Tottenham vs Swansea: Match Thread

[Hazardousman]

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).

That's exactly what it is, anybody with a pair of eyeballs knows Sissoko is a shit footballer, some don't want to admit for whatever reason.

He should have been sold in the window and replaced imo.

 

[Hazardousman]

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?

This is the point, we needed to start strong in the league this season if we would stand any chance, we can't afford to be starting the season drawing loads of games, that's what happened last season and it left us short despite our amazing run of form towards the end of the season.

Truth is, I never really believed we stood a chance of winning the league this season anyway because of Wembley, that's not an excuse either, it's just many teams turning up are going to treat it like a cup final and we are underperforming there already. our best bet is to try and actually win a trophy this season, any trophy, I could care less what it is.

I think we are going to have issues when we move into the new ground as well, if the pitch dimensions are causing a problem for these players I would say they need to get over it quickly because it will be the same size at the new place.

Also, if the lack of atmosphere is also causing a problem, well they better be ready because the new stadium will likely not be much better, bigger stadium, more prawn sandwich brigades, less atmosphere, just look at the library.

 

[Kiedis]

We've got three away games coming up :-D

Edit: After tomorrows game

 

[shelfboy68]

This is the point, we needed to start strong in the league this season if we would stand any chance, we can't afford to be starting the season drawing loads of games, that's what happened last season and it left us short despite our amazing run of form towards the end of the season.

Truth is, I never really believed we stood a chance of winning the league this season anyway because of Wembley, that's not an excuse either, it's just many teams turning up are going to treat it like a cup final and we are underperforming there already. our best bet is to try and actually win a trophy this season, any trophy, I could care less what it is.

I think we are going to have issues when we move into the new ground as well, if the pitch dimensions are causing a problem for these players I would say they need to get over it quickly because it will be the same size at the new place.

Also, if the lack of atmosphere is also causing a problem, well they better be ready because the new stadium will likely not be much better, bigger stadium, more prawn sandwich brigades, less atmosphere, just look at the library.

This post should be up for gold cup award
Totally nailed it.

 

[Gilzeanking]

T

The passing needs to speed up, but that is only half of it as you need players on the move - which yesterday really didn't happen for the most part.

This was something I noticed too . Lack of movement . Even the best passers can't succeed unless players are making space for themselves by running into it .

 

[Shadydan]

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.

Come on, you can hardly say we were average just because the other team played into our hands, we produced a good performance in those matches, this is the trouble when some people asses our performances, it seems like when we play well it's cause the other team were crap and when we're bad people don't take into account that the other team may have played well. There's a lack of balance and fairness in people assessments I think.

 

[Shadydan]

Re Sissoko, I think he had an okay match, nothing spectacular, nothing shit but I recognise that there are times when he needs to be in the team like Everton last week, not sure that he needed to play against Swansea on Saturday but he wasn't the cause of our issues as to why we didn't win the match if anyone is blaming him.

 

[shelfboy68]

Come on, you can hardly say we were average just because the other team played into our hands, we produced a good performance in those matches, this is the trouble when some people asses our performances, it seems like when we play well it's cause the other team were crap and when we're bad people don't take into account that the other team may have played well. There's a lack of balance and fairness in people assessments I think.

Look I'm not saying we are a shit team far from it we are a good side as recent league positions will atest to.
All I'm saying is that I don't think we have been that impressive so far, even in the opening game if Shelvey hadn't been sent off it's unlikely we would have won there as again we were looking clueless.
Of course we should get better but I can't help thinking we have missed a trick not adding to that midfield which offers no variation, or adding more quality in that final third these decisions may well cost us a place in the top four imo.

 

[Japhet]

That's exactly what it is, anybody with a pair of eyeballs knows Sissoko is a shit footballer, some don't want to admit for whatever reason.

He should have been sold in the window and replaced imo.

Who should we have sold him to? I wasn't aware of anybody wanting him.

 

[sebo_sek]

Look I'm not saying we are a shit team far from it we are a good side as recent league positions will atest to.
All I'm saying is that I don't think we have been that impressive so far, even in the opening game if Shelvey hadn't been sent off it's unlikely we would have won there as again we were looking clueless.
Of course we should get better but I can't help thinking we have missed a trick not adding to that midfield which offers no variation, or adding more quality in that final third these decisions may well cost us a place in the top four imo.

Jesus wept it's September. Winning the league is one thing, but seeing our direct competition, there is very little to worry about. They draw and lose, just as we do. IT'S FOOTBALL. It's not team sheets that play, it's people and sometimes you just can't score to save your life. It's the beauty of it. Like Dortmund on Wednesday, where on another day, they may have put 5 past us.

 

[shelfboy68]

Jesus wept it's September. Winning the league is one thing, but seeing our direct competition, there is very little to worry about. They draw and lose, just as we do. IT'S FOOTBALL. It's not team sheets that play, it's people and sometimes you just can't score to save your life. It's the beauty of it. Like Dortmund on Wednesday, where on another day, they may have put 5 past us.

Why are you mentioning winning the league ffs we are not going to win it 4th spot could even be a push, our league position will falter this year because of the reasons previously mentioned.
Our best chance of success could be the league cup if things go our way, but to mention title chances please don't.

 

[spursfan77]

So Ben Davies had a foot injury then.

https://twitter.com/benpearcespurs/status/909744363537883136

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

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.

Like Swansea or Burnley you mean....at home?

 

[Hazardousman]

Who should we have sold him to? I wasn't aware of anybody wanting him.

Someone would have had him surely? Maybe Levy doesn't want to take the loss but I can't see him making profit on Sissoko at all.

My point is, don't play him and get him off the wage bill, that's the main point.

 

[Hazardousman]

So Ben Davies had a foot injury then.

https://twitter.com/benpearcespurs/status/909744363537883136

I said the other day that I wasn't buying it, I think it was an excuse from Poch because he didn't want to admit that he cocked up the team selection and underestimated Swansea, the way he snapped about Dembele in the presser just reaffirmed my belief in that.

I could be completely wrong of course but that's just what I believe to be the case.

 

[Tucker]

Like Swansea or Burnley you mean....at home?

Everyone draws shitty games at home from time to time, it's very frustrating, but it certainly isn't season ending, especially at this very early stage. Chelsea lost to Burnley by the way, and Liverpool drew with them. It happens. I'm not saying I'm happy about it, but it's a little early to write our season off.

I said the other day that I wasn't buying it, I think it was an excuse from Poch because he didn't want to admit that he cocked up the team selection and underestimated Swansea, the way he snapped about Dembele in the presser just reaffirmed my belief in that.

I could be completely wrong of course but that's just what I believe to be the case.

Yeah, if he was injured why was he on the bench? I don't buy it either. Poch dropped the ball.

 

[Japhet]

Someone would have had him surely? Maybe Levy doesn't want to take the loss but I can't see him making profit on Sissoko at all.

My point is, don't play him and get him off the wage bill, that's the main point.

Lamela was woeful in his first season but became an integral and important part of the team in subsequent seasons. We should be aware by now that players need a bit of bedding in. Calling for Sissoko to be what amounts to blacklisted is very naive. Poch must see something that he likes and Levy won't accept a nil return on his level of investment. Against Swansea, Dembele wasn't an option due to the midweek match and what looked like a lack of fitness. There are still some concerns over Winks fitness and Wanyama is out so we had no other viable CM options unless we took a complete flyer on Oakley Booth. Sissoko didn't play any worse than anybody else in my opinion, and whilst I'm certainly not a fan of his, he seems to be a convenient hook to hang criticism on.

 

[SandroClegane]

I said the other day that I wasn't buying it, I think it was an excuse from Poch because he didn't want to admit that he cocked up the team selection and underestimated Swansea, the way he snapped about Dembele in the presser just reaffirmed my belief in that.

I could be completely wrong of course but that's just what I believe to be the case.

How is not starting Davies underestimating Swansea? He had played every match this season up until that point and Poch clearly wanted to rest him a bit. By putting Son in he knew we'd just have an extra attacker.

If Swans scored maybe you'd have a point here but I don't see what you're getting at.

 

[Cravenspurs]

Watched and agree with most. Really laborious and the game was screaming for Winks to come in. He would have been perfect for that game since Dier had all the time he wanted on the ball and could rarely start an attack.

One thing I will say is this: Alli looks really disinterested this year. I don't know what his summer consisted of, but I think his partying in LA and some of the talk has really gotten to his head or something because although his competitive streak was always there and still is, it comes across as disgruntled this year instead of the passion to help the team out. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if his head has been turned, but once those goals start coming it may change. IDK though, he just seems to have a different body language this year. When the team scores he just seems less interested and his connection with Sonny seems to have taken a hit as well. All speculation, but his body language is just off.

 

[spids]

I said the other day that I wasn't buying it, I think it was an excuse from Poch because he didn't want to admit that he cocked up the team selection and underestimated Swansea, the way he snapped about Dembele in the presser just reaffirmed my belief in that.

I could be completely wrong of course but that's just what I believe to be the case.

I'd agree with you. If he was injured and had no chance of coming on then why have him on the bench at all? Bizarre decision from Poch. Before the game I looked at the bench and saw we had a keeper, 2 FBs, a CB against Swansea who were always going to park the bus.