Match Threads Rennes vs Spurs - Match Thread - ECL - KO 5.45 pm

[PLTuck]

did anyone play well tonight? Must be some individual player positives to take?

2nd half only and I tend to see more positives than what feels like everyone bar a handful of posters on here, but...

NDombele caught the eye but from the replay they showed it looked like he was partly culpable for their first by not closing down. Doing multiple tricks just outside his own area is a concern and will leak us goals throughout the season if he continues to do it. On the positive side he almost finished a great move, rarely coughed up possession and he certainly isn't short on confidence.

Bryan has taken a bit of stick but come on guys. He's a kid new to the club, league, and country. He tries to make things happen rather than play safe all the time so if you want players to do that, you can't then stick the knife in if it doesn't come off. It didn't come off for him but he was about 6 inches from Dane's head from getting a quality assist. I really hope the crowd don't turn on the kid as he will be a key player over the coming years.

Dane made a lot of runs in between FB and CB and was largely ignored when it was on. Inches away from connecting with a lovely bit of ball control and subsequent cross from Gil.

I thought the defence was fine. Their 2nd goal Gollini could arguably do a little better but putting it down as a GK gaff is harsh. I'm not convinced by Rodon over Dier like so many posters seem to want.

 

[chrisd2k]

Hilarious reading the comments on the match the night before. There's a massive slice of this board that are convinced they support Real Madrid or Barcelona. We got a very useful away point against the best other side in the group. A champions League team not so long ago just like us. I'm glad most of the negative people don't actually go to the football, which is obvious as their opinions are so shaped by social media and TV it's ridiculous; the team would never get to form and improve. Pathetic really. By the way I quite enjoyed the match, much better than at crystal palace, but it's all football.

Sorry not having that. I can't think for myself because I can't get to matches?

That's just a ridiculous statement

 

[Marty]

Dane made a lot of runs in between FB and CB and was largely ignored when it was on. Inches away from connecting with a lovely bit of ball control and sunsequent cross from Gil.

The defender headed it out and we didn't even get a corner!

 

[shoggy33]

It wasn't great but nowhere near as bad as people in here are making out. Most concerning thing for me is that we actually looked better when we replaced Kane and Moura with Scarlett and Emerson. Hopefully he's just lacking sharpness but Kane has looked sluggish and disinterested so far. Positives were more minutes for the young players, Ndombele playing fairly well, and Emerson who i thought played really well when he came on.

 

[PLTuck]

It wasn't great but nowhere near as bad as people in here are making out. Most concerning thing for me is that we actually looked better when we replaced Kane and Moura with Scarlett and Emerson. Hopefully he's just lacking sharpness but Kane has looked sluggish and disinterested so far. Positives were more minutes for the young players, Ndombele playing fairly well, and Emerson who i thought played really well when he came on.

Right now Kane looks like he'd rather be in Afghanistan than North London. Hopefully he'll actually be the model pro he has built his image on and he will get into the groove sooner rather than later. Deserves a bit of time to find that groove.

 

[mpickard2087]

Decided to put myself through it, and just watched the game.

We started alright to be honest. Dominated the ball, pretty aggressive by NunoBall standards in our positioning and press, and made the breakthrough after some quick passes put us in but ended with an admittedly fortuitous goal.

Going behind perked them up a bit, they upped it, whilst we dipped. I noticed a couple of times in quick succession where they managed to pass through us and feed the ball into the front and this seemed to signal us just losing our bollocks completely. Started being ultra passive in what we did and the result was getting penned in. Before the equaliser we steadfastly refused to get out and up the pitch, and were doing little of nothing defensively despite being so deep.

Second half was a bit turgid, neither team did much of note. Injuries didn't help us but the subs were pretty negative and like we were hoping to get out of there with a point. Fortunately we got a second huge piece of luck with the run of the ball for that to happen.

Individually not much to write home about.

Kane I think we're all magnifying to the nth degree currently, and he has always been more than capable of having mopey games like that, but does appear that although he is there in body, he ain't in spirit...

All night I've heard and read people fluffing Ndombele, to me that was a fairly standard game from him - He had an alright start and the backheel came off, then had circa an hour where he did little apart from get shown up in the defensive aspect, and then later on when the oomph went out of proceedings he got some ball and did some skillz to little purpose beyond aesthetics really. His best moment as always with him was when he just went direct, drove forward and played that one-two, and almost got in. I get footballing ability from our lot is slim pickings, but this didn't really match the fanfare I've been seeing overnight...

Special mention also to Doherty, who in such low quality proceedings stood out as fucking tragic. If we had to give a right back away we picked the wrong one.

 

[thebenjamin]

I can definitely see where you are coming from. I went heart over head and voted 5th/ 6th but am already going to change it to 7th/ 11th ,which may also be optimistic but I hope that over 38 matches we will find a way to make the best of our squad and maybe even bring a couple of key additions in January if things havent improved .I do find it hard to see where the goals will come from this season. As has been widely said, we lost 26 from Bale and Vinicious. Kane and Son had a stellar season which is unlikely to be repeated so I look at the candidates to chip in with maybe 10 goals from midfield or out wide and I can only put forward Dele and that is a bit optimistic. That is bound to result in the more defensive approach we are now very used to seeing as the coaches can clearly see our limitations( and don't even think about long term injuries to Son and Kane. )
I do think it is far too early to be seriously pointing the finger at Nuno though. People suggesting he should be gone in a few months need to suggest who might replace him mid season.

Decided to put myself through it, and just watched the game.

We started alright to be honest. Dominated the ball, pretty aggressive by NunoBall standards in our positioning and press, and made the breakthrough after some quick passes put us in but ended with an admittedly fortuitous goal.

Going behind perked them up a bit, they upped it, whilst we dipped. I noticed a couple of times in quick succession where they managed to pass through us and feed the ball into the front and this seemed to signal us just losing our bollocks completely. Started being ultra passive in what we did and the result was getting penned in. Before the equaliser we steadfastly refused to get out and up the pitch, and were doing little of nothing defensively despite being so deep.

Second half was a bit turgid, neither team did much of note. Injuries didn't help us but the subs were pretty negative and like we were hoping to get out of there with a point. Fortunately we got a second huge piece of luck with the run of the ball for that to happen.

Individually not much to write home about.

Kane I think we're all magnifying to the nth degree currently, and he has always been more than capable of having mopey games like that, but does appear that although he is there in body, he ain't in spirit...

All night I've heard and read people fluffing Ndombele, to me that was a fairly standard game from him - He had an alright start and the backheel came off, then had circa an hour where he did little apart from get shown up in the defensive aspect, and then later on when the oomph went out of proceedings he got some ball and did some skillz to little purpose beyond aesthetics really. His best moment as always with him was when he just went direct, drove forward and played that one-two, and almost got in. I get footballing ability from our lot is slim pickings, but this didn't really match the fanfare I've been seeing overnight...

Special mention also to Doherty, who in such low quality proceedings stood out as fucking tragic. If we had to give a right back away we picked the wrong one.

Agree, particularly on Ndombele. A classic Youtube performance. Completely gave up for the middle portion of the game when they were dominating.

Doherty, I don't think it's hyperbolic to say that he's truly in the pantheon of worst ever THFC players. Definitely no better than Tramezzani, Kerslake, Pamarot etc. He is truly abysmal at every aspect of being a footballer and almost completely bereft of any skill whatsoever.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Their midfield ran all over us. Got to be three at the back . Just hope Romero can sort things out at the back. Tanguy has to play, at least he can get hold of the ball and do something with it.
Take a draw now for Sunday.
But having said that Nuno has a good record against the top teams.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

2nd half only and I tend to see more positives than what feels like everyone bar a handful of posters on here, but...

NDombele caught the eye but from the replay they showed it looked like he was partly culpable for their first by not closing down. Doing multiple tricks just outside his own area is a concern and will leak us goals throughout the season if he continues to do it. On the positive side he almost finished a great move, rarely coughed up possession and he certainly isn't short on confidence.

Bryan has taken a bit of stick but come on guys. He's a kid new to the club, league, and country. He tries to make things happen rather than play safe all the time so if you want players to do that, you can't then stick the knife in if it doesn't come off. It didn't come off for him but he was about 6 inches from Dane's head from getting a quality assist. I really hope the crowd don't turn on the kid as he will be a key player over the coming years.

Dane made a lot of runs in between FB and CB and was largely ignored when it was on. Inches away from connecting with a lovely bit of ball control and subsequent cross from Gil.

I thought the defence was fine. Their 2nd goal Gollini could arguably do a little better but putting it down as a GK gaff is harsh. I'm not convinced by Rodon over Dier like so many posters seem to want.

Nice one cheers mate some balanced analysis here I think Gollini will come good in time as will Gil. We all know the deal with Ndombele but as he’s sticking around we could do with him putting in the effort and staying fit as we need his creativity. ?

 

[Dennism]

Cannot understand people having a go at Bryan. Showed great determination and character on his debut. He has got the skill and as he adapts it will shine through.
Conversely I cannot understand the pundits and fans defending Kane. His performances have been dreadful and his attitude is even worse.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Cannot understand people having a go at Bryan. Showed great determination and character on his debut. He has got the skill and as he adapts it will shine through.
Conversely I cannot understand the pundits and fans defending Kane. His performances have been dreadful and his attitude is even worse.

Agree. Bryan is putting in 110% and certainly glimpses of real talent there. One that needs a bit of time and run of games and we could do with keeping more possession to suit his style of play more.