Match Ratings Ratings vs Inter Milan

[midoNdefoe]

I think tonight showed moura and lamela are very much the understudies. Ok to play one in a game but both weakens us. But fine for rotation in the lesser games. But the Chelsea team plus vertoghen and maybe winks for Dier is very much the current A team.

I think your memory is shorter than your ability to judge players...
Lamela has been on some serious form up until last night. One performance, slightly off the boil and you're writing him off as an understudy?!

Nonsense!

 

[pffft]

Because I can
Why don't you?

Poetry Corner subscriptions still open
and Poet Laureate post still unfilled.
5000+ pounds a year
and a barrel of sherry.

Not to be sniffed at.

For 5 grand a year I'll throw my hat
into the ring for the post.
Not overly bothered by the sherry
But you're right,
you should drink it
not sniff it.

Completely unnecessary second verse
Just for those who think poems should rhyme
The first stanza was bad but this one's even worse
If you've read it then you've wasted your time.

 

[shelfboy68]

Sissoko and winks were superb last night and in the case of winksy 2 seasons interrupted by injuries he is back what a little dynamo, and sissoko is well just a player that is now full of confidence unburdened by fans getting off his back and playing with pace and power.

 

[cliff jones]

You mean supporters of Tottenham Hotspur FC? Everyone here (assuming they genuinely support this club) should be "fanboys" (shit word) of every player.

haha, well-bitten. I thought there might have been a few more. Lamela can do no wrong in some peoples' eyes, and could have fuckd us over- no defending that though eh? Which was my point.

We can all be fans, or in my case a long-standing supporter of the Club, and not be the biggest fan of an individual player or two. Quite normal that. Sounds like you want to close down debate in the ratings' threads.

Anyway, I'm still buzzin from the last two wins, so don't want to carry on debating this negative.

 

[kremlyn]

Troll

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Sissoko and winks were superb last night and in the case of winksy 2 seasons interrupted by injuries he is back what a little dynamo, and sissoko is well just a player that is now full of confidence unburdened by fans getting off his back and playing with pace and power.

He hasn't said so, but Sissoko must be feeling hugely vindicated when he hears us singing his name. I fancy that us doing that is feeding into his confidence. We should keep it up, for the sake of the team.

Sissoko has had a career with a pattern much like this. He hasn't been a player whose form fluctuates from match to match. He's had long periods of a year or two when he's been forceful, sometimes unplayable, a real asset to any team, including the France national side, and then his confidence or his fitness will go and it takes him another year or two to get back in touch with himself.

That suggests that he's as psychologically delicate as he is physically powerful. It also explains why it has taken Pochettino a couple of seasons to get into his head and get him back to his proper level.

The only thing about his arrival at Tottenham that puzzles me is that it didn't come after his limp period at Newcastle, it came after his rampaging performances for France. What undermined his mentality? Was it just the late signing and them him finding himself un-integrated in the squad and not quite fit enough to function in a Pochettino team? I'm guessing...

 

[JimmyG2]

Maybe or just the other 3 have come back with a bang, fresh and hungry. Plus they have played together, Lamela and Lucas started the season whilst Son, Eriksen and Ali have had not got going / had injuries. We have 5 very good attacking players.

After seeing the Sissoko transformation I’m not wtlriting anyone off ever again.

Shouldn't you have changed
your user name by now.?

 

[ralvy]

haha, well-bitten. I thought there might have been a few more. Lamela can do no wrong in some peoples' eyes, and could have fuckd us over- no defending that though eh? Which was my point.

We can all be fans, or in my case a long-standing supporter of the Club, and not be the biggest fan of an individual player or two. Quite normal that. Sounds like you want to close down debate in the ratings' threads.

Anyway, I'm still buzzin from the last two wins, so don't want to carry on debating this negative.

Haha, you're buzzing so much about our last two wins that you can't help feeling disappointed that there are not more fans or long-standing supporter of the Club like you wanting to torch Lamela for committing a silly mistake? You have weird ways of showing your happiness.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

Thought we played well last night, not overly domineering but well, though Inter are a lot better than I thought they would be.

I was high up in the 'nose bleeds' but was interesting from that height there was a very interesting positioning of a very distinct 424 shape at times, which I found fascinating, though a 433 at times, it wasn't really the diamond shape we've seen quite a but recently.

Anyway

Lloris.. Cool, no negatives.

Aurier... Lovely dummy tackle, loved that like the way I love a feint to wrong foot from an attacker. Very decent show. Looks more composed.

Davies, got high up at times and made himself available. He's getting back to his best.

Verts.. So good to have him back. Think we've missed him, played well.

Winks.. Loved that run into the box late first half. He's a baller. I've seen him play better, though some of his moments were higher class.

Sissoko. I always had his back for his effort and persistence mainly, but knew he got something. However he really is surpassing what I thought he could be for this team. Serendipity brought us a gift. His run and pass for the goal was simple but almost effortless for him. Clap clap clap.

Alli. Gorgeous touch for the goal, setting up eriksen beautifully. Becoming very composed and was key to our tactical approach and positioning.

Kane... Liked him tonight and I've been tough on him recently. Chose his moments well to drop back. Ut the difference I'm seeing is his getting forward into the box more agrrssivily and directly. Also when is the 433 shape he was pulling wide like he used to. There is a definite development going on. Think its to help him find space as he's the target for defenders in 2s and 3s. The key for me is not to get sucked In to being like Rooney.. And remain a striker and primarily a striker.

Lamela and lucas... Some good bits, tactically and positionally good but not either of thems best night but still showed bits just not enough.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Great result, deserved too, not just on the night but the head to head advantage too considering across the two games v Inter we dominated almost constantly. We kept the ball high up, had plenty of good chances, played all the football and dealt well with Inter’s only real threat, hoofing it in front of Icardi to chase on the counter. We’re at long last back to playing with cohesion, purpose and vim. An early goal and this game would’ve panned out very similar to Chelsea, but Inter defended well and were very organised.

Lloris saved well when he needed to and overall showed calmness and authority on crosses. One bad kick out but was given an awful back pass volleyed by Winks from 40 yards.

Aurier had a good game. His crossing wasn’t great, his passing was good though and he got at Inter’s defence constantly while being disciplined at the back too.

Alderweireld intercepted well, distributed well, was fine in the air and took the foul the one time he was exposed. Decent game.

Vertonghen’s powers of recovery are truly remarkable, Ledleyesque. Great first game back, imperious defending with good distribution. Should’ve scored. My motm.

Davies was overall solid and he passed well, but like Aurier his crossing wasn’t great. Showed good reading of the game to deal with opponents faster than him.

Winks was decent for the most part, drove forward well a couple of times and hit a few lovely long passes. However, he also gave the ball away poorly more than once without much pressure on him and without Dier there could’ve been a bit more mindful about ensuring our centre backs were protected. Overall encouraging.

Sissoko drive forward well, including for the goal, passed well on the whole and continued looking confident and purposeful. Had less reign to bomb on without a true DM next to him and it showed, but played his part well and Inter struggled to cope. I think he’s better in a 3 like v Chelsea than the 2 he was in here.

Lamela off the ball was committed, energetic and pressed well, albeit he was perhaps fortunate to not be sent off. On the ball however, the new incisive decisive Lamela wasn’t present, but the prior incarnation who rallies on the ball and makes poor choices. Not his most effective match this season.

Dele played well, showed excellent composure and intelligence for our goal, and constantly probed for openings. However, I think he had less effect in this game than recent performances as he was pushed up into an AM3 again where recently he’s been better in a CM3.

Lucas was okay, he displayed the usual array of skill, worked hard and drew fouls, however he struggled to have a tangible impact and wasted a good chance after an early Sissoko run.

Kane played well, unselfishly. You know he’s confident when he starts beating players for fun like that, he passed well and worked hard in deep areas. No real chances.

Son looked lively, ran at the Inter defence and got the ball into dangerous areas well.

Eriksen uppers our fluidity and was very composed to lift the ball into the net after a good move, keeping us alive.

Dier came on.

 

[cliff jones]

Haha, you're buzzing so much about our last two wins that you can't help feeling disappointed that there are not more fans or long-standing supporter of the Club like you wanting to torch Lamela for committing a silly mistake? You have weird ways of showing your happiness.

good twist. Yawn.

 

[JimmyG2]

Thought we played well last night, not overly domineering but well, though Inter are a lot better than I thought they would be.

I was high up in the 'nose bleeds' but was interesting from that height there was a very interesting positioning of a very distinct 424 shape at times, which I found fascinating, though a 433 at times, it wasn't really the diamond shape we've seen quite a but recently.

Anyway

Lloris.. Cool, no negatives.

Aurier... Lovely dummy tackle, loved that like the way I love a feint to wrong foot from an attacker. Very decent show. Looks more composed.

Davies, got high up at times and made himself available. He's getting back to his best.

Verts.. So good to have him back. Think we've missed him, played well.

Winks.. Loved that run into the box late first half. He's a baller. I've seen him play better, though some of his moments were higher class.

Sissoko. I always had his back for his effort and persistence mainly, but knew he got something. However he really is surpassing what I thought he could be for this team. Serendipity brought us a gift. His run and pass for the goal was simple but almost effortless for him. Clap clap clap.

Alli. Gorgeous touch for the goal, setting up eriksen beautifully. Becoming very composed and was key to our tactical approach and positioning.

Kane... Liked him tonight and I've been tough on him recently. Chose his moments well to drop back. Ut the difference I'm seeing is his getting forward into the box more agrrssivily and directly. Also when is the 433 shape he was pulling wide like he used to. There is a definite development going on. Think its to help him find space as he's the target for defenders in 2s and 3s. The key for me is not to get sucked In to being like Rooney.. And remain a striker and primarily a striker.

Lamela and lucas... Some good bits, tactically and positionally good but not either of thems best night but still showed bits just not enough.

You seem to have given Toby
the night off.

 

[Shadydan]

good twist. Yawn.

Come on your post was a bit ridiculous, you can asses our players without throwing in a snide comment aimed at baiting people you know.

 

[SpursSince1980]

He hasn't said so, but Sissoko must be feeling hugely vindicated when he hears us singing his name. I fancy that us doing that is feeding into his confidence. We should keep it up, for the sake of the team.

Sissoko has had a career with a pattern much like this. He hasn't been a player whose form fluctuates from match to match. He's had long periods of a year or two when he's been forceful, sometimes unplayable, a real asset to any team, including the France national side, and then his confidence or his fitness will go and it takes him another year or two to get back in touch with himself.

That suggests that he's as psychologically delicate as he is physically powerful. It also explains why it has taken Pochettino a couple of seasons to get into his head and get him back to his proper level.

The only thing about his arrival at Tottenham that puzzles me is that it didn't come after his limp period at Newcastle, it came after his rampaging performances for France. What undermined his mentality? Was it just the late signing and them him finding himself un-integrated in the squad and not quite fit enough to function in a Pochettino team? I'm guessing...

In addition to confidence, it could be that CM (or thereabouts) is a better spot for him. I think the first few times he played for us, we used him on the right side of a 3 in a 4-2-3-1. Perhaps he also isn't suited to such an attacking role. Could have also negatively impacted his game and then he lost his confidence. You're right though about his psychological fragility. It's rare I've seen a player that deeply effected by the mental aspects of the game. It's almost Jeckyll and Hyde-like the difference in his play between when he's down on himself versus feeling strong and loved.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

So I've done just that and, as you note, he hasn't shifted his stance at all in any way. In fact he seems to be doubling down.

But, boy, does he cop some heat from the posters there. It's like a non-stop twitter pile on. Felt a bit sorry for him actually as he gamely insists Sissoko was actually very poor last night.

Online masochism

 

[Spurs 1961]

Will give it to Sissoko for making the decisive run for the goal I felt was not going to come. Like players who make things happen.

The defence was great as a unit and with Toby now joined by Jan they look so solid it must give the whole side more confidence.

 

[dannythomas]

So I've done just that and, as you note, he hasn't shifted his stance at all in any way. In fact he seems to be doubling down.

But, boy, does he cop some heat from the posters there. It's like a non-stop twitter pile on. Felt a bit sorry for him actually as he gamely insists Sissoko was actually very poor last night.

It’s unbelievable hostlility there. I’ve posted there a couple of times to back him up on things where he’s attacked unfairly.

 

[SlotBadger]

haha, well-bitten.

Ah yes, of course your original post was designed to get "bites."
Reminds me of some people in Whatsapp groups, posting 'fishing rod' emojis whenever someone responds to something stupid they've said; any opinion opposing their view automatically means the comment was "intentionally" written to bait.

could have fuckd us over

But he didn't.

Sounds like you want to close down debate in the ratings' threads.

Attacking a straw man.

 

[@Bobby__Lucky]

You seem to have given Toby
the night off.

Yah good beviour. ?

 

[Lilbaz]

Why do you write as if you're writing a poem?

It's his thing now. Just smile and nod, it's easier that way.