Slowly slowly catch monkey
Lets start with the selections as there was much discussion about the omissions of Eriksen and Son for this one. As far as Son goes it's moot, he's been disappointing far more often than he's been great the last few months, and he's also been through a WC and Asian Games with no rest, so Ive got no issue with Moura coming in for him. Normally you'd want Eriksen out there for every game possible, as we are just a much better team with him than without him, but I think he's been flogged to death most seasons because of his importance, and I think he now has this stomach issue that's got to be managed. I understand why he was given some rest.
We started the more pro-active team, but given that this was must win for us, and the nature of both sides, that's hardly a surprise, however, this was a much more sedate affair than the intense mauling of Chelsea at the weekend. Part of that was the tactical approach from both sides. Inter weren't going to come with the high line and pro-active intentions of Chelsea, they were far more pragmatic, and for our part, we were much intense. I don't think the 423, or the personnel in it, were quite as good a blend as Saturday either. Good intentions were there, and we did try to do the right things first half, but it was all a little bit flat and got flatter as the game wore on.
I think the second half we were actually pretty poor, and the stats bare this out, we completed 100 less passes than in the first half, possession swung from 55% first half to 46.7 second, and where there were half chances and situations first half, I can barely remember too many sniffs of chances second half. And this wasn't just about a bus park of Inter, we just didn't have the control in midfield that we'd had at the weekend. I don't think Winks and Sissoko as a double pivot CM2 was great. Winks tried hard to get things moving and made more passes than anyone in our team ahead of the CB's 50/54 92% (highest) but he faded second half going from 36 passes to 14 - and game winning surge aside - Sissoko was very insipid, and went from a pretty meh 24 passes first half to 12 second half. And there's no defensive mitigation here ether, because he was terrible second half, there was a moment where his touch let him down, he gave the ball away with everyone - including Aurier upfield, and then just stood and watched as Perisic (who had been standing next to him) charged up the pitch alone in acres of space, it was Inter's most threatening break to that point, and if Icardi had seen Persic it could have been worse. There was just no drive, control or tempo coming from our midfield (both). And there's no defensive mitigation for Sissoko either tonight, he was really lethargic, made no tackles (Winks 2) at all.
Sissoko was lucky not to get hooked when Poch threw the subs on, but it was lucky he wasn't as he then went on one of those surges, powering past a couple of Inter players, then getting his head up, picking out Alli, who deftly fed Eriksen, who provided the finish. For me, if he's going to be on that pitch this is where he should be, especially as an impact sub, in that outside right channel front right of a 433, powering at tired legs, where he was pushed into when the changes were made. This kind of role is how he made his name at Toulouse and where he was more effective for Newcastle. Yes he can play RM in the central CM3, but I think we have better options for that role most weeks, but he could provide the kind of chaos Mané does at Liverpool in that more forward role IMO. Not as a deeper metronome.
It's hard to pick anyone out on the 90 minutes as standout performer. Sissoko definitely provided the games most inspirational moment, but was pretty turgid otherwise. Winks was livelier but was still also pretty insipid, especially second half. Alli didn't quite manage to fulfil the void left by Eriksen, but was one of the few who was consistently involved throughout the 90 and was once again involved in the goal. Moura and Lamela were both fucking disappointing. Kane is actually looking like proper Kane again, hustle and threat. Normally I hate his trying to dribble, but his first half dribble was one of the best of his Ive seen, glided past players before unleashing. But this was one of those games where he struggled to wade through the treacle of Inter's discipline.
Both FB's were generally solid, saw lots of the ball in midfield areas, but neither really contributed much offensively. Both CB's were good.
This result was more about the ethos of Poch, that way this Spurs team isn't Spursy. Needed a win, 10 minutes left against a dogged Inter, Pochettino's Spurs found it.
Individual
Lloris - one horrible Lloris moment when he compounded a poor back pass from Winks by giving it straight to them. Otherwise OK, and one great save lat on.
Aurier - Solid enough.
TA - Good game
JV - Good game.
Davies - Like Aurier, solid enough and saw almost identical amounts of ball. Neither really gave us much of offensive quality.
Winks - Was a bit more involved than Sissoko, with and without the ball, but was pretty insipid and faded second half.
Sissoko - Was poor up until the 80th minute, then he picked up the ball, powered past a couple of players, got his head up, played the right pass which led to the goal. It was a great contribution in an otherwise pretty grim performance, especially second half.
Lamela - Eratic and clumsy, not great.
Alli - Was involved throughout but it was mostly quite inconsequential stuff, but was cool in the moment that mattered.
Moura - pffttt...
Kane - Definitely looking like real slim Kanie again. Aggresion, hustle, I don't mind him having the odd blank when he's at least hauling ass.
Subs - I guess this was a game where they were likely to prove as important as those that started. And they did. All did decent little jobs when they came on, with Eriksen finishing cooly for the win.
Poch - Not been a bad week for Che Poch. Just you think you're out, he drags you back into the revolution.
Lets start with the selections as there was much discussion about the omissions of Eriksen and Son for this one. As far as Son goes it's moot, he's been disappointing far more often than he's been great the last few months, and he's also been through a WC and Asian Games with no rest, so Ive got no issue with Moura coming in for him. Normally you'd want Eriksen out there for every game possible, as we are just a much better team with him than without him, but I think he's been flogged to death most seasons because of his importance, and I think he now has this stomach issue that's got to be managed. I understand why he was given some rest.
We started the more pro-active team, but given that this was must win for us, and the nature of both sides, that's hardly a surprise, however, this was a much more sedate affair than the intense mauling of Chelsea at the weekend. Part of that was the tactical approach from both sides. Inter weren't going to come with the high line and pro-active intentions of Chelsea, they were far more pragmatic, and for our part, we were much intense. I don't think the 423, or the personnel in it, were quite as good a blend as Saturday either. Good intentions were there, and we did try to do the right things first half, but it was all a little bit flat and got flatter as the game wore on.
I think the second half we were actually pretty poor, and the stats bare this out, we completed 100 less passes than in the first half, possession swung from 55% first half to 46.7 second, and where there were half chances and situations first half, I can barely remember too many sniffs of chances second half. And this wasn't just about a bus park of Inter, we just didn't have the control in midfield that we'd had at the weekend. I don't think Winks and Sissoko as a double pivot CM2 was great. Winks tried hard to get things moving and made more passes than anyone in our team ahead of the CB's 50/54 92% (highest) but he faded second half going from 36 passes to 14 - and game winning surge aside - Sissoko was very insipid, and went from a pretty meh 24 passes first half to 12 second half. And there's no defensive mitigation here ether, because he was terrible second half, there was a moment where his touch let him down, he gave the ball away with everyone - including Aurier upfield, and then just stood and watched as Perisic (who had been standing next to him) charged up the pitch alone in acres of space, it was Inter's most threatening break to that point, and if Icardi had seen Persic it could have been worse. There was just no drive, control or tempo coming from our midfield (both). And there's no defensive mitigation for Sissoko either tonight, he was really lethargic, made no tackles (Winks 2) at all.
Sissoko was lucky not to get hooked when Poch threw the subs on, but it was lucky he wasn't as he then went on one of those surges, powering past a couple of Inter players, then getting his head up, picking out Alli, who deftly fed Eriksen, who provided the finish. For me, if he's going to be on that pitch this is where he should be, especially as an impact sub, in that outside right channel front right of a 433, powering at tired legs, where he was pushed into when the changes were made. This kind of role is how he made his name at Toulouse and where he was more effective for Newcastle. Yes he can play RM in the central CM3, but I think we have better options for that role most weeks, but he could provide the kind of chaos Mané does at Liverpool in that more forward role IMO. Not as a deeper metronome.
It's hard to pick anyone out on the 90 minutes as standout performer. Sissoko definitely provided the games most inspirational moment, but was pretty turgid otherwise. Winks was livelier but was still also pretty insipid, especially second half. Alli didn't quite manage to fulfil the void left by Eriksen, but was one of the few who was consistently involved throughout the 90 and was once again involved in the goal. Moura and Lamela were both fucking disappointing. Kane is actually looking like proper Kane again, hustle and threat. Normally I hate his trying to dribble, but his first half dribble was one of the best of his Ive seen, glided past players before unleashing. But this was one of those games where he struggled to wade through the treacle of Inter's discipline.
Both FB's were generally solid, saw lots of the ball in midfield areas, but neither really contributed much offensively. Both CB's were good.
This result was more about the ethos of Poch, that way this Spurs team isn't Spursy. Needed a win, 10 minutes left against a dogged Inter, Pochettino's Spurs found it.
Individual
Lloris - one horrible Lloris moment when he compounded a poor back pass from Winks by giving it straight to them. Otherwise OK, and one great save lat on.
Aurier - Solid enough.
TA - Good game
JV - Good game.
Davies - Like Aurier, solid enough and saw almost identical amounts of ball. Neither really gave us much of offensive quality.
Winks - Was a bit more involved than Sissoko, with and without the ball, but was pretty insipid and faded second half.
Sissoko - Was poor up until the 80th minute, then he picked up the ball, powered past a couple of players, got his head up, played the right pass which led to the goal. It was a great contribution in an otherwise pretty grim performance, especially second half.
Lamela - Eratic and clumsy, not great.
Alli - Was involved throughout but it was mostly quite inconsequential stuff, but was cool in the moment that mattered.
Moura - pffttt...
Kane - Definitely looking like real slim Kanie again. Aggresion, hustle, I don't mind him having the odd blank when he's at least hauling ass.
Subs - I guess this was a game where they were likely to prove as important as those that started. And they did. All did decent little jobs when they came on, with Eriksen finishing cooly for the win.
Poch - Not been a bad week for Che Poch. Just you think you're out, he drags you back into the revolution.
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