Tottenham vs Liverpool: Match Thread

[ethanedwards]

So I just watched the game off of recording as I was in Spain over the last weekend.

I don't see how people can say we were poor. Obviously not a finished product but some wonderful elements in the game. Kaboul a bit worrying, not that it matters with Fazio coming in. Bentaleb a bit quiet, not that it matters with Stambouli now in. I take far more positives from that match than almost every other here (based on comments).

Genuine question, what were the wonderful elements, I did not see any element or player that warranted that description.

 

[jayesar]

Genuine question, what were the wonderful elements, I did not see any element or player that warranted that description.

Simply look at the kick off, very direct and right onto attack. The number of vertical balls we played in comparison to matches last season was a good step up. The pressing game, whilst not perfect, was in full effect (Lamela tried his heart out all game). These are both key elements of Poch's philosophy that he is trying to instil on the team.

On top of that we played with plenty of pace up until the penalty, sure Liverpool outclassed us, but the team went toe to toe with a title contender in a fast paced end-to-end game. It is unfortunate that we were up against 1 of arguably 3 or 4 sides that can match and even eclipse that kind of exuberance - on many other days I would expect a repeat of QPR.

I also thought we got the ball into a number of dangerous positions even if the final ball wasn't quite right. Chadli got 1 on 1 with his marker a few times, Lovren needed a class challenge to deny Ade in the box, Lovren (again) dispossessed Chadli in the box (in fact, Lovren played very well, we won't come up against that kind of talent often). I also seem to remember Ade and Chadli getting 2 on 1 after an Eriksen through ball but Ade was unable to switch the ball. Rose and Eriksen got into space in wide areas but were unable to pick the cross. We picked up a number of corners early on that we couldn't convert (although Fazio will surely help).

To me those are positive signs.

 

[Ironskullll]

I would argue that pressing from the front is a symptom of the system. The managers philosophy revolves around dispossessing the opponent high up the pitch and transitioning quickly onto attack, any facet of play that adds to this is part of the tactical system (imo).

The reason for pressing Liverpool high is three-fold. To smother the ball before it gets to the likes of Sturridge, Balo and Sterling (who punish us whenever they get the ball), to force mistakes from a shaky backline (including Gerrard) and because it was a strategy that proved fruitful for Southampton in the same fixture last year.

I think the first goal hurt us a lot from a tactical position, Liverpool were then free to sit a little deeper and hit on the counter. Without the early goal they would have been forced to come at us for longer which would have opened them up a bit at the back, unfortunately we were the ones forced to press on which aided them. The first EL qualifier match was the first time MoPo won a game when trailing with an English team, it shows a flaw in his system (teams that get a goal then sit back and counter are kryptonite, likely also explains how he got good results against big teams as they wouldn't have sat deep against him).

Regarding modern football heading towards more blow outs, I think the Liverpool situation is common (happened to us half a decade ago). Most teams that leap from midtable to top table are taking advantage of opponentsthat don't really fear them (and thus play a little too far forward, inviting goals). Last season will see plenty of teams treat Liverpool with more respect and attempt to park the bus against them like they would City or Chelsea.

Thinking about this a bit further, I think what worries me is the implication that perhaps a team plays with a particular tactic, in the this case the high press throughout the game. Or with the habit of hitting the front man early. Or getting men behind the ball. Or whatever. I think a team should aspire to being able to do all these things, just at the right time. The better they are with their timings, the more effective they will be. The better an opposition responds to one tactic, the sooner you can present them with another one. Lull them into a false sense of security and then send the javelins between their shields. Counterattack or bludgeon them, depending upon who they are and how they play. One size doesn't fit all.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

Thinking about this a bit further, I think what worries me is the implication that perhaps a team plays with a particular tactic, in the this case the high press throughout the game. Or with the habit of hitting the front man early. Or getting men behind the ball. Or whatever. I think a team should aspire to being able to do all these things, just at the right time. The better they are with their timings, the more effective they will be. The better an opposition responds to one tactic, the sooner you can present them with another one. Lull them into a false sense of security and then send the javelins between their shields. Counterattack or bludgeon them, depending upon who they are and how they play. One size doesn't fit all.

I don't disagree, but for a new manager still in the first month of the season, I expect the squad is still working hard to implement the primary philosophy/formation/tactic. You can't expect that they will have become proficient in multiple tactics in such a short time frame.

Once everyone is up to speed, then it would be time to tweak things a little based on opposition. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though.

 

[jezz]

But a world class striker wouldn't have stopped lamela losing the ball 50 times, lloris unable too kick a ball to a spits player, Dier very poor, Kaboul terrible, Townsend shocking. The list goes on. We've got far
More problems on other areas for me

Bullshit, 70% of fouls committed by Liverpool were against?
How many times did he lose the ball?
Kneejerkers like you who talk BS and have no facts to back it up, pollute these threads like vermin.
Yes we need to do better, but constantly targeting player's with made up bullshit is irrating to say the least.

 

[Amo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04grcj5/match-of-the-day-2-201415-31082014

On around eight minutes (Just after Gerrard scores the penalty) I think you can hear someone say "FUCK OFF!"