Tottenham Vs Newcastle: Match Thread

[diamondlight]

it wasn't what he said that was wrong, it was the way he said it

What? Do you want someone who tells the truth or a grinning Tony Blair figure who massages the press and the fans but is totally incompetent? I don't give a damn if a Spurs manager communicates in semaphore, morse code, or the medium of dance, as long as they know what they're doing and saying.

 

[eddiebailey]

Thankfully we won't sell Lamela.

Agreed. There is no way levy would stomach the loss if someone paid his current value.

 

[Spurs 1961]

Not seen the game. Not enjoyed this season...or last. Or the one before...but I know we are not far off being a decent side. Never wanted AVB certainly not nice but dim and was never convinced about Poch. But I don't want any change of manager. Poch needs time and maybe I will just have to swallow mid-table for a season until he gets it right.

The grass is not always greener. In fact for us it never is greener. We need to stick with the manager support the team and hope we make some gradual improvements

 

[Sweetsman]

I don't whether to laugh or cry at this post.

What chances? We were average in the first half without creating much at all, but in control because Newcastle were so abject.

Then they changed things, caught us with our pants down, got more aggressive and we didn't have a fucking clue how to get back in the game.

They were comfortable in the end, hardly hanging on for victory under sustained pressure.

The truth is we look flaky at the back and lack any sort of cutting edge, pace or dynamism in the final third.

Not a great combination really.

Actually, the one positive is that we do create more chances than before, but like before no one puts them away. I hadn't watched the first half until MOTD2 and we had enough chances to put the game to bed. That has been the story of a number of matches, including against City. I think that MP should have been very angry at HT that we didn't put them away.

 

[Syn_13]

Not seen the game. Not enjoyed this season...or last. Or the one before...but I know we are not far off being a decent side. Never wanted AVB certainly not nice but dim and was never convinced about Poch. But I don't want any change of manager. Poch needs time and maybe I will just have to swallow mid-table for a season until he gets it right.

The grass is not always greener. In fact for us it never is greener. We need to stick with the manager support the team and hope we make some gradual improvements

Pretty much sums it up for me too. Poch certainly needs time. It's very hard for managers these days. They take over a team that needs an upheaval. It's full of players that either don't suit your style or just aren't good enough. You can't simply do a Football Manager and get rid of 10 players and bring in 10 of your own, it's got to be a gradual process. On the way you're going to have bad times in order to get it right, and if you're sacked early then you never get to fully implement what you want to do. Then on comes the next manager, who inherits a team that is already half way through implementing some other guy's philosophy, and is a mish-mash of players that were brought in for the last manager (whether he wanted them or not), and players that have been around for ages that keep struggling to adapt. Add to the fact that we can't seem to find enough success in the market to land a manager's first choice target, we're often settling for alternative options. I can't see how a club can improve or find any stability like this.

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

We fucked up, pure and simple. A bit more penetration and a willingness to shoot and we would've been 3-0 up at half time and cruising.

Dier arrived late out of the tunnel for the second half, was high-fiving everyone and obviously not fully focused, and Newcastle exploited that to the max. It's the sort of kick-off move that might maybe work once or twice in a season, and they caught the poor lad completely off guard. Hope he learns from that. It was a sucker punch we never recovered from and we were dreadful all second half.

Taking Capoue off for Kane might appear to make sense to some, but it left us with nobody who could win the ball back quickly and help us keep the pressure on their defence. This for me is why we always need a ball winning midfielder in the side even when we're throwing people forward and chasing goals. Big mistake by Poch IMO.

But Poch's questioning of mentality post-match is spot on. Nobody liked the way Sherwood did it (and rightly so, it wasn't what he said that was wrong, it was the way he said it), but I'm convinced that our problems are more mental than either technical or tactical.

It's all three, and not in equal measure. I think until we instill (or buy in) the right attitude in players then we won't be going anywhere soon.

You only need to look at West Ham over the past few weeks to see how the injection of a 'can do" attitude has helped them. Plus they have signed three good players who are willing to put in a shift.

 

[Marty]

It's all three, and not in equal measure. I think until we instill (or buy in) the right attitude in players then we won't be going anywhere soon.

You only need to look at West Ham over the past few weeks to see how the injection of a 'can do" attitude has helped them. Plus they have signed three good players who are willing to put in a shift.

Obviously I won't ever be able to prove it but if we'd managed to get Alex Song on that loan deal from Barca I'm sure we would've been top four and everybody would be saying what a great start Pochettino was having.

But going on about if's and but's certainly isn't going to help us now.

 

[ultimateloner]

I think the senior players need to come out and motivate.
This team naturally lacks fight; without a key player who can dominate when on song it is hard for players to have much belief.

 

[CrazyHeart]

I do recognise that. But surely Poch hoped by elevating his status to vice captain that it would spark some improved attitude and benefit the team. Ade has really let Poch down. He's a nightmare to manage. It wasn't Poch's fault that he was lumbered with this self centred twat. He's trying to make it work and it's failing him as Ade did every manager before. He will be dropped in time I'm sure. I certainly favour giving Kane a run of games.

I find it more confusing and frustrating that Levy purchased even more average players that do not fit the Poch philosophy.

I agree with you on all points, but I'd pick Soldado over Kane. It's obvious that Kane needs time and space to be effective, and unfortunately as we saw, even against Newcastle that this is very difficult. Kane, in my opinion needs to build up his reflexes and agility (which Soldado has great instincts for) and work him into the squad. We keep talking about bringing in a new striker in Jan - well, it should be Adebayor that gets replaced not Soldado. Too bad there's no takers though.

 

[dk-yid]

I think the senior players need to come out and motivate.
This team naturally lacks fight; without a key player who can dominate when on song it is hard for players to have much belief.

Toon's Sissokho showed that one player fighting all the way can are the difference. Our club - not just the players - lack a winning /fighting mentality.

 

[shelfmonkey]

Think I'll shave me head after watching this...

At least you have the choice!!!!

 

[Damian99]

Back to the good old days of the 90s, just with far better players

 

[Monkey boy]

Supporting Spurs is like falling in love with a really classy chick and then finding out that she's flaky as hell, but you love her nevertheless.

I think you mean............ then finding out she's riddled with STD's.

 

[scottlag10]

Sorry to repeat this for the umpteenth time but Wet Spam won't get a revenue boost from the Olympic Stadium. The reason is that capacity doesn't matter as much as the amount of corporate boxes and seats and the OS won't have any. This is why Levy wanted to knock it down.

Mark my words as soon as the dust settles West ham will be given an option to buy the stadium. They will then get the same kick start that Man City got from the Commonwealth stadium. Political stances shift all the time and the legacy will become a thing of the past and financial concerns over the stadium will lead to it being sold.

 

[scottlag10]

I tend to agree. We have spent a lot of money but bought players inferior to those sold and /or have not improved the overall quality of the team. It might be too early to judge but I just don't understand why we buy Fazio, Stambouli, Vlad, Davies if they are not better than we have already and improve the first team. Most of our signings of late have simply been squad players.

I would also be tempted to stop rotating the team for mid week games, especially if we are at home. We need to get some consistency and put a run of form together. I especially don't like changing the back 4 and holding midfielder so often. We need to get a settled organised unit.

I hate to highlight West ham but Sam appears to have got the players he wanted and they have all settled in because they are being played every game. Simple isn't it?!

 

[thebetamaxboy]

I think we have it all wrong at the moment, system is being dictated by player who aren't performing. With 4231 we have no width. Just watch swansea play,2 wingers have chalk on their boots all game. Play 4411, sell lamela in jan, buy 2 fast wingers and go from there. Start playing exciting football again full of pace and attack

some good points there, I'd like to keep Lamela and see him come good as I'm sure he eventually will. I think however we don't have that luxury of time. Schneiderlin was key to Poch's system and we didn't get him ... Insane to bring a manger in with a system but no tools to implement.

 

[thebetamaxboy]

Post of the day. So true.

there were a lot of us who wanted De Boer the Ajax link could have benefited us greatly, I'm certain he will be Wengers eventual replacement. Ill be honest , I was shocked and angry at Pochettiinos initial appointment. maybe he has the goods but he now needs time and to be backed with his system ...Schneiderlin and Rodriguez in January levy! ... If they'll come!

.....in fact Benitez would have worked aswell, managers like him work with what they have , redknapp too... On our budget that's a better bet than managers who require specific players for their system and we won't pay the required fee.

 

[thebetamaxboy]

I think the senior players need to come out and motivate.
This team naturally lacks fight; without a key player who can dominate when on song it is hard for players to have much belief.

Schneiderlin was Pochs man for this role. Levys answer was Stambouli. probably a good player.. If and when he plays but I'd have rather kept Dawson and had Schneiderlin than Fazio, Stambouli and Davies.

 

[Kendall]

He was still absolutely awful. He'll still start next week somehow.

Pathetic, spineless display. Teams will be desperate to get us at home. Our home fans make every home game an away. Letting 100 Geordies outsing us.

You don't concede a goal in 7 seconds for fuck sake.

didn't realise Ade let Toon fans outsing ours. Also didn't realise he let in a goal after 7 seconds. Did realise he scored from open play though.

 

[Spurrific]

didn't realise Ade let Toon fans outsing ours. Also didn't realise he let in a goal after 7 seconds. Did realise he scored from open play though.

Yeah. They were all part of the same point, that's why they were in three separate paragraphs. Good comprehension, bro.