Tottenham Vs Stoke: Match Thread

[EnfieldYiddo]

Haha, I put my neck on the line to back him when we signed him, and I'm not backing down any time soon! He'll come good if given the chance, I know it!

You'll be muttering that on your deathbed mate I'm sure of it!

 

[thinktank]

I appreciate this is tongue in cheek and a fair few of us have called for a Defoe replacement for a while now but the man has scored over 100 goals for the club and loves playing for us.

My rapid happy clap will be in honour of a great servant for the club, if and when he goes.

Oh...I'm pleased for you.

 

[millsey]

If he goes I want a tall man brought in...not a 'long'/short one.

Any names?

 

[thinktank]

Any names?

nopes

 

[millsey]

nopes

Thanks for coming down!

 

[thinktank]

Thanks for coming down!

You're very welcome whoever you are.

 

[fatpiranha]

Haha, I put my neck on the line to back him when we signed him, and I'm not backing down any time soon! He'll come good if given the chance, I know it!

I actually feel pressure when he plays, because if he has a bad game I tend to get a bit of stick too

Think yourself lucky. I championed Kevin Prince Boateng after watching him play really well in the Toulon tournament in 2007

 

[Lufti]

Think yourself lucky. I championed Kevin Prince Boateng after watching him play really well in the Toulon tournament in 2007

That's tough, but it's over for you buddy. That ship has sailed. Mine is still floating, just about, it's not over yet!!

 

[davidmatzdorf]

Really? If Ade or Sol got a bad injury we rely on [Kane & Coulthirst]?

No, but if the alternative is Shane Long, then it's not worth bothering to sign him. He's OK, but nothing special. Unless we can get in another striker who materially improves what we have, which is highly unlikely in January, even given Baldini's impressive powers of persuasion and negotiation, we may as well persist with Adebayor, Soldado and the youth players.

 

[Dannyspur]

Dembele and Paulinho are twice the player Holtby is

Surely that's because there are two of them and one of him

 

[marvel]

When in today's form, Dembele is simply unplayable. Pretty much impossible to get off the ball and with adeed goal threat. If we can get him playing like that consistently then we will be right up there.

The thing that stood out for me today was that after the West Brom game, Sherwood said:

"It’s important we believe and risk a little more, playing one-touch in around the final third might open things up for us"

Think it was clear that this had been worked on in training and there was some lovely one touch stuff being played today from a few of the team in the final third. Encouraging to see Sherwood's ideas being implemented and us reaping the benefits of them. Best performance for a long time, loved it.

 

[EnfieldYiddo]

When in today's form, Dembele is simply unplayable. Pretty much impossible to get off the ball and with adeed goal threat. If we can get him playing like that consistently then we will be right up there.

The thing that stood out for me today was that after the West Brom game, Sherwood said:

"It’s important we believe and risk a little more, playing one-touch in around the final third might open things up for us"

Think it was clear that this had been worked on in training and there was some lovely one touch stuff being played today from a few of the team in the final third. Encouraging to see Sherwood's ideas being implemented and us reaping the benefits of them. Best performance for a long time, loved it.

Great find and point.

Ever so slowly I'm warming to Sherwood, I'll fight this urge until after the United and Arsenal matches

 

[walworthyid]

When in today's form, Dembele is simply unplayable. Pretty much impossible to get off the ball and with adeed goal threat. If we can get him playing like that consistently then we will be right up there.

The thing that stood out for me today was that after the West Brom game, Sherwood said:

"It’s important we believe and risk a little more, playing one-touch in around the final third might open things up for us"

Think it was clear that this had been worked on in training and there was some lovely one touch stuff being played today from a few of the team in the final third. Encouraging to see Sherwood's ideas being implemented and us reaping the benefits of them. Best performance for a long time, loved it.

One touch is something all players do in training, Sunday teams to premiership ones, the main differences for us have been a forward to play off of (Ade) and committing players forward. People are saying that Paulinho and ade have a good good understanding but it is simply that both players are doing what they naturally do. Paulinho likes to run off of the ball and ade likes to get it into feet and lay it off. The constant breaking of the lines and movement creates space and opportunities for playerst o get forward. The rigid shape that we have been playing and the lack of a focal point is why we have been struggling and not seeing the best of certain players.

 

[millsey]

No, but if the alternative is Shane Long, then it's not worth bothering to sign him. He's OK, but nothing special. Unless we can get in another striker who materially improves what we have, which is highly unlikely in January, even given Baldini's impressive powers of persuasion and negotiation, we may as well persist with Adebayor, Soldado and the youth players.

Agree but Long in my view is better than people think, out of contract in the summer, can be got for a bargain, and we are in no positon in Jan to buy a top name. Im not sure Sherwood will be given the funds

 

[Misfit]

Tip my hat to Tim. Already signs of progress after just a few games.

 

[Vulcan10]

When in today's form, Dembele is simply unplayable. Pretty much impossible to get off the ball and with adeed goal threat. If we can get him playing like that consistently then we will be right up there.

The thing that stood out for me today was that after the West Brom game, Sherwood said:

"It’s important we believe and risk a little more, playing one-touch in around the final third might open things up for us"

Think it was clear that this had been worked on in training and there was some lovely one touch stuff being played today from a few of the team in the final third. Encouraging to see Sherwood's ideas being implemented and us reaping the benefits of them. Best performance for a long time, loved it.

Agreed. Our final third play was much better and the players had the freedom to try things without fear. We do however still need to move the ball forward from midfield much quicker & I'm not sure how we'll achieve this with the players available as we do not have that Modric type player. Eriksen might do this eventually but it will take time. The only "signing" I would make in jan would be bringing back tom Carroll. I know he's young but he's the closest we have to a playmaker.

 

[Lifeson]

Really? If Ade or Sol got a bad injury we rely on them?

Please let's not start calling Soldado... THAT!

 

[RogerTCB]

Agreed. Our final third play was much better and the players had the freedom to try things without fear. We do however still need to move the ball forward from midfield much quicker & I'm not sure how we'll achieve this with the players available as we do not have that Modric type player. Eriksen might do this eventually but it will take time. The only "signing" I would make in jan would be bringing back tom Carroll. I know he's young but he's the closest we have to a playmaker.

I've never rated Totti as the sharpest tool in the shed but he had hoped Lamella would be his direct replacement at Roma. This is almost certainly as a triquartista not a striker and he might be onto something.

 

[DiamondLites]

Anywhere with extended match highlights? no football first on tonight and MOTD is wank

 

[RichieS]

Another pleasing part of Tim's post match interview was that he said he wanted Dembélé to do what he did today more often, and that he hoped to give him the freedom to do so.