Match Threads Spurs vs Leicester - Match Thread

[KikoSpurs]

Davies looked a bit shaky in the first half but got better.

But Winks, Sissoko and Aurier were terrible during transition and attacking phase.

Lo Celso wasn't much better as well. But I guess he's playing through injury.

We could have score more and guaranteed H a deserved hat trick.

I am not gonna say we were lucky because we looked confident, even though Lloris made some decent saves (and he's there to do that). I just thinks this Sissoko & Winks partnership isn't good enough and today was very well exposed.

 

[emiley heskey]

You don't suddenly keep 4 clean sheets in 9 games by mistake after only keeping 4 in the previous 28 in the league.

The signs of improvement are there to see game by game. These aren't easy fixtures we're playing either.

4 clean sheets in 8 games ...

 

[leelee]

Today was a prefect storm. Not all games will be like this. I am happy we won but I don’t like Mourinho’s football. We will have a lot of games where the football is terrible and we won’t win. Bournemouth and Sheffield United. It will get us so far but I don’t believe it will be enough for us to win trophies nowadays as there are too many better teams.

Problem is Pochettino football won us fuck all. We were the perennial nearly men. I could as good as guarantee we would not have lost at Stamford Bridge to hand Leicester the title with Mourinho in charge.

Being hard to score against is a good thing, if you want to win trophies. If you want entertaining football, don't expect to win stuff. Well, unless you're owned by a sovereign wealth fund and lump 200m on full backs in 2 years.

 

[rossdapep]

Probably, but when you're 3-0 down at half time the onus is on you to come out and attack. A lot of Leicester's shots were 20-25 yard hits. A stat came up around 75 mins in to say they'd had 20 shots and I was absolutely amazed.

I'd say they only had 1 or 2 chances which actually concerned me.

Vardys header and his back heel. That's about it I think?

 

[soflapaul]

Vardys header and his back heel. That's about it I think?

there were a few more. Perez (i think) who shot low to Hugo's left which forced the outstretched save. And while the back heel was a "should have saved" since it was a reaction save right at him but he set up well for it and delivered. There was also a deflection off the wall on a free kick that was pretty good save since he was going in the opposite direction.

 

[rossdapep]

If we play barcelona-esque football we would not have terrible game anymore out of 8 games?

It's funny you mention Barcelona.

I would hate to be a fan and watch through their games at the moment. Lots of possession but very toothless and laboured performances. This is a team with Messi.

I'd much rather sit through our performance today. Peak Barcelona of 2011 and it's a different argument though haha

 

[Ionman34]

Today was a prefect storm. Not all games will be like this. I am happy we won but I don’t like Mourinho’s football. We will have a lot of games where the football is terrible and we won’t win. Bournemouth and Sheffield United. It will get us so far but I don’t believe it will be enough for us to win trophies nowadays as there are too many better teams.

Whilst you’re entitled to your opinion, you are really not taking into account where we currently are in the restructuring of our team.

He’s in the process of rebuilding a team that was disillusioned, had shattered confidence, was imbalanced and had a number of players working out the rust after lengthy injury spells.

His first order of business was always going to be to rebuild the confidence. You do that by getting wins. When your forward line is rusty, you do that by stopping goals against, that way they can win you a game with the odd goal. If they’re unable to get that odd goal, you are still working towards not getting beaten. Nothing heaps on pressure on a team lacking in confidence like another loss.

What is evident since the break is that this is working in spades. Our back line is solid, resilient and confident that they can deal with whatever is thrown at them. Go back 6 months and it was the opposite, they’d go into panic mode whenever the opposition broke on them. Since JM has had time to work with them, we’ve seen an enormous sea change in our defensive capabilities.

Now Bournemouth I will agree was a shitshow of a match, but that appears to have been our Nadir and should be viewed as such. Since then we’ve scored 8 goals in 3 matches and have been deserved winners in all of them because we’ve controlled all of those matches. We’ve allowed possession to all of those teams, let them run at us and kept our structure rigidly, and in all of those games have created the better chances, finishing them clinically despite our forward line still working up to their best. For me, the forward line has looked progressively better since the Bournemouth game and they are still a way from peak.

The squad still remains a good way off being a finished article. JM has identified this himself, with most agreeing with his current assessment as it echoes what many have been saying for a while, so there is every reason to believe we will get even better with the right personnel brought in and the coaches being able to work even further on our structure, tactics and fluidity in transition.

I’ve banged this drum many times on here, but it’s a fallacy to suggest that JM produces dour Football. You don’t break goal scoring records with multiple teams by playing dour Football. It’s not possession for possessions sake, it’s powerful and direct Football with a purpose, to win the game. For the most part, his finished teams dominate weaker opposition, blow them away early doors, then comfortably see out a game. This might not appeal to those that want 90 minutes of edge-of-your-seat entertainment, but I dare you to watch any other team in this league and tell me that’s what you get in the majority of their games. So many making calf eyes at Liverpool and their Football when the reality is they’ve only done it in fits and spurts themselves. The rest of the time has been pragmatic control through structure and solidity.

Then there’s City. The prime example of how not having the defensive balance right can cost you, even with half a billion in quality players available to you.

JM has been with us half a season. The reality is that he’s had a few weeks to work on what he wants. We’re only really now seeing the fruits of that early work with a team that’s far from complete, and so far I’d say he’s certainly producing improvement after improvement. Considering the car crash we were previously, I’d also say that the optimism for what is to come once he’s got the staff he wants and the time he needs, is very justified.

Get on board with it bud, look for the positives, because there are plenty there. Then, if you can stomach it, take a look at some games from his times at Chelsea, RM and Inter to see what his peak teams do to “lesser” teams when in full flow, they were juggernauts.

 

[Ledley's Right Foot]

I'm abroad and working so didn't get to see any of the game. Just got in and looked on the beeb for the result, good win. But are these really the stats for the game??
View attachment 70410


EDIT: I should also add I haven't read any of this thread, might as well dive in now

Harry Kane was at his best. His second is worth tracking down the highlights for.

 

[Danfunkel]

Five Premier league games unbeaten for over 18 months !!

great stat

 

[Yid]

Great game. Another clean sheet. The most complete team performance so far under Jose, and it'll only get better from here.

1. Kane - 9 // Number one for MOTM with his brace. The 2nd goal in particular was sublime. His overall hustle, tenacity and creativity were a pleasure to watch.
2. Moura - 8.5 // second best with 2 assists. Hustling, tracking back, disposessing opponents. Tremendous work rate on and off the ball. If he could only regain scoring composure in front of goal, he would be irreplaceable at the moment.
3. Hugo - 8 // A couple of great saves today in the 2nd half. Young Hugo full of fire resurrected under Jose.
4. Davies - 7.5 // Outstanding today protecting the back four. Easily his best game under Jose.
5. Davinson - 7.5 // with the exception of 1 small error, very strong and organised today.
6. The rest of the team - 7 // very good team effort.

One quick note. I'm not sure why Gio is getting so many negative ratings. Considering he's playing through injury - 5 PL matches in less than two weeks, and he was still scrapping, niggling, shoving opponents. Irritating the f*** out of the likes of Ndidi, sliding into tackles, disposessing and recycling the ball. Plus he was involved in Harry's first goal buildup. Seems like he's in the middle of everything positive we do, and provides that spark, that edge that is very important to our teams success.

 

[tippspur59]

Anyone else glad that we've just probably blown away Leicesters chance of CL football for next season.

 

[Yid]

Anyone else glad that we've just probably blown away Leicesters chance of CL football for next season.

Yes indeed ???

 

[Finchyid]

Anyone else glad that we've just probably blown away Leicesters chance of CL football for next season.

Yeah i was hoping we would get a 4th so they drop below utd

Seen many comments about “boring” football. If winning every game 3-0 is boring then i quite like the idea of boring football

 

[davidmatzdorf]

You don't suddenly keep 4 clean sheets in 9 games by mistake after only keeping 4 in the previous 28 in the league.

4 clean sheets in the 8 matches played since the restart.

 

[HedgieSpur]

Yes indeed ???

Don't you mean Yes Ndidi?

 

[rupsmith]

Those 2. Liverpool were in 3 European Cup finals in a row so the 4 seasons thing is wrong. They were clearly a good team playing good progressive football as soon as Klopp took over. He has been amazingly lucky with injuries which is why they won the league so easily this year. Man City bought the best players for every position but also have a very progressive manager who always plays on the front foot. We now try and nick every game which doesn’t work if we go behind for too long as we don’t know how to play with the ball.

I have to respectfully disagree. It helps to basically have the finances to buy pretty much anyone you want. And it all starts with defense. Liverpool were not good enough before the Coutinho money got them Van Dyk and Allison to shore up their - surprise surprise - defense. Man City in the one season their defense has not been strong enough - I.e. this season - have fallen away pretty badly and are leaking in goals even though they have players to score in most games.

The spine of the team is key. If the spine is not strong enough - particular in defense - it needs to be supplemented by players in other positions. Our midfield is not strong enough which is why our defenders who are individually decent ( apart from Serge in most of his Spurs career though he is improving under Mourinho) tended to get ripped apart after Dembele and Wanayama fell away. And for Jose to shore up the defense he needs more defensive yards put in by Son and Moura.

Jose is getting the basics sorted out. Good defensive shape, working to teams strengths which is speed and counter attack, and building a professional, winning , ruthless mindset of getting the points in our last column. A “progressive“ philosophy does not guarantee winning unless you have the cheque book to back it up. It’s now time for available resources to be used to win games with a clear longer term strategy in terms of player development. Jose seems to be enjoying this opportunity to work on a “project” again rather than being tasked with winning every game from day one with the likes of Real, Inter, Chelsea, United. He can work on improving the players and will be given the time and hopefully some funds to do it. 5-2-1 since the restart is good enough for me.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Don't you mean Yes Ndidi?

This deserves way more than the scant ‘funnies’ its currently received. Come on, people- we’re making art here

 

[JimmyG2]

Very similar to Newcastle.
They scored 0 goals from 20+ attempts with 6 on target (Thanks Hugo)
We scored 3 goals from 7 attempts with just 3 on target (Thanks Harry)

And the lowest possession stat I remember from Spurs in a Prem. game. (29%)
certainly in a game we won.
Stats from BBC.
Calling all spreadsheet owners to confirm.

 

[Gassin's finest]

I have to respectfully disagree. It helps to basically have the finances to buy pretty much anyone you want. And it all starts with defense. Liverpool were not good enough before the Coutinho money got them Van Dyk and Allison to shore up their - surprise surprise - defense. Man City in the one season their defense has not been strong enough - I.e. this season - have fallen away pretty badly and are leaking in goals even though they have players to score in most games.

The spine of the team is key. If the spine is not strong enough - particular in defense - it needs to be supplemented by players in other positions. Our midfield is not strong enough which is why our defenders who are individually decent ( apart from Serge in most of his Spurs career though he is improving under Mourinho) tended to get ripped apart after Dembele and Wanayama fell away. And for Jose to shore up the defense he needs more defensive yards put in by Son and Moura.

Jose is getting the basics sorted out. Good defensive shape, working to teams strengths which is speed and counter attack, and building a professional, winning , ruthless mindset of getting the points in our last column. A “progressive“ philosophy does not guarantee winning unless you have the cheque book to back it up. It’s now time for available resources to be used to win games with a clear longer term strategy in terms of player development. Jose seems to be enjoying this opportunity to work on a “project” again rather than being tasked with winning every game from day one with the likes of Real, Inter, Chelsea, United. He can work on improving the players and will be given the time and hopefully some funds to do it. 5-2-1 since the restart is good enough for me.

 

[degoose]

I'm abroad and working so didn't get to see any of the game. Just got in and looked on the beeb for the result, good win. But are these really the stats for the game??
View attachment 70410


EDIT: I should also add I haven't read any of this thread, might as well dive in now

Even though that looked like they had some good chances those shots mostly were awful, there was one in the 2nd half by Praet that was on the left side, he smashed it and it was still 10 yards wide on that left side. Probably in the game i would say 1-2 felt dangerous and one was a free kick. We completely blocked them off that they popped the ball around and were just smashing long distance shots. Reminded me of the days when we had AVB. All the possession and long range shots and we would lose.