NK Maribor Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[sim0n]

We sold our flair players and it shows.

still missing VDV,...

 

[lcclash]

Defoe in contrast seems to make Crouchy look like a world beater in European league fixtures.

 

[ShelfSide18]

We just have no brains in the side to turn good positions in the final third into chances.

And now I'm listening to Robbie fucking Fowler, predictably saying we lack pace despite having Lennon, Townsend, Defoe, Walker in the side. No, dickhead, we lack craft and brains - why do they patronise us with these dickheads on TV, why?

 

[ero1x]

Getting fed up of this Mickey mouse competition, do the players even look interested? If we lose today I won't be too bothered

 

[mpickard2087]

I dont know what people expect, we have gone into this season missing two or three players with a bit of creativity and ingenuity (the likes of Sig and Dempsey just really do not count). We lack ideas and its going to be the case for many games this season. We shouldnt just be relying on the athletic prowess of Dembele and Bale to win us matches, we look bereft without them.

Hundredstone's attempted tackle was comical but even before that I was wishing we subbed him. He was too slow before a two year injury lay off, now he just cannot cover the ground. I dont see the point of him being out there. Some of you may see him hit a 50 yard cross field ball a few times a half and be impressed. I'm not.

The rest of them seriously need a kick up the backside and start showing that they want to do well in this competition. Going out at this rate.

 

[Misfit]

Hudd sticks out like a sore thumb as well. His lack of pace is fatal in this squad under AVB.

 

[Reece]

I think that after our Champions League season, the players just aren't interested in the Europa League.

If players can't be bothered with the Europa League and think they're above it, they don't deserve CL.

I just think our players are way too casual, and it's not just this game. They just aren't good enough to play that way.

 

[Hitch]

Perhaps that'll put a bullet up their arse at least. Wish we had Adebayor available. Would make a whole heap of difference.

 

[Cravenspurs]

We have to honest with ourselves when thinking about the rest of the season. Goals are going to be hard to come by with the midfield we have. Bale is our main threat and from there we have a good holding mid in dembele and a beast in Sandro. Without a couple pulling the strings we will struggle to score even when we control the ball.

Our final third play this year has been pathetic.

 

[IMISSVDV]

Lay off Townsend please chaps. He's our most inexperienced player on the pitch and I think he's done alright. He's hardly played this season but looks dangerous.

Sure he's was slightly to blame for their goal but please it should if been dealt with.

So many other players to blame tonight so far.

 

[theShiznit]

Some of our players are starting to think we are Barca because the Maribor (hmm marabou) players are giving us time on the ball.

Sad thing is, a bit of time on the ball and most our players don't have a clue what to do.

Can't see us creating a goal tonight TBH, maybe a set piece.

I'd get Falque on for Townsend and play him behind Defoe and Siggy, we need something different.

 

[paulcumpstone]

Really poor performance. I'm becoming so worried about Sigurdsson. AVB is going to have to persevere with him and Dempsey in behind the striker but neither looks anywhere good enough.

I think you are absolutely spot on, neither are anywhere near good enough to play the role asked of them, i think they have proven to be decent players at clubs which played a system that suited them, siggy to me is not a tottenham player and already fed up watching the same rubbish this season, we are so badly missing a creative midfielder and siggy and defoe as a pairing hasn't worked once all season so no idea who AVB can keep playing it.

 

[BK007]

It's nearly 2am here, going to bed.

I mean, I haven't been watching anyway because I didn't want to go through another 90 minutes of frustration at the general incompetence on show, but I did check the live commentary.

Any game with Huddlestone starting is a write-off and Defoe just doesn't work well with the team. He's better than last year, but that's like saying eating shit is better than eating shit, chunder and piss in a toiletail. That AVB cannot see how quickly and vastly the team improves every time Ade is on the pitch is starting to make me question his tactical acumen.

I hope we lose. I'd love to have had the team win the Europa League, but another Defoe goal and another scrappy win just means the same lethargic, ambitionless performers will continue to be on show. They're wasting our time and for any who made those away European ties, their money too. Is it so much to ask a group of lads swimming in cash others can only dream of to put some heart and some effort in? Wankers.

 

[AJW]

It is scary just how much we rely on dembele already.

I agree. We are crying out for someone else who actually wants to have the ball at their feet. Most of our players seem desperate to pass it.

 

[sim0n]

Who's brave enough to put a tenner on us at 4/1?

FUQ me -- I'd drop 20 quid on that, but I'm outta the country,... Mari-diva-bor's got nothing,... a little hair dryer and chuck a couple chairs at halftime from AVB, sub Dempsey in for Townsend, und alles gut!!!

 

[nightgoat]

I think that after our Champions League season, the players just aren't interested in the Europa League.

So if Lennon, Defoe, Huddlestone and Sandro aren't interested, what about the seven others in the starting line up that never played for us in the Champions League?

 

[bern]

Tut we've just been spoilt in the past.

 

[felmani26]

I'm not a Huddlestone fan as you all know and I can critique his performance till the cows come home, but the goal was nothing to do wth pace, it was fundamental footballing nous and for someone who has been around for a while now, it's criminally poor.

He is no Dembele deputy and we are really short at able cover in the middle.

 

[paulcumpstone]

Who's brave enough to put a tenner on us at 4/1?

we are 4/1 for a reason, clearly the bookies saw the first half too, did you notice there goalkeeper seemed to have nearly finished the crossword he was doing.

 

[soup]

I don't think we were too bad after the half hour mark, but our lack of inventiveness is killing us. We need to be pulling the opposition about with passing. There were many times we've had one or two men spare in midfield only for the player in possession to dry and dribble through the 3 players he has pulled away now surrounding him. Just watch how many times Siggy calls for the ball only to be ignored in the second half. Get him on the ball and he WILL pick the passes.

I'm not getting my head down yet, as we can still murder this lot, but we really need something to happen soon.

COYS COYS COYS COYS

 

[JAYSTAR]

And why are we punting the ball up to Defoe - in the air, against two big CBs - it's crazy. Townsend is looking like a greyhound - lots of pace, but no intelligence. Siggy is looking weak again - and Huddlestone is just a luxury. He splays a couple of nice passes around then strolls around trying to conserve whatever energy he actually has - very poor!
We need Dempsey's height instead of Siggy and probably worth giving Falque a run out as a wide forward.