The Race for the Title, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th or even 6th Thread.

[Dov67]

Agreed, for me it shouldn't have been a free kick. Baffles me how those fouls are always given, player just need to go to ground when barely touched from behind. Unless Serge raped him with a massive boner and we couldn't see it, I don't see what's wrong there.

However, Serge got into this mess by himself, like he does game after game. That's his classic trick : interception, then too slow to react and make the pass, opposition player get between him and the ball, foul. It keeps repeating and he doesn't learn. Fucking frustrating when we know how sloppy we are at defending free kicks right now.

point is these fouls always seem to get given, and players look for them. So don't put yourself in that situation, and clear the ball when you have the chance.

 

[Basil Brush]

Since the disappointment of the loss to Everton where we were clearly underbaked we have smashed Soton and Utd and conceded late equalisers in the other two home games which 9 times out of 10 we would have won.

The Dier pen and that ridiculous strike from Lanzini were very unlucky, as much as we all want to mark it down as Spursy that isn't going to happen every week. Yes we need to improve defensively and be more ruthless when ahead but hopefully that will come over the season.

I'm very confident we'll be competitive this season. Kane and Son are playing some of their best stuff and we have Bale to come. The rejuvenated Ndombele and the arrival of Hojbjerg have improved our midfield this season and Reguilon gives us much better attacking balance. We finally have a first team backup striker also.

Obviously it's easy to get downhearted after that gutting collapse today but there is a long long way to go and I believe in our squad, for me it's top 3 quality. We just need Jose to sort out the defensive and mentality problems.

Best post I have read for ages.

 

[Shadydan]

point is these fouls always seem to get given, and players look for them. So don't put yourself in that situation, and clear the ball when you have the chance.

Have you actually played football lol

How can you not put yourself in a defensive situation when you're defending your goal?

 

[Typical Spurs]

Have you actually played football lol

How can you not put yourself in a defensive situation when you're defending your goal?

I think he's saying don't give the ref a decision to make. That's what I was shouting at the TV yesterday...don't foul, don't foul, don't foul. And we did, twice. Fucking stupid, lazy decision making.

If they're attacking you head on on a foul is made its different. But when they're out wide, going back to their goal, it's absolutely stupid to do something that gives the ref a decision to make.

 

[Shadydan]

I think he's saying don't give the ref a decision to make. That's what I was shouting at the TV yesterday...don't foul, don't foul, don't foul. And we did, twice. Fucking stupid, lazy decision making.

If they're attacking you head on on a foul is made its different. But when they're out wide, going back to their goal, it's absolutely stupid to do something that gives the ref a decision to make.

Yeah but look, the free kick that led to the equaliser wasn't even a foul - Snodgrass just dived into Aurier, not the first time it's happened - happened in the Newcastle match when Joelinton jumped into Hojbjerg. Seems like opposition managers are targeting us and telling their players to play for free kicks.

 

[wrd]

I think he's saying don't give the ref a decision to make. That's what I was shouting at the TV yesterday...don't foul, don't foul, don't foul. And we did, twice. Fucking stupid, lazy decision making.

If they're attacking you head on on a foul is made its different. But when they're out wide, going back to their goal, it's absolutely stupid to do something that gives the ref a decision to make.

I don't know what Aurier could do differently, he literally did nothing to give that foul, it's all well and good saying, don't put yourself in that position but when the opposition leans into you and falls arse over tit then what can he do.

 

[wrd]

Yeah but look, the free kick that led to the equaliser wasn't even a foul - Snodgrass just dived into Aurier, not the first time it's happened - happened in the Newcastle match when Joelinton jumped into Hojbjerg. Seems like opposition managers are targeting us and telling their players to play for free kicks.

The Hojbjerg one was just as ridiculous but at very least for the Hojbjerg one I can understand how the referee has been fooled and if Hojbjerg didn't side step into the path then Joelinton couldn't vault into him but Aurier did literally nothing wrong. He couldn't have done anything different.

 

[Shadydan]

The Hojbjerg one was just as ridiculous but at very least for the Hojbjerg one I can understand how the referee has been fooled and if Hojbjerg didn't side step into the path then Joelinton couldn't vault into him but Aurier did literally nothing wrong. He couldn't have done anything different.

He could have worked on not being Serger Aurier then I think people wouldn't have blamed him.

 

[fletch82]

He could have worked on not being Serger Aurier then I think people wouldn't have blamed him.

Wanted to funny and agree
Mate rings me after the game giving it fucking aurier stupid foul I said it wasn't even a foul his reply was well yeah but why didn't the useless twat just clear it.
So you want him to clear it but not go for the ball or challenge ?

 

[Dov67]

Have you actually played football lol

How can you not put yourself in a defensive situation when you're defending your goal?

well yes, I have actually played football...........perhaps you haven't, or maybe you just weren't very good at it, LOL

I saw that foul coming before it was given. Doesn't mean it was a foul, but i thought it would be given, and unfortunately I was right. Others seem to understand this, but you seem to be struggling, so sorry I can't help you

 

[Dov67]

I think he's saying don't give the ref a decision to make. That's what I was shouting at the TV yesterday...don't foul, don't foul, don't foul. And we did, twice. Fucking stupid, lazy decision making.

If they're attacking you head on on a foul is made its different. But when they're out wide, going back to their goal, it's absolutely stupid to do something that gives the ref a decision to make.

Exactly!

reminds me of the Sanchez non-foul on Aubamanyang in our last game at wembley that led to the penalty he ultimately missed - I was screaming real time......."careful, careful, careful.......nooooooooo".

 

[Dov67]

The Hojberg one was different - absolutely nothing he could possibly have done. Joelinton just launches himself at PEH and gets a foul. Ridiculous decision, as ridiculous as the handball rule

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

The Hojberg one was different - absolutely nothing he could possibly have done. Joelinton just launches himself at PEH and gets a foul. Ridiculous decision, as ridiculous as the handball rule

We are five games into the season and have already been the victims of some fucking dreadful decisions. Only us.

 

[Dov67]

We are five games into the season and have already been the victims of some fucking dreadful decisions. Only us.

we seem to have a some sort of voodoo curse against us. Of all the outrageous decisions against us in recent months, Var and non-Var, i think the Lucas handball decision against Sheff Utd has to be the worst IMO. Even more egregious that the Dier handball incident.

 

[Shadydan]

well yes, I have actually played football...........perhaps you haven't, or maybe you just weren't very good at it, LOL

I saw that foul coming before it was given. Doesn't mean it was a foul, but i thought it would be given, and unfortunately I was right. Others seem to understand this, but you seem to be struggling, so sorry I can't help you

If you saw that foul coming might I suggest taking up some sort of clairvoyance role, or maybe a fortune teller. Why didn't you tell the world that we were about to be hit with a pandemic?

Seriously though you have to be blind, stubborn or actually agenda driven to say that he shouldn't have put himself in a position to make the foul, he had to engage the attacker otherwise he would have been free to cross the ball, that is literally what you do when you defend. Snograss fell to the ground and the ref fell for it.

 

[hughy]

we seem to have a some sort of voodoo curse against us. Of all the outrageous decisions against us in recent months, Var and non-Var, i think the Lucas handball decision against Sheff Utd has to be the worst IMO. Even more egregious that the Dier handball incident.

Still makes me laugh that they got the free-kick...

 

[Dov67]

If you saw that foul coming might I suggest taking up some sort of clairvoyance role, or maybe a fortune teller. Why didn't you tell the world that we were about to be hit with a pandemic?

Seriously though you have to be blind, stubborn or actually agenda driven to say that he shouldn't have put himself in a position to make the foul, he had to engage the attacker otherwise he would have been free to cross the ball, that is literally what you do when you defend. Snograss fell to the ground and the ref fell for it.

well no, you don't have to be a clairvoyant or a prophet to have seen that coming, just an ability to read the game. You can defend, by blocking space without actual contact.

The only agenda I have is for us to avoid gifting free kicks in the last seconds of a game, when we are not the best at defending set pieces.

lets just agree to disagree

 

[Shadydan]

well no, you don't have to be a clairvoyant or a prophet to have seen that coming, just an ability to read the game. You can defend, by blocking space without actual contact.

The only agenda I have is for us to avoid gifting free kicks in the last seconds of a game, when we are not the best at defending set pieces.

lets just agree to disagree

In the context of what happened though to concede the free kick, Aurier took a loose touch, Snodgrass put his body between the ball and Aurier then went down after virtually no contact. In what situation do you block space in that instance?

 

[wrd]

I remembered when Conte took over at Chelsea they were shit at the beginning and went on a run.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37393486

Arsenal battered them. They had played 6 games, 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. City conversely had won 6 out of 6 until they lost that 100% record to a tasty outfit from North London. Chelsea switched to 3-4-3 and the rest was history.

All this to say that the title really is still wide open this season. The problem admittedly we have is we're doing the opposite of champions, we're playing some fantastic football but not taking home the points. Usually the mark of champions is play bad but find a way to win. However I think we have the quality to do what that Chelsea side do and work out a system to close out games better. We've got a couple of players to come back who will help us be more solid at the back in Dier and possibly Rodon. We've got Lo Celso and Lamela to help with the lack of intensity in the 2nd half of games. With the way things are atm, I wouldn't rule us out. Thankfully a lot of our rivals also had a shit weekend.

 

[JCRD]

The more I think about it the more this season is like the season Leicester won it.

I know some may say not this season but I think this is another unreal opportunity. Any team that tightens up at the back I think will win it.

I just hope the players see that and I think Jose will be drilling that into their brains