Match Threads WBA vs Spurs - Match Thread - Round 8

[Thanksandy]

Great 3 points but iffy performance. I don't want to be overly negative though: we've played great and drawn games so let's not get down on the team.

My main issue would just be our conservatism. I don't like the Hojbjerg Sissoko double pivot and feel is does as much damage as good, although I appreciate that Jose is only playing it cos Lo Celso isnt completely fit and he doesn't trust Winks (agreed). I also think it's no coincidence that our best attacking performance was against United when we played 2 fast attacking fullbacks. Doherty is neutered in a back 4 and as a result everything comes down the left.

Long term I think we need to be much more expansive against the bottom half teams, although I'm hopeful our current set up will hopefully work better against the top sides over the next few weeks.

I think the idea of the two defensive midfielders is also to provide the defence with more cover.
Hojbjerg sometimes drops into the defence and makes up a back three, which Dier used to do. Alongside Sissoko, this allows the likes of Reguilon and Doherty to get forward from the full back positions, as they will provide cover for the full backs when they are in the opposition half. Sissoko would do this regularly last season, when Aurier was often very high up the pitch.
It particularly helps when our two central defenders don't have a lot of pace and we have that extra assurance. With a solid base, this allows our front 3 and the No 10 player, Ndombele in this instance, to focus on attacking more.

Lo Celso may replace Sissoko eventually, but as Mourinho pointed out, he has to show the stamina and tackling ability to get around the pitch and win the ball.

 

[C0YS]

On MOTD2 Ian Wright said Spurs were brilliant today, no criticism at all of the team play in fact all positive, maybe the professionals have more of an appreciation that playing Thursday evening then 12 noon K.O on a Sunday is not ideal.

It was a very controlled performance, and generally the sort of games that make up the majority of the season, particularly away from home. A lot of issues are that we haven't replicated the goalscoring, free flowing play from earlier in the season, where it felt we can't score at will. But yesterday was fine. We controlled the play for about 70 minutes of the match, we created a fair few amount of chances against a team defending deep, and got our goal and looked comfortable.

Now, West brom and burnely for that matter are not good teams, but they are compact teams. West brom have taken points out of chelsea already and have generally been all right. As always, first goal is key in these kind of games, get a goal early, and scores can get fairly big and comfortable, otherwise they risk becoming very, well frustrating and well fought.

Now we got our 9 points out of these 3 games against, frankly, not particularly good (but well drilled) opposition. That was really a must because the next month is going to be insanely hard, and will teach us a lot about this team.

 

[rupsmith]

Your points all have equally valid responses, picky. I'll start off by saying I'm really not having a go, just presenting a different perspective as I go through.

That's fair enough. You're entitled to draw whatever conclusions you like. I would suggest that maybe those people 'mentally masturbating' over being top of the League are drawing some pleasure from doing so? Like masturbation itself. We do it because it's pleasurable. I think that your phraseology suggests that this is a bad thing. I can't really say this in any less a confrontational way (which isn't my intent), but: why? What's so bad about doing that?

Because, and this may seem like a very simple answer.... we're not all the same. We take pleasure and enjoyment from different things. Speaking personally, I find it very difficult to analyse a game of football. I never played at anywhere near even pub league. The closest I ever came to playing the game was a kick about after school. But some of the best moments of my life have been watching Spurs. I've formed friendships because of Spurs and this very forum. I've even attended the funeral of a friend who was a member of this forum - the thing that brought us together was watching Spurs. I spent 80-odd minutes chewing my fingernails this afternoon, wound up like a spring until Kane scored and then another ten minutes in the same state of tension while I waited for the whistle to blow. Because the anticipation, the joy of seeing us score and win brings me pleasure. What gives anyone the right to say that I should or shouldn't take pleasure in that?

Firstly, that's your choice. If you want to do that, fill your boots. Who am I to say you nay. However, stating you have 'higher standards' than pretty much any poster is, forgive me for saying this, monumentally arrogant. What 'standards' are we talking about? Philosophical ones? Moral standards? My hope is that you've simply phrased that badly and that you're meaning is otherwise, because, my apologies, but saying that basically undercuts everything you say.

And again, that's your choice. That doesn't mean it has to be my choice, or anyone else's choice. And my challenge to you on that score is this: if the only thing that matters is the way the game is played, why do you have any loyalty to a particular team? That's not the 'you should support someone else' statement that you occasionally hear - it's a genuine enquiry. Or more accurately, it's a rhetorical question to highlight the fact that there's more to your watching of football than simply wanting to analyse a game. If it weren't, you wouldn't have spent '10+ years' on this board and however many more following one particular team. Is it outside the realms of possibility that other people may have different reasons for watching a match than just to see good football? Isn't it just possible that people watch Spurs for reasons of camaraderie, tribalism, nostalgia, or any of myriad human emotions that extend beyond simply analysing a match?

And again, that's your unique take on it. Others feel differently.


This last section (to my mind) demonstrates some level of considering an 'other' perspective. The majority of what you've said though smacks of an air of superiority - that your approach is more 'elevated' than those of us who watch football for the visceral emotional experience it gives us. Again I hope you can forgive me, but It comes across as snobbish.

If you derive pleasure from analysing a match and unpicking the intricacies then, as I said, fill your boots. I do that with films and books. But equally, I also read books and watch movies for the simple joy of escaping for a short while, for immersing myself and allowing myself to be swept away without having to have my mind constantly looking over it. I do that in equal measure, because I enjoy doing both. But if someone wants to just treat every book, every film as an exercise in criticism, that's their choice. Likewise, if someone wants to watch a movie just for the joy of willingly suspending their disbelief, again, that's their choice. There isn't a 'better' or 'worse' way. I sincerely apologise if I've misread what you're saying, but I can't get over the thought that you seem to believe that your way is better.

We all derive pleasure in our own unique ways and for our own unique reasons. As long as it's not harming anyone, what is so objectionable about people celebrating being top of the League for 15 minutes if that brings them joy?

If I may say sir, what a brilliantly articulated, multi faceted, analytical post. Really enjoyed it.

 

[ardiles]

Watching the highlights on Motd2.

I didn't notice live, but after Kane scores, Vinicius runs into the net and collects the ball, runs out and launches into the stands...... clever ****

I hope it didn’t hit anyone

 

[Who’s our next manager?]

I think the idea of the two defensive midfielders is also to provide the defence with more cover.
Hojbjerg sometimes drops into the defence and makes up a back three, which Dier used to do. Alongside Sissoko, this allows the likes of Reguilon and Doherty to get forward from the full back positions, as they will provide cover for the full backs when they are in the opposition half. Sissoko would do this regularly last season, when Aurier was often very high up the pitch.
It particularly helps when our two central defenders don't have a lot of pace and we have that extra assurance. With a solid base, this allows our front 3 and the No 10 player, Ndombele in this instance, to focus on attacking more.

Lo Celso may replace Sissoko eventually, but as Mourinho pointed out, he has to show the stamina and tackling ability to get around the pitch and win the ball.

I wouldn’t want Lo Celso to play alongside Hojbjerg .Ndombele is better suited to playing deep and Lo Celso better suited to playing the more advanced role. Whichever one Jose finally decides. On playing the more advanced role I hope they start proving to be more of a goal threat.

 

[Who’s our next manager?]

Just a point 5o make about our defence.......No team in the Premiership has conceded fewer goals than Spurs.
Makes you think about of a couple of non penalties that have been given against us.

 

[GutBucket]

Just a point 5o make about our defence.......No team in the Premiership has conceded fewer goals than Spurs.
Makes you think about of a couple of non penalties that have been given against us.

We only played 2 teams currently in top 10 (one of the non top 10 was United at Old Trafford though). Our next 6 games are all against top 10 teams and will show how good we truly are.

 

[Jamturk]

Allowance must be granted for our schedule this week.

Thursday Away in Bulgaria - Sunday EARLY kick off away in the midlands.

 

[degoose]

Seems about right. Spurs win and get a nice end of game goal.

Come in here, people are moaning. Yep that's a lot of football fans for you

 

[Trix]

On MOTD2 Ian Wright said Spurs were brilliant today, no criticism at all of the team play in fact all positive, maybe the ex-professionals have more of an appreciation that playing Thursday evening then 12 noon K.O on a Sunday is not ideal.

Klopp mentioned us in his pitch side post match. Said it was ridiculous we played away in Europe on Thursday and then mid day Sunday.

I don't think people realise how much of an issue this is playing against a side with 7 days recovery since their previous match. It's bad enough doing it onxe, doing it week after week for months is going to have an effect both physically and mentally. Factor in as well the very short pre season etc and it's no surprise the players aren't at their best every week.

 

[rez9000]

If I may say sir, what a brilliantly articulated, multi faceted, analytical post. Really enjoyed it.

That's very kind of you to say, sir.

 

[wakefieldyid]

Allowance must be granted for our schedule this week.

Thursday Away in Bulgaria - Sunday EARLY kick off away in the midlands.

I was surprised and impressed that Jurgen Klopp made exactly that point in relation to Spurs after the City-Liverpool match.

 

[slartibartfast]

Watched the game again, bit less stressful knowing the result.
Two things, Lo Celso changed the game. We were a lot quicker attacking and more frequent once he came on for Ndombele. I think he's better suited to that sort of game. The other subs improved rhings as well, Vinicius looks very promising.
The other thing, and I was irate at the time but forgot to mention it, WTF was Moura doing late on when we were 1.0 up and he did a repeat of what Winks did against West Ham. He tried to dribble out from just outside the D, knocked ot to far in front and lost possesion. Ffs think! There was just a few minutes left. Clear it. These type of brain farts are costing us. Just watched Davies against Antwerp again, fk me sideways. I dont think Jose will put up with that sort of shit for long.

 

[glacierSpurs]

I was surprised and impressed that Jurgen Klopp made exactly that point in relation to Spurs after the City-Liverpool match.

We have been playing that kind of schedule for years. Klopp hadn't and wouldn't care one bit until his team suffered injuries like this season then all of sudden he's showing all the empathies. Served him right to be playing the constant XI. He's lucky his players' injuries didn't come earlier last season.

 

[ajspurs]

Watched the game again, bit less stressful knowing the result.
Two things, Lo Celso changed the game. We were a lot quicker attacking and more frequent once he came on for Ndombele. I think he's better suited to that sort of game. The other subs improved rhings as well, Vinicius looks very promising.
The other thing, and I was irate at the time but forgot to mention it, WTF was Moura doing late on when we were 1.0 up and he did a repeat of what Winks did against West Ham. He tried to dribble out from just outside the D, knocked ot to far in front and lost possesion. Ffs think! There was just a few minutes left. Clear it. These type of brain farts are costing us. Just watched Davies against Antwerp again, fk me sideways. I dont think Jose will put up with that sort of shit for long.

It wasn't good but I liked the energy that Lucas gave us in general from off the bench. Looks much brighter when he's up against tired legs.

Vinicius was unlucky not to score, ball ended up a bit behind him but still dug out a strong effort. Was nice to see him say on social media that it was the realisation of a dream in making his PL debut.

 

[Who’s our next manager?]

We only played 2 teams currently in top 10 (one of the non top 10 was United at Old Trafford though). Our next 6 games are all against top 10 teams and will show how good we truly are.
View attachment 77293

Be positive???

 

[Japhet]

On MOTD2 Ian Wright said Spurs were brilliant today, no criticism at all of the team play in fact all positive, maybe the ex-professionals have more of an appreciation that playing Thursday evening then 12 noon K.O on a Sunday is not ideal.

Or maybe he only watched the highlights which amounted to about 12 seconds.

 

[Monkey boy]

We only played 2 teams currently in top 10 (one of the non top 10 was United at Old Trafford though). Our next 6 games are all against top 10 teams and will show how good we truly are.
View attachment 77293

only 2 of our next 6 league fixtures are at home? That seems a tad unfair considering it’s Christmas.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Or maybe he only watched the highlights which amounted to about 12 seconds.

I actually felt the highlights did a disservice to quite how dominant we were in the second half, it was the typical MOTD ‘make the game look as balanced a as possible’.

 

[hughy]

We only played 2 teams currently in top 10 (one of the non top 10 was United at Old Trafford though). Our next 6 games are all against top 10 teams and will show how good we truly are.
View attachment 77293

Call me mental but I'm ridiculously excited about this run of games. These are the games we are paying Mourinho the big money to get results in. I'm in absolutely no doubt we will lose/draw at least a couple, but it'll be a huge indicator to how far we've come.