Match Ratings Ratings vs Palace

[jonnyp]

Mauricio's gamble on Juan paid off handsomely
both in terms of winning the game
and bolstering the boy's confidence.
Although with the state of injuries
he may not have had much choice.
It seemed at first
that it might go horribly wrong.
Plaudits all round.

If you're trying to rhyme then you're doing it wrong

 

[Gilzeanking]

Well we've certainly become a very resilient side. It's hard not to be seriously impressed with our points haul given the amount of away games we've played, the injuries we've had and still not benefiting from a true home advantage and yet we're still level on points with the majestic Liverpool albeit having played a game more.

Do we really get the credit we deserve? Not for me. If we start to seriously get going, and others return to the fold we should be in for another top 3 finish.

Yes , its very easy to forget the performances , check the table and take the view that everything is OK . CP haven't scored since Pontius was a pilot ..and my god they came close . Yes one-nil wins can be the result of grabbing a goal and then shutting up shop .Its a route to trophies alright .

But we aren't close to this template . We grab a goal...but have neither now nor in my 50 years watching Spurs ever had any kind of shutting down games ability...its usually panic stations . The luck that is with us in these very tight games could very, very easily go the other way.Some people are forgetting this as lady luck smiles .

Lets see how we do against half decent teams in the near future .

 

[Japhet]

Close between Foyth and Sissoko but my vote goes to Foyth, mainly because of the way he has brushed off the what happened last time out and put in a display full of calm confidence. We have a player on our hands with an incredibly high ceiling and IMO he has all of the attributes to go all the way. Very glad to see Sissoko visibly building confidence and starting to put in commanding oerformances of power and athleticism. Long may it continue.

 

[coys200]

I think people have underestimated the playing conditions a lot. It was absolutely atrocious and really effected players like moura dele lamela. We just couldn’t get a rhythm going and it played into Palace Hands.

 

[Bulletspur]

While Sissoko played well, and Wanyama was actually okay too albeit not sharp, Pochettino again approached a match v opposition who’d sit back without any really creativity. He picked attacking players, as attacking as ever because you can’t say that this midfield offers less than the Dembele / Dier axis, but to have neither Eriksen nor Winks in the side is so disappointing. That wasn’t keeping players fresh, that was Pochettino choosing brawn over brain and fight over finesse. If he really was interested in keeping players fresh, Llorente or Son would’ve played instead of Kane.

You are just pissed because your favourites weren't playing. Nothing was wrong with the selection. Its a squad game and no one has the divine right to always being picked. On Eriksen recent form (or lack of it) do you think he would have done a better job than Sissoko given the playing conditions? Get over it

 

[OPModric]

You are just pissed because your favourites weren't playing. Nothing was wrong with the selection. Its a squad game and no one has the divine right to always being picked. On Erikson recent form (or lack of it) do you think he would have done a better job than Sissoko given the playing conditions? Get over it

His name is Eriksen.

 

[Mr Pink]

Yes , its very easy to forget the performances , check the table and take the view that everything is OK . CP haven't scored since Pontius was a pilot ..and my god they came close . Yes one-nil wins can be the result of grabbing a goal and then shutting up shop .Its a route to trophies alright .

But we aren't close to this template . We grab a goal...but have neither now nor in my 50 years watching Spurs ever had any kind of shutting down games ability...its usually panic stations . The luck that is with us in these very tight games could very, very easily go the other way.Some people are forgetting this as lady luck smiles .

Lets see how we do against half decent teams in the near future .

Well we should of taken a point off City, and whilst we rode our luck in the last ten minutes yesterday we should of been out of sight against Wolves.

It really isn't riding our luck on the whole though, we're grinding results out effectively and frequently, no fluke.

Can we play better? Yes. Certainly in terms of how we compose attacks. But there's a doggedness about us now that I find really encouraging.

Now if we can get going in the attacking sense with Kane, Eriksen and Dele getting back to previous form, into the new stadium with lots of games to be played there and we could finish very high again.

Kane needs a break before the hectic Xmas fixtures though.

I'd seriously consider resting him against Chelsea if he plays for England. We did OK last season without him at the Bridge, but he needs a break.

I'm glass half full.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

You are just pissed because your favourites weren't playing. Nothing was wrong with the selection. Its a squad game and no one has the divine right to always being picked. On Erikson recent form (or lack of it) do you think he would have done a better job than Sissoko given the playing conditions? Get over it

I don't have favourites. Kane is by far my favourite player, one of my favourites of all time, and I've stated very clearly in that very post that I think he should've been dropped for either Son or Llorente on this occasion. I absolutely love Dembele but am more than comfortable saying he's run out of steam and again, in that very post while decrying that midfield selection suggest that it did just as well as Dembele/ Dier has ever done. I have been equally vociferous in my defence of all of Trippier, Aurier, Rose and Davies. I have stated several times this season that I wanted to see Wanyama played. I am also probably the only person on this site who, since the beginning, has stood up for Sissoko whenever he's been unfairly criticised, and also do so at games, regularly complaining about the sarcasm and abuse he gets from surrounding fans. I don't play favourites.

My complaint is that Pochettino again set up negatively and with a risk averse, brawn over brain tactic and that lately he continuously undervalues finesse and intelligence on the pitch. We played our best game in possession three days prior against a better side than Crystal Palace, we imposed ourselves and played slick football at long last with a style and combination of players which used the ball creatively and with dynamism. Okay, some players aren't currently able to start two consecutive matches, I accept that, but we didn't need to play palace with a line up which Eddie Jones would be proud of, we had the players available to play football the right way. Pochettino preferred a battering ram approach. He has done constantly lately. That might bet he football you want to watch but I'm disappointed with it.

No, this is nothing to do with me playing favourites. This is all about you being obtuse.

Oh, and learn to fucking spell E r i k s e n! He's only been one of our three best players for half a decade.

 

[Shadydan]

Well we should of taken a point off City, and whilst we rode our luck in the last ten minutes yesterday we should of been out of sight against Wolves.

It really isn't riding our luck on the whole though, we're grinding results out effectively and frequently, no fluke.

Can we play better? Yes. Certainly in terms of how we compose attacks. But there's a doggedness about us now that I find really encouraging.

Now if we can get going in the attacking sense with Kane, Eriksen and Dele getting back to previous form, into the new stadium with lots of games to be played there and we could finish very high again.

Kane needs a break before the hectic Xmas fixtures though.

I'd seriously consider resting him against Chelsea if he plays for England. We did OK last season without him at the Bridge, but he needs a break.

I'm glass half full.

And rightly so, we aren't playing great and know we can go at least 3 levels higher than this. We've had an amazing amount of injuries, players having no pre season and players off form plus we've played the majority of games away from home not to mention thag we didn't buy anyone in the summer plus the stadium issues but here we are in contention for top 4 and grinding and out wins whilst not playing well, it can only be a good thing.

We are grinding out results despite these circumstances, I can think of a lot of teams who'd be feeling sorry for themselves right now.

 

[ravo]

Toby, Sissoko, Foyth and Davies were all excellent.
Wanyama and Aurier were good.
Dele wasn't at his best but made a big difference to our structure when he played deeper in the second half.
Moura was lively in patches.
Rest were 'meh'.

 

[Mr Pink]

I don't have favourites. Kane is by far my favourite player, one of my favourites of all time, and I've stated very clearly in that very post that I think he should've been dropped for either Son or Llorente on this occasion. I absolutely love Dembele but am more than comfortable saying he's run out of steam and again, in that very post while decrying that midfield selection suggest that it did just as well as Dembele/ Dier has ever done. I have been equally vociferous in my defence of all of Trippier, Aurier, Rose and Davies. I have stated several times this season that I wanted to see Wanyama played. I am also probably the only person on this site who, since the beginning, has stood up for Sissoko whenever he's been unfairly criticised, and also do so at games, regularly complaining about the sarcasm and abuse he gets from surrounding fans. I don't play favourites.

My complaint is that Pochettino again set up negatively and with a risk averse, brawn over brain tactic and that lately he continuously undervalues finesse and intelligence on the pitch. We played our best game in possession three days prior against a better side than Crystal Palace, we imposed ourselves and played slick football at long last with a style and combination of players which used the ball creatively and with dynamism. Okay, some players aren't currently able to start two consecutive matches, I accept that, but we didn't need to play palace with a line up which Eddie Jones would be proud of, we had the players available to play football the right way. Pochettino preferred a battering ram approach. He has done constantly lately. That might bet he football you want to watch but I'm disappointed with it.

No, this is nothing to do with me playing favourites. This is all about you being obtuse.

Oh, and learn to fucking spell E r i k s e n! He's only been one of our three best players for half a decade.

You're certainly not the only poster on this site to stand up for Sisokko when he wasn't performing well!

I think away to Palace under the lights is a completely different game to PSV at Wembley.

I get what you're saying but Palace are a combative side and with their home support I can understand why he wanted to beef up the middle to protect a partnership that hasnt had long to gel, not to mention Foyth's inexperience and what happened the week before.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

You're certainly not the only poster on this site to stand up for Sisokko when he wasn't performing well!

I think away to Palace under the lights is a completely different game to PSV at Wembley.

I get what you're saying but Palace are a combative side and with their home support I can understand why he wanted to beef up the middle to protect a partnership that hasnt had long to gel, not to mention Foyth's inexperience and what happened the week before.

Ok fine not the only one but I get irate when some jumped up little keyboard warrior infers things that aren’t there and makes stupid unfounded accusations just because he disagrees and dislikes my style as a poster. At least you’ve presented a rational argument which commands a level of respect, he just acted like a drunk armchair fan who is either too lazy or just too incapable to produce reasoned disagreement. Posters who do tuis deservecontempt.

 

[Shadydan]

While Sissoko played well, and Wanyama was actually okay too albeit not sharp, Pochettino again approached a match v opposition who’d sit back without any really creativity. He picked attacking players, as attacking as ever because you can’t say that this midfield offers less than the Dembele / Dier axis, but to have neither Eriksen nor Winks in the side is so disappointing. That wasn’t keeping players fresh, that was Pochettino choosing brawn over brain and fight over finesse. If he really was interested in keeping players fresh, Llorente or Son would’ve played instead of Kane.

I think it was, Eriksen is apparently carrying an injury and Winks has played a lot of football recently, we had something like 4 games in 8 days or something mad like that. Poch has picked attacking players in the past against teams like Crystal Palace and I'm sure if he had the choice he'd normally pick his best regular 11 however I just think the circumstances has dictated his team selection.

Also Kane never gets dropped/rested, rightly or wrongly he made that clear when he said this https://www.eirsport.ie/-crazy-to-drop-kane-says-pochettino

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I think it was, Eriksen is apparently carrying an injury and Winks has played a lot of football recently, we had something like 4 games in 8 days or something mad like that. Poch has picked attacking players in the past against teams like Crystal Palace and I'm sure if he had the choice he'd normally pick his best regular 11 however I just think the circumstances has dictated his team selection.

Also Kane never gets dropped/rested, rightly or wrongly he made that clear when he said this https://www.eirsport.ie/-crazy-to-drop-kane-says-pochettino

If that is correct then so be it but it's not as if it's the first time Pochettino has veered heavily towards physicality over finesse this season, it's become something of a habit. That we are 4th and keeping pace with the top is fantastic and a huge sign that Pochettino is doing something very right, but 13 games in I can't escape the fact that our football has been dour this season. Unimaginative, boring and very difficult to watch.

And even if am very wrong here, and I accept that this is more than possible, it is still a dick move for someone to throw a petty, baseless insult around like 'I'm just pissed because my favourites aren't being picked', especially when quoting a post within which I'm praising the performances of the players I'm who inclusion I've questions and suggested that our best, most important, and only world class player should not have played.

 

[Bulletspur]

His name is Eriksen.

Yeah, you knew who I was talking about so all is not lost

I don't have favourites. Kane is by far my favourite player, one of my favourites of all time, and I've stated very clearly in that very post that I think he should've been dropped for either Son or Llorente on this occasion. I absolutely love Dembele but am more than comfortable saying he's run out of steam and again, in that very post while decrying that midfield selection suggest that it did just as well as Dembele/ Dier has ever done. I have been equally vociferous in my defence of all of Trippier, Aurier, Rose and Davies. I have stated several times this season that I wanted to see Wanyama played. I am also probably the only person on this site who, since the beginning, has stood up for Sissoko whenever he's been unfairly criticised, and also do so at games, regularly complaining about the sarcasm and abuse he gets from surrounding fans. I don't play favourites.

My complaint is that Pochettino again set up negatively and with a risk averse, brawn over brain tactic and that lately he continuously undervalues finesse and intelligence on the pitch. We played our best game in possession three days prior against a better side than Crystal Palace, we imposed ourselves and played slick football at long last with a style and combination of players which used the ball creatively and with dynamism. Okay, some players aren't currently able to start two consecutive matches, I accept that, but we didn't need to play palace with a line up which Eddie Jones would be proud of, we had the players available to play football the right way. Pochettino preferred a battering ram approach. He has done constantly lately. That might bet he football you want to watch but I'm disappointed with it.

No, this is nothing to do with me playing favourites. This is all about you being obtuse.

Oh, and learn to fucking spell E r i k s e n! He's only been one of our three best players for half a decade.

While you might not accept that the spelling of his name (Eriksen) was a typo, I think you should accept that Poch is playing the hand he has been dealt the best way he can under the circumstances. No proper pre season break or training for most of the squad, injuries, lack of form, no transfers in, the Stadium issues, playing 5 games in 13 days are all the variables that have put him under enormous pressure to deliver, by still being part of the top four and to deliver our first silverware in 10 years. I agree he could have picked a more dynamic 11 but this Crystal palace who although he have been successful in the past, we always struggle to beat. I believe on this occasion he fought fire with fire and we won so because of this I will cut him some slack

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Yeah, you knew who I was talking about so all is not lost
While you might not accept that the spelling of his name (Eriksen) was a typo, I think you should accept that Poch is playing the hand he has been dealt the best way he can under the circumstances. No proper pre season break or training for most of the squad, injuries, lack of form, no transfers in, the Stadium issues, playing 5 games in 13 days are all the variables that have put him under enormous pressure to deliver, by still being part of the top four and to deliver our first silverware in 10 years. I agree he could have picked a more dynamic 11 but this Crystal palace who although he have been successful in the past, we always struggle to beat. I believe on this occasion he fought fire with fire and we won so because of this I will cut him some slack

I wish you had bloody said this in the first instance instead of accusing me of being pissy about not seeing m favourites play. I apologise for my overreaction since that point. I may not agree with you entirely, but at least you've made a reasonable stab at explaining why you disagree with my initial post.

 

[Shadydan]

If that is correct then so be it but it's not as if it's the first time Pochettino has veered heavily towards physicality over finesse this season, it's become something of a habit. That we are 4th and keeping pace with the top is fantastic and a huge sign that Pochettino is doing something very right, but 13 games in I can't escape the fact that our football has been dour this season. Unimaginative, boring and very difficult to watch.

And even if am very wrong here, and I accept that this is more than possible, it is still a dick move for someone to throw a petty, baseless insult around like 'I'm just pissed because my favourites aren't being picked', especially when quoting a post within which I'm praising the performances of the players I'm who inclusion I've questions and suggested that our best, most important, and only world class player should not have played.

I dunno, Poch in the past few season has seemed to settle on a favored formation when everyone is fit, in 2016/17 it was 3-4-3, last season it was 4-2-3-1, this season though I just think that we've had so much shit to deal with on and off the pitch that I just think that Poch is just managing the side by picking the best and fittest players and to be honest if we are winning then I don't think we can have any complaints. I think the time to complain is when our players return from injury and we still see risk averse lineups. Our football hasn't been great but I think that's understandable.

 

[double0]

While Sissoko played well, and Wanyama was actually okay too albeit not sharp, Pochettino again approached a match v opposition who’d sit back without any really creativity. He picked attacking players, as attacking as ever because you can’t say that this midfield offers less than the Dembele / Dier axis, but to have neither Eriksen nor Winks in the side is so disappointing. That wasn’t keeping players fresh, that was Pochettino choosing brawn over brain and fight over finesse. If he really was interested in keeping players fresh, Llorente or Son would’ve played instead of Kane.

Explain Dele Alli's role then. He was actually pulling a few strings in midfield

 

[smallsnc]

Poor performance and a poor selection.
But 3 points so MP is vindicated.
Foyth MOTM because it is a great story,

What was the poor selection(s)? We rotated some players and got the result. MP, job well done, IMO.

 

[Gilzeanking]

It really isn't riding our luck on the whole though, we're grinding results out effectively and frequently, no fluke.

.

..And here's where we agree to disagree Mr P ...and yes , I'm a glass half empty man !