Ratings v Arsenal

[kernowspur]

Gomes - Should've been on his toes a bit for the 1st goal, no chance with the 2nd. Brilliant save from Fiberglass at 2-2. 7

Hutton - Pretty solid, did get a bit cuaght out for the 2nd, but was just picking himself up from being crunched. 7

Gallas - Welcome to Spurs Willy G!! Best performance so far, never gave up on anything, great blocks, interceptions. 9

Kaboom - Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner!!! Solid alongside Willy G, slow starting, but once he got into the game he was dominant! 8

just a side issue, how noticable is it that the defence looks more solid now we've had the same back 4 for the last few games?!? It can only get better!!

BAE - You know within 5 minutes what type of game he's gonna have. Looked composed, always chased down. Did get caught out a few times around the back, purely down to communication, but still put in a decent shift. 7

Lennon - Quiet, didn't really see much of the ball, was coming in-side a lot. Got better as the half went on, but still not fully fit. 6

Jenas - Typical Jenas performance, nothing outstanding of note, but was involved in most things. Box to Box midfielding, it's what we need at times. Did his job! 7

Modric - Did the donkey work in the absence of Thudd, like most of the team, picked up after half time, became more involved as it went on, started winning the loose balls and spreading the play about. 7

Bale - Was marked out of the game in the 1st half, was hugging the touch line and didn't have much joy. 2nd half he decided/was told to drift into the centre and got his rewards instantly. Saw more of the ball from then on, had one of his now trademark runs that nearly put the game to bed. All hail the Bale!! 8

VdV - How can he keep doing this? Involved in all 3 goals. His little pass through to Bale was sublime for the 1st goal, and it now seems we have someone who can put in decent Free-Kicks & Corners! For me, the M.o.t.M purely cos he had a hand in all 3 goals. 9

Pav - No joy in the first half, no real joy in the second half when it went 4-4-2, it just didn't fall for him. 6



Defoe - Good to see him back, winning the header for the 1st goal...amazing. Pav doesn't do that, Crouch should be able to do that but it's very hit & miss. Probably got an extra foot of leap just purely from being out there again. He stretched their back 4, just by clever running. 7 (Can't wait for the real JD & VdV show to begin)

Crouch - had 15 minutes, obviously did something, can't really remember much from this point on. 6

Did Bassong or Palacios come on at the end, can't give em a mark cos I can't remember much.
After the elation of teh 3rd goal, got nervous and did a lap round the cricket pitch outside the pub. Got back in for the final whistle and then complete and utter drunkenness ensued!!

Shoddy 1st half, all credit to Harry for changing the set up at half time, they were not expecting it, lets hope this result really kicks us on. Not saying we can win the title, but we do have the team to do it, I have no doubt about that. Just need to be consistent and believe we can do it!! Happy days!!!

Jenas did do something outstanding to note - he kept Fabregas pretty quite in the second half!"

 

[stemark44]

Unfortunately Palacios is not the player he was when he first came.
I know he isn't getting much game time but the manager see's him everyday in training.
If he was back to near his best I am sure he would be in the team.

 

[danielneeds]

Daniel
I agree, and said in my initial ratings post that for me this is still not the right CM partnership. My point is that Huddlestone is not the man to get "in and about" Fabregas either, he is nowhere near mobile enough and as we saw against arsenal at home, just being behind the ball isn't good enough either, as arsenal will 9/10 score if you let them have all the ball and all the territory. Let's not forget Fabgregas wasn't even playing last April, and the last time we played at Highbury we had Palacios and Huddelstone and still got sliced apart - and unlike yesterday, didn't ever look like doing anything vaguely positive.

I was amazed that Redknapp hadn't spelled out clearly to Jenas that he needs to be buzzing around Fabregas from the get go - but this fits in with the discussion we were having last week following on from VDV's comments regarding the almost total lack of tactical match preparation.

For the record I have seen Jenas and Palacios have very good games against arsenal - in Jenas's case on numerous occasions including saturday - but have yet to see Huddelstone look anything other than poor against them.

You have to compete with them and be very, very mobile and dynamic, and try not to give the ball away under their pressure. That's why I would play Jenas/Palacios at CM like this:

--------Jenas---Palcios
Modric-----VDV-------Bale


All those players are dynamic and fairly quick. The fact that Jenas goes form box to box means you aren't just sitting back and taking evrything they throw - you just can't do that - and Jenas/Palacios/Modric/VDV are the most efficient passers of the ball in our team. Make sure everyone chases and presses - they are all capable - with Palacios providing the busy **** stuff and winning balls and generally getting in peoples faces stopping them playing and you have the team there to trouble anyone.

Whilst I concur that both Jenas and Palacios are quicker and nimbler than Huddlestone, I still don't like the blend of that midfield either. I think positional awareness is as, if not more important, than being mobile, and for me both Jenas and Palacios' instincts would both leave gaps infront of the centre halves. I don't really like Modric further forward, or coming in off the right either.

I guess we are always going to have to agree to disagree on this one....

 

[Bingy]

Let's not rest on our recent success....but let's look at it for what it is.....a great win but just a step towards further success! We beat a pretty good team....but, as Yid's, we should expect to do that every time we play? Perhaps we can wait until after the New Year before we begin 'self congratulations' and making plans for further success? We need to BEAT The Kopites....and by a comfortable score.....but, will we? My gut teels me that we are more than capable of 'throwing it away' on so many scores....but...that is being '2000's'? Perhaps, the victory against The Scum will breath some, long awaited and overdue, confidence, into the squad? Liverpool NEXT....and a further step towards GLORY GLORY? COYS!

 

[Coyboy]

I can't answer your questions now, but once I have instructed a translator who speaks fluent waffle I'll email you them as a pdf attachment. Is that ok?

 

[Wiener]

I can't answer your questions now, but once I have instructed a translator who speaks fluent waffle I'll email you them as a pdf attachment. Is that ok?

It's called poetry...Shakespeare, Palin and now Bingy

 

[steve]

Daniel
I agree, and said in my initial ratings post that for me this is still not the right CM partnership. My point is that Huddlestone is not the man to get "in and about" Fabregas either, he is nowhere near mobile enough and as we saw against arsenal at home, just being behind the ball isn't good enough either, as arsenal will 9/10 score if you let them have all the ball and all the territory. Let's not forget Fabgregas wasn't even playing last April, and the last time we played at Highbury we had Palacios and Huddelstone and still got sliced apart - and unlike yesterday, didn't ever look like doing anything vaguely positive.

I was amazed that Redknapp hadn't spelled out clearly to Jenas that he needs to be buzzing around Fabregas from the get go - but this fits in with the discussion we were having last week following on from VDV's comments regarding the almost total lack of tactical match preparation.

For the record I have seen Jenas and Palacios have very good games against arsenal - in Jenas's case on numerous occasions including saturday - but have yet to see Huddelstone look anything other than poor against them.

You have to compete with them and be very, very mobile and dynamic, and try not to give the ball away under their pressure. That's why I would play Jenas/Palacios at CM like this:

--------Jenas---Palcios
Modric-----VDV-------Bale


All those players are dynamic and fairly quick. The fact that Jenas goes form box to box means you aren't just sitting back and taking evrything they throw - you just can't do that - and Jenas/Palacios/Modric/VDV are the most efficient passers of the ball in our team. Make sure everyone chases and presses - they are all capable - with Palacios providing the busy **** stuff and winning balls and generally getting in peoples faces stopping them playing and you have the team there to trouble anyone.

Agreed. At home against poorer teams we may not need Palacios so much but away from home I really think we're missing him and the stiffness he provides (no smirking). I remember the Villa game a couple of years ago when him and Jenas were quite fantastic as a pair in the centre, pressed Villa high up the pitch and were instrumental in giving us the midfield ascendency and the win. This was Villa with Barry and Milner too. They are excellent harriers as a pair. Modric right is a compromise but not a terrible one as long as he is able to drift inside and help out. This may work better with Hutton at RB.

Unfortunately Palacios is not the player he was when he first came.
I know he isn't getting much game time but the manager see's him everyday in training.
If he was back to near his best I am sure he would be in the team.

Maybe. But whatever happens now he must get some game time as Huddlestone is out. We can't write him off (not saying you are) as many have. Look what happened to Bale, Hutton, Jenas, BAE even Defoe all players who at some time at Spurs have seen themselves written off by some section of the fans or management or both. Redknapp can't keep going with the same players - they'll end up knackered or injured or both. They're all big games and at some point summink has to give - I'm not saying wholesale changes, but bringing in one or two here and there will keep the continuity going with minimum disruption - and away from home I think there's a definite case for Wilson...

 

[Mr Pink]

Whilst I concur that both Jenas and Palacios are quicker and nimbler than Huddlestone, I still don't like the blend of that midfield either. I think positional awareness is as, if not more important, than being mobile, and for me both Jenas and Palacios' instincts would both leave gaps infront of the centre halves. I don't really like Modric further forward, or coming in off the right either.

I guess we are always going to have to agree to disagree on this one....

Most definitely of the same school of thought. The balance in the centre needs to be right though.

 

[archiewasking]

First half, everyone was 4 except for Gallas and Kaboul who were 8

2nd half, everyone was 9 except Gallas and Kaboul who were 10

Saved me the trouble :up:

Spot on.

 

[SpurSince57]

I was amazed that Redknapp hadn't spelled out clearly to Jenas that he needs to be buzzing around Fabregas from the get go - but this fits in with the discussion we were having last week following on from VDV's comments regarding the almost total lack of tactical match preparation.

You know this for a fact? You were present in the dressing room?

And Jenas actually needs to have it spelled out for him that Fabregas is Arsenal's main creator? Remind me, they've faced each other how many times in the past five years?

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Whilst I concur that both Jenas and Palacios are quicker and nimbler than Huddlestone, I still don't like the blend of that midfield either. I think positional awareness is as, if not more important, than being mobile, and for me both Jenas and Palacios' instincts would both leave gaps infront of the centre halves. I don't really like Modric further forward, or coming in off the right either.

I guess we are always going to have to agree to disagree on this one....

Positional awareness is fine, but it's not a substitute for ability. Positional awareness isn't a substitute for the ability perform the multi faceted requirements of playing in central midfield - especially in a 442 - it's just one of them.

If you want just tell Jenas to hang around the D and you'll have a Huddlestone that can also pass the ball under pressure.

I don't get why you say Palacios's natural game leaves gaps. Until he got suspended in the semi, I can't think of a player better for protecting the back four in a 442 in the premiership other than maybe De Jong or Mikel. Of course he was more mobile and covered more ground than Huddlestone, but this meant he provided better protection not worse.

Since then he gets played once every 6 games for 45 mins and everyone grumbles his lost form ? He hasn't lost form he's just playing in fits and starts.

 

[paddy30]

Gomes 6

Hutton 7
Kaboul 8
Gallas 9
Bae 6

Lennon 5
Modric 7
Jenas 8
Bale 7

VDV 7
Pav 6


Defoe 8
Crouch 7
Wilson (no time)

Id go with this would probably switch VDV and Defoes ratings tho:clap:

 

[double0]

I'm interested now to find out long term if this result benefits us more or Arsenal.

 

[FromTheLane]

Positional awareness is fine, but it's not a substitute for ability. Positional awareness isn't a substitute for the ability perform the multi faceted requirements of playing in central midfield - especially in a 442 - it's just one of them.

If you want just tell Jenas to hang around the D and you'll have a Huddlestone that can also pass the ball under pressure.

I don't get why you say Palacios's natural game leaves gaps. Until he got suspended in the semi, I can't think of a player better for protecting the back four in a 442 in the premiership other than maybe De Jong or Mikel. Of course he was more mobile and covered more ground than Huddlestone, but this meant he provided better protection not worse.

Since then he gets played once every 6 games for 45 mins and everyone grumbles his lost form ? He hasn't lost form he's just playing in fits and starts.

He has played in fits and starts mostly because he has been a liability when he has played, and has either picked up bookings and then made fouls galore such that he is a red card waiting to happen, or just generally been useless and offering nothing. Moreover this was the case for large parts of last season as well, and while we miss the good Palacios, or a player of that kind, equally he is too much of a risk to play in the team because of the clumsy and haphazard nature of his performances.