romero and Kulusevski also excelled; Doherty had his crucial moments; Son did what Son does twice; Davies and Dier were inconspicuously capable; Højbjerg was OK, in a role that mainly called for him to nullify Rice; only Reguilon had a disappointing game.

But Bentancur was the best and most effective player on the pitch, by a long way.

It's fun to support a team that scores goals and has a style. Perhaps this summer can be approached with excitement, rather than trepidation.

 

[Dillspur]

The supporters- incredible effort to keep booing their cat abuser for every single touch, for the full 95 mins.

Dedication and commitment exemplary!

It seemed to really rattle him too

 

[kd2000]

Not a fan of Son???!!!

Oh just fuck off.

Aww bless, you couldn't have just thought its a game of opinions and although you don't agree, they are entitled to theirs.
Nope, went straight on the attack.
He is a spurs player and will always have my support.
However, I think many forgive his poor performances and at times horrendous in game choices because he scores goals and is likeable.

Here's a challenge, watch a few games specifically focussing on Sons actual performance rather than his stats.
Specifically look for the difference in how quickly he attacks when he has a chance as opposed to when he could create for others.
Also look at the difference in how Kane (head up looking to play someone in) and Son (slows down the play by doing a few step overs, running down a blind alley and passing backwards or side wards).

If you give it a fair view, you would be surprised.

I set my brother the same challenge and he saw what I meant.

But hey,I could just fuck off

 

[Obie Trice]

Benta is such a machine. The guy is running non-stop. Puts pressure on their defenders, and back in our defence winning a tackle in the next minute. Love him.

Romero showing up yet again. So controlled and arrogant (in a good way). Strong and composed.


And gimme, gimme, gimme a ginger from Sweden. Kulu is so fun to watch lately.

All great signings so far and really lifting the team! Still need a couple of new wing-backs though, then we're really talking.

On to the next one!

 

[Athenspur]

Reguilon can't finish to save his life, but I suspect that Conte was very satisfied by his performance today. Doherty too, and he was pivotal for our first goal .
Seems to me we're underrating our wing backs, and underestimating how difficult their job in this system is. I thought they were both very good today. As was everyone tbf.

 

[Blake Griffin]

Aww bless, you couldn't have just thought its a game of opinions and although you don't agree, they are entitled to theirs.
Nope, went straight on the attack.
He is a spurs player and will always have my support.
However, I think many forgive his poor performances and at times horrendous in game choices because he scores goals and is likeable.

Here's a challenge, watch a few games specifically focussing on Sons actual performance rather than his stats.
Specifically look for the difference in how quickly he attacks when he has a chance as opposed to when he could create for others.
Also look at the difference in how Kane (head up looking to play someone in) and Son (slows down the play by doing a few step overs, running down a blind alley and passing backwards or side wards).

If you give it a fair view, you would be surprised.

I set my brother the same challenge and he saw what I meant.

But hey,I could just fuck off

your criticisms of son aren't without foundation but you can't just gloss over his goal contributions so flippantly, without them where would we be? sure it would be nice if his all round game was a little more polished but how many players out there have that as well as his output?

 

[isaac94]

kane, 3 amazing assists all very different he really is the heartbeat of our team

 

[McFlash]

Aww bless, you couldn't have just thought its a game of opinions and although you don't agree, they are entitled to theirs.
Nope, went straight on the attack.
He is a spurs player and will always have my support.
However, I think many forgive his poor performances and at times horrendous in game choices because he scores goals and is likeable.

Here's a challenge, watch a few games specifically focussing on Sons actual performance rather than his stats.
Specifically look for the difference in how quickly he attacks when he has a chance as opposed to when he could create for others.
Also look at the difference in how Kane (head up looking to play someone in) and Son (slows down the play by doing a few step overs, running down a blind alley and passing backwards or side wards).

If you give it a fair view, you would be surprised.

I set my brother the same challenge and he saw what I meant.

But hey,I could just fuck off

What you say is fair and I think we've all been critical of Sonny, especially recently but with all that being said, he's still scoring goals and providing assists.
He's a forward/striker and while he can be streaky/inconsitent/frustrating, he's doing bloody well considering he's not actually playing well.

When he stops scoring, I'll maybe agree with some of the recent calls to drop him but at the moment, he's still doing what he's there to do.

I think sometimes, he's set our expectations too high.

 

[SambaSpurs]

Aww bless, you couldn't have just thought its a game of opinions and although you don't agree, they are entitled to theirs.
Nope, went straight on the attack.
He is a spurs player and will always have my support.
However, I think many forgive his poor performances and at times horrendous in game choices because he scores goals and is likeable.

Here's a challenge, watch a few games specifically focussing on Sons actual performance rather than his stats.
Specifically look for the difference in how quickly he attacks when he has a chance as opposed to when he could create for others.
Also look at the difference in how Kane (head up looking to play someone in) and Son (slows down the play by doing a few step overs, running down a blind alley and passing backwards or side wards).

If you give it a fair view, you would be surprised.

I set my brother the same challenge and he saw what I meant.

But hey,I could just fuck off

I agree with you to an extent, but he’s just not that sort of player. His off the ball movement and finishing is elite, as is his speed with and without the ball. He also plays in an attack with one of the most prolific strikers ever seen in this country, so is hardly hogging the chances in a dysfunctional attack. He consistently outperforms his expected goals year after year, and is probably the best finisher in the league in that respect.

He is very much our Salah/Mane. He has 13 non penalty PL goals to Salah’s 15 in the same minutes. Salah will likely run away with the PFA player of the year, and I expect you would rate him as one of the best in the world. Despite him having the same limitations you have described.

Son is elite and we are lucky to have him, let’s celebrate what he is and not be overly critical about what he isn’t.