Tottenham Vs Stoke: Match Thread

[RogerTCB]

Just in the same way that people calling for Tim to be sacked after a pretty woeful performance at home to West Brom were stupid to do so. To claim that since win somehow vindicates Sherwood's appointment is equally wrong.

I think only after 10 games or so will we really be able to judge whether the appointment was the right one or not...

I don't think you've gone nearly far enough; even the end of the season may be a bit early to judge. Look at Brendan @ the 'pool as exhibit A for needing a good run to get a team playing how he wanted them too.

 

[Scarlet57]

We're up next on MOTD

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/16845357

 

[Spurger King]

Had the pleasure of watching the Chelsea v Liverpool highlights with a Liverpool supporting mate of mine.

He seemed in a state of shock when I told him we're only two points behind them after the same amount of games. To be fair I find it hard to believe too.

 

[guiltyparty]

Had the pleasure of watching the Chelsea v Liverpool highlights with a Liverpool supporting mate of mine.

He seemed in a state of shock when I told him we're only two points behind them after the same amount of games. To be fair I find it hard to believe too.

Their apparent rise and our so-called demise have been greatly exaggerated

 

[BobbyP]

I'll take credit for that result then lads.

Cheers

I'm actually taking the credit, walked a different way to the ground! THAT'S what did it

 

[RichieS]

Their apparent rise and our so-called demise have been greatly exaggerated

Similar to the last couple of seasons when we've had 'amazing' starts and the Arse have been 'crap' yet only a few points behind us...

 

[Vulcan10]

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

I think the football on sky at 11pm might be highlights just listed incorrectly. I could be wrong but this has happened before and it did include highlights of all games so worth recording it just incase.

 

[Mr Pink]

I think the football on sky at 11pm might be highlights just listed incorrectly. I could be wrong but this has happened before and it did include highlights of all games so worth recording it just incase.

Said the same earlier...extended highlights showing now of our game.

 

[cheeseman]

So we are 8 points off the total we had when we made Champs league?

One point off (09/10).

 

[hughy]

The more I think about it, the more I realise that today's performance couldn't have really come at a better time. In the next 6 days we have two absolutely massive away games that will tell us how serious we are regarding our ambitions in the Premier League and the cup competitions. Today really gave the lads a chance to express what quite frankly they could have been doing all season under the right management. They looked confident, eager to impress, and aware of each other.

For me Paulinho had his best game in a Spurs shirt, Dembele put in his best performance of the season and capped it off with a fine goal, our strike-partnership is really starting to take shape and both are looking happy working together, and working hard for the team. Eriksen is slowly starting to ease himself in to games more and more, and had his set-pieces been a bit better we'd probably be saying it was his best game for us. Heck, even Naughton showed capabilities that could see him deputise more regularly in his preferred right-back role when Walker is unavailable.

It goes without staying that we'll have far, far tougher tests this season, but I honestly went in to today wondering whether it'd be another one of those days. So much credit has to go to Sherwood and his coaching team for some brave decisions that have been made recently. Who knows - had the likes of Holtby/Sigurdsson/Townsend been fit would Paulinho, Dembele and Lennon have come straight back in to the team? I think he had a case for starting all three players, and as the match went on they all significantly impacted on the game. The substitutions were all made at the right times, giving a few of the newer lads some much needed experience in the league, and it must be encouraging, and a great learning curve for the likes of Bentaleb and Veljkovic to be getting on the bench, and in Bentaleb's case actually getting some minutes recently.

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself, but for the first time this season I think we genuinely have a reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead. It's also worth pointing out that we were without 7 or 8 first team regulars, of which include our preferred back-four.

We should take the confidence and experience of today in to the match against a beatable United team on Wednesday, and maybe we'll surprise a few people.

 

[voxy28]

Dembele... my MOTM!

 

[dudu]

Looks like tim's playing a loose 442 come 433, so it's actually pretty flexible....if he continues as he did today.

Yup, all talk of this solid 4-4-2 that the media have hyped up is nothing more than 3 numbers separated by -'s

Like you said its a very loose formation.

Lennon obviously sticks out on the right as that is where he can be deadly but Erkison plays everywhere, Ade drops deep and pulls out wide.

was great to see really. back to the olden days with no left winger

 

[yiDONz]

First half was good but again not clinical enough. I loved Paulinho's peformance but keeps blasting these shots over, if he can get those shots hitting the back of the net it would be awesome. Dembele, woah plays great in this system. Ade, good peformance, good to see him enjoying his football again. He is a real addition in attacking play.

Could write a book about this game, but I'm generally just happy. Plus Charlie Adam is a ****.

 

[Kendall]

I thought Dembele, Paulinho and Eriksen were outstanding. Adebayor and Soldado were brilliant at everything but score and Lennon was very good.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Amazing how much better a team can play when you have a proper central midfield. Lennon looked like his old self, using his pace to get to the byline and create. Was really happy to see him get his goal. Adebayor was outstanding and playing like a man with either a point to prove or a move/contract to angle for depending on how cynical you are. Still feel we are very sluggish at the back and a decent attack would have gotten through us. And Soldado frustrates me so much because its so obvious from his movement and his touches that he's a quality player, yet cannot hit a barn door unless from the spot. It really is becoming a running joke.

But great stuff all round, Eriksen is such a quality player as well. I really want to see Lamela fulfill his potential with us, but tbh I can't really fault that starting lineup. Stoke are a crap team though, so lets not start sucking each others dicks just yet shall we? Next two games could see sections of N17 suicidal again.

Edit: BTW, you can tell we're shit again 'cause we're back to being last on MOTD. 90's all over again!