Player Watch: Serge Aurier

[mattie g]

A good start in a hard game. Won't have tougher opponents than Pulisic very often.

Completely agree. Pulisic is a tremendous player, particularly for one so young, and he has bags of pace which even Aurier was having a tough time handling. Even so, Aurier did very well.

What I really like is that he links up really well and can play both the simple and the defense-opening pass...and he does it with both feet. You combine that with his speed and power and you have a real player on your hands. The only thing that could hold him back is losing his head and getting a little out of control.

On the negative side, there was an instance early in the first half in which he lost the ball into touch, thinking it was a Spurs throw in. He sulked, lost focus, and didn't track his man down the wing, and had Dortmund spotted it we may have been in some trouble. Cut out those kinds of plays and we're absolutely golden!

 

[Japhet]

Solid display with a few touches of class. Looks a lot more dynamic than Walker going forward. But what I liked most was how he was demanding more from the players around him. Towards the end of the first half after another wave of Dortmund attacks he was clearly shouting and driving the team on to keep focused and push forward. Something I've not seen that often in this current team.

Definitely more dynamic than Walker going forward. For all his pace, Walker nearly always stopped and lost all the momentum from his attacking runs. It even used to take him 5 minutes to take a throw in. Aurier picks a pass quickly and decisively, and to do that in a high pressure debut shows what an absolute monster he is capable of becoming. Tough on Trippier but there are a lot of games this season and I'm pretty sure Poch will want to rotate the fullbacks again.

 

[dg8672]

I couldn't watch the match yesterday as I was at work during, but I received SO much glee from skimming Twitter and seeing fans from rival clubs getting their panties in a twist because:

* Spurs got Aurier instead of their team
* Spurs got Aurier for half the price they sold Walker
* Their squad weren't in for him when he's obviously quality
* that Aurier came here because, in their words, he is "too good for Spurs."

It was lovely, as was the hilarious reaction to his "dummy header" and run out from his own box. Twitter futbol fans think he's an absolute madman, and love him for it.

 

[heelspurs]

Someone's already mentioned Dele, but Naughton got a red in Pochettino's very first game at West Ham and Fazio got one at the Etihad in the same season.

Wow, I guess I block these out. I only remember the Wham game as the 'Dier game'. But yeah Naughton led to the missed Noble Pen...lol. I guess we are a team of hacking, dirty *****. How has Lamella never got red?

back to Aurier: Did you guys notice that our other players weren't prepared for our RB to be playing football? What I mean by that is they were expecting hoofs or safe pass backs and were kind of caught out when he extricated himself from situations and looked to advance the ball. On that dummy play Sonny walking in the middle until Serge beat Toljan and cut inside looking to pass. Then Sonny was on his bike but it was too late as our RB made a nice pass with his left foot. Novel that is. We will get more fluid when we realize that he is a footballer and expect these moves. It's good for KWP to learn from as well.

 

[Makkaveli101]

Thought he looked excellent and whilst it's early days he looks like he does offer a bit more than Walker.

He dealt very well with the situation in the first half where he was constantly being left in 2 or even 3 on 1 situations due to Son and Eriksen not really tracking people properly, and whilst he did suckered in on a couple of occasions, he largely helped the team keep its shape and even when he did make a mistake he generally made up for it.

Going forwards I thought he had pace, which is important, and I think his delivery will improve as he gets back his match sharpness.

What I really liked was his ability on the ball. Some good quick passes, some good little steps inside, and just generally looked a lot more comfortable on the ball than Walker and Trippier ever have.

As I said, early days, but I really liked what I saw.

Agree. Noticed this as well. He seemed to have a sound understanding of being in position, to keep the shape. There were times when I wondered where he was as we drove forward in the middle (so used to seeing Walker sprinting forward without the ball), where he had decided to stay deeper.

Seemed to have a great understanding of exactly when to roam forward and when to stay deep. Agree also, that when he did make a mistake he quickly made up for it. Can't really ask for more in a debut against a top European side.

 

[Makkaveli101]

The interplay between him and Eriksen at one point to get out the corner was ridiculous, looked very good tbf

Agree. Was a "heart in mouth" moment. I was thinking... if he pulls this off it's gonna be a seriously impressive moment - and he certainly didn't fail to disappoint.

 

[yawa]

Great debut for me against some extremely tough competition.

Looks to be a real winner from his messages on Instagram and a real character in the dressing room.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Great debut for me against some extremely tough competition.

Bit boastful but I suppose I didn't see you putting a foot wrong.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Agree. Was a "heart in mouth" moment. I was thinking... if he pulls this off it's gonna be a seriously impressive moment - and he certainly didn't fail to disappoint.

Shrieky bitch behind me was abusing him during this event, when he cleared I bellowed 'well done Serge' and she shrieks 'not well done no'. ****. She was the one two weeks prior v Burnley abusing Sissoko at every touch. Goes without saying Harry holding the ball too long or Eriksen ducking a 50/50 doesn't get a peep.

Really want to burn her.

 

[SpursDave88]

Shrieky bitch behind me was abusing him during this event, when he cleared I bellowed 'well done Serge' and she shrieks 'not well done no'. ****. She was the one two weeks prior v Burnley abusing Sissoko at every touch. Goes without saying Harry holding the ball too long or Eriksen ducking a 50/50 doesn't get a peep.

Really want to burn her.

There was a woman behind me who was moaning about us being "too slow" when we almost scored twice before PEA's disallowed goal. If anything Son was too fast, if he would have composed himself better he would have scored.

 

[Makkaveli101]

Shrieky bitch behind me was abusing him during this event, when he cleared I bellowed 'well done Serge' and she shrieks 'not well done no'. ****. She was the one two weeks prior v Burnley abusing Sissoko at every touch. Goes without saying Harry holding the ball too long or Eriksen ducking a 50/50 doesn't get a peep.

Really want to burn her.

What a complete and utter c*** that hag is. Respect to your decorum.

 

[Lemon]

Agree. Was a "heart in mouth" moment. I was thinking... if he pulls this off it's gonna be a seriously impressive moment - and he certainly didn't fail to disappoint.

Double negative my friend.

 

[Giovanni]

I think hes a fantastic player but the best thing about him is his attitude! I think every top team needs that guy with the freaky, no nonsence, dont f*** with me kind if attitude. I look at players like marcelo at RM who have that kind of aura.

He adds somthing nasty to our team and we all know poch will make him better. We have a better rb now and we got him for half of the price of walker.

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

Double negative my friend.

Triple?

 

[southlondonyiddo]

Looks to be a top player. Almost as fast and strong as Trippier

He's going to be a real asset to us until he chins a copper

 

[Jamturk]

Looks to be a top player. Almost as fast and strong as Trippier

He's going to be a real asset to us until he chins a copper

Are you taking the piss?

 

[EQP]

Looks to be a top player. Almost as fast and strong as Trippier

He's going to be a real asset to us until he chins a copper

 

[ohtottenham!]

Looks to be a top player. Almost as fast and strong as Trippier

He's going to be a real asset to us until he chins a copper

Are you taking the piss?

 

[Hoopspur]

Time to resurrect the Chimbonda chant methinks...

"What's that coming over the hill Serge Aurier..."

 

[King of the Lane]

He is awesome! I'm looking forward to reading BC's write up about how he is inferior to Trippier