Match Threads Olympiacos vs Spurs - Match Thread

[wrd]

Both against arguably stronger oposition than our



I'd take a draw, I dont believe this team is capable of anything more there without luck or and under and performing Leicester.

Well I think although unrealistic, the City defensive situation and Liverpool having that extra competition makes the league a little more interesting this season and I'd like to see us at least ask some questions by winning our games. I'm hopeful that Leicester have just enough quality so they try to play football and therefore open themselves up a bit and I hope our attacking quality can give us the edge.

 

[Barrd10]

It’s so frustrating losing Le Celso as he might be able to put pressure on Eriksen who was so poor tonight it was unbelievable. How he stayed on is ridiculous. He would never get this at any other big club. I think Poch just hopes he might do something right.

 

[UbeAstard]

The right back situation is laughable. Sanchez and Foyth being converted into right backs when we have 2 right backs in the squad already. Its beyond any logic I can think of.

Acres of space on that right hand side Olympiacos saw they didnt even need to bother defend it as Sanchez doesnt like being lonely so he repeatedly drifted into the middle.

 

[FibreOpticJesus]

The right back situation is laughable. Sanchez and Foyth being converted into right backs when we have 2 right backs in the squad already. Its beyond any logic I can think of.

Agree with Sanchez although he was better than the scum game. But Foyth has played as Argentina’s right back on a number of occasions.

 

[14/04/91]

Eriksen lost possession 22 times tonight.
That is astonishing.

These players make such a big thing about playing champions league football but when they get there, I question some of their attitudes at times. We saw the same thing in the group stage last year & certainly 3 years ago.

 

[mill]

Agree with Sanchez although he was better than the scum game. But Foyth has played as Argentina’s right back on a number of occasions.

A number that could probably be counted on one hand

 

[McFlash]

An away point in the CL isn't a bad thing, however the performance and drive is somewhat concerning.
Poch is making some odd tactical decisions and it feels like the players need a collective kick up the arse, to get back some of that zip from previous years.
I don't know what the problem is, or where the blame lies but it does need to change and sharpish.

We do feel like we're going backwards, when this was supposed to be our time to be taking that next step up the ladder.
And this isn't a matchday thread rant, as I said, a point is a good result. However, our performances over the past 8 months haven't been good enough and not up to the standard that we now expect.

 

[mrlilywhite]

Sometimes it’s down to the players on the pitch. At 2 nil up we were still attacking with 6 players when all we needed to do was sit back and keep the ball. I posted so at the time, the next minute they got their first goal.

It was naive football.

Problem is that it hasn't been "just" sometimes over the past year or so has it? At 2-0 up we were well lucky to be in that position anyway and prior to our lead we were still getting exposed and stretched in defence. Ome of the biggest things for me in our game is that once teams see that we are inept in attacking and ponderous, then they are prepared to take more chances. Poch needs to fire them up and give them a system that allows them to play with more aggression. Poch worked best for us when we had the high press and arguably the best in the league. That press was so effective that we already had a mental edge before kick-off. What do we have now? Turgid, slow and downright boring football that plays against most of our strengths. Maybe when N'Dombele comes good and Lo Celso is back will we maybe see the high press again.

 

[JKendall13]

Like the Arsenal game, it's a fine result just frustrating it came when we were 2 up. It's always shocking to me the way fans talk about clubs from smaller leagues, like they are total minnows. Olympiacos hasn't lost at home in over a year and has only dropped two points all season plus 6 straight European wins. In the past they've beaten Arsenal, United, and Chelsea at home in the UCL. You don't just assume a road 3 points in the UCL, that's arrogance from the fans.

It's also interesting that Pochettino gets blamed for things going stale. For me, it's clearly a recruitment issue. Since the end of 16/17 season (five transfer windows ago) when we finished second and played our best football we've added the following players:

• Davinson Sanchez (long-term CB replacement, 3rd choice)
• Serge Aurier (back-up RB, 40 appearances in all comps so far)
• Gazzaniga (back-up keeper)
• Foyth (youth prospect, 23 appearances in all comps)
• Llorente (below average back-up striker with some big UCL goals)
• Lucas Moura (wonderful at times, ultimately a back-up)
• Tanguy NDombele (no impact yet)
• Giovanni Lo Celso (no impact yet)
• Ryan Sessegnon (no impact yet)
• Jack Clarke (18 years old, at Leeds)

None of our summer signings have really made an impact yet, besides a good opening day performance from NDombele (still woefully out of shape) against Villa, so what do we really have from the last five windows? A couple of quality looking young players in Foyth and Sanchez and a back-up RB, GK, and Winger.

Now it's not all so grim, as our summer signings (plus youth players in Parrott and Skipp) look quite good but it's been an unlucky start for them all with injuries. Pochettino warned us of a painful rebuild and this is what is happening until we can effectively incorporate our new players into the squad. This is our most transitional season under Pochettino since his first year, it's going to hurt a bit at times especially when our squad remains this fucked with injuries. Buck up a little bit lads, we've had it quite good the last few years and it's not so bad now either.

 

[dagraham]

Given the melodramatic nature of his previous comments when we lost against Newcastle its pretty obvious what's being implied here.

Despite what the media says we, along with Arse and Manchester United, are in a season of transition.

The 'expectations' from Lord Levy are to secure Champions League qualification and have a tilt at a couple of pots as we bed in the first fold of our next generation this season.

We just drew our first CL game. Liverpool and Chelsea lost theres.

I agree some of the reactions in here are ott, but I’d like to know just why we need to be “in transition”? I’ve heard this line all my life as a Spurs fan. A bit of a Del Boy “this time next year we’ll be millionaires” vibe.

We’ve just moved into a state of the art stadium, got to the final of the CL last year, regulars in the top four. Our team is not full of 35 year olds whose legs have gone. We should be evolving by incrementally improving, not just going backwards under the banner of “transition”. Because by the time we’ve magically transitioned the likes of Son and Kane will be in their late 20’s when the whole spectre of selling to maximise value bollocks will no doubt raise its head.

 

[Wsussexspur]

Poor performance not entirely surprised given Davies, Ali, were making first starts of the season and Ndombele his second start. But still no idea what Potch’s thinking is with playing Sanchez at right back. Eriksen was nothing short of abysmal tonight. He Really deserves a spell on the bench. I’d normally take a draw away from home in champions league but today it feels extremely disappointing.

 

[Mattspur]

Interesting stat.

We are undefeated away from home this season, drawing each of our three games 2-2.

 

[spursfan77]

Sorry mate, I think you're a good poster and a nice fella, but seriously...

I didn’t really explain myself properly. A bit like Poch ?

What will probably happen at the end of the group stage is that we will qualify by a point and look back at this game as that point.

 

[UbeAstard]

First half Saturday is the only shining light thus far. Think we are going to see a lot more Newcastle and Olympiakos type performances than Palace.

Unfortunately, I think we have reached our ceiling and Poch has no way of getting more out of these players.

Me thinks we need a shake up. Sooner the better we get Sess and Le Celio playing. However I think right back is going to be our achilles this season.

 

[wirE]

That was some leap you made mate, like Evel Kneivel.
Using your logic every player bar Winks today is past his prime.

Just looking at the Arsenal game and Poch reason for letting him out of the 3 first games of the season

 

[McFlash]

Like the Arsenal game, it's a fine result just frustrating it came when we were 2 up. It's always shocking to me the way fans talk about clubs from smaller leagues, like they are total minnows. Olympiacos hasn't lost at home in over a year and has only dropped two points all season plus 6 straight European wins. In the past they've beaten Arsenal, United, and Chelsea at home in the UCL. You don't just assume a road 3 points in the UCL, that's arrogance from the fans.

It's also interesting that Pochettino gets blamed for things going stale. For me, it's clearly a recruitment issue. Since the end of 16/17 season (five transfer windows ago) when we finished second and played our best football we've added the following players:

• Davinson Sanchez (long-term CB replacement, 3rd choice)
• Serge Aurier (back-up RB, 40 appearances in all comps so far)
• Gazzaniga (back-up keeper)
• Foyth (youth prospect, 23 appearances in all comps)
• Llorente (below average back-up striker with some big UCL goals)
• Lucas Moura (wonderful at times, ultimately a back-up)
• Tanguy NDombele (no impact yet)
• Giovanni Lo Celso (no impact yet)
• Ryan Sessegnon (no impact yet)
• Jack Clarke (18 years old, at Leeds)

None of our summer signings have really made an impact yet, besides a good opening day performance from NDombele (still woefully out of shape) against Villa, so what do we really have from the last five windows? A couple of quality looking young players in Foyth and Sanchez and a back-up RB, GK, and Winger.

Now it's not all so grim, as our summer signings (plus youth players in Parrott and Skipp) look quite good but it's been an unlucky start for them all with injuries. Pochettino warned us of a painful rebuild and this is what is happening until we can effectively incorporate our new players into the squad. This is our most transitional season under Pochettino since his first year, it's going to hurt a bit at times especially when our squad remains this fucked with injuries. Buck up a little bit lads, we've had it quite good the last few years and it's not so bad now either.

That's a good post but my current concern is that Poch appears to be making things more painful than necessary.
Why such poor performances from players that we know are so much better than they are showing?

 

[spursfan77]

Eriksen lost possession 22 times tonight.
That is astonishing.

These players make such a big thing about playing champions league football but when they get there, I question some of their attitudes at times. We saw the same thing in the group stage last year & certainly 3 years ago.

I’m watching the Real Madrid game now and he’d fit in their team currently. They’re playing exactly like he did today!

 

[Gb160]

I didn’t really explain myself properly. A bit like Poch ?

What will probably happen at the end of the group stage is that we will qualify by a point and look back at this game as that point.

How I see it If we beat Olympiakos at home, we just need to match their other results and we're through.

 

[Gb160]

Just looking at the Arsenal game and Poch reason for letting him out of the 3 first games of the season

Generally he was superb last season, I dont think you just lose it that quickly.

 

[Seafordian Spurs]

Our general in game decision ma


I agree some of the reactions in here are ott, but I’d like to know just why we need to be “in transition”? I’ve heard this line all my life as a Spurs fan. A bit of a Del Boy “this time next year we’ll be millionaires” vibe.

We’ve just moved into a state of the art stadium, got to the final of the CL last year, regulars in the top four. Our team is not full of 35 year olds whose legs have gone. We should be evolving by incrementally improving, not just going backwards under the banner of “transition”. Because by the time we’ve magically transitioned the likes of Son and Kane will be in their late 20’s when the whole spectre of selling to maximise value bollocks will no doubt raise its head.

The word 'transition' is going to be trotted out a great deal as ever... We are not (yet) that Big Team that we aspire to be. It's very pronounced already with the senior Ajax crew not committing.

I think Levy can stick with Poch and continue the long game approach or get in a Mourinho, change the dynamics by dint of being fresh and maybe achieve something tangible sooner... But bleaker long term.