Spurs 2018/19

[GlastonSpur]

Well, that's another part of the endlessly predicted mass exodus that bites the dust.

 

[GlastonSpur]

Of course the stadium costs have affected Spurs ability to spend on players, complete nonsense to suggest otherwise. Why did Poch not get players in the summer?, because Spurs know they're over budget and don't have the finances to back him at the moment.

I didn't say the stadium costs haven't affected our transfer budget - if you invest close to £1 billion in a variety of construction projects it's bound to reduce the transfer budget because the same money can't be spent twice.

What I said was that the construction investments haven't so far affected us financially in terms of continuing to make massive profits.

 

[Ooh2B]

I didn't say the stadium costs haven't affected our transfer budget - if you invest close to £1 billion in a variety of construction projects it's bound to reduce the transfer budget because the same money can't be spent twice.

What I said was that the construction investments haven't so far affected us financially in terms of continuing to make massive profits.

So with all these profits coming in, record revenue, tv income and all the rest, why no squad investment and why the need to secure a new loan facility for £270mill plus?

Just wondering?

 

[Frank Grimes]

I didn't say the stadium costs haven't affected our transfer budget - if you invest close to £1 billion in a variety of construction projects it's bound to reduce the transfer budget because the same money can't be spent twice.

What I said was that the construction investments haven't so far affected us financially in terms of continuing to make massive profits.

Massive profits, lol. You can't sign a player, the dogs on the street know the stadium is massively over budget. The hit is in the post so you couldn't sign a single player in the summer, that's all that should concern you as a football fan(unless you are a major shareholder and don't give a feck about the team). Obviously the finances will improve again after a few years but Spurs are in a state of austerity and will be for the forseeable future.

 

[GlastonSpur]

So with all these profits coming in, record revenue, tv income and all the rest, why no squad investment and why the need to secure a new loan facility for £270mill plus?

Just wondering?

You are perhaps referring to our loan facility of "up to £637m", which is an increase of up to £237m (not £270m) on the figure as of 18 months ago … not that necessarily all this money will be drawn down, but is available if required for cash-flow purposes. As of June 30th our net debt was £366m

Did you expect that the large profits we make would be sufficient by themselves to pay for everything? If so, that was never going to be the case, not when we have built a new training ground, added a player lodge to that training ground, have nearly finished a new stadium complex, with an adjacent hotel and apartments yet to come.

It's not the case that no squad investment has been made, since we have improved the contracts of several players, with Alli's being the latest: keeping hold of your best players is just more important than signing new ones.

Also, we tried for one or two new players in the summer - but either they were not available (Martial in a swap deal with Toby) or were given an asking price that was more than we were willing to pay (e.g. Grealish). Not all transfer bids succeed.

 

[GlastonSpur]

Massive profits, lol. You can't sign a player, the dogs on the street know the stadium is massively over budget. The hit is in the post so you couldn't sign a single player in the summer, that's all that should concern you as a football fan(unless you are a major shareholder and don't give a feck about the team). Obviously the finances will improve again after a few years but Spurs are in a state of austerity and will be for the forseeable future.

Yes, massive profits. If you are laughing at that then clearly you haven't seen our latest financial report for this year until June 30th.

As for the rest, see post #1844.

 

[Ooh2B]

You are perhaps referring to our loan facility of "up to £637m", which is an increase of up to £237m (not £270m) on the figure as of 18 months ago … not that necessarily all this money will be drawn down, but is available if required for cash-flow purposes. As of June 30th our net debt was £366m

Did you expect that the large profits we make would be sufficient by themselves to pay for everything? If so, that was never going to be the case, not when we have built a new training ground, added a player lodge to that training ground, have nearly finished a new stadium complex, with an adjacent hotel and apartments yet to come.

It's not the case that no squad investment has been made, since we have improved the contracts of several players, with Alli's being the latest: keeping hold of your best players is just more important than signing new ones.

Also, we tried for one or two new players in the summer - but either they were not available (Martial in a swap deal with Toby) or were given an asking price that was more than we were willing to pay (e.g. Grealish). Not all transfer bids succeed.

My bad, “£237” mili! Oops, a significant £33 mil difference, in the grand scheme of things.. or perhaps a Grealish?

Anyway, so you have £160 odd million profit, £360 odd million net debt, and have added on a facility for another £237 million debt for odds and ends.

All adds up.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Yes, massive profits. If you are laughing at that then clearly you have seen our latest financial report for this year until June 30th.

As for the rest, see post #1844.

Your profits from last year are already spent on the 250m over budget stadium. Those numbers mean zilch when they can't be translated into improving the most important thing. Extending contracts does not equal signing new players, especially when your team is from 2 years ago has actually disimproved - Dembele, Wanyama, Rose and Alderweireld notably have regressed with no decent replacements.

 

[Frank Grimes]

My bad, “£237” mili! Oops, a significant £33 mil difference, in the grand scheme of things.. or perhaps a Grealish?

Anyway, so you have £160 odd million profit, £360 odd million net debt, and have added on a facility for another £237 million debt for odds and ends.

All adds up.

The fact that they were shopping in Lidi for Grealish and still couldn't afford him says it all.

 

[GlastonSpur]

The fact that they were shopping in Lidi for Grealish and still couldn't afford him says it all.

There's a difference between not being able to afford and not being willing to pay an asking price - but clearly such distinctions are beyond you.

As for "shopping in Lidl", I seem to remember we shopped in a basement flea market for Alli, which hasn't turned out too badly. Your snobbery shines through - as if the only good players need to be 'galacticos' signed for mega millions.

United have been "shopping in Harrods" for the last several years, but it hasn't done them much good.

 

[Frank Grimes]

There's a difference between not being able to afford and not being willing to pay an asking price - but clearly such distinctions are beyond you.

As for "shopping in Lidl", I seem to remember we shopped in a basement flea market for Alli, which hasn't turned out too badly. Your snobbery shines through - as if the only good players need to be 'galacticos' signed for mega millions.

United have been "shopping in Harrods" for the last several years, but it hasn't done them much good.

This is a Spurs thread, I freely admit United have been disastrous. I don't believe everything is rosy when it clearly isn't. Spurs team is declining and your board haven't addressed it. For every Alli there has been a Llorente, N'Koudou and Aurier. It's ok though because they are making massive profits, laughable.

I've just heard about the new 250m loan they have to take out, oh dear Glaston you really are deluded.

 

[GlastonSpur]

This is a Spurs thread, I freely admit United have been disastrous. I don't believe everything is rosy when it clearly isn't. Spurs team is declining and your board haven't addressed it. For every Alli there has been a Llorente, N'Koudou and Aurier. It's ok though because they are making massive profits, laughable.

Actually we are doing better in the league so far than last season. But don't let this fact stop you from making yet more groundless assertions.

 

[Frank Grimes]

Actually we are doing better in the league so far than last season. But don't let this fact stop you from making yet more groundless assertions.

The team is declining you finished 2nd a few seasons back and were a far better team.

More importantly I just seen the news about the extra 250m loan you have to take out for the stadium.

 

[GlastonSpur]

The team is declining you finished 2nd a few seasons back and were a far better team.

More importantly I just seen the news about the extra 250m loan you have to take out for the stadium.

We finished 3rd the season before that 2nd placed finish - and 3rd the season after (last season). Your assertion of decline based on such small margins is laughable, especially since we are so this season far doing better in the league than last season.

PS. It's a loan facility, not a loan, which means we can take as much or as little of it as we need to for cash-flow purposes.

 

[ayushreddevil9]

Actually we are doing better in the league so far than last season. But don't let this fact stop you from making yet more groundless assertions.

Spurs have not done anything of note against big teams this season. You have not been performing in the CL as you did last year. Of course Barcelona is a different case but a point against Inter and PSV is just not good.

Spurs are more or less grinding wins and the performances aren't that great. Your only good performance against a big team was at OT, beating a team which lies at the middle of the PL table.

 

[Ooh2B]

Actually we are doing better in the league so far than last season. But don't let this fact stop you from making yet more groundless assertions.

This is indeed you’re best start, but there’s still no sign of the EPL being challenged for, UCL is looking done for you, so you’ll be hoping for a good FA cup run or Europa berth.

Debt and profit are neck and neck though. Exciting!

 

[cyberman]

We finished 3rd the season before that 2nd placed finish - and 3rd the season after (last season). Your assertion of decline based on such small margins is laughable, especially since we are so this season far doing better in the league than last season.

PS. It's a loan facility, not a loan, which means we can take as much or as little of it as we need to for cash-flow purposes.

You can't win a big game bar the miracle of OT. Top sides are comfortable playing against you while most of your wins consist of drab performances with a goal out of nowhere.
Your team is stale as feck, the pressing has disappeared while Kane has to play as a 10 since your creatively has all dried up.
Yeah, great start. Poch can see where this is heading hence the comments.
It reminds me of our start to LVG second season. Shit performances while scoring our 1 chance per game yet our fanbase saw right through it.

 

[Ooh2B]

We finished 3rd the season before that 2nd placed finish - and 3rd the season after (last season). Your assertion of decline based on such small margins is laughable, especially since we are so this season far doing better in the league than last season.

PS. It's a loan facility, not a loan, which means we can take as much or as little of it as we need to for cash-flow purposes.

So, to simplify that.. it’s akin to someone with a £366,000 mortgage getting the bank to give them access to another £237,000 just to keep the lights and heat on in case things get a bit tight.

Right.

 

[Frank Grimes]

We finished 3rd the season before that 2nd placed finish - and 3rd the season after (last season). Your assertion of decline based on such small margins is laughable, especially since we are so this season far doing better in the league than last season.



Doesn't hide the fact that Lloris,Rose,Alderweireld,Dembele and Wanyama have all regressed and Trippier and Davies are not good enough defensively. 10 games is a not a large sample size either. This season spurds scraped through in a lot of games when xg suggested you should lose. You can't on one hand talk about small sample size and then use a meagre ten games to use as proof that the team is better.

Is Dembele better than 2 years ago? No he is clearly worse.

Ditto Rose, Wanyama.and Alderweireld.

Even Kane is not the same player since he turned his ankle last season.

Also bombed out of the CL already so will have to play 2 extra games and Thursday/Sunday post Xmas.

 

[Vadim]

I think that @GlastonSpur wildly overrates Spurs’ success and current standing on and off the pitch whilst some others here underrate them.

They’re a good team with a good manager and are due to move into an impressive new stadium.

Spurs aren’t nowhere near the level of Man City or even Liverpool now and they’ve definitely gone backwards. Players like Dele Ali signing new contracts doesn’t mean much, it’s just so that Levy can sell for huge profits when a big name comes in like Real Madrid or Man Utd. But to be honest, who would want to pay 70-80 million for Dele Ali right now? I wouldn’t.

Spurs peaked two seasons ago. Pochettino looks a bit fed up. He knows he hasn’t got the financial backing to ever compete with Man City or even Liverpool now. He probably feels he’s taken them as far as he can.

If balance sheets and that kind of thing turn you on then great. But the Spurs fans I know are desperate to see their club win some silverware. You simply can’t take a team seriously that hasn’t won anything since what, a league cup in 2009? When was their last league title?

We’ve (Utd) been pretty bad by our extremely high standards for quite a while now yet in that period have still won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.

Spurs fans would bite your hand off for those 3 trophies.

 

[charlenefan]

Glaston should switch allegiances to us, he clearly values off the pitch numbers (I wont call it success) over what happens on the pitch

 

[Ramshock]

Well, that's another part of the endlessly predicted mass exodus that bites the dust.

Tbf Glaston all that means is Spurs would get top whack if he were to be sold

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

Top 4 is at their max this season and you wonder what is Spurs aim? Is it just top 4?

As far what I can see, they don't show a sign of "want" or desire to win the league. City won the league comfortably last season, Spurs was nowhere near to catch them up but they refuse to improve their squad and basically stick with the same squad as last season. Looking back at how far off they were with City, the logic is clearly if they aim to win the league, they should be improving their squad.

Building it for future? But as far what I can see a lot of their players are 26-30 yo.

Unless that's it, a successful season from Spurs is top 4 trophy?

 

[africanspur]

Funnily enough, despite the disappointing results in those matches, I actually think the PSV and City matches were amongst our better performances so far this season. We absolutely dominated PSV (as we did Inter too in fairness) and the City game really could (and should) have ended in at least a draw.

The performances continue to be laboured...but seem to be improving.

We always start the season a bit slowly. But there is something a bit more concerning this season imo. The defence is just not functioning properly and everyone is making silly mistakes. For all of City's attacking talent, for all of their spending, they ultimately won with what? Route one football and stupid Trippier mistake, followed by Toby losing Mahrez.

We need to tighten up if we're going to improve from what we're showing so far this season. Hopefully Alli, Winks and Eriksen coming back from injury will help improve the team overall.

 

[charlenefan]

Top 4 is at their max this season and you wonder what is Spurs aim? Is it just top 4?

As far what I can see, they don't show a sign of "want" or desire to win the league. City won the league comfortably last season, Spurs was nowhere near to catch them up but they refuse to improve their squad and basically stick with the same squad as last season. Looking back at how far off they were with City, the logic is clearly if they aim to win the league, they should be improving their squad.

Building it for future? But as far what I can see a lot of their players are 26-30 yo.

Unless that's it, a successful season from Spurs is top 4 trophy?

How many teams other than Liverpool have shown a desire to win the league? We sure as hell didn't in the summer. Spurs and Arsenal just don't have the money required (both have put new stadiums ahead of on the pitch success) so of course top 4 is their aim

Working on the assumption that it may have helped, Spurs may look back and feel they should have followed Liverpool's example and sold one of their star players for big money and reinvest

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

Funnily enough, despite the disappointing results in those matches, I actually think the PSV and City matches were amongst our better performances so far this season. We absolutely dominated PSV (as we did Inter too in fairness) and the City game really could (and should) have ended in at least a draw.

The performances continue to be laboured...but seem to be improving.

We always start the season a bit slowly. But there is something a bit more concerning this season imo. The defence is just not functioning properly and everyone is making silly mistakes. For all of City's attacking talent, for all of their spending, they ultimately won with what? Route one football and stupid Trippier mistake, followed by Toby losing Mahrez.

We need to tighten up if we're going to improve from what we're showing so far this season. Hopefully Alli, Winks and Eriksen coming back from injury will help improve the team overall.

I agree the PSV game was a good performance overall (though that's entirely irrelevant when we yet again throw it away like utter idiots) but I have no idea how you're coming away from the City game and saying we deserved a draw.

We weren't totally outplayed, but they were clearly and comfortably the better side. We had ONE shot on target and only one real chance in the entire 90 minutes, which was after we forced a mistake. City carved us open 3-4 times in the game, Silva should clearly have scored a second, and Aguero you would also have expected to score. They saw more of the ball, created more chances, had more shots and managed more on target, quite simply they were the better side and deserved the win.

It wasn't a bad performance, we were much worse last season against City for sure. I was impressed by Winks and Sissoko in particular, there were definitely some good points. Creatively though we were utterly shocking, City defence were very comfortable for the most part and the times where we did catch them players always made the wrong decision. Kane had one decent chance for the entire 90 minutes, at some point we have to address the fact that our star striker is getting zero service this season.

Like you say, hopefully with Eriksen and Alli coming back we'll improve, I'd also like to see Winks start more because we're much more positive when he plays. I understand the need for Dier in some games, but he is so static and uninspiring.

 

[UNITED ACADEMY]

How many teams other than Liverpool have shown a desire to win the league? We sure as hell didn't in the summer. Spurs and Arsenal just don't have the money required (both have put new stadiums ahead of on the pitch success) so of course top 4 is their aim

Working on the assumption that it may have helped, Spurs may look back and feel they should have followed Liverpool's example and sold one of their star players for big money and reinvest

I think Arsenal's aim in the summer was just as long as they can get into Champion League spot. I'm not sure what Chelsea's aim was originally this season but they did improve their squad with Jorginho & Kovacic. Is it enough to level what City did last season, No. But is it a sign of desire to improve the squad to close the gaps with City last season, Yes.

We spent 50m on Fred, if we don't show a desire, we would be like Spurs not even spending that 50m to a player. We also signed Sanchez in January, although he hasn't been prove his worthy at all. So we did show a desire to improve our squad to close the gaps to catch up with City.

It's not that they don't have money I meant they invest on new stadium, they just don't want to spend on something to win the league first. It's too bad, they have the best group of players they ever had in 30 years and they aren't going to utilise it to win something.

 

[africanspur]

I agree the PSV game was a good performance overall (though that's entirely irrelevant when we yet again throw it away like utter idiots) but I have no idea how you're coming away from the City game and saying we deserved a draw.

We weren't totally outplayed, but they were clearly and comfortably the better side. We had ONE shot on target and only one real chance in the entire 90 minutes, which was after we forced a mistake. City carved us open 3-4 times in the game, Silva should clearly have scored a second, and Aguero you would also have expected to score. They saw more of the ball, created more chances, had more shots and managed more on target, quite simply they were the better side and deserved the win.

It wasn't a bad performance, we were much worse last season against City for sure. I was impressed by Winks and Sissoko in particular, there were definitely some good points. Creatively though we were utterly shocking, City defence were very comfortable for the most part and the times where we did catch them players always made the wrong decision. Kane had one decent chance for the entire 90 minutes, at some point we have to address the fact that our star striker is getting zero service this season.

Like you say, hopefully with Eriksen and Alli coming back we'll improve, I'd also like to see Winks start more because we're much more positive when he plays. I understand the need for Dier in some games, but he is so static and uninspiring.

I mean I've literally just gone and rewatched the highlights of the match to make sure I wasn't misremembering.

Firstly, it wasn't one shot on target, unless they don't count headers from corners.
Secondly, because neither keeper did all that much, neither keeper was that bothered and other than the Silva chance where he fluffed his lines and Lloris made a good save, not a single one of the saves Lloris made were anything other than routine saves.
Kane on top form would have put away one of his two chances (was very surprised with his one on one) and Lamela's was a must score. I didn't see much carving open from either side either in the match or in the highlights tbh.

They were clearly the better team, on a different level technically and tactically. But they actually created very few good chances and I didn't feel on edge as I felt when playing them last season.

I'd imagine, regardless of all the other issues this season, having Alli and Eriksen back, with Winks more often in midfield, will help ramp up the creativity a bit.

 

[balaks]

I agree the PSV game was a good performance overall (though that's entirely irrelevant when we yet again throw it away like utter idiots) but I have no idea how you're coming away from the City game and saying we deserved a draw.

We weren't totally outplayed, but they were clearly and comfortably the better side. We had ONE shot on target and only one real chance in the entire 90 minutes, which was after we forced a mistake. City carved us open 3-4 times in the game, Silva should clearly have scored a second, and Aguero you would also have expected to score. They saw more of the ball, created more chances, had more shots and managed more on target, quite simply they were the better side and deserved the win.

It wasn't a bad performance, we were much worse last season against City for sure. I was impressed by Winks and Sissoko in particular, there were definitely some good points. Creatively though we were utterly shocking, City defence were very comfortable for the most part and the times where we did catch them players always made the wrong decision. Kane had one decent chance for the entire 90 minutes, at some point we have to address the fact that our star striker is getting zero service this season.

Like you say, hopefully with Eriksen and Alli coming back we'll improve, I'd also like to see Winks start more because we're much more positive when he plays. I understand the need for Dier in some games, but he is so static and uninspiring.

We could easily have had a draw from the game with the chances we had, whether you believe it would have been deserved is something different but we most definitely could have got a draw from the game.

 

[africanspur]

We could easily have had a draw from the game with the chances we had, whether you believe it would have been deserved is something different but we most definitely could have got a draw from the game.

Along those lines, despite putting in an absolutely shite performance where we could easily have been about 5-0 down, we could easily have come away from the Liverpool game with a draw as well. Didn't the ref bottle a last minute penalty there at 2-1?

Would have been so undeserved but that is football I guess.

 

[FootballHQ]

I think that @GlastonSpur wildly overrates Spurs’ success and current standing on and off the pitch whilst some others here underrate them.

They’re a good team with a good manager and are due to move into an impressive new stadium.

Spurs aren’t nowhere near the level of Man City or even Liverpool now and they’ve definitely gone backwards. Players like Dele Ali signing new contracts doesn’t mean much, it’s just so that Levy can sell for huge profits when a big name comes in like Real Madrid or Man Utd. But to be honest, who would want to pay 70-80 million for Dele Ali right now? I wouldn’t.

Spurs peaked two seasons ago. Pochettino looks a bit fed up. He knows he hasn’t got the financial backing to ever compete with Man City or even Liverpool now. He probably feels he’s taken them as far as he can.

If balance sheets and that kind of thing turn you on then great. But the Spurs fans I know are desperate to see their club win some silverware. You simply can’t take a team seriously that hasn’t won anything since what, a league cup in 2009? When was their last league title?

We’ve (Utd) been pretty bad by our extremely high standards for quite a while now yet in that period have still won the FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League.

Spurs fans would bite your hand off for those 3 trophies.

As ever in a thread where two extreme viewpoints are going on this post is pretty much bang on.

Spurs are a very consistant team in the league now. When Pochettino came in they were in the 6th/7th place area. Poch has now got them consistantly finishing top 4 which was beyond them in the Jol/Redknapp era when they invested plenty.

If I was a Spurs fan I'd be much more disappointed in their FA cup semi final performances. 2017 they played a Chelsea team who started with Hazard and Costa on the bench and couldn't win that and then even after going 1 up in last season's one, Mourinho did a proper job on them the rest of the game. Frustrating for them when you see how Chelsea then did the same to Man. United in the final.

I know the FA cup isn't what it once was but it's been a massive part of Spurs's history (year ends in 1 and all that) and winning that is obviously better than ending a season trophyless. It could've been the boost needed to the squad's mentality.

See what they do in the cups this year but West Ham tonight is looking very tough considering they only have 48 hours recovery time.

 

[africanspur]

As ever in a thread where two extreme viewpoints are going on this post is pretty much bang on.

Spurs are a very consistant team in the league now. When Pochettino came in they were in the 6th/7th place area. Poch has now got them consistantly finishing top 4 which was beyond them in the Jol/Redknapp era when they invested plenty.

If I was a Spurs fan I'd be much more disappointed in their FA cup semi final performances. 2017 they played a Chelsea team who started with Hazard and Costa on the bench and couldn't win that and then even after going 1 up in last season's one, Mourinho did a proper job on them the rest of the game. Frustrating for them when you see how Chelsea then did the same to Man. United in the final.

I know the FA cup isn't what it once was but it's been a massive part of Spurs's history (year ends in 1 and all that) and winning that is obviously better than ending a season trophyless. It could've been the boost needed to the squad's mentality.

See what they do in the cups this year but West Ham tonight is looking very tough considering they only have 48 hours recovery time.

I am almost 100% certain that we will lose tonight.

48 hours rest, league cup is rightly way down the list of priorities and West Ham are always up for matches against us.

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

We could easily have had a draw from the game with the chances we had, whether you believe it would have been deserved is something different but we most definitely could have got a draw from the game.

Sure, we 'could' have drawn .. but we also could have lost 4-1.

We got the points our performance deserved, 0. City were superior in every regard. Not really a criticism since I don't expect us to be better than them, but that's just the truth.

It was the whole we 'should' have got a draw I take issue with. We should have been more comfortably beaten, if anything.

 

[africanspur]

Sure, we 'could' have drawn .. but we also could have lost 4-1.

We got the points our performance deserved, 0. City were superior in every regard. Not really a criticism since I don't expect us to be better than them, but that's just the truth.

It was the whole we 'should' have got a draw I take issue with. We should have been more comfortably beaten, if anything.

How? Other than the Silva fluffed chance, which of City's attacks did you think were so good that it took an incredible intervention from a defender or keeper to keep out? How many saves did Lloris make that you'd not have expected an average PL standard keeper to make?

 

[Vadim]

Without a doubt all Spurs care about is
top 4. It’s the be all and end all for their fans, a bit like ours these days.

The hugely ambitious owners like City’s and PSG want the big prizes.

 

[amolbhatia50k]

City didn't look great against them to be fair. On a better pitch that was 1-1 or might have even pushed Spurs on to win it.

They're far too good to be just looking at top 4. If anything, they've underachieved in their 'golden years'.

GK - Top 5
CB Pairing - World Class
FB Pairing - Average
Midfield - Very, very good
Wingers/AM - Very good
Striker - Top 3 in the world.

They have better players throughout their starting XI than Arsenal, Chelsea, United & Liverpool. They have no excuse for not winning anything these past few years.

No they don't. City, Liverpool, United and Chelsea
all have better squads than Spurs.

 

[SquishyMcSquish]

How? Other than the Silva fluffed chance, which of City's attacks did you think were so good that it took an incredible intervention from a defender or keeper to keep out? How many saves did Lloris make that you'd not have expected an average PL standard keeper to make?

I believe Lloris made a save on to the post? Then we have Silva's chance, Aguero in a position you expect him to score from..

They also had a few more half chances and generally looked more dangerous and tested Lloris way more than we did Ederson (not hard).

If we're judging chances by saves/crucial interventions only then we created nothing against City. They were extremely comfortable.

They didn't run riot, but they were the better side, scored a goal and deserved 3 points. We were rightly beaten and can have no complaints. We offered very little goal threat and thus ended up not scoring .. Shocker, sort out the attacking play.

 

[africanspur]

I believe Lloris made a save on to the post? Then we have Silva's chance, Aguero in a position you expect him to score from..

They also had a few more half chances and generally looked more dangerous and tested Lloris way more than we did Ederson (not hard).

If we're judging chances by saves/crucial interventions only then we created nothing against City. They were extremely comfortable.

They didn't run riot, but they were the better side, scored a goal and deserved 3 points. We were rightly beaten and can have no complaints. We offered very little goal threat and thus ended up not scoring .. Shocker, sort out the attacking play.

Lloris made a save onto the post on his near post from almost standing position. I'd have been furious if he'd let that one in and I'd have been furious if he'd let that in as literally any of the 20 PL keepers in this devision. Silva's chance was a great one. I don't remember any Aguero chance from the highlights where I'd have expected him to score, he had a pretty tight angle.

That isn't the only thing Im judging chances on. I'm saying that on the balance of play, it would not have been unfair to come out with a draw. For that to happen, it doesn't mean that the teams have to be 50 50 on everything. We don't have to have the same shots on target, same passes, same possession stats. But both teams created very few chances. The ones that were created were mostly from mistakes the other team made.

They were better. They are better. But they didn't create that much, not that much more than we did, in terms of big chances anyway. That is why I'm saying it would not have been unfair for the match to end a draw.

On balance, I'd have expected Lamela to score from an incredible position and Kane not to mess up his touch in a one on one. 2 of the best chances of a game lacking big chances ended up falling to our players.

https://www.fullmatchesandshows.com...anchester-city-highlights-full-match-video/#5

 

[Schmeichel's Cartwheel]

This lot will never win the league. They are soft. Always have been, always will be.

 

[balaks]

Sure, we 'could' have drawn .. but we also could have lost 4-1.

We got the points our performance deserved, 0. City were superior in every regard. Not really a criticism since I don't expect us to be better than them, but that's just the truth.

It was the whole we 'should' have got a draw I take issue with. We should have been more comfortably beaten, if anything.

Yet we had enough chances to get a draw and on the balance of chances a draw could have been a fair result. City were not that impressive in that match, though of course I agree they generally are a much better team than us. Fortunately football doesn't work like that.