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Ratings v Sheffield United

Man of the match?

  • Vorm

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Walker

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Vertonghen

    Votes: 28 13.5%
  • Dier

    Votes: 65 31.4%
  • Davies

    Votes: 2 1.0%
  • Stambouli

    Votes: 25 12.1%
  • Mason

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Dembele

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Paulinho

    Votes: 1 0.5%
  • Eriksen

    Votes: 2 1.0%
  • Townsend

    Votes: 35 16.9%
  • Adebayor

    Votes: 5 2.4%
  • Kane

    Votes: 2 1.0%
  • Soldado

    Votes: 6 2.9%
  • No One

    Votes: 31 15.0%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 4 1.9%

  • Total voters
    207

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
Vorm 7 - he could have curled up and had a kip - nothing to do really. What little he did, he did well.

Davies 5 - he is slow and against a fleet footed winger he is often exposed badly. Didnt have a lot of cover but struggled with his man and looked pedestrian a lot of the time.

Verts 8 - solid performance, calmed the team's nerves and deservedly took the captain's armband off Ade. Hasnt played this well for a while and is now showing why we were so excited when he first signed.

Dier 8 - remarkably capable performance for the young lad. Looked strong and aggressive and pacey as well for such a big guy. Has he grown or somefink? Looking like a brick shithouse these days. He still has a tendency to lose concentration or get caught up the field and needs to cut that out.

Walker 6 - Played a very defensive game and looked leggy. Some misplaced passing. Not as bad as people are making out on here.

Mason 5 - Didn't work for him really. I know he is just back from injury and looks off the pace but some of that passing was awful. Wasn;t surprised to see him hooked.

Stambouli 8 - A good solid game. Not a lot of enterprise but he isnt there for that in the CM2 role. Worked hard for the cause as he always does. I gave him MOTM because he was consistent and committed 100% right through the game.

Eriksen 6 - Huffed and puffed and was brave and active with the press, but being played out of position and not being given space cut the shine off his performance. A typical game where he goes missing because the oppo close him down. Does look a little leggy.

Townsend 7 - another player who gets slagged off unfairly. He was our brightest overall in attack and genuinely tries. He is improving his play taking more care with crosses and looking for channels but he still plays too much with his head down. Still I am impressed with his development in recent games.

Kane 6 - Dont know what Poch is trying but handling him this way as a 10 is wrong. I cant understand this. He needs to be in the role of a 9! Another one of ours who had no room and was closed down very quickly. Change it Poch - please - FFS!

Ade 6 - Ran around a bit and pressed effectively at times but looks off the pace and match fitness wont come for a few more games. I was pissed off by the booing and if any of you ****** who did that at the game are on here, I'd suggest that you go fuck yourselves.

Bobby Soldado - 7 played with energy, won the penalty and put in some nice passes. Won penalty. Have I said that twice? No goals but no worries because Andros did the business.

Dembele 6 - came on and did'nt change anything so a 'meh' from me. Frustrating player who plays so much within himself when you just know he is capable of something special.

Paulinho 7 - bright and energetic and seemed a real threat but not enough time. I'd like to see more of him Poch.

Oppo 6 - Got to give it to Clough; he came with a game plan and executed it well. They are a tough, disciplined and committed side and had no qualms in playing for the draw at our manor. They can play a bit as well, so putting up the shutters was well planned except for the silly handball. Not great fare for the neutral and it is football by attrition but its got them all the way to a semi and they will fancy themselves to turn it around in the next game.

Poch 5 - another gritty win and I'll give him credit for creating a team with backbone compared to the nancy boys under AVB and little Timmy Sherwood. I just thought we were one dimensional and when it was up to him to slice and dice for the occasion he was found wanting. He needs to have a cohesive Plan B and Plan C but at the moment there is nothing but Plan A. He has to have Kane as a 9 and Rose for Davies in the next game. Hopefully Lamela and Chadli back as well. A few players we have with some real dynamic qualities. Someone said the middle was busier than Oxford Circus. Yes too right but Poch was doing nothing to change that. It will be so different at their gaff - blood and thunder etc - and we better be on our game.
 
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Coyboy

The Double of 1961 is still The Double
Dec 3, 2004
15,506
5,032
Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 2m2 minutes ago
CONTRACT: We are delighted to announce that @Ryan_Mason13 has signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract until 2020.

You may have to get used to him though....

And we will have to get used to another scapegoat.

In terms of team selection, the one odd choice was Vorm. I know that sounds odd because he had so saves to make as such but I always felt, maybe it was that 'fear' you get as a Spurs fan, that a goal could be on the cards. When it comes to next week in Sheffield, Lloris has to play. He is our de facto leader and obviously a wonderful keeper. A super save could be the difference between Wembley and humiliation.

I thought Townsend did alright on the right despite the fact that inverted wingers just don't do it for me. He delivered one excellent ball coming in on his left but I can't help thinking he would have been better on the left.
 

HotspurFC1950

Well-Known Member
Feb 6, 2011
4,223
2,623
How many fans can we take to Brammal Lane ?

With us 1 up they will have to attack to some degree and their crowd will be urging them forward. That will give us a chance to get an away goal at least.
 

dagraham

Well-Known Member
Sep 20, 2005
19,115
46,080
Poch 5 - another gritty win and I'll give him credit for creating a team with backbone compared to the nancy boys under AVB and little Timmy Sherwood. I just thought we were one dimensional and when it was up to him to slice and dice for the occasion he was found wanting. He needs to have a cohesive Plan B and Plan C but at the moment there is nothing but Plan A. He has to have Kane as a 9 and Rose for Davies in the next game. Hopefully Lamela and Chadli back as well. A few players we have with some real dynamic qualities. Someone said the middle was busier than Oxford Circus. Yes too right but Poch was doing nothing to change that. It will be so different at their gaff - blood and thunder etc - and we better be on our game.

This is my biggest issue with the current Spurs team.

There is no attempt to affect the course of the game. It's just "this is our philosophy and it either works or it doesn't". Fuck that, you need more than that to be successful unless your team is littered with world class performers who can always win you a match.

I agree that at least Poch makes subs before the 80th minute (unlike AVB), but these subs never change the shape of the team in any way. Need more orthodox width? Nah let's not bother. Need an extra frontman to give them something to think about? Nah. Need to take a striker off and get a grip of the midfield? Again, let's not bother. Getting pinned back, so maybe need to bring on a quicker player to make use of the counter attack?

I could go on and there are so many in game scenarios, but we don't react to them. It's not quite as rigid as the AVB period, but it's not that far off.

Imo the only philosophy that should be stuck to no matter what is the players working their arses off. All other philosophies, ideas, pattern of play etc should be subject to change when required. Even Harry the so called dinosaur changed things around mid game sometimes. It has to be done.
 
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evoid

Well-Known Member
Jun 2, 2005
322
576
How many fans can we take to Brammal Lane ?

With us 1 up they will have to attack to some degree and their crowd will be urging them forward. That will give us a chance to get an away goal at least.

We have a sold out allocation of 5,500 and from what I've heard about 500-1000 in the home end! Not bad numbers for a Wednesday night!
 

eddiebailey

Well-Known Member
Oct 12, 2004
7,452
6,672
This is my biggest issue with the current Spurs team.

There is no attempt to affect the course of the game. It's just "this is our philosophy and it either works or it doesn't". Fuck that, you need more than that to be successful unless your team is littered with world class performers who can always win you a match.

I agree that at least Poch makes subs before the 80th minute (unlike AVB), but these subs never change the shape of the team in any way. Need more orthodox width? Nah let's not bother. Need an extra frontman to give them something to think about? Nah. Need to take a striker off and get a grip of the midfield? Again, let's not bother. Getting pinned back, so maybe need to bring on a quicker player to make use of the counter attack?

I could go on and there are so many in game scenarios, but we don't react to them. It's not quite as rigid as the AVB period, but it's not that far off.

Imo the only philosophy that should be stuck to no matter what is the players working their arses off. All other philosophies, ideas, pattern of play etc should be subject to change when required. Even Harry the so called dinosaur changed things around mid game sometimes. It has to be done.

Absolutely. There is a reason why football is often a game of two halves. First half manager A successfully sets up to nullify the game plan of manager B; second half manager B successful adjusts game plan and manager A fails to anticipate changes.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
This is my biggest issue with the current Spurs team.

There is no attempt to affect the course of the game. It's just "this is our philosophy and it either works or it doesn't". Fuck that, you need more than that to be successful unless your team is littered with world class performers who can always win you a match.

I agree that at least Poch makes subs before the 80th minute (unlike AVB), but these subs never change the shape of the team in any way. Need more orthodox width? Nah let's not bother. Need an extra frontman to give them something to think about? Nah. Need to take a striker off and get a grip of the midfield? Again, let's not bother. Getting pinned back, so maybe need to bring on a quicker player to make use of the counter attack?

I could go on and there are so many in game scenarios, but we don't react to them. It's not quite as rigid as the AVB period, but it's not that far off.

Imo the only philosophy that should be stuck to no matter what is the players working their arses off. All other philosophies, ideas, pattern of play etc should be subject to change when required. Even Harry the so called dinosaur changed things around mid game sometimes. It has to be done.

Bingo. Wish I could rate it more than once.

Couldn't believe the amount of people who were excusing a poor performance because 'they sat back and defended and made it tough'... As you say though, its like we just keep trying to play the same way (4-5-1, tippy tappy trying to go through the middle) and if it doesn't work then its a case of 'poor us, what could we do?'. As I said in my previous post and you say with your examples, at least change it up if things aren't working and at least try to take the game to them and ask them different questions.

Personally I'm distinctly unimpressed and completely bored of us using the exact same approach for 90 mins even when it doesn't look remotely like working. Just banging our heads against a brick wall.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 2m2 minutes ago
CONTRACT: We are delighted to announce that @Ryan_Mason13 has signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract until 2020.

You may have to get used to him though....

(Edit: just to clarify- I think its very good news)

Please don't misunderstand me. I like the idea of Mason, what he stands for, I wanted him given a chance long ago, I just don't think as a CM in a CM2 he actually delivers - or is equipped to deliver - what we need, what people think or hope he does anywhere near enough or to high enough standard.

He tears around and clearly tries hard, he has some ability and wants to play progressively and does get forward to support attacks, all good ideas, it's just what he actually does when he's doing those things is not quite good enough so far.

As I have said elsewhere in other threads, I am perfectly fine with him being given some time to see if, with more games at this level, he can settle down and show a better level of composure - in his reading, positioning and on the ball - under pressure and start delivering better, more rounded performances more consistently.

But even before his injury he was struggling to do this and was getting subbed out of games. Some of the problem is what goes on around the midfield, but Mason hasn't helped himself. His passing last night was terrible at times, whacking balls at players or failing with attempts to play anything other than routine passes.



And we will have to get used to another scapegoat.

See above and wind thyself in.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Bingo. Wish I could rate it more than once.

Couldn't believe the amount of people who were excusing a poor performance because 'they sat back and defended and made it tough'... As you say though, its like we just keep trying to play the same way (4-5-1, tippy tappy trying to go through the middle) and if it doesn't work then its a case of 'poor us, what could we do?'. As I said in my previous post and you say with your examples, at least change it up if things aren't working and at least try to take the game to them and ask them different questions.

Personally I'm distinctly unimpressed and completely bored of us using the exact same approach for 90 mins even when it doesn't look remotely like working. Just banging our heads against a brick wall.


I think the error of Adebayor/Kane from the start put us at a tactical disadvantage from the get go, making us much easier to stifle as neither of those, in the roles given last night, were conducive to unlocking a deep bus park.

Kane from deep or wide just puts his head down and trundles at players, easy to stop, and Adebayor is like a hollow version of Adebayor lately, like a guy on autopilot who's software's malfunctioning.

I also think the decision to play Davies was poor, as Rose would have given us some width on the left and something for Campbell-Rice to think about. As it was everything went down our right where we have dumb and dumber. We got Walker into wide positions frequently down the right but he just doesn't have the craft, wit or composure under pressure to take advantage, every time he would rather stop, check, make sure he has control of the football, turn back and the move staled and they got set.


In game, he could have tried taking Adebayor off, putting Lennon on the right, moving Townsend left maybe.
 

mpickard2087

Patient Zero
Jun 13, 2008
21,886
32,513
I think the error of Adebayor/Kane from the start put us at a tactical disadvantage from the get go, making us much easier to stifle as neither of those, in the roles given last night, were conducive to unlocking a deep bus park.

Kane from deep or wide just puts his head down and trundles at players, easy to stop, and Adebayor is like a hollow version of Adebayor lately, like a guy on autopilot who's software's malfunctioning.

I also think the decision to play Davies was poor, as Rose would have given us some width on the left and something for Campbell-Rice to think about. As it was everything went down our right where we have dumb and dumber. We got Walker into wide positions frequently down the right but he just doesn't have the craft, wit or composure under pressure to take advantage, every time he would rather stop, check, make sure he has control of the football, turn back and the move staled and they got set.


In game, he could have tried taking Adebayor off, putting Lennon on the right, moving Townsend left maybe.

I wouldn't have minded so much if they had played as a partnership, but as a clearly defined 9 + 10 it stifles Kane big time and the other striker seems to get isolated with just one up top. For me two out and out targets might have asked more questions of them.

I said earlier in the thread he made the wrong choice at left back as far as I was concerned. Issues at right back don't help either, I agree.

For me the real issue is that we come up against these bus-parkers, don't even try to change our approach when it isn't working and then whine 'well we couldn't play our game, what could we do?'. Its no good everyone wanting the ball to feet 35-40 yards out against these teams that sit deep and narrow, you have to make use of the space wide, work the overlap and get men in the box... These don't have to be hopeful ones slung into the box, see Man City as a good example - Work the overlap, then often a low cross trying to pick out one of the 3/4/5 players getting in the box.

As I said last night, I would have gone 4-4-2 at half time and put Eriksen alongside Stambouli. There was even a point in the second half where we could have got away with going something like 3-3-4 and sacrificed one of the non-performing Fullbacks (probably Walker).

I wasn't impressed at all, from a tactical perspective I don't like us keep trying to play exactly the same way every game when it isn't working.
 
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SonicSarr

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2012
2,944
5,053
All pretty average but pluses for Verts, Dier & Kane & minuses for Davies, Townsend and Adebayor.
 

Bus-Conductor

SC Supporter
Oct 19, 2004
39,837
50,713
Astounding decision to make Adebayor captain last night.

But booing the guy was piss poor.

Why not Vertonghen for captain ?
 

Flashspur

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2012
6,882
9,068
Astounding decision to make Adebayor captain last night.

But booing the guy was piss poor.

Why not Vertonghen for captain ?

Wasnt there a rumour that Jan's team mates din't want him as captain or something? On the face of it, you have to ask why? He would seem ideal.
 

DiscoD1882

SC Supporter
Mar 27, 2006
6,934
14,669
I think everyone was expecting an Ar5ena1 tonight. hence the disappointment. agree with some above it wasnt the best game but its half time chaps. We havent conceeded an away goal and we are 90 minutes from a trip to Wembley
 

Chris12

Well-Known Member
Mar 6, 2013
7,293
13,252
Astounding decision to make Adebayor captain last night.

But booing the guy was piss poor.

Why not Vertonghen for captain ?
Adebayor is VC and with LLoris and Kaboul not starting, would send out wrong message for him not to be given the captaincy
 

double0

Well-Known Member
Aug 29, 2006
14,423
12,258
Some of the low marks awarded and unfavourable comments towards Walker are over the top imo having watched the game again.

Hoddles assessment of our midfield pairing was baffling I thought a bigger problem was the pairing between Kane and Adebayor we needed Ade to make more curved and forward runs to give our midfield options.

Hoddle called for Dembele and he just went sideways.
 
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