Spurs (A) - Post-Match Thread

[Tugay One Cup]

Well, they do also play a similar very high back line

Not at the same level and not after over a year of watching it fail.

 

[domalino]

I don't think the overall performance was as bad as people are making out. We dominated Spurs and had our attacking players been something other than the inconsistent clowns they've been for too long now, we'd have won comfortably.

Too much analysis of what feels like a straight forward problem for me. The 'attack' has gotten complacent since the 18/19 season. Far too many players playing within themselves or playing for themselves. Even KDB's decision making, and cutting edge has been massively blunted.

I said it back then, and it's worth repeating now. Those players (who won 198 points over two seasons) needed a BIG shake up after 18/19. They need fresh blood, competition, and new solutions. Torres was brought in a year too late. I suspect that there'll be a rebuild akin to 2017 next summer.

This season is now officially in the 'transitional' basket.

Can you really claim the attack was complacent last year when we scored the 3rd highest amount in PL history?

.

 

[Father Paul]

If we are as bad as you say then why bother extending Pep's contract. Sure we aren't playing well but to say that we are beyond poor is taking the piss.
We may be two bad results away from a crisis but we are also only two good results from being right back in the mix.

That is the challenge of course and I hope we do bounce back. I am just pointing out the objective evidence building for over 12 months now.
With respect to Pep's new contract I believe along with most blues that he deserves a chance to get us back to the top of the hill. Time will tell I suppose.

 

[Craig]

Not at the same level and not after over a year of watching it fail.

Hmm not sure. Don’t think we can ever not play a high line to be honest as teams will always sit deep. Where I agree though is we’ve stopped playing it well and that starts all over the pitch.

Obviously the first goal yesterday was just terrible defending as in that situation there was no need whatsoever to push up.

 

[bobbyowenquiff]

I don't think the overall performance was as bad as people are making out. We dominated Spurs and had our attacking players been something other than the inconsistent clowns they've been for too long now, we'd have won comfortably.

Too much analysis of what feels like a straight forward problem for me. The 'attack' has gotten complacent since the 18/19 season. Far too many players playing within themselves or playing for themselves. Even KDB's decision making, and cutting edge has been massively blunted.

I said it back then, and it's worth repeating now. Those players (who won 198 points over two seasons) needed a BIG shake up after 18/19. They need fresh blood, competition, and new solutions. Torres was brought in a year too late. I suspect that there'll be a rebuild akin to 2017 next summer.

This season is now officially in the 'transitional' basket.

I agree with this and believe we will break out of this spell and still have a good season. Spurs scored from their only two shots. Gary Neviille can call it a Mourhino masterclass as much as he wants but most sensible people can see what happened. It is hard to break down teams playing the sort of anti-football Spurs played yesterday.
I am not suggesting City played well and there are issues that need addressing. We can't get behind packed defences with Mahrez playing on the right and Torres on the left. It is clear that teams have sussed our "inverted" wingers tactic for example. KDB is suffering from burn-out and needs a break. He may get one in the impending CL matches.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Burnley will get the City backlash, believe me

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Basic fundamentals of the game chucked out of the window, I thought we’d started making in roads into the issue of being countered the last couple of months. Obviously not when every time Spurs broke it was hearts in mouth stuff. If Walker vacates the space to go up the field Rodri needs to go to full back. Gaz Baz could do it, Fernandinho could do it, Rodri can’t. Only seems capable of taking a touch and passing sideways to someone.

 

[Burtonblue]

Good morning all. That was a tough one yesterday.

The lack of atmosphere and certainly no break has killed the legs of some in the team. We literally had less than 3 weeks from end of last season to this one. Just feels flat which is pretty evident for us all to see.

The transition from defence to attack is slower than previous and that is down to no fernandino. Rodri relies on his strength to get him out of trouble on the turn. He is slower than fern. But he's still a good footballer and I can't see him out of the team. Marmite player. Some will appreciate his attributes and many won't.

Foden needs to play in the middle with kev. We need one of Torres or Sterling to play on the right instead of Mahrez.

Have jesus up front on that left with a fit aguero and we will be back up there come Feb, hopefully putting in a late challenge.

Mahrez needs to stay well away from the starting lineup. He's effective when the game is done and opened up. Or start him against Burton in league Cup. He's usually good against dross. He put in a world class perforamce against Zimbabwe in the week which no doubt had the Algerian footballing community feeling vindicated with their beliefs that he should be starting every week. Clowns

At last some sense!!

 

[give it to gordon]

when we play spurs at home i cant wait for Pep to set us as the bus ! the look on maureen face when he see's we arent attacking just sitting in front of our penalty area, and the press will be calling it a Pep master class in defending.

what a game that will be for the millions who have paid to watch anti football zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

lol after all why is it down to City to make agame of it ?

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Hmm not sure. Don’t think we can ever not play a high line to be honest as teams will always sit deep. Where I agree though is we’ve stopped playing it well and that starts all over the pitch.

Obviously the first goal yesterday was just terrible defending as in that situation there was no need whatsoever to push up.

I'm caught between believing the high line can work once the back four have spent a few months together and seeing the high line get torn to shreds week after week for so long and with the margin for error being so miniscule that it's just not pragmatic.

I think the opposition will stop parking the bus against us once we stop hogging the ball for two thirds of the game and pushing our line up so far. Until then, it's an obvious and very successful game plan to use against us. If we sit deeper and actually attack with purpose then we'll see defences opening up a bit.

But I'll be absolutely stunned if that ever happens with Pep because apparently it's more important to "control" a game than it is to win one.