Match Threads Nottingham Forest Vs Spurs

[Archibald&Crooks]

Yeah we didn't keep the ball well first half, same v Wolves last week but it improved. It will come, I have no worries about that. But while it's not there it's important for us to continue to keep our shape and not allow the opposition to have space, which we did well, in my opinion

As I said earlier, I think it's a process. It's obviously a process. We're getting some things right, for example defensively and as that improves then the rest will start to follow. I really don't understand how people don't get this or aren't willing to give the thing some time. Do people seriously expect us to be spot on so soon into the process? So soon into some of the most comprehensive and serious changes in the culture of the club that we've seen, possibly ever?

We're either serious about changing a lot of things about our club or fuck it, let's go back to the days of finishing mid-table with 38 points from 38 games, and an even goal difference but hey, the football is attractive

 

[JCRD]

In 16-17 we played lovely, possession football under Poch.

I remember watching Chelsea under Conte every week as we tried to chase them down and marvelling at their ability to keep winning. Despite them never looking as 'pretty' as us, they were like a machine and just wouldn't stop getting results.

Personally, I'm absolutely fine with us not playing possession football provided we can get results. And if there's one thing Conte knows how to do, it's win.

As others have said, the whole point of our system is that when we DO create chances they're big ones. If you watch the highlights of Arsenal home vs Fulham compared to us away v Forest we got in far more good shooting and scoring positions, despite not dominating the ball.

I think we are, as fans all on the same page but some are articulating it better. I think when the tactic works, it is great and exciting etc and whilst some are not liking conceding possession, I think the real issue is we are giving the ball away when we win it back. That causes chaos hence the whole defending like its the 90th minute every minute.

We turned over the ball so many times in that first half where if we actually got the passes right, rather than being so so sloppy, we would have turned them into even more chances.

So I think we are all on the same page and really it isnt conceding possession that is the issue, its giving the ball away when we do have it and not executing what we are doing in training.

It could and should have been 5 or 6-2 today, we need to be much better at the execution of the passing moves and more clinical and that goes to Kane too but Son and Richarlison had great chances. Kulu didnt have great chances but good shooting positions which they blocked. PEH had a great opportunity to cross it in for a simple tap in.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Personally I think he'd be better in the CCB role and I think that's where he's seen as the back up option personally. There's less to think about in that role. Certainly no complaints of with how he played today though.

I think pros and cons to both with him. He’s not as good on the ball as Romero for RCB and not as good positionally or in the air as Dier mabye as CCB, probably does suit CCB more tho as you say as less requirement with the ball but he’s been fantastic at RCB today and most times recently when he’s filled in, credit to the lad.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Why? The objective is to win, not get 51% possession. I get why people want us to play more attractive possession football because it's nice to watch. Winning is winning though, and winning by executing your game plan is exactly what you train all week to achieve.

As Conte keeps telling us it's not going to be perfect over night and he's been here for 9 months. It will improve, and getting results whilst we build to that is all that matters.

Agree to all of this but tbh the football isn’t even bad anyway! It’s not like it’s horrible stifling Joseball anti football, i find it a very balanced style of play. Against some teams we press a bit higher, some teams we sit a bit deeper, sometimes we build play from the back, sometimes we go longer and more direct, i really quite enjoy it tbh, it’s also very interesting tactically.

It’s not Cruyff’s Holland a total football sure but it’s perfectly decent football, it’s a very effective winning game plan and I’m loving it tbh. Not you at all but don’t see why others are complaining at all, the style of play is completely fine and perfectly watchable and we are getting good results from a clear well coached gameplan.

love it.

COYS

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

In 16-17 we played lovely, possession football under Poch.

I remember watching Chelsea under Conte every week as we tried to chase them down and marvelling at their ability to keep winning. Despite them never looking as 'pretty' as us, they were like a machine and just wouldn't stop getting results.

Personally, I'm absolutely fine with us not playing possession football provided we can get results. And if there's one thing Conte knows how to do, it's win.

As others have said, the whole point of our system is that when we DO create chances they're big ones. If you watch the highlights of Arsenal home vs Fulham compared to us away v Forest we got in far more good shooting and scoring positions, despite not dominating the ball.

You can bet if conte was managing us that season and Poch Chelsea we’d have won the league and not them.

Conte is absolutely elite. He is 1,000% about winning. Poch is a nice guy and a good coach and obviously loved what he did for us and huge respect for it but I think there is a reason we didn’t get over the line to win with poch and it’s not just down to a slight lack of squad depth, I think poch wasn’t ruthless enough, he wasn’t/Isnt quite elite level tactically and I think mentally he’s not as strong as conte pep klopp etc.

Loved seeing his passion but as soon as I saw him crying after reaching the CL final I knew we’d lose the final. That stuff consciously or sun-consciously rubs off on teams.

Conte a die hard winner and so so happy to have him.

 

[ralphs bald spot]

As I said earlier, I think it's a process. It's obviously a process. We're getting some things right, for example defensively and as that improves then the rest will start to follow. I really don't understand how people don't get this or aren't willing to give the thing some time. Do people seriously expect us to be spot on so soon into the process? So soon into some of the most comprehensive and serious changes in the culture of the club that we've seen, possibly ever?

We're either serious about changing a lot of things about our club or fuck it, let's go back to the days of finishing mid-table with 38 points from 38 games, and an even goal difference but hey, the football is attractive

I think we are doing ok but we have a problem in keeping the football I would say better sides will exploit that.

If you accept that we will improve as we move forward then that's fine I hope we do and I think we need to in my view I think we need a better balance on the ball though I am not sure that's Conte's way of thinking its more about the overall structure of the side . Personally I would like to see us play with the ball a bit more and develop play through the midfield though that's become almost old fashioned the midfield isn't the battleground it once was. I don't think anyone expects perfection though it would be nice and though the results are positive the performances in my view leaves room for improvement lets hope that happens

 

[walworthyid]

You do realise by letting the opposition have the ball and us dropping back ready to pounce on the counter is literally us controlling the game?

If you genuinly think Forrest outplayed us and were so much better than us we couldn't control possession then I question whether you watch us enough to even understand how we operate.

This 100%

We very rarely have more possession than most teams we play, even at home, but that's just how we set up.

Forest played like a cheaper version of City just without the firepower to score goals, and even City struggle against our gameplay even when they fully know what we will do.

The scariest part for me today was how the players were going to react to the atmosphere. The home fans were fantastic and were a 12th man for most of that game. Even when we scored early on it didn't deter them. Our away fans are excellent but we're made fairly quite today from the sheer noise the home support made. Fair play to them.

10/12 points having played Chelsea away without actually looking near our best is excellent.

We will only get better.

This argument is clearly going to rumble on. Yes, having the game play out in a certain way is technically us "controlling" the game. However, allowing the opposition to build up a head of steam and to get the home support fully behind them is risky. If they score, the game is turned on its head and control is difficult to wrestle back.

For me, Conte wants us to be calmer in possession, he has said as much, to know when to slow the game down and take the sting out of it. We aren't there yet though and but for some poor finishing today's game may well have gone a different way.

I prefer to see us pressing up the pitch and being aggressive. Under poch we smothered teams. We were fit enough to impose ourselves on the opposition and technical enough to control possession. Yes, we struggled against the low block at times, but I personally feel that controlling the ball and the territory is the way I want to see us play.

All of that being said, conte is getting results on a consistent basis. We've kept 2 clean sheets in a row and taken 6 points. We've managed to continue our form on from last season. He clearly doesn't want us to allow the opposition to completely dominate the ball. He wants us to control the game by drawing the team out, control what they do with the ball and where they go with it so that we can exploit the space.

But we need to improve in our composure with the ball so that we don't give the opposition toi much momentum. As much as I don't really like that style of play, or more accurately the way we are currently executing it, I'm very confident that we'll improve as the season goes on and that we will be there or thereabouts come the end.

 

[hamsup_sotong]

I think there are some in the football fandom world who think the only way of controlling games is with possession. It isn't. All that matters is defending solidly (which we are and the evidence of clear cut chances conceded shows) and clinical on the counter (again look at the stats in 2022).

I remember days where we just passed it round the back doing nothing with it. Fans would moan. We score goals on the counter giving up more possession and they still moan.

No manager can win with some fans.

Yes we could be better when we have the ball, but that wasn't our worst performance whatsoever. We have 10 points from 12, only conceded 3 goals and scored 9 in 4.

I'd say we're doing alright all things considered. ??‍

Also this annoys me:


A bit of ball juggling is now unsportsmanlike apparently. Football should be entertainment and I thought people wanted to see showboating and skills?

they're going to wax lyrical about antony when he goes to yanited pfft

 

[nipponyid]

We've kept 2 clean sheets in a row and taken 6 points.

 

[Wonderkid]

In 16-17 we played lovely, possession football under Poch.

I remember watching Chelsea under Conte every week as we tried to chase them down and marvelling at their ability to keep winning. Despite them never looking as 'pretty' as us, they were like a machine and just wouldn't stop getting results.

Personally, I'm absolutely fine with us not playing possession football provided we can get results. And if there's one thing Conte knows how to do, it's win.

As others have said, the whole point of our system is that when we DO create chances they're big ones. If you watch the highlights of Arsenal home vs Fulham compared to us away v Forest we got in far more good shooting and scoring positions, despite not dominating the ball.

A few people have referenced Conte's title winning Chelsea side. They had a big advantage domestically that season with no European football to contend with due to finishing mid-table the previous year and it undoubtedly played a huge role in their ability to win consistently. They finished fifth the following year but did win a cup.

 

[chrisd2k]

As I said earlier, I think it's a process. It's obviously a process. We're getting some things right, for example defensively and as that improves then the rest will start to follow. I really don't understand how people don't get this or aren't willing to give the thing some time. Do people seriously expect us to be spot on so soon into the process? So soon into some of the most comprehensive and serious changes in the culture of the club that we've seen, possibly ever?

We're either serious about changing a lot of things about our club or fuck it, let's go back to the days of finishing mid-table with 38 points from 38 games, and an even goal difference but hey, the football is attractive

Of course it's a process nobody is saying let's sack Conte and bring back Ossie and go full out attack, but can't there be something Inbetween?

Teams are setting up with three in midfield and we haven't found a solution to that yet. That's my main concern, but again I'm sure we're working on that, and again again of course it needs time. Just saying ?

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Of course it's a process nobody is saying let's sack Conte and bring back Ossie and go full out attack, but can't there be something Inbetween?

Teams are setting up with three in midfield and we haven't found a solution to that yet. That's my main concern, but again I'm sure we're working on that, and again again of course it needs time. Just saying ?

EDIT: doh

 

[fortworthspur]

Forest had one shot on target, we had 7. that was a good day at the office for Spurs.

 

[allatsea]

Just wanted to say how well I reckon the Forest Manager is doing integrating so many new players and getting them playing very decent football. Strange looking guy, looks half a sleep most of the time, but clearly good at his job.

 

[GutBucket]

Kulusevski can receive a difficult pass and not lose possession, his upper body strength is great, so we can focus more on the right side. Especially while Son is still finding his form. Sanchez most involved defender in buildup.

 

[popstar7]

We've won thirteen of our last eighteen PL games, since the Burnley defeat at the end of February. Three draws and two defeats (United and Brighton) in that run. Eleven clean sheets, forty-seven goals scored and eleven conceded, if i'm counting right. No one's picked up as many points as us in that timeframe.

When we attack, it's to create chances and goals and we throw forward five or six players on the break or more when we're in possession. When we defend we have seven or eight players behind the ball. It's not about controlling games, controlling the midfield or dominating possession.

If that style means we appear dominated in midfield and can't keep hold of the ball as much as we'd like, then it's uncomfortable to watch. It's been said often enough that our midfield two can be overrun by a three. But if it means we create five, six, seven decent chances to score during a match and limit the opposition to one or two, we have the players to convert those chances.

Sunday could easily have been a 0-4 like Villa were last season. Home side tearing into us first half, appearing to dominate, but rarely or never actually testing Hugo. If we'd been a bit sharper up front against Forest a 0-4 wouldn't have been a surprise based on actual chances to score.

Conte clearly knows what he’s doing. The results speak for themselves. It’s not about possession stats or controlling the midfield. It’s about creating and preventing opportunities to score. I can live with that.

 

[Serpico]

Unsure why you’re getting so many neg reps. This is no difference to some of the games we saw with mourinho. But because it’s conte he gets a pass.

Jose -it was about him, Conte not. This reflects in simple tetms in the team.

 

[glacierSpurs]

We're either serious about changing a lot of things about our club or fuck it, let's go back to the days of finishing mid-table with 38 points from 38 games, and an even goal difference but hey, the football is attractive

This. I bet Forest fans are enjoying the football their club is playing. Seemingly in control of games, crosses keep going in, had large percentage of possession. Yet they could well be lower mid table this season regardless.

When we were like them in those days enjoying those football we keep asking why we couldn't achieve bigger things. Conte this season may give us the answer.

 

[Dov67]

We've won thirteen of our last eighteen PL games, since the Burnley defeat at the end of February. Three draws and two defeats (United and Brighton) in that run. Eleven clean sheets, forty-seven goals scored and eleven conceded, if i'm counting right. No one's picked up as many points as us in that timeframe.

When we attack, it's to create chances and goals and we throw forward five or six players on the break or more when we're in possession. When we defend we have seven or eight players behind the ball. It's not about controlling games, controlling the midfield or dominating possession.

If that style means we appear dominated in midfield and can't keep hold of the ball as much as we'd like, then it's uncomfortable to watch. It's been said often enough that our midfield two can be overrun by a three. But if it means we create five, six, seven decent chances to score during a match and limit the opposition to one or two, we have the players to convert those chances.

Sunday could easily have been a 0-4 like Villa were last season. Home side tearing into us first half, appearing to dominate, but rarely or never actually testing Hugo. If we'd been a bit sharper up front against Forest a 0-4 wouldn't have been a surprise based on actual chances to score.

Conte clearly knows what he’s doing. The results speak for themselves. It’s not about possession stats or controlling the midfield. It’s about creating and preventing opportunities to score. I can live with that.

Totally agree with all of that.

I couldn’t care less about possession stats, all that matters is the win and 3 points. 38 1-0 wins with 15% possession would be absolutely fine with me.

My only slight caveat to all that is we did concede a fair few chances to them. Hugo didn’t really have a difficult save to make because their shots and finishing were so poor - a bit wide or yards over. More composed finishing from Forest and they would have equalised, and at 1-1 who knows.

We’re still in August and this team will get a lot better as the season goes on

 

[newbie]

I think we are doing ok but we have a problem in keeping the football I would say better sides will exploit that.

If you accept that we will improve as we move forward then that's fine I hope we do and I think we need to in my view I think we need a better balance on the ball though I am not sure that's Conte's way of thinking its more about the overall structure of the side . Personally I would like to see us play with the ball a bit more and develop play through the midfield though that's become almost old fashioned the midfield isn't the battleground it once was. I don't think anyone expects perfection though it would be nice and though the results are positive the performances in my view leaves room for improvement lets hope that happens

I think we will improve, also against better teams I hope we come out with more intensity.

We have not peaked yet, when European games kick in let’s see what happens if we can keep winning first I’m
Sure Witt confidence performances will improve