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Style of play

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
The first half was old school Spurs. Second half was just meh but totally understandable given the game was won and we have a trip to Greece coming up.

Hopefully the first half performance continues going forward. It had a lot of energy etc.
 

theShiznit

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2004
17,799
23,813
Seeing us with energy again is a real boon.

I think Poch will be expecting those levels of energy in the upcoming weeks/months now.

Everything just works better when everyone is buzzing about, not just one or two.

This is why it's crazy to blame the two CM's when we work it's as a team and when we don't it's the same.

That level of sharpness, energy, movement fizzed passes, would've beaten any bus parker we've faced over the last 4 years.
 

Lighty64

I believe
Aug 24, 2010
10,400
12,476
The first half was old school Spurs. Second half was just meh but totally understandable given the game was won and we have a trip to Greece coming up.

Hopefully the first half performance continues going forward. It had a lot of energy etc.

the thing is Palace never sat back, and with us getting 3 goals in the 1st 21 minutes I noticed they sat back more after we was 3-0 up. Villa and Newcastle at no time for the whole 180's combined gave us the room like Palace did today. we also had pace in both our wing backs and Palace where very narrow, which opened up to us being able to pass a lot quicker with spaces everywhere. also helped that Palace never pressed us anywhere.
 

JCRD

Well-Known Member
Aug 10, 2018
19,153
30,013
the thing is Palace never sat back, and with us getting 3 goals in the 1st 21 minutes I noticed they sat back more after we was 3-0 up. Villa and Newcastle at no time for the whole 180's combined gave us the room like Palace did today. we also had pace in both our wing backs and Palace where very narrow, which opened up to us being able to pass a lot quicker with spaces everywhere. also helped that Palace never pressed us anywhere.

Yeah they kinda attacked and also our 'early' goal (by our comparison anyways) helped. Not every game will be as easy as this. I dont think, against Noocastle we played anything like how we could, even against Man City. Maybe

I think Leicester game will be interesting and a better indicator of where we are at having said that its bloody after a trek to Greece. Leicester wont just sit back but i suspect we will sit back and try hit on the counter particularly as they have some real pace. So we will see if our press is back etc.
 

fishhhandaricecake

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2018
18,702
46,941
Diamond worked well today, intensity was spot on and aurier at RB makes a big difference as does a settled squad. Onwards and upwards from here.
 

THFC_SWE

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
1,233
3,914
Diamond worked well today, intensity was spot on and aurier at RB makes a big difference as does a settled squad. Onwards and upwards from here.

Don't think we played a diamond tbh. It was more like a fluid 4-2-2-2 that was a 4-2-3-1 from time to time. In the end it doesn't matter. All that matter is that we played fantastic, especially in the 1st half. The 2nd was fantastic in it's own way, where we controlled the game and saved our energy for the CL game the coming week.
 
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COYS Forever

Bargain Merchant
Apr 4, 2019
92
875
Don't think we played a diamond tbh. It was more like a fluid 4-2-2-2 that was a 4-2-3-1 from time to time. Eriksen. In the end it doesn't matter. All that matter is that we played fantastic, especially in the 1st half. The 2nd was fantastic in it's own way, where we controlled the game and saved our energy for the CL game the coming week.

Yup was definitely a 4-2-2-2 rather than a diamond (you can tell it wasn’t a diamond just by looking at the scoreline ?).

Replace Lamela with Lo Celso/ Dele and that should be our main system
 

Twizzle

The Alpha Male
May 25, 2008
4,955
4,735
A lot of long passes used last night, I wonder if that was by design or not. Seemed to work well if a team parks the bus. Just chip it wide over the top and attack from the sides. May not work against every team but worked a treat against Palace.

Toby you expect, but I've not seen so many long passes from Verts and even Sissy got in on the act.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
Reading between the lines and in evidence of yesterday that meeting that the players had with the manager seemed to work wonders, Toby made a point in his interview and said that this is the way we want to play which is practically on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch, swarming all over the opposition from the get go. Didn't see that many back passes to Lloris and instead the CB's looked to go long and play forward...there's enough evidence there to suggest we the style of play we have grown to love over the years is returning.
 

ajspurs

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2007
22,985
31,166
the thing is Palace never sat back, and with us getting 3 goals in the 1st 21 minutes I noticed they sat back more after we was 3-0 up. Villa and Newcastle at no time for the whole 180's combined gave us the room like Palace did today. we also had pace in both our wing backs and Palace where very narrow, which opened up to us being able to pass a lot quicker with spaces everywhere. also helped that Palace never pressed us anywhere.

These things definitely helped but there was also a clear shift in intent from us. Despite those points you mentioned if we played like how we had in the past we still would have struggled in that match IMO. If we play with this intensity, speed and attacking intent consistently then we'll massively increase the chances of breaking through even the teams who sit back. Take Liverpool yesterday for example, 1-0 down to a team wanting to just sit deep and counter but the persistent attacking intent forced the openings. We have to try and force things and make them happen with aggressive play whereas in the past we've pondered and waited for certain chances to open up easily for us.
 

Vincent30

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
900
3,694
A lot of long passes used last night, I wonder if that was by design or not. Seemed to work well if a team parks the bus. Just chip it wide over the top and attack from the sides. May not work against every team but worked a treat against Palace.

Toby you expect, but I've not seen so many long passes from Verts and even Sissy got in on the act.

I never get why teams don't go for long ball against teams that sit back, it makes so much sense.

Defenders having to turn and face their own goal which they hate.

It lowers the chance of losing the ball high up the pitch when you're pissing about with it in the middle of the park or going back to Hugo and inviting pressure on a GK who is below average with his feet.

We have the likes of Son who can scare defenders with his pace and Kane who just needs one opening.

It gets us higher up the pitch and allows us to squeeze them and makes us less predictable.

And the most important point, we have two of the best passing CBs in world football, so use it.
 

JimmyG2

SC Supporter
Dec 7, 2006
15,014
20,779
Reading between the lines and in evidence of yesterday that meeting that the players had with the manager seemed to work wonders, Toby made a point in his interview and said that this is the way we want to play which is practically on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch, swarming all over the opposition from the get go. Didn't see that many back passes to Lloris and instead the CB's looked to go long and play forward...there's enough evidence there to suggest we the style of play we have grown to love over the years is returning.
Yes
and very little of the passing
to the defence inside the area
which invites pressure
and which frankly
we are not brilliant at.
Much longer passes
and much more movement up front
especially Son.
Greater speed of passing
all over the pitch.
Grabbed our destiny with both feet

We began with a forward pass
in the first ten seconds (Toby)
and a shot within a minute (Winks).
Miles wide but the intent was clear.

Talked up as a banana skin?
Phooey.
Don't let critics within and without
set the agenda
 

Gringospur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
373
534
This has to be down to a renewed Poch tactical approach too. Instead of just playing out from the back, also seeing long balls and incisive passing through the middle, this is what most of us have been wanting to see.
 

RichieS

Well-Known Member
Dec 23, 2004
11,916
16,436
This has to be down to a renewed Poch tactical approach too. Instead of just playing out from the back, also seeing long balls and incisive passing through the middle, this is what most of us have been wanting to see.
Indeed and the thing that was frustrating was that we'd never lost the ability to play that way, we were just choosing not to for some reason.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
It's funny hearing the crowd's reaction when Winks "slows the play down" when, in fact, all he did was provide the time for the pass to Serge to become available.

I reckon he could have played a first time pass to Son as he was in, didn't matter in the end.
 

thecook

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2009
5,575
10,960
Yesterday was also the 1st match this season where I've not either screamed at the TV and/or shit myslf as we were pissing about with it at the back. We used Toby and Verts brilliantly yesterday in them also getting the ball moving forward quicker.
 
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