What challenge?
The Spurs thread | 2016-2017 season | Serious thread - wummers/derailers will be threadbanned
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What challenge?
*Title aspirations
If they won they would have put a nice bit of pressure on Chelsea.
Gap would have been down to 6 points.
Yes?
Poor performance from Spurs today, but we remain well in contention for top 4, with our hardest remaining away fixture being against Burnley.
Do you think Poch made some tactical mistakes today? Namely leaving Davies completely unprotected for the whole of the first half.
Yes.
Spurs will get top 4 I'd say, but is that really progress from last season? They've already shown they cannot handle the CL very well, and I think squad depth (or lack thereof) will become exposed again if they take the Europa seriously. I think they need to win the FA cup to say something positive about this season. Otherwise it's just stability, without ever really having a serious chance of winning the title.
The bottling mentality runs deep in the team. If they were leading a title charge, the closer to the end of the season they would get, the longer it would become for them.
The bottling mentality runs deep in the team. If they were leading a title charge, the closer to the end of the season they would get, the longer it would become for them.
Missed Kane today didn't they.
An even bigger one would be ever putting him in the starting lineup again.
I didn't take notice of the build up and haven't watched Spurs recently until today. Were Spurs just poor today or were you a bit complacent given Liverpool's poor run? I was expecting Spurs to start solid and defensive with high intensity eventually growing into the game.
I haven't watched it back but your guys seemed so high up the pitch with huge gaps and just didn't look solid at the back which is unusual for Spurs who I think prior to today had the best defensive record.
It will have been a big dent in confidence at an important time, it will be interesting how they react.
It looked like Spurs only had 8 players. Son was far too forward and no idea what the midfield protection of the back 4 went. Agree with what you say though... I bet they were starting to believe the hype of being the sole challengers and they have come back down with a bump
It's amazing that some Spurs fans believe that our depth has enough quality and that we won't overhaul outside of our strongest xi this Summer.
Davies was horrendous today, people can say Son didn't help him and they would be right but it doesn't cover up an horrendous 45 minutes where he was culpable for the first goal, stood way off Mane on too many occasions and caused panic whenever he was involved. Worse still is that Poch can't trust Wimmer so with Rose out had little choice and we were also left with Dier in a 2 which isn't great, the lad is very good in a 3 but not a 2. We had no goal threat to introduce from the bench and Son continues to frustrate with his erratic performance.
Throw Vertonghen, Rose and if we play 3 behind Kane Lamela into that side and it's a completely different game. It shouldn't be like that but with our lack of quality outside of 12/13 players it is.
On the other side Liverpool have now twice been the best side we've played this season and comfortably deserved their win, I still see them making the top and with room to spare.
The positive side of things for us us we've now played all of the top 7 away and have only Arsenal, Utd and Everton left at home. Verts, Rose and Lamela are reportedly only 3 weeks away and we can't get them back soon enough.
Wherever we finish this season the Summer squad clear out is on the cards, Poch must be very concerned at our lack of depth.
Davies was horrendous today, people can say Son didn't help him and they would be right but it doesn't cover up an horrendous 45 minutes where he was culpable for the first goal, stood way off Mane on too many occasions and caused panic whenever he was involved. Worse still is that Poch can't trust Wimmer so with Rose out had little choice and we were also left with Dier in a 2 which isn't great, the lad is very good in a 3 but not a 2. We had no goal threat to introduce from the bench and Son continues to frustrate with his erratic performance.
Throw Vertonghen, Rose and if we play 3 behind Kane Lamela into that side and it's a completely different game. It shouldn't be like that but with our lack of quality outside of 12/13 players it is.
On the other side Liverpool have now twice been the best side we've played this season and comfortably deserved their win, I still see them making the top and with room to spare.
The positive side of things for us us we've now played all of the top 7 away and have only Arsenal, Utd and Everton left at home. Verts, Rose and Lamela are reportedly only 3 weeks away and we can't get them back soon enough.
Wherever we finish this season the Summer squad clear out is on the cards, Poch must be very concerned at our lack of depth.
Yeah they have a terrible record away from home against the big 6.
Spurs are not so far away. They could use a little more depth in defence and another option on the wing. Today, Liverpool played very well.
One thing that was notable again even on a bad day was that Winks did well when he came on. He has excellent composure and his passing is good. One to watch.
I don't think they will win it this year but I think they will be top four, and probably will be there for a few years to come.
One thing that was notable again even on a bad day was that Winks did well when he came on. He has excellent composure and his passing is good. One to watch.
I don't think they will win it this year but I think they will be top four, and probably will be there for a few years to come.
Liverpool have similar problems with squad depth. Unfortunately for you guys, their starting eleven was fit and raring to go.
I also feel for Davies. He didn't play well, but the tactics made things worse. Throughout the game Spurs tried to play out from the back and kept a high line in defence.
Pocchetino was perhaps trying to play Klopp at his own game. Normally I'd consider this a sign of confidence, but away from home, with a second-choice left side of back-four against Mane? I'm afraid the fine line between courage and foolishness was crossed.
As for the summer, Poch would undo the previous transfer window if he had the chance. Nobody except Wanyama has worked, although there is still hope for N'koudou.
Add to that a possible departure of some first-teamers, and it's clear the summer of 2017 is crucial for Pocchetino. He cannot afford to get it wrong again.
They look weak in big games away from home. Now let's see how they handle the E.L. and the F.A. Cup until the end of the season.
Unlike Arsenal of course, who have won a total of 5 points against the top 7.
Yeah because this is Arsenal thread and Arsenal is relevant to what he said.
I'm not sure he meant that as a dig, no need to get so defensive.
I am commenting on the Spurs thread. If you said the same thing in our thread you would be right.
So they have aspired to be Arsenal and have reached their goal!!! (Am I doing this the right way? /voice of Stewie from Family Guy)
There's nothing between 2nd - 6th how all those teams are doing against each other is relevant to where Spurs will finish, therefore Arsenal are totally relevant to the Spurs thread as are the other top sides.
Depressing performance today.
They're in real danger of not making the Top 4.
- Arsenal will inevitably turn it on like always after they get knocked out of Europe
- Man City look a different side now with Pep's tweaks (playing traditional wingers to compensate for poor fullbacks, dropping Aguero/Bravo for Gabriel Jesus/Caballero, Toure as a #6)
- United continuing they're ridiculous unbeaten run. Key players (Mkhi, Martial) still fresh due to not playing much earlier in the season.
- Them single-handendly giving Liverpool their confidence back with that disastrous performance. Look for them to bounce back.
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They're in real danger of not making the Top 4.
I think Tottenham will fizzle out the rest of the way & finish 6th especially with the Europa League just around the corner. It's all good though, they already won their cup final back in January.
- Arsenal will inevitably turn it on like always after they get knocked out of Europe
- Man City look a different side now with Pep's tweaks (playing traditional wingers to compensate for poor fullbacks, dropping Aguero/Bravo for Gabriel Jesus/Caballero, Toure as a #6)
- United continuing they're ridiculous unbeaten run. Key players (Mkhi, Martial) still fresh due to not playing much earlier in the season.
- Them single-handendly giving Liverpool their confidence back with that disastrous performance. Looks for them to bounce back.
One defeat and the wheels are off?
They've played all the Top 7 sides away and at home have remaining just Everton shortly with Arsenal [last ever WHL derby] and us to go there [last ever WHL game].
They are very good at home, typically defensively sound [today was abysmal but they played into the hands of a quality team]. Once they get their injured players back I can see them going on another run where they swat aside the lesser teams.
Do the Spurs boards all want MP out? If JM offered such an appalling mess this place would have several threads asking for the axe to come out.
Not sure if you're being serious.
About which part?
Both.
1. Pochettino's arrival has been the best thing to happen for them in years.
2. We lost 4-0 to Chelsea - went on a run of 2 league wins in 11 - and I can't remember seeing a Jose out thread being made.
Yes, but also it helps you identify obvious weak links so as long as it's just a slight bump in the road then it's not so bad. Davies just isn't cut for a top 6 club imo and it highlights to Pochettino that you certainly need to try different tactics away from home (a running theme this season for you guys).
Put it this way, you're still in the FA Cup, Europa and still 2nd. I'd prefer to be in yours and our position than in Liverpools. If anything, i'd be livid if I was a Liverpool fan being able to play like that against the top sides but drop points against weak opposition. Tells me that Klopp is perhaps having issues motivating the troops for the small fixtures.
Yes we keep it a bit more discreet
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/when-does-mourinhos-job-come-under-threat.423360/
First Spurs game I've seen where I thought Poch had completely botched it. At this point it really isn't a secret how to play vs Liverpool which made the first half performance baffling. Don't try to pass it out of the back or into your CM's in their own half since these are the areas Liverpool love to press and then transition from when they win the ball, almost every big chance Liverpool had in the first 45 was from Spurs mistakes of this type. You've got Kane who can play 1v1 vs Lucas and 3 CM's in Ali/Dembele/Wanyama who should be bossing the liverpool CM's in 50/50s and 2nd balls but instead let's knock it to Davies 20 yards out who hasn't kicked a ball in 18 months and look terrified everytime Mane closes him down.
Liverpool are an average side when you defend narrow and don't let them press in those areas.
Liverpool are an average side when you defend narrow and don't let them press in those areas.
Agree. Also, the high line made things more difficult than needed for Davies, who ain't as quick as Rose. Defending deep and playing long was the way to go against Liverpool, as Mourinho has shown this season.
Maybe this shows Spurs are not that adaptable in their style of play. Slightly one-dimensional.
That's pretty much Mourinho's standard approach whenever he faces a quality side. Not sure why the two draws Mourinho got against an individually clearly inferior squad this season should be seen as some sort of genius tactics you need to use against the mighty Liverpool of 2016/17?
On paper they have a nice run in, but a lot of those teams will be fighting for their premiership survival so I don't think they're gimme games at all.
They looked poor yesterday because they tried to play the way they've played all year; instead of playing a way to nullify Liverpools strengths. This mistake can only be blamed on MP and not the players. I think it was really poor from MP, very stubborn too not to change it when it wasn't working. There are countless games this calendar year which have shown how you play against this Klopp side to good effect, I'd be massively disappointed if I were a Spurs fan.
After 20 minutes you could see that Liverpool had them beat. Spurs really needed to change it around, but they continued in the same vain
They looked poor yesterday because they tried to play the way they've played all year; instead of playing a way to nullify Liverpools strengths. This mistake can only be blamed on MP and not the players. I think it was really poor from MP, very stubborn too not to change it when it wasn't working. There are countless games this calendar year which have shown how you play against this Klopp side to good effect, I'd be massively disappointed if I were a Spurs fan.
After 20 minutes you could see that Liverpool had them beat. Spurs really needed to change it around, but they continued in the same vain
Don't think it's anything to do with genius tactics but other teams from top 4/6 who got superior squads to Liverpool's as well didn't employ those tactics and got their ass whooped.
I did find Poch's tactics baffling yesterday when I noticed how high their defenders are playing. It's easy to blame it on Davies and Dire being shite but when you're playing this high with a left back who's been visibly struggling since the very beginning and a CB of questionable quality against one of the fastest players in the league who thrives in sprinting duels, you're bound to get your shit slapped.
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Obviously Poch made some mistakes and it cost them yesterday. Still think there's a good reason to stick to positive tactics against a team like Liverpool when you're convinced you've got the better team and that it's worth risking to lose some games like that while you continue to develop a certain way of playing for your side. And it's not necessarily a given that you'll always lose anyway. It's just a hurdle to overcome. If you start playing like the underdog against a team like Liverpool, you'll have to do it against pretty much every team you'll face in the CL. I just can't see it as a good way to develop a strong team confident of going toe to toe with quality sides, let alone the elite teams.
The problems of the English top teams against Klopp's Liverpool team in head to head games are a pretty good reflection of the reasons why English clubs struggle so much in the CL. Almost all of them still are clueless how to play against cohesive midfield pressing and therefore hope for the best by turning themselves into underdogs despite superior financial ressources and it's just not working. At best, you get close games and lose as many as you win with a rather small chance to go far once you face teams with at least equal quality in the squad.
I think their fullbacks were playing too high up the pitch, not being an option for their CBs to pass it out from the back and then getting caught out on the counter.
Could this be because they've played a 3-5-2 lately, and they're naturally drifting higher up the pitch as a result? I thought the first half was calamitous to be honest.
Could this be because they've played a 3-5-2 lately, and they're naturally drifting higher up the pitch as a result? I thought the first half was calamitous to be honest.
Not sure who said it was a genius tactic nor would I say Liverpool are a quality side.
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