We are getting our team back....slowly

[dontcallme]

I'm seeing a glimmer of hope. Getting a team to play isn't simply about teaching them to play the way you want them to.

It's about getting the right characters and the right mix of players. I agree with the OP that Poch made a mistake making Ade and Kaboul captain and VC. This is something I believe he is putting to rights now.

It's a positive sign in what so far has been a disappointing start to Poch's reign.

 

[Nebby]

I don't agree with that - I think our defence is actually the one area that's starting to show genuine improvement. Finally Vertonghen is being picked every week, Davies is starting to really establish himself and look superior to Rose, and we finally have Walker back, who was only decent yesterday and still looked better than anyone else we've tried at RB while he's been out.

Fazio is still suspect to good movement and IMO needs to be replaced, but other than that I personally think we're finally starting to look more solid. The lack of protection from the midfield is what's making us still give lots of chances away.

Vertonghen is a shadow of the player we bought and Fazio looks worryingly slow. Yesterday in particular they looked like strangers and kept giving Bony so much space. With goals looking hard to come by, I don't see our GD entering plus figures any time soon.

 

[WestBelfast Spurs]

on another day we could have been chinned by 3 or 4 goals, but we hung in we got the last minute winner Monks face was brilliant

 

[newbie]

Yesterday's game?
Scored and assisted our goals.
Massive kudos for that.
But pressing and tackling, just no.

I think we have been watching different games lol

 

[Ghost Hardware]

Personally i thought we were awful yesterday, and very lucky Bony was having an off day by his standards as he could have had 2 or 3 in the first 30 mins. Some people say a mark of a good team is the ability to win even when they put in a poor performance but at the moment i just don't believe we are anywhere near being a good team. We have looked good on two occasions this season, QPR and Everton and even so Everton gave us a real test. I just think the team are going through a massive identity crises, and although at times we see glimpses of Poch's high press more often then not we are just a bit of a drab mess similar to how we were last season. There are many reasons for this which have been well covered on this forum, from the "need more time to implement tactics" to "not the right players bought" or simply "our players are shit, sell them all and replace them with kids". Ultimately the next few weeks will be a real trial by fire in which we could come out the other end smelling or roses, somehow i doubt that will happen though, i think our comfortably mid table performances will continue for some time. One good game, a bunch of games we deserve to loose but somehow mange to draw or squeak a win and one or two batterings. Until the team start playing like a team for a consistent number of match's win or loose i wont be getting too optimistic about our future.

 

[0-Tibsy-0]

At the very least we look like we have players who care at the moment, the academy boys-Kane, Mason and Bentaleb. Lamela and Walker definitely look like they have a sense of pride in playing for Spurs and put the effort in, Vertonghen is showing passion. Lloris is just an understated winner, but you can tell he cares about what is happening out there.

This is what was needed.

And it makes supporting the players a whole lot more enjoyable.

 

[Ghost Hardware]

At the very least we look like we have players who care at the moment, the academy boys-Kane, Mason and Bentaleb. Lamela and Walker definitely look like they have a sense of pride in playing for Spurs and put the effort in, Vertonghen is showing passion. Lloris is just an understated winner, but you can tell he cares about what is happening out there.

This is what was needed.

And it makes supporting the players a whole lot more enjoyable.

Having Walker back is a big boost, having someone who actually knows what they are doing in the RB role is massive and i think it will help Lamela in the long run, if he still starts on the right of midfield that is. Mason is one i am a little concerned with, his performances have dropped a little of late and i think Poch has to manage him carefully so he doesn't burn out. I would imagine the same thing will happen to Nabil later in the season as a high press (although im not even sure what we are doing at the moment can be called a high press) takes a lot out of the whole team especially the two CM's. I think the January transfer market could also have a big impact on our season if we manage to bring in one or two good players... i wont be holding my breath on that one tho.

 

[tottenmal]

I don't agree with that - I think our defence is actually the one area that's starting to show genuine improvement. Finally Vertonghen is being picked every week, Davies is starting to really establish himself and look superior to Rose, and we finally have Walker back, who was only decent yesterday and still looked better than anyone else we've tried at RB while he's been out.

Fazio is still suspect to good movement and IMO needs to be replaced, but other than that I personally think we're finally starting to look more solid. The lack of protection from the midfield is what's making us still give lots of chances away.

I agree, the actual back four are starting to look more of a unit, working together etc. They still fall asleep every now and then, but are getting better. Its the lack of protection from mid field thats the problem, letting players run at the defence etc with no cover.

 

[arunspurs]

Well, atleast this should shut anyone suggesting Eriksen is not changing his game & pressing more.

Ran 8.2 Miles along with Kane - seasons second highest (first Boyd)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ksen-Harry-Kane-Tottenham-s-marathon-men.html

 

[Martinhotspur]

We played well for about six minutes against Swansea and got bossed for 84 minutes. We are not great to watch. We got the points but we were awful.

 

[KILLA_SIN]

Well, atleast this should shut anyone suggesting Eriksen is not changing his game & pressing more.

Ran 8.2 Miles along with Kane - seasons second highest (first Boyd)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ksen-Harry-Kane-Tottenham-s-marathon-men.html

Towards the end of the game he was closing a player down and I thought he may have even got a little bit quicker

 

[prawnsandwich]

DISTANCE COVERED STATS
MINS KM MILES

Swansea total 114.1 70.9

Gylfi Sigurdsson 90 12.5 7.8

Ki Sung-Yeng 90 11.9 7.4

Wayne Routledge 90 11.4 7.1

Tottenham total 123.8 76.9

Christian Eriksen 90 13.2 8.2

Harry Kane 90 13.1 8.2

Nabil Bentaleb 90 11.9 7.4

Data courtesy of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, the Official Player Rating Index of the Barclays Premier League

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...e-winner-visitors-seventh-Premier-League.html

Thanks for that. It's clear to most that Eriksen has improved his fitness and tackling this season.
I agree with the sentiment of the OP. MoPo has shown flexibility recently and that has paid off. Good subs yesterday.
When he works out how to beat the "top 4" teams and the bus-parkers then we will all start loving the guy.

 

[Supersi32]

Until we string together 4 or 5 performances like the one against Everton together, I'm not buying into any of this. We were second best vs Swansea, second best vs Besiktas, second best vs Palace. I know we are in a feel good mood after stealing 3 points but this team isn't anything close to what we had in the Bale/King/Modric/VdV days.

That team you mention and the identity it had was exciting, fast paced, goal-filled football. We have nothing like that right now, it's slow, anemic, and at times totally out of ideas. We have a negative GD.

I agree the squad is gelling and the players look more comfortable with one another, but I would expect that after 1.5 years of being together, bar a couple newcomers.

I also don't agree at all with what you said about Eriksen. While he has "hustled and bustled" a couple times this season (like vs Everton), for the most part he is still a bit lazy when played out wide (he should be played as the creative mid in a 433 anyways, would suit us best). Several times yesterday he was caught too far up or too far inside and left Davies isolated way too many times. I'd say Lamela is the one hustling and bustling this season, he is working very hard in an attempt to prove himself and repay the faith the supporters showed. While Eriksen has been getting end product, key goals and assists, he's probably had one or two games this season where he's matched the defensive output of a Lennon, Lamela, Townsend, or Chadli.

Maybe I just feel this way because I'm pessimistic based on the whole picture and how we've played over the last week or so, but I think we are a far cry from having that identity the team you mention had.

The first part of the highlighted part is absolute nonsense, the 2nd part I agree with whole heartedly.

 

[Borks]

Well, atleast this should shut anyone suggesting Eriksen is not changing his game & pressing more.

Ran 8.2 Miles along with Kane - seasons second highest (first Boyd)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ksen-Harry-Kane-Tottenham-s-marathon-men.html

He's doing more but I'm surprised by those stats because I saw less hassling from him than I did from others. Ade used to get criticised for covering a lot of pointless ground (wasting energy in areas you are highly unlikely to win the ball) so it depends what we're comparing here but fair play to Eriksen for stepping it up.

 

[Main Man]

"Our team"?

Do you mean the 90s team who spent the majority of it around mid table, or the more recent top 4 sides?

I think we are more heading towards the former at the moment.

 

[SteveH]

Harry and Christian put a good shift in as did the vast majority of the team - thought the conditions were a minefield for defenders.
But Bob and Erik game or lack thereof, equates to us being at a distinct disadvantage when it comes tu games/battles like at Swansea who lets not forget have lost once at home until yesterday!

We have a striker who can hardly strike and a attacking midfielder who does not....... what actually does Erik do?
Plays football like a fish up a tree.......

 

[SteveH]

"Our team"?

Do you mean the 90s team who spent the majority of it around mid table, or the more recent top 4 sides?

I think we are more heading towards the former at the moment.

Luckily some of the others are even worse.

Man U's "defending" is pure comedy - be honest!

 

[Gaz_Gammon]

We should be a team of footballers and not middle distance runners in my opinion.

The bar saved us against Palace (and a huge game by Lloris) and yesterday was very much the same where our goal was under pressure for much of the game after Swansea levelled.

We appear void of ideas going forward and it wasn't really until the substitutions were made that we started to take hold of the midfield and put pressure on their back four.

Time will tell, but we are far from being the finished article, and occupy by luck, fate and some skill a false position in the PL. For my two bob's worth Poch will need more than a season or two to turn this lot around, and if Levy has a typical January many on here are going to be very pissed indeed. He ain't gonna spend, he didn't when we were chasing the CL and he for sure will not this January either. I expect a few out, and that's about it.

Onwards and upwards!

 

[Spursidol]

When Modric, Van Der Vaart, Ledley & Bale left the club in two seasons - I felt so disconnected with the club, as a fan. We have had a turnaround of 38 players in last 3 seasons (buys & sells) - fans hardly knew the players playing for them. I think this had a detrimental effect in terms of decline in Lane atmosphere, in home games.

Start of season, Pochettino had trouble in knowing his best XI. He selected Kaboul as his club captain & Ade as vice captain, which didn't go well with Tottenham faithful. I believe 20+ games into the season, Pochettino now understands which players he can trust and work with. Kaboul, Capoue, Adebayor are more or less sidelined.

He has started trusting his young players - Kane, Mason & Nabil. He has put huge responsibility on their shoulders. Slowly but surely, I can see attitude of the side changing. The come from behind wins, last minute away wins are starting to show a pattern - more determined and a never say die attitude.

Kane, Mason, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Davies, Lloris are slowly starting to gel as a team. With Walker back, I can see this group of players forming a good bond.

Our performances haven't been good. But there are signs of improvement. It is looking as if , players are buying into Poch's philosophy. Prime example is Eriksen - a player who, is now hustling & bustling.Start of season, he looked out of place in Poch's high pressure system. But since Everton game, he has been a revelation in terms of work rate.

I think its only a matter of time, the effort on pitch is translated into performances and in turn into results.

Till now, I was saying Poch has to be given time, without any conviction. But I am now convinced, that he can get us back on track. It is going to be long road ahead, but I think we have atleast started the recovery.

Think you are being a bit over optimistic here.

IMO over the last 2 summer TW's we've brought in 14 players - and shipped out a lot who had been here for some time and with that lost a lot of players identified with and, as importantly a number of those players had played together for a few years and played like a team.

AVB couldn't make the players he brought in look like a team, and Poch was struggling at first but - as you say - he started to build the team around Kane, Mason, Eriksen, Bentaleb, Davies, Lloris - and Walker has always been enthusiastic about the team (as have a couple of others such as Townsend) so he will join that group too - and from the picture of Vertonghen celebrating yesterday, its another to join that group.

So I agree that Poch is starting to put together the nucleus of a team who will work and play for each other (which is a vital step) but think there is still a lot to do to get the team to look as effective as it did against Everton on a continual basis - which includes developing tactics, bringing new players and bringing through more youth who will delight in playing with the nucleus of players we now have.

Still a long way to go - but just bringing in another hardworking goalscorer to play alongside Kane (and/or insted of him as no player wull be able to play all the games) would make us look a lot better and paper over a few of the other cracks

 

[CJMurray]

Yesterday's game?
Scored and assisted our goals.
Massive kudos for that.
But pressing and tackling, just no.

He's averaging almost twice as many tackles per game this season than the last. He's still inconsistent with it, but so are most of our players.