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It was a bad morning to go for a blood test for sure. I’m sure they’ll struggle to decant any blood from my alcohol stream.
:mong:
From Football365
"The one criticism that even doe-eyed Tottenham fans often level at Mauricio Pochettino is that he is not decisive with his substitutions. The changes come too late or too predictable, with Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela in a never-ending dance-off to earn the right to play in the same orbit as Harry Kane.
But Tuesday was different. On Tuesday Pochettino was positive not just with his initial team selection but with his substitutions, acting just after the hour when Tottenham’s verve and industry were threatening to ebb away to nought in the Nou Camp. The rookie right-back came off, the no-longer-surprisingly-excellent Moussa Sissoko took over the whole of that flank and Lamela came off the bench to take up a position behind Kane. His impact was immediate, the Barcelona defence immediately struggling to cope with an attacking quintet of him, Kane, Son, the exceptional Christian Eriksen and the rejuvenated Dele Alli.
No content with dominating both ball and territory, Pochettino acted again, bringing on Moura for Son, whose finishing we are contractually obliged to note had ‘let him down’. And then he acted again, bringing off Harry Winks to flood the Barcelona area with attacking players. Three positive, proactive changes that were rewarded with a famous draw and progress against all the odds they had stacked against themselves in the first half of this Champions League campaign
The excellent decision-making had actually begun on Saturday night, when Pochettino elected to face Leicester without Kane and Eriksen. A truly impressive away win ensued, with Alli revelling in the star billing their absence afforded him. His confidence is clearly regenerating by the day, while both Kane and Eriksen were fresh and magnificent in the Nou Camp after their bit-part role in Leicester. This was squad management at its finest.
Then came Tuesday and a starting line-up that screamed ambition. The idea that Spurs would start in the Nou Camp without Eric Dier would have previously seemed preposterous, but Pochettino did not want an auxiliary defender; he wanted control and creativity. He even resisted any urge to draft in Dier at right-back, showing faith in Kyle Walker-Peters in a move that had the potential to be his only mistake after seven minutes.
But Walker-Peters recovered and so did Tottenham, who ended the game with more possession and more shots than Barcelona, a feat which will never be less than impressive even when the Spanish side rest players. When the goal eventually came from Moura – finishing off a move that began with Danny Rose at left-back – it was absolutely deserved. Not least by Pochettino for his sustained bravery of selection."
What a truly phenomenal job this man is doing at this football club, defying all assumptions about investment to produce a team that consistently overachieves. Some will not acknowledge his brilliance until he has won a trophy, but nights like these add to a growing pile of evidence that he is destined for great things, with or without these Tottenham players. In Barcelona, when his decision-making directly led to glory, one of the few remaining doubts was removed."
"The one criticism that even doe-eyed Tottenham fans often level at Mauricio Pochettino is that he is not decisive with his substitutions. The changes come too late or too predictable, with Son Heung-Min, Lucas Moura and Erik Lamela in a never-ending dance-off to earn the right to play in the same orbit as Harry Kane.
But Tuesday was different. On Tuesday Pochettino was positive not just with his initial team selection but with his substitutions, acting just after the hour when Tottenham’s verve and industry were threatening to ebb away to nought in the Nou Camp. The rookie right-back came off, the no-longer-surprisingly-excellent Moussa Sissoko took over the whole of that flank and Lamela came off the bench to take up a position behind Kane. His impact was immediate, the Barcelona defence immediately struggling to cope with an attacking quintet of him, Kane, Son, the exceptional Christian Eriksen and the rejuvenated Dele Alli.
No content with dominating both ball and territory, Pochettino acted again, bringing on Moura for Son, whose finishing we are contractually obliged to note had ‘let him down’. And then he acted again, bringing off Harry Winks to flood the Barcelona area with attacking players. Three positive, proactive changes that were rewarded with a famous draw and progress against all the odds they had stacked against themselves in the first half of this Champions League campaign
The excellent decision-making had actually begun on Saturday night, when Pochettino elected to face Leicester without Kane and Eriksen. A truly impressive away win ensued, with Alli revelling in the star billing their absence afforded him. His confidence is clearly regenerating by the day, while both Kane and Eriksen were fresh and magnificent in the Nou Camp after their bit-part role in Leicester. This was squad management at its finest.
Then came Tuesday and a starting line-up that screamed ambition. The idea that Spurs would start in the Nou Camp without Eric Dier would have previously seemed preposterous, but Pochettino did not want an auxiliary defender; he wanted control and creativity. He even resisted any urge to draft in Dier at right-back, showing faith in Kyle Walker-Peters in a move that had the potential to be his only mistake after seven minutes.
But Walker-Peters recovered and so did Tottenham, who ended the game with more possession and more shots than Barcelona, a feat which will never be less than impressive even when the Spanish side rest players. When the goal eventually came from Moura – finishing off a move that began with Danny Rose at left-back – it was absolutely deserved. Not least by Pochettino for his sustained bravery of selection."
What a truly phenomenal job this man is doing at this football club, defying all assumptions about investment to produce a team that consistently overachieves. Some will not acknowledge his brilliance until he has won a trophy, but nights like these add to a growing pile of evidence that he is destined for great things, with or without these Tottenham players. In Barcelona, when his decision-making directly led to glory, one of the few remaining doubts was removed."
All together now.
WAKE ME UP!
WAKE ME UP!
Unbelievable. Still buzzing. How good was Sissoko last night, absolute beast. Told my missus she must have sex with him before the New Year 
Am I suffering from alcohol induced hallucinations or are a few of you hawking around your missus to our players or is this some escort service that I’ve just gotten wind of?
If it’s the latter how much and what services are on offer. Asking for a friend err he plays football...sometimes
If it’s the latter how much and what services are on offer. Asking for a friend err he plays football...sometimes
More than made up for it with that block on the Coutinho shot!
There was a moment early in the second half where Sissoko had acres of room to run into on the right wing but he tried to pass to Kane too early and it was cut out. But he then pulled off an incredible back heel to KWP finding him on the edge of the box. That was beautiful stuff from the great man.
Lol at anyone non-Spurs trying to play down the result by saying it's a Barcelona B team. The team that started against us cost:
£345,000,000.
They also ended the game with both Busquets and Messi on the pitch. Some would say those were their two most important players.
Yet absolutely no one mentions the fact we had Vertonghen, Dele, Eriksen and Dembele all out for our home fixture. If we compare squad costs. Our squad that started last night cost us:
£103,000,000.
So you can fuck off right. Any team that needed to go to Barcelona and get something who ended getting something and going through to the next round would have celebrated the same way.
£345,000,000.
They also ended the game with both Busquets and Messi on the pitch. Some would say those were their two most important players.
Yet absolutely no one mentions the fact we had Vertonghen, Dele, Eriksen and Dembele all out for our home fixture. If we compare squad costs. Our squad that started last night cost us:
£103,000,000.
So you can fuck off right. Any team that needed to go to Barcelona and get something who ended getting something and going through to the next round would have celebrated the same way.
U GOT A TROFEE FOR THAT, M8?!
Aside from the cost difference, Barca always have more possession. Not last night when Spurs had 51% - probably only a few times in the last decade has that happened.
We had more shots on goal, we had more passes and in the 2nd half not sure Barca had a shot on goal - despite a certain Messi being on for the last 30 minutes.
We certainly were good for a draw, and had we won I don't think it would have been unjust.
Fantastic to think we beat Real Madrid last season and can go toe to toe with Barcelona this season.