Match Threads Spurs vs Man City - FA Cup 4th Round

[Joely]

Never felt like we really got going in the final third. Bit disjointed and nothing really flowed. Didn't think City were brilliant but pretty measured and controlled. Don't know if both teams coming off a 2 week break had anything to do with it. Did feel them bringing on De Bruyne and Doku give them bit of a lift as they are both players who can change games and must be great seeing those two coming onto the pitch when you are looking for a winner.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Against the top teams our midfield currently isn't good enough.

Do we win tonight with Sarr or Biss? Maybe.

But either way I don't think a top club should be going in to games like this with the likes of PEH in the starting XI.

That sounds harsh on him and he tries hard and wasn't solely to blame at all today. But he isn't good enough and we need midfielders who can pass the ball.

Yep totally agree it’s a huge current issue/weakness we have especially because of AFCON/ASIA Cups and Maddison having been out and Lolo not up to speed yet but regardless of that Skipp&PEH don’t suit how we currently want to play so need to be moved on and replaced imo.

PEH for 80 mins was our best player however he was our best player because it was a backs against the walls type performance which suited him when what we actually needed was physically and quality in the middle which Biss,Sarr,Maddison and Lo Celso all bring and as you say they call all pass the ball well and under pressure whereas unfortunately PEH and also Kulu can’t so we spent the whole game chasing the ball.

We are like Liverpool we’re under Klopp early days until they signed Allison & Van Dijk. Until we sign another top midfielder and 2 attacking players we will continue to suffer in big games as soon as 1-2 1st choice players are out never mind 4-5.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Oh well. I didn't want a replay but I'm not having that performance described as "embarrassing". We weren't playing some plucky Championship side, this is arguably the best team in Europe and shock horror they dominated the game for the most part.

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

100%. The hyperbole on here by some is ridiculous. The idea that we were going to pump City 4 nil just because they have narrowly lost to us at the stadium several times is risible. Look at their bench when Grealish and Doku can came on ....FFS.

Ange has worked miracles given what he has had to deal with and frankly as soon as I saw the FA Cup draw I was convinced we were going out - even with players coming back - because of Son and Sarr and Bissouma being unavailable. Awful draw so early on. That's not being defeatist at all, just that we are some way off City and they won the bloody Treble last season.

We go again.

Great post

 

[Impspur1]

If we had played this game in a few weeks and the team had time to tune into Werner who knows what could happened with the space he had. Definitely an area to work on and quickly

 

[TheChosenOne]

No offence taken and thanks for explaining.
I thought you was one of them you have to love everyone hippies

Hope you feel better soon and don't need the pills much longer

 

[fishhhandaricecake]

Not only that but a player whose coming back from an acl, a key playmaker just back to the bench. 2 CBs back from months out

Those injuries across the pitch need to get back up to rhythm of matches.

Not excuses but it all adds up.

We really needed a kinder draw at this stage. We kept them at bay for a good while but didn't have enough to threaten the other end.

Gutted cos the way Ange has had us playing meant I thought we could have a real go at the cup this year

Yep, if we’d got an easy draw, mabye signed one more player this window and then got : Biss, Sarr, Lo Celso, Son and Solomon back plus Werner, Romero, VDV , Bentancur and Maddison back up to speed then played City in say the QF’s or SF’s we’d have likely given them a game but too many things against us tonight.

 

[SPURSLIFE]

I was more disappointed in the way we played rather than the result. I looked at the way they passed the ball and how accurately and quickly they found their man. We hung onto it far to long and constantly dribbled ourselves into trouble. We seemed to lack any real discipline moving forward and often taking the wrong option. The passing out from the back gives me nightmares, we are just not good at it like they are and end up scrambling it away. I thought Vicario had a bad night and sitting back with ball inviting them forward kept putting us under pressure resulting in a poor pass out and a hurried clearance. He made a few saves that he should have held on to but they rolled away and could have caused a goal. I shouldn't compare us with them but we have played a lot better against them in the past but tonight we were never in the hunt and we were flattered by the score line.
Having said all that we were without Son, Sarr and Bis and Madders. All class players that would certainly have made a big difference. Put them back in and we will see a much better result.
A disappointing night and no silverware again this year so let's see Ange get us in that top 4 and with a few additions to the squad maybe a run at the top.

 

[SirHarryHotspur]

They were too good for us but on the rare occasions in their half we had a chance to create something it usually ended up with a poor pass or free kick.
Anyway out of the cup now we can concentrate on winning the league

Supposed to play City on 20th April in PL at home , believe that is also FA semis weekend , good chance they will make it to semis , anyone planning a trip to that game beware.

 

[Jenko]

No injuries tonight, players still coming back, no tiredness in the team to worry about. No shame in losing tonight.

I feel we'll go on a run now and win a few. Already have my eye on the Chelsea game, need to be geared up for that one.

 

[bubble07]

1 just have 1 issue and that is the front 3 that started the game are more runners than dribblers. It's built for a counter attacking conte or mourinho team

But them I keep reading that Ange wants that profile of wingers and its confusing me!

 

[mil1lion]

If we had played this game in a few weeks and the team had time to tune into Werner who knows what could happened with the space he had. Definitely an area to work on and quickly

If it was in a few weeks Son starts over Werner but has a great record against City. Always felt his absence was going to be costly tonight. I was even thinking maybe a replay he might get back on time for.

 

[rossdapep]

Against the top teams our midfield currently isn't good enough.

Do we win tonight with Sarr or Biss? Maybe.

But either way I don't think a top club should be going in to games like this with the likes of PEH in the starting XI.

That sounds harsh on him and he tries hard and wasn't solely to blame at all today. But he isn't good enough and we need midfielders who can pass the ball.

Not harsh. Its the reality.

He just cannot take the game to the opponent. Anytime he received it and had City players in front of him he checked back.

The joy he had was when he had space to pass into and he played a few good passes actually.

But thats effective in counter attack and transitions not when you need players to go at defenders or constantly be dropping in and out of the opposition's shape.

Then Skipp came on and made matters much worse.

I had little faith, even with Maddison on.

We are still several players off what Ange needs it to be.

Another midfielder should be a priority

 

[bubble07]

I actually think Werner will be good for us and we will sign him.

He has great movement and is still quick

 

[Nick-TopSpursMan]

1 just have 1 issue and that is the front 3 that started the game are more runners than dribblers. It's built for a counter attacking conte or mourinho team

But them I keep reading that Ange wants that profile of wingers and its confusing me!

At least we look like we want Nusa. He’s the type of attacker we don’t have and badly need even though he’s very young still.

You are spot on though, our attack is so badly balanced and lacks quality and the right mix of skills.

 

[cjbyid]

I actually think Werner will be good for us and we will sign him.

He has great movement and is still quick

Yeah I agree. Pity we couldn't get the ball to him more tonight, looked threatening even against walker who somehow still has unreal pace.

 

[DiamondLites]

I thought we hung in the game well enough, just a complete lack of cutting edge tonight. Werner and Johnson got into some dangerous positions but the ball was too slow getting to them (if it got played to them at all) and when it did it was wasted . Deki was really poor today, if it had been Maddison in there instead it might have been a different story. Overall a very frustrating way to exit another trophy because City were there for the taking, but some perspective is needed - we lost a tight game vs the best team in the country to a goal that’s been given as a foul everytime in then last 30 years

 

[mad4madders]

Never felt like we were going to create anything going forward. Defended our socks off and lucky with it being just 0-1

 

[Tezza1978]

Literally not a soul on this forum has said or intimated we’d “pump city 4-0” and you have the temerity to accuse others of hyperbole?

Calling me negative is tiresome. If you go through my posts, I’m incredibly positive about Ange and what he’s doing at the club. We look like we finally have our shit together. That’s not to say I won’t call out bad performances when they come and tonight one came. Questioning my support for this club just because I’m vocally unhappy about the performance tonight is petulant and childish. Do better.

The state of you calling me "childish" LOL. Save me your patronising shite about "doing better".

 

[worcestersauce]

Home from the game and first thing to say is City were the better team, we worked hard and stayed with them almost until the final whistle but in the end we had too many players missing and we couldn't refresh during the game where it mattered.
I posted at half time how good Pierre Emile Hojbjerg was and he carried that on second half, top performance.
Their subs made the difference, Doku was busy but de Bruyne changed their dynamic and lifted them visibly.
It's a shame we met them at the wrong time but we take positives and we continue improving.