Tottenham Vs Man United: Match Thread

[StartingPrice]

FFS. Do people realise that this is Mason's first season in the first team?
The manager is obviously going to stick with him. And quite right to. Top player in the making.

With the majority of folk it isn't that they can't see anything in Mason, or don't rate him or anything. Ditto Bentaleb. It is just as feeling that we could really do with a more experienced CM who fits Poch's system well - for the two to learn off and be guided by. Someone who can do the good things they do, but also dominate games a bit more, take games by the scruff of the neck.

 

[DaSpurs]

With the majority of folk it isn't that they can't see anything in Mason, or don't rate him or anything. Ditto Bentaleb. It is just as feeling that we could really do with a more experienced CM who fits Poch's system well - for the two to learn off and be guided by. Someone who can do the good things they do, but also dominate games a bit more, take games by the scruff of the neck.

Spot on. I've been immensely impressed with Mason, and hope to see him remain at Spurs as a valuable member of our squad moving forward. But unfortunately, we're still too blunted in our movement both with and without the ball from deep, which has direct ramifications for the forwards upfield. As good as Mason and Bentaleb have been, we still unfortunately need something who can integrate all the parts better from deep, and thereby give us more bite.

 

[StartingPrice]

In all honesty, Lloris and the woodwork saved us.

Yes. He did his job.

Why do so many Spurs fans act as though we have cheated Death by making a pact with Mephistopheles whenever our goalkeeper does what he is paid to do. We hired him because he is recognised as one of the best around - and was crayzee enough to slum it with the likes of us

 

[thinktank]

Spot on. I've been immensely impressed with Mason, and hope to see him remain at Spurs as a valuable member of our squad moving forward. But unfortunately, we're still too blunted in our movement both with and without the ball from deep, which has direct ramifications for the forwards upfield. As good as Mason and Bentaleb have been, we still unfortunately need something who can integrate all the parts better from deep, and thereby give us more bite.

Spoiler

Mason Schneiderlin

Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Kane

What could have been. *sigh*

Actually, with MS in I would have been more comfortable having eriksen on the left.

Spoiler

Mason Schniederlin

Lamela Kane Eriksen

Chadli

You know kane is gonna drop when needed and muck in and allow MS to cover eriksen if he's gone off on a wander.

Or you could go..

Spoiler

Mason Schneiderlin

Lamela Mason Eriksen

Kane

In other words, we badly need an MS/Matic type player asap as it greatly increases our options/flexibility.

 

[Blake Griffin]

I think your comments are overly-simplistic. Eriksen is flexible enough to play as any one of the attacking/supporting three. The most relevant thing here is that it's clear enough that Pochettino's approach is to encourage the trio to switch positions and roles frequently - he was quoted referring to Eriksen's 'free role' only this week. He doesn't have a 'position', in the sense that if he is getting suffocated in the middle, he can swap with a teammate and drift out wide, or vice versa.

The main reason why Eriksen wasn't getting any joy in the first half today is because he was facing Michael Carrick, The League's Most Underrated Midfielder, who is as good a footballer as Christian Eriksen, is 32 years old and has played against everyone in the universe at the highest level. You couldn't design a better deep-lying midfielder to contain a player like Eriksen: Carrick doesn't clog people, he rarely leaves his feet and he doesn't get caught out of position, he just gets to the ball before you and strokes it to one of his teammates.

What I found most encouraging is that, as the game wore on, our high level of fitness started to tell - fancy that, we have a fitter team than the rich-boys at Man Utd - and Carrick wasn't marshalling Eriksen effectively anymore. If that game had lasted another 10 minutes, I reckon we would have won it.

'Formations' get way too much attention here. They aren't really the way a football match works.

maybe we should've planned for it then, we knew who we were facing. as for why carrick wasn't marshalling eriksen so well late on, maybe it's because eriksen had moved to the left by that point? a position where carrick can't have him in his lap. also, this flexible three is another one i'm not sure works as well in reality as it does on paper, they don't all interchange positions, they just all migrate into the same area of the pitch making us awfully narrow and congested as a result. chadli, eriksen, lamela won't work, none of them can stretch the opposition, none of them can commit a defender, all want to pass and move inside a 20 yard square which is occupied by a dozen or more players. i still believe eriksen left, lennon right is the best combo we have, the everton game is the only performance i've seen this season where i've come away from it thinking poch has gotten his ideas across to the players.

 

[wpd659]

I wouldnt give up on MS tbh just onion at this moment in time. But i wouldnt be surprised on a move if we move some players on.

 

[DaSpurs]

maybe we should've planned for it then, we knew who we were facing. as for why carrick wasn't marshalling eriksen so well late on, maybe it's because eriksen had moved to the left by that point? a position where carrick can't have him in his lap. also, this flexible three is another one i'm not sure works as well in reality as it does on paper, they don't all interchange positions, they just all migrate into the same area of the pitch making us awfully narrow and congested as a result. chadli, eriksen, lamela won't work, none of them can stretch the opposition, none of them can commit a defender, all want to pass and move inside a 20 yard square which is occupied by a dozen or more players. i still believe eriksen left, lennon right is the best combo we have, the everton game is the only performance i've seen this season where i've come away from it thinking poch has gotten his ideas across to the players.

Tbh, I think the notion that Eriksen left and Lennon right is our strongest setup for the time being is fair, even if I don't agree with it. I just think that ideally with a couple additions, namely a better option for pace and that better playmaker, Eriksen will actually be able to have those more angles open.

Fair point though about planning for against Carrick. Have to agree with you there.

 

[bern]

Mephistopheles? I'll have to Google that one.

 

[EQP]

I thought Vlad played well today. Really wouldn't be opposed to seeing him as a DM for us. Think he has a great knack at intercepting the ball ( and we even saw him play a nice through ball to chadli from deep).

 

[thinktank]

I wouldnt give up on MS tbh just onion at this moment in time. But i wouldnt be surprised on a move if we move some players on.

If the scum are in the running they will pay more and get him though, mate.

Levy will fuck around again and they will just stump up the cash, give him good wages and nab him.

It would sure be test of how much Levy is willing to give poch what he wants, that's for sure.

 

[thinktank]

I thought Vlad played well today. Really wouldn't be opposed to seeing him as a DM for us. Think he has a great knack at intercepting the ball ( and we even saw him play a nice through ball to chadli from deep).

Had him at DM for a few of my team selections. I think it could be his best position.

Shame really. If he didn't have such a wobbly start he'd probably be staying and would be a useful utility player.

The only reason I have him at RB against Chelsea and not DM is that I absolutely do not trust Walker there for that game.

Actually, I might do an alternative 11 with him in.

 

[DaSpurs]

Spoiler

Mason Schneiderlin

Lamela Eriksen Chadli

Kane

What could have been. *sigh*

Actually, with MS in I would have been more comfortable having eriksen on the left.

Spoiler

Mason Schniederlin

Lamela Kane Eriksen

Chadli

You know kane is gonna drop when needed and muck in and allow MS to cover eriksen if he's gone off on a wander.

Or you could go..

Spoiler

Mason Schneiderlin

Lamela Mason Eriksen

Kane

In other words, we badly need an MS/Matic type player asap as it greatly increases our options/flexibility.

Yeah, I mentioned recently that I certainly don't disagree with those who feel our most needed position centrally is a better holder, but nonetheless I still think we're missing a playmaker first and foremost. I think such an introduction would have the most impact both defensively and offensively for us, even if I concede that a better defensive mid would be appreciated.

However, I don't think Schneiderlin, or any other improvement at holder/defensive mid, would have sufficiently compensated for the loss of Eriksen centrally. I once thought that quick, transitional, forward passing would be sufficient, but despite Mason in particular bringing a hellacious improvement toward this end, we still are far too static and predictable. The key IMO is more movement with the ball at foot from deep, and the consequential spread it induces. Would open up so many more options to the forward players, and to the string-pullers in particular to work through to find our striker or a pacey winger.

 

[sim0n]

I wish. The poor sod is prob on only (only, already) about £20k per week and for sure I could double that for him!. Any kind of per cent of that pays for this years turkey.

10% of 20k ain't bad,.... but the 10% Jezz gets for Lamela is quite a bit tastier than that, eh?

all joking aside, a point today isn't bad -- COYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[thinktank]

Yeah, I mentioned recently that I certainly don't disagree with those who feel our most needed position centrally is a better holder, but nonetheless I still think we're missing a playmaker first and foremost. I think such an introduction would have the most impact both defensively and offensively for us, even if I concede that a better defensive mid would be appreciated.

However, I don't think Schneiderlin, or any other improvement at holder/defensive mid, would have sufficiently compensated for the loss of Eriksen centrally. I once thought that quick, transitional, forward passing would be sufficient, but despite Mason in particular bringing a hellacious improvement toward this end, we still are far too static and predictable. The key IMO is more movement with the ball at foot from deep, and the consequential spread it induces. Would open up so many more options to the forward players, and to the string-pullers in particular to work through to find our striker or a pacey winger.

Eriksen has a free role really, like poch has said. He's never stuck out on the left all day tbf. That's why he needs a certain type of player around him to compensate when he goes on a wander.

 

[sim0n]

Had him at DM for a few of my team selections. I think it could be his best position.

Shame really. If he didn't have such a wobbly start he'd probably be staying and would be a useful utility player.

The only reason I have him at RB against Chelsea and not DM is that I absolutely do not trust Walker there for that game.

not convinced with chiriches at DM,.... but I do like the sound of Mephistopheles there...

is he already under contract (see Lloris) or does Daniel need to sign him in January?

 

[chinaman]

Mephistopheles? I'll have to Google that one.

What did you get? Too lazy to Google myself.

 

[bern]

Some nasty German devil

 

[sim0n]

What did you get? Too lazy to Google myself.

he's Spurs' new holding midfielder from what I can tell...

 

[StartingPrice]

I think your comments are overly-simplistic. Eriksen is flexible enough to play as any one of the attacking/supporting three. The most relevant thing here is that it's clear enough that Pochettino's approach is to encourage the trio to switch positions and roles frequently - he was quoted referring to Eriksen's 'free role' only this week. He doesn't have a 'position', in the sense that if he is getting suffocated in the middle, he can swap with a teammate and drift out wide, or vice versa.

The main reason why Eriksen wasn't getting any joy in the first half today is because he was facing Michael Carrick, The League's Most Underrated Midfielder, who is as good a footballer as Christian Eriksen, is 32 years old and has played against everyone in the universe at the highest level. You couldn't design a better deep-lying midfielder to contain a player like Eriksen: Carrick doesn't clog people, he rarely leaves his feet and he doesn't get caught out of position, he just gets to the ball before you and strokes it to one of his teammates.

What I found most encouraging is that, as the game wore on, our high level of fitness started to tell - fancy that, we have a fitter team than the rich-boys at Man Utd - and Carrick wasn't marshalling Eriksen effectively anymore. If that game had lasted another 10 minutes, I reckon we would have won it.

'Formations' get way too much attention here. They aren't really the way a football match works.

I read the interview containing this this week, and can confirm that this is what Pochettino said - for any doubters

 

[wpd659]

If the scum are in the running they will pay more and get him though, mate.

Levy will fuck around again and they will just stump up the cash, give him good wages and nab him.

It would sure be test of how much Levy is willing to give poch what he wants, that's for sure.

Wenger wont buy a midfielder in January. Would be very suprised if he buys anything tbh.

MS and Poch get on very well and he likes Poch's style of football.
The papers love a story and MS is a big one. arsenal fans would love a player like him! So journo's will always make it seem like there is other interest.
We have made our interest clear and Southampton are aware. As is he and his agent.
We do have money to spend but squad wages are an issue.