werty
Well-Known Member
- Aug 8, 2005
- 25,109
- 26,373
Looked like we went with a 442 to start the second half with Lamela on the left and Sissoko on the right. Then when Eriksen came on it was more of a 4231.
Match Threads Spurs vs Villa - Match Thread
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EQP
EQP
- Sep 1, 2013
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slartibartfast
Grunge baby forever
- Oct 21, 2012
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It seems we dont shoot when we should ie in box, first touch, but if we're 20yds out with 15 players in the way its game on. Only thing KWP did wrong all day was not shoot when it was a great opportunity.
ardiles&villa
Well-Known Member
- Jul 14, 2013
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I know I missed it but where was Vertonghen
slartibartfast
Grunge baby forever
- Oct 21, 2012
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- Jul 27, 2004
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Not in the squad for "tactical" reasons.
Teofilo-Stevenson
Well-Known Member
- Sep 16, 2004
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Eriksen made the difference once he came on. Saw the pass faster than anyone else today and played in quickly enough to put Villa under pressure. Looked really slow and ponderous beforehand
davidmatzdorf
Front Page Gadfly
- Jun 7, 2004
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I've avoided reading the in-play comments on the match thread, because I'm sure they're full of so-and-so is shit and we were useless today - they're even at it on this page - all of which is absolute bullshit. We totally dominated the game, from start to finish, such that there was no 5-minute period in either half when we were not out-pressing and out-passing Villa.
I'm going to take my Spurs hat off for a minute, because for a neutral it must have been a fascinating game. The dominant theme of the match for a neutral would have been Villa's superb and well-drilled defending, from 8 minutes when they scored until about 70 minutes. At one point, there was a stat that we had taken 17 shots, of which 2 were "on target" But the other 15 were not "off target" in the sense of missing the goal. At least half of them, probably two thirds, were blocked by the energetic, focused and organised Villa defence.
It's not even quite so that they "parked the bus", in the sense of being relentlessly negative. They had two banks of four, but the movement and the closing of gaps were very dynamic. Then, after 70 minutes, they started tiring noticeably. As well as having had to work hard constantly because of our pressure and possession, Villa were also consistently out-muscled in midfield throughout the match, which is knackering.
Some small gaps appeared, then Heaton saved and Ndombele collected the rebound and belted in his first goal. What I didn't expect was what happened next: right from the kickoff, Villa's disciplined shape disappeared completely. The two banks of four wandered around the pitch in two minds, not sure whether to attack for the win or settle in for the draw (not a difficult question, I would suggest, for a newly promoted side playing away against the CL finalists). Gaps appeared everywhere and the rest of the game was attack v. defence. The shots weren't being blocked anymore and two of them went in.
Another way to look at the change in momentum is: Eriksen came on and we promptly scored three goals. That didn't look like an unmotivated player to me. Arguably, there was a risk in removing Winks and leaving Sissoko on his own in front of the defence, but by that time Villa couldn't get the ball anyway. Having Eriksen playing 10m further up the pitch than Winks enabled us to thread balls for Kane through the defence, for the first time in the match.
It was a very frustrating hour of being 0-1 down, but I can't say the final score was a great surprise. Not a lot of teams will be able to keep us out for 90 minutes, nor will a lot of midfield be able to cope with the pressure.
P.S. The fullbacks were fine. Some of the crosses were good, even in the first half. They were defended very well.
I'm going to take my Spurs hat off for a minute, because for a neutral it must have been a fascinating game. The dominant theme of the match for a neutral would have been Villa's superb and well-drilled defending, from 8 minutes when they scored until about 70 minutes. At one point, there was a stat that we had taken 17 shots, of which 2 were "on target" But the other 15 were not "off target" in the sense of missing the goal. At least half of them, probably two thirds, were blocked by the energetic, focused and organised Villa defence.
It's not even quite so that they "parked the bus", in the sense of being relentlessly negative. They had two banks of four, but the movement and the closing of gaps were very dynamic. Then, after 70 minutes, they started tiring noticeably. As well as having had to work hard constantly because of our pressure and possession, Villa were also consistently out-muscled in midfield throughout the match, which is knackering.
Some small gaps appeared, then Heaton saved and Ndombele collected the rebound and belted in his first goal. What I didn't expect was what happened next: right from the kickoff, Villa's disciplined shape disappeared completely. The two banks of four wandered around the pitch in two minds, not sure whether to attack for the win or settle in for the draw (not a difficult question, I would suggest, for a newly promoted side playing away against the CL finalists). Gaps appeared everywhere and the rest of the game was attack v. defence. The shots weren't being blocked anymore and two of them went in.
Another way to look at the change in momentum is: Eriksen came on and we promptly scored three goals. That didn't look like an unmotivated player to me. Arguably, there was a risk in removing Winks and leaving Sissoko on his own in front of the defence, but by that time Villa couldn't get the ball anyway. Having Eriksen playing 10m further up the pitch than Winks enabled us to thread balls for Kane through the defence, for the first time in the match.
It was a very frustrating hour of being 0-1 down, but I can't say the final score was a great surprise. Not a lot of teams will be able to keep us out for 90 minutes, nor will a lot of midfield be able to cope with the pressure.
P.S. The fullbacks were fine. Some of the crosses were good, even in the first half. They were defended very well.
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In the stands
LamelasLeftBoot
If I Neg U Blame Rob For Putting Them On The Right
- Sep 1, 2014
- 137
- 505
It means he is going to Madrid and will be hated by the fans for growning a man bun, before being ostracised by their manager, if history is anything to go by
lukadownthelane
Well-Known Member
- Jul 17, 2008
- 2,813
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This Vert situation worries me
tooey
60% banana
- Apr 22, 2005
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As it should, he's our best centre half.
lukadownthelane
Well-Known Member
- Jul 17, 2008
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Eriksen was not awful last year although he was worse than in previous seasons. He still had one of the highest assist numbers in the league and scored important goals.
No doubt if he leaves we will be worse. Even if Lo Celso reaches his level it will take time and will impact this season. I’d want to keep him regardless.
Phomesy
Well-Known Member
- Aug 20, 2013
- 9,188
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Yeah but his heads turned, heart not in it, calways hits first man, lost us cl final etc etc etc
JAYSTAR
Well-Known Member
- Aug 25, 2012
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I think Winks playing the quarter back role meant NDombele was a bit of a spare part, too many players in the centre. Sissoko at RCM and Ndombele at LCM with Lo Celso in front of the two for me.
The introduction of Eriksen changed the match
