BringBack_leGin
Well-Known Member
- Jul 28, 2004
- 27,719
- 54,929
I have mixed feelings after today. On the one hand, winning our fifth game out of seven and keeping pace with Chelsea/ Liverpool is very pleasing, this is amplified by the fact that we've played five of those seven games away from home and more so when you consider that in those seven games we have played two of the other top three from last season. Secondly, there were actually quite a few positive individual performances today. It is when realising this, however, that you wonder why the collective performance, though relatively applied and without lack endeavour/ industry was quite poor.
At the heart of this I would suggest is the formation. We played a 343, and it didn't suit us at all. Thankfully, Son and Moura were kept wide so the fullbacks were not left exposed like against Liverpool, so Pochettino has clearly learned something of a lesson there, but playing with three centre backs with two players in front of them who like to stay in their own half meant that we invited a lot of pressure and surrendered control. Yes, our defenders dealt with it well and the goalkeeper did his job, but that is aided by the poor quality of the opposition. We back off like that against most any of the top sides and we'll be found out. Additionally, I'm finding it harder and harder to have faith that our manager is meritocratic. If he was, Dier wouldn't keep surviving, nor would Trippier and Lamela would have started today, especially considering the lack of both Dele and Eriksen.
Another negative is of course the loss of Vertonghen. We need to pray that he finds fitness for the Barcelona game, thankfully he often recovers quickly, but without him we're looking at playing an untested backline, whatever the formation, against the greatest player of all time.
However, on the positive side are various strong individual performances, a bit more cohesion at the back than we have seen (in my opinion aided by a goalkeeper the defenders appear to trust) and an improvement in our play as the game wore on with us never really looking like conceding. All in all I'm cautiously pleased.
Gazzaniga, a couple of rubbish kicks aside, played well. He made a couple of relatively tricky situations seem routine, which is the sign of a good goalkeeper, and he never seems to let his concentration slip.
Alderweireld mopped up well the few times Huddersfield did get behind us, played the ball out pretty nicely, and lead the backline authoritatively once his compatriot was forced off injured.
Sanchez was better. I feel he's a bit jittery at the moment but overall he seemed composed, he brought the ball out nicely a couple of times and adapted well to playing on the left bar one occasion where he was beaten too easily. Imperious in the air too.
Vertonghen was fine up until injury.
Trippier put in a beauty of a cross for the opener and I don't remember the opposition getting in behind him. He's definitely happier in this formation than in a four man defence, I just worry that he's the only one. Found himself in advanced positions throughout the match.
Dier defensively was solid, but it is his defensiveness which sucked our team so deep in the first half and meant that one of the worst teams in the league were the aggressors. I don't mind him in midfield for a more attacking formation, either 433 or 4231, but when there's a three man defence his presence in front of it causes us to lose control of 2/3 of the pitch. Add in his total loss of concentration when passing on more than one occasion and and you've got as bad a midfield performance as you could hope for. At centre back he was okay, better when he went to the middle than his initial presence on the left.
Dembele was poor. Yes, his pass completion was great, but with one few attacker in front of him and 3.5 centre backs in essence shoring us up he really needs to be braver in his use of the ball. Like Dier, in a 4231 his simple, safe approach is generally acceptable because there is so much attacking quality in front of him, but in this formation he has to take responsibility. I'd caveat all of this by saying that when he was next to Wanyama for a season in this formation, he had his best season for us and the overall play was very good. Sadly that is getting further and further away as time goes on.
Rose was okay, bit of a mixed bag, He threatened well down the flank and linked nicely with Son, he was fouled (and it was a foul) for the penalty and he showed the energy and pace we'd have associated with him two years ago. He also committed too many fouls, lost concentration a few times and was inconsistent with tracking back.
Moura as ever showed a lot of endeavour, pace and positivity, but nothing overly came off for him today and the execution wasn't there for the most part. However, his determination in getting up (when he should have had a penalty) and getting the ball out to Trippier in the build up to Kane's first was wonderful, and he worked very hard tracking back.
Son looked threatening when we broke and his link up with Rose leading to the penalty was very good, but most of his decisions were poor and his failure to make the most of promising situations was frustrating. He also flitted in and out of the game, he should take note from his Brazilian friend on the opposite flank.
Kane did tire as the game wore on, but at least it was justified after putting in a lot of effort rather than the statuesque zombie we have seen for most of the season. He involvement was far better, his hold up play was good generally and he linked things nicely. He also got into threatening situations far more than he has been and after not taking a couple of early chances, still had the heart and confidence to rise beautifully for an expert header before tucking away his penalty with his usual aplomb.
Winks was a bit hit and miss as you'd expect from a guy coming back from injury and getting irregular game time. However, there was positivity about his play, turning well and driving forward with the ball a few times and being a bit more progressive with his passing than usual. He did have a couple of sloppy moments though and he wasn't particularly robust off the ball.
Wanyama continues to be pedestrian, but until he gets a run of games it's impossible to know whether he's regressed or whether he's just suffering from irregular playing time and lack of match fitness. With Vertonghen's injury, if Pochettino insists on a three man defence, we might finally find out.
Sissoko had very little time to run in straight lines.
I'm unimpressed with our manager more than our players today. He again picks a new formation and selection despite only 4231 having looked even remotely cohesive this season, he doesn't pick Lamela who has been our best AM this season despite having the least pitch time, and he didn't address the issues our formation was clearly causing at any point in the match. If he utilises this formation and tactic against any side who are remotely slicker in their movement than Huddersfield, we're fucked.
At the heart of this I would suggest is the formation. We played a 343, and it didn't suit us at all. Thankfully, Son and Moura were kept wide so the fullbacks were not left exposed like against Liverpool, so Pochettino has clearly learned something of a lesson there, but playing with three centre backs with two players in front of them who like to stay in their own half meant that we invited a lot of pressure and surrendered control. Yes, our defenders dealt with it well and the goalkeeper did his job, but that is aided by the poor quality of the opposition. We back off like that against most any of the top sides and we'll be found out. Additionally, I'm finding it harder and harder to have faith that our manager is meritocratic. If he was, Dier wouldn't keep surviving, nor would Trippier and Lamela would have started today, especially considering the lack of both Dele and Eriksen.
Another negative is of course the loss of Vertonghen. We need to pray that he finds fitness for the Barcelona game, thankfully he often recovers quickly, but without him we're looking at playing an untested backline, whatever the formation, against the greatest player of all time.
However, on the positive side are various strong individual performances, a bit more cohesion at the back than we have seen (in my opinion aided by a goalkeeper the defenders appear to trust) and an improvement in our play as the game wore on with us never really looking like conceding. All in all I'm cautiously pleased.
Gazzaniga, a couple of rubbish kicks aside, played well. He made a couple of relatively tricky situations seem routine, which is the sign of a good goalkeeper, and he never seems to let his concentration slip.
Alderweireld mopped up well the few times Huddersfield did get behind us, played the ball out pretty nicely, and lead the backline authoritatively once his compatriot was forced off injured.
Sanchez was better. I feel he's a bit jittery at the moment but overall he seemed composed, he brought the ball out nicely a couple of times and adapted well to playing on the left bar one occasion where he was beaten too easily. Imperious in the air too.
Vertonghen was fine up until injury.
Trippier put in a beauty of a cross for the opener and I don't remember the opposition getting in behind him. He's definitely happier in this formation than in a four man defence, I just worry that he's the only one. Found himself in advanced positions throughout the match.
Dier defensively was solid, but it is his defensiveness which sucked our team so deep in the first half and meant that one of the worst teams in the league were the aggressors. I don't mind him in midfield for a more attacking formation, either 433 or 4231, but when there's a three man defence his presence in front of it causes us to lose control of 2/3 of the pitch. Add in his total loss of concentration when passing on more than one occasion and and you've got as bad a midfield performance as you could hope for. At centre back he was okay, better when he went to the middle than his initial presence on the left.
Dembele was poor. Yes, his pass completion was great, but with one few attacker in front of him and 3.5 centre backs in essence shoring us up he really needs to be braver in his use of the ball. Like Dier, in a 4231 his simple, safe approach is generally acceptable because there is so much attacking quality in front of him, but in this formation he has to take responsibility. I'd caveat all of this by saying that when he was next to Wanyama for a season in this formation, he had his best season for us and the overall play was very good. Sadly that is getting further and further away as time goes on.
Rose was okay, bit of a mixed bag, He threatened well down the flank and linked nicely with Son, he was fouled (and it was a foul) for the penalty and he showed the energy and pace we'd have associated with him two years ago. He also committed too many fouls, lost concentration a few times and was inconsistent with tracking back.
Moura as ever showed a lot of endeavour, pace and positivity, but nothing overly came off for him today and the execution wasn't there for the most part. However, his determination in getting up (when he should have had a penalty) and getting the ball out to Trippier in the build up to Kane's first was wonderful, and he worked very hard tracking back.
Son looked threatening when we broke and his link up with Rose leading to the penalty was very good, but most of his decisions were poor and his failure to make the most of promising situations was frustrating. He also flitted in and out of the game, he should take note from his Brazilian friend on the opposite flank.
Kane did tire as the game wore on, but at least it was justified after putting in a lot of effort rather than the statuesque zombie we have seen for most of the season. He involvement was far better, his hold up play was good generally and he linked things nicely. He also got into threatening situations far more than he has been and after not taking a couple of early chances, still had the heart and confidence to rise beautifully for an expert header before tucking away his penalty with his usual aplomb.
Winks was a bit hit and miss as you'd expect from a guy coming back from injury and getting irregular game time. However, there was positivity about his play, turning well and driving forward with the ball a few times and being a bit more progressive with his passing than usual. He did have a couple of sloppy moments though and he wasn't particularly robust off the ball.
Wanyama continues to be pedestrian, but until he gets a run of games it's impossible to know whether he's regressed or whether he's just suffering from irregular playing time and lack of match fitness. With Vertonghen's injury, if Pochettino insists on a three man defence, we might finally find out.
Sissoko had very little time to run in straight lines.
I'm unimpressed with our manager more than our players today. He again picks a new formation and selection despite only 4231 having looked even remotely cohesive this season, he doesn't pick Lamela who has been our best AM this season despite having the least pitch time, and he didn't address the issues our formation was clearly causing at any point in the match. If he utilises this formation and tactic against any side who are remotely slicker in their movement than Huddersfield, we're fucked.
