Match Ratings Ratings vs APOEL

[Spurs 1961]

Has to be Son. I think he is the most progressive player we have. Never stops running, never stops trying to open the opposition up, never gives us and forces us to have a go at the opposition. Too much this season we pass backwards. Too often this season our players play with their backs to the goal. Son though is like a sprinter off the starting blocks in a game when the rest of the team seem to be still sitting in their chairs finishing their tea while the first quarter of the game passes them by

 

[Pellshek]

Sissoko pass completions tonight was 96.2% highest of anyone. For an attacking CM that’s very decent.

Plot twist.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

2-0 up in a dead rubber, with 25 minutes to go, Son goes off and instead of bringing on Amos (or even Sterling) we get fucking Dembele.

The footballing equivalent of (Poch) stuffing a boulder (Dembele) in the puppy (academy player) sack and throwing it in the river.

Seriously?

It’s a free hit Pochettino FFS. Not one new face started? KWP gets 20 minutes at LB (and looks better than Rose or Aurier tonight), Sterling gets three minutes. Amos gets fucking knish.

How many chances a year do we get to play senior games with absolutely nothing to lose?

How many chances to get real game time into young players.

Pleased Nkoudou was given a start but did Alli need another game ? Did Aurier and Sissoko need to play against opposition of this Quality ? Did we need to risk Winks?

Edwards, Shashoua and maybe even Skipp should have been around this squad or team.

Even City started a couple of kids including handing a debut to Foden, same age as Edwards.

Ok game, decent goals.

 

[yiddo]

It’s a free hit Pochettino FFS. Not one new face started? KWP gets 20 minutes at LB (and looks better than Rose or Aurier tonight), Sterling gets three minutes. Amos gets fucking knish.

How many chances a year do we get to play senior games with absolutely nothing to lose?

Edwards, Shashoua and maybe even Skipp should have been around this squad or team.

Even City started a couple of kids including handing a debut to Foden, same age as Edwards.

Cant help but agree with this. Feels like a wasted opportunity.

 

[Marty]

It’s a free hit Pochettino FFS. Not one new face started? KWP gets 20 minutes at LB (and looks better than Rose or Aurier tonight), Sterling gets three minutes. Amos gets fucking knish.

I mostly agree with you but I'm not sure about KWP on the left as I'm really not comfortable with such a one-footed right-footer on the left side. He only had one trick in attack and that was checking back onto his right.

Also, Sterling being ready to come on standing on the touchline for pretty much ten full minutes while we faffed the ball about doing nothing but not letting the ball go out is slightly mitigating. Only slightly, mind. Had I been manager I would've ordered them to boot it out so we could make the sub and I was a bit surprised nobody took initiative to it.

 

[kremlyn]

Two great things came out of this game.

1. We have a potent alternative to Kane on his own up front. Llorente and Son showed the makings of a classic partnership. At times it looked like Quinn and wotshisface in their Sunderland heyday.

2. GKN actually looked like he could be effective. You could see no one wanted to pass to him from the start but he gradually earned their trust. Actually passing back, looking to create 1-2s and genuinely fighting to retain possession. Still not quite getting to the byline but a goal and a good team focused performance without being too Conservative.

Good to see KWP get some minutes and he looked confident.

More important IMO that Dembele got a few minutes than we started handing out token minutes to a junior. He was huge last year and we will need him for the run in.

The team clearly thought so too. No losing possession just to give Kaziah his debut. Nice reminder that you have to be patient.

 

[DanielCHillier]

2-0 up in a dead rubber, with 25 minutes to go, Son goes off and instead of bringing on Amos (or even Sterling) we get fucking Dembele.

The footballing equivalent of (Poch) stuffing a boulder (Dembele) in the puppy (academy player) sack and throwing it in the river.

Seriously?

It’s a free hit Pochettino FFS. Not one new face started? KWP gets 20 minutes at LB (and looks better than Rose or Aurier tonight), Sterling gets three minutes. Amos gets fucking knish.

How many chances a year do we get to play senior games with absolutely nothing to lose?

How many chances roger real game time into young players.

Pleased Nkoudou was given a start but did Alli need another game ? Did Aurier and Sissoko need to play against opposition of this Quality ? Did we need to risk Winks?

Edwards, Shashoua and maybe even Skipp should have been around this squad or team.

Even City started a couple of kids including handing a debut to Foden, same age as Edwards.

Ok game, decent goals.

Foden is 2 years younger than Edwards.

 

[Hakkz]

Has to be Son. I think he is the most progressive player we have. Never stops running, never stops trying to open the opposition up, never gives us and forces us to have a go at the opposition. Too much this season we pass backwards. Too often this season our players play with their backs to the goal. Son though is like a sprinter off the starting blocks in a game when the rest of the team seem to be still sitting in their chairs finishing their tea while the first quarter of the game passes them by

We need to buy an additional Son imo. More penetrative running is needed.

 

[TheHoddleWaddle]

It was just bad timing in trying to shield the ball, 100% an accident as there was no intention to foul. it was an over the top booking in my opinion. Saying that you seem to have a beef with Serge. He did quiet well assisting the offence and tidying up the defence when Sanchez and Foyth were breached. Calling his performance as lackadaisical is almost criminal. At worse some parts of his performance were clumsy, like that fore mentioned foul.

I agree about Sissoko but others on here have their own views about him which conflict with ours.

No issues with any of our players. Just a critical eye. I think his tackle was clumsy and dangerous, regardless of intention it was still a bad tackle.

He just needs to concentrate more as he's capable of so much more.

 

[Flashspur]

2-0 up in a dead rubber, with 25 minutes to go, Son goes off and instead of bringing on Amos (or even Sterling) we get fucking Dembele.

The footballing equivalent of (Poch) stuffing a boulder (Dembele) in the puppy (academy player) sack and throwing it in the river.

Seriously?

It’s a free hit Pochettino FFS. Not one new face started? KWP gets 20 minutes at LB (and looks better than Rose or Aurier tonight), Sterling gets three minutes. Amos gets fucking knish.

How many chances a year do we get to play senior games with absolutely nothing to lose?

How many chances roger real game time into young players.

Pleased Nkoudou was given a start but did Alli need another game ? Did Aurier and Sissoko need to play against opposition of this Quality ? Did we need to risk Winks?

Edwards, Shashoua and maybe even Skipp should have been around this squad or team.

Even City started a couple of kids including handing a debut to Foden, same age as Edwards.

Ok game, decent goals.

we would have lost the game if all the kids started...dont big up the youth when you know most of them have a long way to go yet. Poch works with them every day. I think he knows their limit.

 

[Spurs 1961]

We need to buy an additional Son imo. More penetrative running is needed.

I hope that we have ... Lamela. He if he can get back to previous levels can remind us that he was the driving force in the team in the way he fought for every ball and sought to take the game to the opposition. I think he and Son with maybe GKN now getting the odd chance can offer something different. I also think Danny Rose might, after all he did start as a winger

 

[cozzo]

Son- Brace ourselves for a 100 million offer for him from Asia.

 

[coys200]

Every goal Son scores is invariably a good goal. Can hardly remember him scoring a tap in.The closest was the Liverpool goal which was very very well taken.
The polar opposite of dele. Can barely remember dele scoring a Son type goal in last 18 months. Curler against Watford,that’s it I think. Honestly believe if Son wasn’t Asian he’d be much higher rated. Just think there’s a big of a stigma against Asian players as so few if any have ever been world class. I’m no expert but reckon Son could be getting close to being most highly rated Asian player ever.

 

[THFCSPURS19]

Every goal Son scores is invariably a good goal. Can hardly remember him scoring a tap in.The closest was the Liverpool goal which was very very well taken.
The polar opposite of dele. Can barely remember dele scoring a Son type goal in last 18 months. Curler against Watford,that’s it I think. Honestly believe if Son wasn’t Asian he’d be much higher rated. Just think there’s a big of a stigma against Asian players as so few if any have ever been world class. I’m no expert but reckon Son could be getting close to being most highly rated Asian player ever.

Son literally scored a tap-in in our last Premier League match.

 

[coys200]

Son literally scored a tap-in in our last Premier League match.

Dele would have missed that

 

[JonnySpurs]

I'm inclined to agree with BC about bringing on Dembele instead of Amos with 20 mins to go. That game was over at 2-0 with Apoel offering very little, even against our 2nd stringers. That said, winning was important for our confidence with the way we've been playing in the league of late so I can understand why he wanted to make sure that happened.

I personally very much enjoyed what I saw of Foyth. Some lovely control and measured passing. Good on the ball and a brilliant burst out of defence late in the game, reminiscent of Jan. Some errors too but that's to be expected somewhat.

Didn't particularly care for Rose's part in the game. Felt his final ball was wayward on pretty much every attempt and whilst he showed some of his old quality at times, he also showed petulance when he tangled with the Apoel player and then clearly disrespected Poch on the sideline when he was told to go and get stitched up. You can see Poch say "Danny, Danny, Danny" in a calming down kind of manner before Rose stomped off. I know these things get blown up a bit and all looked fine at FT but Rose is starting to get on my nerves and that's saying something as I was one that was happy to forgive his Sun interview shenanigans. Kid needs to fix up or fuck off IMO.

Son was lively and showed some real quality in his finishing, again. Needs to be playing regularly for sure. His link up with Llorente appeared to be very natural and instinctive which is extremely positive. They both played in a very complimentary way which can only be a good thing for later in the season.

Winks superb as per. Helluva pass for the 1st goal.

Sissoko was ok, touch looked clumsy to me but was tidy with his passing.

GKN was positive but maybe tried a bit too hard, certainly in 1st half. Hopefully he can relax a bit more and use his instincts to guide him in future. Has great pace and skill, just needs to hone his final ball, whether it be a shot, cross or pass. Happy for him though.

Nando was great IMO. Perfect hold up and link play and took his goal superbly. Delighted for him.

Alli, I dunno, still trying too many flicks and tricks but seemed to work hard and want to make things happen. Decent performance.

Aurier was good overall I thought. No issues defensively, made some good interceptions and got forward to claim a good assist. Think the tackle he made was clumsy but not malicious. I feel that next season we'll start seeing his best work, maybe 2nd half of this season if he knuckles down.

Sanchez solid as usual.

Honorable mention for KWP who didn't have much time but did some lovely work towards the end of the game. Mature player at such a young age, would like to see him get more minutes.

 

[Japhet]

I'm inclined to agree with BC about bringing on Dembele instead of Amos with 20 mins to go. That game was over at 2-0 with Apoel offering very little, even against our 2nd stringers. That said, winning was important for our confidence with the way we've been playing in the league of late so I can understand why he wanted to make sure that happened.

I personally very much enjoyed what I saw of Foyth. Some lovely control and measured passing. Good on the ball and a brilliant burst out of defence late in the game, reminiscent of Jan. Some errors too but that's to be expected somewhat.

Didn't particularly care for Rose's part in the game. Felt his final ball was wayward on pretty much every attempt and whilst he showed some of his old quality at times, he also showed petulance when he tangled with the Apoel player and then clearly disrespected Poch on the sideline when he was told to go and get stitched up. You can see Poch say "Danny, Danny, Danny" in a calming down kind of manner before Rose stomped off. I know these things get blown up a bit and all looked fine at FT but Rose is starting to get on my nerves and that's saying something as I was one that was happy to forgive his Sun interview shenanigans. Kid needs to fix up or fuck off IMO.

Son was lively and showed some real quality in his finishing, again. Needs to be playing regularly for sure. His link up with Llorente appeared to be very natural and instinctive which is extremely positive. They both played in a very complimentary way which can only be a good thing for later in the season.

Winks superb as per. Helluva pass for the 1st goal.

Sissoko was ok, touch looked clumsy to me but was tidy with his passing.

GKN was positive but maybe tried a bit too hard, certainly in 1st half. Hopefully he can relax a bit more and use his instincts to guide him in future. Has great pace and skill, just needs to hone his final ball, whether it be a shot, cross or pass. Happy for him though.

Nando was great IMO. Perfect hold up and link play and took his goal superbly. Delighted for him.

Alli, I dunno, still trying too many flicks and tricks but seemed to work hard and want to make things happen. Decent performance.

Aurier was good overall I thought. No issues defensively, made some good interceptions and got forward to claim a good assist. Think the tackle he made was clumsy but not malicious. I feel that next season we'll start seeing his best work, maybe 2nd half of this season if he knuckles down.

Sanchez solid as usual.

Honorable mention for KWP who didn't have much time but did some lovely work towards the end of the game. Mature player at such a young age, would like to see him get more minutes.

Spot on with the round up IMO. I think Dembele really needs minutes on the pitch. He's been rusty as hell so far but we're extremely short in CM and we desperately need to get going in the EPL. That (IMO) is why he was brought on v Apoel. He needs sharpness and match fitness. Dier will have to play CB for a while, and with Wanyama out we really need the Moose in there. If circumstances were different I'd be 100% behind giving some of the kids a run out last night.

 

[matthew.absurdum]

Son literally scored a tap-in in our last Premier League match.

Okay. This is really funny.

 

[Coyboy]

I mostly agree with you but I'm not sure about KWP on the left as I'm really not comfortable with such a one-footed right-footer on the left side. He only had one trick in attack and that was checking back onto his right.

Also, Sterling being ready to come on standing on the touchline for pretty much ten full minutes while we faffed the ball about doing nothing but not letting the ball go out is slightly mitigating. Only slightly, mind. Had I been manager I would've ordered them to boot it out so we could make the sub and I was a bit surprised nobody took initiative to it.

Because they are professionals and this was a game that happened to be Sterling's debut not Sterling's testimonial?

I don't get the outcry that young players weren't given more of a start. They were a poor side offensively but it's not as if even with Son, Llorente and Alli we carved them open at every single opportunity. We play a team of youngsters, we lose or we struggle to draw and I am not sure what any of them learn.

I defer to Poch's better judgment on players he knows but would also wonder whether there was more of an urgent benefit giving Aurier, Rose, Winks, Alli and Llorente a full 90 when they have been bit part players of late or in Alli's case out of form or Rose's coming back from a long lay off; and with some players like Dembele maybe it makes sense for them to keep active and playing to stay fresh and avoid injury. I actually thought the decision to bring KWP on was strange when we had Davies for left back.

I am honestly surprised that there is so much uproar because we didn't give more youngsters a start. Given our league form, I think he struck a right balance between resting players who really didn't need to play and playing those that could have benefited from a full 90 mins while bringing some debutants (Sterling, Amos and to all intents and purposes KWP) into the first team fold.

This is assuming we weren't barred from playing some players (I don't think we were). I did also hear that there are questions about Edwards' attitude. I am not sure if this has come up elsewhere.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

we would have lost the game if all the kids started...dont big up the youth when you know most of them have a long way to go yet. Poch works with them every day. I think he knows their limit.

Firstly, you have no idea if we would have lost the game with KWP and another kid in there - but on the evidence of all those types of scenarios, the quality of opposition, and the fact that last year we lost CL games without kids, I would say it's pretty doubtful. Secondly, so what ? there was absolutely nothing riding on that game. And please don't tell me we would have got a morale boost or something, because beating Real Madrid and Dortmund away were both followed by pretty lacklustre performances.

What we could have gained was some very vital first team experience, we could have learnt something about some very promising players that could have actually gone some way to helping us short, medium or long term solve some squad deficiencies, in the coming months provided some new options, some fresh legs and minds, some vim and importantly competition, which we are dreadfully lacking right now and one of the reasons we have been in a complacent funk.

I am not saying this because these are academy players, I am saying it because they are promising players that are already part of our club and could be made much better use of.

How could Amos or Skipp be worse than Sissoko as a CM ? How could risking our current only decent "8" on a completely meaningless game be clever ? How is running Alli, a kid himself, into the ground on meaningless games a clever use of resources ?

I love having Pochettino as our coach. But don't tell me he's beyond criticism. Or that he's always right. He makes mistakes all the time, just like most coaches.

And that last night was a complete fiasco in terms of intelligent management and development of resources.