Panathinaikos Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[spivmaster]

This explains those billboards

 

[max cady]

sometimes when you play sides like them......there lack of effort rubs off on you........at least we got rid of it and hopefully be pushing on come Villa.

 

[JUSTINSIGNAL]

Without making an excuse for the team I can see how results like this happen. I play for a sunday league team and I find whenever we play a side that are really poor the team loses concentration. We just end up doing enough to defend or try things we wouldn't normally when attacking. You just end up failing to play your normal game because in your head the game is already won.

This is how I see the match last night. We were coasting so much in the first half the second half the players lost concentration and we lost control of the match. It is easily done.

 

[Mr Pink]

With Newcastle we did a lot of pressing and had some chances but didn't boss the game, West Brom we bossed the first half then Lukaku gave us the run around for the 2nd, I'll give you Lazio though. Man Utd didn't even look up for it 1st half and their midfield not willing to take on any defensive duties did us a lot of favours. I've said many times that our movement is lacking big time and we're not giving enough passing options to people who need it because of that.

We did control the Newcastle game and we pretty much bossed the first half - should of been at least one up at half time. Man United havn't looked up for it all season (bar second half against us) and had won four on the bounce before us. So no matter how much you want to take the credit away from us, I'm definitely going to stick to my guns on that one.

 

[Mr Pink]

I don't blame AVB at all for putting out a strong side, even though this competition is a load of dogshit, we still want to qualify. The idea is to get points on the board early doors and then not have to put yourselves under more pressure in the later stages of the group.

That said, it was a piss poor performance from just about everyone, playing in first gear.

Not going to lose any sleep over it, more concerned about getting the points against Villa.

So am I, particularly when you consider we went nearly full strength and tired in the second half according to AVB (hope it was due to the boredom and not the physical exertion! )

 

[CosmicHotspur]

It's a game I'd rather forget, but I won't because it was so disappointing and it's a blot against the name of Tottenham Hotspur to witness a performance like that.

I know we didn't lose the game (although it felt like it) and will probably win easily against them at the Lane but it doesn't excuse the way they played, particularly in the second half.

I've seen more enthusiastic and entertaining Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning football in the local park around the corner and they play for the love of it, not for the money.

 

[dagraham]

I didn't see the game but by all accounts typical spurs. Historic win one week, the team think they've made it and then follow it up with a lazy, piss poor showing.

I feared playing a full strength team might bite us on the backside and i hope i'm wrong but i've got that sinking feeling for Sunday.

We never seem to get the balance right. Either we play an entire team of youth players or a full strength team. This game was perfect for players like sig and townsend to show they are worthy of a first team place.

Playing Bale in these games is a waste of time. Let's face it, he can barely be bothered to put the effort in for PL games so he's not likely to put a shift in for games like this.

 

[SteveH]

I feel sorry for those poor souls that paid good money and went all that way to watch that performance.

We looked tired again and only look capable of playing for 30 mins at the intensity required.

And yes we were very lucky not to have lost over the last few games.

I hoping these lackluster post 30 minute performances are part of some master plan from AVB.

But not convinced.

 

[AngerManagement]

There are no excuses to be made in my opinion, players should have been revelling in a game like that and looking to rack up a cricket score as players love the glory of goals (Defoe for example should have been hungry for a hatrrick etc)

In my opinion Arsenal would have won last night about 6-0 and that is still the difference between them and us and its the type of killer instinct we need to learn (yea I know Arsenal are notorious for not scoring enough goals too but last night they would have buried that team like they buried Southampton)

When was the last time we really put a team to the sword? 10 man Liverpool?

 

[only1waddle]

I really can't see why Townsend didn't start, full of energy, looking to impress, play him on the right and Lennon on the left and have them cut in, would have been better than just pinging crosses into Defoe, maybe we could have played Dempsey up top and Sigs behind him from the start, rested Bale and Defoe for Villa..
In the cold light of day i do think it was energy conserving tactics what with Parker, Livermore, BAE, Naughton, Kaboul all injured, i hope this is our injury crisis and we lurch through it early and get some injury free luck later on in the season..

 

[Mr Pink]

I really can't see why Townsend didn't start, full of energy, looking to impress, play him on the right and Lennon on the left and have them cut in, would have been better than just pinging crosses into Defoe, maybe we could have played Dempsey up top and Sigs behind him from the start, rested Bale and Defoe for Villa..
In the cold light of day i do think it was energy conserving tactics what with Parker, Livermore, BAE, Naughton, Kaboul all injured, i hope this is our injury crisis and we lurch through it early and get some injury free luck later on in the season..

I considered this as well, it certainly looked like our aim was to win the game with minimum fuss and as little effort we would get away with, but it does beg the question why not start the likes of Sig, Townsend etc...

 

[only1waddle]

I considered this as well, it certainly looked like our aim was to win the game with minimum fuss and as little effort we would get away with, but it does beg the question why not start the likes of Sig, Townsend etc...

I would have liked to have seen Dempsey up top, its hardly a risk playing him there, and Townsend is plenty good enough to play for Panathinaikos 1st team so why not start him, with Defoe back to his worst again it totally nullifies the player in the hole behind, so far we have VDV, Dempsey and Sigurdsson who can't get anything going with him, hence wanting to see how Clint and Glyfi got on.. perfect game to try it too..

 

[Mr Pink]

I would have liked to have seen Dempsey up top, its hardly a risk playing him there, and Townsend is plenty good enough to play for Panathinaikos 1st team so why not start him, with Defoe back to his worst again it totally nullifies the player in the hole behind, so far we have VDV, Dempsey and Sigurdsson who can't get anything going with him, hence wanting to see how Clint and Glyfi got on.. perfect game to try it too..

Did I just dream that? Please let him still be here

 

[only1waddle]

Did I just dream that? Please let him still be here

Lol yeah i mean't in general, attacking midfielders and Defoe don't combine well, although i do still dream he plays for us, and i am tuning into the Bundesliga show just to see him

 

[Shadydan]

For those who was lambasting and throwing a hissy fit at why AVB was happy to get rid of Huddz and Dawson well I guess now you no why.