Tottenham Vs Everton: Match Thread

[The General]

I thought we were good yesterday. Unlucky not to win. We look really solid defensively, much improved from last year with the addition of Alderweireld and Dier playing in front. In fact I thought Dier was the best player on the pitch (closely followed by Rose), even though he definitely looks like a centre back playing in midfield. Only concern is that other teams won't be as open and let us play as much as Everton. So we'll have games where teams will be much harder to break down. Think it will be a season of transition, but we'll get better and better and see some good stuff later on.

 

[Lefty83]

I haven't read the previous 78 pages to check I'm not rehashing others posts but wanted to get my thoughts down for catharsis!

Love Lloris to bits but I wish his distribution was better. There was the odd pass to Rose/Walker that put them under needless pressure. Also as a captain I don't know if it works with the goalkeeper, he's quite quiet unless he's barking orders in his 18. I think a team benefits from a centre back/ centre midfield captain who's in the thick of it - although granted we don't have any stand out candidates atm.

Rose was immense, his positional awareness and reading of the game is superb, I lost count of the times he won long balls duels against much taller opposition.

Walker - thought he did OK, felt he should have been pushing forward more as an attacking outlet than he did when the ball was on the other flank.

Dier - On yesterdays showing we have no need for Wanyama, the team is crying out for a deep lying creative central midfielder. Dier is good for breaking up play and cleaning up, but can't expect him to lead the offense too.

Bentelab - a bit meh for me, retained possession but never did anything attacking with the ball.

Mason - Got the most stick from people around me, he should have been pulled off sooner than he was as it was evident he was struggling. I don't personally see what he brings to the table, he huffs and puffs a lot but that's about it. He has neither the strength to be a destroyer or the attacking ability to play further forward. A decent squad player to come on and crowd the midfield and limit space when a game needs it, but not good enough to be a starter for me.

Chadli - good when he wanted to play, needs a rocket put up his ass other times. Unforgivably wimped out of a 50/50 challenge. Hopefully he will rise to the presence of Son/N'Jie.

Kane - lacking confidence, exemplified by a lack of support in the 11. Besides Dembele and Chadli, yesterday we had no one with an attacking nature.

Lamela - surely as good as gone - Poch had the option of using him but went with Pritchard. Wouldn't be overly sad to see him go, think he could benefit with an input of pace into the team around him.

Other thoughts -
John Stones is never worth £15m let alone £40m.
James McCarthy was invisible for large parts of the game, glad we didn't spunk £20m on him - someone at the club made the right call there.
Expected a lot more from Ross Barkley.
Can the catering please sort out the confectionery in the tea bars - Mars, snickers, anything but a f*****g chunky kit kat!