Matt Doherty @ Atletico Madrid

[spursfan77]

So last night he had a dodgy first 5 minutes but after that he grew into the game. At that point I said in the match thread I wondered why in these games we don’t revert to the tactics he was bought for. Serge aurier’s place in that lop sided formation.

Then funnily enough we played it for the remainder of the first half and start of the second (till we conceded) and he looked pretty good. He got forward well and put some good crosses in and made some good runs.

I just find it strange that we haven’t gone down that route more while Aurier has been injured and Davies has had to play every game at left back. It kind of worked last season in parts.

 

[bubble07]

i was critical in the match thread but he did assist and also assisted the assister. But he just looks so so slow. Based on my perceptions of him from last season he has been very underwhelming

 

[Strikeb4ck]

So last night he had a dodgy first 5 minutes but after that he grew into the game. At that point I said in the match thread I wondered why in these games we don’t revert to the tactics he was bought for. Serge aurier’s place in that lop sided formation.

Then funnily enough we played it for the remainder of the first half and start of the second (till we conceded) and he looked pretty good. He got forward well and put some good crosses in and made some good runs.

I just find it strange that we haven’t gone down that route more while Aurier has been injured and Davies has had to play every game at left back. It kind of worked last season in parts.

Especially with now having the option to run Tanganga at left back in the ultra defensive role where he excels, Lamela/Bale as naturally cutting in wide players on the right too offering the space for MD to overlap...

 

[ajspurs]

i was critical in the match thread but he did assist and also assisted the assister. But he just looks so so slow. Based on my perceptions of him from last season he has been very underwhelming

I felt the same. He did make offensive contributions for once but I have to admit I hate watching him play. He just looks so limited going forward and when I watch him closely he can also be so quick and 'satisfied' to just pass backwards. Even Davies looks up more and looks to play more progressively which is saying something, especially as Doherty is renowned for his attacking play at fullback.

He just looks so far from what I expected of him. Literally looks to be doing no more than what a whole host of other RB's could also be doing.

 

[ajspurs]

@Montalbano What do you think mate?

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

i was critical in the match thread but he did assist and also assisted the assister. But he just looks so so slow. Based on my perceptions of him from last season he has been very underwhelming

I'm not keen on him at all. I could see how he could work in a drilled wing-back role but he just doesn't have the agility or dynamism to play as a modern-day full-back. He gets absolutely embarrassed by any winger with pace and trickery.

 

[Bulletspur]

I'm not keen on him at all. I could see how he could work in a drilled wing-back role but he just doesn't have the agility or dynamism to play as a modern-day full-back. He gets absolutely embarrassed by any winger with pace and trickery.

This. I just do not rate him at all. A bad buy in my opinion. I always said getting rid of KWP was a mistake, he would run rings around Doherty

 

[Mornstar]

i was critical in the match thread but he did assist and also assisted the assister. But he just looks so so slow. Based on my perceptions of him from last season he has been very underwhelming

Who cares about that. The main thing is that he can knock down a pint of guiness in under 10 seconds, which means he must be better than Aurier and an automatic first choice

 

[Montalbano]

@Montalbano What do you think mate?

I disagree with your comments about Davies being a more progressive and attack minded fullback than Doherty.

As you mentioned, over their careers Doherty has been the better player going forward. However from an eye test of this season, I feel Doherty has still played more progressively than Davies in our shirt. Then there is all the attacking stats to back up — more key passes, dribbles, assists, passes, possession, shots per game, etc. in both the PL and EL. This all despite it being Doherty’s first season here, having no preseason with the team. not getting a consistent run in the side, and playing out of his preferred position.

My point is not to slight Davies. He’s a great pro and solid second choice LB. But to say he’s a better attacking player than Doherty seems unfair.

In fact I’d argue the opposite. Because of Reguilon’s injury and Davies inability to play LWB, Doherty has been unable to play his preferred RWB position which is limiting his opportunities to break into the side.

 

[ajspurs]

I disagree with your comments about Davies being a more progressive and attack minded fullback than Doherty.

As you mentioned, over their careers Doherty has been the better player going forward. However from an eye test of this season, I feel Doherty has still played more progressively than Davies in our shirt. Then there is all the attacking stats to back up — more key passes, dribbles, assists, passes, possession, shots per game, etc. in both the PL and EL. This all despite it being Doherty’s first season here, having no preseason with the team. not getting a consistent run in the side, and playing out of his preferred position.

My point is not to slight Davies. He’s a great pro and solid second choice LB. But to say he’s a better attacking player than Doherty seems unfair.

In fact I’d argue the opposite. Because of Reguilon’s injury and Davies inability to play LWB, Doherty has been unable to play his preferred RWB position which is limiting his opportunities to break into the side.

That's partly my point to be honest, I don't think Davies is a better attacking player, but from what has been seen and in watching the two I'd honestly find it hard to distinguish wish one is meant to be the attacking one. I do think from what has been so far that Davies simply just receives the ball and looks up the pitch more to try and move forward and try to play a forward pass even if doesn't always meet it's target but in saying that I didn't and don't wish to highlight Davies ability with my post (I find him to be very mediocre), I more so just want to use someone to compare with who is also poor going forward to highlight my disappointment in Doherty.
I do think Doherty is slow like others have said, but to me his problems look to be mental also as even when he has played at RWB, he's looked exactly the same for the most part in just receiving the ball and then passing backwards.

I appreciate your reply though, sorry I just sometimes prefer to hear people's reasoning as to why they disagree so you can at least either argue it or come to accept/agree with that reasoning

 

[matty182]

Best game in a Spurs shirt today when he came on..when he has someone creative in front (Bale) then he looks a different player

 

[isaac94]

Best game in a Spurs shirt today when he came on..when he has someone creative in front (Bale) then he looks a different player

I thought he was poor, a few good opportunities to cross the ball and his delivery was awful

 

[Snarfalicious]

Surprised by people saying he was anything other than his typical poor self. In my eyes, he has solidified himself as one of the 3 worst players at the club.

 

[matty182]

Yeah I agree re a few bad crosses..but he actually looked to make things happen today..ive not seen him do that since he joined..can barely remember him going over the halfway line till today

 

[isaac94]

Show how much our standards have fallen, from Walker, and even Trippier who was good attacking, to praising Doherty for that performance

 

[stevensthfc]

Another full back with no pace or delivery.

Excellent.

 

[ILS]

Show how much our standards have fallen, from Walker, and even Trippier who was good attacking, to praising Doherty for that performance

I would still take both Austin and Kerslake over him.

 

[Snarfalicious]

It really looked like he was kicking a deflated football on some of his “crosses.”

 

[Blake Griffin]

Best game in a Spurs shirt today when he came on..when he has someone creative in front (Bale) then he looks a different player

the first thing he did when he came on was to give the ball away that led to a goal.

 

[GutBucket]

At least he is HG so some team might want to take him.