Match Ratings Ratings vs WBA

[Gilzeanking]

Also, in a high pressing set up, there's no doubt for me: Dembele ahead of Winks 100% of the times.

High pressing..we doing that these days ?

Quote from WBA goalie.

'Last year at White Hart Lane, we literally could not get the ball out of our own half,' said Foster. 'As soon as we had the ball they were on us and shutting us down.

'I don't know if that's a Wembley thing but there's a bigger pitch and that helps the other teams.'

 

[cozzo]

High pressing..we doing that these days ?

Quote from WBA goalie.

'Last year at White Hart Lane, we literally could not get the ball out of our own half,' said Foster. 'As soon as we had the ball they were on us and shutting us down.

'I don't know if that's a Wembley thing but there's a bigger pitch and that helps the other teams.'

Didn't help Liverpool, Borrusia Dortmund or Real Madrid

 

[Bus-Conductor]

Didn't help Liverpool, Borrusia Dortmund or Real Madrid

Three teams that we used completely different tactics against.

 

[ralvy]

High pressing..we doing that these days ?

Quote from WBA goalie.

'Last year at White Hart Lane, we literally could not get the ball out of our own half,' said Foster. 'As soon as we had the ball they were on us and shutting us down.

'I don't know if that's a Wembley thing but there's a bigger pitch and that helps the other teams.'

We currently aren't, but if the likes of Wanyama, Lamela and Dembele return to full fitness, it would definitely be an option for Pochetino to consider.

 

[mpickard2087]

I don't think that's a great reflection on either team or coach if it really was the case of not pressing because we're missing a certain player or two.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I don't think that's a great reflection on either team or coach if it really was the case of not pressing because we're missing a certain player or two.

Not sure it really says much of anything.

A few seasons ago we pressed all the time - and ran out of steam down the stretch.

I think its a realization that if we press all the time we will wear the players out, over the course of a season. That is particularly true when we are dealing with injuries - in a busy period - where rotation would be important.

Lamela has been a big miss in that regard - the ability to rotate in more than Son behind the striker.

 

[Shadydan]

We're missing Wanyama and Dembele, it's clear that our forwards aren't leading the press as much as they know that there is no Wanyama or Dembele (fully fit) to back them up so normally they if the other team beat the first line of the press then they are faced with a brick wall in front of the,

When we played West Brom last season we had our fully fit team out and we were in form, don't think you can quite blame Wembley for that although people will because people love this Wembley narrative.

 

[mpickard2087]

Not sure it really says much of anything.

A few seasons ago we pressed all the time - and ran out of steam down the stretch.

I think its a realization that if we press all the time we will wear the players out, over the course of a season. That is particularly true when we are dealing with injuries - in a busy period - where rotation would be important.

Lamela has been a big miss in that regard - the ability to rotate in more than Son behind the striker.

I don't have any sympathy at all for not having a big enough squad and/or not being able to cope with three or four injuries. The reality is this is season four for Poch, he should have the squad he needs by now to be able to rotate and keep players fresh - even if we're talking a step down in quality with the ball, at the very least have options who can come in and give you a 100% and contribute to the press. And as a collective be so well drilled that we can miss players and still go hard at that teams rather than, as I see a few posts this weekend suggest, relying on certain players to do it.

 

[mpickard2087]

We're missing Wanyama and Dembele, it's clear that our forwards aren't leading the press as much as they know that there is no Wanyama or Dembele (fully fit) to back them up so normally they if the other team beat the first line of the press then they are faced with a brick wall in front of the,

When we played West Brom last season we had our fully fit team out and we were in form, don't think you can quite blame Wembley for that although people will because people love this Wembley narrative.

I'd say if that was the case then they (the forwards) take responsibility to press even better, individually and as a unit, and stop the opposition even higher up the pitch...

I think its a simple case that standards have dropped slightly as a collective. Squad and coach. People might not want to hear that, its still early-ish in the season and not yet fatal and we may very well recover and again push on in the second half of the season, and there are some factors in play such as injuries... But we've got a bit lax both on and off the ball - and that missing urgency and intensity kills us against the bus-parking teams.

 

[Cravenspurs]

I'd say if that was the case then they (the forwards) take responsibility to press even better, individually and as a unit, and stop the opposition even higher up the pitch...

I think its a simple case that standards have dropped slightly as a collective. Squad and coach. People might not want to hear that, its still early-ish in the season and not yet fatal and we may very well recover and again push on in the second half of the season, and there are some factors in play such as injuries... But we've got a bit lax both on and off the ball - and that missing urgency and intensity kills us against the bus-parking teams.

I think it does come down to a couple missing key cogs in our press. Lamela and Vic are huge as they are both the catalysts for their portions of the field. No forward wins more challenges than Lamela or has the energy he brings. And no midfield shadows players that break the first line of defense like Vic.

When and if they get back to full strength I think some of the urgency will be brought back to the team.

That urgency has been on a downward trend the past year and a half or so and I think that could be down to more competitions and the need to keep players fresh. Plus the lack of quality depth in certain positions. Man City press like no ones business, but they are 2 deep in every position without a real dropoff in talent.

But against bus parkers, I agree, we need to win the ball up the pitch in their final third and just continue to put the pressure on. Squeeze them in their own half for the full 90 mins. I don't think we have seen much of that this year as we are trying to counter a lot more, which in theory gives us more space to attack since their 10 outfielders are now spread about the pitch, but since we move the ball so slowly and rarely try balls over the top, we fail to actually take advantage of that tactic.

I would love to see more balls over the top to Son and Kane btw. We have gotten a whole lot more efficient on the counter this year, but still don't take full advantage on the size of our new pitch.

Thoughts from all over on this post...apologies for the difficult read

 

[stevenqoz]

Erikson did have a big fortnight but he only travelled to Scandinavia and Ireland hardly Alan whicker, and yet Sanchez I think played for Columbia a slightly longer journey I feel.
There are various excuses trotted about but in the main I think a lot of them believe in their own hype and have stopped putting the work and focus in.

Agree to disagree mate. The impact of winning cup finals/qualifications on players then backing up is an adrenalin thing and in this case would trump the travel effect