Spurs (A) | PL | Post Match Thread

BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Once again, we're fantastic facing a passive low block with little on-ball pressure (1st half) - and then we collapse when our opposition decides to press aggressively (2nd half).

Against sides that press aggressively, we can't build from the back, we can't consistently lump it forward to punish the press, and meanwhile our own press is too slow/weak.

If we sign Elliot Anderson or someone similar next window, a lot of these issues would disappear (but we'd need a backup if EA is injured).
===
Anyhow, typical (this season City), blowing a 2-goal lead once the opposition decides to press.
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Having watched the game back this morning, there's a lot of truth in this. We came out second half and immediately some of the decision making from our most experienced players was utterly baffling. It's not that they can't play through the press, it's that they kept giving the ball back to Spurs.

The first goal comes from a lump forward from Donnarumma, a foul given against Semenyo, which leads to Ait Nouri, NOR, and Bernardo mindlessly pressing without any idea of what's behind them, which allows Spurs to make TWO passes and be running at our CB's. That's not good enough when you've already given them the ball back 3 times in the five minutes that have elapsed since the second half kicked off. They get the corner and the goal comes from NOR and RAN then being way too deep even after the corner because they've lost their heads due to what just happened.

It only gets worse from there. Every time we got the ball someone would blam that ball into a channel for Semenyo or Haaland. What the fuck is that? Literally you're winning the game, just kill it. Put the ball in the fridge. Stop giving them the ball. Play slowly. Play sideways and backwards. Bore Spurs back into their low block. The second goal is even worse to watch because it's a fucking nothing burger of a punt forward, a clearance, and then inexplicably Nico G lets Gallagher run past him, whilst NOR is somewhere in midfield even though our left back has just been subbed and NOR has been moved to left back. It's a fucking hanging piece of play. Utterly embarrassing schoolyard stuff.

Every time we managed to put our foot on the ball for a few minutes, someone would do something daft. Took us 15 minutes to get a sustained period of possession in the second half. What happened when we had dropped Spurs and finally had our foot on the ball? Rodri plays a line breaking pass to a Spurs player, who immediately releases Xavi Simons to run at Nunes. Two minutes later, we finally get the ball back, and RAN runs the length of the pitch before losing the ball and Spurs break again.

Honestly, if I were the two Peps, I'd make them watch that second half back in slow motion whilst standing at the front and shouting out 'brain dead' every time someone did something brain dead.
 
BillyShears said:
Having watched the game back this morning, there's a lot of truth in this. We came out second half and immediately some of the decision making from our most experienced players was utterly baffling. It's not that they can't play through the press, it's that they kept giving the ball back to Spurs.

The first goal comes from a lump forward from Donnarumma, a foul given against Semenyo, which leads to Ait Nouri, NOR, and Bernardo mindlessly pressing without any idea of what's behind them, which allows Spurs to make TWO passes and be running at our CB's. That's not good enough when you've already given them the ball back 3 times in the five minutes that have elapsed since the second half kicked off. They get the corner and the goal comes from NOR and RAN then being way too deep even after the corner because they've lost their heads due to what just happened.

It only gets worse from there. Every time we got the ball someone would blam that ball into a channel for Semenyo or Haaland. What the fuck is that? Literally you're winning the game, just kill it. Put the ball in the fridge. Stop giving them the ball. Play slowly. Play sideways and backwards. Bore Spurs back into their low block. The second goal is even worse to watch because it's a fucking nothing burger of a punt forward, a clearance, and then inexplicably Nico G lets Gallagher run past him, whilst NOR is somewhere in midfield even though our left back has just been subbed and NOR has been moved to left back. It's a fucking hanging piece of play. Utterly embarrassing schoolyard stuff.

Every time we managed to put our foot on the ball for a few minutes, someone would do something daft. Took us 15 minutes to get a sustained period of possession in the second half. What happened when we had dropped Spurs and finally had our foot on the ball? Rodri plays a line breaking pass to a Spurs player, who immediately releases Xavi Simons to run at Nunes. Two minutes later, we finally get the ball back, and RAN runs the length of the pitch before losing the ball and Spurs break again.

Honestly, if I were the two Peps, I'd make them watch that second half back in slow motion whilst standing at the front and shouting out 'brain dead' every time someone did something brain dead.
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Six of the best required.
 
NorthamptonBlue said:
Refereeing notwithstanding, what happens to us at half time? I’m starting to wonder if the players are smoking dope in the dressing room.
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What some people are missing is the number of attacks City let Spurs have in the 2nd half ? Forget the dodgy VAR call again, Spurs should have won the game in the 2nd half, We came out as a different team that was up 2.0 up in the first half and that's the problem.

Pep would wipe the floor with his players if that happened 2 seasons ago ? Pep has let this go on for too long, the fear factor Pep had over the squad is gone and it's clear that the players are downing tools and stop believing in Pep
 
NorthamptonBlue said:
Refereeing notwithstanding, what happens to us at half time? I’m starting to wonder if the players are smoking dope in the dressing room.
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During our glory days we used to go for the jugular every match. Every single match. Go one up, try for two, go two up, try for three, go three up..... etc. That seems to have totally gone and now we try this lets do nothing nonsense and kill the game. It's failing badly. Give the players purpose, tell them to score as many goals as is reasonably possible. In second halves, especially if we are in front, we look absolutely clueless and directionless. No urgency at all. We are trying to be much too clever just play each game fully from whistle to whistle.
 
BlueMoonAcrossThePond said:
Once again, we're fantastic facing a passive low block with little on-ball pressure (1st half) - and then we collapse when our opposition decides to press aggressively (2nd half).

Against sides that press aggressively, we can't build from the back, we can't consistently lump it forward to punish the press, and meanwhile our own press is too slow/weak.

If we sign Elliot Anderson or someone similar next window, a lot of these issues would disappear (but we'd need a backup if EA is injured).
===
Anyhow, typical (this season City), blowing a 2-goal lead once the opposition decides to press.
Click to expand...
Mate, we won't be getting EA next season. According to MUTV aka Sky Sports Transfer show today he's being lined up to replace casemeero. And if Sky report it then it must be true.....:-).
We need a hard tackling fast passing mid immediately.
 
JRockBlues said:
Then please explain how this was given as a foul against KDB.

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Come on mate, could you find some better example? Kev was two feet from the ball at closest and it was 100% foul.

Stop making excuses, it is just easier to admit that we not a very good team anymore when it comes to competing for titles and trophies and the things have been going sideways for some time now. But I know, I now, we are competing on all four fronts, we won four in a row, remember where we were 25 years ago, we are only 6 points behind, if they lose, if we win, yada yada.....
 
SamBlue said:
Come on mate, could you find some better example? Kev was two feet from the ball at closest and it was 100% foul.

Stop making excuses, it is just easier to admit that we not a very good team anymore when it comes to competing for titles and trophies and the things have been going sideways for some time now. But I know, I now, we are competing on all four fronts, we won four in a row, remember where we were 25 years ago, we are only 6 points behind, if they lose, if we win, yada yada.....
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No one is denying our form is shocking, but how does that relate to these decisions?
 
Yesterday was a blueprint for how to play against City. Press us and we cave. We don’t yet have the composure to play out from the back like we used to, and we keep getting caught. Donna isn’t as good as Eddie with the short passing, so he ends up dinking balls into midfield that get intercepted. That’s not having a go at Donna — he undoubtedly saved us a point in ways Eddie wouldn’t have. But the link between our defence and midfield just isn’t working like it should.
 
SamBlue said:
I am not sure it was a foul, or to put it other way round, if we have scored that goal I would have been pissed off for it to be disallowed.
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It's always those you least expect to side with the view that's against us.. or not.
 
its not new that if teams press us or just have a go at us we crumble. Pep hasnt been able to solve this since quite some time now.

it often happens that opponent start passive and looks like we run the show and then they change gear and in 20 minutes they can turn us over.

in all second half we didnt test Vicario at all. dont recall us testing rags GK either recently. its the control of tempo, game, match situations, reacting to opposite changing tactics. doest bode well we only won game out of last 6 PL games and that was because it was Wolverhampton one of the worst PL sides ever.
both Liverpool ad Fulham will give us problems. Fulham gave plenty of problems to rags too who needed last minute goal to win unlike vs City where they could have won by 5-6...

Pep must work much harder on tactics and with the players, certainly no more off to Barcelona for political happenings but review video analysis of all these dropped points on repeat until they realize what is the issue.
 
SamBlue said:
I am not sure it was a foul, or to put it other way round, if we have scored that goal I would have been pissed off for it to be disallowed.
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Conversely, would you be shouting for a pen if a defender kicked Haaland in exactly the same way?
 
I can understand most of the comments but we were playing once again a team with nothing to lose in the second half who attacked at every opportunity. They were aided by some woeful attacks where we should have put the game to bed and officials who have previous with City. Our midfield at fault when they attacked by not getting back quick enough. Two very lucky goals for Spurs, the first should have been cancelled for kicking our defender instead of the ball. Ref awarded Spurs free kicks at every opportunity and gave us yellow cards but only gave Spurs warnings.
When are City going to demand an enquiry into anti City bias officials as there are heaps of evidence. The fix for Arsenal to win the league has been obvious since the issue of the fixtures.
 
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