Ratings vs WBA

[Neon_Knight_]

Kane gets my poll vote for MOTM, as our best player. However, I would give Foster MOTM overall, because he made more top-draw saves than Kane scored goals.

Team performance - 9 - I'll give us 10/10 when (not if!) we beat one of the big clubs by a similar margin

Poch - 10 - Before recent games, I had worried that we would be too negative playing with three CBs and a holding midfielder. This really isn't the case though, with the wing-backs and CBs being given far more freedom in possession. We now attack better as a team, with the loss of an AM being more than compensated for (and that option still remains available on the bench, when we're chasing a goal). Poch deserves a lot of credit for further improving the balance and effectiveness of an already strong team.

Lloris - 7 - Little opportunity to contribute.
Walker - 9.5 - Faultless defensively and was great going forwards (esp. 2nd half). Even his crossing has been better recently (even if it's not in the same league as Trippier's).
Dier - 8 - Good performance.
Alderweireld - 8.5 - Excellent defensively and some of his passes were almost too good for a CB (there was more than just that ball to Walker).
Vertonghen - 8.5 - Enjoying the freedom of playing as part of a back three, when in possession.
Rose - 9.5 - Dominated his flank again.
Wanyama - 8.5 - Broke up play well, looked comfortable on the ball and kept things simple.
Dembele - 9 - Once again seemed to have more strength, pace and ability than the opposition's CM pairing combined.
Eriksen - 9.5 - Looked to be a step ahead of everyone else today, in terms of awareness and vision, and had the passing precision to match.
Alli - 8.5 - Still taking risks in the final third, but his decision making is improving. I loved the impudence of his finish (rightly ruled out for offside) and the flick to set up Kane.
Kane - 9.9 - Movement and finishing were fantastic today. Could have scored even more, He was far from wasteful with the chances he didn't score.

Davies - 7 - Little to do, but it's generally not a bad thing when a defender goes fairly unnoticed.
Winks - 7 - Tidy performance, but not enough time to really get his teeth into the game.
Son - NET - No time to make a meaningful contribution.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Lloris made a very good save of Rondon even though it was offside but he wasn't to know.

True, but is that alone worthy of 10/10? I think my rating of 7 is fair.

 

[Shadydan]

True, but is that alone worthy of 10/10? I think my rating of 7 is fair.

Ha no, that comment was a bit tounge in cheek...keepers are always funny to rate when the team produces a commanding performance and they don't have anything to do, marking Lloris down 3/4 marks because everyone else was so good seems a bit unfair although he didn't put a foot wrong when called upon, funny one.

 

[SydneySpur]

MOM - Kane and Eriksen

Wanyama is really really fucking good btw. What a great signing.

 

[Neon_Knight_]

Ha no, that comment was a bit tounge in cheek...keepers are always funny to rate when the team produces a commanding performance and they don't have anything to do, marking Lloris down 3/4 marks because everyone else was so good seems a bit unfair although he didn't put a foot wrong when called upon, funny one.

It partly depends on how someone decides upon their ratings. You could start everyone at 10 and then deduct marks for mistakes, start them at 0 and add on for contributions, or go for something in-between (which is what I do). I generally give players 6 for a par performance and anything higher has to be earned with contributions, rather than by not making mistakes. My MOTM often only gets an 8 or 8.5. I knock marks off for mistakes, so 5 or lower is reserved for players who overall made a negative impact on the game.

I gave Lloris and the subs get 7s instead of 6s today, but mainly because I'm feeling generous. Foster just about scrapes a 10/10, as he wasn't at fault for any of the goals and made quite a few brilliant saves.

 

[Shadydan]

It partly depends on how someone decides upon their ratings. You could start everyone at 10 and then deduct marks for mistakes, start them at 0 and add on for contributions, or go for something in-between (which is what I do). I generally give players 6 for a par performance and anything higher has to be earned with contributions, rather than by not making mistakes. My MOTM often only gets an 8 or 8.5. I knock marks off for mistakes, so 5 or lower is reserved for players who overall made a negative impact on the game.

I gave Lloris and the subs get 7s instead of 6s today, but mainly because I'm feeling generous. Foster just about scrapes a 10/10, as he wasn't at fault for any of the goals and made quite a few brilliant saves.

Yeah totally subjective!

 

[scat1620]

Have we won 6 straight PL games before ?

This current run matches our previous best (in the PL era) winning streak of 6 games, set just under a year ago in Jan-Feb 2016:

Sunderland (H) 4-1
Crystal Palace (A) 3-1
Norwich City (A) 3-0
Watford (H) 1-0
Manchester City (A) 2-1
Swansea City (H) 2-1

(Almost too painful to mention that that run last year was book-ended by two of our most painful defeats of the season: Leicester at home before the Sunderland game, and then West Ham away after the Swansea game.)

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Have we won 6 straight PL games before ?

Equalled our record so I guess yes, I assume in one of the hot periods under Redknapp.

 

[Frozen_Waffles]

Change of formation - 10

Width with crosses coming in, it's all I ever wanted, I was bored to tears with turgid slow backwards passing. Rose and Walker are now wingers against the shit teams and bloody good ones.

Direct balls to wingers, wingers putting in early crosses equals more chances and goals, if we continue like this Kane could hit 50 goals.

Everyone was amazing, but special marks to Rose, Eriksen and clear MOM Harry Kane.

Young, long contracts quality players, best manager, best chairman, new stadium, no mercenaries or twats. This is better than the team with Modric and Bale. 10 for everything Spurs today.

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Surely, if Eriksen's shot starts off on target it still goes down as his goal, no ?

 

[tiger666]

Surely, if Eriksen's shot starts off on target it still goes down as his goal, no ?

You'd think so.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

MOM - Kane and Eriksen

Wanyama is really really fucking good btw. What a great signing.

Me and the kids cheer every time Victor puts a tackle in. More often than not, you're coming out worse off in a 50/50 with Victor- he's a beast. A glorious, unstoppable beast.

 

[guiltyparty]

Surely, if Eriksen's shot starts off on target it still goes down as his goal, no ?

It's going well wide before the deflection

 

[Dharmabum]

I agree that everyone played very well, but I think you got a bit excited

9 for Son who barely made a contribution? 10 for Lloris when the opposition didn't have a single shot on target?

Actuallly, it was me who got excited but the author did (I just simply found the rating funny - and over the hill)

 

[davidmatzdorf]

This current run matches our previous best (in the PL era) winning streak of 6 games, set just under a year ago in Jan-Feb 2016:

Sunderland (H) 4-1
Crystal Palace (A) 3-1
Norwich City (A) 3-0
Watford (H) 1-0
Manchester City (A) 2-1
Swansea City (H) 2-1

(Almost too painful to mention that that run last year was book-ended by two of our most painful defeats of the season: Leicester at home before the Sunderland game, and then West Ham away after the Swansea game.)

Equalled our record so I guess yes, I assume in one of the hot periods under Redknapp.

There was also a 6-match winning run in 2011/12: between 22 Oct and 3 Dec 2011, we beat Blackburn, QPR, Fulham, Aston Villa, West Brom and Bolton.

 

[worcestersauce]

There was also a 6-match winning run in 2011/12: between 22 Oct and 3 Dec 2011, we beat Blackburn, QPR, Fulham, Aston Villa, West Brom and Bolton.

Interesting that only West Brom are left and I think they may have been down in between.
I've been laid up this weekend and never made the game so can't really give my view but watching the Kyle Walker interview on the OS the interviewer asked about what he said when he came in. Apparently as he walked in he just said Dembele WOW! so he was massively impressed by Mousa today.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

There was also a 6-match winning run in 2011/12: between 22 Oct and 3 Dec 2011, we beat Blackburn, QPR, Fulham, Aston Villa, West Brom and Bolton.

This one feels better. Only one of those teams remains in the top flight.

 

[davidmatzdorf]

My partner and I and the two chaps who sit next to us were in fits of giggles before half time, just from watching the virtuosity on display.

The real-time commentary in the Guardian wrote this at the end, which I think is on point: "...an almost flawless team performance in which they constantly displayed technical excellence at breakneck speed".

I can't recall a better all-round performance, ever. There were a few that were arguably as good, but I can't think of a match where we were so satisfying to watch over such a sustained period. Other than then first 7-8 minutes of the second half, we had total control of every part of the pitch.

Like many others, I was unable to pick a MotM and voted for "all". Had Kane not scored a hat trick, I might have chosen Eriksen, but equally I might have gone for Dembélé or Wanyama. It was a model of how to play the team game.

I don't think it's an accident that we have started to score from crosses after adopting a 3-man defence. Some people say that Rose and Walker have always been playing as wing backs, but I don't think that's so, at least not in their heads. As long as we were playing 2 central defenders, the fullbacks always had to be mindful of their positioning and ready to track back. With the extra experienced defender behind them, they are positioning themselves slightly higher up the pitch, but I don't think that's the important factor - I think it's that they can fully commit to attack in a way that was not advisable with the previous formation.

The reason we can play 3 central defenders without becoming excessively defensive is because all 3 of them can pass creatively, both long and short. This makes it harder for the opposition's attacking midfielders to press our defenders, because they leave exploitable gaps when they do that and the defender on the ball can pass to a midfielder in space.

At the start of the second half, having been given the half-time hair-dryer, West Brom did what Burnley did recently, which was to station a man on each corner of the penalty box whenever Lloris had the ball and was trying to play out via the defenders. The result looked very nerve-racking, but as with Burnley, the tactic didn't work, because the defenders are comfortable in possession and the press left unmarked teammates for our defenders to pass to.

Eventually, the insistence on playing out from the back under pressure will cost us a goal - we'll just have to hope it isn't a crucial one - but I can see why we're doing it.

I suppose individual ratings are called for. Seems a bit silly in the circumstances, but here goes.

Lloris 7 One great save from an offside attack, plenty of calm distribution.

Alderweireld 8 Top class defending, fine teamwork and one spectacular pass early in the match.

Vertonghen 8.5 Prior to his injury, Jan spent quite a bit of time attacking to good effect, but was always there when needed.

Dier 8 Solid and creative.

Rose 8.5 Unplayable in the first half, solid in the second half.

Walker 8.5 Relentless and effective; a skilful assist. Took over where Rose left off in the second half.

Dembélé 9 Imperious and commanding. Brought the ball out of defence, was impossible to dispossess and always hunted down the West Brom player in possession.

Wanyama 9 This is becoming the usual Wanyama performance, but he was even more all-devouring than he has been recently. Also continued his long record of capable, intelligent passing.

Eriksen 9.5 Everywhere, doing everything, harassing and pressing when not in possession, finding space and using the ball brilliantly when he had it. His shot was on target, but it was an OG because the first deflection took it off target.

Dele 8.5 As well as the customary moment of brilliance to create the last goal, Dele was much more integrated in overall play than usual. Passed well, received the ball in good areas and made mature decisions.

Kane 9.5 Could have scored 8, but for Foster (also 9.5). Should have scored 5. Scored 3. Also held the ball up and passed well. Made the difficult look easy through inspired movement, good positioning and fine technique



Davies 7.5 Slotted in seamlessly.

Winks 7 Did what was necessary coolly and capably.

Son NET

 

[Marty]

Have we won 6 straight PL games before ?

We did in 2011/12, beating Blackburn, QPR, Fulham, Villa, WBA and Bolton.

The same last season with Sunderland, Palace, Norwich, Watford, Man. City and Swansea.

Never won more than six in a row in the PL era.

 

[phil]

This current run matches our previous best (in the PL era) winning streak of 6 games, set just under a year ago in Jan-Feb 2016:

Sunderland (H) 4-1
Crystal Palace (A) 3-1
Norwich City (A) 3-0
Watford (H) 1-0
Manchester City (A) 2-1
Swansea City (H) 2-1

(Almost too painful to mention that that run last year was book-ended by two of our most painful defeats of the season: Leicester at home before the Sunderland game, and then West Ham away after the Swansea game.)

Doesn't compare with our double year when we won our first 11 games of the season. I still recall the disappointment when we drew at home with Manchester City on the 12th game (we wuz robbed). We then won the next 4. The run finally came to an end when we lost 2-1 at Hillsborough (Wednesday finished runners-up) when (IIRC) Swann scored a late winner.