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Match Threads West Ham vs Spurs - Match Thread

Chimbo!

Well-Known Member
Jan 7, 2007
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I credit us for seeing it through but I don't think it was as calculated as Reo Coker may have put it. I think we were uncomfortably up against it throughout times in that second half, it wasn't like a controlled defensive display display like seen as against Real Madrid away last season. We didn't really have general control of the game in the 2nd half. In fact, it was kind of similar to the Watford away game, the pressure wasn't quite as intense as it was from Watford after we'd gone 1-0 up that day but the pattern of the game was similar.

Could have gone wrong, as it did against Watford, luckily we saw this out. Still don't like to see us concede play like that though, I think like today and in the Watford game, I think we have to think about making changes to continue to give them things to worry about too.

I think your comments are fair but I disagree. We were more comfortable defending than normal. It may not seem it because we didn’t control the game or really retain possession well. But I never felt West Ham really threatened us and carved us open. I felt Cardiff did that better than West Ham. And while much is made of Lloris’s saves - and they were very good - he’d be disappointed if he’d conceded any of those. None of them were straightforward chances for Arnautivic.

I do, however, wonder about whether we’ve gone backwards this season. We don’t retain the ball very well and I worry about the City game where it could go like Barca where we are just overwhelmed. Perhaps it’ll improve with Eriksen back but he can’t make that much of a difference, surely?
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
I think your comments are fair but I disagree. We were more comfortable defending than normal. It may not seem it because we didn’t control the game or really retain possession well. But I never felt West Ham really threatened us and carved us open. I felt Cardiff did that better than West Ham. And while much is made of Lloris’s saves - and they were very good - he’d be disappointed if he’d conceded any of those. None of them were straightforward chances for Arnautivic.

I do, however, wonder about whether we’ve gone backwards this season. We don’t retain the ball very well and I worry about the City game where it could go like Barca where we are just overwhelmed. Perhaps it’ll improve with Eriksen back but he can’t make that much of a difference, surely?

Yeah true mate, I think it was just that being on the back foot that was a bit stressful but you're right in that we weren't really carved open too much or anything, but then again I can't remember us being so against Watford much either. I just think it may have been as much as West Ham's inability to take advantage as well as us being defensively comfortable. I'm not sure it's a way of playing that I'd like to see us actively choosing.

Because we'd kind of settled into that defensive pattern, it was the kind of game in which if we'd conceded the one goal back we'd be fucked. Similar to the Inter game in which when Lamela went off we retreated and you just knew from the way we were playing that the only way we'd win was to hold onto just that one goal lead.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
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https://www.independent.co.uk/sport...o-a8593871.html?amp&__twitter_impression=true
JPB tweeted that Pochettino damned Sissoko with faint praise, but I disagree. Pochettino was glad that fans are starting to appreciate what he can bring rather than grate at what he can't. Sissoko looks very awkward on the ball, but he has very good positional discipline. Football is a game of possession of space and in that respect he is important as a squad player.

Just don’t ask him to do things he can’t do. I think Poch has been guilty of that in the past but the player hasn’t helped either in that regard.
 

beuller

Well-Known Member
May 10, 2005
1,533
2,353
There was one long run that he made from our half deep into there's and in which he was absolutely blistering, have honestly seen very few players move so fast with the ball like that. Could be so lethal if he could add to his end product a bit.

I like Lucas a lot but we were able to sign for relatively modest money because of that end product. If he had bale’s end product he’d be an 80m pound player but he’s pretty hit and miss at the business end. He can improve though. Love his directness and pace.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,987
31,167
I like Lucas a lot but we were able to sign for relatively modest money because of that end product. If he had bale’s end product he’d be an 80m pound player but he’s pretty hit and miss at the business end. He can improve though. Love his directness and pace.

Yeah probably so mate. I feel there's a lot of potential for growth with him though, it doesn't look like he's reached his ceiling which is positive. I think he's still adapting to the league and the team too but he's obviously very much so getting to grips with it.
 

Sweetsman

Well-Known Member
Jan 30, 2011
6,673
6,588
Just don’t ask him to do things he can’t do. I think Poch has been guilty of that in the past but the player hasn’t helped either in that regard.
I don't know, but that's how I judge his play: see whether he plays to his strengths and minimises the effects of his weaknesses. Otherwise, he'd drive me nuts.
 

DiscoD1882

SC Supporter
Mar 27, 2006
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14,669
We are already 14 points ahead of the pikies. 9 games in. But according to them we are their rivals. Lols
 

BSJ93

Well-Known Member
Jul 22, 2013
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670
We looked fine until we had to defend a set piece. They had a number of free headers from corners.
 

davidmatzdorf

Front Page Gadfly
Jun 7, 2004
18,106
45,030
When assessing our failure to fire on all cylinders this season, we have to consider not only the injuries to key players, but also that we have played 6 of our 9 league matches away from home. We have won 5 of those 6 away matches. There was a time in recent memory when we would have been pleased to win 5 away matches in a whole season.

We’ve just finished a run of 4 matches that many people here demanded that we win, against 4 manifestly inferior teams who were always going to set up to stop us from playing. We’ve won the lot, despite playing away and despite the injuries. Demanding that we win them in style and by more than one goal is a recipe for dissatisfaction.
 

dondo

Well-Known Member
Jan 4, 2006
8,603
14,091
We are already 14 points ahead of the pikies. 9 games in. But according to them we are their rivals. Lols


I don’t think the points difference makes any difference to wether West Ham are rivals or not.
Arsenal were always our rivals when they used to finish 30 points in front of us through most of the 90s and 00s
 

UbeAstard

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2005
3,354
2,413
The third option is crisper, faster and forward passing combined with good movement. Our play is often too static, too many players waiting for the ball to be played to their feet so they can instantly pass it back the way it came.

Lovely, can our opponents follow that script too?
 

MyNameIsNicolaBerti

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2013
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All I know is that a win against West Ham, with their pathetic one sided rivalry, is enjoyable as they cry into their post match pint for losing another cup final.
 

Sevens

Well-Known Member
Apr 23, 2014
4,583
6,947
Lovely, can our opponents follow that script too?

You have to make them follow it. Man City do it. Liverpool regularly do it. The opposition parking the bus rarely seems to bother them and I think we have a talented enough bunch of players where our attacking play could be a lot more aggressive and more productive.
 

slartibartfast

Grunge baby forever
Oct 21, 2012
18,320
33,955
And yet England took a commanding lead doing that, can't understand your argument seeing how that worked. Having him service fast wide players when good defenders are attracted to him works/can work.
The priority is winning the game, not the golden boot.
Oh come on England were lucky as fook against Spain.
The priority is to win the game? Really? Thanks for that insight lol.
Imo you'll have a far better chance of winning any game with one of Europes top top goal scorers in the oppositions box than with him on the halfway line threading balls through to those who aren't as prolific in front of goal. Only England and Spurs would take a £170m elite striker and start asking him to play deeper to set others up.
Did you see how many shots England had and how many we had today?
Its not being clever. Its bloody stupidimo but whatever.
When Kane does eventually leave, which will be for a lot less than at present as the goals will dry up in this role, lets see if whoever buys him plays him deep role or gets him banging in 30 plus goals every season. I think I know which it'll be.
 
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DiscoD1882

SC Supporter
Mar 27, 2006
6,934
14,669
Oh come on England were lucky as fook against Spain.
The priority is to win the game? Really? Thanks for that insight lol.
Imo you'll have a far better chance of winning any game with one of Europes top top goal scorers in the oppositions box than with him on the halfway line threading balls through to those who aren't as prolific in front of goal. Only England and Spurs would take a £170m elite striker and start asking him to play deeper to set others up.
Did you see how many shots England had and how many we had today?
Its not being clever. Its bloody stupidimo but whatever.
When Kane does eventually leave, which will be for a lot less than at present as the goals will dry up in this role, lets see if whoever buys him plays him deep role or gets him banging in 30 plus goals every season. I think I know which it'll be.
I get all that you are saying. But this is clearly a reaction to both Alli and Eriksen being injured. We don’t have that midfielder who can play the type of balls they play. So without them. The person who can do that. Is Kane. Which is evident by the balls that he regularly plays when he drops deep. Once Dele and Eriksen are back he will go back to the forward role.
 
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