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Match Ratings Player Ratings: Spurs v. Palace

MOTM

  • Gazzaniga

    Votes: 154 51.7%
  • ???

    Votes: 6 2.0%
  • Rose

    Votes: 3 1.0%
  • Jan

    Votes: 22 7.4%
  • Dier

    Votes: 100 33.6%
  • Sanzhez

    Votes: 4 1.3%
  • Auerier

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Winks

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Sissoko

    Votes: 5 1.7%
  • Son

    Votes: 3 1.0%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 1 0.3%
  • Kane

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dembele

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Llorente

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Davies

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    298

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,731
14,438
Ugly Beautiful

I just do not get what the pundits and to be honest, many of us in here, were expecting. This was so predictable. We are an elite team, even some of the good teams (ManU) are pragmatic against us, the Pullis's, Dyche's and Hodgson's are pragmatic against everyone, let alone us. This is what Palace needed to do, it was the right thing for them to do, and in Zaha they have the ideal player to make it effective and dangerous. Hodgson has spent 40 years honing this game plan. I expected this game to be exactly what it was. Attritional with risk of sting in the arse.

Team selection was pretty much what I'd expect given the circumstances. I have a huge issue with playing a player like Sissoko in that CM/8 role because he gives us so little, his technique is not comfortable on the ball under pressure, he's clumsy with and without the ball, he does nothing incisively or cleverly, and in game where there is no central space he can't even charge. Maybe in the dying embers when Palace had to attack, we could have taken off Kane or Son and pushed Sissoko forward to trundle at them on the counter, but for 80 minutes he was just making up numbers, doing nothing out of the ordinary that any very average player couldn't do. I'd rather have seen Onomah or even KWP or Trippier in his position, at least they have the technique and some vision.

The pundits kept talking about "increasing the tempo" but it's just idiotic and completely lacking in understanding of how the game was tactically set up. We actually played the game pretty well tactically first half, continually got the FB's in good positions and with a better delivery and decisions from players like Aurier, Rose and Son, we could have created more and better chances. If we get impatient and just pump the ball forward aimlessly or try to force things, this is exactly what they want, you get careless, and play into their hands, they pick you off and break on you, isolating the likes of Zaha against CB's, get set pieces etc. And this is exactly what happened, and why their chances, break chances, will always look more dangerous. In exactly the same way we looked more dangerous against Liverpool, Dortmund and RM. First half, Winks and Eriksen (in his deeper remit) and the CB's were zipping the ball about nicely, pulling the game from side to side, getting the FB's isolated or in space and nearly creating a Son?kane clean through, and they weren't getting much of a sniff either.

I was more disappointed with the second half. Winks going off didn't help, Dembele is never going to be an improvement in terms of seeing and moving the ball quickly, so what we had was a slowing down of supply, desperation setting in, stupid chances being taken which didn't really produce more quality, but did produce much more counter threat from them.

But all that said, we deserve credit today. Football sometimes requires patience. If RM had shown it they might not have got their pants pulled down by us. There's beauty in the kind of ugly win we got today. Don't let the mug pundits MOTM award fool anyone. They had a plan, it's a much easier plan to execute than ours, the fact that their plan ultimately failed and they failed to do to us, what we did to RM, is a testament to our quality, not theirs. Breaking down the bus park will always be one of football's toughest conundrums, it's why football is so interesting, an inferior team always has a tactical chance if they are well drilled. If it works they deserve some credit, but if it doesn't, then they deserve what they get.


Individual

Gazzaniga - Hope we can keep him fit for next week. Great game. Two fine saves and good on crosses.

Aurier - I said this way before we signed him, but he's affectively Walker - two years younger and two years less of Poch's tuition. Physically great, great engine, intellectually a little challenged.

Sanchez - This kid has really started to grow on me this week. Dare I say shade's of King ? Pace, technique and good reading for his age. Superb again today. Joint MOTM

Dier - He's a CB, not a CM. Great game again today. Joint MOTM

Vertonghen - Smooth muthafucker. Joint MOTM

Rose - He got up and down well, and got into some great positions, but I was disappointed with his end product, and the one time Zaha ran at him he breezed past him way too easily.


Sissoko - OK, didn't shit the bed, but doesn't bring anything above the very very ordinary.

Winks - Really missed him second half. Was zipping the ball around well first half, which was exactly what was required.

Eriksen - Decent enough game from his slightly deeper remit, took up Winks' role second half pretty much. Played a couple of lovely through balls that were horrifically wasted.

Son - As ever, excelled with the sublime, bumbled away the simple.

Kane - Has had better games to be honest.

Really well articulated BC. Both your summary of the tactics and the players. It was so obvious before the game that we would be up against a bus parking team that would utilize Zaha and Andros on the break. On another day, they might have won or got a point if not for some great goalkeeping and some lack of composure.

We are not Man City Or Chelsea who seems to be able to often tear teams like this apart when playing them at home. That’s because they have usually three or four top notch attacking players that can make something from nothing and are excellent I’m tight spaces. We don’t have players like that. We have other strengths, that we have to play to in games like this. Admittedly, it would be easier if we had a Lamela out there, to help pick the lock. And maybe next summer, Poch will focus our transfer activity on such players.

I agree with what you say about Winks, we really did miss him. I’d like to eventually see a potential midfield three with him, Dembele and Wanyama.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
Dier my MOTM today

3 great tackles on the best player on the pitch today Zaha. Felt sorry for him playing with the rest of that shower
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
Gazza was my MotM. Made some vital saves to keep us in the game. Great debut.

Sanchez was pure class again today. Capable of deft footwork, but also knows when to go for the no nonsense approach. Probably deserves two match ratings as for much of the second half he was pretty much doing Aurier’s job for him.

Dier and Vertonghen were immense again. Winks and then Dembele were decent in midfield, and Rose looked lively.

Son and Aurier were dreadful. One of the worst performances from Son I’ve seen, yet he could have ended up with two goals today.
 

fatpiranha

dismember
Jun 9, 2003
8,337
21,678
Gazzaniga - Great debut MoM.

Dier - Excellent game in his correct position.

Sanchez - Excellent again.

Rose and Vertonghen - Decent.

Everyone else - Not their finest hour and a half.
 

Bobbins

SC's 14th Sexiest Male 2008
May 5, 2005
21,548
45,031
Ugly Beautiful

I just do not get what the pundits and to be honest, many of us in here, were expecting. This was so predictable. We are an elite team, even some of the good teams (ManU) are pragmatic against us, the Pullis's, Dyche's and Hodgson's are pragmatic against everyone, let alone us. This is what Palace needed to do, it was the right thing for them to do, and in Zaha they have the ideal player to make it effective and dangerous. Hodgson has spent 40 years honing this game plan. I expected this game to be exactly what it was. Attritional with risk of sting in the arse.

Team selection was pretty much what I'd expect given the circumstances. I have a huge issue with playing a player like Sissoko in that CM/8 role because he gives us so little, his technique is not comfortable on the ball under pressure, he's clumsy with and without the ball, he does nothing incisively or cleverly, and in game where there is no central space he can't even charge. Maybe in the dying embers when Palace had to attack, we could have taken off Kane or Son and pushed Sissoko forward to trundle at them on the counter, but for 80 minutes he was just making up numbers, doing nothing out of the ordinary that any very average player couldn't do. I'd rather have seen Onomah or even KWP or Trippier in his position, at least they have the technique and some vision.

The pundits kept talking about "increasing the tempo" but it's just idiotic and completely lacking in understanding of how the game was tactically set up. We actually played the game pretty well tactically first half, continually got the FB's in good positions and with a better delivery and decisions from players like Aurier, Rose and Son, we could have created more and better chances. If we get impatient and just pump the ball forward aimlessly or try to force things, this is exactly what they want, you get careless, and play into their hands, they pick you off and break on you, isolating the likes of Zaha against CB's, get set pieces etc. And this is exactly what happened, and why their chances, break chances, will always look more dangerous. In exactly the same way we looked more dangerous against Liverpool, Dortmund and RM. First half, Winks and Eriksen (in his deeper remit) and the CB's were zipping the ball about nicely, pulling the game from side to side, getting the FB's isolated or in space and nearly creating a Son?kane clean through, and they weren't getting much of a sniff either.

I was more disappointed with the second half. Winks going off didn't help, Dembele is never going to be an improvement in terms of seeing and moving the ball quickly, so what we had was a slowing down of supply, desperation setting in, stupid chances being taken which didn't really produce more quality, but did produce much more counter threat from them.

But all that said, we deserve credit today. Football sometimes requires patience. If RM had shown it they might not have got their pants pulled down by us. There's beauty in the kind of ugly win we got today. Don't let the mug pundits MOTM award fool anyone. They had a plan, it's a much easier plan to execute than ours, the fact that their plan ultimately failed and they failed to do to us, what we did to RM, is a testament to our quality, not theirs. Breaking down the bus park will always be one of football's toughest conundrums, it's why football is so interesting, an inferior team always has a tactical chance if they are well drilled. If it works they deserve some credit, but if it doesn't, then they deserve what they get.


Individual

Gazzaniga - Hope we can keep him fit for next week. Great game. Two fine saves and good on crosses.

Aurier - I said this way before we signed him, but he's affectively Walker - two years younger and two years less of Poch's tuition. Physically great, great engine, intellectually a little challenged.

Sanchez - This kid has really started to grow on me this week. Dare I say shade's of King ? Pace, technique and good reading for his age. Superb again today. Joint MOTM

Dier - He's a CB, not a CM. Great game again today. Joint MOTM

Vertonghen - Smooth muthafucker. Joint MOTM

Rose - He got up and down well, and got into some great positions, but I was disappointed with his end product, and the one time Zaha ran at him he breezed past him way too easily.


Sissoko - OK, didn't shit the bed, but doesn't bring anything above the very very ordinary.

Winks - Really missed him second half. Was zipping the ball around well first half, which was exactly what was required.

Eriksen - Decent enough game from his slightly deeper remit, took up Winks' role second half pretty much. Played a couple of lovely through balls that were horrifically wasted.

Son - As ever, excelled with the sublime, bumbled away the simple.

Kane - Has had better games to be honest.

The punditry was another level of embarrassing today - from the commentary team, to the studio, to the presenter Jake whateverthefuck his name is somehow thinking he's a tactical savant.

Constant absolute bollocks referencing Wednesday night and talking about us needing to speed things up/get the ball in the box/whatever tired old cliché they could come up with next.

What people expected from that game I have no idea, but it went exactly as I expected and I was very pleased with a tight victory which, short of Palace selling themselves short and not executing their game plan, was pretty much the most we can have expected.

Today was the epitome of "job done".
 

parj

NDombelly ate all the pies
Jul 27, 2003
3,586
5,861
Gazza was quite good but I can only give him a rating of 6 because his distribution is really bad, real bad, this is something that he needs to work on in training. Goalkeepers need to learn to pass for pete's sake

Dude, I'm sorry but those 3 saves got us a win. They weren't routine saves. They very good saves. The only reason he wouldn't get a 9 from me is because of his distribution.
 

WexfordTownSpur

preposition me arse
Aug 2, 2007
2,615
653
Take the 3 points and run. Remove everyone who has been called up from national team duty (I don't care if you've got crucial World Cup Qualifier Playoffs, Christian!) from their respective squads and send them to the beach until Wednesday or Thursday. We looked fucking exhausted before the hour mark, truth be told.

Gazzaniga: 8
Sanchez: 7
Dier: 8 (MotM for me, and the culmination of an excellent month or so of football from him)
Vertonghen: 8
Aurier: 5
Winks: 6
Sissoko: 6
Rose: 7
Eriksen: 7
Kane: 6
Son: 5 before the goal, 7 because of it.

Dembele: 6
Llorente: N/A
Davies: N/A
Sorry I disagree, of course Eriksen has to represent he’s country in an important play off for World Cup qualifying. But as for those who are not fully fit they shouldn’t be allowed to play in friendlys.
 

mano-obe

Well-Known Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,238
7,518
We weren't at our best but a few stepped up when needed to. Aurier worries me, but when the likes of walker, Rose and Davies had a good run in the side they became great. Hoping it does for him because he gives me a heart attack every match
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
Gazzaniga saved us three times and looked assured on his debut. Clear MOTM.

Dier the best outfielder.

2 corners and the Townsend chance

if I could vote for 3 players it would be Gazzaniga, Dier and Vertoghen. they all did their bit to earn us 3pts we never deserved.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
2 corners and the Townsend chance

if I could vote for 3 players it would be Gazzaniga, Dier and Vertoghen. they all did their bit to earn us 3pts we never deserved.


I thought we thoroughly deserved the victory

We were in control, looked comfortable and never needed to get out of 2nd gear. Yes Palace had the better chances, we had a wobbly 10mins and we were very sloppy at times but we controlled 75% of that game

Take Zaha out of that Palace side today and they were shocking for the most part
 

ralphs bald spot

Well-Known Member
Jul 14, 2015
2,777
5,177
Aurier sorry but I can't help but think all he does is block the path of KWP - for a player with decent experience he shows so little intelligence he gets caught on the wrong side far to often

Sissoko just personifies average and thats being kind - , again what did he contribute? He offers little defensively next to nothing going forward and I have rarely seen a player who struggles with the basics of the game so much.
 

chinaman

Well-Known Member
Jul 19, 2003
17,974
12,423
Dude, I'm sorry but those 3 saves got us a win. They weren't routine saves. They very good saves. The only reason he wouldn't get a 9 from me is because of his distribution.


He must have been a very studious understudy to Lloris.:)
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Yeah didn't really enjoy much of that. Of course there were (many) mitigating factors - the ever increasing injury list, the midweek game will have taken a lot out of the squad physically, mentally, and emotionally, that this was likely to be a frustrating task against an obdurate defence... But still, I don't think you should see the team be below average in most facets of the game today.

The first half was very flat. Whatever the possession stats we didn't really exert any meaningful sustained pressure. Much of what we did was in the middle of the park or down the flanks (where we had some decent moments, admittedly). We didn't ask anywhere near enough questions in and around their penalty area and lacked any real threat up top.

The second was probably even worse. Ok, we had to reshuffle again due to yet another injury, but the game got even more ragged, end to end, and we were acting less and less as a unit. Fortunately one moment of quality was enough, and we nicked a 1-0, but Palace arguably had the better chances, especially at 0-0, and a lot of them were due to our own errors - gifting them the ball in awful situations, or weak defending at set pieces. Another game where the plaudits are going to our central defenders and the goalkeeper... Think that says it all really.

In the end it was a decent three points considering how lacklustre we were, but fuck me it was an ordeal getting to them.

Lloris Vorm Gazzaniga - Lets be honest, he got away with it twice when he could have been made to look very silly - the opening chance where he was caught in no mans land, and then again when Zaha rounded him and somehow missed. However, those two moments aside, he had a good debut. Made two or three decent saves and claimed quite a few crosses. Couldn't really ask for more from your 3rd goalkeeper.

Sanchez - There were a few positional problems at times where he needed help from Dier, but overall had a solid game both with and without the ball.

Dier - Another very good game. I thought he was our best player today.

Vertonghen - Solid game. Particularly felt he did well later on in the game down that flank when Rose started struggling.

Aurier - A real scattergun performance.

Winks - Ok in the first half, missed his possession-hub qualities in the second half I felt.

Rose - Very good first half hour, wasn't as noticeable in the middle period, last part of the game was struggling to get up and down - as probably expected from someone who has been out for 9 months.

Sissoko - He ran about and put a shift in, sometimes this resulted in some good moments. However tactically this running doesn't seem to have any purpose or thought to it, it's just charge wherever he can whether he should or not and he doesn't read the game at all or have killer instinct (go back and watch the three times where he runs in the box and then stops, when if he continues he might get a goal from the cross), and with the ball he was wasteful.

Eriksen - Ok. A few nice moments but I do feel his game is inhibited when he has to be more responsible in light of Sissoko charging about constantly. He doesn't quite get the same freedom to drift and pick up space, especially just off the front.

Son - Was basically absolutely awful with whatever he did throughout the 90 mins, apart from that one moment where he's stuck it in the back of the net with a wonderful finish. Peak Son.

Kane - Worst game of the season by some distance. Offered very, very little.

Subs:
Dembele - When he saw the ball he wasn't too bad, but he didn't see enough of it (or want it) for my liking.

Llorente - There's one thing slowing down a bit as you get older, and he's never been a raging bull of a striker, but he does seem to be lacking a bit of fire in his belly. I don't remember him being so ultra languid at Bilbao(?).

Davies - n/a.
 
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mendesstormer

Well-Known Member
Jan 11, 2005
644
418
Winks - clear MOTM in the first 45. You can see how much confidence he's gained from those two coming of age games against Madrid. He's a proper little midfield general now. Think he deserves to be first choice really, even though I'm a big Dembele fan.

Dier - MOTM for the 90. Having received some well justified criticism for failing to cover correctly in a couple of recent games, he did exactly that today. Some brilliant covering tackles from him (maybe Poch did a bit of fine tuning there?). CB does look like his most natural position, although I love his versatility when he starts in midfield too. He's been widely questioned / criticised on here in recent times, but to me he's one of the most important players in the squad, even if he (ironically) isn't necessarily first choice in any one position.

Danny Rose - shout out for him too. He's so energetic down that left flank, sees a lot of the ball - OK, doesn't always use it as well as he might when he gets in a good crossing position... But, for a guy who's been out for a very long time, that was a really good return to the first team. Those who doubted his temperament and willingness to play after the shenanigans at the beginning of the season? He's always proved himself fully committed on the pitch - that's what counts for me. Yes, he might be gone by this time next year, but he will put in a good shift for as long as he's here.

Gazzaniga - excellent debut under the circumstances. Couldn't ask for more. We've got a great roster of keepers. I thought his kicking was fine (I can only remember one poor kick).
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
I agree with the sentiments expressed in a couple of posts above that this game was always going to play out like this, unless we had got a fortunate early goal - all the more so because some key players were injured, some half-fit and some visibly tired.

Our defence really deserves a 4-way man of the match award: Gazzaniga and the three central defenders. Everything was stopped and dealt with, however last-ditch, except for Zaha's missed one-on-one.

As we have seen numerous times before since we started being seriously good two years ago, we have enough flair and inspiration in our forward players that it is very difficult to keep us from scoring at least one goal, even when we're off-colour. And so it proved, with Son, who scarcely touched the ball in the first half and passed it waywardly when he did, turning up with an un-saveable strike.

Gazzaniga 7.5 One alarming case when he overestimated his pace off the line; otherwise confident, athletic and solid. Needs to practice his distribution. All the people before the match who were quoting rumours about him being useless seem to have forgotten that the last time he played a Premiership match he was about 23, which is more like 16 in goalkeeper years.

Aurier 4.5 Pretty inept in all regards - even his pace was put to ineffective use. He repeatedly drifted inside and left space into which Palace relentlessly played the ball. He not only passed directly to opposition players multiple times, he did so under negligible pressure and in dangerous positions, leading to high-quality chances for the opposition. I expect there's a good fullback in there somewhere, but he wasn't on show at Wembley today.

Rose 6.5 Great to see him raiding energetically up the flank again, but he needs to regain his his crossing radar, because when he tried to put the ball into the box, it didn't get there. Tired before the end. He's been out a long while.

Vertonghen 7.5 It's the usual product from elegant, effective Jan, we get it every week now.

Dier 7.5 Arguably the best of a great bunch - a couple of sensational clean tackles early in the match set him up for a fine day's defending.

Sanchez 7.5 He's visibly more confident on the ball than he was when he arrived and his teammates are visibly more willing to let him use it. Remarkably composed and mature for such a young defender and able to use his imposing physique and considerable pace to advantage.

Winks 7 Was doing very well until he had to go off. Ticking heart of the midfield.

Eriksen 6.5 He must be a bit knackered. He looked it. Still passed well, still tracked back, but lacking any of the magic touches today.

Sissoko 6.5 The thing about Sissoko is not that he's incompetent overall, it's that what he is bad at is highly visible and gets worse in key situations. His first touch is clumsy and he passes less accurately the closer he gets to the goal. What he is good at is more difficult to see, because it tends to happen in lower-profile moments. His closing down, defensive positioning, tackling and harassing are all very good and he runs well with the ball. He also has a notable indirect effect on our forward play, which is that his direct running of the channels drags defenders with him, every time he does it. If he were able to deliver the ball more accurately in these key moments, he'd have about 8 assists by now, but even so, he still clears a hell of a lot of space on a crowded pitch for Alli, Eriksen, Kane & Son to work with. I think this is the largest reason Pochettino persists with him. His direct, physical style of play gives the opposition a different problem to solve and balances the side in a strange sort of way.

Son 6 Next to useless in the first half. Scarcely touched the ball, passed badly when he did, often drifted out of play. Got more involved after half time, but still didn't look like doing anything unplayable. Until he did. He's like that. Should have scored two.

Kane 5.5 Tired boy. Not entirely 100% fit boy. Worked away without much reward.


Dembélé 7 Played well today, didn't look like he was in pain for a change. Not as dynamic as Winks, but we were mainly playing with a goal advantage and his control of the ball was welcome.

Llorente 6 Competent, but he is generally playing like a man who needs more playing time. Which he is unlikely to get, now that we're out of one cup and haven't started the other one. He still holds the ball up, but doesn't do a great deal with it.

Davies NET
 
Last edited:

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,329
Dier definitely MOTM.

Gazza did well with those saves, but had Zaha scored, let's be honest he wouldn't of been getting it. Nevertheless a good debut.
 

Mr Pink

SC Supporter
Aug 25, 2010
54,770
99,329
Llorente is an interesting one. I'm hoping the lack of a proper pre season is the reason why we're seeing such a cumbersome sort of contribution, is the best way I can describe it.

We know he's got some real ability, out in Madrid he showed it even.

Hard to build up real rythm with scraps in terms of playing time. I suspect we'll see him fire more when he gets more of a run, like over the Xmas period.

Looks so cumbersome at the moment.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
I agree with the sentiments expressed in a couple of posts above that this game was always going to play out like this, unless we had got a fortunate early goal - all the more so because some key players were injured, some half-fit and some visibly tired.

Our defence really deserves a 4-way man of the match award: Gazzaniga and the three central defenders. Everything was stopped and dealt with, however last-ditch, except for Zaha's missed one-on-one.

As we have seen numerous times before since we started being seriously good two years ago, we have enough flair and inspiration in our forward players that it is very difficult to keep us from scoring at least one goal, even when we're off-colour. And so it proved, with Son, who scarcely touched the ball in the first half and passed it waywardly when he did, turning up with an un-saveable strike.

Gazzaniga 7.5 One alarming case when he overestimated his pace off the line; otherwise confident, athletic and solid. Needs to practice his distribution. All the people before the match who were quoting rumours about him being useless seem to have forgotten that the last time he played a Premiership match he was about 23, which is more like 16 in goalkeeper years.

Aurier 4.5 Pretty inept in all regards - even his pace was put to ineffective use. He repeatedly drifted inside and left space into which Palace relentlessly played the ball. He not only passed directly to opposition players multiple times, he did so under negligible pressure and in dangerous positions, leading to high-quality chances for the opposition. I expect there's a good fullback in there somewhere, but he wasn't on show at Wembley today.

Rose 6.5 Great to see him raiding energetically up the flank again, but he needs to regain his his crossing radar, because when he tried to put the ball into the box, it didn't get there. Tired before the end. He's been out a long while.

Vertonghen 7.5 It's the usual product from elegant, effective Jan, we get it every week now.

Dier 7.5 Arguably the best of a great bunch - a couple of sensational clean tackles early in the match set him up for a fine day's defending.

Sanchez 7.5 He's visibly more confident on the ball than he was when he arrived and his teammates are visibly more willing to let him use it. Remarkably composed and mature for such a young defender and able to use his imposing physique and considerable pace to advantage.

Winks 7 Was doing very well until he had to go off. Ticking heart of the midfield.

Eriksen 6.5 He must be a bit knackered. He looked it. Still passed well, still tracked back, but lacking any of the magic touches today.

Sissoko 6.5 The thing about Sissoko is not that he's incompetent overall, it's that what he is bad at is highly visible and gets worse in key situations. His first touch is clumsy and he passes less accurately the closer he gets to the goal. What he is good at is more difficult to see, because it tends to happen in lower-profile moments. His closing down, defensive positioning, tackling and harassing are all very good and he runs well with the ball. He also has a notable indirect effect on our forward play, which is that his direct running of the channels drags defenders with him, every time he does it. If he were able to deliver the ball more accurately in these key moments, he'd have about 8 assists by now, but even so, he still clears a hell of a lot of space on a crowded pitch for Alli, Eriksen, Kane & Son to work with. I think this is the largest reason Pochettino persists with him. His direct, physical style of play gives the opposition a different problem to solve and balances the side in a strange sort of way.

Son 6 Next to useless in the first half. Scarcely touched the ball, passed badly when he did, often drifted out of play. Got more involved after half time, but still didn't look like doing anything unplayable. Until he did. He's like that. Should have scored two.

Kane 5.5 Tired boy. Not entirely 100% fit boy. Worked away without much reward.


Dembélé 7 Played well today, didn't look like he was in pain for a change. Not as dynamic as Winks, but we were mainly playing with a goal advantage and his control of the ball was welcome.

Llorente 6 Competent, but he is generally playing like a man who needs more playing time. Which he is unlikely to get, now that we're out of one cup and haven't started the other one. He still holds the ball up, but doesn't do a great deal with it.

Davies NET


Maybe we should just suspend Sissoko on a bungee over the centre circle and then just swing him from end to end, so he can skittle a channel through the opposition that Eriksen can run through.

Come on DM, there’s no invisible magic to anything Sissoko does. 99% of his marauding comes at the arse end of games when everyone’s getting desperate and opening up and even then it rarely ends with him doing anything composed, at best the odd bit of accidental opportunity evolves from the chaos. Hardly a basis for admiration.

Without the ball he is a willing unit but gives away his share of fouls and isn’t exactly a positional genius.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
I’m really not getting the Rose good reviews.I think he looks a shadow of the player he was and currently a million miles behind Davies.Yes I know he’s been out a long time,so I’m prepared to give him a chance.But he certainly doesn’t look a £60m player to me right now.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
I’m really not getting the Rose good reviews.I think he looks a shadow of the player he was and currently a million miles behind Davies.Yes I know he’s been out a long time,so I’m prepared to give him a chance.But he certainly doesn’t look a £60m player to me right now.


He’s been out almost a year and looks much much heavier than when we last saw him

Could take months before we see the best of him (which was fantastic) again or it could even be next season after a good pre season....
 
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