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Tottenham vs Swansea: Match Thread

TEESSIDE1

Married, new job and Spurs on the up!
Jul 3, 2006
15,089
18,780
He's started the season with a slightly bizarre dichotomy. We're getting a lot of tactical fluidity/experimentation (which I don't mind) - risk taking on one hand, but on the other a lot of risk averse stuff - the Dier/Wanyama/Dembele midfield vs. Chelsea, rushing players back from injury, to the detriment of the team on the day, almost zero trust in youth so far this season... Overall it's been very hit and miss.

Playing say the inexperienced KWP at left back is much more sensible than what Poch did yesterday. Yes he's only played one game and at right back but put in a MoM performance. The plus side would have been a balanced side and not a disorganised mishmash and it's not as if Swansea were ever going to expose KWP.
 

Matrix

Well-Known Member
Aug 9, 2008
2,923
5,679
We were too slow coming out of defense. That gave Swans to set up shop easily.
Also every time Eriksen or Dier got the ball they slowed it up alowing Swansea to regroup and put up a wall in front of goal. This negates Kane and any other support striker as everything is quite static. You would probably someone on the wings who crosses like Beckham to even make a well drilled defense to make mistakes. We unfortunately don't have that so we need to up the tempo an pull the bus parkers all over the pitch to create gaps.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
Playing say the inexperienced KWP at left back is much more sensible than what Poch did yesterday. Yes he's only played one game and at right back but put in a MoM performance. The plus side would have been a balanced side and not a disorganised mishmash and it's not as if Swansea were ever going to expose KWP.

To be honest I'm not sure why things got changed at halftime. Son was actually playing his "LWB" role pretty well and was our liveliest player - he almost had a free role and was popping up right, left, and centre making things happen. We then decided to completely fubar both flanks for the second half until Aurier eventually got on the pitch.
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
I don't understand how this myth is so constantly spouted. Liverpool have the quickest attack in the league, and who do they struggle against? Teams that park the bus. Pace is useful against teams that actually venture outside their own half.

What you need against bus-parkers is intelligent moving and quicker passing to drag defenders out of position, and create openings for other runners.
I half agree; What we need is dribblers, not necessarily quick. Just someone who can turn a marker and drag someone out of position towards him. Mindless pace only is useful on the counter attack. However a good dribbler with a good centre of gravity can dribble around the bus parkers. Our movement is decent however yesterday we only had Ali, Kane and Eriksen anywhere near the box. Playing the 343 with dier and no real dynamic wingbacks means that we are left with 6 defenders on the field and only 4 attackers. We don't need a dier against bus parkers we need a carrick.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
I half agree; What we need is dribblers, not necessarily quick. Just someone who can turn a marker and drag someone out of position towards him. Mindless pace only is useful on the counter attack. However a good dribbler with a good centre of gravity can dribble around the bus parkers. Our movement is decent however yesterday we only had Ali, Kane and Eriksen anywhere near the box. Playing the 343 with dier and no real dynamic wingbacks means that we are left with 6 defenders on the field and only 4 attackers. We don't need a dier against bus parkers we need a carrick.
That's not true though is it? For most of the second half even Jan and Toby were virtually on the corners of their box. It was literally Sanchez on halfway then everyone else in the final third.

I'm all for a well drilled defensive performance (is there a better drilled defence than ours?!), but what Swansea did yesterday was not one. The variety of bus park they employed depends as much on chance as skill - I can think of at least 3 clear opportunities that we really should have scored from (Kane hitting the bar, Dele inexplicably heading back across the six-yard box instead of at goal and Aurier poking wide). They also relied upon Fabianski making good saves (Kane free kick and header, Son's chances) and the ref getting a couple of things wrong (I had a good view of Serge getting wiped out though and it did look very much like he'd used his upper arm rather than chest in real time).

Chelsea nullified our specific threats very well. Burnley had a plan to play on the counter. Swansea stuck 9 men in their area and hoped for the best.
 

1882andallthat

Well-Known Member
Feb 2, 2009
2,821
4,157
A lot has been written about some of the selections which clearly affected us and we gave them far too much of an easy ride in the first half and on another day we would have easily won this by 3 or 4 goals had the referee been competent, such fine margins, had we put them under intense pressure in both halves which we were more than capable of doing I'm convinced they would have eventually buckled.

I'm as annoyed as anyone that we didn't pick up three points but whilst there were few positives, I'm going to try to clutch at straws to find some.

1. It's the first time we have kept a clean sheet at Wembley in a competitive game since 2009, the league cup final.
2. In the first leg of the season double header of the Shithouse cup final, Shithouse and Shithouse both dropped points in a 0-0 draw with the blue Shithouses losing a defender to suspension, as a result nether made us pay fully for our slip up. Hopefully both Shithouses can do us the same favour when they meet again later in the season at the home of the red Shithouses, and hopefully we can take full advantage by picking up 3 points at their dual expense.
3. None of our key players picked up injuries.

Small comforts I know but it's another way of looking at things.... and while we're on about Shithouses, I'm sick to the back teeth of that other London Shithouse team of the claret and blue variety goading us and being more up for next weeks fixture than we are.

It's high time we were as up for this one as they are, it's high time they were shut up, if we play to our strengths rather than sitting back and slowing everything down and letting them impose their game on us rather than the other way round there is no reason why we can't put 5 past them, let's take our frustrations out on them, City did it last year so did Liverpool and so did the red shithouses, and if we play to our strengths there is no reason why we can't match that. It will shut them up for a while and it will shut up some of those nasty goading talkshite snipers.

Roll on next week I say......
 

punkisback

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2004
4,410
7,278
A
That's not true though is it? For most of the second half even Jan and Toby were virtually on the corners of their box. It was literally Sanchez on halfway then everyone else in the final third.

I'm all for a well drilled defensive performance (is there a better drilled defence than ours?!), but what Swansea did yesterday was not one. The variety of bus park they employed depends as much on chance as skill - I can think of at least 3 clear opportunities that we really should have scored from (Kane hitting the bar, Dele inexplicably heading back across the six-yard box instead of at goal and Aurier poking wide). They also relied upon Fabianski making good saves (Kane free kick and header, Son's chances) and the ref getting a couple of things wrong (I had a good view of Serge getting wiped out though and it did look very much like he'd used his upper arm rather than chest in real time).

Chelsea nullified our specific threats very well. Burnley had a plan to play on the counter. Swansea stuck 9 men in their area and hoped for the best.
Apologies I meant, Kane, Alli and Eriksen the only one close the box who could offer a goal threat or creative threat. Aurier perhaps offered something, but unless your wingbacks can play like wingers but also defend it's useless going 3 CBs and Dier.
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
You were wanking about City. It's irrelevant who stops them. It just so happened that last year it was us.
Just because I think they have improved and imo will be champions doesn't mean I'm wanking over them.
Would you rather that I lie and say we are playing well and will win it, no of course not and not many team's will stop them this year.
 

Krafty

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
4,768
2,099
Two tactical failings for me

1. Son at left wing back. Worked soooo well last time out, and just totally negates the positives of Son's game

2. Three at the back with Dier in midfield. against a team that has very little forward ambition, we end up with four players who aren't offering too much going forward dealing with one attacker, and it also makes us very narrow and easy to keep at arms length.

Should be at worst a back four with the full backs bombing on, with Dier/Wanyama as a shield. The rest of the team should be on full width and full attack mode

Another two points dropped sadly
 

Gaz_Gammon

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2005
16,047
18,013
I just thought id lay my 2p worth as well while we are moaning.

4.Sissoko criticism, 2 sublime passes, one which we shouldve scored from, what the fuck are you on about?
5. Spurs community, put yer knickers back on! we are only 5 games in to the season I see enough to get CL footy again next season.

Sissoko was our attacking midfielder at the point, very good of him to sling in a couple of passes into the fray.

With "only five games into the season" we are already five points adrift of Yanited and Citeh. When was the last time we have never played catch up? If we couldn't catch Leicester do you seriously think we can catch Yanited or Citeh?

"I can seriously see enough to get CL footy again next season"

Is that you Arsene?
 

Spurger King

can't smile without glue
Jul 22, 2008
43,881
95,147
Sissoko was our attacking midfielder at the point, very good of him to sling in a couple of passes into the fray.

The revisionism regarding Sissoko is like some collective psychological syndrome. It was a sub-par performance, but because it wasn't quite as low as his own subterranean standards he's suddenly turned into Pele for some people.

He made a tackle and completed a couple of decent passes. He also lost the ball on numerous occasions and looked lost for much of his time in the game. I guess people just think it's hip to be contrarian for the sake of it. Sissoko was one of the worst players on the pitch on Saturday (again).
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
A lot has been written about some of the selections which clearly affected us and we gave them far too much of an easy ride in the first half and on another day we would have easily won this by 3 or 4 goals had the referee been competent, such fine margins, had we put them under intense pressure in both halves which we were more than capable of doing I'm convinced they would have eventually buckled.

I'm as annoyed as anyone that we didn't pick up three points but whilst there were few positives, I'm going to try to clutch at straws to find some.

1. It's the first time we have kept a clean sheet at Wembley in a competitive game since 2009, the league cup final.
2. In the first leg of the season double header of the Shithouse cup final, Shithouse and Shithouse both dropped points in a 0-0 draw with the blue Shithouses losing a defender to suspension, as a result nether made us pay fully for our slip up. Hopefully both Shithouses can do us the same favour when they meet again later in the season at the home of the red Shithouses, and hopefully we can take full advantage by picking up 3 points at their dual expense.
3. None of our key players picked up injuries.

Small comforts I know but it's another way of looking at things.... and while we're on about Shithouses, I'm sick to the back teeth of that other London Shithouse team of the claret and blue variety goading us and being more up for next weeks fixture than we are.

It's high time we were as up for this one as they are, it's high time they were shut up, if we play to our strengths rather than sitting back and slowing everything down and letting them impose their game on us rather than the other way round there is no reason why we can't put 5 past them, let's take our frustrations out on them, City did it last year so did Liverpool and so did the red shithouses, and if we play to our strengths there is no reason why we can't match that. It will shut them up for a while and it will shut up some of those nasty goading talkshite snipers.

Roll on next week I say......
I still can't believe we lost to west ham not just last season but also the season before, all because they peak for one game a year us.
Would not surprise me if we lose again on the weekend to them despite the fact they are shit, we are very average at the moment and don't appear to be on any vein of form.
 

Tucker

Shitehawk
Jul 15, 2013
31,131
146,025
Sissoko was our attacking midfielder at the point, very good of him to sling in a couple of passes into the fray.

With "only five games into the season" we are already five points adrift of Yanited and Citeh. When was the last time we have never played catch up? If we couldn't catch Leicester do you seriously think we can catch Yanited or Citeh?

"I can seriously see enough to get CL footy again next season"

Is that you Arsene?

It's September ffs. United haven't even played anyone decent yet, and City have only had to play ten men Liverpool from the top 6.

This time last year, City were 4 points ahead of us and looking imperious. The wheels still fell off for them. I'm not saying the definitely will this year, but it's a long season. Being five points adrift now is completely meaningless. You know who was five points adrift this time last year? Chelsea.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
I still can't believe we lost to west ham not just last season but also the season before, all because they peak for one game a year us.
Would not surprise me if we lose again on the weekend to them despite the fact they are shit, we are very average at the moment and don't appear to be on any vein of form.

Prior to our draw against Swansea would you have said that we are average?
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Prior to our draw against Swansea would you have said that we are average?
So far this season yes I haven't seen us hit our stride and play particularly well in any game so far, this can and hopefully will change of course as it is still early.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
So far this season yes I haven't seen us hit our stride and play particularly well in any game so far, this can and hopefully will change of course as it is still early.

Everton?
Dortmund?

We were far from average in those matches...
 

Sweetsman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2011
6,673
6,588
Do you mean the one where he squared if for Kane who hit the bar? If so, all he had to do was play a 10-15 foot square pass along the floor but instead made the chance a bit harder by playing it off the ground so Kane had to take it on the half volley. Still an easy chance Kane would put away 9 times out of 10 but definitely not a sublime pass.

I do actually feel sorry for Sissoko as he needs to play in a central position with a remit to break lines through vertical, powerful running. He is a space maker and a line breaker and nothing else. I don't expect sublime from him I expect power and chaos. Playing him as a RWB is a cardinal sin and when we had Trippier on the pitch and Aurier on the bench it is even more puzzling. Poch needs to take a long hard look at himself.

I personally, assuming Davies has a knock and wasn't just getting a breather, would have done this at HT yesterday:

1. Not put Davies on the bench in the first place!
2. Switched to a back 4 at HT and moved Vertonghen to LB
3. Brought Aurier on for the ineffective Trippier at RB
4. Told both FBs to be as aggressive as possible
5. Brought on Winks for Sissoko to give us better incisive forward passing
6. Given Eriksen a free role to pull strings
7. Had Alli tucked in behind Son and Kane.
8. Llorente would have been plan B for the last 20 minutes.


Lloris
Alderweireld----Sanchez
Aurier----------------Dier-------------Vertonghen
Winks-----Eriksen
Alli
Kane------Son​

Disclaimer - Poch is an awesome manager and I am more than happy for him to do some learning as we progress. I recall it took Fergie a couple of years to get rotation right when CL first went to group format.
Yes, it wasn't along the ground, but you expect Kane to put that away; in any case, it was a pass backwards and it was an instant decision for both players. He should look at how Greaves would pass the ball in rather than use power at all times. It's a bit like playing a shot off a fast bowler: the power's already there. Winks should have come on, Trippier should have gone off instead of Son, and we miss someone who can drive at the defence (hint: Edwards).
 

bubble07

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2004
22,959
29,896
Ray wilkins spotted dier doesnt release ball quick enough and takes too many touches

We can all see it so Poch must also see it
 

shelfboy68

Well-Known Member
Jun 14, 2008
14,566
19,651
Everton?
Dortmund?

We were far from average in those matches...
Everton I thought were shit and we are generally better than them and beat them without hitting our stride.
Dortmund played into our hands by coming and pressing and trying to take us on, that gave us the space to play in but if they had come and done a Swansea I think they would have picked us off thankfully they didn't.
Like I say I haven't seen us play that well yet our shooting is wayward and something isn't clicking yet, my concern is that we might have been found out a bit seeing as we haven't added to the final third I think we are predictable.
 
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