And to think this was the game where we matched ourselves against one of the top four, when anything was possible. Three points and closing at kick-off, at full-time there was nothing left except a gaping gulf in class, United at their best, Spurs at their pitiful worst.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe match is over, except in my head. Ask me about the abiding image of this one, it’s of Spurs players staggering and stumbling like drunks on a weekend bender. Couldn’t keep the ball, couldn’t pass, couldn’t even stand up half the time. By the end, Kane was taking corners, presumably because it was the only way he could kick the ball without being tackled.
Let’s hoist last week’s concluding metaphor onto the rack and extract every last gasp. The switchback journey onwards became a nightmare ghost train packed with screaming kids, braying Tunbridge Wells stockbrokers on their mobiles and ipod users who don’t realise noise-reducing headphones are easily available on the internet and in the high street (at very reasonable prices I might add) that crashed into the buffers before the doors had barely closed. A couple of regular readers have kindly enquired as to whether the lateness of this column is because I could not face up to this abomination of a performance. Kind of you to enquire after my well-being – it’s actually because of a change in my work patterns but rest assured that I will keep spewing this stuff out albeit a bit late sometimes. But the first half was really one to watch from behind the sofa.
Twice this weekend I heard commentators refer to the ‘democracy’ of the Premier League. It is nothing of the sort of course. The top four is largely a closed shop unless you can afford to buy the privilege of entry to this VIP section of the club. What they meant was, most matches have a competitive edge and sides don’t give up until the match is out of sight. It’s rare that one side should dominate another as completely as United did on Sunday, and that’s before taking into account the fact that teams were separated by only two places. Spurs were eviscerated and none emerge from the slaughter with any credit.
Fact is, though, there was nothing new about the reasons underlying Spurs’ vulnerability. On Sunday Van Gaal exploited the weaknesses I’ve regularly written about: a lack of midfield protection for our full-backs, Dier’s inexperience and the fact that Mason and Bentaleb, strong when the ball is in front of them, are less effective if opponents get round the back. We know it all.
Spurs have been sussed. Our right side is being targeted – West Ham did the same. The only difference was LVG’s ruthlessness. Repeatedly he engineered three attackers versus two defenders, sometimes only one. Spurs were befuddled. Belatedly we tinkered with the set-up, with Bentaleb moving to the right of the defensive midfield pair, but the ordeal ended only when United took it easy in the second half.
Embed from Getty ImagesIf Gary Neville is doing the analysis on Sky, all blogging on the topic becomes irrelevant. Anyway, the first goal tells the whole story. Walker had gone wide to the touchline to mark up. I think that should be the midfielder’s job to cover with the full-backs tucking in as a compact back four, but at least he was marking someone, not always the case. Mason provided extra security by covering Fellani who had moved inside. But United had a third man out there who gained possession. Mason moved out, fatally leaving Fellani unsupervised. The Belgian ran through and scored.
This pattern was repeated for the next thirty minutes. Walker did not play at all well but without making excuses it was a collective failure. Townsend and Chadli, our two wide midfielders, do not defend effectively. Townsend’s contribution was to look worried. Frankly I expect a bit more. He suffered the indignity of being substituted before half time but switching Chadli, the worst defensive player in the team, to the right smacked of desperation and only made matters worse. Van Gaal has been heavily criticised for his tactics at United but he left Pochettino trailing in his dust.
As a result United were able to attack from several different angles. Mason and Bentaleb, one a good player the other potentially high class, are not naturally strong in our box, unlike, say, Sandro or even Capoue (remember him?) who are more comfortable defending. Sandro was admirably fearless plugging the gaps in the back four. How I miss him…
Anyway, the crosses came in from all angles. As much as possible, United tried to get Fellani on Dier. The young centre half did his best but was repeatedly beaten in the air. Again it’s something we know. He’s inexperienced and to be positive he has exceeded expectations so far. Surely we bought him as an investment to mature in two or three years time.
Bentaleb, rattled, committed an error that in other circumstances would have been catastrophic, a pass deep inside our half straight to an opponent, then goal. It’s just that there were similar cock-ups every few minutes, they scored from this one but there were plenty of others. We could not keep the ball at all. Kane was isolated and offered no respite, Eriksen disappeared. The tattered remnants of our pressing game merely left our men stranded upfield, leaving space for United in front of our back four.
Second half, United kicked off their shoes, picked their toenails, leisurely dip in the hot-tub, chilling until the final whistle. Towards the end we did actually get the ball in their box a couple of times. Adebayor appeared. That’s it.
It was dreadful. The players were uniformly disappointing but Pochettino had the real mare, out-thought tactically and slow to respond.
Nothing new – inexperienced teams show promise but are not known for consistency. The failure of expensive players leaves us exposed despite the laudable commitment of our promising young men. Not time to pick over the bones of the Bale money again, disappeared down the drain into the murky sewers, but how we needed an imposing figure at centre half at Old Trafford and Fazio has much to prove in that respect despite his experience and past achievements. That’s why we bought him.
Four home games left. Win those and see what happens. The top four? Do me a favour.
TOTTENHAM ON MY MIND 
Cheers Alan. I think we’re stuck in the Europa League time loop…quite possible if we get 6 or even 7th, we’ll be back in it. We’d have to tank to avoid it – although, turn up and play like we did vs ManUre, and there’ll be no problem, we’ll finish below 7th for sure. Here’s what I think MoPo should do (but obviously won’t, as he’ll try for highest position, and Mr. Levy surely wants revenue of extra EL games next season) — say he’s going to play some of the younger guys to blood them (like end of last season with Kane and Bentaleb), and by doing so, he has a built in excuse for finishing lower than 7th. Also, get rid of most of Mag-7 (since we’ve already spent the money, anything we make, even if less than what we paid, will be a bonus). But most importantly find an on-field, outfield leader (like Roberts, Mackay – or screw it, even someone like that Cheatski dude, Terry, at least he has balls and fire) to lead and mentor the youngest squad in the PL. I think an on-field leader is our most important need, and bring Pritchard back, and blood the young guys, players who are young and hungry. And get Mitchell to earn his pay and find us some hungry bargains not high-priced talent (our three most expensive players are not even starting and understandably so) not suited for the PL. COYS!
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Hello Ashley, you still kicking back in la la land?
I agree with every word of that.
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TMWNN (do I know your real name, mate?), how are you? Yes, I’m still stuck in La-la-land, tough job’s but someone’s got to do it. One great thing is the number of LA Spurs fans we have here. I wrote a Blog on Huff Po about it, and subsequently, 220 turned up at our local, with dozens more being turned away, for our CC Final. Even as the game waned, we were still ironically singing, “We’re going to win 3-2…(and)…we won the league in black and white” – us Spurs fans sure do know Ms. Irony, well!!! And thanks mate, I re-read my post, those are good ideas that won’t be followed, LOL! But, someone’s got to support Spurs, eh – COYMFS! 😉
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How are you doing? This was a hard watch.
Regards, Alan
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I did not have any high expectations for a top 6 league finish but as soon as there was some hope…fooled again. EL still possible – the rest of the league is not strong and is there an extra place available because Chelsea won the League Cup?
EL the most energy-sapping competition ever invented but might it at least be some attraction to potential newcomers?
I love the way the young players have taken their chance and shown the way. However, our squad needs major surgery in the summer. We need players in almost every position, including the spine of the team. Lloris likely to go, Eriksen and Vertonghen did not sign new contracts and might have itchy feet.
You know I am pretty optimistic but also a realist – gives me no pleasure to say that squad is well short of what’s required.
And we need that leader, so true.
Regards, Alan
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Hi Al. It really was a return to the bad old days of the 90’s wasn’t it? Utterly toothless and inept. Talk about a collective lethargy. We didn’t lay so much as a glove on them. Not the same team since the Arsenal victory.
Hopefully, they can use the video as a template of how not to play a football match.
Now that we are back on familiar Spurs terrain, we can spend the next couple of months angsting about whether it would be better to fail to qualify for the Europa and whether the likes of Lloris and Eriksen will still be Lillywhites next season. All the best.
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Ha! Have already gone there with reply to Ashley, even though I swore I wouldn’t! Can’t help myself!
It was dire, still can’t quite believe how it fell apart so easily.
Best, Alan
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Well Alan, they say that ‘distance lends enchantment to the view’ but it looked exactly as you described even though I am 10 000 miles away in South Africa. I’m hanging on to the improvements ( our thumping Chelski and beating the Gooners ) and hoping that Mopo is learning fast. Worrying that the summer needs a clean out of at least six – Lord! Not another season of transition and settling in.
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Good to hear from you Ike – suffering in the sun might improve things. It really was awful.
Feels like we have had 18 transitional seasons in the last 20, 28 in the last 30, but you get what I mean. If we keep changing our manager every 5 minutes, it’s impossible not to be in transition and Levy is culpable. I always saw this one as Pochettino making do with what he inherited, Levy has to back him in the summer. But that was true regardless of Sunday’s performance.
Regards, Alan
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I think that our younger players got stage fright and froze, which spread throughout the whole team. Vertonghen, once captain of Ajax, did not notice anything amiss and did nothing to rectify the situation. Walker’s injury has meant that his defensive weaknesses are glaringly exposed. Why Fazio wasn’t there, and what he has done to fall from favour, is baffling, because he would have eaten up Fellaini. Pochettino went to impose his team on Man Utd, but should have gone not to lose. It’s not like he can’t do it, because he did to great effect at The Haemorrhoids. Moussa Dembele should have driven at the Utd defence, which is quite flaky (I expect them to be eviscerated by LIverpool) and would have provided space for other players to exploit, but he did his impression of a skilful, but indecisive, bull fighter.
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Not many indecisive bullfighters, they are all in the hospital. Nice description of Dembele, who at least held the ball up a bit.
Glad you raised the point about Vertonghen. Was thinking the same today – he is so obviously the man to take control in theory, in practice he clearly just does not want to, which is very wrong. He’s gone right down in my estimation since the first season.
I would have played Fazio and told the dog so just before kick-off – nobody else will listen – but in the games following his return from injury, Vertonghen carried him. Had no influence at all, but maybe a run in the side now. He’s got to be better than he’s shown so far and of course at Sevilla he was their leader and captain.
Regards, Alan
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A poor performance all round, and walker was most disappointing as he continually makes mistakes..having said that, this is a young inexperienced team and you will have days like this. The injuries and suspension for man Utd actually resulted in them playing Carrick and mata, and they made a difference too. So I am prepared to let this slide. How we react is now the important thing
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You’re right of course but I’m still not feeling as philosophical.
Cheers Alan
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This is one of those occasions your write up far excels the performance of the subject! Very accurate summary and agree pretty much verbatim. Your observation about watching behind the sofa especially hit home, for me anyway. I may have blanked a few out but I don’t recall squirming as much in a first half since being 0-4, and a red carded goalkeeper (from memory) down to Inter Milan in the Champions League. Alas, we’ve no Bale to pull us out of a hole, these days.
Such a young team does need to grow together, which will inevitability see days like these, but it’s still horrible when it happens…..it’s nice to read your blog and the views of other fans and at least wallow in bitterness in some company!
I don’t think we’re anywhere near ready for Champions League football but I wouldn’t write a top four place off yet. In past seasons, we ourselves have looked home and dry once or twice and still managed to mess it up at such a late stage. Maybe there’s a new team on the brink of a Spurs-like late season collapse…whether of course THFC can be the team to take advantage is another matter entirely.
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Too kind Danny, but happy to wallow in the misery with you from now on ;).
Much appreciated, Al
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I don’t think I’ve spent so much time hiding behind the sofa since the Jon Pertwee era of Doctor Who. It was total tactical destruction, every weakness exposed. Realistically the end of our season and a wake up call for everyone at the club despite the improvement from the start of the campaign.
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The best I can say is that we didn’t ship more. At least Utd went into neutral for the 2nd half.
Not sure what was worse.
Being completely out-thought and out-fought by a fairly average Utd team (by their standards.)
Or,
Martin Tyler’s fawning commentary on Sky. At one point I swear he was going to give Gary Neville a great big kiss on the lips.
Or,
Rooney’s goal celebration.
Suddenly every Utd fan in the world seems to work at my place. Nightmare.
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I was genuinely pleased at full time that it was only 3. Could have been a soul-destroying crisis brewing 5 or 6 without any problems.
Sorry about the UTD fans coming out of the woodwork – they do seem to have been quiet recently…
Cheers Alan
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“Townsends contribution was to look worried” – brilliant. This was a collective failure starting with the manager selecting the wrong team, which then displayed new levels of surrender. Playing Townsend and Chadli in the same team is just plain muddle headed. We squeaked a fortunate win at a poor QPR with this line up but it was madness to repeat such a blunder. Eriksen, Chadli and Townend can’t muster a tackle between them in the best of weeks and this is hopefully the end of this line-up. Clearly, it doesn’t matter if we play a midweek game or not; on this evidence we play worse when rested. I wish the ghost of Dave Mackay could sit this lot down and force them to watch a replay of this shocker, with Kyle Walker forced to sit in the front row. We were second best in everything on Sunday; outfought, outthought and put in our place. Only our fantastic support kept on going to the end – if only the team were as good as the supporters.
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As you know David I have identified the problem in lack of wide cover all season. I simply do not understand what prevents Chadli, Townsend or Lamela running back and getting goalside. The number of times they jog back then stop about 20-25 yards out. I’m going to stop now because it INFURIATES me – just get in the way and anything else is a bonus.
I wish good luck to all Spurs players but Townsend is in the England squad. International football.
Regards, Alan
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If you are not part of the solution then you must be part of the problem.
But he isnt one of the usual suspects.
He is an attacking midfielder,rarely records an assist,occasionally gets into a scoring spree,but not given any responsibility for it as he isnt a striker. He is like a messiah but can be excused for only being human. As an attacking midfielder he rarely is asked why there are no poignant passes.It’s one of the jobs I think,of an attacking midfielder.
We had one shot in this game.That was in the 89th minute. Kane.
It cant be Kane he is a striker with no service.
tyhe game passed him by.
I think on this whole page he is just mentioned once and its about his tackling.
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In agreement with much of what you say, Alan, and with many of the comments too.
We were certainly, and depressingly, abject on Sunday.
However, it grates hearing many say that it was the best United have played this season.
Make no mistake, this is a mediocre United team (by their standards) who’ve had a pretty fortunate season re results (a bit like us at times, admittedly, but more often and more recently in their case) and they really were there for the taking, IF we’d applied ourselves!
United turned it on, certainly, but it was ONLY because Spurs allowed them the total freedom and confidence to do so, and never identified the threat, let alone dealt with it, until the coup de grace had already been applied.
That was why it was so horrible to watch!
Moreover, you just knew that any one of the teams fighting PL relegation would have put more fear into United than we did on Sunday.
Let’s also dispel this myth of too many games once and for all. Some of our worst games this season have come 7 to 14 days after the previous one, and this was one of the worst (if not THE worst).
Poch seems to think he’s finally found our best team (many smug players think it too) but Van Gaal, who, unlike us, was missing some key players, completely out-manoeuvred us and made our manager’s tactics look one-dimensional. The time for a Plan B, if there was one, was after the first goal ..and why Poch didn’t take Chadli off instead of Townsend I cannot fathom!
I’ve also never seen Walker have such a poor match, especially in that first half, but although Townsend and him were ripped apart in that horrendous first half hour, while none of us saw it coming (credit Van Gaal), it should have been Townsend replacing Chadli on the left (not Chadli moving to the right) when Dembele came on.
Let us also now conclude that Mason and Bentaleb are never going to make Tottenham world beaters. We need, more than ever, a deep lying creative midfielder pulling the strings in the heart of midfield, and a top pacy left winger. That has been evident since first Modric, and then Bale, left. I suppose, more than anything though, we need a LEADER on the pitch.
Eriksen was poor because Mason and Bentaleb were completely overrun and out-thought behind him (shell shocked?), but to make us even more ineffective centrally ..to shove him out to the left again??
Even our short but fairly unimaginative passing game was askew as United pounced on us (as we should have done to them, because pressing hard is a vital part of our game, fitness and tactics, right?) each time the ball came near a white shirt.
Kane was made to look like the novice he was 7 months ago, while Lamela again resembled Bambi from his first season when he came on (I despair now when he runs at opponents, because you just know he’s going to get dispossessed almost every time), and it stank of sheer desperation when Ade came on.
United didn’t have to shift from first gear in the second half, as they just absorbed our puff powder attacks like a sponge.
They were almost like a snake that, in a flash, had bitten and injected poison into its prey and then simply waited for the victim to die.
It was a crime of epic proportions that we weren’t up for arguably our biggest game of the season, a true 6 pointer which could have kept us in the race for a top two, let alone top four, finish ..while now we are cast adrift in a race for 6th, with our season effectively over.
How dare we (are you listening Poch?) turn up to a place like Old Trafford, with a full squad, put out our ‘best team’ and then simply expect them to turn over an average United side in front of 75,000 fans ..without considering what United might do in the match to make it difficult for US!! The point is that United treated us with respect before the game by planning what we and they were going to do, and then tore us apart as a result. We in return, however, showed no such respect to arguably the greatest English club of all time, apart from putting out our ‘strongest team’, yet with little thought or planning as to how United might combat us, or which alternative tactics we could apply quickly should the need arise.
Isn’t it also typical that our old Spurs mentality has always been at its most fragile when we, the club and the fans, least expect it.
While everyone was on a high from the Arsenal victory, I genuinely worried that, despite the obvious joy, we were celebrating like giant-killers!
EVERY game should be treated as though Arsenal were the opposition! You expect the odd dip in form, and you can’t always raise your levels to the zenith, but CONSISTENCY is the REAL test of a club like Spurs with ambition and expectations.
However, what have we really achieved since that day when we basked in the sun of beating our North London rivals?
At least the defeat at Anfield was a glorious one, and many of us would have been fairly proud if Spurs had at least replicated a similar loss at Old Trafford. So what on Earth went wrong?
CL qualification was always a big ask, but the tantalising hope was always present. A hope that has been around our club for years now, and which (time after time) we’ve shot ourselves in the foot over. This year we wrongly capitulated in the Europa League and FA Cup for hoped-for success in the PL and League Cup ..and now, yet again, more rebuilding will be our lot (and not just of the stadium).
Was it ever thus as we continue our journey to Glory and the promised land!
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As ever a glorious post that the performance simply does not deserve. Tiredness, mental or physical, had nothing to do with it as you say. Cloudy, uninspired thinking did however. They just did not know what to do.
I still think United played very well but that’s not the point. It’s our lack of fight in reponse, regardless of the final score. Mason and Bentaleb good and of course we need at least one more midfielder just as you describe. Trouble is, so does every side in the world, and we need to strengthen in almost every position.
Regards, Alan
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Nicely put CB…I concur.
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Alan,
Nicely done as usual on the mark.
A few thoughts
With Fellaini being the obvious target of Van Gaal “archaic” long ball, why not play Fazio at center back, if anything he can play with his head, he is not fast although he did blow by our back line. Dier is young and could have used a break , he has been abit shaky as of late, wrong sided caught napping at Liverpool etc., not unexpected mind you for a youngster.
I am not sure what to think of Walker, he has been god awful this year in my opinion, perhaps the athletic pubalgia surgery has not healed completely, while he gets forward his productivity in the final 1/3 is befuddling, run into cul de sac, give ball away or hit an ineffective cross. Another thing that drive me bat crazy when our player stand there with the ball, palms up , as if I have no one to pass to, drives me up the wall- something Mackay would never do or except from a teammate.
The pressing game so effective was non existent with Chadli and Townsend, unfortunately not full commitment to the press is a recipe for disaster there was more space in this game in front of the back four than in any other game I can remember this year.
Lets hopefully chalk this up to a young team , who lost their way on a big stage. We have shown some spine this year and need to respond again. I have so much reservation about the Europa League, it really is the poison pill, what English team has been able to balance the league and full Europa involvement , not coming in off Champions League like Cheleski, none that I can think of in the past few years. There are so many rounds, insane format that should be truncated.
ed
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The pubalgia surgery was to his groin, so I’m assuming he may have had some brain injury as a result. His decision making has evaporated.
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Agree with that. Whilst Fazio has been poor since he returned from injury, I thought he might have played and think he should get a run in the side if nothing else than to prove that he should not be sold in the summer. For a guy who is supposed to be influential, it’s been hard at times to see why we bought him.
Regards, Alan
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Well why knee jerk over a defeat?when it’s been apparent all season, we’ve scraped through so many games by scoring in the final minute therefore papering over a gaping chasm of infective football. I’ve said on so many occasions that performance overrides the result, but it seems not by the vast majority who think we’re even close to the finished article. We play Townsend and loan out Lennon, can someone tell me why for starters? Lennon covers so much ground when Walkers foraging up field, AT doesn’t, in fact Lamela does a better defensive job, than Townsend, secondly Dembele is on the bench, yet Mason is the preferred choice? Mason is at best a Holtby with a little bit more skill and a little bit bit more guile, but not top drawer,regardless, and I doubt if he ever will be I’m sorry to say-It s not to say there’s no hope with the current squad, but blimey Chadli is Tottenham this season, pretty crap but scorer of some great goals, but really is he any good? The we come onto Eriksen, the guys been missing for the past 5 or so games and no-ones noticed. Yes, Sunday was a poor, poor display, but perhaps you failed to look at the previous performances by looking at the results, why,even Chelsea at home wasindeed a great win, but they were playing us off the park until Kane walloped one out of nowhere, and they fell apart, why? because Dembele played brilliantl when Mason came off injured, this is poor management, and this is now clear as day, that Kane was playing brilliantly LAST season under Sherwood, and ignored my MoPo until he had no option other than to play him-too late mate. I’m hoping lessons were learnt but rolling over Leicester won’t solve anything, it’s about playing the top sides away and apart from the Goon’s we’ve been soundly beaten every time-that’s what I’ll judge us on, and it’s not good is it?
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Pete,I talked about Eriksen here,talked about Eriksen before now many times.I dont think he is our worst player by far but he has a tag of being a superstar at times when he creates little.he may not be the finished article to some and that may well be true.BUt until I see him look up and dont something different than he usually does (back to goal kicks it the way he is playing,scores occasionally mostly from free kicks etc,rarely creates etc) Ill think the same.
He really could be helping us but he is an attacking midfielder that ‘covers a lot of ground’ as if thats the main criterien for an attacking midfielder.
Please explain what all the fuss is about. If he can eveolve Ill be the fiorst one to cheer but until then Ill just scratch my head.
As I say he is far from the worst player (He is probably our third best!) ,but what does that say?
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Exactly Ron, the current side is dependant on a few players playing well each and every game, and anyone with an inkling of nous would know that’s never going to happen regardless of the player, it’s impossible to maintain form throughout a season. It’s all very well going on about high pressure and high liines but the reality is there’s no cover for rotation, and Eriksen has played virtually all games as a few other mainstays-Once again that poxy Europa League interfered with our season, and I hope if we don’t get 4th, we get 8th and give MoPo the opportunity to out more than a few and bring in the type of players he needs
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Sherwood’s gone, so get over the mendacious back stabber. If performance counted above the result, then why are Man U in the top four still? People like you love to use the “papering over cracks” ad nauseum when it suits them, that is when we win. It’s not papering over cracks, it’s a will to win, something that has not been part of the Spurs DNA for a very long time.
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So you like what you see, and you see progress then? Yeah mate great analysis
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As a matter of fact I do. I see a lot of progress and so do lots of people, including well-respected observers. Do continue with what you think passes for analysis, but I’m sure you’ll enjoy watching your hero at Villa.
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Explain then, how we’ve progressed?-that’s how it works, not just garbage and sentimentality, but evidence of any progression you’ve seen may prove insightful? I clearly said, and shown what I’ve witnessed this season, you clearly have seen seen something different? Here your opportunity to put your views………..!
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You really should go to Specsavers, because I cannot see either in print or inference anthing about Sherwood whatsoever, but make it up as you go along eh?
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The energy, the progression of players, the introduction of young talent, the belief in the team, coherent play and development of some semblance of steel: all achieved with a disparate, dispirited group of players in the space of six months and in the face of carping from brainless idiots like you. That doesn’t even include some excellent performances against big teams. This is the youngest team in the EPL, and so from time to time they will fall apart like in the first half against ManU. However, that’s not something any rational person would use to come to a conclusion, but then tat description could not be applied to you.
As regards Sherwood, you mentioned him in relation to Kane with some bizarre Danny Murphy-esque lauding of Sherwood for his blossoming, something that seemed to have been unnoticed by most people. I spot you shysters a mile off.
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I came up as Anonymous for some reason.
MilonS
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Could’ve sworn we’re in exactly the sameposition as last season, could’ve sword we were dumped out of the cup by a team lying BOTTOM of the league, could’ve sword we did a little better in the EL and could’ve sworn Kane was in the side in the latter half of the season, could’ve sworn I saw really poor performance jollied up by last minute goals (papering over the cracks), I won’t get into name calling as I’m over 12, perhaps growing up a little and learning how to watch a match, instead of being a petty minded troll may serve you well in future eh? Se there’s no apology about Sherwood I notice, brave man?
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Maybe you should go to Specsavers, because in your first post you mention Sherwood. You can swear as much as you like, but you have failed to take into account the nature of the team and the timeline. Then again, I wasn’t expecting much from you.
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In actually thought between the Partizan game to the Chelsea and Arsenal games,I thought we turnrd the corner,only to get hit by a 16 wheeler.
No we have not evolved. We are the same.
We look the same or even worse than the AVB team now.
Its like youw atch something thats religious as a miracle and you are trying to read something into it.Its bleeding…its moving….it did.,..Look…wait I cant see any moving..nothing…..it must be…no its not.Definately not.
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Honestly every player has had a game. Townsend actually have one and Lamela I remember had a couple. But the only players apart from Lloris that have shown something meaningful is really Kane and also Rose (he has come on a lot but still has faults). We have little or no creativity. Eriksen who has been one of our better players when he scores but is a dud so far creatively is a player that should be making more things happen.
Poch has had mixed results but he must get a low mark for consistency.Its fine making a game of it and then losing.I can handle this but to not even come to the game.Thats another matter.
You take Kane away and what do you have?
We would be in trouble.
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All this after one game?
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No not after one game.Its been a ride all season but there have been a lot less highlites than lowlites even though our position doesnt explain that.
We could get better.We live in hope but there have been some terrible games along the way and some positive ones.I remember more negative ones even though somehow we sneaked by. I really thought we turned the corner but we didnt.
I think if I look at the season the quality apart from Kane hasnt been there.Eriksen had some flashes of scoring.Then there were the odd games by some others here and there.Lloris got us out of the crap severakl times earlier on.
I havent bee negative but Ive expected too much. I expect us to create a flow of sorts.Its been rare.
We have been better than our opponents sometimes but mostly they have been better than us. Too many gaps in defence and no creativity (finding space up front except long shots and Kane.
Thats about it.
We havent been that convincing.
Lots of teams have been trhough dips but there are teams like West Ham who actually have played much better than us. Im really not a fan of Tim but look how he motivated them as he motivated us.
Im not convinced about us. Im not prepared to offer any excuses except I think the players no matter how much they talk also are not convinced.
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Clarity missing: Tim motivating Villa
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Don’t out the patently obvious, that Sherwood just happened to be the Spurs manger last season, or else you’ll be accused of being a Tim Lover ..Jeeze…To sum up my thoughts…When on a Friday night, that ugly bird looks great after a few beers, on Saturday morning she’s still an ugly bird, and you’ve got an almighty headache!
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Pete right on the analogy and I remember those 2 oclock Sunday mornings when I realized who she was…..seeing Tim in his first games was refreshing compared to the dull moments of AVB but alas…it was all about need……..
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Stoke, Newcastle, Liverpool , Man Utd, Man City,, Chelsea…also last minute wins, Swansea, Leicester Villa,Sunderland West Ham, lucky draw West Ham.and few more besides………..P.T.Barnhum springs to mind?
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PT Banum indeed one born every minute LOL!
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Yep……….Roh,yeah!
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And after that game yesterday………………I rest my case your Honour
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We played about the level we are at. You will win some and lose some that way. We now have our Bale back,our Klinsmann or Ginola. We have a few other things.BUt the quality generally is not good enough. The system always looks suspect with too many gaps available in defence and not eniough creativity up front
Eriksen was actually better in this game and the move to score when he hit the post looked very Greaves and thats where he should be played with Kane his Gilzean
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No problems with Eriksen or anyone except thee usual suspects in Townsend and Chdli, both of whom are totally out of their depth, but it;s in midfield as it’s been all season where the nub of the problem really lies. If the balls not retained and used effectivly, it’s then where the defence is put back under pressure, and the biggest culprit in losing possession are those already mentioned,on a weekly along with Bentaleb and Mason when we’re playing poorly. Up front we’re completely reliant on Kane, who, at the start of the season wasn’t even considered as 1st team material? So who was the main man, if not Kane? I expect a huge clear-out )yet again), but my hope is we’ll purchase some of the good out of contract players such as Ings up front but I honestly can’t see us funding yet another summer spree, having wasted a the family silver not so long ago
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It’s the optimism we were going in to the game with that makes it even more painful to be humiliated in that way. I love the fact that our team is the youngest in the Premier League and if we can keep the core together then we’ll grow in to something great. Right now though, we do need an experienced head. A leader on the field to manage us actually in-game when they see the opposition exploiting a weakness before Poch has time to make the necessary adjustments.
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A leader will emerge from the group, and it may well be Bentaleb in the future.
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