Real Madrid Vs Tottenham: Match Thread

[gusrowe]

I never read too much into pre-season games to be honest. We have good ones in the past only to fall in the first few games in the Premiership and also been pants and then started the Premiership well. It was a friendly so more like a training session. Nobody is going to give all and nobody wants to be injured. It's just an exhibition game rally to put more money in the coffers, sell the brand and give the squad a run out.
We need Lloris back and a supporting striker for Kane, as somebody commented earlier the tiles are in place but not locked together yet.
I expect a reasonable season, maybe 4th or 5th and some good cup runs. A trophy would be nice but feel we are still a few seasons away from challenging for the Premiership title. Keep the ship steady and pointing in the right direction. No more firing Managers. Stay on course with the new Stadium, investing in bright young hungry players and we will get there.
Patience is something we as supporters need and have shown over the last 20 years through all the frustrations but I now see light at the end of the tunnel.......although knowing Spurs past history it is always dimmer than our expectations.
COYS

 

[Spurger King]

When an how did we fall that far?

I've still got the full match download of our 5-0 win over Newcastle. I don't get to many matches but was lucky enough to be there that evening (the famous "we want you to stay" night).

At one point in the second-half the commentator (with a tone of awe in his voice) said something along the lines of "...and if Harry does leave for England, some of the finest managers in the world will be queueing up to take charge of this wonderful Spurs team".

I think the beginning of the fall from grace had already started by that point. Not just Harry being distracted, but the lack of serious investment in the previous two windows - when we were at the peak of our appeal.

From there we all know the story. A combination of being unable to keep key players and AVB's inept team-building, quickly dissolved the remnants of a team that really should have been having a crack at the title.

Now the club's mantra seems to be 'tread water until the new stadium is built'. I understand that it is the reality of our financial circumstances, but that doesn't make it any less depressing.

Then again, we're a club that has to roll the dice and hope for the best. In another life, Modric could have flopped, King might have retired years ago, Bale might have been sold several years too early, and VDV might have been sold to Bayern instead of us. I can see that we've tried to roll the dice to produce the same results. We got Ajax's player of the year captain, one of the best keepers in the world, Lamela - one of the most exciting prospects in the world at the time of joining, and players like Soldado and Paulinho that there were good reasons to hope would be great for us. Eriksen could have been another Modric. Lamela could have been another Bale.

I think that's what it comes down to. The risks we took back then paid off and came together for a couple of great seasons. The risks we've taken since then have been mixed, which for a club like us translates to 5th or 6th. Despite that, our youth policy is really starting to pay off, which adds another dimension to things. We're no longer limited to searching for the next big thing, we're starting to produce them ourselves.

 

[chrissivad]

Can we have two matchday threads; one for normal people and one for fuckwits?

 

[slartibartfast]

Got to love this from Kane on the Ramos foul on eriksen:

@TalkingTHFC: Kane: "I ran over because we are a team. We’ve got to stick together, we are brothers out there and as captain you want to protect them."

Saw that on Sky.
Loved it.
Team spirit goes a long way.

 

[arunspurs]

Entire game would have changed, had Lamela slotted the ball home in the 2nd minute of the game.
Lamela looks to continue his fine 'goal scoring form' for us.

 

[BuryMeInEngland]

Separately, what a funny little tournament for us. Totally out of place us being there, like when you get Barca, United, Juventus and then the token Fenerbache or something. Two days before we play United away, effectively we've written off any chance of a point there, which is depressing being that we've gone from beating them at their place two seasons in a row and finishing very close to them, to basically doffing our cap at the big scary club we obviously can't compete with and presenting our collective backsides.

I thought we specifically weren't doing to pre-season foreign tour this season, to allow Poch maximum time to work with the team? Instead we've been to Australia, America and now Germany - erm, that seems to me like more pre-season tours than ever, not 'none'. Three is definitely more than none.

FWIW, I'd rather play ManYoo first game of the season before they've had time to settle in and get their shit together. I reckon we could start van Gaal's season off quite nicely.

 

[Yiddo1982]

We need some arrogance. A VDV type.

 

[McFlash]

I'm catching up and didn't see the match but was thinking, maybe the reason that we didn't attack with pace and guile, or Poch system doesn't fit, is because we haven't completed our signings yet?
We seem to be linked with bright, vesatile forwards and although it would be nice to get them sooner, rather than later, it would/could change our dynamic and more suit the style that Poch wants?
We seem to be wanting a defensive midfielder and two quick, tricky forwards. Would this allay some of the fears? As I say, I didn't see the game so would be interested to hear opinions.

 

[sak11]

Hope Bentaleb hasn't caught brain farts off Walker

Nope, he was doing this last season and seems to have not learnt....

 

[thinktank]

That kit is delicious.

 

[Hot Spur]

I've still got the full match download of our 5-0 win over Newcastle. I don't get to many matches but was lucky enough to be there that evening (the famous "we want you to stay" night).

At one point in the second-half the commentator (with a tone of awe in his voice) said something along the lines of "...and if Harry does leave for England, some of the finest managers in the world will be queueing up to take charge of this wonderful Spurs team".

I think the beginning of the fall from grace had already started by that point. Not just Harry being distracted, but the lack of serious investment in the previous two windows - when we were at the peak of our appeal.

From there we all know the story. A combination of being unable to keep key players and AVB's inept team-building, quickly dissolved the remnants of a team that really should have been having a crack at the title.

Now the club's mantra seems to be 'tread water until the new stadium is built'. I understand that it is the reality of our financial circumstances, but that doesn't make it any less depressing.

Then again, we're a club that has to roll the dice and hope for the best. In another life, Modric could have flopped, King might have retired years ago, Bale might have been sold several years too early, and VDV might have been sold to Bayern instead of us. I can see that we've tried to roll the dice to produce the same results. We got Ajax's player of the year captain, one of the best keepers in the world, Lamela - one of the most exciting prospects in the world at the time of joining, and players like Soldado and Paulinho that there were good reasons to hope would be great for us. Eriksen could have been another Modric. Lamela could have been another Bale.

I think that's what it comes down to. The risks we took back then paid off and came together for a couple of great seasons. The risks we've taken since then have been mixed, which for a club like us translates to 5th or 6th. Despite that, our youth policy is really starting to pay off, which adds another dimension to things. We're no longer limited to searching for the next big thing, we're starting to produce them ourselves.

"AVB's inept team building"??? You are joking of course?? The moment he arrived, he lost King, Modric and van der Vaart, three of the four best players, the following year he lost the fourth (Bale) and was given several players he didn't want (his words), and you are blaming AVB for the "fall from grace"??? Even so, after losing three of his best players he still managed to end the season with a record 72 points !! Any other season 72 would have been enough for CL.

 

[Spurger King]

"AVB's inept team building"??? You are joking of course?? The moment he arrived, he lost King, Modric and van der Vaart, three of the four best players, the following year he lost the fourth (Bale) and was given several players he didn't want (his words), and you are blaming AVB for the "fall from grace"??? Even so, after losing three of his best players he still managed to end the season with a record 72 points !! Any other season 72 would have been enough for CL.

I specifically said a "combination of being unable to keep key players and AVB's inept team-building" but go ahead and remind me of the key players we lost through no fault of AVB, as I obviously didn't cover them in that sentence

 

[StartingPrice]

Things we can realistically take form this evenings game:

1) Alli looks good enough for a squad place, IMHO - notwithstanding it was a friendly of little meaning.

2) Bale's barnet is seriously fooked up!

To be fair, we played at a walking pace, RM looked to be ready for their season.

ETA - and they still will add CR7 and Benzema to that line-up.

What have they got to do with it? I thought they were in the Basque country?

 

[THFCSPURS19]

I've still got the full match download of our 5-0 win over Newcastle. I don't get to many matches but was lucky enough to be there that evening (the famous "we want you to stay" night).

At one point in the second-half the commentator (with a tone of awe in his voice) said something along the lines of "...and if Harry does leave for England, some of the finest managers in the world will be queueing up to take charge of this wonderful Spurs team".

I think the beginning of the fall from grace had already started by that point. Not just Harry being distracted, but the lack of serious investment in the previous two windows - when we were at the peak of our appeal.

From there we all know the story. A combination of being unable to keep key players and AVB's inept team-building, quickly dissolved the remnants of a team that really should have been having a crack at the title.

Now the club's mantra seems to be 'tread water until the new stadium is built'. I understand that it is the reality of our financial circumstances, but that doesn't make it any less depressing.

Then again, we're a club that has to roll the dice and hope for the best. In another life, Modric could have flopped, King might have retired years ago, Bale might have been sold several years too early, and VDV might have been sold to Bayern instead of us. I can see that we've tried to roll the dice to produce the same results. We got Ajax's player of the year captain, one of the best keepers in the world, Lamela - one of the most exciting prospects in the world at the time of joining, and players like Soldado and Paulinho that there were good reasons to hope would be great for us. Eriksen could have been another Modric. Lamela could have been another Bale.

I think that's what it comes down to. The risks we took back then paid off and came together for a couple of great seasons. The risks we've taken since then have been mixed, which for a club like us translates to 5th or 6th. Despite that, our youth policy is really starting to pay off, which adds another dimension to things. We're no longer limited to searching for the next big thing, we're starting to produce them ourselves.

Great post, mate

 

[Khilari]

"AVB's inept team building"??? You are joking of course?? The moment he arrived, he lost King, Modric and van der Vaart, three of the four best players, the following year he lost the fourth (Bale) and was given several players he didn't want (his words), and you are blaming AVB for the "fall from grace"??? Even so, after losing three of his best players he still managed to end the season with a record 72 points !! Any other season 72 would have been enough for CL.

Didn't he tell Van set Vaart that he was no longer an automatic selection and sell him?

And whilst I agree that some credit is due for our points haul, Gareth Bale dos get us out of trouble... sorry out of our turgid possession based football and win us the points with several wonder strikes?

 

[arunspurs]

Takeaways from game :

i) Dele Alli doesn't look out of place & was actually the best Spurs player of the game
ii) There could be some blame attributed for 1st goal to Wimmer & Toby for getting dragged out - but by & large I felt both were very comfortable & looked so good on the ball
iii) Lamela, Eriksen, ,Chadli looked leggy.. All 3 got to improve hugely
iv)Walker had a ecent game Still think we should play Trippier ahead of him

 

[nssmuckers]

"AVB's inept team building"??? You are joking of course?? The moment he arrived, he lost King, Modric and van der Vaart, three of the four best players, the following year he lost the fourth (Bale) and was given several players he didn't want (his words), and you are blaming AVB for the "fall from grace"??? Even so, after losing three of his best players he still managed to end the season with a record 72 points !! Any other season 72 would have been enough for CL.

And what players did AVB want? Hulk, Oscar, Moutinho, Falcao? Players that were either impossible or highly improbable for us to sign? A manager must have targets that are realistic for the club he's working for.

I agree that he did better in 12/13 than he's given credit for, but he absolutely does suck at building teams. He is one of those idealists who would rather ram square pegs into round holes than adjust his ideas to fit his players. Let's not forget that he basically drove VDV away as well.

I like AVB as a man but I think he's such a strange manager. He's so great at articulating his ideas in interviews but when you actually watch his teams play, they don't really resemble what he says at all perhaps with the exception of Porto.

 

[Doomchicken]

"AVB's inept team building"??? You are joking of course?? The moment he arrived, he lost King, Modric and van der Vaart, three of the four best players, the following year he lost the fourth (Bale) and was given several players he didn't want (his words), and you are blaming AVB for the "fall from grace"??? Even so, after losing three of his best players he still managed to end the season with a record 72 points !! Any other season 72 would have been enough for CL.

King, by that point, was past it. His injuries had finally caught up to him, and although it pains me so much to say it we were better without him that season. Van der Vaart has stated that AVB told him that he wasn't a starter, so forgive me for not pitying AVB's hard luck on losing him.

 

[THFCWHL82]

Why Bentaleb always did that bad habits when passing????? Backward pass without looking receiver player!! that causes many trouble for our games last season too.

Bale 2-0 goal exactly remind me the same thing at Old Trafford last season when Bentaleb was miss passed to Rooney and made it 3-0, nice assist lad.....I honestly say I always get excited every time when he get the ball you never know who he going to pass..

Opposition Assistor.

 

[shelfboy68]

You are completely spot on in what you say but every league point gained or lost counts once the season is underway.

I think DL has been a good chairman when it comes to THFC as a business but the fact that he thinks the season only starts once the transfer window closes shows that success on the pitch isn't really too much of a priority. It has been the same story for the duration of his tenure. Last minute bargains trump league position despite CL qualification being a realistic target.

Van Gaal and Sherwood were apparently front runners for the job before Poch's appointment but both have proved this off season that they are determined to get their squads in order before the season kick-off. Although Sherwood had many limitations when he was temporarily in charge at WHL, I don't think he would have put up with a similar imbalance in his squad going into a new season. If someone is letting him down then, rightly or wrongly, he says it as it is.

Poch on the other hand comes across as more of a 'yes man' who will work with the tools given to him rather than the tools that he has asked for. This may well be why he got the job in the first place but at the same time it could also cost him at the end of this season. This is his defining season and any failures will land firmly at his door including the lack of urgency in strengthening the obvious weak positions in our current squad. I really hope that he is giving the boardroom a torrid time behind closed doors but his passiveness and lack of fire in pre-season interviews doesn't fill me with confidence.

Team performance rests with the manager and if Poch doesn't get the players in that he wants then it is his own fault as he has put up with the situation. Doesnt really matter if his official title us 'Coach' or whatever - it's his head on the chopping board.

Yep i have always felt and said before on here that one of the reasons poch was employed is because he is malable and will toe the company line.
There is no way if we had van gaal like you say would he put up with a squad half prepared three days before kick off.
However this is our business model and it wont change so we just remain positive that the required deals get done, but Utd on saturday doesnt look good for us right now.