Match Ratings Ratings vs Manchester UTD

[spids]

I thought we were quite average by our own standards.

Lloris 7
Trippier 6
Toby 8
Verts 7
Rose 5
Dier 5
Dembele 7
Dele 7
Eriksen 7
Moura 9
Kane 7

Aurier 6
Davies 6

Poch 7

However, we could have had at least 5 goals (penalty and Dele wasteful on 3 occasions). This was an efficient away performance and shows how strong we are psychologically.

On a side note, Man U were terrible and Mourinho is in his third season and has spent hundreds of millions. It’s his squad. They need to sack him.

 

[parj]

We seem to be giving up a lot chances and tbh we’ve been a tad fortunate to have 9 pts. Anyone have a theory why ? It’s not defensive mistakes, our defenders and Hugo have been saving us with last minute blocks. We seem very exposed infront of the back 4.

To be fair one was a gift from Rose, but we shouldn't expect to stop teams from creating like Man Utd. We now also play with one less man defending as Moura is playing almost level with Kane.

Newcastle and Fulham were the type of games we usually under estimate our opposition.

 

[T-Love92]

Feels so good to have Toby back...especially in this sort of games, he was rock solid! Verts of course too.

Lucas Moura by far the best player on the pitch for me - relentless pressing, very good technique, cause trouble for their defense. Great player!

Kane with a superb header to break the deadlock for us, very important goal.

Dele with some bad decision-making

Dier and Eriksen bad first half, bit better in second - Rose looked off the pace and misplaced a few passes

Overall we were lucky that they didn't score in first half, otherwise they would have grinded it out. After Kanes goal, we suddenly believed and that was seen on the pitch, way better going forward and pressing to stop their attacks.

 

[double0]

We beat Manchester United 0-3 at Old Trafford.

Think about that and bloody well enjoy it...COYS

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

I think that if you took City and Liverpool out of the equation we would be odds on title contenders.

Right, we would undoubtedly be the best team if we didn't have other competitors that are really, really good.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Moura MOTM, but honourable mentions to Toby, Verts, Hugo and Dembele who was average first half but absolutely bossed the midfield in the second.

You said a few weeks back that Moura was going to impress this season

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Epic result - could have been very different mind you.

Just as important to reflect on the bits that didn't go well as those that did.

Bad:
- Dier doesn't look like a CM to me
-...more generally, our CM still (IMO) is crying out for some more quality. Maybe that's a fit Wanyama and Winks, but, while we know they can be great, they've been difficult players to rely on in the last 12 months
- arguably our best players, Kane and Eriksen, aren't anyway near their best
- Rose looks rusty as hell and had they scored that chance he laid on a plate, things could have been very different
- the first 30 was shocking. Start like that against City, Chelsea or Liverpool and we won't get a result
- in the 15 minutes he was on, Aurier still found ways of making me nervous. His decision making is very odd

Good:
- Kane still doesn't look near his best, but is still scoring
- Eriksen still doesn't look near his best, but is still everywhere and his pass to Lucas for the goal was perfect
- Dembele, who I think Poch is managing well, is showing flashes
- Toby is back
- Dele is looking a more complete player than last season, really liking his development
- Lloris has started the season really well
- the bench now looks strong
- we don't seem to be anyway near our best, and yet are just getting results, and this is more than any result: shambles or not, a 3-0 win at OT is incredible
- Lucas: I mean, he's the guy we've needed for a while isn't he? For £25m? That's brilliant. Look at the left footed touch before he nails the finish for 3-0...it's so deft you hardly notice it, but it makes the shot 10 times easier. He's arrived

In terms of man for man marking, this was won by:
- Lloris being pretty solid
- Toby coming back: some of his play was a stark reminder of how good he can be
- Dembele of the second half
- Kane, despite being quiet, for scoring a header he had no right to score (let's ignore the header he had no right no miss...)
- but most of all Lucas: that was an absolutely fantastic display, genuinely brilliant

 

[Japhet]

Moura getting the plaudits, and rightly so, but our success was built on the huge amount of work done by Dier and Dembele who were overloaded in CM but managed to hang in there and then take control. Not pretty but it enabled us to push Moura and Kane onto their wobbly back line. Mourinho got what he deserved playing Herrera at CB in a total wtf? formation. It's OK being a smart arse when you win but that was one bizarre decision. We could have had 8 when you count up.

 

[Gilzeanking]

Glorious day , wonderful result...still tingling.. But..

...Only one person here noticed what drove me mad 2nd half . Rose (5) simply stopped bothering to prevent crosses coming in from his side. He's just stand off 3-4 yards away and allow the crosser all the time he wanted to pick his spot . So happy when Davies came on , never thought I'd feel like that about Danny . Reminded me of bad old Spurs . If I was Poch I'd fucking kill him for that .
Loan deal to Schalke ? his sky-high view of his value taking a knock hopefully .

Hopefully Toby (8) is wondering about the wisdom of dumping no-hopers Spurs for the wonderful title winning chance of joining these wanker Mancs !

As Commentator said , creatively Dele (6) and Eriksen(6 ) weren't up to much . Strange to see Dele's brain moving so slowly in those critical moments...but he worked hard at his defending . Wonder if Christian is affected by contract issues . We seem to be at the same place as a year ,or was it 2 ago, when it took the Danish manager to make some well aimed public criticisms and snapped him out of it .

I see people saying Dembers (8) had a bad 1st half ..I didn't notice ...but thought he was generally wonderful at winning the ball back..last minute blocks and calming the midfield . Great performance from him..so happy he's still with us . We obviously need him.

Nothing to add to general Moura (9) love . Bloody marvellous .

Trips (6.5) seemed to be bypassed easily at times , bit worrying .

Wonderful night, but City , Pool and Chelsea would not let us off all those chances so easily .We have to improve .

 

[Trix]

I thought we were quite average by our own standards.

Lloris 7
Trippier 6
Toby 8
Verts 7
Rose 5
Dier 5
Dembele 7
Dele 7
Eriksen 7
Moura 9
Kane 7

Aurier 6
Davies 6

Poch 7

However, we could have had at least 5 goals (penalty and Dele wasteful on 3 occasions). This was an efficient away performance and shows how strong we are psychologically.

On a side note, Man U were terrible and Mourinho is in his third season and has spent hundreds of millions. It’s his squad. They need to sack him.

Mourinho is not a coach and never will be. That's why when things aren't going well he can't fix them without straight out buying replacements.

 

[JonnySpurs]

Let's be clear, Dier was probably our best player vs Newcastle and then also very good against Fulham.

Granted he didn't play overly well last night but do we have to do this whole "he's not a CM" thing whenever he has a poor/average game? It's getting really boring.

 

[wirE]

Lucas (obviously) and then Toby and Lloris. All brilliant

 

[dagraham]

Let's be clear, Dier was probably our best player vs Newcastle and then also very good against Fulham.

Granted he didn't play overly well last night but do we have to do this whole "he's not a CM" thing whenever he has a poor/average game? It's getting really boring.

According to you maybe. I just saw a player who shat himself every time a Newcastle player closed him down.

It may be boring to you, but it's a valid argument, because in my opinion the guy is regressing and it's only his attitude and commitment that I can't fault. Now you could say well that's all that matters, but that's the least we expect in this Spurs team these days and for me he is the weakest link in the team at the moment and it's not something that has just materialised in the last few games.

 

[JonnySpurs]

According to you maybe. I just saw a player who shat himself every time a Newcastle player closed him down.

It may be boring to you, but it's a valid argument, because in my opinion the guy is regressing and it's only his attitude and commitment that I can't fault. Now you could say well that's all that matters, but that's the least we expect in this Spurs team these days and for me he is the weakest link in the team at the moment and it's not something that has just materialised in the last few games.

Absolute nonsense.

We'll simply have to agree to disagree.

 

[aussie spur]

Absolute nonsense.

We'll simply have to agree to disagree.

I disagree with you too. I am sure many on here are divided on this. I know that quite a few people thought Dier played well in the first two games, but I can't see it. He is very immobile, his passing is uninspiring and I loathe the way he loses his rag at teamates. Didn't see last night so can't comment but in general would love a more dynamic DM than him. Big Vic or other all the way.

 

[EastLondonYid]

Mourinho is not a coach and never will be. That's why when things aren't going well he can't fix them without straight out buying replacements.

That's abit harsh......i'm sure winning the CL with Porto took some degree of coaching.

 

[dagraham]

Brilliant win, but I stand by what I and others said during the first half. We were pretty poor until we scored in all honestly and although we deserved to win overall 3-0 definitely flattered us. Our inability to keep the ball in midfield for more than a few passes in that first half was quite alarming, and also served to nullify one of our main threats in Trippier as we were simply unable to get the ball into him anywhere near their final third.

Can't underestimate the importance of the first goal. Moura made the difference though and turned what was a disjointed performance into a great win. That's what goals and stand out moments do though.

The good thing is we have made a great start even though it's clear a lot of our players are still blowing the cobwebs off from the World Cup.

Lloris - 7 - A confident start to the season. Good move by Poch to keep faith in him.

Verts - 7.5 - Nervy start like everyone. Once he settled he was as imperious as ever.

Toby - 8 - Again a bit shaky at the start, but after that showed just what he's all about. Just gives a level of assurance to the defence and his ability on the ball should not be underestimated.

Rose - 5 - Better in the second half, but still way off the pace. Can't work out whether it's just lack of game time/head scrambled from potential move away or whether he's just lost it since the knee injury

Trippier - 6.5 - couldn't get into the game at all during the first half as we couldn't keep it long enough for him to push up, but showed his ability with the ball to Eriksen and got an assist for the first goal.

Dier - 5 - To be honest, I think 5 is generous. Love his attitude, but he was a total passenger and the game was simply going on around him. He was actually so behind every one else he couldn't even get close enough to foul the opposition. And the times when he did find himself on the ball he either instantly slowed it down, gave it away or could only play a 5 yard backwards pass. I know it seems I'm scapegoating him, but although others had poor games they at least contributed in other areas. He didn't protect the back four, he didn't keep the ball ticking over and he didn't get it forward into the attacking players.

Dembele - 7 - Poor first half and showed why there is concern of whether he is physically losing his edge when the game is going on at a 100 miles an hour. Excellent second half.

Eriksen - 6-5 - Nowhere hear his level really, even though he showed great movement and a good pick out of Moura for the second goal. Hope it's not contract talk on his mind and just his usual slow start to the season.

Moura - 9 - MOTM - easiest motm decision you could have. Fantastic energy, pressing, directness and of course great ability and finishing.

Ali - 7 - Worked really hard and was one of our better players in terms of retaining possession. Two poor pieces of decision making though in the first half which could have cost us and really should have put the game to bed with his chance in the second.

Kane - 7 - showed his class with the goal and assist, but his overall game is definitely a level below he has shown before. I don't think it's a form thing as he's still producing, but something is amiss. Probably just a cumulative effect of returning from injuries too soon and non stop football for a while.

 

[SEANSPURS1975]

Great result. Lucas Moura MOM. Special mention for Toby who was an absolute colossus at the back. COYS

 

[JonnySpurs]

I disagree with you too. I am sure many on here are divided on this. I know that quite a few people thought Dier played well in the first two games, but I can't see it. He is very immobile, his passing is uninspiring and I loathe the way he loses his rag at teamates. Didn't see last night so can't comment but in general would love a more dynamic DM than him. Big Vic or other all the way.

I'm not really sure what you're disagreeing with.

All I said was do we have to roll out the same tired phrase that "Dier is not a CM" every time he has a poor game. I've been critical of him in the past and I have also said previously that IMO he could one day be a superb CB but he will only ever be a decent/good CDM.

For me he lacks consistency but the reality is that he has had some great games in CM.

The reality is that he's the best CDM option we have right now. Wanyama is the better CDM but he can't stay fit and he's missed another pre-season. Wanyama was average last season once he got fit and I think that's cos he wasn't fully fit. If he can get back to his form that he showed in his first season with us then I'd like to think he'll get that CDM spot and Dier will get switched to CB. However, right now we don't have many other options.

Dier is in danger of becoming the next scapegoat and it's just tiresome IMO.

 

[mpickard2087]

Bit of a rollercoaster of a game. At times frantic, messy, bit chaotic, defensive errors, glaring misses, and then thankfully for us in the second half a smash and grab effort, and three moments of quality that punctuated the game and gave us a very satisfying win.

You expect these sort of games to be a bit tight and tense, both teams maybe not showing their best under the pressure. The first half though was a real slog, for both teams, in all sorts of ways. United came out and put in a real effort (Gary Neville pretty spot on post-game saying that it was a little bit frantic/desperate) and to be quite honest for the first half hour at least had us pretty rattled, as we do sometimes/often (delete the one your opinion finds applicable) get when a team rushes us and forces certain players out of their comfort zone and gives them the hurry up. Passes weren't sticking, we were struggling to play our way up the pitch, we had players stop offering themselves to the man on the ball. It was difficult going.

United's extra bluster I'd say saw them shade the first half, but really both teams were a mirror image of each other. Struggling to move the ball about, a bit sloppy, and both teams defensively looked vulnerable - our shape wasn't great, with individuals making poor decisions/reads/choices when going about their work, and some spectacular errors that the opposition really should have punished.

HT wasn't very comfortable, we were still in it but the consensus seemed to be we had to play a lot better.... To be quite honest the start to the second half didn't look to promising, because straight away in the opening seconds we made some silly errors and were immediately defending our own box again. You thought it might be another of those days at Old Trafford.

But then the smash and grab came. Kane's header was superb, moments later (though admittedly Lukaku nearly equalised in between) a couple of passes down the right into space and Moura is on hand to sweep home at the end of the move. It can change so quickly, sport.....

The game then settled back into it's pattern. Us being forced back a little and trying to protect the lead, not a lot of spectacular football, both defences looking quite suspect and inviting pressure on themselves. However as the game got into the latter stages we managed to scramble pretty well around our own penalty area and snuff out any moments of danger. United just couldn't get back from those hammer blows and rather limped towards the final few minutes, and we had a final flourish with Moura's electric goal. Superb. We also had a little bit of luck, because for some reason Poch was going to sub off Moura prior to that (why!?), but Rose forced a rethink of those plans.

Three wins out of three is a good start, any win at Old Trafford is a great result..... Yet I still don't think we have played well as of yet. We haven't played our best football, some individuals still aren't firing at 100%, and yet again in this game I thought our pressing, our defensive shape, and compactness was really quite poor and nowhere near what Poch's team does at it's best. That should be encouraging for us fans that we know there is more to come, but lets hope the team are also aware of this and don't rest on their laurels.....


Lloris - A few sloppy moments with the ball at his feet, made a couple of good saves when required.

Trippier - Felt he had a poor game. Involved in the build up to the second goal, but constantly (no exaggeration) made poor reads/choices/decisions in defence, when/who to press for example, and often opened up gaps down his flank.

Alderweireld - Probably his best game for about two years. A couple of minor errors but stood firm, defended well, and mopped up for others throughout. The big man is back.

Vertonghen - Wasn't perfect, another who made some poor choices at times and got exposed down his channel and needed bailing out. Did defend our box pretty well late on though when we were under pressure.

Rose - Much like Trippier, positionally wasn't great a lot of the time and allowed too much down his flank. Also nearly gifted them a goal with that backpass. Improved a bit in the second half, but still looks to be really struggling physically.

Dier - Maybe his worst ever game in central midfield, I'm afraid. First half the pace and frenetic nature just blew him away, he couldn't keep up. Second half the game largely passed him, even when we were being forced to defend for periods of time.

Dembele - Slug for about 60 minutes, his only real contributions were to hand United attacking opportunities, but helped our defensive effort late on and did work hard to cover ground.

Eriksen - Involved for the second goal, but still looks a yard off the pace and this system I don't think is helping him with the ball, or without it. Looks a bit unsure of his surroundings.

Alli - Work rate was ok, use of the ball wasn't fantastic.... And wasted a couple of great chances, cant use his left foot to save his life/tap in an open goal.

Moura - Far and away our best player. For the second week in a row performed heroics by basically being a one man pressing effort. Tenacious, competed for everything, ran his bollocks off and chased down everything, forced mistakes, and for doing this work he was justly rewarded. Composed for his first goal, electric for his second. Bravo.

Kane - Great header, stats will say he also got an assist, but come on the rest was pretty sluggish. You look at his striker partner competing for everything, chasing down defenders, giving 110% for the cause, and think he used to do that once upon a time........

Subs:
None really had enough time on the pitch.