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Match Threads Spurs v Everton - Match Thread - Day 1

Match Prediction

  • Our First Win of the Season

    Votes: 166 55.7%
  • Our First Loss of the Season

    Votes: 71 23.8%
  • Our First Score Draw of the Season

    Votes: 51 17.1%
  • Our First Goalless Draw of the Season

    Votes: 10 3.4%

  • Total voters
    298

Lou3000

£
May 28, 2014
861
2,525
Looks like Winks and Hojbjerg are basically the same player, not enough from Dele and Kane (who played deep). This always looks weird when Lo Celso doesn't play or when Sissoko does. View attachment 73450

So Mourinho's half-time sub makes even less sense. After the match he said he pulled Dele because Everton were pressing high on Hojbjerg and Winks and leaving space behind Allan in midfield. He put Sissoko in to "exploit that space," but Dele was in that space. Also, Sissoko is not a midfielder, and he's certainly not creative (I will die on this hill).

We've got to figure out what the hell Moura is supposed to do. Why is he always over-running Kane? But why are our fullbacks over running our wingers? The fullbacks should be pushing up and looking inside to a creative attacker (Dele, Lo Celso, Lamela), not over running our wingers and pushing them inside. I saw multiple times where we had 3 attackers standing next to each other in the box with no midfielder to recycle and no wingers to keep width.

I'm really discouraged after yesterday because I disagree that it was a player problem, I don't see any identity in the formation or game plan.
 

ralvy

AVB my love
Jun 26, 2012
2,505
4,603
Right before the start of the match, when everyone kneeled, it just looked so stupid and cheesy and fake. It made me feel like not watching the match anymore. It's been like 14 hours since that (I downloaded the match and avoided knowing the score all day), and here I am still lamenting myself for not having followed that instinct in the first place.
 

NEVILLEB

Well-Known Member
Nov 6, 2006
6,733
6,335
Lloris
Doherty Dier Toby Davies
Alli Hojbjerg Lo Celso Son
Ndombele
Kane

Might be too odd but I think our team is far too open in defence. Two banks of 4.

Ndombele can feed Kane and has less defensive responsibilities. Alli and Son to play from deeper positions. At least we’d stop conceeding too many and it’s a way to get Ndombele playing.

Something drastic needs to happen as we haven’t played well for ages.
 

peterballb

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
158
1,327
Hojberg and Winks are the same player. No issue other than that they should not both be in there unless you are trying to salt away a victory.

Dele, Kane, Moura etc all come back deep because there is no one getting them the ball. We need Lo Celso or Ndombele in there to be that transition from front to back. Even Lamela was a far better option than putting in both Winks and Hojberg. For that matter, White or Skipp (which he did over the weekend for Norwich)

In the defence of the new players, Hojberg was trying too hard - he often overplayed in defending. He'll be fine. He is excellent at breaking up play. The issue was he and Winks were both trying to do that and get the ball forward. Were he the only DM in there, he would have just done his job. Players need roles.

Doherty is used to working off of and in combination with the winger in front of him. There was no chemistry there as Moura was sometimes there, sometimes not. It's tough. Aurier always looks better when Sissoko (not suggesting I'd play him as he is another eat minutes up at the end of a game player) is on the right. They work off each other and for each other. When they are out there, many more crosses come in from the right. How many were there yesterday? Couldn't have been many as Dele, Kane, Moura and Son were all tripping over each other in the middle of the park. Not saying wingers can't cut in. It cannot be the norm though. How can you pull defenders out of the middle when you keep playing only through the middle. Spread it out, rain in crosses and Dele, Kane and the opposite winger should all be in there looking to meet the cross. Clarke would have stayed out wide. Sessegnon too.The Doherty give and go with Kane shows exactly what he will offer. Need that on the left too and wingers to complement.

There is nothing new in any of this. It's not a Pochettino or Mourinho thing. Though it is now for Mourinho to address this. Counter is fine and should be exploited. It cannot be the game plan. Soaking up pressure will only assure the other team stays in the game and often steals a point or three. Little flicks by Dele, giveaways by Moura and Davies, side and back passes by Winks (can anyone say pirouette Parker number 2), Lloris rooted to the line etc do nothing to have us maintain control and pressure the ball forward. Far too pedestrian. Ball needs to move far quicker and we need to be far more North South as opposed to the East West that has been there for 2.5 years now. Nothing wrong with a good diagonal ball. A square ball from one side to the other really does nothing to catch out the opponents.

Talent is there to compete for the CL spots. Stuff needs to get sorted now.

And why are we so poor at dead balls (both ends of the pitch)? This is a training ground exercise. It can be practiced.

If I shake my head any more, it'll fall off. Good thing we do not have to wait a week to move on.

Winning needs to become the habit. Whatever it takes.
 

SCUMmucs

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
188
453
Looks like Winks and Hojbjerg are basically the same player, not enough from Dele and Kane (who played deep). This always looks weird when Lo Celso doesn't play or when Sissoko does. View attachment 73450
Maybe I don’t understand but what is this saying about Ali?
The lack of passing to Kane is clearly an issue. Feels like he is the closest thing to a playmaker in the team.
 

Lou3000

£
May 28, 2014
861
2,525
I'm really discouraged after yesterday because I disagree that it was a player problem, I don't see any identity in the formation or game plan.

And to add to my argument, Davies has just come out and said that he doesn’t doubt the effort players gave.

Is this the quickest Mourinho has lost a dressing room?
 

peterballb

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2013
158
1,327
Dele, to be his best, needs to arrive in the box as the ball is getting there. Everything else needs to be these quick, ball in feet, out of feet plays. When he tries to get fancy (the flicks and tricks) he is a wasteful player. Rarely comes off, and, more often than not, the other player is not on the same wavelength. He is lacking in confidence. His pass in the first half yesterday where a shot was the obvious play, was the perfect example. When he shot, Pickford could only parry what was otherwise back of the net. Mourinho needs to get him to stop over-thinking and start reacting to the game.
 

Thewobbler

Well-Known Member
Oct 29, 2016
3,814
5,701
This game was a frustrating loss but the silver lining is its put a rocket up levys arse to get good players in and splash out for bale.
 

SonicSarr

Well-Known Member
Jun 7, 2012
2,944
5,053
This game was a frustrating loss but the silver lining is its put a rocket up levys arse to get good players in and splash out for bale.

Not sure if that was the catalyst but happy all the same. Still can't go in the ITK area (you get less time for murder) but I think it may have had an impact of sorts. Very excited about Bale and Reguilon in equal measure.
 
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