Ratings vs Man City

[Ossie85]

Pochettino MOTM for the team selection, specially for using Son up front instead of Janssen. We had to take advantage of his form

 

[JimmyG2]

Best all round display for months if not years against worthy opponenets.
Lloris.........6......Money for old rope behind this defence. Distribution an attempt to liven up his life. Stop it Hugo.
Walker.......8......Getting more reliable by the match. No excitement any more.
Verts and Toby...9....Our twin towers. Perhaps not a very good analogy in the light of history but you know what I mean.
Rose...........9.....Oh Danny boy how I missed you,how I missed you my dear old Danny. Spikier than a spike.
Wanyama...9......OK I was wrong. He's pretty good as long as he keeps it simple.Fine game.
Sissoko.......8.....Worked hard. He does what it says on the tin. Runs
Eriksen........8.....Good game Even tackled a couple of times. Oh yes he did.Understated but vital.
Lamela...... .7.....Not quite at the heart of things today. Good job we didn't need him or his penalty.
Son..............8.....Causes problems all over the place.Can't help but like him.
Deli..............8.....Ridiculously over hyped but I love this boy, faults and all. Instinct for gaol and great runs often missed.
Expect the unexpected.

Several candidaes for MOM. All worthy: Verts, Toby, Eriksen, Rose, Wanyama. Speaks to me of a fine all round team display
and special mention for Mauricio, Outthunk his rival or perhaps we are just a better team. Effort 10 all round. With so many outstanding players you can let one fail occasionally. Today it was Erik's turn.

 

[Marvinspur]

Pity we didnt get the 3rd. Though we deserved it. We were by far the better team. Particularly in the first half which is a good as any spurs performance. Just completely on top against a team that has invested way more then us. I really thought they would have caused us more problems. I thought starting Son as a false 9 was great. It gave us so many more options and movement up front. Harry is a big game player but against that high pressing teams perhaps its the way to go in the future.

Lloris (9) - Pretty much the keeper Pep wishes he had. No other words for this he was fantastic in doing all the small things. The amount of times he stopped a chance developing or his quick reflexes to stop the ball drifting to a dangerous area is impressive. I honestly think he is the best keeper in the league. Sure De Gea maybe a marginally better shot stopper but Lloris prevents so many chances from happening with his proactive approach. His distribution was also way better then bravos with his looping balls regularly finding the full backs. Even when under pressure.

Walker (8) - Very good preformance. Used his pace well. Amazing run to lead up to the penalty. He caused all sorts of problems with Sissoko offering width. Allowing him to go central in some of the attacks. Flooding the final third in a way we did perfectly.

Toby (10) - Just awesome distribution and incredibly strong. One of, if not the best, centre back in the league. Remember how much of a problem position this used to be? Not anymore. He also covers excellently for Verts which is capable of being turned. We kept a clean sheet against a free scoring city. That's impressive. Seven games in and we are yet to coincide a goal from open play. Wonder how close we are to the record.

Verts (9) - Back to his best. Beats his man so easily. Silky smooth on the ball yet commanding in the air. His weaknesses are diminished by his partner. Buying a centre back partnership that already understood each other was a no brainier. Particularity in an age where bad defending is the norm.

Rose (8) - Made the cross for the quite frankly a gift of a goal and provided width. Also kept sterling very quite. Could have been sent off risking silly fouls again and again (but sterling could have been sent off two or three times. Those two were going at it all game)


Wanyama (10) - I'm going to be honest with you but I was underwhelmed by his signing. Sure I heard he was good and a big game player but at southampton his reception was mixed. With many fans saying he was reckless and didnt do enough with the ball, and while I think Dier offers more when we need to break teams down Wanyama is far more aggressive. He breaks down attacks brilliantly. Pro-active but postionally aware. Did an impossible job as a single holder incredibly well.

Lamela (7) - Would be 8 were it not for his poor pen after fighting for it. Was part of a our great attacking movement but his decision making remains frustrating. He is still a great presser, is aggressive, and capable of finding holes in the backline. Decent performance.

Sissoko (7) - Neat on the ball. Played the ball out of some very tight situation. Even beat his man on a few occasions. Worked hard. He has flashes of real ability but seems to just stick out wide when you would feel he would be better coming in occasionally. I thought he was a back up for Dembele but he is being played as a surprisingly conventional right midfielder. Not at all sold on him. When Dembele is fit he is the one I would drop.

Eriksen (8) - Playing in a slightly deeper role then usual. Surprisingly disciplined. Was occupying the spaces or rotating team left behind. He is always very busy and workman like. Close to a goal on the free kick. Not at his best this season but still very useful. When he gets invoved the team plays well. Its as simple as that.

Ali (10) - Beating players for fun. Runs from the middle, supported Son well and was an all round nightmare for City. Was invoved in everything good.

Son (9) - Played this sort of false 9 roll perfectly. Sublime pass for the goal and held up the ball really well. He is wonderfully two footed and can find pockets of space so easily. Real gem and in red hot form right now. Should have took the pen. Cant believe I wanted him sold in the summer. I would still want Isco but im now more scared of him going the other way!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All the subs did their jobs perfectly. Helped us manage the game. Nkoudou looks exciting. Very low centre of gravity and incredibly proactive. Seems like a work horse as well. I can imagine him being a real help against packed defenses as well as the perfect player to come off the bench when we are running the clock down or trying to hit teams on the counter.

 

[walton]

Again, to clarify, this did not happen. Lamela picked up the ball and Son attempted to take it from him.

Whoever was not the designated taker is in the wrong.

This. One of the main improvements under Poch has been each individual's understanding of the Team. Whichever of Son/Lamela tried to defy team orders by overriding the designated taker needs to be slapped, and dropped if need be. The team ethos is critical to our play, and that cannot be compromised.

 

[yankspurs]

I would give it to Wanyama, Toby or Vertonghen but Rose put his body on the line out there, got clattered at least 10 times and it felt like City were head hunting him at times. Yet he still kept getting up, was immense all game and didnt put a wrong foot in. Lost his cool once but thats about it. For that reason, Danny Rose is my man of the match.

Lloris - 9
Walker - 8
Toby - 10
Vertonghen - 10
Rose - 10
Wanyama - 10
Alli - 9
Sissoko - 8
Lamela - 8
Eriksen - 8
Son - 9

Dier - 8
N'Koudou, Janssen - NET

Poch - 10 Masterclass. Put on a tactical clinic on the so called master tactictician in Pep Guardiola. Got it 100% right dropping Janssen for a quicker press, as some on here advicated for, like myself. City were on the backfoot for the majority of the game despite ending up with much more possesion.

 

[djw1973]

Wanyama MOTM. When Dier comes on and you prefer to see Wanyama in the CDM role then that speaks volumes.

The whole team were on par with each other. I would mark Erikssen down for his tackling. If he just put his foot in a bit more he would be the perfect player. Special mention to Son who is Bale-esque this season.

 

[nailsy]

You could easily give man of the match to five or six of our players, but I'd give it to Danny Rose. Excellent going forward, excellent defensively. He was fouled all over the pitch but never let it change how he played. Great character from him again today.

 

[richard_gleeson]

Wanyama was absolutely outstanding, but the back 4 and erikson were equally superb. Danny rose has improved so much since poch arrival it's incredible

 

[mpickard2087]

I was so impressed I'm not sure how to make my thoughts coherent...

We've had discussion after discussion on here about what we had to do to get to the next level, what could be improved and dare we say it maybe where Poch needs to evolve (eg. The strict adherence to the 4-2-3-1, and maybe starting to get predictable). There has also been plenty of discussion recently about our performances so far this season, in particular the drop in our pressing game and whether this was a concern. Baring all that in mind, today was a fascinating and extremely encouraging watch.

Pressing.

Let's get right to it, as it was the heart and soul of our performance. Most have been a bit concerned about our pressing efforts so far this season, even more pointed out in the run up to the game that we needed to be bang on it for this game.... And we weren't disappointed. What we got was quite probably (just going off the top of my head) the most ultra aggressive press that we have employed under Poch, we stopped them playing and even better forced mistakes. The first 20 minutes in particular were just magnificent. Total buy in across the pitch, whether it be Son leading things up front or the fullbacks hurtling out to intercept the ball. It was coherent, committed, and the foundations on which the victory was made.

This was also our most impressive press because, in my opinion, it was also the most elaborate and nuanced we have seen under Poch. We saw different players taking turns to spearhead it, we'd press in different initial shapes and were brave in the numbers we committed to it. There was also a fascinating little spell - we hear about Bielsa and his influence on Poch, and Poch occasionally dips into his mentors guidebook eg. the spare man back three vs Watford last year. Today I think he did the same again... I saw a Bilbao game live about four years ago vs. Barca where they went with a man to man press across the pitch and it was fascinating to watch. There was a spell first half today where we seemed to do exactly that.

Our pressing game went up another level today, not just in individual commitment but in application and ideas. I really hope we can make this a common event. It doesn't just need to be employed in the biggest of games.

Team shape.

We've all seen the debate, we all have our ideas and opinions. Quite a few have been worried Poch's 4-2-3-1 is maybe getting a bit predictable and easier to counteract. In the last few weeks he's pleasantly surprised, and with injuries gone to a 4-1-4-1 or whatever you wish to call it. Today though we got even more. It was fluid, it was flexible, there wasn't a set shape. It was intriguing, it was encouraging.

Right from the start, when the opening few minutes saw Eriksen and Sissoko in almost a dual right midfield tandem, it was hard to pin down what we were doing. There was the 4-1-4-1 again. Other times 4-2-3-1. Sometimes Sissoko was wide with Eriksen central, other times vice versa. There were occasions where I'd settled on it being a 4-1-3-1-1 almost. Then you'd have Alli virtually as a second striker in a 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-2-2 shape.

Basically it was all going on. As someone who dreams of us one day getting to the point of being a side playing total football where we can seamlessly adapt and switch to outwit our opponents I was seriously impressed.

Use of the ball.

Finally as a short note, I'm delighted to say that I felt we played out from the back much better today. I'm usually critical of how we deal with teams that press us, but today I saw a lot more calmness and decisiveness on the ball, players able to take the ball on the turn, and turning the ball round the corner etc. or finding the open man with a pass between two markers. Bravo. I also felt we were smart when nothing was on as an outball to play for territory, turn them round with a ball over the top, and start the press again.

Individually I don't think it's fair to point out anyone, it was a real team effort and everyone put in a shift. In terms of what they did off the ball I'd say every player was superb. The eight man press, if you include the fullbacks with our midfield and attack, gave it their all for three quarters of the game and put the stranglehold on. When we then dropped in the last 20 minutes, with a few players starting to flag and to preserve what we had it, and City finally managed to have their spell of pressure it was time for the two centrebacks to follow in the spirit of the rest of their team mates. They were both excellent in the final stages, Vertonghen especially so.

I mused in the match thread after the game whether that is now the best performance we've put in under Poch. For me that title currently goes to the 2-1 win vs Arsenal in the 14/15 season. That was a full 90 minutes of high line, high press, high tempo. Suffocating them as the whole game was played in their half. Today was even better from a pressing aspect and doing a demolition job on one of the big boys, just a question whether the 70 mins today beats the full 90 mins of that NLD and so takes the crown... Maybe just!

To end this delirious ramble, what should encourage us is that there was clear evidence that this wasn't even a 'perfect' game. Without wishing to criticise the performance, how many times did we not make the final or critical pass when well placed? Still yet to discover that clinical and utterly ruthless edge in the final third. If we discovered that, and added it to today, then bloody hell...

Now the small task of making sure we repeat the performance of today in the coming weeks and months. Over to Poch and the lads...


Lloris - A couple of good saves when we needed him. Kicking was extra scattergun today though at times.

Walker - Didn't put a foot wrong. Very good.

Alderweireld - Very good.

Vertonghen - Very good bordering on absolutely superb in the final stages.

Rose - Did his best to get a red card with his handbags yellow and then switching off and fouling Sterling, and did lose the plot slightly I thought late on, but a very good return. Was up and down the left flank, and put in a superb cross for the opening goal. I have missed our chippy, angry, little pitbull and his puffed out chest. Welcome back.

Wanyama - Another very good game pressing, mopping up, and shielding in front of the back four. After a few games I said I didn't think he read the game that well, he still has his moments, but I apologise profusely.

Sissoko - Tactically he was put to good use. Use his energy to press, harry, close down and break up play until he runs out of steam - and it worked. He did dawdle on the ball at times and fail to find a final pass, but I also thought he had moments of nice composure, especially playing out from the back.

Eriksen - Pressed, intercepted, put in a shift, still managed to be our possession hub... Another very good game.

Lamela - Put in his usual all action shift for the cause. Probably our most erratic player with the ball though, and it wasn't a great penalty.

Alli - Much better. Worked hard, put himself about. Less dicking about with the ball, and in fact had some nice moments. Really nice composed finish for the goal.

Son - I've said in recent weeks that despite the goals I haven't been that impressed with his all round game. Well today he didn't score, but his all round game was superb up top. Led the press for 90 mins, held the ball up and battled away as much as his (often outnumbered) stature could battle, and ran the channels to try and stretch them. Wonderful through ball assist on the turn. Far and away his best Spurs performance.

Poch - I doff my cap to you. Hope you've bottled that performance...

 

[allpaths]

lol at everybody claiming that lloris' distribution was poor, i understand why he gets stick but i thought he was relatively solid today

 

[Mr Pink]

lol at everybody claiming that lloris' distribution was poor, i understand why he gets stick but i thought he was relatively solid today

It was ropey at times, no doubt. Phenomenal keeper but his distribution is questionable, and he's aware of it as well, he gets panicky at times.

 

[@majorhank]

That was one of the most complete team performances I have seen against a top side in a while. My natural pessimism as a Spurs fan had me thinking the worst, but in reality, they barely had a clear cut chance at goal. Everyone was fantastic and it was without some key players from last year.

Also the fact that Davies & Trippier are soo good , it allows them to start in CL allowing Walker and Rose to be fresh for this game and be able to keep up the intensity for 90 minutes.

Lloris - Pulled off 2 great saves, other than that had a quiet day. Distribution poor, but when people do get past our back 4, he saves and snuffs out so many attacks.

Walker - Fantastic. Did his job to perfection.
Rose - Amazing today considering he's been out for 6 games. I love his aggression. Fast becoming my fav Spurs player, encapsulates everything you imagine Poch wants in a player.
Toby - He is ridiculously good. Don't think he committed a foul. Unreal. EASILY the best CB in prem
Jan - Amazing performance and probably MOM.

Wanyama - Again amazing. My only gripe is that he keeps getting booked which means he has to ease up on challenges. Think It took Dier until 30th game maybe before he was 1 card away from a suspension. Wanyama must be pretty close already lol. Yellow card aside, he snuffs everything out.

Eriksen - Made it tick and works well in the middle along side Alli in this slightly deeper role.
Alli - I really like him and think he's got some undue stick. He always looks to make stuff happen rather than a lot of players who play sideways and back and have 95% pass completion without effecting a game.
Sissoko - Probably his best performance for us. Still getting up to speed in terms of fitness and how the team play. His passing and crossing in final 3rd was a bit poor but hold up play and passing in deeper was very good.
Lamela -- Relentless in the press and work rate. Wins the ball back and makes clever passes to start the move. Lost the ball a couple of times in silly positions and obv missed the penalty but can't fault his effort.

Son - Was very sceptical about moving him down the middle when all his success has been out wide. But he was great and suited this sort of game.

Poch - GENIUS

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lloris had little to do but made the saves when needed. Some sloppy distribution.

Walker was exceptional and a real leader.

Alderweireld was imperious.

Vertonghen restricted Aguero to half chances, no easy thing. Was great in the air.

Rose had Sterling in his pocket all game and should never have been booked for Navas being an impetuous prick.

Wamyama was immense, harshly booked for a great tackle and dominated City's midfield.

Eriksen, as others have said, was Modricesque. Sublime passing and dictating of the play.

Alli was very mature in his performance, scored a lovely goal, was skillful in his running and linked very will with the other forwards.

Sissoko had a couple of lovely dribbles and brought the ball forward very well. Some great combination play too.

Lamela was disappointing. The penalty situation was absurd, but I was more annoyed with how often he lost the ball.

Son with confidence is great to watch. Tied their defence in knots and, some bad decisions aside, stretched their defence beautifully all game .

 

[allpaths]

It was ropey at times, no doubt. Phenomenal keeper but his distribution is questionable, and he's aware of it as well, he gets panicky at times.

yeah but non of his passes put us under pressure today, while being pressed. he wasn't amazing but he's distribution never hurt us. it's getting to the point where people remember every little miss kick and make a big deal out of it.

 

[Mr Pink]

yeah but non of his passes put us under pressure today, while being pressed. he wasn't amazing but he's distribution never hurt us. it's getting to the point where people remember every little miss kick and make a big deal out of it.

Disagree a bit with that. A few passes put us under a little pressure.

But look, he's a fabulous keeper and today they were all fantastic - so not going to go on about it.

 

[Nocando]

You and Me Back in Stride Again

TA------------JV
Waller---------Wanyama-----------Rose
Sissoko----------Eriksen----Lamela
Son-----Alli
​

You just can't help yourself can you BC? I knew you couldn't go a whole post without digging out at least one of your most hated. It was going so well until you thought it would be 'funny' to call Walker, Rik Waller. So f you @Bus-Conductor, f you.

 

[theShiznit]

You just can't help yourself can you BC? I knew you couldn't go a whole post without digging out at least one of your most hated. It was going so well until you thought it would be 'funny' to call Walker, Rik Waller. So f you @Bus-Conductor, f you.

Actually it's Amanda Waller as he love suicide passes

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

I was so impressed I'm not sure how to make my thoughts coherent...[/B]

We've had discussion after discussion on here about what we had to do to get to the next level, what could be improved and dare we say it maybe where Poch needs to evolve (eg. The strict adherence to the 4-2-3-1, and maybe starting to get predictable). There has also been plenty of discussion recently about our performances so far this season, in particular the drop in our pressing game and whether this was a concern. Baring all that in mind, today was a fascinating and extremely encouraging watch.

Pressing.

Let's get right to it, as it was the heart and soul of our performance. Most have been a bit concerned about our pressing efforts so far this season, even more pointed out in the run up to the game that we needed to be bang on it for this game.... And we weren't disappointed. What we got was quite probably (just going off the top of my head) the most ultra aggressive press that we have employed under Poch, we stopped them playing and even better forced mistakes. The first 20 minutes in particular were just magnificent. Total buy in across the pitch, whether it be Son leading things up front or the fullbacks hurtling out to intercept the ball. It was coherent, committed, and the foundations on which the victory was made.

This was also our most impressive press because, in my opinion, it was also the most elaborate and nuanced we have seen under Poch. We saw different players taking turns to spearhead it, we'd press in different initial shapes and were brave in the numbers we committed to it. There was also a fascinating little spell - we hear about Bielsa and his influence on Poch, and Poch occasionally dips into his mentors guidebook eg. the spare man back three vs Watford last year. Today I think he did the same again... I saw a Bilbao game live about four years ago vs. Barca where they went with a man to man press across the pitch and it was fascinating to watch. There was a spell first half today where we seemed to do exactly that.

Our pressing game went up another level today, not just in individual commitment but in application and ideas. I really hope we can make this a common event. It doesn't just need to be employed in the biggest of games.

Team shape.

We've all seen the debate, we all have our ideas and opinions. Quite a few have been worried Poch's 4-2-3-1 is maybe getting a bit predictable and easier to counteract. In the last few weeks he's pleasantly surprised, and with injuries gone to a 4-1-4-1 or whatever you wish to call it. Today though we got even more. It was fluid, it was flexible, there wasn't a set shape. It was intriguing, it was encouraging.

Right from the start, when the opening few minutes saw Eriksen and Sissoko in almost a dual right midfield tandem, it was hard to pin down what we were doing. There was the 4-1-4-1 again. Other times 4-2-3-1. Sometimes Sissoko was wide with Eriksen central, other times vice versa. There were occasions where I'd settled on it being a 4-1-3-1-1 almost. Then you'd have Alli virtually as a second striker in a 4-1-3-2 or 4-2-2-2 shape.

Basically it was all going on. As someone who dreams of us one day getting to the point of being a side playing total football where we can seamlessly adapt and switch to outwit our opponents I was seriously impressed.

Use of the ball.

Finally as a short note, I'm delighted to say that I felt we played out from the back much better today. I'm usually critical of how we deal with teams that press us, but today I saw a lot more calmness and decisiveness on the ball, players able to take the ball on the turn, and turning the ball round the corner etc. or finding the open man with a pass between two markers. Bravo. I also felt we were smart when nothing was on as an outball to play for territory, turn them round with a ball over the top, and start the press again.

Individually I don't think it's fair to point out anyone, it was a real team effort and everyone put in a shift. In terms of what they did off the ball I'd say every player was superb. The eight man press, if you include the fullbacks with our midfield and attack, gave it their all for three quarters of the game and put the stranglehold on. When we then dropped in the last 20 minutes, with a few players starting to flag and to preserve what we had it, and City finally managed to have their spell of pressure it was time for the two centrebacks to follow in the spirit of the rest of their team mates. They were both excellent in the final stages, Vertonghen especially so.

I mused in the match thread after the game whether that is now the best performance we've put in under Poch. For me that title currently goes to the 2-1 win vs Arsenal in the 14/15 season. That was a full 90 minutes of high line, high press, high tempo. Suffocating them as the whole game was played in their half. Today was even better from a pressing aspect and doing a demolition job on one of the big boys, just a question whether the 70 mins today beats the full 90 mins of that NLD and so takes the crown... Maybe just!

To end this delirious ramble, what should encourage us is that there was clear evidence that this wasn't even a 'perfect' game. Without wishing to criticise the performance, how many times did we not make the final or critical pass when well placed? Still yet to discover that clinical and utterly ruthless edge in the final third. If we discovered that, and added it to today, then bloody hell...

Now the small task of making sure we repeat the performance of today in the coming weeks and months. Over to Poch and the lads...


Lloris - A couple of good saves when we needed him. Kicking was extra scattergun today though at times.

Walker - Didn't put a foot wrong. Very good.

Alderweireld - Very good.

Vertonghen - Very good bordering on absolutely superb in the final stages.

Rose - Did his best to get a red card with his handbags yellow and then switching off and fouling Sterling, and did lose the plot slightly I thought late on, but a very good return. Was up and down the left flank, and put in a superb cross for the opening goal. I have missed our chippy, angry, little pitbull and his puffed out chest. Welcome back.

Wanyama - Another very good game pressing, mopping up, and shielding in front of the back four. After a few games I said I didn't think he read the game that well, he still has his moments, but I apologise profusely.

Sissoko - Tactically he was put to good use. Use his energy to press, harry, close down and break up play until he runs out of steam - and it worked. He did dawdle on the ball at times and fail to find a final pass, but I also thought he had moments of nice composure, especially playing out from the back.

Eriksen - Pressed, intercepted, put in a shift, still managed to be our possession hub... Another very good game.

Lamela - Put in his usual all action shift for the cause. Probably our most erratic player with the ball though, and it wasn't a great penalty.

Alli - Much better. Worked hard, put himself about. Less dicking about with the ball, and in fact had some nice moments. Really nice composed finish for the goal.

Son - I've said in recent weeks that despite the goals I haven't been that impressed with his all round game. Well today he didn't score, but his all round game was superb up top. Led the press for 90 mins, held the ball up and battled away as much as his (often outnumbered) stature could battle, and ran the channels to try and stretch them. Wonderful through ball assist on the turn. Far and away his best Spurs performance.

Poch - I doff my cap to you. Hope you've bottled that performance...

I love this post, but the opening line is my whole Sunday since just after 2 o'clock today

 

[Spurs 1961]

Son for me as the man causing most problems for City. Everyone though was great. Well done lads!

 

[UpTownSpur]

You and Me Back in Stride Again

Ah, you encourageable revolutionary bastard you Poch, just when our love affair was hitting a rocky patch, your moves were getting stale, the things that were endearing early on were becoming annoying, you weren't showing me enough attention, then you go and spring a surprise weekend in Rome on me, fantastic architecture, delicious meaty feast and some new moves in the bedroom and pow, I'm like a loved up teenager again.

That was the most fascinatingly enjoyable game we've played for over a year. Technically, tactically utterly engrossing. I know there were some cracking games last year, but this was different, we didn't just do it within the confines of the formulaic great we were at times last year, we did it showing some tactical diversity, and this wasn't a game against one of the turmoil infused uber teams of last year, this was against a revitalised and exuberant uber team, coached by the best coach on the planet. And we fucked them up.

Let's talk about Guardiola for a second, because in the match thread I questioned his team selection and application, we cannot ignore this, he got it wrong, this wasn't the brave team selection and structure we saw away at Old Trafford; GUARDIOLA BLINKED and played the two Ferd's, and Pochettino was the Old Trafford Gaurdiola today, the brave one and today, as at Old Trafford for Guardiola, bravery won the day.

There's been a few of us (particularly @mpickard2087 springs to mind) who have repeatedly questioned the perceived wisdom that the Dier/Dembele axis was the unshakable bedrock which everything would fall apart without. I hope today we can finally put to bed not only the "No Dembele No Tottenham" bollocks, but the no Dier or Dembele bollocks.

I was not in favour of us signing Wanyama, but only because I feared we'd end up with the Dier/Wanyama (Dembele/Wanyama) treacle pivot that we saw early on, or that he'd just be back up for those two. He won me over from the first game against Everton - I'm such a sucker for a good busy **** - and from then on was screaming for him to be paired with a more footballing "option" that his skill set allows, nay actively begs for, and the last three games Poch seems to have realised this and we are so much better for it.

But the biggest revolution is Poch finally adding some tactical flexibility, another thing that many of us have been screaming for. The previous two games we have played a 433/4141 - or more accurately 41221. Today we played something slightly different and it completely threw City. We played a 4132/4141/442 that in terms of "influence heat map", was actually more like a 2332:

TA------------JV
Waller---------Wanyama-----------Rose
Sissoko----------Eriksen----Lamela
Son-----Alli
​

Application wise we were bang at at. When interviewed after the game Pochettino was asked about how well we pressed them today, and he answered "this is how we always want to play" - this has certainly not been the case, and from now on I hope we get this tempo and aggression back to our game. Of course it helps that we are playing a team that want to play football, but the high press is designed and utilised by people like Guardiola to actually counter the bus park too as it prevents teams from getting set in their defensive shape, and we have to get back to doing this like we did in the really good phase last season.

We were ferocious for that first 45-60 minutes and it was glorious to watch.

Just about everyone was on their A game today, Son, despite the odd poor decision, was at his effervescent best, playing a sublime pass for the second goal, Vertonghen for the third game running outshone an equally solid Alderweireld, and we didn't say that much last year.

Walker was defensively outstanding, Rose contributed so much to the game in both directions, and Alli amidst a fair bit of first touch fuckery also produced one of those typically unique Alli moments of sublimity but, for me, two players shone above all others today, Wanyama and Eriksen. Wanyama (most spurs tackles 6) was busy ****edness at it's best and it was fitting that his intervention started the move that led to the first goal. He was immense, even after the booking, covering ground, hunting and gathering, a masterclass of efficiency. I think for many today, including the pundits, Eriksen's contribution may have gone a little under the radar, but his performance was of equal merit IMO. Played deeper, in a completely different role in the last three games (compared to the last three years so unfamiliar for us even though he did play a similar role for Ajax) against a team like City, he was the metronome around which everything good hubbed, he was Modric-esque today. No one on our team made more passes, but no-one made more interceptions either, he covered almost as much ground as Wanyama, and was a perfect balance to Wanyama's skill set.

The last 30 minutes it was inevitable that we were going to shell, against this City side, 2-0 up it was tactically the right thing to do. They were always going to have some of this game, but we were resolute, disciplinned and everyone was defensively on their game and we allowed them very little. All in all, tactically almost the best possible game we could have played against this City team in these circumstances IMO. My only minor gripe would have been that I would have put Winks in there at some point just to sure up the midfield a little and make it a bit harder for them to pass through us and also give us one more ball wanting player out there to help us hold it a little better in that last 30.

Individual

Lloris - I got mullered for suggesting Vorm was unlucky to automatically lose his place, and I still think that's the case. I don't think Lloris made any saves today that Vorm wouldn't have made, but I think Vorm wouldn't make some of the utterly stupid distribution mistakes Lloris made today, putting us under unnecessary pressure, and Vorm is an excellent sweeper. Lloris is a very good goalkeeper, but I don't think the adulation is always proportionate to the reality for him.

Walker - Defensively outstanding.

Alderweireld - Defensively outstanding.

Vertonghen - Defensively outstanding.

Rose - He got a little bit ragged toward the end but gave so much to this game forwards and backwards. Great game overall.

Wanyama - MOTM 1. Hunting and gathering busy ****edness at it's best.

Eriksen - MOTM 2 - was the perfect metronomic ying to Wanyama's busy **** yang. Saw more ball than anyone, played some lovely and incisive passes as well as making more interceptions than anyone.

Sissoko - OK, worked hard.

Lamela - OK, Worked hard. Got psyched for the pen, you could see the way Bravo chose to stand right over to his right that he was inviting Lamela to put it to his left.

Alli - Has got to improve his first touch, too many important situations are frittered away because of this basic issue, but he worked hard like everyone else, had a pretty decent game overall and did produce a good finish when it mattered.

Son - There were a smattering of careless, poor choice moments, some of them at really crucial and promising moments, and he got himself offside stupidly a few times, but his effervescence shone through and his ball for that all important second goal was sublime and the best ball of the game.

Poch - MOTM 3. Showing tactically diversity and bravery and getting us playing like a team that makes your nuts tingle, days like today are we why love this game.

Some of Son's offsides were very dubious. The one where he carried on playing was completely wrong as he was inside his own half when the ball was played. I thought he mostly made all the right decisions today, bar the shot in the first minute or so when he should have crossed it to Alli.