Are We Too Risk Averse?

[werty]

I must have missed that game. Genuine question, when was the last time you saw this good vision or difficult pass be made by Eriksen?

I remember him playing a sensational pass to Alli in a CL game this season that Alli miscontrolled. There were plenty of passes today that showed good vision that didn't come off, like to Son early in the first half.

 

[beats1]

I personally think we need to use winks deeper, he didnt look too threatening against Liverpool but he didnt have the movement of our first 11, he is one of the few players who can move the ball quickly in our team without losing it

 

[paulcumpstone]

yes certainly

 

[pffft]

One of my pet peeves is that we too rarely throw the ball forwards.

This, and free kicks in the opposition half. Unless it's just outside the box we play the ball backwards. There are times when we could throw a couple of the big lads forwards and "stick one in the mixer", and there are other times when we could play it forwards on the ground , but no, we pass it backwards every time.

 

[mpickard2087]

This, and free kicks in the opposition half. Unless it's just outside the box we play the ball backwards. There are times when we could throw a couple of the big lads forwards and "stick one in the mixer", and there are other times when we could play it forwards on the ground , but no, we pass it backwards every time.

Yeah that early one where Janssen won a free kick tussling for a ball played down the channel was a great example. Early in the game, this is a team that's struggled to deal with setpieces this season, let's test them out... But no, two backward passes and its with our centrebacks. Now I'd be one of the biggest advocates of possession football on here and winning the game by passing through them, but you also have to show intent and a positive mindset.

 

[pffft]

standing and admiring a pass rather than moving again for it.

In my circle of football-watching friends this is known as "Redknapping yourself". Anybody who watched Liverpool in the '90s will instantly know why.

 

[SpursSince1980]

how was today 4141? i feel like i'm going nuts here but we (wrongly imo) switched back to 4231 a few weeks ago.

Indeed. The issue is we switched back to 4231, and we suddenly look stagnant again. No coincidence there. The problem is when we play with two DMs. It slows us down. The 4141 formation looked a lot more dynamic.

 

[yankspurs]

Indeed. The issue is we switched back to 4231, and we suddenly look stagnant again. No coincidence there. The problem is when we play with two DMs. It slows us down. The 4141 formation looked a lot more dynamic.

Fornation is not the issue. Its tactics within the formation. There is no movement no matter the formation. We're too slow to attack, we would rather pass back into the middle of the pitch in areas where we should perhaps cross it and theres little place in the side. We look decent when we press because its on the counter. In possesion we're nothing.

A 4141 doesnt work because we have no one to pass it forward or drive forward as Wanyama is poor at both those things. Dembele needs to be deeper as he is very good at driving it forward. We need to be a 4231 or a 433 with a passer like Winks as the 3rd CM.

 

[kaz Hirai]

Lloris
Walker
Rose
Vertonghen
Toby
Wanyama

All have looked excellent, even Davis and trip have looked good defensively

Whereas

Kane
Janssen
Eriksen
Alli
Lamela
And half the time son

Have looked poor, ineffective or below usual

They can't all be off form or suddenly shit, this is all Poch. he needs to losen things up little, it's gone AVB rigid at expense of our forwards. I never thought he was that kind of coach

 

[yankspurs]

Lloris
Walker
Rose
Vertonghen
Toby
Wanyama

All have looked excellent, even Davis and trip have looked good defensively

Whereas

Kane
Janssen
Eriksen
Alli
Lamela
And half the time son

Have looked poor, ineffective or below usual

They can't all be off form or suddenly shit, this is all Poch. he needs to losen things up little, it's gone AVB rigid at expense of our forwards. I never thought he was that kind of coach

Agreed. He needs to change things and loosen it up. If things dont change after the next int'l break, I can see us making a change again. This is just far from good enough. This seems very much AVB mk 2.

 

[double0]

No. We need to be much more ruthless in front of goal.

 

[UpTownSpur]

I think Poch is generally pretty risk averse and his teams reflect that. This was a perfect game to bring GKD in for but he always reverts to the safe option and waited for too long to bring him on. We're becoming quite a boring and stodgy team to watch.

 

[CowInAComa]

We even try and avoid chucking corners into the box whenever we can, by playing it short and back to the keeper.

 

[tobi]

It's the same issue as last season IMO despite what the team accomplished, there is a severe lack of guile in the team, especially in the final third.

 

[Monkey boy]

We even try and avoid chucking corners into the box whenever we can, by playing it short and back to the keeper.

Or straight to the first defenders head.

 

[Cravenspurs]

We should be taking far more risks in the attacking end. Our best attribute - closing down and pressing - only works when the other team has the ball. We should be attacking the final third, attacking the opposing fullbacks, and getting the ball into the box, constantly. Then, looking to win the ball back to create more scoring opportunities.

When you put the ball in the box - either via a cross, or dribble, it pulls defenders out of position, and opens up chances. We do not take advantage of that - at all.

This x10000. We create beautiful chances when we win the ball back up the pitch and are able to hit them with their pants down. For that to happen we must 1) attack and take chances, which either a) we have an attempt b) we lose possession 2) press to win the ball back and do it again.

The way we are playing is the opposite. Sit and slowly work the ball around and when we do lose it, we are typically in our own end or in the middle of the pitch which results in us sprinting back to get in position.

 

[jonathanhotspur]

When asked about Kane's chances of featuring in the Champions League group game, Pochettino responded: "Wednesday 50 per cent and Sunday we will see. We will see.

“Of course it’s important for Harry to come back. Harry is our main striker. We are very happy with Vincent [Janssen] but we brought him to share that position with Harry.

“It’s not only our strikers. Our second line need to score more and be more aggressive, to be more determined to score and not only to play well. We need to be more determined to score – be more direct, shoot, believe.

“The reality is we need to be more clinical and score more. There are no worries about that but I think we are happy with the performance. They had one shot and scored one goal.

“You need to win games and in the last few games we’ve had problems scoring goals.”

http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/foo...r-north-london-derby-vs-arsenal-a3382146.html

 

[Palmer Stoat]

Fornation is not the issue. Its tactics within the formation. There is no movement no matter the formation. We're too slow to attack, we would rather pass back into the middle of the pitch in areas where we should perhaps cross it and theres little place in the side. We look decent when we press because its on the counter. In possesion we're nothing.

Indeed, tactically is the only way to approach fornication. I...

Oh, wait...

 

[Cravenspurs]

Fornation is not the issue. Its tactics within the formation. There is no movement no matter the formation. We're too slow to attack, we would rather pass back into the middle of the pitch in areas where we should perhaps cross it and theres little place in the side. We look decent when we press because its on the counter. In possesion we're nothing.

A 4141 doesnt work because we have no one to pass it forward or drive forward as Wanyama is poor at both those things. Dembele needs to be deeper as he is very good at driving it forward. We need to be a 4231 or a 433 with a passer like Winks as the 3rd CM.

Agree with most of this, but stand firm that Dembele is only good up the pitch where is dribbling and press are needed.

He can drop deep periodically, but him getting the ball deep every play really slows our play down. Same could be said last year, but we were with Kane and a few more goals on the bench in Chadli.

I love Moose but he is not a a good pairing with Wanyama as we basically have two great players, but with similar limitations (find the pass between defense and attack).

If we play 433 or 4141 for me the six are (Dele, winks, Wanyama, son, lamela, kane) as I think we have the more creativity, same retention, and more goals.

 

[rossdapep]

Sar

Agreed. He needs to change things and loosen it up. If things dont change after the next int'l break, I can see us making a change again. This is just far from good enough. This seems very much AVB mk 2.

Sarcasm? I can't sense any. So I'm going to have to say this is nonsense.