Jai B dredges up the pain as he analyses where it went wrong for Spurs at Man City. WARNING: Reading This May Cause Insufferable Pain. Again.
The Pain Of Six
Facing Manchester City at the Etihad stadium is arguably the toughest fixture in the league, but even the most pessimistic of Tottenham fans wouldn’t have predicted that we would concede within 15 seconds from our opponent’s 3rd touch of the ball.
There are a few things that we can learn about Tottenham from a thrashing like this. The main points are that Erik Lamela should not have made a debut league start, Michael Dawson should only play against certain opposition, and that Danny Rose is essential to how the squad operates, purely because he has no direct competition for his place.
Firstly, the record breaking Argentinean should’ve started against Newcastle rather than against Manchester City. In my opinion substitute appearances against Newcastle, Manchester City and Manchester United would’ve lead to consecutive starts against Fulham and Sunderland; confidence building matches against struggling teams.
[authquoteleft text=”The main points are that Erik Lamela should not have made a debut league start[/linequote]
A long international break, including many flights and few minutes, would have killed a some momentum for Lamela. The main supposed reasons for starting the former Roma man are anti-intuitive. Pairing him on the left, with Jan Vertonghen, was also strange.
It is not a secret that when playing as a full back that our Belgian struggles against rapid wingers; a flair winger would hardly offer much support. Lamela and Vertonghen were both at fault for allowing Jesus Navas to provide an assist for the third City goal.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/LZVAvsC.png)
Vertonghen should be tighter to Pablo Zabaleta here; the City right back has far too much time to thread a pass to Navas. Even more worrying is Lamela’s reaction to the pass, he is poor at getting close to Navas to block the cross. It could be argued that Rose’s superior pace would’ve seen him put more direct pressure on Zabaleta and that Gylfi Sigurdsson’s higher work ethic may have proved more difficult for Navas to navigate around. Of course, these are only opinions and assumptions.
Club captain, Dawson, made his 300th appearance for Tottenham this week and it couldn’t have been worse day for him; his actions caused many opportunities for the home team.
Many argue that out of the current centre-backs in the squad, Dawson is the least suited to playing a high line; he has all but verified these opinions. Out of the following plays, all the chances that City create are from running into the space behind the England international.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/pv2j3gM.png)
In the above picture we see Dawson looking to take the ball off another Argentinean, Sergio Aguero. The captain fails to make the challenge and Aguero immediately runs into the space vacated by Dawson, and is found by a neat flick from a Alvaro Negredo.
Both Kyle Walker and Sandro fail to track this run and the league’s top scorer is left with a 1v1 opportunity that he should have converted.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/zyBmZIS.png)
This next screen capture is from the second goal. This play follows directly from a poor clearance by Hugo Lloris and a Fernandinho header that finds its way to Samir Nasri on the left hand side. As Walker is up the pitch, Dawson goes over to Nasri to cover.
We all know that Nasri is being played inverted and will look to play with his right foot. Our centre-back fails to see this and does not show the Frenchman outside, instead he allows Nasri to play Aguero through with a chipped ball in the vacated space, as Lewis Holtby fails to track the City striker from midfield. This is unacceptable as Holtby has vocally voiced his preference for playing as a transitional midfielder over a traditional number 10.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/yuD1f7Q.png)
From the fourth goal, pictured above, the Sky Blues are still exploiting the same area of the Tottenham team. Once again, Dawson gets tight to a player, only to create a massive amount of space behind him. Here Yaya Toure plays the ball to Negredo. As Dawson looks to get close to the Spaniard, Toure is already making a typical marauding run into the vacated space, and is found by a simple flick from Negredo.
The Ivorian is now free to run directly at goal, knowing Walker would be hesitant to challenge him; being the furthest player back; the ball is squared to Aguero who taps home to make the score 4-0.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/98rxhiL.png)
I really don’t understand what’s going on in the fifth goal, above. My assumption is that Dawson is anticipating Fernandinho to play the ball short into the Citizen’s player (maybe Navas) in the middle of the image, and that Dawson is compensating for his pace by looking to get close to this player as early as possible; leaving one of Walker or Kaboul to track Negredo.
The former Sevilla man isn’t picked up and he is able to stay onside just behind Dawson and collect a threaded pass from the Brazilian midfielder. He then makes mince-meat out of our club captain with a sublime turn and finish.
In conclusion, I believe that this was a game we were always going to lose, but we should make the most of this loss and learn from our mistakes as well as our opponent’s excellence.
Manchester City’s slick play and meaningful passing were the instruments of their success.
Lamela will play well, but starts against teams such as Fulham and Sunderland would help boost his confidence, a 6-0 defeat in a first league start would have shattered whatever self-belief he possessed.
[authquoteright text=”We should make the most of this loss and learn from our mistakes as well as our opponent’s excellence[/linequote]
Dawson should only play against certain opposition because his lack of pace and mobility makes it easy for teams with intent to play around him. When Rose returns, Vertonghen will be seen at centre-back alongside one of Chiriches/Kaboul or Dawson, depending on the fixture.
With a passage of four league matches since Spurs have scored a goal from open play, the team from North London have to perform well against Manchester United, or risk slipping further down the league. Something needs to change in terms of how we play.
[author name=”Jai B” avatar=”https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images/1659352356/IMAG0018.jpg” twitter=”Jai_B[/linequote]
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13 Comments
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26/11/2013 @ 12:34 pm
The first goal set the tone. Lloris miskicked but these things happen. What I want to know is why, when kicking off, no-one had a better idea than passing it back to our own goalkeeper. If that hadn’t been done the goal wouldn’t have happened.
Seems symptomatic of the problem with the team and the style of play.
We’d almost certainly have lost this match anyway but maybe retained a bit of respectability.
26/11/2013 @ 12:55 pm
I’ve gotta say it’s getting harder to stay positive. (I have been a staunch supporter of AVB from day 1)
BUT – – – The im-balance in our side is just terrible.
After so much ‘good work’ in the summer, in the sense that we spent the Bale inheritence as opposed to banking it, it’s a shame that perhaps the wrong targets were signed.
Full Back – Surely I’m not alone in seeing this as a problem?!?! Even under Redknapp let alone when AVB came on board?! – Redknapp had 4 RB’s & 1 LB. – Now, 3 years on, AVB has 2 RB’s & still 1 LB.
This is further compounded by the fact that one of the RB’s is used as cover for LB, but generally not, because, he isn’t as good at it as our best CB! ?? – Whilst our current incumbent RB needs serious compo! – I assume Naughton isn’t good enough to fill in at his best position either then?! –
WHAT A MESS.
The above situation causes problems in other areas too,..
If Vertonghen needs to play LB, we are stuck with Captain Slow at CB, (Yes, everyone loves Daws, but his days with us are done) meaning Younes has needed to come in whilst still finding his feet again, I don’t know why Chiriches didn’t start on Saturday?!!??! – The bloke’s quality.
So, moving onto midfield…….
Holtby IS NOT A NUMBER 10!!!!!! – If we needed another one, why didnt we sign one?!
Holtby is an engine and ball-mover, same position as our own Tom Carroll, who IMO has better vision leading to more creative forward passing than Holtby, but both deeper-lying CM’s.
No 10 issue continued…
Eriksen – All these stats flying about regarding most passes ever against Newcastle etc,. Utter Bollocks.
Too lightweight, abslutely anonymous. I sincerely hope there is more to come.
I would have been started paying Eriksen on the wing, giving him more space and time and less chance of getting swallowed up by opposition DM’s (Which is happening regularly)
No 10 options – – –
In my opinion, the blokes that should have been vying for our No 10 spot from August until New year are:
(giving Eriksen plenty of time to settle into the team whilst playing on wing and occasional cameos in the hole)
Siggurdson
Chadli
Lamela
Siggy has earned his plaudits as a No10 for both Reading & Swansea. I JUST CANNOT believe he plays LW, it really grinds me!!! – Caveat to this, is,, yes, it ‘can’ work, but only if Danny Rose is available. (No other LWB option)
Townsend IS detrimental to us!!!! – I don’t care what anyone says. BENCH HIM.
Lennon IS detrimental to us!!!! – I can only remember ONE occasion when Lennon actually ran at his LB on Saturday!! –
HE PLAYS WTH HIS BACK TO GOAL?!?!?!?!?!?!? – ,MAYBE HE SHOULD TELL SOLDADO HOW TO DO THIS?!?!?! – MADNESS.
26/11/2013 @ 1:29 pm
You were watching a different game to me! You must remember that finishing is so much our problem as a squad. Both Lamela and Paulinho missed presentable chances to equalise. Once the second went in the game was up… but an equaliser was on the cards, and a smaller defeat! It’s not about the exact personnel, but about our problem as a squad to finish and take chances. Paulinho scores many goals for Brazil but has been very wasteful for us – but he does pop up in some great positions and should do better. I think Lennon is a great player; you don’t, but that’s not what it’s about. The team we had out was a good one, but City took their chances magnificently and there some key moments we got horribly wrong.
26/11/2013 @ 1:38 pm
Absolutely agree with you.
Cannot for the life of me understand why AVB does not see these things when so many of us do!!
26/11/2013 @ 1:21 pm
Pointless to pick on individual players in this frenzied over-reaction (particularly as the targets are so badly chosen – it was Kaboul who had the mare of mares) and I certainly don’t agree with the idea that Lamela shouldn’t have played – he’s experience much bigger games in his career, stop protecting him!
It all went wrong from the kick off. Spurs then played well for 20 minutes but Lamela and Paulinho missed their chances unfortunately.
I would say the latter is a goalscoring midfielder whose finishing as been poor for Spurs so far. Unlike the previous commenter I see so much to admire in Lennon and Townsends’ play but they need help! Obviously there is a problem up front: the club does not have a top striker at the moment. Ade is too often listless (although is the best bet at the mo), Soldado is struggling to adapt and JD lately has looked well off the boil.
The other issue is that people must pass when the gaps open up and not hang on to the ball, however good they are at dribbling (Dembele is a magician, but must pass when the moment is right).
Basically there are players at the club who are very good players who need to step up and take charge. Sandro can’t do it on his own!
26/11/2013 @ 1:21 pm
I have been saying for the last month that Soldado does not move from between the centre backs…people moan that he is not getting the service but unless he creates space how are the others going to find him. Even Berbatov used to run more…also what is it with every corner not getting past the first man, every throw seems to go back to the fullbacks and then across the back line. We don’t play football going forward anymore, it seems all about possesion even it that means going into midfield then straight back to the centre back then across the defence, then repeat as many times as you can as long as we retain psossesion…we used to be so good to watch, breaking at speed…not anymore
26/11/2013 @ 1:37 pm
Don’t see why Spurs fans and sections of the Spurs loving media are taking things so much to heart. MCFC should be given more credit as City have bossed teams all season at home – Munich being the alarming exception! In the games against United and Everton – two teams with top 5 aspirations, we simply attacked the living daylights out of them. The difference now is that Pellegrini has told his team not to let up when in a dominant position and to keep looking for scoring opportunities so ending up with big scorelines rather than declaring when we get to 4, as we did earlier in the season. Also, Spurs let us play, as do the better teams, rather than the troublesome park the bus/two banks of four scenario we get from the ‘lesser’ teams, so our quick passing and speedy play will bring results in the extra space that’s available.
I’m sure Spurs will bounce back from this result and go on a decent run. Hopefully, this starts next Sunday!
26/11/2013 @ 6:30 pm
Good points, well made. I agree. City were devastating.
26/11/2013 @ 4:43 pm
Yes we miss Danny Rose at LB but unless he can score us twenty goals a season cant see he is the answer to the problem
To many big players going missing,
Not seen many comments about ade but i thought he did ok
We have gone from being one of the fastest teams in league to a team that can not counter attack at speed its boring to watch and needs to change
AVB moans about support but at 4-0 down you would have thought we were winning the league and the players just walk off heads down lack of respect to the fans who could have stayed home and watched on Sky
Not sure if Sir Les is still coaching the strikers but if he is may be time for him to move on !
26/11/2013 @ 4:51 pm
Sport is entirely unpredictable. Endless analysis won’t change a thing. Not a thing. Tottenham isn’t a democracy; we don’t all get to vote on the manager, players, tactics. All the decisions, right or wrong, are up to a few people whose jobs are to make them. As fans we just have to submit to whatever happens game by game, right? Say we actually beat United..what will all the posts be then? Who would have predicted City’s 4 away losses against CLEARLY inferior opposition, or Newcastle soundly beating Chelsea, or Villa embarrassing Arsenal on opening day? Or how about Greece winning the 04 Euros? And who would have had Arsenal steaming away in first place after 12 games? As fans we just have to watch and accept the outcome, all the while hoping good things will happen for us. We are savvy enough to know a really good player when we see one (Sandro), or ones that are obviously out of their depth at a top level (Dawson, Walker)…..BUT there’s nowt we can do about it, other than hope those in charge see the same things we do, and ultimately make changes.
26/11/2013 @ 5:14 pm
Good article and you make some very good, sensible points.. many have which really should have been picked up by AVB.. Yes we have a great squad now, but we’re almost a victim of our own options. Have we played 2 consecutive matches this season with the same X1? I doubt it… We need some continuity, all this experimenting is fine and of course it will take time, but we need to decide on his best 11 and stick with it… We also badly need a plan B, even Arry had the option to go direct to Crouchie. It’s almost like this season is a trial for all the player to come in and out and see who sticks.. its very frustrating either way and i’d be surprised if Daniel is going to give time, if results don’t pick up… However keep the faith lads.. I was getting pelters from a Liverpool fan the other day and had to reminded him that were in the QF of the League Cup, Knockout stages of the Europa and 2 points off the top 4 with 3/4 of the season left to go… After I got him to be honest and accept he’s not going to win the league he couldn’t argue with the fact, we are far more likely to win something this season than them…
Not that bad for a team in apparent crisis !!
26/11/2013 @ 6:28 pm
All good points until the last couple of sentences. I think Walker has been excellent this season. Dawson fine too. But no defenders in any team ought to be left one on one with Aguerro and Negredo. We were way too open after the shock of that extraordinary opening goal. The players looked determined to drive forward and did so quite effectively for 20 minutes but Sandro didn’t get enough help – particularly when Kyle went forward as he had to – and when past him it was big big trouble.
In games like that you basically have to equalise. We had two chances but didn’t. End of.
27/11/2013 @ 4:39 pm
I respect your point of view, but mine is that neither Walker nor Dawson are top level defenders. They have enough quality but are found wanting in terms of defensive skills and positional awareness when playing against top talent.
The City debacle notwithstanding, in Vertonghen, Kaboul, and Chiriches we have high quality defenders (should NOT have sold Caulker..that was a poor mistake). Full back is a different story: Rose is a work in progress, and despite Walker’s pace and attacking intent, he is not a quality defender. The full back positions should have been properly addressed during the transfer window. For me, again, this highlights poor management of the club.