Wolves (a) 18/19 ratings

[Park Lane Mark Twain]

Midfield Wanted, apply within.

There seemed to be this narrative in the match thread that everything is Trippier's fault. Lets get this fucking clear. What he did, trying to nutmeg their guy in the corner, was really fucking stupid, deserves criticism, but there was still very little danger. Foyth gives away a very stupid and clumsy penalty. He then compounds this by giving away another very clumsy penalty, again, when there was almost zero threat to our goal. But apparently that's OK, apart from two stupid fouls that cost us two goals, he was great. Apart from a stupid nutmeg, Trippier was actually OK, not perfect, not faultless, but OK, set up a goal with a lovely ball, played a part in build up to the other goal, defended well first half, second most tackles (5), but when we were a fucking shambles as a team, was, like all the defenders being exposed by the players ahead of them, ropier. Davies also had some really iffy moments and was lucky not to get punished when they had a good goal chalked off for offside.

But here is the thing. Defending doesn't start with your back four. And what's been going on in front of them is fucking shambolic. Piss fucking poor when we don't have the ball. And this isn't just about the World fucking Cup, Injuries or New White Hart Lane. It's about coaching, tactics and selections of Pochettino.

If we are going to give him credit for the good stuff he does, and we have, then it's only fair to criticise the less than good stuff. To recap, because I haven't done it much lately (since being on here more) I think he's the best coach in my life time, I think he's turned us into the best version of us that I have seen. Given me some of my favourite performances of my time watching us, the first manager to really make us a complete team, a team that can not only play good football, but be good without the football, do the shitty stuff, compete, earn the right to play as well as play.

The defence wasn't the root of the problem today, even if we could improve on any of them. The midfield was, or to put it another way, the vacant vortex that Poch created there was. I mean, what the fuck was he thinking leaving Winks and Sissoko there on their own. These two managed zero tackles and zero interceptions in 90 minutes between them. Sissoko completed 28 fucking passes in 90 minutes (Winks 49). I am struggling to remember the last time a CM of ours managed to so fucking much nothing as what Sissoko did in this game.

But the thing is, Sissoko has rarely ever played as a CM in a CM2, he did it a handful of times in the early days at Toulouse before Casanova (his manager) quickly realised it wasn't a good idea, and mostly used him as an AM battering ram in forward areas in a 4141 diamond. At Newcastle and France he's mostly been used as wide right AM/WF in 433's or 4231's, very occasionally RM in a CM3. It's just piss poor game management putting him in that position, his pressing is lax, doesn't read the game intelligently, his movement off the ball lacks intelligence, his passing is perfunctory at best. Then to pair him with another player who's weakness is also what he does without the ball, having already given our forwards permission to not press the ball any more, was just a clusterfuck recipe for the performances and pressure we are continually putting ourselves under almost every game this season.

I don't blame Sissoko for being a shit CM in a CM2, I blame the coach that is putting him in that role. I don't understand why he put Skipp on that bench, if when a CM gets injured, you don't reach for him, but another flakey mercurial forward. And then second half when it was clear wee were getting over run and outplayed, still leave the busy tenacious little fucker sitting down. Eriksen came on but isn't exactly the type to start flying into tackles and winning duels, snuffing out danger, and didn't get told to play CM in a 3, but just played predominantly as an AM, barely influenced anything, because we barely had the ball second half. A 60/40 possession first half had virtually evened out to a 52/48 game. Their x/g was 2.67 ours was 1.39. We are getting points, but we are getting them the Tim "best PPG" Sherwood way. It's lottery football, and that is not what we love Poch for, any fucker can do that.

Not only weren't we winning the ball high up, but we were incapable of winning it in midfield too, because we were outnumbered and had the two worst midfielders we have without the ball playing there. If you allow this much pressure on a defence, it will buckle.

I get that we won. Injuries, WC, Pre season...all factors. But Poch is still making some very poor and counter intuitive decisions. Personnel. In game. Coaching. Why do we not press the ball any more cohesively as a unit. Trippier and Davies aren't the greatest defenders, so why actively expose this. Protect them.

I'm sure some will say the change Pich made, abandoning his planned structure, contributed to us scoring, but there's no doubt it contributed to us conceding goals and chances too. An errant linesman's flag is all the separated us from not winning, and that's been a recurring theme of this season.

I just hope that this is a hiatus, a blip, a hiccup, because in the same way that I can understand people not always enjoying the way we clocked up points under AVB, I struggle to suck the enjoyment out of of clocking up lottery points.

I don't give a shit about trophies, I really don't, I don't care if Poch ever wins a tin pot. I will back him to the hilt if I believe in what I am seeing. A team that looks like a team, clear coached ethics, not like a Harry Redknapp, good as gets lottery ticket.

Individual

Lloris - Good game.

Trippier - Really fucking stupid mistake. Very good first half, including excellent ball for Moura's goal, ropey second when we were under pressure throughout. Probably his worst week in a spurs shirt.

Foyth - Whatever else was going on, the penalties were his mistakes, both of them clumsy poor defending. Apart from that he was generally OK, but like Trippier, was found a bit wanting under real concerted pressure.

Alderweireld - Decent enough for the most part.

Davies - Pretty poor throughout, and unlike Trippier, isn't even offering much in forward areas either.

Sissoko - Piss poor. 0 Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 key passes, one cross that nearly cleared the stadium, 28 completed passes out of 41. But he shouldn't be playing as a CM2 at this level.

Winks - Did see a bit more of the ball, as you'd expect, but was defensively poor. Again, not a single tackle or interception. But again, the blame lies with Poch for putting him into this situation.

Lamela/Moura - both of these were pressing at times, but it's no good if we don't do it cohesively as a unit, Again, not always their fault, this is about coaching and drilling. Lamela was probably our best forward player, scored one, set one up and is generally looking like he's capable of contributing something tangible, which you can't say consistently for the others.

Son - Flickering moments of good, a lot of fucking meh though.

Kane - Was pretty fucking meh for the most part. Didn't always hold it up well enough, didn't always press well, was greedy once or twice, but scored the obligatory goal.

Just checked, your West Ham away ratings write up was 27 lines long, with one line given to Sanchez were you literally said he was excellent, he was MOTM, no reasoning, no explanation as to why just he was great, onto the next one.

This Wolves write up you focused on the majority of negative again and was able to muster a 117 line write up. Not being funny mate but 90 lines more when you're digging them out compared to when there's not a huge amount to shrug about is a fair old whack for someone who supports the club. I think you're missing a trick when it comes to certain pleasures that you're entitled to as a fan of a team like Spurs.

All in all as insightful as ever but dish out the good if you are willing to fork out the bad. We're 3 points off top with over a quarter of a season of not getting out of 2nd gear done pal, let's enjoy it and see where it takes us because ultimately it's all out of our control as fans. It could still turn out to be a very interesting season yet

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

bus-conductor I'm afraid your unconditional love for Frodo will be your demise, my friend. I doubt he will attend your funeral either, he will be too busy waving his hands in the air blaming you.

Tripps was an utter calamity, he was at fault for both of their pens, completely sold Foyth down the river. Sure no doubt you can come back at this and say that Toby wouldn't have conceded a pen in the same scenario, well sorry Tripps is an Snr player, Snr players look after those around them, this was Foyths PL debut. Let's just do a MOTD style analysis and jump straight to the pens. First Pen: Don't think this needs explaining at all, what a cunt piece of football. Second Pen: Tripps is screaming at Winks, whilst he is doing so his player runs off him and behind him (AGAIN the space behind him is routinely attacked), he DOESN'T track him, he in fact dose NOTHING other than waft out a leg in a vein hope to stop the pass, Foyth is now fucked 2v1. Oh ans some of his passes to those arround him are so poor, puts a lot of pressure on them to hold onto the ball and oppo press.

I thought his cross to Lucas was great, picked him out rather than lumping it into the mixer as is his usual. That was it. I agree with you and Raiders about not providing cover out wide, you say midfielders didn't and Raiders said our wide AM's, I think it's both, however, I'd say what was missing was what both Dier and Dembele do very well and that's spot a runner, track the runner and slow them down and show them out wide. This didn't happen from Sissoko or Winks today, I don't think Winks can do that either. BUT we played a back four yesterday and that doesn't require the midfield cover as much as it does in a back three, the onus for cover is more on the AM's and most importantly on the ability of the FB to defend his space, Tripps simply didn't do this, he is incapable of doing this because he's a shite defender, this isn't a one-off, it's every single game!!

I do agree with you about the midfield and our forwards, but I think your comments are coloured by predominantly the last 20-30mins, but before that, we had control of the game, not dominance but control. I thought Wolves were a highly aggressive side and well excellent at breaking up any chance for us to work the ball, but we combatted that with our own aggressive play and we moved the ball with a good tempo much of it one-touch. This is with Winks and Sissoko in the team, it really wasn't the doom and gloom picture you paint. THE LAST 20-30mins IT ABSOLUTELY WAS & AGREE WITH MUCH OF YOUR COMMENTS.

Our Midfield was without Dier (I know you can't stand him, perhaps you can now get to see why Poch plays him every single game) Dembele & Wanyama these are our specialist DM's, drilled, drilled and drilled in their roles and responsibilities within the team. Whatever injury/form issues that exist with these players we would have had a far better last 20-30mins that we did today had only one of them played (Dembele's injury was a real kick in the nuts).

But I'd say you have forgotten about the first half, many, many moments of some lovely football all without Dele, Dembele, Eriksen, Rose, Dier, Vertonghen and Sanchez. I thought the team we put out stood up well to Wolves, who are a very good team. Yet another away win.

If we put this team out against any of the top 6 we will lose, but there is enough there to beat everyone else, this is a good thing.

Lloris - 8 great saves
Trippier - 1 got a point for his cross, the only one he completed
Toby - 7
Foyth- 7 Would have been higher were it not for the pens, Tripps at fault for BOTH
Davies - 4 He's going through a bad time, despite this still makes it hard for the oppo, unlike Frodo
Winks - 5.5 Lightweight performance but first half wasn't exposed as he was in 2nd.
Sissoko - 6 first half was OK, 2nd half overran (not solely his fault but positionally thought he was poor)
Lucas - 6 still can't work out if it's him or those around him, probably bit of both but his interplay with those around him isn't as sharp as the others by comparison. Wolves were still scared of him though and his ability to get behind when on the ball is so valuable to break oppo lines.
Lamela - 8.5 MOTM - A game of everything, intensity, aggression, skill, work rate. Hard to ask for anything more
Kane - 6 Quite game but his presence still takes defenders into areas they don't want to go, Son exploits this space better than Lucas. Give him a yard and he will remind the oppo they need to mark him tight.
Son - 6 Linked up well with some lovely fast one-touch football with Kane and Lamela

 

[bus-conductor]

Midfield Wanted, apply within.

There seemed to be this narrative in the match thread that everything is Trippier's fault. Lets get this fucking clear. What he did, trying to nutmeg their guy in the corner, was really fucking stupid, deserves criticism, but there was still very little danger. Foyth gives away a very stupid and clumsy penalty. He then compounds this by giving away another very clumsy penalty, again, when there was almost zero threat to our goal. But apparently that's OK, apart from two stupid fouls that cost us two goals, he was great. Apart from a stupid nutmeg, Trippier was actually OK, not perfect, not faultless, but OK, set up a goal with a lovely ball, played a part in build up to the other goal, defended well first half, second most tackles (5), but when we were a fucking shambles as a team, was, like all the defenders being exposed by the players ahead of them, ropier. Davies also had some really iffy moments and was lucky not to get punished when they had a good goal chalked off for offside.

But here is the thing. Defending doesn't start with your back four. And what's been going on in front of them is fucking shambolic. Piss fucking poor when we don't have the ball. And this isn't just about the World fucking Cup, Injuries or New White Hart Lane. It's about coaching, tactics and selections of Pochettino.

If we are going to give him credit for the good stuff he does, and we have, then it's only fair to criticise the less than good stuff. To recap, because I haven't done it much lately (since being on here more) I think he's the best coach in my life time, I think he's turned us into the best version of us that I have seen. Given me some of my favourite performances of my time watching us, the first manager to really make us a complete team, a team that can not only play good football, but be good without the football, do the shitty stuff, compete, earn the right to play as well as play.

The defence wasn't the root of the problem today, even if we could improve on any of them. The midfield was, or to put it another way, the vacant vortex that Poch created there was. I mean, what the fuck was he thinking leaving Winks and Sissoko there on their own. These two managed zero tackles and zero interceptions in 90 minutes between them. Sissoko completed 28 fucking passes in 90 minutes (Winks 49). I am struggling to remember the last time a CM of ours managed to so fucking much nothing as what Sissoko did in this game.

But the thing is, Sissoko has rarely ever played as a CM in a CM2, he did it a handful of times in the early days at Toulouse before Casanova (his manager) quickly realised it wasn't a good idea, and mostly used him as an AM battering ram in forward areas in a 4141 diamond. At Newcastle and France he's mostly been used as wide right AM/WF in 433's or 4231's, very occasionally RM in a CM3. It's just piss poor game management putting him in that position, his pressing is lax, doesn't read the game intelligently, his movement off the ball lacks intelligence, his passing is perfunctory at best. Then to pair him with another player who's weakness is also what he does without the ball, having already given our forwards permission to not press the ball any more, was just a clusterfuck recipe for the performances and pressure we are continually putting ourselves under almost every game this season.

I don't blame Sissoko for being a shit CM in a CM2, I blame the coach that is putting him in that role. I don't understand why he put Skipp on that bench, if when a CM gets injured, you don't reach for him, but another flakey mercurial forward. And then second half when it was clear wee were getting over run and outplayed, still leave the busy tenacious little fucker sitting down. Eriksen came on but isn't exactly the type to start flying into tackles and winning duels, snuffing out danger, and didn't get told to play CM in a 3, but just played predominantly as an AM, barely influenced anything, because we barely had the ball second half. A 60/40 possession first half had virtually evened out to a 52/48 game. Their x/g was 2.67 ours was 1.39. We are getting points, but we are getting them the Tim "best PPG" Sherwood way. It's lottery football, and that is not what we love Poch for, any fucker can do that.

Not only weren't we winning the ball high up, but we were incapable of winning it in midfield too, because we were outnumbered and had the two worst midfielders we have without the ball playing there. If you allow this much pressure on a defence, it will buckle.

I get that we won. Injuries, WC, Pre season...all factors. But Poch is still making some very poor and counter intuitive decisions. Personnel. In game. Coaching. Why do we not press the ball any more cohesively as a unit. Trippier and Davies aren't the greatest defenders, so why actively expose this. Protect them.

I'm sure some will say the change Pich made, abandoning his planned structure, contributed to us scoring, but there's no doubt it contributed to us conceding goals and chances too. An errant linesman's flag is all the separated us from not winning, and that's been a recurring theme of this season.

I just hope that this is a hiatus, a blip, a hiccup, because in the same way that I can understand people not always enjoying the way we clocked up points under AVB, I struggle to suck the enjoyment out of of clocking up lottery points.

I don't give a shit about trophies, I really don't, I don't care if Poch ever wins a tin pot. I will back him to the hilt if I believe in what I am seeing. A team that looks like a team, clear coached ethics, not like a Harry Redknapp, good as gets lottery ticket.

Individual

Lloris - Good game.

Trippier - Really fucking stupid mistake. Very good first half, including excellent ball for Moura's goal, ropey second when we were under pressure throughout. Probably his worst week in a spurs shirt.

Foyth - Whatever else was going on, the penalties were his mistakes, both of them clumsy poor defending. Apart from that he was generally OK, but like Trippier, was found a bit wanting under real concerted pressure.

Alderweireld - Decent enough for the most part, but caught ball watching allowing them to score what should have been a good goal, but was incorrectly chalked off for offside. As bad a bit of defending as anyone did in the game.

Davies - Pretty poor throughout, and unlike Trippier, isn't even offering much in forward areas either.

Sissoko - Piss poor. 0 Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 key passes, one cross that nearly cleared the stadium, 28 completed passes out of 41. But he shouldn't be playing as a CM2 at this level.

Winks - Did see a bit more of the ball, as you'd expect, but was defensively poor. Again, not a single tackle or interception. But again, the blame lies with Poch for putting him into this situation.

Lamela/Moura - both of these were pressing at times, but it's no good if we don't do it cohesively as a unit, Again, not always their fault, this is about coaching and drilling. Lamela was probably our best forward player, scored one, set one up and is generally looking like he's capable of contributing something tangible, which you can't say consistently for the others.

Son - Flickering moments of good, a lot of fucking meh though.

Kane - Was pretty fucking meh for the most part. Didn't always hold it up well enough, didn't always press well, was greedy once or twice, but scored the obligatory goal.

 

[BangkokSpud]

---- Why bother? ---- Sissoko is shit, I don't blame him but then I will .... blah, blah, blah ....

Same song different day .... tedious .....

Listen to Poch's post match interview, he probably has a better idea than you ... just a heads up ...

Seven away wins in eight games ... so I just hope this piss poor, clumsy, ropey, meh level,continues and that Poch, who doesn't coach, selects the wrong team, and plays the wrong tactics can keep doing the same thing ...

and even better, that Blakey gets run over by a feckin' bus ......

 

[John Thomas]

Midfield Wanted, apply within.

There seemed to be this narrative in the match thread that everything is Trippier's fault. Lets get this fucking clear. What he did, trying to nutmeg their guy in the corner, was really fucking stupid, deserves criticism, but there was still very little danger. Foyth gives away a very stupid and clumsy penalty. He then compounds this by giving away another very clumsy penalty, again, when there was almost zero threat to our goal. But apparently that's OK, apart from two stupid fouls that cost us two goals, he was great. Apart from a stupid nutmeg, Trippier was actually OK, not perfect, not faultless, but OK, set up a goal with a lovely ball, played a part in build up to the other goal, defended well first half, second most tackles (5), but when we were a fucking shambles as a team, was, like all the defenders being exposed by the players ahead of them, ropier. Davies also had some really iffy moments and was lucky not to get punished when they had a good goal chalked off for offside.

But here is the thing. Defending doesn't start with your back four. And what's been going on in front of them is fucking shambolic. Piss fucking poor when we don't have the ball. And this isn't just about the World fucking Cup, Injuries or New White Hart Lane. It's about coaching, tactics and selections of Pochettino.

If we are going to give him credit for the good stuff he does, and we have, then it's only fair to criticise the less than good stuff. To recap, because I haven't done it much lately (since being on here more) I think he's the best coach in my life time, I think he's turned us into the best version of us that I have seen. Given me some of my favourite performances of my time watching us, the first manager to really make us a complete team, a team that can not only play good football, but be good without the football, do the shitty stuff, compete, earn the right to play as well as play.

The defence wasn't the root of the problem today, even if we could improve on any of them. The midfield was, or to put it another way, the vacant vortex that Poch created there was. I mean, what the fuck was he thinking leaving Winks and Sissoko there on their own. These two managed zero tackles and zero interceptions in 90 minutes between them. Sissoko completed 28 fucking passes in 90 minutes (Winks 49). I am struggling to remember the last time a CM of ours managed to so fucking much nothing as what Sissoko did in this game.

But the thing is, Sissoko has rarely ever played as a CM in a CM2, he did it a handful of times in the early days at Toulouse before Casanova (his manager) quickly realised it wasn't a good idea, and mostly used him as an AM battering ram in forward areas in a 4141 diamond. At Newcastle and France he's mostly been used as wide right AM/WF in 433's or 4231's, very occasionally RM in a CM3. It's just piss poor game management putting him in that position, his pressing is lax, doesn't read the game intelligently, his movement off the ball lacks intelligence, his passing is perfunctory at best. Then to pair him with another player who's weakness is also what he does without the ball, having already given our forwards permission to not press the ball any more, was just a clusterfuck recipe for the performances and pressure we are continually putting ourselves under almost every game this season.

I don't blame Sissoko for being a shit CM in a CM2, I blame the coach that is putting him in that role. I don't understand why he put Skipp on that bench, if when a CM gets injured, you don't reach for him, but another flakey mercurial forward. And then second half when it was clear wee were getting over run and outplayed, still leave the busy tenacious little fucker sitting down. Eriksen came on but isn't exactly the type to start flying into tackles and winning duels, snuffing out danger, and didn't get told to play CM in a 3, but just played predominantly as an AM, barely influenced anything, because we barely had the ball second half. A 60/40 possession first half had virtually evened out to a 52/48 game. Their x/g was 2.67 ours was 1.39. We are getting points, but we are getting them the Tim "best PPG" Sherwood way. It's lottery football, and that is not what we love Poch for, any fucker can do that.

Not only weren't we winning the ball high up, but we were incapable of winning it in midfield too, because we were outnumbered and had the two worst midfielders we have without the ball playing there. If you allow this much pressure on a defence, it will buckle.

I get that we won. Injuries, WC, Pre season...all factors. But Poch is still making some very poor and counter intuitive decisions. Personnel. In game. Coaching. Why do we not press the ball any more cohesively as a unit. Trippier and Davies aren't the greatest defenders, so why actively expose this. Protect them.

I'm sure some will say the change Pich made, abandoning his planned structure, contributed to us scoring, but there's no doubt it contributed to us conceding goals and chances too. An errant linesman's flag is all the separated us from not winning, and that's been a recurring theme of this season.

I just hope that this is a hiatus, a blip, a hiccup, because in the same way that I can understand people not always enjoying the way we clocked up points under AVB, I struggle to suck the enjoyment out of of clocking up lottery points.

I don't give a shit about trophies, I really don't, I don't care if Poch ever wins a tin pot. I will back him to the hilt if I believe in what I am seeing. A team that looks like a team, clear coached ethics, not like a Harry Redknapp, good as gets lottery ticket.

Individual

Lloris - Good game.

Trippier - Really fucking stupid mistake. Very good first half, including excellent ball for Moura's goal, ropey second when we were under pressure throughout. Probably his worst week in a spurs shirt.

Foyth - Whatever else was going on, the penalties were his mistakes, both of them clumsy poor defending. Apart from that he was generally OK, but like Trippier, was found a bit wanting under real concerted pressure.

Alderweireld - Decent enough for the most part.

Davies - Pretty poor throughout, and unlike Trippier, isn't even offering much in forward areas either.

Sissoko - Piss poor. 0 Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 key passes, one cross that nearly cleared the stadium, 28 completed passes out of 41. But he shouldn't be playing as a CM2 at this level.

Winks - Did see a bit more of the ball, as you'd expect, but was defensively poor. Again, not a single tackle or interception. But again, the blame lies with Poch for putting him into this situation.

Lamela/Moura - both of these were pressing at times, but it's no good if we don't do it cohesively as a unit, Again, not always their fault, this is about coaching and drilling. Lamela was probably our best forward player, scored one, set one up and is generally looking like he's capable of contributing something tangible, which you can't say consistently for the others.

Son - Flickering moments of good, a lot of fucking meh though.

Kane - Was pretty fucking meh for the most part. Didn't always hold it up well enough, didn't always press well, was greedy once or twice, but scored the obligatory goal.

Another superb post match analysis. Unbiased and unafraid to firmly hit nails on their heads. Great write up.

Here's my ratings

Hugo 8
Trippier 6
Toby 8
Foyth 3
Davies 5
Winks 4
Sissoko 4
Lucas 7
Lamela 8
Son 6
Kane 6

(Eriksen 4 Sanchez 5)

3 MotM candidates for me.
Hugo. inspired performance and showed just why he's still a class act.

Lamela. Driving force behind everything going forward. Now a vital part of the machine. Now gives me a stalker seeing his name on the teamsheet.

Toby. When you have a calamatous rookie as your CD partner, and that rookie clumsily gives away 2 penalties, you need a strong , reliable rock to hold it altogether. Toby was that man. Remarkable performance under the circumstances.

Toby narrowly gets my vote.

 

[dannythomas]

It was a flippant remark that does relate to Poch's new position as de facto head of the recruitment tree which has seen us waste a fistful of dollars.

I don’t think we’re any different from other clubs in terms of having successful and unsuccessful signings . For every Sissoko, Fazio, Stambouli, Clinton , Wimmer, Jansssen and Llorente there is a Dele, Son, Alderweireld , Wanyama , Sanchez , Foyth and Moura.

 

[Fidel Castro]

Another messy win . We dont win ugly but have mastered winning frantically.
Central midfield does nothing all game . Winks doesn't create going forward , Sissoko bounces around everywhere like a bull in a tea shop . Yes they seemed outnumbered and were overrun for large parts of the game but we are seeing this whoever plays all season .
Foyth's appearance was spoilt by his two stupid penalty give aways .
Toby played very well considering he had little cover from central midfield.
Full backs are mid table ability and we really suffered again from their below par crap play .
Lloris was magnificent today , pulled off a series of great saves to keep us ahead .
Lamela was our man of the match , drove forward with intent , has a little magic and gritty desire to unlock their back line .
Lucas was ok but sometimes looked a headless chicken running into trouble but was a threat .
Son 20% good the rest pretty shit .
Kane not at his best this season , played with effort but not finesse. Still scored so no complaints.
Eriksen l hardly noticed .

Well we won , so Poch sort of got it right but another somewhat clumsy ( disallowed goal ) lucky victory . The story of our season so far .

 

[Don Giovanni]

Lloris - 7
Trippier- 4
Foyth - 5
Aldeweireld - 7
Davies - 4
Sissoko - 5
Winks - 5
Lamela - 8
Lucas - 7
Son - 7
Kane - 6

Eriksen - 5

 

[Park Lane Mark Twain]

Midfield Wanted, apply within.

There seemed to be this narrative in the match thread that everything is Trippier's fault. Lets get this fucking clear. What he did, trying to nutmeg their guy in the corner, was really fucking stupid, deserves criticism, but there was still very little danger. Foyth gives away a very stupid and clumsy penalty. He then compounds this by giving away another very clumsy penalty, again, when there was almost zero threat to our goal. But apparently that's OK, apart from two stupid fouls that cost us two goals, he was great. Apart from a stupid nutmeg, Trippier was actually OK, not perfect, not faultless, but OK, set up a goal with a lovely ball, played a part in build up to the other goal, defended well first half, second most tackles (5), but when we were a fucking shambles as a team, was, like all the defenders being exposed by the players ahead of them, ropier. Davies also had some really iffy moments and was lucky not to get punished when they had a good goal chalked off for offside.

But here is the thing. Defending doesn't start with your back four. And what's been going on in front of them is fucking shambolic. Piss fucking poor when we don't have the ball. And this isn't just about the World fucking Cup, Injuries or New White Hart Lane. It's about coaching, tactics and selections of Pochettino.

If we are going to give him credit for the good stuff he does, and we have, then it's only fair to criticise the less than good stuff. To recap, because I haven't done it much lately (since being on here more) I think he's the best coach in my life time, I think he's turned us into the best version of us that I have seen. Given me some of my favourite performances of my time watching us, the first manager to really make us a complete team, a team that can not only play good football, but be good without the football, do the shitty stuff, compete, earn the right to play as well as play.

The defence wasn't the root of the problem today, even if we could improve on any of them. The midfield was, or to put it another way, the vacant vortex that Poch created there was. I mean, what the fuck was he thinking leaving Winks and Sissoko there on their own. These two managed zero tackles and zero interceptions in 90 minutes between them. Sissoko completed 28 fucking passes in 90 minutes (Winks 49). I am struggling to remember the last time a CM of ours managed to so fucking much nothing as what Sissoko did in this game.

But the thing is, Sissoko has rarely ever played as a CM in a CM2, he did it a handful of times in the early days at Toulouse before Casanova (his manager) quickly realised it wasn't a good idea, and mostly used him as an AM battering ram in forward areas in a 4141 diamond. At Newcastle and France he's mostly been used as wide right AM/WF in 433's or 4231's, very occasionally RM in a CM3. It's just piss poor game management putting him in that position, his pressing is lax, doesn't read the game intelligently, his movement off the ball lacks intelligence, his passing is perfunctory at best. Then to pair him with another player who's weakness is also what he does without the ball, having already given our forwards permission to not press the ball any more, was just a clusterfuck recipe for the performances and pressure we are continually putting ourselves under almost every game this season.

I don't blame Sissoko for being a shit CM in a CM2, I blame the coach that is putting him in that role. I don't understand why he put Skipp on that bench, if when a CM gets injured, you don't reach for him, but another flakey mercurial forward. And then second half when it was clear wee were getting over run and outplayed, still leave the busy tenacious little fucker sitting down. Eriksen came on but isn't exactly the type to start flying into tackles and winning duels, snuffing out danger, and didn't get told to play CM in a 3, but just played predominantly as an AM, barely influenced anything, because we barely had the ball second half. A 60/40 possession first half had virtually evened out to a 52/48 game. Their x/g was 2.67 ours was 1.39. We are getting points, but we are getting them the Tim "best PPG" Sherwood way. It's lottery football, and that is not what we love Poch for, any fucker can do that.

Not only weren't we winning the ball high up, but we were incapable of winning it in midfield too, because we were outnumbered and had the two worst midfielders we have without the ball playing there. If you allow this much pressure on a defence, it will buckle.

I get that we won. Injuries, WC, Pre season...all factors. But Poch is still making some very poor and counter intuitive decisions. Personnel. In game. Coaching. Why do we not press the ball any more cohesively as a unit. Trippier and Davies aren't the greatest defenders, so why actively expose this. Protect them.

I'm sure some will say the change Pich made, abandoning his planned structure, contributed to us scoring, but there's no doubt it contributed to us conceding goals and chances too. An errant linesman's flag is all the separated us from not winning, and that's been a recurring theme of this season.

I just hope that this is a hiatus, a blip, a hiccup, because in the same way that I can understand people not always enjoying the way we clocked up points under AVB, I struggle to suck the enjoyment out of of clocking up lottery points.

I don't give a shit about trophies, I really don't, I don't care if Poch ever wins a tin pot. I will back him to the hilt if I believe in what I am seeing. A team that looks like a team, clear coached ethics, not like a Harry Redknapp, good as gets lottery ticket.

Individual

Lloris - Good game.

Trippier - Really fucking stupid mistake. Very good first half, including excellent ball for Moura's goal, ropey second when we were under pressure throughout. Probably his worst week in a spurs shirt.

Foyth - Whatever else was going on, the penalties were his mistakes, both of them clumsy poor defending. Apart from that he was generally OK, but like Trippier, was found a bit wanting under real concerted pressure.

Alderweireld - Decent enough for the most part.

Davies - Pretty poor throughout, and unlike Trippier, isn't even offering much in forward areas either.

Sissoko - Piss poor. 0 Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 key passes, one cross that nearly cleared the stadium, 28 completed passes out of 41. But he shouldn't be playing as a CM2 at this level.

Winks - Did see a bit more of the ball, as you'd expect, but was defensively poor. Again, not a single tackle or interception. But again, the blame lies with Poch for putting him into this situation.

Lamela/Moura - both of these were pressing at times, but it's no good if we don't do it cohesively as a unit, Again, not always their fault, this is about coaching and drilling. Lamela was probably our best forward player, scored one, set one up and is generally looking like he's capable of contributing something tangible, which you can't say consistently for the others.

Son - Flickering moments of good, a lot of fucking meh though.

Kane - Was pretty fucking meh for the most part. Didn't always hold it up well enough, didn't always press well, was greedy once or twice, but scored the obligatory goal.

A quick observation, when we play well you literally write half as much as when we aren't at the races. We didn't hold the ball well yesterday and both of their goals came from passages of play that we had control of, ultimately leading to our huffing and puffing over the line but it's another 3 points, away from home against a potential banana skin.

As a side note you say about Pochettinos choices but we had the following players injured or unable to start due to some quickfire games in succession played:

Rose
Vertonghen
Sanchez
Dier
Wanyama
Dembele
Eriksen
Dele

8 players who a season or so ago would have all been starting for us. It was very much a 2nd string team out there last night as I genuinely believe that Trippier, Alderweireld, Foyth, Davies, Sissoko, Winks, Lucas, Lamela are closer to being just squad players than they are main starters when everyone is fit. 8 players out of our first XI is a bit of a slab to miss and even though we almost hit the self explode button all in all its 7 wins from 8 away games played which is pretty good going for anyone's standards.

Not champagne football but it does surprise me that someone who's a fan writes twice as much about the team when they don't play well compared to when we do have a good game. Just an observation I've made over recent weeks pal

 

[The Dane]

Good review, but I think you're being harsh on Sissoko. Davies was so poor, just a passenger. Guy can't defend and doesn't offer anything offensively either. CM and left back has to be priorities in the coming transfer windows. Hopefully KWP and Aurier get some chances with how Trippier has been performing

 

[bus-conductor]

bus-conductor I'm afraid your unconditional love for Frodo will be your demise, my friend. I doubt he will attend your funeral either, he will be too busy waving his hands in the air blaming you.

Tripps was an utter calamity, he was at fault for both of their pens, completely sold Foyth down the river. Sure no doubt you can come back at this and say that Toby wouldn't have conceded a pen in the same scenario, well sorry Tripps is an Snr player, Snr players look after those around them, this was Foyths PL debut. Let's just do a MOTD style analysis and jump straight to the pens. First Pen: Don't think this needs explaining at all, what a cunt piece of football. Second Pen: Tripps is screaming at Winks, whilst he is doing so his player runs off him and behind him (AGAIN the space behind him is routinely attacked), he DOESN'T track him, he in fact dose NOTHING other than waft out a leg in a vein hope to stop the pass, Foyth is now fucked 2v1. Oh ans some of his passes to those arround him are so poor, puts a lot of pressure on them to hold onto the ball and oppo press.

I thought his cross to Lucas was great, picked him out rather than lumping it into the mixer as is his usual. That was it. I agree with you and Raiders about not providing cover out wide, you say midfielders didn't and Raiders said our wide AM's, I think it's both, however, I'd say what was missing was what both Dier and Dembele do very well and that's spot a runner, track the runner and slow them down and show them out wide. This didn't happen from Sissoko or Winks today, I don't think Winks can do that either. BUT we played a back four yesterday and that doesn't require the midfield cover as much as it does in a back three, the onus for cover is more on the AM's and most importantly on the ability of the FB to defend his space, Tripps simply didn't do this, he is incapable of doing this because he's a shite defender, this isn't a one-off, it's every single game!!

I do agree with you about the midfield and our forwards, but I think your comments are coloured by predominantly the last 20-30mins, but before that, we had control of the game, not dominance but control. I thought Wolves were a highly aggressive side and well excellent at breaking up any chance for us to work the ball, but we combatted that with our own aggressive play and we moved the ball with a good tempo much of it one-touch. This is with Winks and Sissoko in the team, it really wasn't the doom and gloom picture you paint. THE LAST 20-30mins IT ABSOLUTELY WAS & AGREE WITH MUCH OF YOUR COMMENTS.

Our Midfield was without Dier (I know you can't stand him, perhaps you can now get to see why Poch plays him every single game) Dembele & Wanyama these are our specialist DM's, drilled, drilled and drilled in their roles and responsibilities within the team. Whatever injury/form issues that exist with these players we would have had a far better last 20-30mins that we did today had only one of them played (Dembele's injury was a real kick in the nuts).

But I'd say you have forgotten about the first half, many, many moments of some lovely football all without Dele, Dembele, Eriksen, Rose, Dier, Vertonghen and Sanchez. I thought the team we put out stood up well to Wolves, who are a very good team. Yet another away win.

If we put this team out against any of the top 6 we will lose, but there is enough there to beat everyone else, this is a good thing.

Lloris - 8 great saves
Trippier - 1 got a point for his cross, the only one he completed
Toby - 7
Foyth- 7 Would have been higher were it not for the pens, Tripps at fault for BOTH
Davies - 4 He's going through a bad time, despite this still makes it hard for the oppo, unlike Frodo
Winks - 5.5 Lightweight performance but first half wasn't exposed as he was in 2nd.
Sissoko - 6 first half was OK, 2nd half overran (not solely his fault but positionally thought he was poor)
Lucas - 6 still can't work out if it's him or those around him, probably bit of both but his interplay with those around him isn't as sharp as the others by comparison. Wolves were still scared of him though and his ability to get behind when on the ball is so valuable to break oppo lines.
Lamela - 8.5 MOTM - A game of everything, intensity, aggression, skill, work rate. Hard to ask for anything more
Kane - 6 Quite game but his presence still takes defenders into areas they don't want to go, Son exploits this space better than Lucas. Give him a yard and he will remind the oppo they need to mark him tight.
Son - 6 Linked up well with some lovely fast one-touch football with Kane and Lamela

With regards your Dier point, Dier’s actually been playing in most of the other games where we’ve been a mess, lost control and in some cases lost leads this season. Very much not the panacea to any of our ills.

My self confessed anti-Dier-in-midfield bias is completely surpassed by your anti-Trippier-anywhere bias. Blaming him because Foyth made two stupid challenges is just plain daft. He was to blame for giving away possession in a stupid area, but had absolutely nothing to do with Winks giving the ball away for the second goal. And on both occasions your blue eyed boy Foyth committed completely rash and needless fouls when there was no danger to our goal.

I don't have unconditional love for Trippier, Ive called out what he did badly in his last two games, have always said I don't think he's always brilliant defensively on occasions, but for me it's always been about compromise, as it is with most of our players, we accept if they were world beaters, they probably wouldn't be with us. I don't think Trippier has generally cost us much defensively, and his midfield and attacking play is productively better than most in this league. Again, we won that game partly because Trippier created the best chance in that game. Trippier has the highest key pass average of any player in the CL this season. You cannot just ignore his positive contributions. I also used to watch Walker (and Rose) do stupid things defensively (Poch did improve this somewhat but he's still doing them) and more recently Aurier. If we can upgrade Trippier for a player who defends brilliantly but is also as productive creatively then I'm all for it.

Alderweireld made a bigger error and was saved by a linesman.

I also didn't say the lack of cover was just down to the midfield, but also the front four.

It's kind of apt that following on from a great discussion in the youth thread over the last few days, we saw another great example of Poch not walking his talk of his book and being "brave" with the young players anymore. What we were absolutely crying out for in that game was the tenacious defensive dynamism and industry of Skipp. If not immediately when Dembele went off, then clearly when we'd lost control that second half. And what we really need more than anything, and what would help all our defenders - because at least three out there got exposed and made bad errors - is Poch to get back to having us play as a cohesive team without the ball, not a bunch of individuals. Grow some bollocks and play kids better suited to their roles than plodders like Sissoko and Dier in midfield. Play with some fucking intensity again.

 

[Spursidol]

It was so predictable that we would hit problems in centre midfield this season with Wanyama and Dembele both likely to get injured at any time just crossing the road or getting out of bed. I share your lack of enthusiasm for Dier as a midfielder. Now if Poch did not think Skipp or any of the young reserves could do the DM job then presumably he told Levy that if nothing else he needed a reinforcement in that area during the summer window. In which case Levy was the one who failed to grow some bollocks.

In the meantime maybe playing Foyth in the DM role may be one temporary solution.

With Vertonghen injured and now Dier as well, we are down to 2 CB's in Alderweireld and Sanchez with Foyth in reserve.

Since e can't play a player 3 times in a week, we will need to rely on Foyth ton rotate in and out as a CB and whilst he looks fine, at age 20 and having only played half a dozen times for Spurs (and only a couple of times in Argentina) he needs to be brought on gently, so if he only plays say 10 or 15 games this season that's probably good for him and means he'll be good to play a lot more next season.

Whilst the same 'breaking in gently' applies to Skipp as well, whilst I would agree with Poch bringing on Son when Dembele went down, at 3-0 up I would have hoped Poch would bring on Skipp for the remaining 30 minutes or so (ie very manageable for Skipp and ideal development) as at that point it was clear that the CM2 were not coping and making it a CM3 with Skipp would have made Spurs a lot more solid to see out the rest of the game - particularly as it was apparent even then that Sissoko in particular was tiring and Winks not far behind.

 

[RESPECT THE COCK]

There was a lot going wrong when Costa got through for a 1v1 with Lloris, but look at the fucking state of Trippier- plays him onside and doesn't even see his run. He did something similarly daft against Juventus. I don't know how many times he gave the ball away in the first half either. It's not that I dislike him-I'm sort of on the fence with him, but he is playing like a fucking donkey at the moment. And his tatoos don't make him look 'ard either.

 

[bus-conductor]

Apologies, Lloris added to poll.

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

I wholeheartedly agree about Smith, signing both Walker and Naughton was idiotic when we had Smith here.

I think you are massively exaggerating the negatives and completely ignoring or belittling the good aspects of Trippier. Ignoring the fact that his crossing is about as good as anyone's in this league (it's not like City aren't still losing possession every time Walker hits shit crosses - which he is), it's not a coincidence that he also has a better key pass rate in the CL than Messi, Alcantara, Silva, Rakatic, Modric etc etc. The boy is one of our most incisive passers and frequently plays those great balls that release plays in that inside channel.

I do not accept he was to blame - in any discernible way for their second penalty. He chests it to Winks, Winks then gives it away and there is very little Trippier can do.

And the thing about "targeting" is also disingenuous IMO, the way Poch sets us up to play, with full backs pushed up and playing a major part in our attacking structure, if we play a back 4, we will - and have - always been susceptible to being countered "behind the FB's" and in our current guise, Trippier is by far the more pro-active of our two sides. But this was always and Achilles heel of this system, even when we had Walker and Rose and I can remember having this argument with people even when they were both playing. There is no real tangible evidence that people "target" Trippier per se, like yesterday, they put Traore on the left to go at Davies, not the other side, logic would have suggested they'd have told him to go on the left if this was the case, and it's the same most weeks, I don't see managers change their personnel or strategies specifically to target our right side and Ive posted the statistical evidence from last season which shows we conceded more dangerous passes from our left.

Lastly, for me, our biggest issues, by a long margin are our midfield. We pretty much don't have one. Dembele's been varying degrees of fucked since we've had him, Wanyama is now fucked, Dier isn't a midfielder, Winks can't defend, Sissoko can barely play football. This is the root of all our problems because this is what prevents us from creating, pressing and defending properly. The midfield is the engine of any team and ours blown a gasket and three pistons. Urgent re-build required. Then we can worry about finding the next undiscovered Philip Lahm.

He has one of the lowest pass completion rates in the entire team.

I provided you with evidence that our right channel is where the oppo attacks us, god only knows what this looks like now double the number of games can be added to the data. And since I provided it, it has gotten worse, not better.

For the 2nd pen, he didn't track the runner, that's his man. That's his job, he's the RB. The pass took him out of the game, it's so easy to play against him.

 

[Cravenspurs]

I can’t wait for our main men to be healthy. I am just not in love with what Lucas brings to the side despite his goals and run till you die attitude. I know that is harsh, but the complete game has been off when he has been on the pitch. Granted he hasn’t had Eriksen and Dele on the pitch with him, but I feel he is harshing Kane’s vibe.

Lamela again was a at the top of his game. Coupe of needless turnovers in midfield, but I give him the MOTM.

Fullbacks were shit despite a great assist.

Midfield struggled for portions of the game. Winks was pretty isolated. Sissoko made some decent runs forward, but meh. Son was out of position in the CM3.

Lucas as I mentioned above had a goal, but I don’t like him when compared to Son. I just think he offers less for Kane, who we need to get clicking. Son gives Kane more service as he sticks wide more than the cut in Lucas.

Kane. He just seems off. Doesn’t control the line at the moment and isn’t making runs into the channels.

The CBs were good for the most part sans the two pens. I put some of the blame on the pressure the FBs put them under, but those pens could have been avoided.

Lloris. Great saves horrible kicks.

I just want Eriksen and Dele in again and I want Lucas to take a rest. I just think the mojo needs a bit of the regular flow and the sooner they are all on form the better.

 

[Guido 🇺🇦]

OK, lets look at some stats. Trippier has the highest tackle rate PG than anyone who's started more than one game, the highest assists in our team, the highest ave key passes PG in our team (as Ive said previously, he's got the highest average key passes of any player at any club in the CL this season), he's dispossessed less than Kane, Moura, Lamela, Alli, Winks, Sissoko, Son and Eriksen despite seeing almost double the ball per game than most of those. In terms of unsuccessful touches there are 12 players worse than him (won't list them all but it's just about everyone you can think of including Dembele). Again, despite only the two CB's seeing more of the ball than he does (and being the only ones that average more passes per game).

That is a pretty impressive bunch of stats for the "weak link" in this team, no?

As far as the evidence you provided, you didn't. You provided a sample of evidence that showed key passes made against us over a ten game period that straddled the end of last and beginning of this season, which featured games in which both KWP and Aurier also played. I countered that by showing you the same version of that matrix, extended over the whole of last season, which showed a sight bias to our left side.

It's perfectly fair to point out what you think are Trippier's weaknesses, but there is a whole body of evidence that suggests at worst there is a massive positive pay off for those, like I said, there is always compromise with payers at a club like ours. I think Trippier's are a long way from being the most imbalanced compromise, as the body of our performances and results with him shows, I'm pretty sure I worked out previously that our results against top 5 teams pro rata with him are better than with Walker.

Midfield. Midfield. Midfield.

I don't give a fuck about assists stats, genuinely one of the worst stats in the game. He's in my fantasy team because all they care about is points for assists and goals. He has so many crosses per game he's going to get an assist once in a while, fantasy football doesn't care how many failed crosses it takes. With every failed cross we concede possession and he's now stuck up the pitch, HE WILL NOT RECOVER FROM THERE, HE NEVER DOES. So, we are now open, our right flank gapping like 80-year-old whores flange. It's like chucking a stick up an alley, it's so fucking easy. Our team then has to compensate to cover the munchkins arse, our CB's get pulled out wide, our midfield gets pulled out wide. Now any "normal" RB that gets caught high tends to be able to get back and help most of the time, either covering his own position or filling in the midfielder or CB that has been pulled out, he dose nither of this, his still waiving his arms about blaming one of our own players for his shit cross.

Now all that is when he's on the ball, attacking. But when he's in the defence he can't defend for shit.

All you have to do if you are the oppo is draw him onto you, get him high up the pitch, you are going to defend his cross because it's really not that hard to do, such as their low percentage, then attack the space he's left. It really is that easy.

 

[RESPECT THE COCK]

I am just not in love with what Lucas brings to the side despite his goals and run till you die attitude. I know that is harsh, but the complete game has been off when he has been on the pitch.

I think Lucas has a tendency to become a space cadet when we don't have the ball. I think he could and should
work a lot harder.

 

[stevee]

Our midfield was poor, as everyone has said, they got pulled all over the pitch in the second half.
And THAT is why Dier plays when he's fit. He's never gonna be the most technically gifted,easy on the eye player, but he has the discipline to hold his position where ever the ball or other players are.
He is also a leader. Someone on here (apologies can't remember who) said we were crying out for a leader on the pitch, and who ever it was is right. Dier would and is the one that bollocks the others and organises those around him.

Spoiler

OK I might be over the top a bit, but you get my point

Also once they went 3-0 down they had nothing to lose and pushed their FBs right up, in effect creating a 2v1 situation against our FBs, and that is when Poch should have changed to a 4-3-3

Trippier was shocking again, penalties aside,he again he let a long ball go over his head and got done for pace.

Foyth was still my MOTM up till the second penaty, which I thought was slightly harsh, but he's young and will learn.

Lamela brilliant again

 

[TommyD123]

Midfield Wanted, apply within.

There seemed to be this narrative in the match thread that everything is Trippier's fault. Lets get this fucking clear. What he did, trying to nutmeg their guy in the corner, was really fucking stupid, deserves criticism, but there was still very little danger. Foyth gives away a very stupid and clumsy penalty. He then compounds this by giving away another very clumsy penalty, again, when there was almost zero threat to our goal. But apparently that's OK, apart from two stupid fouls that cost us two goals, he was great. Apart from a stupid nutmeg, Trippier was actually OK, not perfect, not faultless, but OK, set up a goal with a lovely ball, played a part in build up to the other goal, defended well first half, second most tackles (5), but when we were a fucking shambles as a team, was, like all the defenders being exposed by the players ahead of them, ropier. Davies also had some really iffy moments and was lucky not to get punished when they had a good goal chalked off for offside.

But here is the thing. Defending doesn't start with your back four. And what's been going on in front of them is fucking shambolic. Piss fucking poor when we don't have the ball. And this isn't just about the World fucking Cup, Injuries or New White Hart Lane. It's about coaching, tactics and selections of Pochettino.

If we are going to give him credit for the good stuff he does, and we have, then it's only fair to criticise the less than good stuff. To recap, because I haven't done it much lately (since being on here more) I think he's the best coach in my life time, I think he's turned us into the best version of us that I have seen. Given me some of my favourite performances of my time watching us, the first manager to really make us a complete team, a team that can not only play good football, but be good without the football, do the shitty stuff, compete, earn the right to play as well as play.

The defence wasn't the root of the problem today, even if we could improve on any of them. The midfield was, or to put it another way, the vacant vortex that Poch created there was. I mean, what the fuck was he thinking leaving Winks and Sissoko there on their own. These two managed zero tackles and zero interceptions in 90 minutes between them. Sissoko completed 28 fucking passes in 90 minutes (Winks 49). I am struggling to remember the last time a CM of ours managed to so fucking much nothing as what Sissoko did in this game.

But the thing is, Sissoko has rarely ever played as a CM in a CM2, he did it a handful of times in the early days at Toulouse before Casanova (his manager) quickly realised it wasn't a good idea, and mostly used him as an AM battering ram in forward areas in a 4141 diamond. At Newcastle and France he's mostly been used as wide right AM/WF in 433's or 4231's, very occasionally RM in a CM3. It's just piss poor game management putting him in that position, his pressing is lax, doesn't read the game intelligently, his movement off the ball lacks intelligence, his passing is perfunctory at best. Then to pair him with another player who's weakness is also what he does without the ball, having already given our forwards permission to not press the ball any more, was just a clusterfuck recipe for the performances and pressure we are continually putting ourselves under almost every game this season.

I don't blame Sissoko for being a shit CM in a CM2, I blame the coach that is putting him in that role. I don't understand why he put Skipp on that bench, if when a CM gets injured, you don't reach for him, but another flakey mercurial forward. And then second half when it was clear wee were getting over run and outplayed, still leave the busy tenacious little fucker sitting down. Eriksen came on but isn't exactly the type to start flying into tackles and winning duels, snuffing out danger, and didn't get told to play CM in a 3, but just played predominantly as an AM, barely influenced anything, because we barely had the ball second half. A 60/40 possession first half had virtually evened out to a 52/48 game. Their x/g was 2.67 ours was 1.39. We are getting points, but we are getting them the Tim "best PPG" Sherwood way. It's lottery football, and that is not what we love Poch for, any fucker can do that.

Not only weren't we winning the ball high up, but we were incapable of winning it in midfield too, because we were outnumbered and had the two worst midfielders we have without the ball playing there. If you allow this much pressure on a defence, it will buckle.

I get that we won. Injuries, WC, Pre season...all factors. But Poch is still making some very poor and counter intuitive decisions. Personnel. In game. Coaching. Why do we not press the ball any more cohesively as a unit. Trippier and Davies aren't the greatest defenders, so why actively expose this. Protect them.

I'm sure some will say the change Pich made, abandoning his planned structure, contributed to us scoring, but there's no doubt it contributed to us conceding goals and chances too. An errant linesman's flag is all the separated us from not winning, and that's been a recurring theme of this season.

I just hope that this is a hiatus, a blip, a hiccup, because in the same way that I can understand people not always enjoying the way we clocked up points under AVB, I struggle to suck the enjoyment out of of clocking up lottery points.

I don't give a shit about trophies, I really don't, I don't care if Poch ever wins a tin pot. I will back him to the hilt if I believe in what I am seeing. A team that looks like a team, clear coached ethics, not like a Harry Redknapp, good as gets lottery ticket.

Individual

Lloris - Good game.

Trippier - Really fucking stupid mistake. Very good first half, including excellent ball for Moura's goal, ropey second when we were under pressure throughout. Probably his worst week in a spurs shirt.

Foyth - Whatever else was going on, the penalties were his mistakes, both of them clumsy poor defending. Apart from that he was generally OK, but like Trippier, was found a bit wanting under real concerted pressure.

Alderweireld - Decent enough for the most part.

Davies - Pretty poor throughout, and unlike Trippier, isn't even offering much in forward areas either.

Sissoko - Piss poor. 0 Tackles, 0 Interceptions, 0 key passes, one cross that nearly cleared the stadium, 28 completed passes out of 41. But he shouldn't be playing as a CM2 at this level.

Winks - Did see a bit more of the ball, as you'd expect, but was defensively poor. Again, not a single tackle or interception. But again, the blame lies with Poch for putting him into this situation.

Lamela/Moura - both of these were pressing at times, but it's no good if we don't do it cohesively as a unit, Again, not always their fault, this is about coaching and drilling. Lamela was probably our best forward player, scored one, set one up and is generally looking like he's capable of contributing something tangible, which you can't say consistently for the others.

Son - Flickering moments of good, a lot of fucking meh though.

Kane - Was pretty fucking meh for the most part. Didn't always hold it up well enough, didn't always press well, was greedy once or twice, but scored the obligatory goal.

He should’ve brought Skipp on for Dembele for that very reason.

I understand why he didn’t (too early, only young etc) and actually thought Son had a really positive influence whilst on. But that’s supposedly his position so at least it’d be him and winks in there. Suspect it might’ve happened had it been Dier rather than Winks on.