Ratings vs Sunderland

[Bofbro]

Eriksen, the kid is class atm.

 

[sloth]

Eriksen MOM - easy as pie that one. Strong cameos from both Ade and Kane. They hassled and harried the Sunderland defence with great aplomb and pulled their 3 CB's every which way, which allowed Eriksen the space he craves. Unfortunetly Spurs this season have been a 2 or 3 man team in parts at best with 8 or 9 passengers. We saw more of that against Sunderland where a chance to shine was foregone by players to seem more comfortable just doing the minimum.

I compared our performance to that of Everton on the weekend who were full of aggression, running and sheer will to win. Chalk and cheese. We always look as we cant be arsed until we go behind and are getting embarrased or wake up at half time as we usually do and realise that we are in a football game.

As usual the tactics and game plan seemed to be missing for the first 25 minutes. At least we had players playing in their ususal spots and we didnt try any of the creative kami kazi team positioning like the set up Tim and his fellow musketeers turned out against Liverpool.

What is it with Tim's sides? Does he confuse them with tactics so they blunder around for 45 minutes and decide at half time that they are going to throw away his tactics and just pass to each other like they should? Its an intruiging conundrum innit?

Frustrating really because when the lads decide to string a few passes together they dont look half bad!

Hmmm... Chadli as the deep-lying playmaker/DM is his usual position? Eriksen on the left?

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Lloris should have just hoofed it for their goal, so partly culpable, but Vlad should have thrown it to him in the first place.

Naughton was unremarkable, which I'll take, but I do want Walker back badlly. At least, unlike the other fullback on the night, this guy tries.

Kaboul sliced one attempted clearance badly early on but otherwise looked his commanding self, not giving their strikers a moment to react to any passes forward and bringing the ball out well.

Chiriches, early fuck up aside (not just playing in Cattermole for an open goal, but throwing it to an unprepared goalkeeper in the first place), he played well, brought the ball out nicely, should good pace to mop up when needed and one his challenges.

Rose can't cross, gets caught out of position, gives the ball away constantly and is outpaced by even the slow Adam Johnson. I can live with that, he's poor, it's not his fault he's playing at a level that's way above him. What I can't live with is giving the ball away when an easy pass is on to Eriksen down the flank, overcommiting to the challenge to try and redeem himself and thus being beaten by the guy he gave the ball to, and then not busting a gut to get back and try to win the ball back. The amount of times last night Eriksen was at left back because this guy is a either lazy, unfit or both is disgusting. Worst attitude I have ever seen of any player, he's like the love child of Taarabt and Dalmat and with none of the ablity. I don't want him here next season, I want him out even more than I want Messi in.

Lennon was pretty involved by his standards, showed good pace to either beat a man to get into crossing positions or get on the end of passes, and worked hard off the ball, but he was infuriating. I've been perhaps his biggest apologist over the years but enough is enough. He's nearly 27 and he still makes the same mistakes. Why he feels the need to keep taking that extra touch when he's already beaten a man, either allowing his marker to get near him again or allowing his intended target (Kane on one memorable occasion) to end up closed down I know not! Just not good enough little man, breaks my heart though it does to say it.

Paulinho served his usual Jenasesque display of lack of involvement, shirking of responsibility and failure to provide anything positive in either direction. It's like playing with a one man midfield when he's in there, and how he was ahead of Sandro, who even off form does so much more than him, I cannot fathom.

Chadli looked far more comfortable than I expected as a central midfielder in a 2, and I'd be intrigued to see him with an actual partner in midfield. His range of passing was good, playing nice long and short balls (aside from a couple of inexplicably overhit passes), and he worked hard off the ball and closed down while on the ball never looked like being dispossed. Next to a Sandro it could be interesting, because he brings the ball retention of Dembele but, even if without his countryman's flair, there is a lot more purpose.

Eriksen played very well, two lovely assists, an outswinging cross with one foot and an inswinger with the other, and a well hit shot to score (albeit with a slight deflection). He looked as confident as I've seen him, knitted play very well and was constantly involved. Very happy, man of the match.

Kane improved as the game went on, showed strength and skill on a few occasions and worked very hard. He could have scored a hatful with the chances he had, but I'm delighted he at least got one. Not sure if he'll ever be top class, but he has a lot of good about him and has a lot of time on his side to improve. He needs to be more instinctive in the box as he doesn't react the way a striker should, but his game outside the box at least is very promising.

Adebayor scored twice and was leader for the night, driving us up the pitch from far deeper than I'd ideally ever like him to be and showing a lot of skill and awareness throughout.

Sigurdsson came on, did little, but scored. It's not the worst habit.

Townsend managed to be very Townsendesque in not much time.

Veljkovic didn't have much time to impress but seemed comfortable the couple of times the ball found him.

 

[sloth]

Lloris should have just hoofed it for their goal, so partly culpable, but Vlad should have thrown it to him in the first place.

Naughton was unremarkable, which I'll take, but I do want Walker back badlly. At least, unlike the other fullback on the night, this guy tries.

Kaboul sliced one attempted clearance badly early on but otherwise looked his commanding self, not giving their strikers a moment to react to any passes forward and bringing the ball out well.

Chiriches, early fuck up aside (not just playing in Cattermole for an open goal, but throwing it to an unprepared goalkeeper in the first place), he played well, brought the ball out nicely, should good pace to mop up when needed and one his challenges.

Rose can't cross, gets caught out of position, gives the ball away constantly and is outpaced by even the slow Adam Johnson. I can live with that, he's poor, it's not his fault he's playing at a level that's way above him. What I can't live with is giving the ball away when an easy pass is on to Eriksen down the flank, overcommiting to the challenge to try and redeem himself and thus being beaten by the guy he gave the ball to, and then not busting a gut to get back and try to win the ball back. The amount of times last night Eriksen was at left back because this guy is a either lazy, unfit or both is disgusting. Worst attitude I have ever seen of any player, he's like the love child of Taarabt and Dalmat and with none of the ablity. I don't want him here next season, I want him out even more than I want Messi in.

Lennon was pretty involved by his standards, showed good pace to either beat a man to get into crossing positions or get on the end of passes, and worked hard off the ball, but he was infuriating. I've been perhaps his biggest apologist over the years but enough is enough. He's nearly 27 and he still makes the same mistakes. Why he feels the need to keep taking that extra touch when he's already beaten a man, either allowing his marker to get near him again or allowing his intended target (Kane on one memorable occasion) to end up closed down I know not! Just not good enough little man, breaks my heart though it does to say it.

Paulinho served his usual Jenasesque display of lack of involvement, shirking of responsibility and failure to provide anything positive in either direction. It's like playing with a one man midfield when he's in there, and how he was ahead of Sandro, who even off form does so much more than him, I cannot fathom.

Chadli looked far more comfortable than I expected as a central midfielder in a 2, and I'd be intrigued to see him with an actual partner in midfield. His range of passing was good, playing nice long and short balls (aside from a couple of inexplicably overhit passes), and he worked hard off the ball and closed down while on the ball never looked like being dispossed. Next to a Sandro it could be interesting, because he brings the ball retention of Dembele but, even if without his countryman's flair, there is a lot more purpose.

Eriksen played very well, two lovely assists, an outswinging cross with one foot and an inswinger with the other, and a well hit shot to score (albeit with a slight deflection). He looked as confident as I've seen him, knitted play very well and was constantly involved. Very happy, man of the match.

Kane improved as the game went on, showed strength and skill on a few occasions and worked very hard. He could have scored a hatful with the chances he had, but I'm delighted he at least got one. Not sure if he'll ever be top class, but he has a lot of good about him and has a lot of time on his side to improve. He needs to be more instinctive in the box as he doesn't react the way a striker should, but his game outside the box at least is very promising.

Adebayor scored twice and was leader for the night, driving us up the pitch from far deeper than I'd ideally ever like him to be and showing a lot of skill and awareness throughout.

Sigurdsson came on, did little, but scored. It's not the worst habit.

Townsend managed to be very Townsendesque in not much time.

Veljkovic didn't have much time to impress but seemed comfortable the couple of times the ball found him.

I'm 65 minutes in and rose has been excellent.

I'm surprised at how many people are simply making the throw-away comment that chadli looked good in a midfield two. He wasn't just in a two, he was playing the holding midfield player in a diamond. It was the role Jol used to have Carrick and then Huddlestone play. Whether it's a good move or not, playing Chadli there is surely worth a lot more comment than there's been in this thread?

 

[OmarsComing]

I know Lennon didn't come through our academy. I didn't say he did, I just can't believe we can't produce a kid with more to offer than "0". I was being facetious, I am sure we have.

On a good day Rose and Walker are very comparable. On a bad day Rose plunges a level or two below Walker.

Walker's absolute worst day at the office is a good game for Rose. Even Naughton playing at RB is better than Rose playing at LB

 

[Archibald&Crooks]

Has anyone mentioned the massive improvement in the way we passed the ball last night. No? Too busy putting the boot in perhaps…..Absolutely loads of give and go's, pass and move, pass and move, little one two's, angles and therefore opportunities created. It was actually decent to watch if you can get past people making mistakes and not putting in a 100% mistake free performance.

A&C: Taking the anal out of analysis.

 

[Scottish Spur]

Is it wrong that in such a thoroughly decent performance in which Eriksen showed genuine class, my big thought coming away from the game is that we have the worst full back pairing in world football ?

 

[sloth]

75' and Rose makes his first real error, in what has otherwise been an accomplished performance, with Eriksen running free in acres of space he manages to find the lone Sunderland defender instead.

 

[Phantom]

if I had to keep one out of Benny Rose and Naughton it would be Rose

We should be keeping Kyle Naughton as he is a right back (backup) and has shown he is actually not a bad deputy, he would hopefully be third or fourth choice in terms of left back.

Rose is crap and not only at defending but also going forward....heaven forbid he goes forward though and ruins an attack with his inept ability because fuck me someone better have been covering as he won't be getting back to help.... No he will gently jog back into position. I don't think I have seen a worse Left back here. I really don't like him as a footballer or his attitude, he thinks he deserves first team football and doesn't even have to work hard to keep it. He is just lucky that his only competition for a first team place consists of a young left back with no experience, a right back with not much experience and a centre back who has made it abundantly clear he doesn't want to play there!

Quite frankly I see more promise in Zeki and would prefer he starts more games.

 

[mpickard2087]

I'm 65 minutes in and rose has been excellent.

I'm surprised at how many people are simply making the throw-away comment that chadli looked good in a midfield two. He wasn't just in a two, he was playing the holding midfield player in a diamond. It was the role Jol used to have Carrick and then Huddlestone play. Whether it's a good move or not, playing Chadli there is surely worth a lot more comment than there's been in this thread?

I did mention it in my ratings. A strange looking selection that actually worked out quite well when we had the ball, albeit with the caveat that we were playing a poor team and even then they had a few times where they got into an enormous amount of space between our defence and midfield. When we had the ball he almost always recycled it well and for once we had a player knocking passes about that were in front of the man so he could move onto it and push forward. What also helps him in that role is that he can pass the ball with both feet and is comfortable going/moving both left and right with the ball, it doesn't half open up the field of play. He then also had the power and ability to drive forward with the ball, if the chance presents itself.

It was a very interesting selection that worked well. Wouldn't mind seeing him play there again in all truth. I'd prefer it to be with a bit more defensive cover in the midfield because obviously this side of his game needs a lot of work. He's got some of the tools to play that role on a longer term basis, but we shall see...

 

[Oshi]

Rose has some good moments but is generally complete bojangles.

 

[bceej]

Interestingly, Schweinsteiger was a winger until LVG took over Bayern and he turned him into a CM. If LVG takes over us, it wouldn't surprise me if he did the same.

Bentaleb was also a winger when he joined us, but by the summer (signed in January I think) was playing the deep-lying playmaker role.

 

[Scottish Spur]

Rose excellent ?!?!?!

Whatever you guys are on, I'll have some.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Has anyone mentioned the massive improvement in the way we passed the ball last night. No? Too busy putting the boot in perhaps…..Absolutely loads of give and go's, pass and move, pass and move, little one two's, angles and therefore opportunities created. It was actually decent to watch if you can get past people making mistakes and not putting in a 100% mistake free performance.

A&C: Taking the anal out of analysis.

I think by and large our movement off the ball was once again quite poor. I actually noticed several times - and meant to mention it - people would pass and then not move, or move into a position to receive a ball, then if the ball didn't arrive they would not think, adjust and move a second time or third time to make new angles or opportunities they would just stand there and think fuck it I've moved once already I'm not moving again, find someone else.

I think all that happened last night was we played a team so abjectly bad and so poor off the ball compared to the last three we've played (Arse, Southampton, Liv) it made us look better at passing.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

75' and Rose makes his first real error, in what has otherwise been an accomplished performance, with Eriksen running free in acres of space he manages to find the lone Sunderland defender instead.

What about when in great crossing position(s) and he balloon's it to no-one, does that not count as an error ?

 

[sloth]

Has anyone mentioned the massive improvement in the way we passed the ball last night. No? Too busy putting the boot in perhaps…..Absolutely loads of give and go's, pass and move, pass and move, little one two's, angles and therefore opportunities created. It was actually decent to watch if you can get past people making mistakes and not putting in a 100% mistake free performance.

A&C: Taking the anal out of analysis.

That's some great ysis mate, great ysis!!

 

[sloth]

What about when in great crossing position(s) and he balloon's it to no-one, does that not count as an error ?

I watched the whole match waiting for him to start nausing it up. My thinking was that in the past Rose has looked unfit as the match goes on, so perhaps all the shit play came in the last quarter or something, but no, it was an all round good showing from him, a clear 7 out of 10. Yes, his performance wasn't error free that is correct, but neither was Eriksen's or anyone's.

Which brings me to the rest of this thread, I can't believe the negativity from some. Yes it was against sunderland, but for most of the match they were competing, however as A&C said in his succinct and insightful ysis, some of our play was simply excellent, we had rhythmn and tempo, there was cutting edge and genuine goal scoring opportunities throughout. We played right through the 90 minutes, and the only sticky patch was the part after they went ahead. We were comfortable on and off the ball the four defenders were very good. Chadli in the holding role (who'd have played him there btw?) was calmness personified, and he played a couple of glorious through-balls to boot. Even Lennon was good. Apart from eriksen and Ade being generally superb, my favourite performance of the night came from Kane, who's clever positioning, awareness of the offside trap and good finishing got him one and a half goals (the half for the one Ade tapped in), and all the while he managed to occupy two CBs giving Ade the licence to go and make the difference elsewhere. for me the most encouraging performance of recent times and confirms me in my huge optimism for next season, whoever's in charge.

 

[SteveH]

Adebayor for me. 2 goals and never stopped working.

 

[King of Otters]

Rose has some good moments but is generally complete bojangles.

His crossing....dear God.

 

[ILS]

75' and Rose makes his first real error, in what has otherwise been an accomplished performance, with Eriksen running free in acres of space he manages to find the lone Sunderland defender instead.

So what was the attempt of a cross in the first half, if that was not an error?

The amount of times this season that he gets in a good position whilst coming from deep and either overhits or hits the first man with a cross time in time out. What does he do all day at training?

He is and will always be an average premiership player. If he was our second choice i could live with it but first....the world is one messed up place!

If a club like West Brom signed either of Rose or Naughton..how would their fans's feel?

Probably the same of our's the day we brought Andy Booth in on loan!