Ratings vs Cardiff City

[ShelfSide18]

I think the lack of movement from others last season killed plenty of potential moves, we have pretty much bought some football nous over the summer, and a true box to box midfielder in Paulinho, Holtby seems to have stepped up a gear in reply to that.

It does help yes, but I think he came last season and was like a bounding puppy dog trying so hard to impress. He's got ability and mentality, I hope he continues this good form because he'll be a real asset.

 

[ShelfSide18]

If you don't like stats, look away now....

We’re top of the PL in passes attempted in opposition half (1639), the final 3rd (867) and most shots on target (34)

 

[Mr Pink]

It was a goal of the highest quality. Can't remember a goal I've enjoyed as much as that recently. The Bale winner at West Ham probably just eclipses it, because it was a 3-2 winner against the Pikeys in the dying minutes....but I take more pleasure from this type of goal, definitely better than any run of the mill long range effort that's for sure.

I love team goals, invariably it involves quality from two or three people as opposed to one.

 

[Mr Pink]

It was a goal of the highest quality. Can't remember a goal I've enjoyed as much as that recently. The Bale winner at West Ham probably just eclipses it, because it was a 3-2 winner against the Pikeys in the dying minutes....but I take more pleasure from this type of goal, definitely better than any run of the mill long range effort that's for sure.

I love team goals, invariably it involves quality from two or three people as opposed to one.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I agreed both times. That's how fucking good that goal was.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I'm seriously considering putting that into my (mentally stored only) top ten faves.

An injury time winning, team constructed goal, finished with emphatically decadent impudence by our Brazilian busy ****.

All words that I wouldn't have thought possible a few years ago.

 

[easley91]

Is this going to replace Harry's 3 points from 8 games- because I like it!

It was 2 points from 8 games.

 

[ShelfSide18]

I'm seriously considering putting that into my (mentally stored only) top ten faves.

An injury time winning, team constructed goal, finished with emphatically decadent impudence by our Brazilian busy ****.

All words that I wouldn't have thought possible a few years ago.

Sounds like a good idea for a new thread...

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I literally cannot stop watching that goal,it could be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
For those who have Youtube/SpursTv blocked at work....

http://mmp.streamuk.com/content/entry/data/4/306/0_k3ehfmqj_0_ldbhqgz5_1.mp4

Even though I have it saved on my sky, you posting that made me watch it again another few times.

It just gets better.

 

[only1waddle]

I'm seriously considering putting that into my (mentally stored only) top ten faves.

An injury time winning, team constructed goal, finished with emphatically decadent impudence by our Brazilian busy ****.

All words that I wouldn't have thought possible a few years ago.

Out of interest BC, what number is Dempsey's against Stoke?




*starts to run, decides not to stop.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Out of interest BC, what number is Dempsey's against Stoke?




*starts to run, decides not to stop.

It's in my (mentally stored only) top 10,000 for sure. Somewhere between the one that bounced off Darren Bent without him knowing and the one Gary Doherty scored at Old Trafford against Arsenal in the semi.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Seriously though, that goal is addictive. There is something mesmerisingly hypnotic about the way Paulinho swivels yet powers it home with his heel. If you watch it seventeen times on a continuous loop the devil appears, but not the scary one, the groovy Peter Cook one in Bedazzled (1967) and offers you a wish.

 

[Gb160]

Even though I have it saved on my sky, you posting that made me watch it again another few times.

It just gets better.

It's the football equivalent to great porn.....pounding away ferociously for what seems like an eternity,leading up to a very satisfying and deserved money shot.

 

[stokesy]

If you don't like stats, look away now....

We’re top of the PL in passes attempted in opposition half (1639), the final 3rd (867) and most shots on target (34)

It is slightly concerning that we have only scored 5 goals from those 34 shots and two of those were penalties.

 

[steve]

I only saw the extended Sky highlights but a few thoughts occur to me watching them and our other games this season.

The player Eriksen reminds me of the most is Paul Scholes - Scholes used to almost look like he was cantering through games at times because his brain, movement, awareness and touch were so good. Eriksen has that same easy style. He conserves energy by using his brain to be in the right place at the right time, to pick the right pass and moves to either receive the ball or to make space for someone else to receive it (he does this a lot - example first half yesterday by backing onto a player and occupying him so that Dembele had more space to receive it). Add all this to his undoubted technical ability and you have a very special player.

There was a piece in The Observer with Denis Bergkamp yesterday and an excellent quote from Arsene Wenger about players attitude towards the game - it certainly seems to sum a player like Eriksen up.

"It is a spiritual thing. I am convinced of that. I believe you have two kinds of players who play football. Those who want to serve football like you serve God, and they put football so high that everything that is not close to what football should be is a little bit non-acceptable. And then you have those who use football to serve their ego. And sometimes the ego can get in the way of the game, because their interest comes before the interest of the game.

"Sometimes the big ego is linked with what we call strong personalities, charisma. But most of the time what people call charisma is just big ego. I believe that Dennis was one of those who had such a high idea of the game and such a respect for the game that he wanted that to be above everything. I believe that the real great players are guided by how football should be played and not by how football should serve them. If it becomes spiritual, it's endless and you're always driven to going higher and getting closer to what you think football should be."

Then Wenger gives the example of a player who knows he ought to pass but takes a massive gamble and scores. "If he really loves the game he'll go home and worry about it. He'll know he really should have passed to set up an easy chance for someone else. But he was selfish and got lucky. If he doesn't care about the game he'll go home and think: 'That was great – I'll do the same next time.'"
And he says that's the difference. "That's why you have to teach the kids to respect the game and treat the game a little bit like a religion, that is above you, where you want to serve the game."

I think not only Eriksen but players like Soldado fall into this bracket as well - he shows great movement and technical ability but he also plays for the team in a way that Defoe doesn't always. Technically Defoe is a class act, his first touch is good, his ability to strike a ball is usually excellent, he's 2 footed, sharp, quick and has good close control. The difference is though will he make the right decision for the team when he needs to? Soldado wants to score goals as well of course but he's more likely to make the right decision, he thinks about the team more, and his movement and decision making is more intelligent as a result. Is there much to separate them technically though? Probably very little.

It makes me wonder about people like Townsend who shows great drive and willing but does he as Wenger says go home and worry about his decision making at times? I'm not convinced but I hope I'm wrong and of course this is shades of grey, it's not quite as black and white as Wenger describes it.

But we can see now with this team we have a number of thinkers and it's making a huge difference already. Apart from Eriksen and Soldado, Paulinho, Capoue, Holtby, Vertonghen, Lloris and Lamela all show to differing degrees a love of the game. Marry that with willing, strong and technically adept players such as Walker, Rose, Sandro, Dembele, Kaboul etc. and you have a really good outfit with strength in depth. It's why Adebayor is so frustrating because he gets it and on his game (Chelsea away) he IS a lover of the game but he's fragile emotionally and for someone like AVB is probably a real pain in the arse to manage.

They still haven't all clicked yet so it's really exciting to see this team and hopefully watch them realise their potential - from the point of view of balance and depth it's probably superior to the Modric, VDV, Parker, Bale etc. team that Redknapp had in his last season and married to a coherent and more importantly a consistent tactical approach it has the potential to worry the best of the rest this season. I hope Kaboul can prove his fitness and come back into the team because we are definitely vulnerable to pace through the middle, especially with the high line we play. None of the teams we've played this season have pressed us very high up the pitch - even Arsenal dropped off to an extent and I do wonder how our back 4 and midfield will cope when a team really gets in their faces and makes it difficult to play our way out - it does produce mistakes and I can't imagine Chelsea this Saturday conceding territory so easily.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

I only saw the extended Sky highlights but a few thoughts occur to me watching them and our other games this season.

The player Eriksen reminds me of the most is Paul Scholes - Scholes used to almost look like he was cantering through games at times because his brain, movement, awareness and touch were so good. Eriksen has that same easy style. He conserves energy by using his brain to be in the right place at the right time, to pick the right pass and moves to either receive the ball or to make space for someone else to receive it (he does this a lot - example first half yesterday by backing onto a player and occupying him so that Dembele had more space to receive it). Add all this to his undoubted technical ability and you have a very special player.

There was a piece in The Observer with Denis Bergkamp yesterday and an excellent quote from Arsene Wenger about players attitude towards the game - it certainly seems to sum a player like Eriksen up.

"It is a spiritual thing. I am convinced of that. I believe you have two kinds of players who play football. Those who want to serve football like you serve God, and they put football so high that everything that is not close to what football should be is a little bit non-acceptable. And then you have those who use football to serve their ego. And sometimes the ego can get in the way of the game, because their interest comes before the interest of the game.

"Sometimes the big ego is linked with what we call strong personalities, charisma. But most of the time what people call charisma is just big ego. I believe that Dennis was one of those who had such a high idea of the game and such a respect for the game that he wanted that to be above everything. I believe that the real great players are guided by how football should be played and not by how football should serve them. If it becomes spiritual, it's endless and you're always driven to going higher and getting closer to what you think football should be."

Then Wenger gives the example of a player who knows he ought to pass but takes a massive gamble and scores. "If he really loves the game he'll go home and worry about it. He'll know he really should have passed to set up an easy chance for someone else. But he was selfish and got lucky. If he doesn't care about the game he'll go home and think: 'That was great – I'll do the same next time.'"
And he says that's the difference. "That's why you have to teach the kids to respect the game and treat the game a little bit like a religion, that is above you, where you want to serve the game."

I think not only Eriksen but players like Soldado fall into this bracket as well - he shows great movement and technical ability but he also plays for the team in a way that Defoe doesn't always. Technically Defoe is a class act, his first touch is good, his ability to strike a ball is usually excellent, he's 2 footed, sharp, quick and has good close control. The difference is though will he make the right decision for the team when he needs to? Soldado wants to score goals as well of course but he's more likely to make the right decision, he thinks about the team more, and his movement and decision making is more intelligent as a result. Is there much to separate them technically though? Probably very little.

It makes me wonder about people like Townsend who shows great drive and willing but does he as Wenger says go home and worry about his decision making at times? I'm not convinced but I hope I'm wrong and of course this is shades of grey, it's not quite as black and white as Wenger describes it.

But we can see now with this team we have a number of thinkers and it's making a huge difference already. Apart from Eriksen and Soldado, Paulinho, Capoue, Holtby, Vertonghen, Lloris and Lamela all show to differing degrees a love of the game. Marry that with willing, strong and technically adept players such as Walker, Rose, Sandro, Dembele, Kaboul etc. and you have a really good outfit with strength in depth. It's why Adebayor is so frustrating because he gets it and on his game (Chelsea away) he IS a lover of the game but he's fragile emotionally and for someone like AVB is probably a real pain in the arse to manage.

They still haven't all clicked yet so it's really exciting to see this team and hopefully watch them realise their potential - from the point of view of balance and depth it's probably superior to the Modric, VDV, Parker, Bale etc. team that Redknapp had in his last season and married to a coherent and more importantly a consistent tactical approach it has the potential to worry the best of the rest this season. I hope Kaboul can prove his fitness and come back into the team because we are definitely vulnerable to pace through the middle, especially with the high line we play. None of the teams we've played this season have pressed us very high up the pitch - even Arsenal dropped off to an extent and I do wonder how our back 4 and midfield will cope when a team really gets in their faces and makes it difficult to play our way out - it does produce mistakes and I can't imagine Chelsea this Saturday conceding territory so easily.

One of the best posts I've read on here for fucking ages.

 

[Flashspur]

This fella thought Paulinho was MOM and those of you who bagged Dawson...hang your heads in shame

http://hereisthecity.com/2013/09/23...-was-tottenhams-most-influential-player-agai/

Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Cardiff on Sunday sees them level on points with North London rivals Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.
Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall was SkySports' pick for Man of the Match and, for the neutral, the stopper was unlucky to concede Paulinho’s 90-minute winner after such a resolute display.
However, Tottenham deserved the win for their strong and persistent performance – Spurs enjoyed a massive 63 per cent of possession, had 29 shots of which 12 were on target compared to Cardiff’s mere 6 shots of which none were or target.

The game looked like a training session of attack versus defence for the most part – Spurs kept plugging away ardently and in the end thoroughly deserved the three points via Paulinho.
A number of Andre Villas-Boas men played crucial parts in the victory – Michael Dawson had a strong game, as did Kyle Walker, Kyle Naughton, Moussa Dembele, Christian Eriksen and goal-scorer Paulinho.
Dawson made 7 out of 7 successful clearances in the game, blocked one shot, made one crucial interception, won all but one of his six aerial duels and even got a shot on goal in (although it was off-target).
Walker made one successful tackle out of one, three successful clearances out of three, won three of his five aerial duels and created three clear-cut chances going forward.
On the other side of the backline, Naughton created two clear-cut opportunities for teammates, won 50 per cent of his aerial duels, succeeded with 50 per cent of his clearances and 100 per cent of his interceptions.
Moussa Dembele was superb – he was all over the pitch and commanded in the middle of the park – he attempted six take-ons charging through the midfield and on all but one occasion he retained the ball. He made clearances, interceptions, tackles and misplaced just four passes over 96 minutes. He was a giant on the day.
New boy Eriksen showed just a glimpse of his capabilities – he created three clear-cut chances, his pass completion rate in the final third was 60 per cent but his overall play in central areas was fantastic.
However, goal scorer Paulinho gets the nod from me – not just for the goal which will endear him to the fans forever – but for his work rate and his determination across 96 minutes. He was outstanding.
Defensively, he was operating at a 66 per cent success rate with his tackling, 66 per cent rate in the air, and 100 per cent success rate with interceptions and 100 per cent success with his blocks. In attack, he had 100 per cent success rate with take-ons, had 6 shots on goal of which one was blocked and three were on target, the other two were inches away.
He created two clear-cut chances for his teammates and he didn’t misplace a single pass in the final third. He was by far Tottenham’s most influential player in the game. The goal to take the three points was the cherry on top of a very big performance for the Brazilian.

 

[voxy28]

Wow... Lewis is third.

 

[AnotherSpursFan]

Holtby does love looking for that killer ball, last season he was always looking for it and it didn't quite come off, and sometimes he is guilty of trying to force that final ball, but he's relaxing at Spurs now and we're starting to see his quality.

It didn't quite come off because last season we have a lot of static players, aka Zombies.
This season, he's got Lamela, Paulinho, Soldado, Siggy, fantastic intelligent players who actually moves around the pitch

 

[Damian99]

It is slightly concerning that we have only scored 5 goals from those 34 shots and two of those were penalties.

I have a feeling though someone soon is going to get seriously fucked up the ringer.