Has anyone seen the Premier League fans' half time verdict on the Guardian today? They basically ask a load of bloggers and fans how the season as gone so far in their eyes, here's the Spurs extract.
Would be interested to hear what mark you guys would give the squad at this point. To be honest, I think anyone who at the start of the season was willing to turn down 6th at Christmas with a run in the League Cup and progression in Europa should stick to FM. Of course there's some serious problems, but I'm feeling far more optimistic than I was at this point last year.
Tottenham Hotspur – Dave Mason – Observer reader
3/10 I’m decidedly unhappy. We’re mentally and physically bankrupt, especially at home. Successive matches in September against FK Partizan away and WBA at home typified our approach. We used 21 different players in four days and managed one attempt on target in total. We’ve reached a stage where we ‘re grateful for a home point against Crystal Palace. There has been some recent excitement at Aston Villa and Hull but only after dreadful first halfs, and the reduction of the opposition to 10 men on both occasions. That is when we show our “class” and go into flat-track-bully overdrive. Surprisingly, when we went into the lead in those games, and at Swansea, there was an orgy of ecstatic celebration both times, as if it meant something to the players. Why can’t they show this level of passion from the start, all the time?
The stars Lloris has been outstanding, and Harry Kane, as in the old adage, makes his own luck through his unflagging efforts. Inject his work rate into the others and the crowd would respond well.
The flops. Strikers who don’t score; ineffective wide men (if you are Lennon or Townsend and you can’t get a regular start in this team, you need to take a good, long look at yourself); nine central-midfield players; and our ever-changing back four which is increasingly reminding me of the worst days of the mid-70s.
The manager Daniel Levy’s autobiography will be called “I’ve got an idea. There’s this new manager I’ve heard about …” He amazes me with his unerring ability to spot a manager who will under-perform. Pochettino is struggling. There is a lack of cohesion in selection and tactics and some puzzling substitutions. 3/10
Who would play him in a movie? Norman Wisdom. With a bit of luck Pochettino could be in the early stages of one of Wisdom’s films: a hapless oaf at the start who ends up achieving unlikely success.
What do people make of that then?! Was shocked at the negativity myself, although given the nature of some of the meltdowns on here maybe I shouldn't be so surprised. 3/10 is the lowest rating for any team in the league, joint with Villa and Leicester who are suffering decidedly poorer seasons, both without new managers. A couple of the comments were ridiculous too, especially considering the burgeoning Verts/Fazio partnership and the emergence of a decent midfield with Mason and Bentaleb playing well.3/10 I’m decidedly unhappy. We’re mentally and physically bankrupt, especially at home. Successive matches in September against FK Partizan away and WBA at home typified our approach. We used 21 different players in four days and managed one attempt on target in total. We’ve reached a stage where we ‘re grateful for a home point against Crystal Palace. There has been some recent excitement at Aston Villa and Hull but only after dreadful first halfs, and the reduction of the opposition to 10 men on both occasions. That is when we show our “class” and go into flat-track-bully overdrive. Surprisingly, when we went into the lead in those games, and at Swansea, there was an orgy of ecstatic celebration both times, as if it meant something to the players. Why can’t they show this level of passion from the start, all the time?
The stars Lloris has been outstanding, and Harry Kane, as in the old adage, makes his own luck through his unflagging efforts. Inject his work rate into the others and the crowd would respond well.
The flops. Strikers who don’t score; ineffective wide men (if you are Lennon or Townsend and you can’t get a regular start in this team, you need to take a good, long look at yourself); nine central-midfield players; and our ever-changing back four which is increasingly reminding me of the worst days of the mid-70s.
The manager Daniel Levy’s autobiography will be called “I’ve got an idea. There’s this new manager I’ve heard about …” He amazes me with his unerring ability to spot a manager who will under-perform. Pochettino is struggling. There is a lack of cohesion in selection and tactics and some puzzling substitutions. 3/10
Who would play him in a movie? Norman Wisdom. With a bit of luck Pochettino could be in the early stages of one of Wisdom’s films: a hapless oaf at the start who ends up achieving unlikely success.
Would be interested to hear what mark you guys would give the squad at this point. To be honest, I think anyone who at the start of the season was willing to turn down 6th at Christmas with a run in the League Cup and progression in Europa should stick to FM. Of course there's some serious problems, but I'm feeling far more optimistic than I was at this point last year.
ochfacepalm:
