Spurs (h) pre-match thread

[Chippy_boy]

In short, the point I am making is that Spurs will come to your place believing they can win, believing they are as good as players as the City players and are as good as a team. They will believe they are fitter. They will believe that they are a lucky team, they will believe that the opposition think they are dirty team, and the opposition fear that they will cheat. And that will make the opposition uncomfortable. Whether that confidence and those beliefs are justified is, I accept, a matter for debate.

But it really isn't open to debate. At least not amongst anyone other that completely and utterly deluded Spurs fans.

Ask 100 players, supporters, analysts, commentatirs and former players and not 1 of them would agree this is open to debate. 100 of them would say Spurs are an interior side with (in the main) inferior players.

So at best, you are suggesting your players are deluded. I am sure they are not all as deluded as you are.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Hmmm. You overstate this.

Over the years, I have seen many matches between City and Spurs where Spurs have outplayed City. And indeed vice versa.

To say that we can never outplay you is, at best, over exuberant.

“Over the years” isn’t the here and now....

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Bernardo had a slight injury concern against West Ham, so if fully fit can see him replacing Merlin. Pep may bring Kun back in at the expense of Gabby, apart from that same side as last week. Difficult game and we need a fast tempo from the start, let's hope VAR is on our side on Saturday.

Gabby should be starting, he did more than enough against West Ham and he will run the spurs back like ragged.... the important decision is centrally, just hoping fern is ready as he’ll be the difference

 

[Marvin]

Hmmm. You overstate this.

Over the years, I have seen many matches between City and Spurs where Spurs have outplayed City. And indeed vice versa.

To say that we can never outplay you is, at best, over exuberant.

It's the other way around. I don't rule out Spurs getting a result, but you aren't going to come here and run the game as you suggested Spurs would aim to do. Poch will have a game-plan, but I'd be amazed if it's expansive.

 

[Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese]

Well it is feels like that but that was not the intention. It developed into a rather esoteric discussion about the mindset of top sportsman and Deli Alli in particular.

In short, the point I am making is that Spurs will come to your place believing they can win, believing they are as good as players as the City players and are as good as a team. They will believe they are fitter. They will believe that they are a lucky team, they will believe that the opposition think they are dirty team, and the opposition fear that they will cheat. And that will make the opposition uncomfortable. Whether that confidence and those beliefs are justified is, I accept, a matter for debate.

They will have a plan which will not be to sit deep, hope for the best, hit the ball long and get a flukey goal on the break, it will be that they will want to dominate physically, in possession and in territory. They will trust the system. And that will be how they win, In particular they might target Rodri and/or Fernandinho. Sissoko and Ndombele will feel that they are more physical and could overwhelm them.

Will it work? Who knows? We might still lose 5-0 again. But this time I think there is a change in mindset and a genuine belief we could win. And deserve to win.

And for the record - I acknowledge that last year you won lots of trophies and had lots more points than Spurs.

We met four times I think last season and you won once. Kane scoring a couple of tap ins recently should guarantee he is selected ahead of your better players so we should be OK.

 

[AliBobbyJ]

Yes, but Spurs are one of only two domestic sides who will come to your place and genuinely #believe they can win.

When the fixtures came out City and their supporters looked at this game and said "ok, Tottenham at home, we have to beat them sometime during the season, let's do it early." Spurs and their fans looked at it and said "oh bugger." You know it's true.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

When the fixtures came out City and their supporters looked at this game and said "ok, Tottenham at home, we have to beat them sometime during the season, let's do it early." Spurs and their fans looked at it and said "oh bugger." You know it's true.

Shouldn’t that be ‘our fans’ rather than ‘their supporters’ (:

 

[JPBB]

But it really isn't open to debate. At least not amongst anyone other that completely and utterly deluded Spurs fans.

Ask 100 players, supporters, analysts, commentatirs and former players and not 1 of them would agree this is open to debate. 100 of them would say Spurs are an interior side with (in the main) inferior players.

So at best, you are suggesting your players are deluded. I am sure they are not all as deluded as you are.

Really?

So when Lawro, the fuck-wit Jim White and 100 of his mates say we can't win, that's it? And my differing opinion makes me and anyone else (including, I hope, everyone at Spurs) deluded?

I appreciate City have every right to be confident but dismissing Spurs as having no chance in 100 is... err.. quite surprising.

 

[the talisman]

Really?

So when Lawro, the fuck-wit Jim White and 100 of his mates say we can't win, that's it? And my differing opinion makes me and anyone else (including, I hope, everyone at Spurs) deluded?

I appreciate City have every right to be confident but dismissing Spurs as having no chance in 100 is... err.. quite surprising.

100 people saying City are better is not the same as spurs having no chance in 100.

I don’t bet on football but i’d guess spurs would win 1 in about 10 against this City side.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

Spurs won at our place in the season Leicester were champions. That’s not so far back. They nicked a draw in Pep’s first season (courtesy of Kyle pushing Raz over when he was clean through, not blaming Kyle by the way, he was just doing his job as a last ditch defender, it’s the linos and the ref who didn’t see something that the entire stadium, including Spurs fans and their players, saw).
So yes, it can happen. By God, it can even happen to the likes of Crystal Palace! But by every objective measure, it’s highly unlikely. Spurs fans have every right to hope, you can always hope against hope, and it would be strange if their players turned up thinking they were already beaten. But man for man, we’re a better team in almost every area of the park. And the results speak for themselves. I’d take Son from their crew, because I really rate him. Also Eriksen, who’s a fine midfielder (but he’s probably on his way, anyway). That’s about it.
And now, a detail. It so happens that I had to take the train down to Euston after the second-mentioned match. I was in a carriage full of Spurs fans, and by God, were they gobby! I quite often have to take that train after matches, I’ve been down surrounded by Chelsea fans, Arsenal fans, other Londoners etc. No problem. You can even have a decent talk about the match with some of them. But for sheer gobbiness, Spurs fans left them standing in the shade. I put them second only to the dippers. Anecdotal? Sure. One man’s experience? Undeniably. Oh and just for the road — when I got up at Euston to get my stuff, somebody had nicked my City beanie off the rack and scarpered. Presumably as some sort of “trophy” from the enemy. As I say, it was a carriage full of Spurs fans. I mean, how petty can you get...

 

[domalino]

Gabby should be starting, he did more than enough against West Ham and he will run the spurs back like ragged.... the important decision is centrally, just hoping fern is ready as he’ll be the difference

It's important to keep Jesus and Mahrez's momentum as well. If they bust their gut and play brilliantly only to go straight back to the bench next game then they'll quickly lose spirit. Dzeko still talks about being benched after scoring 4 as being one of the worst moments of his career

Pep choosing Fern or Rodri will tell us a lot about how the rest of the season will go IMO.

 

[hammocity]

Spurs are a good side and will attack us again and again, can definitely see us conceding a couple we just have to outscore them. 3-2 City. Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Stones, Laporte, Rodri, De Bruyne, D.Silva, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus.
Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi, Gundogan, Foden, B.Silva, Aguero.

It’s going to be tough for them to “attack us again and again” when we are dominating possession. They will have chances but it won’t be the Alamo as you suggest.

 

[Kokonut1307]

Spurs are a good side and will attack us again and again, can definitely see us conceding a couple we just have to outscore them. 3-2 City. Ederson, Walker, Zinchenko, Stones, Laporte, Rodri, De Bruyne, D.Silva, Sterling, Mahrez, Jesus.
Subs: Bravo, Cancelo, Otamendi, Gundogan, Foden, B.Silva, Aguero.

Spurs attacking us again and again? They will park their bus and hope to score on the counter until we are 2-0 up. They’re without Son who seems to channel all his ability against us, then forgets what a ball looks like against the dippers and rags.

 

[Kinkys Left Foot]

Be interesting to see if Pochetino doesn't start, Vertonghan, Eriksson, Son and Alli. I know 2 of the four are injured and suspended but that's their 4 of 5 best players last year. Something doesnt feel right about their camp at the moment. Ndombele doesn't make up for a missing Eriksson. Sure, Spurs are a good side and their win in the CL at their place proves they can turn us over, although I felt tactically Pep got that one wrong and we missed a penalty and defended poorly for Sons goal. In the Etihad CL game 2 unlikely errors by Laporte gifted Moura and Son 2 goals. We certainly won't make the same mistakes particularly at home and Son is a massive miss for them. This City team should beat that Spurs side 9 times out of 10. But football doesn't always work out like that.
Having said that I expect us to dominate the ball and win the game. I think we'll move the ball quickly away from Sissoko and Ndombele in cenral areas where Spurs are strong and attack their flanks. Should be a good game but in the last 3 games there's been 1 goal between the sides. I don't expect this to any different.

 

[Chippy_boy]

Really?

So when Lawro, the fuck-wit Jim White and 100 of his mates say we can't win, that's it? And my differing opinion makes me and anyone else (including, I hope, everyone at Spurs) deluded?

I appreciate City have every right to be confident but dismissing Spurs as having no chance in 100 is... err.. quite surprising.

Are you just trolling? I didn't say you can't win, nor did I even imply it. Read my post again.

I said you were an inferior team with inferior players, contrary your assertion that despite you having won fuck all for 20 years and finishing 27 (28 was it, I can't recall) points behind us last season, that you are just as good as us and can beat us "all things being equal", at our home.

Honestly it's a ridiculous assertion. Of course you *could* win, but not unless either we have an absolute shocker and you play out of your skins, and/or there's some flukes or the (not so unusual) refereeing howlers. You could win, but not because you are as good as we are; patently you are not.

When Frank Bruno fought Mike Tyson, everyone said Bruno could win, but no-one said Bruno was just as good a fighter as MIke Tyson. Bruno got his arse kicked, btw.

 

[Withnail]

Gabby should be starting, he did more than enough against West Ham and he will run the spurs back like ragged.... the important decision is centrally, just hoping fern is ready as he’ll be the difference

I forgot about Dhino, I think Rodri will be an excellent signing, but if Dhino is fit then I would be tempted to bring him in. Amazing the options we have both in players and formations. Glad Son is not fit, but they are still a decent side and will provide a tough test

 

[shevtheblue]

Did you miss Mahrez’s dinky dinky assist for Sterling to dinky dinky the keeper? It was the ultimate dinky dinky goal.

How about a dink from Ederson to Mahrez, who dinks it to the striker, who dinks it over the on rushing keeper to himself, and then dinks it over the line?

 

[shevtheblue]

Bernardo had a slight injury concern against West Ham, so if fully fit can see him replacing Merlin. Pep may bring Kun back in at the expense of Gabby, apart from that same side as last week. Difficult game and we need a fast tempo from the start, let's hope VAR is on our side on Saturday.

Really can't see Pep dropping Dave in a big game, considering he's had a full weeks rest and we're not into the tough part of the season with games all the time. We'll have to see i suppose.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

It's important to keep Jesus and Mahrez's momentum as well. If they bust their gut and play brilliantly only to go straight back to the bench next game then they'll quickly lose spirit.

Absolutely 100% correct. But without wishing to re-boot a controversy that’s probably run its course now, that’s exactly what’s happened to Leroy several times over the last couple of seasons, in my view.

 

[foggy1974]

Really?

So when Lawro, the fuck-wit Jim White and 100 of his mates say we can't win, that's it? And my differing opinion makes me and anyone else (including, I hope, everyone at Spurs) deluded?

I appreciate City have every right to be confident but dismissing Spurs as having no chance in 100 is... err.. quite surprising.

Bit different from

A Spurs playing well
B Spurs getting a result

And outplaying City at the Etihad