Ridiculously scandalous decision aside, I still only thought we played okay.
We defended much better and did some good things but Spurs controlled the game for me. They had 65% possession until they scored, then they sat back and allowed us to have possession, then when we scored they stepped up their possession again and then when they scored again they sat back. Everything was to their tune even if we had more chances.
We really don't look like a champion side this season.
But that decision by Twattenburg! I think it's the worst I've seen since Southampton got a penalty at our place when Crouch hit the ball against Dunne back in about 2004. It didn't look in the box and didn't look like handball from my seat and the ref was much closer. Terrible decision!
I have to wholeheartedly disagree with this.
Spurs were playing really deep and passing the ball accross their back 4 for long periods, trying to encourage us to press them, and leave space in behind.
That's how they battred us at WHL, they were just running through us from the half way line, we couldn't cope with them on the break.
Yesterday it was crystal clear that we'd been instructed to hold our shape, not press the ball high up the pitch, let Spurs have the ball in their own half, and then try to break on them ourselves with Yaya, Sterling and Aguero.
There were so many around me in the stands who seemingly didn't understand that this was the game plan. Spurs were passing it square along their back 4 for the 100th time and people were screaming "pressure them" "get a bloody tackle in!"
Pellegrini actually got his tactics spot on. Spurs created absolutely nothing, they had one speculative shot from 30 yards. They didn't get behind us once. They scored 3 from getting behind us at WHL.
They got gifted a "penalty" from the worlds biggest **** of a referee who frankly should go on a reality show instead of refereeing as he's only concerned about being on TV and gaining attention. His linesman is also surely the most inept official ever involved in the PL? The same one that allowed Spurs to score 2 blatantly offside goals at WHL, and incorrectly flagged Aguero off at least 3 times yesterday.
After they scored, we came out and took the game to them. We completely outclassed them for that period, it was our best performance for some time. After we scored it looked like only one team was going to win it.
Personally I didn't understand the Kolarov decision at all. He was diabolocal last week, Clichy has been playing superbly well. They'd not troubled our back 4 all afternoon, and Clichy gad just assisted a goal, so if it was a tactical switch it was clearly the wrong call.
There are a lot of positives from yesterday for me though. Kompany back, Yaya looked more interested, Silva played some sublime balls in the second half, we looked solid, tactically disciplined.
Up until the Kolarov substitution I thought the manager got the tactics spot on, so he doesn't deserve criticism for yesterday.
