Tottenham Vs Crystal Palace: Match Thread

[nightgoat]

Yeah what the hell was that about? Have we done that before?

Not the whole Park Lane, as far as I'm aware. We've given up to block 34 I think, but always kept the Park Lane/Shelf Side corner for ourselves. Why can't they spill the away fans into the west stand that doesn't sing, or stick them in the Paxton that doesn't sing?

 

[Mr Pink]

Just back from the game. We weren't that bad and with just a bit more spark or a bit of luck might have won it. We were, as so often, dominant in the first half without getting the goal to show for it and didn't manage to turn it around second half against a Palace team that fought hard. But all through the game we did in fact make chances, had shots and where I was sitting had a few of those moments when we are all up on our feet already punching the air... before having to sit back down again. It's not like we were drab and useless - it felt like a proper cup tie and I expect must have been a good game to watch for the neutrals (although, to be honest, who cares about them lol).

We have had a lot of great games recently when it has been hard to choose the MotM because we have been strong as a team all over the pitch. Today was the flip side of that - no-one was really catastrophic but as a team we were slightly below our (now) usual level.

I think we didn't quite click today, as a team and in two or three player combos, as well as we can.

Of course we rotated today, and I think we had to - we have a million matches in a fortnight and will carry on with two games a week after the Arsenal match if we beat Fiorentina on Thursday, so rotation is a given.

I've been pleased this season to see that we can often rotate and it doesn't seem like we are weakening the team that much as the players coming in are often as strong as those going out (it is easy to pick a lineup any time where we swap the fullbacks, or Son/Lamela/Chadli for example).

But today, we played a series of unfamiliar combos all at once and I think the players struggled a bit with this. A new Wimmer-Dier partnership at CB, Dembele and Bentaleb who haven't played together for a while, and no Eriksen in the AM3 meant the usual spine was altered more than it has been recently. It meant players didn't always have the "expected" runs, moves or passes from the teammates they are most used to.

Dembele, for example, was having a relative bad day (I don't want to pick especially on him - a slight drop shows up more for him because we have become used to super-Mous). But as well as having Nabil come back as a CM partner who hasn't had much game time this season, Dembele was also without the usual shield of Dier behind him and did not have Eriksen to link up with, and how many times have we seen Dembele lay off the ball to Eriksen? Those two can play together without thinking. So this set-up meant a lot more adjustment.

That's not necessarily a bad thing: we have to try these combinations out sometime - I;d rather experiment with no Toby now rather than have to do it for the first time in an emergency. And like I say, we do have to rotate. But I think it might explain why we were less tight together than we can be. There were a number of times that players made cute little passes, but these went adrift because their teammate couldn't read them, but we will get better at this as the players get more used to shuffling the pack. (NB there were also some long passes that went wildly astray after looking like decent balls because the wind was playing havoc at times too.)

So while I'm sad to go out of the cup, we weren't badly beaten today, we didn't play that terribly either. Plus our young squad - who are learning to truly be a real, interchangeable squad of top players for the first time (I can't remember us having 24-25 players all tight as a group like this before) - have had some experience that will stand them in good stead not just this season but I believe for the future too.

And we are still in the Europa and two points off the top in the prem. We are having our best season for donkey's years and we are building something really special. If you are disappointed today, I don't think you will be by May. Our players have shown after each of our very few losses this season that they take defeats as a chance to bounce back better and go on a winning streak each time. When the season started, I never dreamed we would be like this. So despite the loss, I'm feeling like a proud Spurs fan.

COYS!

Dembele went off at HT with a groin problem.

 

[Spurger King]

Not the whole Park Lane, as far as I'm aware. We've given up to block 34 I think, but always kept the Park Lane/Shelf Side corner for ourselves. Why can't they spill the away fans into the west stand that doesn't sing, or stick them in the Paxton that doesn't sing?

It was a really stupid decision.

 

[nightgoat]

Why does everybody who went to the game need to start their post with 'went to the game today' or 'just home from the game' then go on a completely unrelated tangent? Being at the game doesnt give you a stronger case for an argument or a better insight into the match, if anything its worse.

Stop it.

Does it really matter? No.

 

[Mr Pink]

Why does everybody who went to the game need to start their post with 'went to the game today' or 'just home from the game' then go on a completely unrelated tangent? Being at the game doesnt give you a stronger case for an argument or a better insight into the match, if anything its worse.

Stop it.

Who rattled your cart?

 

[Spurger King]

Why does everybody who went to the game need to start their post with 'went to the game today' or 'just home from the game' then go on a completely unrelated tangent? Being at the game doesnt give you a stronger case for an argument or a better insight into the match, if anything its worse.

Stop it.

The ones that annoy me are posts along the lines of:

"Just at the airport about to fly to Barbados for a two-week holiday, so I'm going to miss the match. Nobody cares but I want to show off about it. To make this seem vaguely related to the match I'll end it with...

COYS"

 

[talkshowhost86]

I went to the game today and just got home and I think @SargeantMeatCurtains has got sand in his vagina.

 

[Misfit]

I'd make it more games if could but this 10lbs cock of mine gives me chronic backache.

#babyarmholdinganapple

 

[JAYSTAR]

The ones that annoy me are posts along the lines of:

"Just at the airport about to fly to Barbados for a two-week holiday, so I'm going to miss the match. Nobody cares but I want to show off about it. To make this seem vaguely related to the match I'll end it with...

COYS"

Just got back.. dissappointing match, very little desire and no plan against their aggressive tackling...

Right? Is that what everyone's saying?

Shame I missed it.. food shopping. Radio coverage didn't sound too bad.

 

[SargeantMeatCurtains]

I went to the game today and just got home and I think @SargeantMeatCurtains has got sand in his vagina.

I would have gone to the game today but my super model girlfriend decided she wanted to give me a cheeky bj whilst I was taking my new Lamborgini out for a spin, smashed it straight into my collection of vintage tanks but hey ho, disappointing result onwards and upwards COYS

 

[talkshowhost86]

Not much to say about today other than we were just rubbish.

Looked like we didn't care.

I thought Bentaleb was poor. But not much worse than everyone else.

 

[cliff jones]

Not much to say about today other than we were just rubbish.

Looked like we didn't care.

I thought Bentaleb was poor. But not much worse than everyone else.

Not sure if serious. Na, you can't be.

 

[The Feet of Hoddle]

That was a bit of bummer. Not great going out, but sod it, still a very good season

COYS!!

 

[cliff jones]

Anyone who goes to the game and gives insight in a perhaps I don't know everything kinda way surely deserves a like.

Most of em are probably lying though.

Worst day of the season for me exiting the fac, especially to an inferior outfit. Like today.

But anyone who's watched the three games this season knows the teams are pretty evenly matched. Take out our three defensive stars and it's an even finer line. They took an opportunity and we contrived to miss two sitters and hit both posts with a single shot on goal. Can see them taking points off others with Bolasie and Zaha complemented by a motivated Ade. If he is that is. Can't remember who they still have to play in the prem?

Thought we played very well in two bursts today just a bit gutted that our last 25 just fell away. Son and Alli were playing superbly and he takes them off? He's been brill this season Poch but he still drops the odd fuckin clanger. And if we agree with the let's promote the academy kids approach then we have to cut Josh who did OK some slack. He's not at the level of their wide men, yet, so we take the chance that by exposing him to key matches he continues to improve. Today he got a little more involved I thought.

The next four matches share the shit outta me...

 

[yankspurs]

Dembele went off at HT with a groin problem.

Well that's just enough to make one wanna go play in traffic

 

[waresy]

Felt we lacked cohesion across the pitch with a few too many balls going astray- notably a couple of cross field passes that went backwards and out.
Once it went on for 20/25 mins the Palace game plan had more of an effect- break it up, get it into our half quickly and defend strongly. Pardew got it spot on and we then ran out of ideas.

Wasn't impressed with the ref in the slightest but not the reason we lost.

 

[guy]

Still not sure how we didn't score a goal. Wasn't a horrible performance, just a bit below par with all the changes.

Onto fiorentina now anyhoo

 

[Dharmabum]

Spurs could easily have trashed Crystal P. with all the chances they had - but it was one of those days. Spurs out-played CP (65 % possession) but yet they seemed to lack the intensity they have in the EPL.
Spurs defense looked weak and lacked resolution. CP got away with a lots of obstructions - a game plan hat worked due to a poor ref.
Rose had an good game - but it was also his terrible effort on a cross field pass with just 1 min left that resulted in the CP goal. Why on earth can't he learn how to cross better
But, I am not that upset about being knocked out of the FA cup. Now Spurs can focus on the EPL.

 

[Lamelad]

I didnt want us to play all 3 competitions so I think this result will help in the long run.

We played without Hugo, Toby and Verts today so no wonder we struggled at the back.

Some confirmations, Vorm shaky, Bentaleb has a lot to prove and Dier not good enough as a CB.

 

[NickHSpurs]

I went today and didn't think we deserved to lose, if Ali's shot that hit both posts went in it would have been a completely different game. Couple of other chances went close too, deserved at least a replay but that's football.

I'd rather we had our luck against City in the league than in this game, I'm disappointed to go out yes but it's just one game where we were both a little unlucky and a little under our usual high standards set this season.

Pundits and press are bound to call it a European hangover and all that stuff so brace yourselves for it, the good news is we'll have a chance to prove them all wrong this time next week.

We'll win Thursday against Fiorentina and against Swansea then everything will be right with the world heading into the Arsenal game and the press will be back to talking about it being a title decider and how great we are.